Using the Whole Whale - A Nonprofit Podcast

America’s Charities CEO Jim Starr on the CFC’s Uncertain Future, $1B Milestone, and Emergency Assistance Funds

Interview with Jim Starr, President and CEO of America’s Charities, about the organization’s mission to “mobilize the power of giving” through workplace giving, corporate volunteering programs, emergency assistance funds, and scholarships. They explain the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC)—founded in 1961, once raising $280M in 2009 but down to $68M from about 70,000 donors in 2024—its shift from paper catalogs to an online platform, and factors behind its decline, including new charity fees, government shutdowns, and workforce morale; retiree giving is noted as a bright spot. Starr says OPM has paused or signaled possible cancellation, shut down the reporting portal, and has not opened 2026 applications, raising concern the CFC may end and that much of the $70M would not be replaced due to payroll giving’s low-friction nature. Starr also highlights America’s Charities reaching $1B in total funds processed to nonprofits and describes how emergency assistance funds provide confidential, tax-free grants for employee hardships and how the organization administers scholarship programs with vetting and fraud checks.

00:00 Welcome and Introductions

00:57 Mission and Services

01:50 Origins in the CFC

04:12 CFC Decline and Drivers

05:53 Is the CFC Ending

09:02 Fees and Participation Basics

09:56 Rebrand Joke and Real Stakes

11:42 Why Payroll Giving Matters

13:39 Billion Dollar Milestone

16:56 Emergency Assistance Funds

18:02 How EAFs Work

19:45 Privacy and Employer Benefits

20:41 Who Should Offer EAFs

21:00 Who Uses Emergency Funds

22:15 Retention And Community Impact

24:56 Direct Giving Versus GoFundMe

26:29 Life After The CFC

29:03 Expanding Corporate Philanthropy

29:50 Scholarship Program Walkthrough

33:17 Pricing And Review Workflow

35:13 Fraud Checks In The AI Era

37:17 Billion Dollar Milestone Wrap

 

Flipcause Bankruptcy Fallout and Greenpeace Legal Battle (news)

In this week's episode of Nonprofit Newsfeed, the hosts delve into significant challenges impacting the nonprofit sector, focusing on two major stories: the Flipcause donation platform's bankruptcy and the legal troubles faced by Greenpeace.

Flipcause Bankruptcy and Nonprofit Losses

The episode opens with an update on Flipcause, a donation platform that went bankrupt, leaving nonprofits in financial turmoil. The platform, unable to disperse funds made through it, owes $29 million to various parties, primarily nonprofits. Despite valuing their platform at $15 million, Flipcause's recent filings show only $70,000 in their account, highlighting severe mismanagement. The California Attorney General issued a cease and desist order, and a lawsuit from 29 organizations alleges fraud, with some nonprofits owed hundreds of thousands of dollars. A recent bidding process valued the platform at a mere $400,000—far short of its claimed worth—leaving nonprofits unlikely to recover their donations. The discussion emphasizes the importance of nonprofits maintaining control over their payment gateways to avoid similar pitfalls.

Greenpeace Legal Challenges

The episode also covers a $345 million verdict against Greenpeace in the Dakota Access Pipeline lawsuit, a significant legal challenge that threatens its U.S. operations. This case, seen as a strategic lawsuit against public participation (SLAPP), underscores the vulnerability of nonprofits involved in activism. The hosts discuss the broader implications for organizations engaged in direct action and the potential chilling effect on nonprofit advocacy.

Using AI to Turn Human Stories Into Insight (and Build Trust)

On the Whole Whale podcast, George interviews Andy Citizen, CTO of Share More Stories, about collecting 150–300+ word experience-based stories (typed or voice) from targeted constituencies via a web app and analyzing them with AI. Share More Stories uses sequential classification across ~70 cloud models to score stories for evidence of emotions like anxiety, joy, and self-transcendence, combining these scores with light demographics and survey data, then using a generative AI agent constrained to the dataset to explore themes, anomalies, and demographic differences iteratively. They discuss nonprofit uses such as before-and-after journaling and program impact, the importance of prompts, and how AI should augment rather than automate, with emphasis on user competency, intent, validation, and avoiding hallucinations. Citizen critiques “AI everywhere” features and AI-written social content as trust-eroding, argues trust is a major opportunity, shares concerns about DevOps at scale, and reflects on community involvement and moving faster by reducing process gaps.

