All About Supporting Philanthropy

The many components of our identities connect to form a unique human experience that is examined and explored further in “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for Advancement Services – Best Practices for Today’s Success.” Join aasp for a book report and contributing author conversation on this free publication that engages readers through thoughtful delivery, encouraging us to uniquely make good choices. No matter the stage of journey, you’ll feel inspired to ask valuable questions within critical areas of non-profit data services: acquisition, storage and usage.  00.00 Intro: Where do we start? 01.30 Book review 04.40 Summary on sections 11.50 Closing thoughts 12.40 Contributing authors - Intros 14.55 DEI vs ethics 17.10 Task force structure and action plan 20.00 Giving credit where credit is due 21.15 What is the book – what is it for? 25.45 Owning your data 31.00 Making a contribution 37.30 Valuable surprises  DEI for Advancement Services at aasp : https://www.advserv.org/dei-for-advancement-services aasp Best Practices Library : https://aasp.connectedcommunity.org/resource-libraries/best-practices-library    

Celebrating Our Wins through the Annual Aspire Awards Fellow Advancement Service professionals share their perspectives and experiences with the annual Aspire Awards, designed to recognize colleagues for their accomplishments. Become inspired and get ready to document your achievements after receiving advice from both sides of the award process. Robin and Sholanda will motivate future submissions by explaining how to best describe an innovative, complex project and measure success through impact. The size of your team and the size of the project may not matter as much as you would expect it to. It is the size of your story and the impact your project had on your foundation that matters most.   00:00 - Intro: Tell your story 01:30 - Diamond Award Winner Intro, Robyn Doughty 03:00 - How to Start the Submission Process 07:30 - Describe the Impact of Your Improvement 10:05 - Budgeting Time and Effort 13:25 - Selecting a Project 14:40 - Click Submit, and Then What Happens? 18:20 - Is It Worth It?  24:55 - Juror Intro, Sholanda Martin 27:43 - Becoming a Juror 28:40 - The Juror Experience 29:50 - What Does a Juror Look For? 34:05 - Advice on ‘Worthy’ Ideas 43:28 - Apply and See What Happens

Chelsea Lamego and Alejandro Stevenson-Duran, co-founders of Fundminer, discuss their journey in building their company and the challenges they aim to solve in the fundraising and advancement services industry. They share how they met and started working together, the development of their product, and their experience attending the AASP Summit. They also highlight the importance of self-service and scalability in their platform, as well as the role of artificial intelligence in automating repetitive tasks. They offer advice for others looking to build their own solutions and emphasize the value of community and mentorship.

Dr. Becky Frantz is the Executive Director of Customer Service for Development and Alumni Relations at the University of California at Davis. She shares her journey in philanthropy and involvement with the Association of Advancement Services Professionals (aasp). She emphasizes the benefits of volunteering and offers advice for pursuing professional development and volunteerism. Becky also discusses the aasp mentorship program and the value of finding mentor matches in the same or different industry. She highlights the importance of formal education in philanthropy and suggests areas for degree programs or courses. She also recommends aasp's best practice webinars and the aasp Connect platform as valuable resources for learning. - Volunteering in the advancement services field can provide valuable learning opportunities and personal growth. - The aasp mentorship program offers a platform for individuals to connect and learn from each other. - Formal education in philanthropy and nonprofit management is becoming more available and can provide in-depth knowledge and skills. - aasp provides resources such as best practice webinars and the aasp Connect platform for continuous learning and professional development.  - aasp is an inclusive association that welcomes organizations from various sectors and sizes. - aasp Connect and best practices resources are valuable tools for advancement professionals. - Volunteering with aasp offers opportunities to contribute and learn from others.

Data Science for Fundraising by Ashutosh Nandeshwar and Rodger Devine is a comprehensive book that covers topics such as learning R, predictive analytics, and data visualization. The book provides step-by-step instructions and guidance on implementing these concepts. It is written in a casual and approachable language, making it easy to follow along. The authors also provide additional resources and citations for further exploration. Overall, the book is highly recommended for anyone interested in data analytics and fundraising.

