Andy Swallow, MSOL, CAP®, CFRE

If you told me a year ago that our team would be talking about AI every day... I’m not sure I would’ve believed you! But here we are at BBB Cleveland, and the shift has been incredible. We have an incredible resource right here in our backyard with #TechCredOhio from the Ohio Department of Development. Whether you’re a small shop or a non-profit, this is the opportunity to get your team high-tech training with the state’s support. Thank you to our Accredited Businesses, SkillSpout, for announcing that more funding is coming this Spring! As a leader, watching our team’s confidence grow with this training has been the highlight of my year. If we can do it at BBB Cleveland, you can do it too. Don't let the "tech" part intimidate you. Let’s make sure Ohio stays at the forefront of this innovation. If you haven't looked into TechCred Ohio yet, consider this your sign to start. #AI #Leadership #Training #Innovation #smallbusiness #nonprofit

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Nonprofit leaders: this is a smart training topic. Form 990 is one of the first documents funders and stakeholders review to understand governance, transparency, and financial health — and it’s often misunderstood. Pinellas Community Foundation is hosting an in-person session to walk through it as a leadership and board oversight tool. If you’re in an ED/CFO/board role, this is worth attending.

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Board members are absolutely vital to the strength and effectiveness of any nonprofit organization. While governance is a critical board function, fundraising is equally important. The most effective board leaders make their own contributions first and always before soliciting others. They also bring an understanding of the community's power structure and are willing to serve as strong ambassadors for their nonprofit by making connections, opening doors and, yes, securing resources. Nonprofits with open board positions to fill must embrace the opportunity to add people with these qualities, asking them upfront to play a leadership role. Adopting this best practice on a consistent basis will provide a tremendous boost and help propel your nonprofit to success.

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Board members and nonprofit leaders — are you leaving money on the table? For the remaining three months of 2025, we urge non profits to meet with their donors about multi-year giving before the end of year.  By acting now donors can turn tax savings into campaign momentum for years to come. 👉 The combination of a lower deduction cap and the new threshold means pledges made in 2025 generate greater tax savings than the same gift will in 2026. Let the Numbers Speak for Themselves 2025              2025      2026 Gift Size    Tax Savings Tax Savings $       50,000  $   18,500 $      8,750 $    100,000  $    37,000  $   26,250 $   250,000   $    92,500   $   78,750 $   500,000   $  185,000   $ 166,250 $ 1,000,000  $  370,000   $ 341,250 $ 2,500,000  $  925,000  $ 866,250 $5,000,000   $1,850,000  $1,741,250 👉 If you are in a campaign which accepts multi-year commitments, pledging this year allows donors to secure today's stronger tax benefits while spreading payments over time. 👉 Strong market returns enable donors to gift appreciated assets - securities, real estate, and other holdings that both avoid capital gains tax and qualify for full deductibility under current rules. 👉 Donor-advised funds (DAFS) add another pathway: donors can "front-load" contributions to a DAF in 2025, receive the deduction now, and direct funds to your campaign in future years. Bottom line: 2025 is the moment to secure major, multi-year gifts. Carpe diem. TIP: If you are not talking to your major donors, other smart organizations are.

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   I recently wrote about your Development Committee, but today I want to talk about a very special type of Development Committee – the Planned Giving Committee.     Your Planned Giving Committee will help you build your endowment, help educate your donors to make gifts of assets, and help assure the future of your organization’s mission through legacy commitments.     Your Planned Giving Committee might even be a subcommittee of your Development Committee – one focused only on the various components of charitable gift planning. While I have said your Development Committee doesn’t necessarily need a Chair, I’m a firm believe in a volunteer chair for the Planned Giving Committee. I even call this position Planned Giving Champion – because a volunteer champion is truly what you need to be successful in educating your donors about the joy of legacy giving. Feel free to message me for my job description of a Planned Giving Champion.     With the right Planned Giving Champion, your legacy program will soar. If you don’t have that person on your team, start prospecting today!

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Here's a great opportunity for organizations who are interested in growing their planned and legacy giving program. Over the last several years, we have helped organizations create strategies that have deepened relationships and will unlock vital future funding. #plannedgiving #estategiving #philanthropy

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