00:00 Meet Andy Citizen

00:50 What Share More Stories Does

01:57 Collecting Real Experience Stories

02:41 AI Scoring Emotional Signals

04:14 How Stories Are Gathered

05:24 Prompts Versus Surveys

06:26 Dashboards Reports And Agents

09:20 Nonprofit Program Evaluation Uses

12:06 Prompt Craft And Hidden Insights

14:05 AI Adoption And Training Gaps

17:46 Use Cases Lanes And Hallucinations

20:27 AI Side Of Fries And Trust

25:44 Rapid Fire Tech Questions

29:39 Personal Advice And Community

31:58 Magic Wand For Human Connection

34:12 How To Connect And Wrap Up

 

The Donor You're Undervaluing Is the One Who Gives the Most 🤑 (news)

In the latest episode of the Nonprofit News Feed, the hosts delve into the intricacies of giving and volunteering across the United States, as well as the pressing environmental challenges facing nonprofits today. The conversation highlights the recently conducted "Total Civic Generosity Report" by Whole Whale, which sheds light on geographic disparities in generosity and the significant contributions of small-dollar donors.

Key Insights:

• Generosity Across Income Levels: The report reveals a striking contrast in charitable contributions between income levels. Households earning under $50,000 contribute about 14.2% of their income to charity, while those earning between $500,000 and $2 million contribute only 3.9%. This challenges the notion that high-value donors are more crucial than small-dollar donors, emphasizing the importance of valuing all levels of giving.
• State-Specific Generosity: Utah leads with the highest ratio of adjusted gross income giving at 6.61% and remarkable volunteer rates. This underscores the need for nonprofits to tailor messaging based on geographic data, recognizing the unique philanthropic landscapes of each state.
• Impact of Religious and Non-Affiliated Trends: The decline in religious affiliation impacts volunteerism, with many informal acts of generosity going unreported. This highlights the need for better data representation in understanding volunteer contributions.

Why 2025 Will Set a Record for DAF Asset Growth, and What It Means for Your Nonprofit (news)

Key Trends in Donor-Advised Funds and AI's Role in Nonprofits

In this episode of the Nonprofit Newsfeed, the hosts discuss significant trends shaping the nonprofit sector, focusing on Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs) and AI's evolving impact.

Main Topics:

• Website Update: The Nonprofit Newsfeed site has been revamped for better user experience and branding.

• Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs):

  • Predicted to exceed $450 billion in assets, indicating mainstream adoption.
  • Nonprofits should adapt strategies to include dedicated DAF donation pages.
  • DAFs are becoming accessible beyond ultra-wealthy donors.

• AI and Nonprofits:

  • The era of "free AI" is ending, with rising costs expected for AI tools.
  • Nonprofits need to strategize for continued AI access, possibly through collaboration.
  • Digital inequity concerns as AI access may widen the gap for underserved communities.

• Candid's Strategy:

  • Candid aims to become a key AI data source amid workforce reductions.
  • Reflects challenges in content monetization due to AI-driven changes.

• Innovative Community Solutions:

  • The Nomad Alliance in Utah operates a mobile shelter for the homeless, showcasing empathy-driven innovation.

Key Insights:

• DAF growth offers new fundraising avenues but requires strategic adaptation.
• Rising AI costs necessitate proactive planning by nonprofits.
• Candid's pivot highlights changing data dissemination dynamics in philanthropy.
• Community-driven solutions like the Nomad Alliance demonstrate impactful innovation.

Call to Action:

• Evaluate and update fundraising platforms for DAF contributions.
• Explore collaborative strategies for AI tool access as costs increase.
• Draw inspiration from innovative community projects for addressing local needs.

