#290 - Future of Fundraising with Nathan Chappell

·39 min·3 clips

Nathan Chappell explains why less than half of Americans now give to charity, a historic shift he calls the generosity crisis.

Host Ria Wong introduces the episode on Nonprofit Lowdown, focusing on the future of fundraising with guest Nathan Chappell. Chappell is introduced as co-author of 'The Generosity Crisis', Senior Vice President at DonorSearch, and co-founder of Fundraising AI. He begins by sharing his personal entry into fundraising, stemming from a childhood fundraiser at Straw Hat Pizza after a friend's accident. The discussion centers on the 'generosity crisis', defined by Chappell as a systemic decline in charitable participation, with less than half of Americans now giving compared to two-thirds two decades ago. Chappell explains this trend reflects growing inequality, as giving is concentrated among fewer people. He critiques the nonprofit sector for often doing the same things expecting different results, noting resistance to change. The conversation explores how younger generations like Gen Z are reshaping giving through platforms like GoFundMe and giving circles, challenging traditional 501(c)(3) models. Chappell links donor behavior changes to broader shifts in consumer behavior driven by AI and values alignment, where the private sector has mastered connecting heart and wallet. He emphasizes that nonprofits are competing for attention and connection, not just dollars, and need to rebuild trust through transparency and authenticity. A key tension discussed is between fundraisers' desire for relational practices and board pressures for immediate financial results. Chappell proposes solutions like educating boards to prioritize donor lifetime value and retention over short-term revenue, and moving to three-year rolling averages for fundraiser evaluations to avoid premature asks. He suggests practical actions like surveying donors about their relationship satisfaction. The episode concludes with Chappell promoting the Fundraising AI global summit, a free event aiming for 10,000 attendees from over 100 countries to discuss AI's role in fundraising.

As heard by us

A practical look at using AI without weakening the trust fundraising depends on.

Nonprofit Lowdown considers the future of fundraising through judgment, trust, and the value of human work. Nathan Chappell makes the case for using AI to support tasks people would rather not do, while protecting the skills and relationships that make organizations distinctive.

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Why you'd press play

You get a practical filter for deciding where AI can help fundraising teams and where the human touch still has to lead.

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