The Nonprofit Show
The Nonprofit Show is the nation’s daily broadcast for the business side of nonprofits — bringing you practical insights, expert interviews, and real-world strategies to help your organization run smarter, lead stronger, and fund better.
Each weekday, our co-hosts and guests break down the most current topics in fundraising, board governance, leadership, staffing, technology, communications, and financial strategy — giving nonprofit professionals the tools they need to build sustainable, high-performing organizations.
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The Nonprofit Show
The New Rules of Nonprofit Donor Engagement Are Here
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Nonprofit donor engagement strategies for 2026 are changing rapidly as donor expectations, technology, and economic realities reshape fundraising. Kimberly O'Donnell, Chief Fundraising Officer at Bonterra, shares fresh research and practical insights from Bonterra's 2026 Impact Report to help nonprofit leaders build stronger donor relationships and sustainable revenue growth.
For decades, charitable giving and volunteerism have remained largely stagnant at approximately 2.5% of GDP. Bonterra's ambitious "3% by 2033" initiative aims to change that by helping organizations increase annual giving through smarter engagement, recurring donor programs, volunteer activation, and responsible use of artificial intelligence.
Kimberly explains why recurring giving may be one of the most important opportunities available to nonprofits today. Rather than continuously replacing one-time donors, organizations can build predictable revenue streams by encouraging monthly and annual commitments from supporters who already care deeply about the mission.
The conversation also explores a growing challenge facing the sector: donor dollars are increasing while donor participation continues to decline. According to Bonterra's research, 43% of respondents reported they cannot afford to give more in today's economic environment. That reality requires nonprofits to create new pathways for engagement through volunteerism, advocacy, micro-volunteering opportunities, and personalized communication.
"We have what we call dollars up, donors down."
Kimberly also discusses how AI is moving beyond simple content creation and becoming a strategic tool for donor segmentation, campaign planning, data analysis, and supporter engagement. One organization highlighted in the report increased annual appeal revenue by 41% after integrating AI into its fundraising campaign strategy.
"When we treat them as individuals and not as segments, donors feel it."
Whether you're a nonprofit executive, fundraiser, board member, or development professional, this episode offers valuable perspective on where fundraising is heading and how organizations can prepare for the next era of donor engagement.
00:00:00 Introduction: New Rules of Donor Engagement
00:02:24 Inside Bonterra's 2026 Impact Report
00:05:32 Why Giving Has Stalled at 2.5% of GDP
00:08:21 The Power of Recurring Donor Programs
00:12:53 Donors Are Down While Dollars Rise
00:14:13 Personalization and Rebuilding Donor Trust
00:16:04 Why AI Will Change How Donors Give
00:18:22 Using AI to Improve Fundraising Results
00:19:58 Volunteerism as a Growth Strategy
00:23:35 Building an Innovation Mindset in Nonprofits
00:25:09 How AI Increased Fundraising Revenue by 41%
00:28:34 Human-Centered AI for Nonprofit Growth
#TheNonprofitShow #NonprofitFundraising #DonorEngagement
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