Direct-To-Consumer Philanthropy: What Invest America (Trump Accounts) Means For The Sector (news)

A New Era of Direct-to-Consumer Giving

In this week's Nonprofit Newsfeed, the hosts delve into a groundbreaking development in philanthropy that was highlighted during the Super Bowl. The episode explores the introduction of Invest America accounts, a federally backed initiative providing tax-advantaged investment accounts for U.S. children under 18. The Treasury Department plans to seed each account with $1,000 for newborns starting in 2025, with the accounts unlocking in 2026.

A standout philanthropic commitment comes from the Dell Foundation, pledging $6.25 billion to deposit $250 into the accounts of 25 million children from low-income zip codes. This marks a shift towards a direct-to-consumer philanthropic model, allowing foundations to target specific communities, akin to how digital ads are targeted.

Key Insights:

• Invest America Accounts: These accounts are likened to retirement accounts for children, maturing over time and unlocking when the child turns 18.
• Philanthropic Targeting: The Dell Foundation's targeted approach sets a precedent for how philanthropy can leverage these accounts to support disadvantaged families directly.
• Nonprofit Opportunities: Nonprofits can play a crucial role in helping families navigate the opt-in process for these accounts, similar to assisting with food stamp applications.

Pros and Cons:

• Pros: Provides a new charitable avenue for direct support; potential to engage low-income families in capital markets.
• Cons: Opt-in nature may leave many children out; not inherently progressive, as all eligible children receive the same amount regardless of need.

The $326B DAF Opportunity | Chariot head of strategy explains

Donor-advised funds (DAFs) are no longer a niche tool for ultra-wealthy donors—they’re a fast-growing, fragmented ecosystem holding more than $326 billion in charitable assets and expanding at ~25–30% annually. In this episode of the Whole Whale Podcast, Mitch Stein, Head of Strategy at Chariot, breaks down what’s really happening inside the DAF economy: over 1,400 DAF programs, millions of households using them, payout rates that consistently exceed private foundations, and a surge in contributions driven by appreciated stock and late-year tax planning. The takeaway for nonprofits is clear: DAFs are becoming a mainstream giving vehicle, not an edge case, and ignoring them means ignoring where a growing share of charitable dollars now live.

We also dig into the friction problem—and why it matters. DAFs reduce the mental friction of giving by separating “how much to give” from “where to give,” but outdated workflows still create drop-off at the moment of donation. Chariot’s role is to remove that last mile of friction through shared infrastructure like DAF Pay, making it as easy to give from a DAF as using Apple Pay. The result: higher conversion, larger gift sizes, and more money actually moving to nonprofits. For fundraisers, the message is practical and urgent—get DAF-ready, normalize DAF giving, and stop treating it like a rare edge case. The money is there. The question is whether your organization is easy to give to.

Sector Data & Reports

• Annual DAF Report 2025 — Donor Advised Fund Research Collaborative (latest US DAF stats including assets, contributions, payouts, and account counts)
  https://www.dafresearchcollaborative.org/annual-daf-report/2025

• DAF & Payout Rate Insights — Chariot Resource on 2025 DAF Report for Fundraisers (breakdown of payout rates vs private foundations, DAF trends)
  https://www.givechariot.com/resources/insights/7-top-takeaways-from-the-new-2025-daf-report-for-nonprofit-fundraisers

• Annual Donor Advised Fund Report Overview (NPT/DAF Research Collaborative)
  https://www.nptrust.org/reports/daf-report/

📈 Supplemental News & Context

• Inside Philanthropy – DAF Growth Story & Trends (context on how assets and grants are growing)
  https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/inside-the-explosive-growth-of-donor-advised-funds

• AP News – Fidelity Charitable Grants Data (Nonprofit relevance)
  https://apnews.com/article/7a483a4f69115f467ecfb1c4348bbdc3

🧠 Practical & Community Resources

• Give Chariot – DAF Checkout + Resources for Nonprofits — Chariot’s official site with platform info.

• DAFgiving360 Organization — large independent DAF sponsor with giving impact stats: https://www.dafgiving360.org/

📌 Other Helpful References

• DonorsTrust (Wikipedia) — example of a standalone donor-advised fund organization: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DonorsTrust

🤖💸 Will The Future of Nonprofit Discoverability Be Donations on LLMs? Why We Think It's Coming...And More! (news)

AI's Impact on Nonprofit Visibility and the Changing Landscape of Foundation Support

This week's episode of the Nonprofit Newsfeed, the hosts delve into the evolving dynamics of AI's influence on nonprofit visibility and the current state of foundation support.