Summary In this podcast episode, Meg Padovani discusses the book 'The Little Book of Gold: Fundraising for Small and Very Small Nonprofits' by Eric Hanberg. She highlights the approachability and value of the book, emphasizing its relevance for both small and large organizations. Meg explores the importance of making fundraising goals approachable and shares insights on starting small and building relationships. She also appreciates the casual and supportive tone of the book, which makes it feel like a conversation with the author. Meg concludes by emphasizing the significance of human connection in successful fundraising and the hope and inspiration the book provides.   Takeaways Fundraising goals should be approachable and focus on building relationships. Starting small and cultivating relationships is key to successful fundraising. The book 'The Little Book of Gold' is valuable for both small and large organizations. The casual and supportive tone of the book makes it an enjoyable read. Human connection is at the heart of successful fundraising.

Staying Connected with Mark DeFelippis A leader in the Advancement Services industry, Mark DeFelippis shares familiar career comforts within his professional journey, starting with falling in to a position and finding a home. This personal perspective is a story of evolution and engagement, highlighting the importance of human connection in today’s virtual world.   00:00     Intros & Background 3:00        Mark’s entry in to professional organizations 8:40        History and evolution of AASP and Advancement Services 13:30     Technology revolutions and finding value 17:40     Working to connect 20:30     Understanding the art of fundraising 23:15     A.I. and the Human Factor 27:30     How to build and maintain relationships virtually 32:20     Understanding your role, creating the future 36:15     Value of volunteering

Your Donor Management System is just part of your technology ecosystem. Considering the many official and unofficial downstream and bolt-on solutions, managing your CRM, or changing your CRM, requires planning and many conversations. Listen as Jeffrey Wat dicusses technology ecosystems and technical debt. 00:00 Jeffrey Wat 03:03 CRM Systems and Planning Changes 05:35 Technology Ecosystems 13:26 Navigating Changes 20:03 How to Manage Bolt-on Solutions 27:01 Guardrails for Downstream Solutions 29:48 What is Tech Debt? 32:12 You Are Important To Your Operation

Today we are going to talk with a benchmarking guru who creates, and keeps track of, a bunch or simple surveys. And through these surveys, he can pinpoint his position relative to other shops of the same size, and even against shops that they aspire to emulate. Welcome Mark Longo from Caltech. 00:00 Mark Longo 11:23 Accounting and Non-profit on purpose 16:39 Benchmarking 22:54 Not Perfect 29:25 How to Get Started 36:59 The Goal of the Surveys 41:12 Phona-a-thon Demise 43:09 Unique Approach to Advancement Services

Summit 2023 was a testament to the dedication of our colleagues and friends. It is a multi-day affair that brings like-minded individuals together to share, learn, and celebrate. If you have never attended a Summit, we strongly recommend considering it. This episode is a unique opportunity, capturing candid conversations amid the conference's hustle and bustle. Join us as we converse with prominent figures from the philanthropic realm, including: Teresa Goddard, our respected treasurer within aasp. Jessica LaBorde, who presides as the president of aasp. Sue from Northwestern, a notable contributor to the field. Andy Leeson from Loyola, an influential figure in the sector. Taylor Scott from Northwestern, sharing invaluable insights. Mark Walcott, our esteemed vice president of aasp Korey Janse from the City of Hope, a beacon of hope. Craig Kahn from the University of Kentucky, a trailblazer in philanthropic pursuits. Mark Longo from Caltech, delving into the mysteries of philanthropy. Christian Elsberry from the University of Idaho, an academic luminary. Gale Ferris, recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, an enduring presence in our philanthropic industry. The Jerry Tolson Quartet, harmonizing the elements of our philanthropic journey. These conversations unveil common themes and shared experiences, reinforcing the idea that we all embarked on our philanthropic odysseys from different starting points. As you listen, you'll gain a deeper understanding of the path to advancement services and the heartwarming stories of triumph. Join us for this special Summit Snapshot episode, where professionalism and enthusiasm intertwine to shed light on the dynamic world of philanthropy.

