As part of the series Future of Nonprofit Finance, Blackbaud’s Sarah Curry sits down with Alex Wilson, the Co-Founder of The Giving Block to discuss why the conversation around cryptocurrency matters for nonprofit finance teams. They touch on some of the cryptocurrency trends and why organizations should think about owners of cryptocurrency as a donor demographic as well as a way to diversify revenue streams.
Topics covered:
Resources:
In this excerpt of a conversation with Satonya Fair, President and CEO of PEAK Grantmaking, she encourages grantmaking organizations to rethink their relationship with risk. Instead of focusing on being responsible for the foundation, she recommends looking to how organizations build deeper relationships with applicants and grantees and be poised to be responsive to the needs of the community.
For the past 10 years, the Blackbaud Institute Index has tracked year-over-year trends in philanthropy and annual giving statistics—with the goal of empowering organizations to know their sector and raise more, faster. Over this time, the Index has grown to track over $51 billion from over 8,500 organizations in the United States!
To celebrate we’ve invited some of our most trusted advisors, industry experts, and friendly faces to lead virtual fireside chats, podcast episodes, and more! Today’s episode of the sgENGAGE podcast features a conversation between Steve McLaughlin, Vice President of Product Management with Blackbaud and a senior advisor to the Blackbaud Institute, and Dr. Una Osili. A global expert on philanthropy and social innovation, Dr. Osili has more than two decades of experience in leadership, economic policy and research across the public and private sectors. She serves as the Associate Dean for Research and International Programs, Efroymson Chair in Philanthropy, and Dean’s Fellow for the Mays Family Institute on Diverse Philanthropy at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.
There is no doubt that the giving landscape is shifting—from the donors who are responding to the way they want to be engaged. In this excerpt from their longer conversation, Steve McLaughlin and Dr. Una Osili break down the data on the changing demographic in charitable giving and how fundraisers can leverage this information to grow alongside this new generation of donors.
Topics Covered in this episode:
Resources:
On demand, Blackbaud Institute Index’s 10th Anniversary Celebration
More from sgENGAGE and the Blackbaud Institute
To receive quarterly updates on the Index straight to your inbox, subscribe to The Source newsletter.
Quote:
“There's a bit of a call to action for nonprofits and fundraisers: how do we engage the next generation of donors? We have four generations in the charitable landscape and a big part of our job ahead, our task ahead, and the work ahead–for all of us–is engaging that next generation of donors.” – Dr. Una Osili
Alex Budak, UC Berkeley faculty member and author of Becoming a Changemaker, joins Blackbaud’s Rachel Hutchisson to discuss how to develop your mindset and leadership skills to make positive change as part of our CSR Book Club Series.
Topics discussed in this episode:
Resources:
Quotes:
"Leaders might be scarce, but leadership is abundant."
For the past 10 years, the Blackbaud Institute Index has tracked year-over-year trends in philanthropy and annual giving statistics—with the goal of empowering organizations to know their sector and raise more, faster. Over this time, the Index has grown to track over $40 billion from over 8,400 organizations in the United States!
To celebrate we’ve invited some of our most trusted advisors, industry experts, and friendly faces to lead virtual fireside chats, podcast episodes, and more! Today’s episode of the sgENGAGE podcast features a conversation between Blackbaud Institute managing director, Ashley Thompson, and leadership expert and coach Marc Pitman. Marc helps high performers keep their edge, emerging leaders maintain their momentum, new leaders confront the demands of their position, and established leaders find fresh strategies. In this excerpt from their longer conversation, Marc and Ashley explore the concept of doubt and how it can be embraced as a framework for developing your skills and becoming an exceptional leader.
Topics Covered in this episode:
Resources:
Blackbaud Institute Index’s 10th Anniversary Celebration
More from sgENGAGE and the Blackbaud Institute
To receive quarterly updates on the Index straight to your inbox, subscribe to The Source newsletter.
Quotes:
“My premise in my working with leaders has proven that sometimes, ‘what am I missing?’ isn't the right question; that doubt can push us and can get so big that it pushes us to ask, ‘what if I'm the right person for this role?’ ‘What if I'm exactly what the team needs?’ ‘What if this organization is exactly the voice the sector needs?’” – Marc Pitman
For the past 10 years, the Blackbaud Institute Index has tracked year-over-year trends in philanthropy and annual giving statistics—with the goal of empowering organizations to know their sector and raise more, faster. Over this time, the Index has grown to track over $40 billion from over 8,400 organizations in the United States!
