410.02 billion dollars. That is 2017’s record-breaking number for charitable giving, reported by Giving USA 2018. As you may recall, in their 2017 report, the Giving USA Foundation stated that 2016 reached new philanthropic heights with an impressive $390.05 billion in charitable giving. 2017, not to be outdone, made history—yet again— with their figure generouslyContinue reading ‘Giving USA 2018’: Banner Year for Philanthropy →

In her continuing series, we welcome special guest, Stelter Editorial Director, Katie Parker. Done right, an 8.5×11-inch piece of paper manages an incredible amount of work in your marketing communications. Here are a few powerful things a cover letter can do for your fundraising goals…and one thing it can’t. A cover letter IS: 1. PersonalContinue reading 4 Things a Cover Letter Is (And 1 Thing It Isn’t) →

The 2018 conference season is in full swing! One of the premier conferences we have the pleasure of attending every two years took place last week in Seattle—The American Council on Gift Annuities Conference. My brother Jeremy and I had the opportunity to attend together. We spent most of our time connecting with our nonprofitContinue reading Top 3 Takeaways from ACGA →

It’s finally starting to feel like spring here in Iowa (at least for the next couple days), and the spring conference and speaking season has fully commenced. This time of year is equally exhilarating and exhausting as I find myself all over the country (from Boston to Seattle and Indianapolis to Dallas…and everywhere in between)Continue reading Conversations at 30,000 Feet →

Nearly half of nonprofit leaders left or planned to leave their position within the next two years, according to The Nonprofit Sector’s Leadership Deficit by The Bridgespan Group. More surprisingly, the major reason for leaving wasn’t retirement. Rather, 12 percent of nonprofit leaders left their positions to go to other organizations—making this the leading reasonContinue reading How You Know Nonprofit Work Is Right for You →

Hearts, chocolate, roses—love and sweet things are in the air today. The sweetest notion? Couples really do love … giving together. “Giving is a source of agreement among couples.” —2017 Fidelity Charitable survey A 2017 Fidelity Charitable report found that more than 80 percent of its donors make giving decisions as a couple, including whichContinue reading The Secret to True Love: Giving as a Couple →

Research from The Bridgespan Group shows that demand for effective nonprofit leaders today is as high as ever. While demands are being met by filling executive director and other senior management positions fairly quickly and fairly well, the challenge still persists: How do we find a leader who is not only good at what heContinue reading How to Lead like a Boss When the Going Gets Tough →

There’s a bit of a chill in the air. Perhaps you’ve felt it? Welcome to January 2018. Sure, we all shake and shiver this time of year. But do you also feel mentally frozen, about being back to work after the glowing holidays while staring at another 12 months of a full calendar? Instead ofContinue reading How to Make 2018 What You Want It to Be →

From our biannual Stelter Olympics to my weekend soccer league, I can be a bit competitive. Like most of us, I strive to be the best at what I do—especially in the professional sense. I believe this is because the better we are at what we do, the more profoundly we can affect the livesContinue reading How to Be Better at Being You →

End-of-year is here, friends. Not news to you, is it? You’re living it, coming off a weekend of thanks and giving to barely catch a breath before heading into the season of goodwill and a surge in year-end giving. Let’s throw in yesterday’s Giving Tuesday and it’s all a flash before your eyes. Brace yourselfContinue reading How to Use Year-End Numbers to Increase 2018 Fundraising →

If you had a chance to read last week’s blog, I shared that our fearless leaders, Peggy Fisher and Larry Stelter, had been selected as the 2017 Outstanding Individual Philanthropists by the Association of Fundraising Professionals’ Central Iowa Chapter. On Friday, November 17, the Central Iowa Chapter of AFP held their 32nd Annual Philanthropy DayContinue reading Larry Stelter and Peggy Fisher: Association of Fundraising Professionals’ 2017 Outstanding Individual Philanthropists →

Americans are becoming increasingly philanthropically-focused, and not just today on National Philanthropy Day®. We are a bunch of worker bees in this country, or rather, giving bees. America’s Charities, in fact, estimates that Americans give about $4 billion annually through workplace giving. What’s more, employees say they want their companies to sweeten the charitable pot,Continue reading Philanthropy: It’s What We Do →

For decades, the planned giving industry has grown on the backs of the silent generation. But just last year, in 2016, the first baby boomer turned 70. As this new generation becomes more active philanthropically, are you equipped to understand the differences between them and their mature (born 1900-1945) parents? BOOMERS VS. MATURES Baby boomersContinue reading Matures vs. Boomers: Who Should Your Planned Giving Game Plan Focus On? →

We have all heard sayings that resonate with us and seem to stick with us wherever life takes us—our personal mottos if you will. Some simple, yet powerful words that I try to live by are “It is what it is.” These five words have helped me navigate some difficult situations. I share it oftenContinue reading Managing Stress: One Motto That Puts It into Perspective →

2017 marks the 100th year of the income tax charitable deduction.  If signed into law, the current framework for tax reform could change charitable giving as we know it. What will the 101st year of giving look like? Charitable gift planners from across the country met in Washington DC last week to help preserve the full valueContinue reading Charitable Gift Planners’ Day on Capitol Hill →

As you may have already gathered from our social media, Stelter is currently taking over Baltimore at the 2017 National Conference on Philanthropic Planning. We look forward to this event every fall. It’s always such a pleasure to meet new peers, see old friends and—of course—talk about what’s trending in the nonprofit industry. Each year,Continue reading You’re Receiving This Message Because We Are out of the Office →

Once again, it’s that time of year for planned giving fundraisers all over the country to take a step back from the day-to-day grind, get out of the office and recharge their batteries—as the National Conference on Philanthropic Planning 2017 begins next week! Constant learning is essential to every person and every profession. NCPP allowsContinue reading Planned Giving Pros Unite →

We’re talking with Stelter’s Director of Business Development Michael Hutney. In his nearly 10 years with Stelter, Michael has led product strategy, innovation, emerging media and strategic accounts, while building and supporting strong client relationships nationally. For years now, Big Data has been driving big business. Among a host of other uses, Big Data determinesContinue reading How to Harness Big Data →