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Have you ever experienced the excitement of securing that first donation from a supporter, only to feel the connection slowly fade away? It’s a common frustration among nonprofit leaders—like trying to hold water in your hands; no matter how tightly you grasp, it slips through your fingers.

This isn’t just a feeling. It’s backed by data. The 2025 Virtuous Benchmark Report reveals that the average gross donor retention rate across nonprofits sits at just 50.4%. That means nearly half of donors disappear each year. First-time donors? The numbers are even bleaker—up to 70% never give again.

As fundraisers or nonprofit leaders, we express gratitude in a million ways. We appreciate the volunteers and donors who show up to events or support our cause. We are grateful to the corporations and the people within the companies who sponsor our events and the supporters who remember our organizations in their wills. We honor the small gifts that are so heartfelt and the big gifts that represent transformation.

The pool of donor-advised fund (DAF) assets is projected to exceed $2 trillion by 2026. It often flows through channels that can conceal the actual donors behind the gifts. While this can be a challenge, it also represents an enormous opportunity for leaders who know how to make the invisible visible.

A couple years ago, I decided to sign up for my first ever beginner triathlon. Even though I didn’t have a training schedule, I did have an irrational sense of optimism – what else could I possibly need?  Without a plan, I showed up on race day to the start line without goggles and one sock. Unprepared but still optimistic. I can manage a short swim, bike ride, and 5k because I had done those exercises in some form before – how hard could it be?

Needless to say, I found myself struggling to make it through. By the run, I was exhausted and would shamelessly run when there were cheerleaders and spectators and would walk when no one was watching.

I finished, but it was messy.

That experience taught me something important: passion and optimism are great, but without a focused plan and intentional execution, you’ll spend more energy scrambling than succeeding.

The same is true in fundraising…especially at year-end.

Nonprofit leaders are known for wearing many hats—budget balancer, community builder, last-minute-slide-deck-finisher, professional schlepper—but the hat we too often leave on the shelf is the one labeled “curiosity captain”. Whether it's embracing AI, reimagining donor stewardship, or treating events as more than just logistical nightmares lifts with a side of lukewarm veggie trays and sweaty cheese cubes, we sometimes meet new ideas with hesitation or quiet resistance.

It’s time for a reset—not of our strategy, but of our attitude. Because—gulp—we might just be the problem. And that’s uncomfortable… but also incredibly fixable. What if we chose curiosity over fear, and open-minded exploration over the comfort of our preconceived notions? These shifts aren’t detours from our mission—they’re invitations to deepen and expand it. And spoiler: we don’t need to have all the answers to get started. We just need to be willing to ask better questions and create space for curiosity.

For many of us, planned giving seems intimidating—all those complex financial instruments and legal terminology. But here's the thing: the donors you need to reach, especially those born between 1965 and 1980, don't want to hear about charitable remainder trusts on your first conversation either. They want to know how they can make a real difference while being smart about their finances.

Gen X donors are hitting their peak earning years right now, and they will be the primary recipients of the Boomer estates. So, they’re thinking about legacy in ways that might surprise you. Let's break down how to reset your planned giving approach to connect with this unique generation.

Summer’s erratic schedules—donors on vacation, staff taking time off, board members and volunteers unavailable—can disrupt traditional fundraising efforts. But this quieter season offers a powerful opportunity for fundraising leaders, whether they manage teams or work as individual contributors, to reset their approach by leaning into authentic, one-on-one connections. By focusing on building genuine relationships with colleagues, donors, volunteers, and board members, leaders can foster trust, inspire collaboration, and fuel long-term success in ways no strategy or tactic can match. Here’s how to use summer’s lull to cultivate meaningful connections that transform your leadership and organization.

Can you believe we’re already halfway through the year? If you’re like most nonprofit leaders, you kicked off the year with ambitious fundraising goals, detailed plans, and a whole lot of motivation to have “the best year yet!”

Now, with six months behind us, it's time to step back and ask: How are we really doing?

Remember, fundraising isn't just about year-end campaigns, online appeals, or event seasons; it’s a year-round effort that begins on day one of your new fiscal year. Taking time now to evaluate your progress can be the difference between scrambling in Q4 or finishing strong.

A mid-year review gives you a chance to:

• Assess the first six months of the year
• Identify gaps
• Re-engage and realign
• Plan ahead with purpose

When there is uncertainty and turmoil in the markets, in DC or around the world, nonprofit leaders can find themselves in a predicament. You have evolving funding needs, but you may not yet be sure what they are. Plus, you want to stay in touch with your donors and supporters, but you don’t necessarily know how current events are affecting them.

While there are a lot of unknowns and things you have no control over right now, there is one thing you can control. People need authentic, caring connections with others.

If you're anything like me, you've probably found yourself staring at a blank document titled "Case for Support" more than once in your career. That moment when you need to distill your organization's entire heart and soul, its mission, impact, and vision, into something that resonates with potential supporters.  

I've been a part of a few conversations lately about navigating the changing landscape of nonprofit communications. One theme keeps emerging: many of us are cautiously exploring how new tools, including AI, might help with fundamental development work like crafting a case for support—without losing the authentic human connection that is at the core of what we do.