To celebrate we’ve invited some of our most trusted advisors, industry experts, and friendly faces to lead virtual fireside chats, podcast episodes, and more! Today’s episode features a conversation between brand strategist Ben Smithee and the Blackbaud Institute’s Ashley Thompson. At The Smithee Group, Ben Smithee has been helping leaders and businesses dream bigger and achieve more. In this excerpt from their conversation, Ben shares his expert advice on how a powerful brand allows for organizations to drive higher value and cataclysmic demand. Unfortunately, as Ben points out, powerful branding like this is one of the biggest areas where organizations fall behind today. He and Ashley connect on current trends in philanthropy and the for-profit sector to outline how you can get ahead of the curve by creating a relevant, legacy-focused brand in today’s digital ecosystem.
Topics Covered in this episode:
Resources:
Blackbaud Institute Index’s 10th Anniversary Celebration
More from sgENGAGE and the Blackbaud Institute
To receive quarterly updates on the Index straight to your inbox, subscribe to The Source newsletter.
Quotes:
“A brand is a promise that an organization has the opportunity to deliver upon.” – Ben Smithee
“How do we become relevant to the future of the organization and create a legacy? By focusing on the future stakeholders of the organization. We can't fall in love with how we've always done things.” – Ben Smithee
For the past 10 years, the Blackbaud Institute Index has tracked year-over-year trends in philanthropy and annual giving statistics—with the goal of empowering organizations to know their sector and raise more, faster. Over this time, the Index has grown to track over $40 billion from over 8,400 organizations in the United States!
To celebrate we’ve invited some of our most trusted advisors, industry experts, and friendly faces to lead virtual fireside chats, podcast episodes, and more! We couldn’t have kicked off the series with a better guest than Chuck Longfield, renowned data scientist, philanthropy strategist, and the creator of the Blackbaud Institute Index! Now retired, Chuck allowed us to steal him from the golf course for a little while to sit down for a conversation with Steve MacLaughlin—lucky us!
In this excerpt for the sgENGAGE podcast, Chuck shares the inspiration behind the Blackbaud Institute Index and the value of such a significant and diverse data set when determining current trends and best practices in the sector. After the podcast, check out the full webinar, available on demand, where the two discuss the lessons Chuck has learned over his 40 year career, and put their heads together about how these lessons can help organizations navigate the road ahead.
Topics Covered in this episode:
Resources:
Blackbaud Institute Index’s 10th Anniversary Celebration
More from sgENGAGE and the Blackbaud Institute
To receive quarterly updates on the Index straight to your inbox, subscribe to The Source newsletter.
Quotes:
“Because there really wasn’t any gold standard, different organizations can pick and choose their metrics can pick and choose the definitions of their metrics. And it causes organizations I think, too often, to come to the wrong conclusion about maybe what their next step should be. And so, for many of the years that I've been working in this area, I wanted to try to standardize these metrics.” – Chuck Longfield
Many foundations face hurdles in creating advocacy agendas whether it be convincing a board of directors, finding the time and resources, or seeking funds from grantmakers. Chynna A. Phillips, senior director of policy and research at Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina, and Melissa Levesque, senior vice president and chief strategy officer at Coastal Community Foundation, spoke with Blackbaud’s Sally Ehrenfreid, government relations lead about implementing advocacy in foundations and their respective journeys.
Topics covered:
Resources:
Advocacy and Awareness: 4 Tips for Virtual Campaigning
Quotes:
“Boards decide how fast you’re going to move as an organization.”
“We had our grantmaking and community leadership committee really own sort of the nuts and bolts of developing our advocacy agenda.”
“A great grant proposal is really just exceptional storytelling that matches a need for financial support.”
“Stay connected to your ‘Why?’, build trust with your community leaders, and have honest conversation.”
The shift to remote work post-pandemic has caused many employees to feel stressed, burnt out, and out of control of their workplace dynamic. Meico Marquette Whitlock, founder of The Mindful Techie, shares tools and strategies on how to regain control and relieve the stressors that face us.
Topics covered in this episode:
Resources:
The Hybrid Workplace Wellness Playbook for Grantmakers
6 Ways Nonprofit Professionals Can Conquer Post-Pandemic Workplace Stress
The sgENGAGE Podcast: Creating and Sustaining a Culture of Wellbeing for Grantmakers
5 Ways Grantmakers Create Work- and Tech-Life Balance
Quotes:
“A lot of organizations are making assumptions of what people want, and I think the first place to start is to actually ask the question.”
“You really have to just be human and be very vulnerable about what you're dealing with and to see them as a person versus an employee or a worker.”
“practicing social distancing with your technology can support you in having a healthier relationship with technology.”
Businesses emerged as the most trusted institutions in the 2022 Edelman Trust Barometer, which also showed that people expect more from businesses in solving the world's problems. So, how can companies step up to lead the charge and maintain that position of trust?
