The donors your nonprofit has been trying to reach online? They're logging off. And that might be the best news you've heard all year.
New research shows that 63% of Gen Z and 57% of millennials are now intentionally stepping away from their screens. They're happier, more present, and hungry for exactly the kind of real human connection that nonprofits have always been built to provide. Meanwhile, 70% of time spent online leaves people feeling isolated and disconnected. The digital-first fundraising playbook your organization has been running? It may be pushing your next generation of donors further away.
In this interactive 90-minute session, two-time Amazon bestselling author and nonprofit fundraising expert Patrick Kirby will unpack what the "Great Unplugging" means for organizations of every size and why going analog isn't a step backward, it's the smartest strategic move you can make right now.
Expect no slides, no corporate jargon, and no rehearsed pitch. Just a real, fast-moving conversation about what's actually working, what isn't, and what you can do this week to start building genuine relationships with your next generation of donors, volunteers, and champions. You'll leave with a clear framework, practical tools, and the permission to stop chasing algorithms and start meeting people where they actually are: in the real world.
You'll learn:
- what the data actually says about how Gen Z, millennials, and the broader public are rethinking their relationship with technology and why it matters for your fundraising strategy;
- five specific analog strategies to build donor relationships offline, from handwritten stewardship to in-person community building, that work for organizations of any size and budget;
- how to balance analog and digital so you know when to use digital tools to maintain relationships and when to go analog to start them; and,
- how to stop chasing algorithms and shift your mindset away from the idea that the only path to donors runs through a screen.
Who should attend:
This session is ideal for development directors, executive directors, and nonprofit professionals at any experience level who are responsible for donor engagement and fundraising strategy. If you've ever felt exhausted by the pressure to grow your digital presence or frustrated that your online efforts aren't translating into real relationships this webinar was built for you.
After the webinar, you'll receive:
- slides and handouts; and,
- a link to the webinar recording.
Full participation in this webinar is applicable for 1.5 points in Category 1.B -Education of the CFRE International application for initial certification and/or recertification.
Can’t attend live and still want to watch the webinar?
Want to review the materials after the session?
You will receive an email with the full recording and any handouts within 10 business days after the webinar.
After you register, you will receive the following emails:
- A sales receipt for your bookkeeping records
- A confirmation email from Zoom with the login credentials
- Instructions for other attendees if you registered a group
If you do not receive these emails within 48 hours of registering, please email or call 1-877-784-7268.
GrantStation does not refund registration fees. Fees may be applied to any webinar scheduled within 30 days.
Patrick Kirby
Patrick Kirby is what happens when you mix equal parts fundraising expertise, caffeinated enthusiasm, and an unshakable belief that nonprofits deserve better than burnout and budget gaps. As the Founder of Do Good Better Consulting, Patrick has made it his life’s mission to help nonprofits fundraise smarter, build stronger donor relationships, and actually enjoy asking for money (yes, really).
He’s the author of the Amazon bestsellers Fundraise Awesomer! A Practical Guide to Staying Sane While Doing Good & Fundraise Like a 5th Grader, host of The Official Do Good Better Podcast, and loather of the phrase “we’ve always done it that way.”
Patrick’s fundraising street cred comes from nearly two decades in the trenches, including his time as Senior Director of Development at the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and Chief Development Officer at the Anne Carlsen Center. He’s worked with organizations of every shape and size, helping them raise millions without losing their minds in the process.
