A Legacy of Generosity

Every conversation, every piece of material, every interaction is moving a donor either closer to their gift or further away — there is no standing still. In this episode, recorded live at the 50th annual Minnesota Gift Planning Association conference at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, host Jeffrey Prottas of Nonprofit 360 Consulting sits down with plenary speaker Cherian Koshy. A Minnesota native who started his career knocking on doors in 1996, Cherian spent 30 years in nonprofits across arts, healthcare, education, and workforce development, built an AI platform for nonprofits that was acquired by iWave (now KindSight), and is the author of Neurogiving: The Science of Donor Decision Making.

✨ In this episode, you’ll learn:

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Why charitable giving is an economically irrational decision — and what that means for how you have the conversation

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What “disintermediation” is, and how the gap between the donor and the gift has widened over three decades

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Why today’s donors aren’t just possibly more knowledgeable than you — they’re objectively more knowledgeable

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Why the ask is not the moment of decision, but the validation of a decision already made

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Which “gates” have to open before a donor says yes

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How to keep a donor out of “the threat zone” when a planned giving conversation asks them to contemplate their own mortality

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What AI genuinely does better than we ever did — and the one thing it can never do

🎧 Listen in for a conversation about where the science of decision-making meets the art of the human relationship — and why the fundraisers who thrive in this era will be the ones who know how to listen.

Key Topics/Themes: Donor psychology, neurogiving, planned giving, decision-making science, disintermediation, AI in fundraising, donor stewardship, transactional vs. transformational relationships, trust and values, bequest retention, the ask, gift officer training

Resources:

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http://cheriankoshy.com

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Brisk Walk — MGPA’s planned giving foundations training

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KindSight (formerly iWave)

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Nonprofit 360 Consulting

After more than three decades leading one of Minneapolis's most ambitious community organizations, Tony Wagner has earned the right to say the quiet parts out loud. In this episode, hosts Kristi Ackley and Jen Emerick-Cayton of Growth By Design sit down with Tony, founder and principal of the Wagner Group and the longtime leader of Pillsbury United Communities — an organization he led for 35 years after growing up in North Minneapolis as a client of one of its predecessors. Tony brings a rare combination of lived experience, hard-won leadership wisdom, and the candor that only comes from being able to look back on a full career.

✨ In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why every nonprofit actually serves two clients — the community and the funders — and why ignoring either one is a mistake
• How the funder relationship has shifted over the decades, from hands-off to far more prescriptive
• Why "partnership" language from funders often masks an unequal power dynamic — and how leaders can navigate it
• Why the program, not the client, became the unit of analysis in the nonprofit sector — and what gets lost as a result
• What marginalized families actually need most: a committed adult willing to walk with them for ten or fifteen years, not three
• Why the three-year funding model doesn't match how real change happens
• The five ways Tony framed Pillsbury's work — service, education, employment, inspiration, and organizing — and how that framing finally made the mission make sense to funders
• When to stop pounding on a closed door and get structurally creative instead
• How to reconnect with the passion that brought you into this work, before the system beats it out of you

🎧 Listen in for an honest, unvarnished conversation about leadership, funding, and what it really takes to put the client at the top — from someone who spent a career trying to do exactly that.

Key Topics/Themes: Nonprofit leadership, funder relationships, power dynamics in philanthropy, client-centered services, wraparound support, long-term funding models, earned income strategies, organizational innovation, storytelling and articulating mission, arts access and equity, executive director burnout, rural and urban parallels

Resources:

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Tony Wagner on LinkedIn

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Pillsbury United Communities

Legacy giving isn't a gift planning conversation — it's a relationship conversation that happens long before anyone talks about an estate. In this episode, hosts Kristi Ackley of Growth By Design and Ali Schneider of Animal Humane Society sit down with Jeffrey Prottas, founder of Nonprofit-360 Consulting and a nonprofit executive with more than 30 years of experience helping mission-driven organizations strengthen leadership, grow philanthropy, and increase their impact. Jeff's career has spanned youth work, higher education, faith communities, and rural community action organizations across the country — and he brings all of it to a candid conversation about what most nonprofits get wrong about donors.