Kendra Fogarty, corporate social responsibility manager at UScellular, spoked with Blackbaud's Rachel Hutchisson about the role of CSR and community engagement in building trust with consumers, employees, and community members. Listen in to hear Kendra share her key takeaways from the Edelman Trust Barometer data, how UScellular engages communities and employees, and how companies can make sure that their philanthropic programs truly meet the needs of the communities they are intended to help.
Topics covered in this episode:
Resources:
Employee volunteerism has become an essential component of a company’s corporate social responsibility and employee engagement strategies. In this episode, Melissa Hackmeier, global head of employee & community engagement at MilliporeSigma, joins the podcast to discuss how she launched the company's first ever global volunteer program and the best practices and lessons she’s learned along the way.
Topics covered in this episode:
Resources
Research has shown that women are more prone to burnout than men for a variety of reasons, including societal expectations and imbalances in responsibilities across work and home. This can be further intensified for women working at nonprofits and other social good organizations, which often have higher than average rates of burnout and turnover.
Today’s guest, Stacie Barber, is an integrative life coach and the founder of Stacie Barber Lifestyle. She joined host Rachel Hutchisson in a discussion about why it’s important for women leaders, and all women, to engage in self-care practices at work and at home so they are aren’t overburdened and feel healthy and productive.
Topics covered in this episode:
Resources:
Open, honest, and transparent communication with grantee partners can help minimize power imbalances and help foster a sense of mutual transparency and accountability that is critical to our success as grantmakers. Hear from Shaady Salehi, executive director, Trust-Based Philanthropy Project, Lisa Maloney-Vinz, director of global community relations, Ecolab Foundation, Drexel Owusu, chief impact officer, The Dallas Foundation, and Lauren Scott, executive director, Harris and Eliza Kempner Fund about how their organizations are embracing transparency.
Why is due diligence important in grantmaking organizations? The process of satisfying legal requirements impacts many areas within an organization— mission alignment, stewardship, duty of care, reputation, outcomes & impact, and overall effectiveness to name a few.
In this episode, learn from Elizabeth (Liz) Gousse Ballotte, principal at PKF O’Connor Davies, about what the staff at grantmaking organizations need to know to be compliant.
Topics covered in this episode:
Resources
ESG (environment, social, and governance) is a hot topic amongst for-profit companies and investors, but is it important for nonprofits and other social good organizations too? Today's guest thinks so. Tim McClimon, principal consultant for The Celeste Group, which specializes in corporate social responsibility and nonprofit management strategies and programs, and former head of corporate social responsibility at American Express, joined Rachel Hutchisson to discuss why social good organizations should view ESG as an operating strategy and as a way of being more transparent and accountable to their employees, donors, beneficiaries, communities, and the planet. Rachel and Tim also talked about what nonprofits can learn from companies, including Blackbaud, and how companies can help increase the focus on ESG in the nonprofit sector.
Topics discussed in this episode:
Join Meico Marquette Whitlock, founder and CEO of Mindful Techie, for an interactive training that will inspire you with mindful approaches for creating sustained balance in your life. Prepare to lower your stress level, focus on getting the important things done, and be more present for yourself, your team, and your family. Click here to listen to the full webinar from the Grantmaking Thought Leadership webinar series.
Topics discussed in this episode:
Resources:
5 Ways Grantmakers Create Work- and Tech-Life Balance
Quotes:
"When it comes to preemption, we want to be focused on creating a culture of care (...) that we are building in strong work/life boundaries and not depending on the individual to create those boundaries."
"Addressing the organizational and institutional action of this is a longer term proposition."
"Many of us are making assumptions of what is required of us, but something that is actually not being expected of us."
Rachel Hutchisson is joined by Chris Jarvis, executive director of Realized Worth, to kick off our CSR Book Club Series with an article from Stanford Social Innovation Review called “Fixing the S in ESG.” Listen to learn more about quantifying social impact and what the future of S looks like.
Chantal Forster, executive director of the Technology Association of Grantmakers (TAG), discusses the top areas where grantmakers can make the most impact in 2022 and how technology can help them achieve that impact.
Technology Association of Grantmakers (TAG)
Webinar: The Rising Role of Technology—and the People Behind It—in Advancing Philanthropy's Mission
How to Fund Nonprofit Tech: A Guide for Funders and Nonprofits
“Imagine if the private sector only surveyed its customers every three years.”
“If philanthropy doesn’t invest in tech infrastructure, then you are enabling inequity.”
Topics Discussed in This Episode:
-Is a remote audit what your organization needs?
-Plan for what an auditor will need to see
-Create a strong audit trail with documentation, naming conventions, and accessible details
-Gather what you’ll need and provide secure access to your auditor
Webinar: Be Audit You Can Be, Remotely: Preparing and Running a Successful Remote Audit
Blog: The Final Step of the Nonprofit Audit: Presenting Financial Statements to your Board
"As the auditee, you have the ability to mold this relationship however you want it."
