But one thing all boards have in common, at least on the nonprofit side, is a desire to do something. Now, if you’re in fundraising, you might stop here, throw your phone against an unadvised surface, or yell at your pup: “My board won’t do a thing! That’s the problem!” I’ve heard it all before. The board won’t work on X, Y, or Z, or members barely show up for meetings, etc. The problem very well might be your board, but it might also be how you’re structuring meetings and setting expectations. 

A July 2023 survey found that 72% of respondents felt an online degree was more reputable than five years prior. The biggest perceptual shift was among Generation Z participants, a data point that was somewhat surprising. Online degree growth typically came from working students or non-traditional students who had taken time off and returned to school. Yet, the fact that a younger cohort was now coming around to pursue a higher degree online was completely new.

It took me a bit of time to come to the realization, embarrassingly enough, that Louis luggage isn’t culture. Louis luggage is exciting, Louis luggage is eye-catching, and Louis luggage can even win you some games. But unless that Louis luggage is pouring through Boulder, Colorado, on an annual basis, good luck sustaining a winning record. The problem for Coach Prime is that while he was able to inject some Louis into the program and notch early wins, there was no comparable luggage waiting on the conveyor belt.

Text messaging is a must. 90% of texts are opened within 3 minutes. Visual GIFs or images deliver 25% higher conversions and perform really well at the end of November (Giving Tuesday) and into December. The best times, days, and frequencies for fundraising texts: 4 to 5 PM is the highest ROI

But that lack of ideological capture is FIRE’s raison d'etre. Their supporters understand this, and most importantly, hold FIRE accountable. My thoughts on FIRE crossed paths with a Chilean politician a couple of weeks ago. Chilean presidential elections don’t make headlines outside of Latin America, but I spend quite a bit of time in Chile, working with non-profits in the capital city of Santiago. The country will head to the polls in December to elect its next President, and one of the previous front-runners crashed out in the most recent run-up elections.

According to a recent study, an uncomfortably high (40%) of respondents indicated they have received what is coined as “AI workslop” over the past month. The researchers define workslop as: “AI-generated work content that masquerades as good work, but lacks the substance to meaningfully advance a given task.” This is troubling, especially the “lacks the substance” part.

Zohran Mamdani won the New York City mayoral election last night. Born in Uganda and raised in NYC, the charismatic mayor-elect is just 34 years of age and is now heading up arguably the most influential city on the planet. It’s quite an accomplishment, and regardless of whether you align with Mamdani’s political platform or believe he can accomplish some of his lofty aspirations, the one characteristic I could never shake while observing this guy’s campaign was his smile.

Someone notches $10 million in adjusted gross income after selling their business and contributes $1 million to reduce their tax liability. If this occurs in 2025, the person would receive a tax reduction of $370,000. Beginning in 2026, however, the deduction would be reduced by $20,000 due to the ceiling and by an additional $50,000 due to the floor (point #1).

The estate tax exemption will remain high - $13.99 million for individuals and $27.98 million for couples in 2025. In 2026, it will rise to $15 million and $30 million, respectively. High-net-worth families will now be able to engage in more thoughtful (certain) planning about charitable bequests and legacy gifts.

Back in the 1950s, if your parents or grandparents wanted to help a nonprofit, they did something that sounds completely baffling - they mailed a check. Your grandmother would sit down in that cubby desk where the only house phone resided, coupled with important documents in the drawer. She’d pull out her checkbook, endorse the check, and then put on her best dress to head off to the post office to mail in her contribution. The notion of transparency and trust in the 50s (and up to the 90s one could argue) was more or less assumed.

Economic downturns are a fact of life. It’s normal to feel that once we pull out of a downturn the foreseeable future will be rosy and great. That is generally true, but another downturn always awaits. Recessions are a cyclical phenomenon. As an independent school leader, preparing for the inevitable is vital for the long-term health of your school. Advancement departments play a critical role in ensuring school financial sustainability. During an economic downturn, fundraising is indeed more difficult. But there are some interesting areas that can still move the donor needle.

When most development leaders think of an endowment, large universities with robust development departments come to mind. This may be true, but endowments are not reserved solely for universities. Schools are often reluctant to solicit funds specifically targeted for endowment. This may result from a lack of understanding. Schools, like other nonprofits, avoid accumulating “apparent wealth.” But endowments ensure your long-term stability, provide an added layer of support in the event your school experiences an unusual financial situation, and funding for specific programs or initiatives. In fact, over the past two years, schools with endowments were better able to circumvent the effects of the pandemic versus those that did not.