The Great Wealth Transfer is no longer a future talking point—it is unfolding right now, and nonprofit organizations that are not prepared risk watching history pass them by. Cohosts Julia C. Patrick and Tony Beall confront what may be the most consequential financial shift the nonprofit sector will ever face: an estimated $90–$100 trillion moving between generations, with $12–$18 trillion potentially directed toward charitable causes.

The urgency is unmistakable. While awareness of the wealth transfer exists, Julia and Tony raise a sobering concern: most nonprofits are still treating this moment as business as usual. Traditional planned giving conversations are happening, but without the staffing depth, board expertise, or internal policies needed to responsibly handle what is coming. As Tony notes, “It’s going to happen. It’s the largest transfer of wealth in history, and nonprofit organizations need to think about how they are ready for it right now.”

The conversation exposes a hard reality—many development teams are already stretched thin, juggling events, grants, membership, and major gifts. Expecting those same teams to manage estate gifts, complex assets, and family dynamics without focused expertise is risky. Julia warns that this lack of preparation could result in missed gifts, internal conflict, or worse—board fractures triggered by ethical or values-based disputes over donor sources.

The episode also widens the definition of wealth itself. Beyond cash, nonprofits must be prepared to assess real estate, securities, collectibles, and even intellectual property. Julia shares examples that range from transformative royalty gifts to deeply problematic asset donations that create storage costs, legal exposure, or reputational strain. Without clear gift policies in place, organizations may accept assets that cost more to manage than they ever generate.

Perhaps most alarming is the human side of the transfer. Julia and Tony describe real cases where heirs contested legacy gifts, leaving nonprofits entangled in legal and emotional turmoil. These situations underscore the need for deeper donor relationships that include family members—not just the donor alone.

This episode makes one thing clear: readiness is no longer optional. Policies, staffing, board composition, and professional advisors must be aligned now, not later. As Julia reminds viewers, this moment will not wait. The organizations that act decisively will serve their missions for decades to come—those that don’t may never get a second chance.

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With the kind of energy that makes you sit up straighter: Tim Sarrantonio, now Chair of the Fundraising Effectiveness Project (FEP), leads a boardroom-level conversation about one of the biggest business threats to nonprofits today: misinformation.

Tim pulls back the curtain on what FEP actually is—an ambitious collaboration where major CRM and data partners contribute anonymized giving data that is organized into a secure warehouse overseen by GivingTuesday and the AFP Foundation. The result: monthly, real-world insights into donor behavior at a scale that fundraisers rarely get, and fast enough to influence decisions in real time. For nonprofit leaders trying to forecast revenue, frame strategy, or explain retention trends to a board, this is not “nice-to-know” information—it’s operational intelligence.

From there, the discussion pivots into how misinformation sneaks into our sector: vendor marketing that cherry-picks success stories, “benchmark” claims without context, and social posts engineered for clicks rather than truth. Tim’s advice is blunt and practical: follow the sources, examine methodology, and treat data as a tool for leadership—not a headline to repeat. As he puts it, “All data is the electronic representation of relationships.” That single line reframes retention drops and donor shifts as more than numbers—they’re signals about trust, connection, and experience.

The conversation closes with a future-facing lens on AI. Tim urges nonprofits to treat generative tools like a junior staff member—helpful, fast, and absolutely in need of editing. He even teases a new project: an educational role-playing game for fundraisers that uses AI to interpret workshop artifacts and accelerate learning. The takeaway is clear: in a world full of noise, nonprofits win by becoming disciplined stewards of evidence, context, and credibility.

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Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_Show

Our national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits!
12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PT

Send us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.com
Visit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

In 2026, nonprofit finance isn’t just about reporting what happened — it’s about shaping what happens next. Ellie Hume (Regional Director, at Your Part-Time Controller) leasds a forward-facing conversation on financial leadership that starts with one powerful idea: your organization’s strongest advantage is what you choose to control.

If your nonprofit is ready to “spiral up,” this episode offers a finance-and-management playbook that turns mindset into momentum—so you can stay steady, stay strategic, and stay fundable.

Ellie reframes today’s uncertainty—funding volatility, staffing pressure, new compliance expectations—as a call to build resilience through intentional decisions. She challenges leaders to stop relying on “SALI” (Same As Last Year) and instead strengthen revenue diversification: monthly giving programs, new grant relationships, and smarter prospecting that expands beyond familiar funders.

From the finance seat, Ellie makes scenario analysis feel practical and doable. Build multiple budget versions, monitor what’s changing, and be ready to adjust the levers as reality shifts. Financial data becomes fuel for action when it’s used for forecasting and decision-making—not just for looking in the rearview mirror.

The conversation also brings AI down to earth. AI isn’t “coming someday”—it’s already embedded in accounting systems and donor databases. Ellie talks about adopting tools with purpose, using them to reduce administrative drag, increase speed, and free staff to focus on higher-value work. As Ellie puts it: “Control what you can control, and that is your mind and the actions that result from what you want to do.”

Finally, Ellie connects governance, compliance, and cybersecurity to financial stewardship. Cyber risk and fraud are rising, and boards have fiduciary responsibility to protect organizational assets. That means budgeting for safeguards, setting internal guardrails for AI use, and even seeking funding specifically for infrastructure that protects mission delivery.

Find us Live daily on YouTube!

Find us Live daily on LinkedIn!

Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_Show

Our national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits!
12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PT

Send us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.com
Visit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show