"I think [hybrid audits] are terrific and I think that could be a good solution for a lot of you that want the best of both worlds."
"If we have an audit that's beginning the first week of May, we want to be able to hit the ground running."
There are a lot of ways to think about how technology impacts things, as well as how different constituent types interact with it and the relationships that it helps them build. In today’s episode, we’ll be discussing recent research on how technology improves the relationship between schools and parents.
Joining the podcast today is Chuck English, of English Marketing Works, and Linda Lawrence, of Ransom Everglades. Listen to the episode to hear what they have to say about the key findings of the recent Blackbaud study show, the expectations that people have about the technology they interact with, and how the technology profile at Linda’s school came about.
Topics Discussed in This Episode
Resources:
Using Technology to Bridge the Value Gap in Private Schools
Moving Forward: Enriching the Parent Experience with a Focus on Technology
Infographic: K–12 Independent Schools Parent Survey
Quotes:
“Technology has a huge impact on their experience as parents.” – Chuck English
“Parents have learned to become very nimble with what to expect, and we just find ways to ease into those situations at a moment’s notice.” –Linda Lawrence
“I think you develop alliances; you identify those super-users that can provide assistance.” –Linda Lawrence
What do you know about setting goals for yourself and your team and managing those goals? In today’s episode, you’ll hear an excerpt from the Skills UP webinar series. In it, you’ll hear Damaris Herron-Watkins discuss best practices for creating and managing your team’s goals. Listen in to hear what she has to say about the purpose of goal management, the different types of goals, and making goals SMART.
Topics Discussed in This Episode
Resources:
5 Keys for Achieving your Organization’s Goals
Quotes:
“A couple of reasons why goals are important is one, they help to prioritize your work and the work of your team.”
“When we’re creating goals for our team, like I said, you have to make sure you know what your goals are for the year.”
“SMART stands for specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based.”
International Women’s Day is on March 8th, 2022, and it’s a good time to think about the state of women and girls worldwide, how current events may make violence and abuse even worse than they were, and how to move forward by empowering each other.
Today’s guest is Vesna Jaric, the Interim Chief of the UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women. Listen to the episode to learn about Vesna’s role at the Trust Fund and how current events affect the state of women and girls around the world.
Topics Discussed in This Episode:
Resources:
Learning from Practice: The Impact of COVID-19 on Violence Against Women and Girls
UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women
UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women on Twitter
UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women on Instagram
Quotes:
“So far, the fund has supported more than 600 organizations in 140 countries and territories across the world.”
“I would argue that violence against women and girls is probably the oldest and most persistent problem the world is dealing with.”
“Women’s rights organizations have been the first responders.”
We are highlighting an excerpt from the Skills UP Webinar Series where Deb Taft, CEO of Lindauer Global, will be talking about the dynamics of hiring and how you can achieve success in effective retention. Listen to what she has to say about the Great Resignation, the rise of freelancers and gig workers, and the remote/in-person hybrid.
Topics Discussed in This Episode:
Resources:
Skills Up FREE Webinar Series for nonprofit managers
The Future of Executive Search
To Attract Talented Fundraisers of Color, Get Your House in Order
CASE xChange Podcast; President and CEO Sue Cunningham interviews Lindauer CEO Deb Taft
4 Keys for Attracting, Hiring and Retaining a Successful Major Gift Team
Quotes:
“I think one of the dynamics to think about is that there is very little loyalty.”
“So, hiring is on steroids, and if you are struggling to retain and hire, you are not alone.”
“I just need people to understand, that employees will choose you, talent will choose you, or not, depending on what’s possible.”
Public policy impacts decisions made around charitable giving. These policies can influence how people give, when they give, and how much they give. So what are the likely effects for 2022?
In today’s episode, you’ll hear from Brian Flahaven to learn how policies have impacted giving over the past few years and what’s ahead for the coming year. Listen in to hear what Brian has to say about his role in the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) and what they do, what current legislation is on the table, and whether Brian believes it will gain traction this year.
Topics Discussed in This Episode:
Resources:
Blackbaud’s Charitable Giving Report
Quotes:
“Having an incentive there, sending that signal, will encourage more Americans hopefully to give even more to charitable organizations during these difficult times.”
“In the tax world, it’s pretty much been a partisan game over the past few years.”
“A lot of institutions are actually creating their own giving days.”
Topics Discussed in This Episode:
Resources:
Quotes:
“When you’re identifying a mentor, be really upfront with them about why you’re asking them, why you thought of that person.”
“I also believe that the best mentors are always mentees themselves.”
“Look for the type of sponsor you want, the gender doesn’t matter.”