Fundraising Talks
News and updates from the USM Office of
Advancement Research
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 | | Nonprofits are often overlooked as cyberattack targets, but in reality they face heightened risk due to limited cybersecurity resources and the valuable data they manage. This article from Forbes explains that nonprofits missions, donor networks, and access to high‑profile supporters make them appealing to both criminal and nation‑state actors. One example involved a development nonprofit whose data was stolen and used by a nation-state to acquire resource‑rich land in Africa at a fraction of its value. Nonprofits’ low cyber maturity, along with their high‑value assets, creates a dual layer of vulnerability affecting both the organizations themselves and the influential individuals connected to them. As attacks grow more strategic and politically motivated, breaches can erode public trust and disrupt operations across the sector. Corporate partners can play a critical role by offering expertise, tools, and stronger shared security practices to help protect these mission‑driven organizations.
| | Many nonprofits rely on widely available donor‑scoring tools and collective AI models, but these generalized systems offer only broad, probabilistic insights. While these tools can identify donors who resemble typical supporters of certain causes, they fall short when organizations need to know who will fund their specific priorities. Bespoke AI, which is built on an institution’s own donor data, history, and strategy, provides more precise intelligence because it learns the unique patterns that drive giving within your nonprofit or institution. This allows fundraising teams to make better decisions, focus on the right prospects, and align actions more closely with institutional goals. Instead of validating generic scores, researchers can spend their time interpreting insights and partnering strategically with frontline fundraisers. As AI becomes even more mainstream, organizations that invest in custom intelligence will gain a competitive edge that others cannot replicate. Click here to read more from bwf. | | | |
Nonprofits across all sectors are seeking ways to engage younger generations who want hands-on involvement and to see the impact of their actions. The nonprofit Gift of Life Marrow Registry utilizes its Campus Ambassador Program, where students not advocate for the mission but also become lifesaving stem cell donors, sometimes even meeting the recipients they helped save. According to Jay Feinberg, founder and CEO of the Gift of Life Marrow Registry, nonprofit leaders can inspire stronger engagement from young people in five key ways:
1. Give young people ownership, not just involvement.
2. Meet them where they are—on campus and in their communities.
3. Partner with affinity networks for authentic connection.
4. Focus on relationships, not just recruitment.
5. Lead with identity, storytelling and shared values.
Ultimately, investing in youth engagement is not just a strategy, it’s essential to sustaining the future of philanthropy.
| | | A new national survey from Kindsight reveals that many fundraising organizations are missing critical moments when donors are ready to give. Sixty‑six percent of active donors say they’ve wanted to donate but didn’t because outreach felt mistimed, generic, unclear, or overwhelming. There is a “readiness gap” that can cause lasting damage to donor relationships. The top reasons for this gap include uncertainty about how gifts will be used, impersonal messaging, poor timing, and too many requests. Healthcare organizations were highlighted as a clear example: despite being the most supported sector, many grateful patients were contacted too late (or not at all) after their or their loved one's meaningful health events. Donors say nonprofits can improve by being transparent about impact, communicating more authentically, and honoring donors’ giving history. The full report is available at Kindsight’s site for those interested in deeper data. | | |
| | | Crypto philanthropy hit a major milestone in 2025, with The Giving Block processing more than $100 million in cryptocurrency donations and signaling the rise of the “digital donor.” These supporters increasingly give through multiple digital-held assets including crypto, stock, and donor-advised funds, which reflects a broader shift in how people store and deploy charitable wealth. Crypto gifts are trending toward major‑gift levels, with 21 percent exceeding $100,000, and stock donations also surged online, rising 127 percent in 2025 with an average gift of $51,250. DAF giving grew as well, with digital DAF grants more than doubling year over year. Each asset type follows its own seasonal and financial rhythm, which means that nonprofits must time their outreach accordingly and make giving seamless across digital platforms. According to The Giving Block, organizations that enable donors to give any asset, in any format, directly through their websites will be best positioned for the future of fundraising. Click here to read more.
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