Meg Padovani chats all things ChatGPT with Jay Ballinger. They reveal their "ah ha" moments, compare and contrast ChatGPT's strengths and weaknesses, describe how they are using it within Philanthropy today, and they even have a little fun with it.

Step into the world of alumni engagement like never before with the remarkable insights of Dr. Jay Le Roux Dillon. In this captivating episode, dive into the depths of alumni relationships as Dr. Dillon unveils his groundbreaking approach to crafting the Alumni Identity Score – a profound departure from conventional affinity or engagement metrics. More than a podcast episode, this is an exploration of the intricacies of alumni identity and its resonance in the realm of giving. Tune in to discover the keys to unlocking genuine alumni connections, and gain insights that will reshape your approach to fostering enduring relationships within the philanthropic landscape. Learn more about Alumni Identity as a metric and strategy at alumniidentity.com and test your own identity with your alma mater at score.alumniidentity.com. Connect with Jay Dillon on LinkedIn at LinkedIn.com/in/jayldillon

Dive into the world of data-driven philanthropy with Dr. Rodger Devine, a distinguished data scientist and expert author. In this enlightening episode, host Jianell engages in a compelling conversation that unveils the seamless integration of statistical analysis and philanthropic endeavors. Dr. Devine's adeptness at translating intricate concepts into relatable insights (and employing food analogies), adds a unique dimension to the discussion. Tune in to gain valuable insights into the synergy between data science and giving, as Dr. Devine's expertise reshapes best practices in the analytical realm of philanthropy.

Follow up to Episode 16 - Cryptocurrency. We revisit the unique gift, and the unique challenges, presented to Fort Lewis College as explained by Hillary Cote.

How do you describe Advancement Services and the value we provide? Listen to this interview with Tom Chaves to hear how he describes Advancement Services.

According to Fidelity Charitable, a third of cryptocurrency investors have donated some of their assets to charity.  Are you ready to accept donations in cryptocurrency? This episode brings together a panel of seven experts to help guide advancement services professionals through the several facets of accepting and recording crypto donations. The speakers discuss gift acceptance policies, crypto accounts, valuing and receipting crypto gifts, and prospect research.

Tara Watterson, Training Coordinator, and Margaret Griffin, Web Applications Analyst at North Carolina State University, share with us how they updated the online portal at NC State University, earning them a Sapphire Award. They took an antiquated intranet that was hard to navigate and created a modern portal to house resources to provide access to all stakeholders to be able to work efficiently with Advancement Services, Development Communications and Stewardship, and Events.

As advancement services professionals, we work hard to ensure that our organizations are in alignment with professional best practices. Every day we innovate and adapt to ever-changing conditions and characteristics of fundraising in non-profit operations. That is why aasp developed the aspire awards program. The only member awards program solely dedicated to celebrating the work of advancement services professionals. Join us as we talk to Terri Clark, Director of Prospect Development from the University of Tennessee Foundation about her team winning the 2021 aasp Aspire Saphire award for the Electronic Gift Agreement Application. She will explain how she built a gift agreement request system based within the University of Tennessee Foundation CRM system, streamlining the process for their frontline fundraisers.

In our industry of advancement services, there are a few rock stars. These are colleagues who we turn to for information and advice. They help describe the right way of recording our donors and gifts. One such individual is John Taylor. He is the creator of the fund services listserv and has worked for multiple advancement services shops. He is now a consultant for many development operations and is also the go-to guy for questions about IRS rules and for general best practices. In this episode, we are excited to bring Jianell's conversation with John Taylor to you.

When we look across our association, a full two thirds of us support higher education. That's a healthy percentage, but that also means the other one third of us support other things. Maybe it's health care or the arts or the environment or maybe education, but just not higher education. What do these other shops look like? Are they similar or different from a higher education mission? In this episode, and for everyone's benefit, we wanted to explore some of the uniqueness and challenges of supporting a non-hybrid cause.