Fundraising Talks
News and updates from the USM Office of
Advancement Research
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Many nonprofits are approaching AI adoption reactively, often assigning the responsibility to overextended internal committees without clear strategy or authority. This article from APRA Connections argues that AI is not a short-term initiative but a long-term, systemic shift that demands dedicated leadership. APRA recommends creating a resident AI advisor role, someone who will serve as a strategic, ethical leader responsible for guiding AI use across the organization. This advisor would help set policies, train staff, monitor tool use, and bridge departmental silos. Formalizing this role can help nonprofits adopt AI intentionally and responsibly.
| | This article from APRA Connections emphasizes that while prospect researchers often focus on external data sources, internal data (especially event attendance data) can offer valuable insights. Tracking who attends events can help map relationships between prospects and reveal potential connections that could aid in engagement strategies. Attendance data also serves as an indicator of a prospect’s affinity for the organization which complements wealth data to improve donor targeting. Additionally, integrating event data with moves management systems can highlight how event participation contributes to major gift cultivation. Click here to read more. | | | |
As we know, donor loyalty is shaped by every interaction a donor has with your organization, not just by fundraising efforts. At the University of Iowa Center for Advancement, a cross-functional loyalty index was developed to measure how experiences across departments collectively influence donor attitudes and behaviors. Key emotional drivers such as trust, connection, perceived impact, and pride strongly predict whether donors give again, give more, or recommend the organization. By treating loyalty as a shared responsibility across development, communications, stewardship, and alumni relations, organizations can better align efforts to build lasting donor commitment. Click here to read the full article from AFP Global.
| | | Hawaii has passed a new law regulating online charitable fundraising platforms, which will take effect on July 1, 2026. Modeled after California’s similar law, it requires platforms to register annually, disclose key donation details, obtain written consent from recipient charities, and promptly distribute funds. The law aims to balance transparency and donor protection with practical compliance for platforms, partly motivated by concerns over fraudulent campaigns after the Maui wildfires. Hawaii’s rules also cover websites that facilitate donations through checkout prompts or promotional sales. Notably, Hawaii’s definition of charities in “good standing” is simpler than California’s, potentially making compliance slightly easier for platforms operating in the state. Click here to read the full article. | | | |
Blackbaud’s latest report shows that giving and volunteering by employees stayed mostly steady in 2024, but with some interesting changes. On average, employees donated $744, and their companies matched almost the same amount. While medium-level donors gave less than before, bigger donors gave more to make up for it. Smaller companies had more people volunteering, but big companies focused on large group volunteer events, which led to more volunteer hours. Payroll giving was the most popular way people donated, and corporate grants also grew a lot, with the average grant size going up 13 percent and the typical grant amount increasing nearly 40 percent. Overall, giving stayed strong, and companies are working harder to combine money donations with volunteer work to make a bigger difference.
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