First Day Podcast

In this episode of The First Day from The Fund Raising School, host Bill Stanczykiewicz, Ed.D., sits down with Virginia Harrison, Ph.D., Assistant Professor at Clemson University, to dig deep into a question many nonprofit professionals fear to ask out loud: Why do donors leave? With a background in public relations and firsthand fundraising experience, Dr. Harrison brings both academic insight and real-world perspective to the increasingly vital topic of donor stewardship. Drawing from her research, Dr. Harrison outlines the seven reasons long-time donors walk away, even after years of involvement. From lack of responsible reporting to weak engagement, poor recognition, legal and policy missteps, organizational instability, and a fading sense of social fit, the message is clear: stewardship is not fluff, it’s strategy. “I don’t want to just be a checkbook,” one donor told her. They want impact, community, and communication that goes beyond the thank-you letter and holiday fruit basket. Dr. Harrison emphasi