
Episode #110 | Philanthropic Economic Update with Deborah Steinkopf + Anthony Petchel
In this timely and wide-ranging conversation with Deborah Steinkopf and Anthony Petchel, co-founders of the Nonprofit Financial Leadership Academy, we take stock of the 2026 philanthropic landscape. With decades of nonprofit leadership experience between them, Deborah and Anthony paint a picture defined by one word: uncertainty. From federal funding being clawed back across human services to an economy widening the gap between everyday donors and the ultra-wealthy, nonprofits are facing a reckoning. Yet the guests find reason for hope: total giving is still rising, Giving Tuesday saw a surge in volunteerism and advocacy, and the sector's long-standing capacity to adapt and do more with less may be exactly the muscle the moment demands.
The conversation gets actionable fast, diving into the explosive growth of Donor Advised Funds, the impact of shifting tax policy on giving behavior, and what the donor retention rate in the U.S. reveals about where nonprofits are leaving relationships and money on the table. Deborah and Anthony challenge leaders to move beyond crisis mode and into strategic thinking: building belonging with donors, embracing collaboration and even mergers, and treating stewardship not as a nice-to-have but as the core of a sustainable funding model.
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This Episode Brought to You by:
Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com
Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.
The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/
As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.
Bloomerang: https://bit.ly/4hLqLVw
Create the ideal giving experience with integrated fundraising tools and automated insights that maximize your impact. Keep donors close to the cause with mean-ingful outreach at the right time. Increase retention, major gifts, and all-around impact. Turn supporters into action-takers with tools that make it easy to recruit, organize, and engage volunteers at every level.
Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/
Feathr is a marketing platform built specifically for mission-driven organizations, offering simple tools for digital advertising, email campaigns, and audience engagement. The platform uses real-time insights and AI-powered segmentation to help you reach the right people at the right time—whether you’re nurturing existing supporters or discovering new ones who share your values. It’s marketing that meets people where they are, building relationships that last beyond a single click.
Speakers
Samantha Swaim
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/
Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies
Kristin Steele
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/
Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies
Nonprofit Financial Leadership Academy: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nonprofit-financial-leadership-academy/
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National Council of Nonprofits: https://www.councilofnonprofits.org/
AFP Reports: https://afpglobal.org/research-reports/reports