✨ In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why the biggest barrier in rural fundraising isn't a lack of wealth — it's a lack of belief that the wealth is there
• How organizations restricted from soliciting can shift from campaigning to educating — and open the door for donors to come to them
• Why "best kept secret" is the worst possible position for a nonprofit to be in
• Why legacy giving is about values, not wealth — and how that shift changes the entire conversation
• How the definition of legacy has evolved from what happens after someone passes to what impact they want to see while they're still living
• Why touching base with donors 8 to 12 times a year — with non-solicitation outreach built into the plan — is the real work of relationship building
• Why donors are people, not "cards" — and how moves management connects annual, event, online, and legacy giving into one continuum

🎧 Listen in for a conversation that will leave you rethinking how your organization treats its donors — because if the people leading up to the legacy conversation don't do the work, the legacy officer never gets a shot.

Key Topics/Themes: Legacy giving, donor relationships, rural fundraising, moves management, transformative vs. transactional relationships, values-based philanthropy, donor retention, annual giving, giving while living, nonprofit leadership, development planning, community action organizations

Resources:Jeffrey Prottas on LinkedIn & Mission in Motion — Jeff's upcoming short-form video series launching in August on LinkedIn, TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram

What does it look like to launch an international nonprofit from lived experience — and build it to outlast its founder? In this episode, host Kristi Ackley of Growth By Design is joined by co-host Jeffrey Prottas of Nonprofit-360 Consulting for a conversation with Pablo Waissbluth, founder and chair of Vivo Crónico, a US-based 501(c)(3) dedicated to improving quality of life and advancing health equity for people living with chronic and complex health conditions across the Americas. Pablo brings a rare combination of 26 years of multinational business experience and a deeply personal journey as both a patient and caregiver to his work building an organization designed not just for today, but for long after he is at the helm.

✨ In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why the founder's story is the most authentic reason a nonprofit exists — and when it's time to let the organization build its own identity
• How to think about succession and organizational sustainability from day one, especially when a founder's own health is part of the equation
• Why diversifying revenue streams matters just as much in nonprofits as in for-profit business
• How partnerships are the key to executing at a high level with a small team
• Why building a pipeline of connected believers matters more than chasing dollars directly
• Why the best-kept secret in your community is actually the worst place to be as a nonprofit

🎧 Listen in for a conversation that will challenge you to think bigger, build smarter, and design your organization for impact that extends far beyond any one person.

Key Topics/Themes: Startup nonprofits, founder story, organizational identity, revenue diversification, hybrid funding models, health equity, chronic illness, donor relationships, strategic donors, nonprofit sustainability, partnerships, network building, community building, arts and storytelling

Resources: ⁠Vivo Crónico⁠

Most nonprofits are leaving millions — sometimes billions — on the table by asking donors for the wrong thing. In this episode, hosts Kristi Ackley and Jen Emerick-Cayton sit down with Eddie Thompson, founder and CEO of Thompson and Associates, a charitable estate planning firm with associates across the country. With more than 30 years of experience planning thousands of estates and generating well over $3 billion to charity, Eddie brings a perspective that challenges nearly every assumption nonprofits hold about how — and whom — to ask for major gifts.

✨ In this episode, you'll learn: Why asking donors to give from discretionary income — less than 3% of the average person's budget — keeps most nonprofits stuck at average Why the smartest organizations ask for gifts of net worth instead Why even a billionaire may hesitate to give because wealth rarely feels like enough The three types of donors — habitual, emotional, and strategic — and the very different strategies each one requires Why 36% of baby boomers don't plan to leave any inheritance to heirs, and what that means for charitable giving How Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) from IRAs can unlock larger gifts without impacting a donor's cash flow Why being at the table during estate planning — not just during a campaign — is where the biggest gifts are born How to move from nonprofit-centered asking to truly donor-centered relationship building🎧 Listen in for a conversation that will expand the way you think about donor relationships, planned giving, and the staggering potential your organization may not even know it has.

Key Topics/Themes: Planned giving, estate planning, net worth giving, discretionary income, donor types, qualified charitable distributions, QCDs, required minimum distributions, charitable gift annuities, donor-centered fundraising, legacy gifts, wealth and philanthropy, major gifts strategy

Resources:

• Thompson and Associates

In a sector where competition for donors and dollars can feel fierce, one fundraising leader is making the case for a radically different approach — one built on partnership, curiosity, and community trust. In this episode, hosts Kristi Ackley and Jen Emerick-Cayton sit down with Jennifer Pinske, Director of Community Engagement at Family Service Rochester, a cornerstone nonprofit serving individuals and families in Southeast Minnesota for more than 60 years. Jennifer brings 25 years of nonprofit experience to a conversation that challenges the scarcity mindset and shows what's possible when organizations choose collaboration over competition.

