Around with Randall — Hallett Philanthropy

Serving Clients Full Circle

Listen to the weekly podcast “Around with Randall” as he discusses, in just a few minutes, a topic surrounding non-profit philanthropy. Included each week are tactical suggestions listeners can use to immediately make their non-profit, and their job activities, more effective.

Find “Around with Randall” on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

Email Randall with a show topic: podcast@hallettphilanthropy.com

Email Randall with a thought regarding a specific show: reeks@hallettphilanthropy.com

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Episode 223: Who Actually "Owns" a Non-profit and Why is that Really Important?

Who really owns a nonprofit? Unlike for-profit businesses with clear ownership, nonprofits are technically owned by no one—but that doesn't mean responsibility is absent. In reality, the community is the true owner, and the board of directors serves as its steward.

But what happens when boards become passive? CEOs can gain too much control, leading to governance failures, weakened oversight, and long-term risks for the organization. What makes this shift happen? What are the consequences? And—most importantly—how do you restore strong nonprofit governance?

Randall HallettMarch 25, 2025ownership, governance, accountability, oversight, leadership

Episode 222: The Data Driven Rationale for Physicians as ACTIVE Referral Agents, Faculty, Boards

Physicians play a critical role in philanthropy, particularly in health care, as trusted referral agents for grateful patient giving. This episode explores why physician engagement is essential and how their involvement leads to significantly larger gifts. While doctors shouldn't be asking for donations directly, they can recognize moments of gratitude, engage meaningfully, and transition relationships to development teams. The broader nonprofit sector can apply this approach by leveraging board members, executives, or faculty as trusted connectors. In a shifting philanthropic landscape, where fewer donors are giving but at higher amounts, mastering these relationships is vital for long-term fundraising success.

Randall HallettMarch 18, 2025Philanthropy, Fundraising, Healthcare, Donor Engagement, Pipeline Development

Episode 221: How to Better Deal with Donor Advised Funds - Acquisition, Communication, and Retention

Donor-advised funds (DAFs) are growing rapidly, presenting both challenges and opportunities for nonprofits. While they offer donors tax advantages, investment growth, and simplified giving, they also create barriers between nonprofits and the donors themselves. To effectively engage with DAF donors, nonprofits must proactively promote DAF giving options, retrain gift officers to discuss them, and build relationships with financial advisors and community foundations. By embracing DAFs and integrating them into fundraising strategies, organizations can strengthen donor relationships and unlock new philanthropic potential. The key is adapting to this shifting landscape rather than resisting it.

Randall HallettMarch 11, 2025Philanthropy, Fundraising, Donor Relations, Nonprofit Strategy, Financial Planning, Engagement

Episode 220: Up-skilling and Why it is Important to You

This episode of Around with Randall explores the concept of upskilling, inspired by Amazon’s billion-dollar investment in workforce development. Randall discusses how acquiring new skills enhances career growth, job security, and personal satisfaction, particularly in the evolving nonprofit sector. He highlights practical ways to upskill—such as online courses, mentorship, and learning new software—while emphasizing the importance of data analytics and cybersecurity knowledge. By continuously improving, nonprofit professionals can increase their value to their organizations and adapt to an ever-changing landscape.

Randall HallettMarch 4, 2025upskilling, career growth, nonprofit development, professional advancement, workforce training, technology & data

Episode 219: Screening in Philanthropy: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, And the Need for Embracing AI

Wealth screening has long been a staple of donor identification, but the future lies beyond wealth—it's about connection and inclination. Let’s explore the evolution of screening, from manual processes to internet-driven data aggregation, and now the rise of artificial intelligence. AI is shifting the focus from static wealth indicators to behavioral patterns, predicting not just who can give but who is most likely to engage. This transformation presents opportunities for deeper donor relationships, it also raises challenges in adoption, ethics, and the role of gift officers. As AI continues to refine donor strategies, organizations that embrace the change will be better positioned to thrive in the next era of philanthropy.

Randall HallettFebruary 25, 2025Prospect Identification, Data, Wealth, AI, Engagement, Ethics

Episode 218: How Emotions/Life Perspective of Others Affect You: How to Deal with Negative People

In this week’s episode of Around with Randall, we discuss the impact of positive and negative influences in our personal and professional lives, especially in the nonprofit sector. What is the science of emotional contagion, how others' emotions affect our well-being and productivity, and the importance of surrounding ourselves with positive individuals? We end with some practical advice for evaluating potential hires based on their emotional impact, highlighting the value of creating a supportive, uplifting environment for personal and organizational success.

