Dear friends,

Now that we’ve entered September, fall fundraising is officially on. Giving Tuesday is 3 months from today, on December 2—and of course early fall will be a big push for direct mail. Our teams have been hard at work all summer on budgets, strategies, and messaging, and now we turn to final creative, production, and implementation. There’s a lot to do, but it’s an exciting time of year, and I love to see our clients’ campaigns come to life.

Action Alert

The Nonprofit Alliance has issued an action alert in response to concerns for the Combined Federal Campaign. Nonprofit leaders, please add your organization’s name to their letter by COB on Wednesday, September 3. Thank you!

“Since 1964, the CFC has exemplified the highest ideals of public service and collective philanthropy. Under OPM’s stewardship, the CFC facilitates charitable giving from federal civilian, military, and postal employees, channeling more than $9 billion to nonprofit organizations since its inception. In 2024 alone, federal employees contributed approximately $70 million to nearly 4,500 charities across 39 geographic zones, supporting critical efforts such as disaster relief, healthcare for underserved populations, educational access, environmental conservation, and veteran support services. These contributions highlight the CFC’s vital role in directing federal generosity toward tangible, life-changing impacts for countless individuals and communities.”

The Future of Personalization

Adrian White Slagle, CMO at the USO, wrote an excellent article that builds on our Bridge Conference panel on the future of fundraising. She emphasizes two themes in particular: privacy and personalization. The connection between these topics is—as always—donor trust. Successful personalization, she writes, will build trust, and that means being relevant to donors without raising privacy concerns. “That’s why first-party and zero-party data are now mission-critical.” Because this strategy may require investment, Slagle also notes the importance of educating leadership and prioritizing long-term indicators like retention and lifetime value. As always with fundraising ROI, it’s important to understand both short- and long-term impact.

“CMOs and CDOs have a responsibility to socialize with other key executives and board members that this approach, while the right one, will likely increase the cost of doing business in upfront dollars and time. But during a time when the ‘generally charitable’ donor pool is getting shallower, we need to change the way we do things in order to adapt.”

– Adrian White Slagle, CMO, The USO

Donor-Advised Funds

Jeff Brooks at Future Fundraising Now recapped the latest Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) fundraising report from digital payment tool Chariot, and the findings are eye-opening. DAFs are not only growing in size and overall impact, but are also fueling giving at every level. In fact, “69% of DAF gifts are under $1,000. 55% are under $500. 41% are under $250. 14% are under $100.”

This surge in accessible, everyday giving through DAFs is exactly what we’re seeing across our clients’ programs. It’s a powerful reminder that DAFs aren’t just for major donors—they’re becoming a vital channel for broad-based fundraising. With more transparency around DAF gifts, nonprofits have an incredible opportunity to acknowledge these donors, cultivate stronger engagement, and build lasting relationships that grow over time.

Everyday Courage

COO Kerri Kerr recommended a piece by Harvard Business Review on the everyday courage that makes a great leader. Author Alex Budak outlines six distinct kinds of courage—moral, social, emotional, intellectual, creative, and physical—and makes an important distinction between courage and bravery. Bravery has to do with heroic action in a crisis, whereas courage is a quality we can strengthen in our everyday lives. Budak also maps each category of courage onto specific behaviors and benefits. For example, asking questions and inviting debate helps build intellectual courage, which then improves strategic decision-making. I appreciate the emphasis on accessible practices that we can all put into action right away.

“[C]ourage isn’t an instinct; it’s a muscle built through consistent, values-aligned actions taken in the presence of doubt, risk, or fear…It’s especially powerful in moments that feel too small for a headline, but big enough to shape organizational culture, trust, and legacy.”

– Alex Budak, Harvard Business Review