What if planned giving isn’t just for large nonprofits with massive development teams, sophisticated systems, and years of experience?

In this episode of Nonprofit Nation, Julia Campbell talks with Tony Martignetti, the evangelist for Planned Giving and author of the forthcoming book Planned Giving Accelerated, about why small and mid-size nonprofits should be thinking about legacy giving, and why it doesn’t have to be complicated.

Tony shares a practical, approachable perspective on how nonprofits can recognize potential planned giving donors, start meaningful conversations about legacy giving, and build a program without expensive infrastructure or unnecessary complexity.

Together, Julia and Tony unpack some of the biggest misconceptions around planned giving, including the idea that only wealthy donors or large institutions should pursue it. They also explore why donor loyalty can matter more than the size of an individual gift, how to make conversations about estate plans feel natural, and what nonprofit leaders and boards need to understand about building a culture around legacy giving.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why planned giving isn’t just for universities, hospitals, and large institutions
• The biggest misconceptions that keep small nonprofits from getting started
• What a simple and affordable planned giving program can look like
• How to identify donors who may be strong planned giving prospects
• Why donor loyalty can be more important than wealth when identifying potential legacy donors
• How to introduce planned giving without making the conversation uncomfortable or transactional
• What fundraisers need to know before talking with donors about legacy gifts
• When to involve a donor’s attorney or financial advisor
• The basic infrastructure a nonprofit actually needs to get started
• How to communicate about planned giving without overwhelming donors with technical information
• How nonprofit leaders and boards can support a culture of legacy giving
• Why the current generational transfer of wealth creates an important opportunity for nonprofits
• One thing fundraisers can do this week to start moving planned giving forward

About Tony Martignetti

Tony Martignetti is the evangelist for Planned Giving and the author of Planned Giving Accelerated, a book designed to help small and mid-size nonprofits launch planned giving programs by making the process easy, accessible, and affordable.

Tony began his career as a front-line planned giving fundraiser in 1997 and launched his consulting practice in 2003. He is also a lawyer with a background in stand-up comedy and improv—an unusual combination that helps him make planned giving approachable rather than intimidating.

Resources & Links

🔗 Tony Martignetti on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonymartignetti/

📖 Planned Giving Accelerated: PlannedGivingAccelerated.com

Take my free masterclass: 3 Must-Have Elements of Social Media Content that Converts

What if the next generation of donors wants to give, but they want giving to feel tangible, convenient, and digital at the same time?

As donor expectations continue to evolve, nonprofits have an opportunity to rethink how they engage younger supporters. While online fundraising has made monetary giving easier than ever, physical-item donations and in-kind giving can still be surprisingly difficult to organize, manage, and scale.

On this episode of Nonprofit Nation, Julia Campbell sits down with Logan Vaughan, co-founder and CEO of GiftDrive.org, to talk about the changing landscape of donor engagement and what nonprofits need to understand about the way Gen Z and younger millennials want to give.

Logan shares the story behind GiftDrive, a platform designed specifically to help nonprofits create online wishlists and donation drives for physical goods. Since launching, GiftDrive has supported more than 55 nonprofit organizations and facilitated more than 5,500 item donations valued at over $60,000.

Together, Julia and Logan explore why physical giving resonates with younger donors, where traditional tools like online wishlists fall short, and how technology can make in-kind giving more accessible and effective.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why younger donors are increasingly drawn to giving physical items instead of cash
• How Gen Z and millennials are changing expectations around philanthropy and nonprofit engagement
• Why tangible giving can feel more accessible and meaningful to younger supporters
• What younger donors expect when it comes to convenience, transparency, and technology
• The challenges nonprofits face when managing physical-item donation drives
• Why consumer tools like Amazon Wish Lists aren't always the best solution for nonprofit organizations
• How purpose-built technology can make in-kind giving easier to manage and scale
• The importance of CRM integrations, automated tax receipts, reporting, analytics, and customization
• What Logan has learned by building GiftDrive alongside the nonprofits it serves
• How nonprofit leaders can prepare for the next generation of donors

About Logan Vaughan

Logan Vaughan is a senior at the University of Vermont and the co-founder and CEO of GiftDrive.org, a platform that helps nonprofits create wishlists and donation drives to collect physical items from their communities.

Since launching, GiftDrive has supported more than 55 nonprofit organizations across the country, facilitating more than 5,500 item donations valued at over $60,000. Logan is passionate about building the nonprofit technology and infrastructure of the future and believes organizations need tools designed around the ways modern donors want to give.

Resources Mentioned

🎁 GiftDrive: https://giftdrive.org/

Don't forget!

If you enjoyed this episode of Nonprofit Nation, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a nonprofit leader who could benefit from this conversation! 🎧

Take my free masterclass: 3 Must-Have Elements of Social Media Content that Converts

What should we expect from philanthropy in a time of growing conversations about wealth inequality, tax justice, and economic fairness?

In this episode of Nonprofit Nation, Julia Campbell sits down with Hala Hanna, Executive Director of MIT Solve, to explore how the expectations surrounding philanthropy are changing, and what this means for donors, foundations, corporations, nonprofits, and social innovators.

Today, philanthropy is increasingly being evaluated on more than how much money is given. Donors and institutions are facing greater expectations around impact, accountability, trust, and meaningful community outcomes. Julia and Hala unpack the growing public conversation around concentrated wealth and tax justice and how it is influencing the way philanthropy is viewed.

They also explore the difference between philanthropy that generates visibility and philanthropy that creates lasting social infrastructure. Hala shares insights from her work supporting social innovators around the world and discusses why local credibility, community partnership, and collaboration across sectors are essential for creating sustainable change.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why tax justice is becoming a central part of the conversation around philanthropy
• How expectations of donors, foundations, and corporations are evolving
• The difference between visibility-driven and impact-driven philanthropy
• Why trust, accountability, and measurable outcomes matter more than ever
• How companies are rethinking their philanthropic strategies amid growing scrutiny
• Why local credibility and meaningful community partnerships are critical to lasting impact
• How cross-sector collaboration can help address complex social challenges
• What the future of philanthropy could look like in an era of increasing public accountability

About Hala Hanna

Hala Hanna is the Executive Director of MIT Solve, where she works with social innovators and leaders around the world. Her work offers a unique perspective on how collaboration, innovation, and community-driven approaches can help create sustainable solutions to complex social challenges.

In this conversation, Hala shares thoughtful insights on the changing expectations of philanthropy and why creating meaningful impact requires more than simply giving. She explores what it looks like to build trust, demonstrate accountability, and work alongside communities to create lasting change.

Don't forget!

If you enjoyed this episode of Nonprofit Nation, subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share this conversation with a nonprofit leader, fundraiser, or board member who is committed to building a stronger and more sustainable organization.

Let's keep the conversation going!

Take my free masterclass: 3 Must-Have Elements of Social Media Content that Converts