Wisdom from the Archives: Planning for a Successful Year

The State of American Giving: What the 2025 Giving USA Report Means for Your Nonprofit, with Josh Birkholz

Every year, one report shapes how the nonprofit world understands philanthropy in America — and this year's findings are worth paying attention to. In this episode, hosts Kristi Ackley and Jen Emerick-Cayton of Growth By Design sit down with Josh Birkholz, Senior Fellow of Philanthropy Innovation at BWF Zuri, a fundraising and philanthropy consulting firm based in Minneapolis. Josh is a past chair of the Giving USA Foundation board and brings both deep data expertise and genuine passion for the mission of giving to this conversation about what the numbers really mean for nonprofits of every size. ✨ In this episode, you'll learn:  * Why 2025 was the highest announced year of charitable giving in U.S. history — and what that number actually represents  * How giving is shifting across sectors, with human services now ranking second behind religion  * Why individual donors still drive roughly 80–85% of all giving decisions — even when gifts flow through foundations or donor-advised funds  * What the 10-year growth trend in bequests signals about the coming intergenerational wealth transfer  * Why everyday donors and affluent donors give differently — and why you need both  * How building friendships among your donors can increase their lifetime giving by a factor of four or five  * What "mission esteem" means and why it outperforms self-esteem when making the ask  * Why relational, high-touch fundraising is outperforming mass communication strategies across every sector 🎧 Listen in for a data-rich, deeply human conversation that will leave you better equipped to make the case for your mission — and bolder about asking others to invest in it. Key Topics/Themes: Giving USA report, charitable giving trends, bequests and planned giving, donor-advised funds, intergenerational wealth transfer, human services sector growth, everyday vs. affluent donors, donor community building, mission-driven fundraising, predictive analytics, relational fundraising models Resources: Giving USA [https://givingusa.org/]

The Sponsorship Playbook: How to Attract and Retain Corporate Partners with Mike Esposito

Corporate sponsorships can be a game-changer for nonprofit events — but only if you know how to pursue them strategically. In this episode, hosts Kristi Ackley of Growth By Design and Carl Newbanks of Initiative Foundation sit down with fundraising expert Mike Esposito of Mike Esposito Fundraising in Brooklyn, NY, to break down what it really takes to attract and retain corporate partners. Mike brings years of hands-on experience to a topic that intimidates many nonprofits — combining practical strategy with a relationship-first philosophy that turns one-time sponsors into long-term partners. ✨ In this episode, you'll learn: * Why relationship building is the foundation of every successful sponsorship * How to use stakeholder mapping to identify your best prospects * What "sponsors travel in packs" means — and how to use it to your advantage * Why you should start outreach 9 to 12 months before your event * How to bundle multiple events into a single sponsorship conversation * The right way to structure sponsorship levels and recognition benefits * Why stewarding sponsors like donors leads to deeper, lasting partnerships * How to leverage LinkedIn and emerging tools to make warmer connections 🎧 Listen in for a conversation packed with actionable strategies that will leave you feeling confident — not overwhelmed — the next time you sit down to build your sponsorship ask. Key Topics/Themes: Corporate sponsorships, relationship building, stakeholder mapping, sponsorship levels, donor stewardship, LinkedIn outreach, board engagement, event planning, nonprofit fundraising, partnership development Resources: * Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) [https://afpglobal.org/] * Benevity [https://benevite.com/] * Mike Esposito Fundraising [https://mikeespositofundraising.com/] * Mike Esposito on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeesposito/]

More Than a Will: The Human Side of Estate Planning With Rachel Schromen

Estate planning isn't just a legal task — it's one of the most meaningful acts of care you can take for the people (and animals) you love. In this episode, hosts Kristi Ackley and Ali Schneider sit down with Rachel Schromen, estate planning attorney and founder of Schromen Law in St. Paul, Minnesota, to demystify the process and make it feel a whole lot less scary. Rachel brings a refreshingly human approach to a field often seen as cold or intimidating — blending her legal expertise with training as an end-of-life doula and a deep belief that emotions belong in the room. ✨ In this episode, you'll learn:  * Why making the appointment is the hardest — and most important — first step  * How emotional barriers keep people from planning, and how to move through them  * What to expect at your first estate planning meeting  * Why even a small estate deserves legal protection  * The difference between a healthcare directive, power of attorney, will, and trust — and when you need each  * Which life events should prompt a review of your estate plan  * How to incorporate charitable giving into your plan, regardless of estate size  * Why pet planning matters more than most people realize — and how to do it thoughtfully 🎧 Listen in for a conversation that will leave you feeling empowered, not overwhelmed — because the best gift you can leave behind is a plan that reflects exactly what you valued in life. Key Topics/Themes: Estate planning, healthcare directives, power of attorney, charitable giving, pet planning, probate, life events and estate updates, end-of-life doula, compassionate legal practice, legacy planning

Built on Trust: The Heart of Fundraising

Fundraising isn’t just about dollars raised — it’s about trust earned. In this thoughtful conversation, host Kristi Ackley sits down with fundraising professionals Rebecca Lynn Peterson and Amy Allen to explore the relational heart of philanthropy. From their unexpected journeys into the field to the long-term strategy behind planned giving, they share practical wisdom for building meaningful donor connections that stand the test of time. ✨ In this episode, you’ll learn: * Why fundraising careers often begin organically * How strong donor relationships are built on listening and shared values * Why trust is essential — especially in planned giving * How marketing supports fundraising by building awareness and credibility * Why patience and consistency matter more than quick wins * How every team member can serve as an ambassador for generosity * Why you don’t need a large budget to communicate impact effectively 🎧 Listen in for an encouraging reminder that fundraising is a marathon, not a sprint — and that generosity grows best in the soil of authentic relationships. Key Topics/Themes: Relationship-based fundraising, donor trust, planned giving, nonprofit marketing, long-term stewardship, new fundraiser advice, generosity mindset

Wisdom from the Archives: Planning for a Successful Year

As the new year gets underway, we’re revisiting this timely conversation to help you pause, plan, and move forward with clarity. The insights here are as relevant now as ever for nonprofits looking to start the year strong. Ready to start your year strong? Brenda Moore joins Mark Beenken and Carl Newbanks to share strategies for kicking off a successful fundraising year. ✨ Inside this episode: * How to build a solid plan for legacy giving and fundraising success * Time-tested tips from over 30 years of experience in development * Maximizing the impact of your year through intentional planning 🎧 Press play to learn how to capture more of the current wealth transfer and set your nonprofit up for success. Key Topics/Themes: Legacy giving, fundraising strategy, annual planning, nonprofit leadership, wealth transfer