Main Topics:

• AI's Knowledge Windows and Nonprofit Visibility: George and Nick discuss a new beta feature from OpenAI's ChatGPT called "knowledge windows." This feature presents information about organizations directly within the AI interface, potentially reducing website traffic as users get essential details without needing to visit the source. This development could significantly alter how nonprofits engage with potential donors and supporters, as AI becomes the gatekeeper of information.

• Foundation Support and Nonprofit Perception Gap: A report from the Center for Effective Philanthropy highlights a significant perception gap between foundations and nonprofits. While 93% of foundation leaders believe they understand grantee challenges, only 54% of nonprofits agree. The report also notes that foundation responses have weakened post-COVID, despite increased demand for nonprofit services.

AI Ads Are Here: A New Frontier for Nonprofits (news)

AI Ads: A New Frontier for Nonprofits

This week on the Nonprofit Newsfeed the hosts dive into a game-changing announcement from OpenAI that could revolutionize nonprofit marketing strategies. OpenAI has revealed plans to pilot advertising on ChatGPT, marking a significant shift in how nonprofits might engage with audiences.

Key Highlights:

• OpenAI's Announcement: OpenAI is testing ads in select markets for ChatGPT's free and low-cost tiers, aiming to provide more users with access to its AI tools without usage limits.
• Implications for Nonprofits: With approximately 800 million weekly active users, ChatGPT offers nonprofits a vast audience for targeted advertising. This presents an unprecedented opportunity to engage users during meaningful conversations across diverse contexts, from education to health advice.
• Concerns and Opportunities: While the prospect of ads in AI raises concerns about data privacy and the influence on AI-generated content, it also opens doors for nonprofits to reach audiences in innovative ways. The challenge will be crafting ad content that complements AI interactions without disrupting user trust.
• Transparency and Analytics: The move towards advertising may also introduce valuable analytics tools, enabling nonprofits to gain insights into user behavior and optimize their engagement strategies.

Nonprofit Wellness Index Update:
The podcast also highlights Whole Whale's Nonprofit Wellness Index, which tracks sector health through job postings, layoffs, and ad spending. December's index hit a record high, indicating a positive rebound from previous lows, suggesting a revitalized nonprofit sector.

Feel-Good Story:
In a lighter segment, the hosts share a unique fundraising initiative from an Alaskan bird conservation group. For Valentine's Day, donors can name a rat after an ex, which will then be fed to a bird of prey, offering both cathartic satisfaction and support for wildlife conservation.

Grok’s Deepfake Crisis Is Forcing a Global Reckoning on AI, Platform Safety, and Accountability (news)

This week on the Nonprofit News Feed, the hosts dive into pressing digital safety issues and uplifting philanthropic news. The episode covers the alarming rise of deep fakes and their implications for nonprofits, and celebrates a significant donation to support LGBTQ+ youth.

Main Topics:

1. Global Crisis of Deep Fakes: The episode highlights the disturbing trend of deep fakes, particularly on the AI platform Grok, which is generating non-consensual and sexualized images. The hosts stress the urgent need for nonprofits working with vulnerable groups to advocate for stricter regulations and educate communities on digital safety.

2. Implications for Nonprofits: The conversation emphasizes the critical role of nonprofits in combating AI-enabled cyberbullying and gender-based violence. Organizations are called to update internet safety protocols and engage in advocacy to protect affected communities.

3. Mackenzie Scott's Transformative Gift: In a beacon of hope, Mackenzie Scott's $45 million unrestricted donation to the Trevor Project is celebrated. This lifeline comes after federal funding cuts and highlights the importance of substantial, unrestricted support for nonprofits in crisis.

4. Dissolution of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting: The episode also covers the dissolution of this vital organization due to funding cuts, impacting local journalism and broadcasting. The hosts discuss the potential repercussions on local news and the need for new revenue streams.