✨ In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why collaboration — not competition — is the foundation of a truly effective nonprofit
• How to identify gaps in your community rather than duplicating services that already exist
• What it looks like to partner with other nonprofits on programs, grants, and county initiatives
• Why referring a donor to another organization can actually deepen their trust in yours
• How to talk to donors about the bigger community picture — not just your own mission
• Why your organization's reputation in the community matters more than you think when it comes to legacy giving
• How smaller nonprofits and rural communities can start building collaborative relationships one step at a time
• Why the most meaningful donor relationships are partnerships, not transactions

🎧 Listen in for a conversation that will challenge you to think beyond your own organization — because when nonprofits rise together, the whole community wins.

Key Topics/Themes: Nonprofit collaboration, community partnerships, donor trust, legacy giving, duplicative services, stakeholder engagement, relational fundraising, community impact, donor referrals, nonprofit leadership, rural nonprofits

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

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)

• Benevity

• Mike Esposito Fundraising

• Mike Esposito on LinkedIn

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

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

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

The Great Wealth Transfer: What It Means for Rural Communities
with Ben Winchester and Janel Fredericksen

Over the next two decades, America will see the largest transfer of wealth in history—and rural communities stand to gain or lose more than many realize. In this timely conversation, hosts Camille Walz (West Central Initiative) and Kristi Ackley (Growth By Design) sit down with rural sociologist Ben Winchester and estate attorney Janel Fredericksen to break down what the Great Wealth Transfer really means for hometowns across Minnesota and beyond.

✨ Inside this episode:
• What the Great Wealth Transfer actually looks like in rural communities—and why the narrative is more hopeful than you might think
• How nonprofits can position themselves as trusted partners in long-term giving
• The role of community foundations, local relationships, and “place attachment” in capturing generational wealth
• Practical steps for starting conversations about estate gifts (without feeling awkward)
• How to engage younger generations through storytelling, values-based giving, and authentic community connection
• Real-world strategies rural leaders can use to keep local wealth local

Whether you’re a nonprofit leader, community advocate, donor, or simply care about the future of small towns, this episode offers clear insights and actionable tools for ensuring rural places thrive for generations to come.

🎧 Listen now to learn how intentional relationships, strong nonprofits, and powerful stories can help communities make the most of this once-in-a-generation opportunity.

Key Themes: rural philanthropy, donor relationships, estate planning, community vitality, generational giving, local wealth retention

MN State Share: https://mnstateshare.org/

LAL Planned Giving Toolkit: https://leavealegacymn.org/downloads/planned-giving-launch-kit/

Transfer of Wealth Data: https://extension.umn.edu/community-development/transfer-wealth

Great leadership doesn’t just happen — it’s cultivated. In this inspiring conversation, host Ali Schneider talks with business coach and master trainer LuAnn Buechler, board president of The Coach Initiative, a nonprofit providing pro bono coaching to leaders across the humanitarian and nonprofit sector. Together, they unpack how coaching becomes a powerful catalyst for growth, clarity, and expanded impact.

✨ In this episode, you’ll learn:

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Why coaching is one of the most effective tools for nonprofit leaders

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How clarity, accountability, and self-awareness strengthen teams

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What The Coach Initiative is doing to support humanitarian leadership

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Practical ways coaching can elevate your mission-driven work

🎧 Listen in to discover how investing in your leadership can transform the way you lead your team — and the communities you serve.

Key Topics/Themes: Leadership coaching, nonprofit capacity building, professional development, team effectiveness, humanitarian leadership, The Coach Initiative

This Veterans Day, discover how the bond between horses and humans is helping veterans find peace, purpose, and connection. Patti Gruber, Executive Director of Operation Wild Horse, joins host and U.S. Navy veteran Kristi Ackley to share how equine therapy is transforming lives — one relationship at a time.

✨ Inside this episode:

• How horses help veterans rebuild trust, communication, and confidence

• The story behind Operation Wild Horse and its roots in service and healing

• The powerful role of community and small donors in sustaining this mission

• Real stories of transformation from the arena

🎧 Listen now to uncover how compassion, connection, and mustangs are changing the way we support those who’ve served.