Randall HallettFebruary 18, 2025emotional, influence, leadership, philanthropy, workplace

Episode 217: Endowing Positions Outside of Higher Education - Strategic priority but terribly underused

In this week’s episode, we focus on the importance of endowing positions, particularly outside higher education, to create financial stability and attract top talent to nonprofits. Look at universities that have successfully endowed faculty chairs. How much could those endowments help nonprofits manage rising costs and ensure critical roles are funded? The goal is to help nonprofits adopt this model, enabling long-term sustainability and greater impact in their communities.

Randall HallettFebruary 11, 2025endowment, leadership, non-profit, strategy, planning

Episode 216: To Automate and/or Individualize Stewardship - Maximum Output with Outside Assistance

Balancing personalization and automation in donor stewardship is a challenge every nonprofit faces. In this episode, Randall dives into the critical question of how to effectively engage donors at all levels—ensuring major donors feel valued while nurturing smaller donors with potential. He explores practical tactics for segmenting, automating, and personalizing stewardship efforts, from data-driven donor screening to leveraging volunteers for thank-you calls. The key takeaway? Thoughtful stewardship isn’t just about efficiency—it’s about strategically building relationships that elevate giving over time.

Randall HallettFebruary 4, 2025leadership, non-profit, fundraising, strategy, community, impact, relationships

Episode 215: The Cornerstone of Fundraising - TRUST How to get and keep it with Prospects and Donors

In the world of philanthropy, trust is the backbone of any successful donor relationship. A recent lawsuit against the Red Cross, over their handling of restricted donations for Haiti, highlights how crucial this element is. Donors feel their contributions weren't used as promised, and that breach of trust could lead to a class action lawsuit. This situation underscores the importance of building genuine, transparent, and lasting relationships with donors, a theme central to philanthropy but often overlooked in discussions about fundraising strategy.

Randall HallettJanuary 28, 2025trust, philanthropy, relationships, authenticity, commitment, impact

Episode 214: Institutionalist vs. Change - How to Keep the Basic Core of who you are While Embracing Change

This episode of Around with Randall explores the balance between preserving core institutional values and embracing necessary change in the nonprofit sector. While institutions serve as the foundation of trust, mission, and community impact, stagnation leads to decline. Drawing from historical figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and Franklin Roosevelt, illustrates how institutions can evolve through strategic process changes without compromising their core missions. As a BONUS, explore a roadmap for nonprofits, focusing on identifying sacred values, engaging stakeholders, incremental change, and consistent communication to ensure long-term growth and sustainability.

Randall HallettJanuary 21, 2025change, leadership, values, mission, sustainability

Episode 213: Your Nonprofit is Directly Affected by a Natural Disaster - What Should You Do?

In times of disaster, nonprofits face unique challenges, especially when they’re directly serving within the disaster zone. Today, we highlight the importance of preparedness, including having a clear plan for data access and communication, and the need to prioritize core functions like payroll and outreach. Effective disaster response involves not just immediate action, but also long-term strategies such as engaging disconnected donors, utilizing crowdfunding, and collaborating with other organizations to rebuild and maintain operations.

Randall HallettJanuary 14, 2025preparedness, response, resilience, outreach, recovery

Episode 212: Comparing Philanthropy to Sales – Similarities, Difference and Learned Lessons

In this episode, we’ll unpack why building donor relationships is a bit like buying a car—except instead of haggling over prices, you’re building trust and listening to what your donors actually want. We talk about the art of prospecting (it’s not just for salespeople, promise), handling objections (like “I don’t know if I want to give this year”), and stewardship (because who doesn’t love a thank-you call?). Buckle up for a ride through the wild world of philanthropy and learn how to turn your donors into lifelong fans, minus the high-pressure sales pitch!

Randall HallettJanuary 7, 2025stewardship, communication, gift officers, sales, relationships

Episode 211: Looking into the Future - Philanthropy Predictions for 2025

It’s that special time of year on Around with Randall, when Randall sets his predictions for 2025! This year highlights three key areas: the economy, giving trends, and the nonprofit industry's trajectory. He also discusses the potential impact of tax policy changes, the growing prominence of planned giving, and the challenges posed by a "K-shaped" economic recovery. With fewer donors contributing larger gifts, and increased emphasis on addressing basic needs like food and housing, nonprofits face a dynamic and competitive landscape. And a bonus: strategic insights to help organizations prepare for these shifts and thrive in the year ahead.

