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Second-home ownership may sound like a lifestyle topic, but this episode makes it clear that it is also a major nonprofit business opportunity. Jeffrey Glebocki, Founder and Lead Advisor of Strategy Plus Action Philanthropy, shares first-of-its-kind research on how second homeowners think, give, volunteer, and connect with causes in the communities where they spend part of the year. The scale alone is eye-opening. Jeff explains that there are about 6.5 million second homes in the United States, representing roughly 5% of the nation’s housing stock. Even more striking, half of those second homes are concentrated in just eight states: Florida, California, New York, Texas, Michigan, North Carolina, Arizona, and Pennsylvania. For nonprofits operating in these areas, this is not a niche audience. It is a significant and often underused segment of philanthropic opportunity!

Jeff explains that second-home owners bring substantial giving capacity. Their liquid available assets ranged from $250,000 to more than $100 million. More importantly, they are not simply passive residents. Many are interested in building relationships, finding meaning, and supporting local organizations once they feel connected to the place. That connection usually takes time. According to the research, donors often wait two to three years before making gifts in their second-home communities, but once engaged, they can become generous supporters, volunteers, and even board members.

One of the most exciting takeaways is that these donors are not looking for a hard sell. They respond to invitations from trusted people, easy entry points, and meaningful social experiences. Jeff puts it plainly: “If we don't know about you, if we don't hear about your group or your cause, we can't give to you.” That insight alone is a wake-up call for nonprofits that want to expand their visibility and strengthen local communications.

The lively conversation also reveals that donor values tend to remain steady across both primary and second-home communities. Yet donors often adapt their giving to local realities, whether that means environmental concerns, housing pressures, disaster response, or border issues. As one donor quoted in the research said, “Our money here has more impact, period.” That sense of direct, visible results can deepen trust and grow long-term support.

This is a smart, practical conversation about donor behavior, local engagement, and how nonprofits can better position themselves to welcome a high-capacity audience already living among them part of the year.

#TheNonprofitShow #Philanthropy #FundraisingStrategy

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Donor retention is a measurable strategy, not just a fundraising hope. Plus, how to calculate donor retention for nonprofits. On this episode of Fundraisers Friday, Julia Patrick and Tony Beall take on one of the most serious business challenges in the nonprofit sector: donor retention. Their conversation makes clear how fundraising success is not only about bringing in new names, it’s about keeping the people who have already said yes to your mission and building systems that help them stay connected.

The discussion begins with a hard truth: average donor retention is far too low, and many organizations are not even measuring it consistently. Julia frames the issue in plain terms, calling it “a crisis,” while Tony brings context by showing how retention can vary by subsector. Faith-based groups and higher education may see stronger rates, while arts, culture, and human services organizations often face a steeper climb. That contrast alone reminds nonprofit leaders that benchmarking matters, but strategy matters even more.

One of the most focused parts of their conversation is the simple donor retention formula. Julia makes the case that this number belongs in board meetings, CEO reports, and regular management conversations. Retention is not a side note. It is a core operating measure. As she puts it, “It should be present with everyone so that you know what is going on.”

Tony then moves the conversation from math to management. He explains that donors leave for understandable reasons: delayed thanks, weak impact reporting, too many asks, and too little human connection. His line captures the heart of the episode: “We’re not talking about transactional fundraising. We’re talking about relationship-driven fundraising.” That idea turns donor retention from a development task into an organizational discipline.

They also link retention to stewardship cost, long-term donor growth, monthly giving, and next-generation philanthropy. Monthly donors, in particular, are shown as a promising path for building a more stable base. Julia and Tony encourage leaders to study patterns, review donor journeys, and make practical choices with limited resources.

00:00:00 Welcome to Fundraisers Friday
00:02:31 Why Donor Retention Is a Nonprofit Crisis
00:03:14 Retention Rates by Nonprofit Sector
00:06:18 Why Donors Stop Giving
00:08:00 Relationship-Driven Fundraising Strategies
00:10:10 The Donor Retention Formula
00:12:44 Using Data to Find Donor Patterns
00:16:16 Why Keeping Donors Costs Less
00:20:20 The Business Value of Monthly Giving
00:23:07 Donor Journey and Strategy Shifts
00:25:07 Planning Beyond a Big Fundraising Year

#TheNonprofitShow #FundraisersFriday #DonorRetention

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Our national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits!
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Audits may make nonprofit leaders tense, but this discussion reframes the audit process as smart organizational practice rather than a yearly ordeal. Ben Stap of Your Part-Time Controller explains that a nonprofit audit is not simply a compliance exercise. It is an outside review that helps confirm financial accuracy, transparency, and proper use of funds so donors, grantmakers, and regulators can trust the organization’s stewardship.

Ben makes the conversation approachable right away with a memorable comparison: “It’s like having a police car behind you while you’re driving.” That simple image captures why audits feel stressful even when an organization has done nothing wrong. From there, he shifts the focus from fear to preparation. His message is clear: nonprofits that treat every month like audit season are far better positioned when the real process begins.

A major theme of the episode is audit readiness. Ben explains that many of the biggest audit problems come from issues that build up over time, including missed in-kind contributions, unclear treatment of restricted cash, revenue recognition confusion, stale footnotes, and unusual transactions that were never properly documented. His advice is practical: keep policies current, organize records all year, reconcile monthly, and review financial activity regularly so year-end does not become a scramble.

One especially useful takeaway for nonprofits is that audits are not only about finance staff. He points to the value of internal communication across departments, especially when program teams, development staff, and finance professionals need to share information about grants, pledges, and restricted funding. He also offers a smart governance practice: have the board periodically review the vendor list to help prevent conflict-of-interest concerns and support stronger oversight.

Another emphasized point is that nonprofits should decide what they want from an audit relationship. Some organizations need an audit firm that simply reviews and reports. Others need a partner who will answer questions during the year and help them think through complicated nonprofit accounting situations. As he puts it, “Proactive, overreactive is always a good way to go about it.”

00:00:00 Opening Discussion
00:01:19 Why Nonprofit Audits Matter
00:03:45 What Audit Ready Really Means
00:04:35 The Purpose of a Nonprofit Audit
00:06:13 Common Audit Pitfalls to Avoid
00:10:16 Documentation and the PBC List
00:13:15 Policies Procedures and Separation of Duties
00:16:28 Why Communication Drives Audit Success
00:21:05 Monthly Reconciliations and Year Round Prep
00:22:21 Audit Season Timing and Expectations
00:24:40 Turning Audits Into a Useful Tool

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Our national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits!
12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PT

Send us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.com
Visit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show