Key Topics/Themes: Veterans’ healing, equine therapy, community impact, resilience, donor support

Learn more or donate:https://vetrr.org/operation-wild-horse/

Getting your board involved in fundraising doesn’t have to feel like pushing a boulder uphill. In this episode, hosts Camille Pearson Walz and Kristi Ackley sit down with Hillary Frances of Flying Whale Strategies to share practical, proven ways to inspire your board to engage with confidence and clarity.

✨ Inside this episode:

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How to define clear board roles and expectations around fundraising

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Strategies for building stronger, more collaborative board–staff relationships

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Ways to match board member strengths to major gifts, annual giving, grants, and sponsorships

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How storytelling and data together can motivate giving and deepen donor trust

🎧 Listen now to discover how to turn board hesitation into energy, ownership, and fundraising success.

Key Topics/Themes: Board engagement, fundraising strategy, leadership development, donor storytelling, collaboration

Link: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hillary-frances-110aa661/

What happens when advocacy and generosity work hand-in-hand? In this powerful conversation, Ali Schneider from Animal Humane Society and Kelsey Polcher from Save the Boundary Waters explore how donors can become catalysts for real, lasting change.

✨ In this episode, you’ll discover:

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How fundraising and advocacy strengthen each other

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The crucial role donors play in driving community transformation

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Why generosity—when embraced collectively—can fuel movements

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Real examples of advocacy work shaped by donor engagement

🎧 Tune in to see how everyday generosity can ignite extraordinary impact.

Key Topics/Themes: Advocacy in fundraising, donor engagement, community transformation, environmental advocacy, generosity as a movement

Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs) are shaping the future of philanthropy—but how can nonprofits and donors harness them more effectively? Hosts Camille Pearson Walz and Kristi Ackley sit down with Chris Beach of the Minneapolis Foundation for a dynamic look at where DAFs are heading and how they’re influencing modern giving.

✨ In this episode, you’ll learn:

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How DAFs are evolving and what that means for nonprofits

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Strategies for building stronger relationships with donors who use DAFs

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Ways community foundations deepen engagement and expand impact

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Practical insights for donors wanting to give more intentionally

🎧 Press play to gain tools and insights that can elevate your giving—or your nonprofit’s strategy—starting today.

Key Topics/Themes: Donor-advised funds, modern philanthropy, donor relationships, community foundations, strategic giving

Women are shaping the future of giving at an unprecedented scale. Hosts Gay Gonnerman and Camille Pearson Walz talk with Jennifer Vickerman Akaolisa about how the great wealth transfer is elevating women’s influence—and what nonprofits need to understand to engage them meaningfully.

✨ In this episode, you’ll explore:

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How women approach legacy planning differently than men

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The unique opportunities—and challenges—women face in financial decision-making

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How to draw out a woman’s vision for impact and long-term legacy

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The rise of giving circles and how they’re empowering future female philanthropists

🎧 Join the conversation to learn how women are reshaping philanthropy—and what that means for the future of giving.

Key Topics/Themes: Women in philanthropy, wealth transfer, legacy planning, donor engagement, giving circles, gender-informed fundraising strategies

Generosity grows when it’s planned with intention. In this episode, Kristi Ackley and CPA Kyle Wesely reveal how strategic tax and financial planning can transform charitable giving into a powerful tool for both donors and the causes they support.

You’ll discover:

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Practical tax-wise strategies that maximize donor impact

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How to align giving with personal values and long-term goals

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Ways to strengthen donor relationships through thoughtful planning

🎧 Listen now to learn how smart financial planning can unlock generosity that lasts.

Key Topics/Themes: Charitable tax planning, maximizing donor impact, aligning giving with values, donor relationships

The future of fundraising is already unfolding — are you ready for it? Guest host Rebecca Lynn Petersen sits down with Katrina Pierson to explore the trends, skills, and strategies shaping tomorrow’s philanthropic landscape.

We explore:

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Key trends reshaping fundraising today and tomorrow

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Characteristics of successful fundraisers in a changing world

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Why mindfulness and emotional intelligence matter in development work

🎧 Listen now to get ahead of the curve and prepare for the future of fundraising.

Key Topics/Themes: Fundraising trends, emotional intelligence, adaptability, future of philanthropy, leadership in development