Randall HallettDecember 29, 20242025, Predictions, philanthropy

Special Edition 17: The Holiday Nonprofit Team | Staff, consultants, leadership, donors – Holiday Style

In this festive episode of Around with Randall, we imagine the perfect holiday nonprofit team. Santa stars as the visionary CEO (because who else could handle that job?), Rudolph beams his way through major gift asks, and the Grinch—shocker!—steals bad ideas as the perfect change manager. Frosty keeps his cool under pressure at events, while Mrs. Claus proves she’s the real COO running the show. With holiday cheer, Randall shows how nonprofits can sleigh their way to success.

Randall HallettDecember 22, 2024Christmas, Special Edition, Team, Management

Episode 210: Reviewing Philanthropy Predictions Made in Dec 2023 for 2024. Is 80% correct possible?

Test time! As 2024 comes to a close, let’s reflect on this year’s predictions for the year in philanthropy, scoring ourselves on their accuracy. From forecasting a dip in charitable giving to highlighting the rise of personalized donor stewardship. While some predictions (pressures on budgets and the growth of AI in fundraising) proved spot-on, others, such as the economy's trajectory, missed the mark. This candid year-end review sets the stage for fresh predictions in 2025.

Randall HallettDecember 17, 2024Predictions, Year in review, Recap, 2023, 2024

Episode 209: Creating and Using and Advisory Group to Benefit the Nonprofit and the Volunteers

Randall highlights the power of advisory groups in enhancing nonprofit outcomes and fostering community connections. These groups bring expertise, credibility, and fresh ideas while offering volunteers meaningful engagement. Success requires clear roles, listening to advice, and recognizing contributions. Done right, advisory groups can elevate both mission impact and community support.

Randall HallettDecember 10, 2024strategy, Engagement, Leadership, Collaboration

Episode 208: The Critical 10 Seconds of Moves Management-Qualification to Cultivation - What to Do

This week let’s examine a pivotal moment in nonprofit relationship building: The transition from qualification to cultivation. What is the 10-second window when a donor's interest is identified and what questions can we ask to guide the relationship forward? We also take a look at the steps you should be taking to foster engagement while also maintaining a structured approach. This episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking to master the art of moves management and deepen donor connections effectively.

Randall HallettDecember 3, 2024gift officers, moves management, qualification, cultivation

Episode 207: Thanksgiving for Trust and Faith - Realizing your Impact on Others

This Thanksgiving episode we sit down at the family table to discuss the transformative power of gratitude in our lives. Randall reflects on the top reasons for gratitude, from health and supportive relationships to personal growth, freedom, and a sense of purpose. He shares heartfelt insights about the profound trust and faith others have placed in him— personally and professionally. Randall invites listeners to reflect on the people and experiences that bring meaning to their lives, encouraging gratitude not just for the destination, but for the journey and those who walk it with us.

Randall HallettNovember 26, 2024thanksgiving, transformational giving, gratitude

Episode 206: Kenny Rogers Was Right - Hold Them or Fold Them - Should you make that year-end ask?

Don’t want to be the gambler with that year-end ask? We get it.

You have to know when to hold ’em and know when to fold ’em in your push for year-end major gifts. Make the ask or wait for the right moment to ensure transformative impact. Great fundraising isn’t about the nonprofit’s calendar—it’s about the donor’s timing, passion, and connection. Whether it’s a December 31 gift or a future commitment, “every hand’s a winner” when you prioritize your donors' needs and goals.

Randall HallettNovember 19, 2024Major gifts, End of year giving, transformational giving, The ask

Episode 205: Partnering with the Easy Referral Agents or the Correct Referral Agents

In this week’s episode, we look at the importance of leveraging referrals from board members, clinicians, and data to maximize major gift fundraising efforts. Learn how referrals significantly increase the likelihood of donor engagement and gift size, with studies highlighting how connections from trusted sources like board members and physicians improve fundraising success. Finally, we answer the question: What are the strategic approaches can you use today to select the right referral sources?

Randall HallettNovember 12, 2024Boards, referral agent, clinicians, leadership