[NPFX Ep. 76] Giving USA 2025: Insights from an Individual Giving Perspective (with Colton Strawser and Samantha Timlick)
According to the Giving USA 2025 report, individual giving rose from last year. But three-quarters of dollars raised came from just 3% of donors. When giving is this top-heavy, should you keep investing in your annual fund program? In today’s episode, we explore why the annual fund remains essential for long-term donor relationships — with insights on donor retention, stewardship through storytelling, and direct mail strategies to re-engage lapsed donors and strengthen your donor pipeline.
Listen here:
Episode highlights include:
- Big trends in year-end fundraising and what's shaping 2026 strategy.
- The surprising shifts in giving: why wealthy donors now matter more than ever.
- Crafting thank-you communications that boost donor retention—no ask needed.
- How to easily convert appeal letters into stewardship letters for higher-level givers.
- Consistency and personalization — your keys to higher donor retention.
- Direct mail vs. digital fundraising: What actually works for different generations?
- Simple ways to integrate direct mail and email for higher response rates.
- Make mail matter: How photos and storytelling can boost your fundraising letters.
- Tracking what prompts donors to give (and why it matters for your strategy).
- Building donor trust through transparency and real impact reporting.
- Quick wins for personalizing donor outreach — start with recency and segmentation.
- Modernize your annual fund: Identify and nurture the next generation of major donors.
- Proven tips for measuring, segmenting, and improving donor engagement.
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Guests
Colton C. Strawser, PhD has built his consulting career working with leaders at community foundations, United Ways, homeless shelters, senior service agencies, youth programs, arts and culture organizations, and more. He has trained more than 1,000 organizations and generated over $25 million in government grants. In addition to being a Certified Fund Raising Professional and Certified Nonprofit Professional, he has also completed a Certificate of Nonprofit Board Consulting through BoardSource and is a Master Trainer through the Association of Fundraising Professionals. Dr. Strawser completed his PhD in Nonprofit and Philanthropic Leadership at The Nonprofit Institute at the University of San Diego.
Samantha Timlick, partner & CEO of IPM Advancement, has been with IPM since launch. She's worked with nonprofit clients on donor renewal, appeal, stewardship, and acquisition programs encompassing more than 250 million total recipients across all fundraising channels — including highly segmented direct mail microtargeting, personalized inbound and outbound telemarketing, and integrated e-campaigns.
Hosts
Russ Phaneuf, a co-founder of IPM Advancement, has a background in higher education development, with positions at the University of Hartford, Northern Arizona University, and Thunderbird School of Global Management. As IPM's managing director & chief strategist, Russ serves as lead fundraising strategist, award-winning content creator, and program analyst specializing in applied system dynamics.
Rich Frazier has worked in the nonprofit sector for over 35 years. In his roles as senior consultant with IPM Advancement and founder of VisionConnect LLC, Rich offers extensive understanding and knowledge in capital campaigns, fund development, strategic planning, and board of directors development.