A Legacy of Generosity

Hosted by Leave a Legacy MN

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Oct 2026

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Brought to you by Leave a Legacy MN, a committee of the Minnesota Gift Planning Association, the purpose of this podcast is provide professional development content for every fundraiser with special attention to planned and legacy giving. We do this by acting as a connector of expertise, people, and resources. Staff and volunteers will find this podcast to be a valuable professional development tool. Released twice a month, our interviews include people from small and large organizations, rural and metro, new to the field and seasoned experts... there's something here for everyone!

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October 13, 2026Episode 1136 min

Two Clients, One Mission: Lessons From 35 Years in Nonprofit Leadership With Tony Wagner

After more than three decades leading one of Minneapolis's most ambitious community organizations, Tony Wagner has earned the right to say the quiet parts out loud. In this episode, hosts Kristi Ackley and Jen Emerick-Cayton of Growth By Design sit down with Tony, founder and principal of the Wagner Group and the longtime leader of Pillsbury United Communities — an organization he led for 35 years after growing up in North Minneapolis as a client of one of its predecessors. Tony brings a rare combination of lived experience, hard-won leadership wisdom, and the candor that only comes from being able to look back on a full career. ✨ In this episode, you'll learn: Why every nonprofit actually serves two clients — the community and the funders — and why ignoring either one is a mistake How the funder relationship has shifted over the decades, from hands-off to far more prescriptive Why "partnership" language from funders often masks an unequal power dynamic — and how leaders can navigate it Why the program, not the client, became the unit of analysis in the nonprofit sector — and what gets lost as a result What marginalized families actually need most: a committed adult willing to walk with them for ten or fifteen years, not three Why the three-year funding model doesn't match how real change happens The five ways Tony framed Pillsbury's work — service, education, employment, inspiration, and organizing — and how that framing finally made the mission make sense to funders When to stop pounding on a closed door and get structurally creative instead How to reconnect with the passion that brought you into this work, before the system beats it out of you 🎧 Listen in for an honest, unvarnished conversation about leadership, funding, and what it really takes to put the client at the top — from someone who spent a career trying to do exactly that. Key Topics/Themes: Nonprofit leadership, funder relationships, power dynamics in philanthropy, client-centered services, wraparound support, long-term funding models, earned income strategies, organizational innovation, storytelling and articulating mission, arts access and equity, executive director burnout, rural and urban parallels Resources: Tony Wagner on LinkedIn Pillsbury United Communities

August 25, 2026Episode 1051 min

Legacy Is About Values, Not Just Wealth: Rethinking Donor Relationships, with Jeffrey Prottas

Legacy giving isn't a gift planning conversation — it's a relationship conversation that happens long before anyone talks about an estate. In this episode, hosts Kristi Ackley of Growth By Design and Ali Schneider of Animal Humane Society sit down with Jeffrey Prottas, founder of Nonprofit-360 Consulting and a nonprofit executive with more than 30 years of experience helping mission-driven organizations strengthen leadership, grow philanthropy, and increase their impact. Jeff's career has spanned youth work, higher education, faith communities, and rural community action organizations across the country — and he brings all of it to a candid conversation about what most nonprofits get wrong about donors. ✨ In this episode, you'll learn: Why the biggest barrier in rural fundraising isn't a lack of wealth — it's a lack of belief that the wealth is there How organizations restricted from soliciting can shift from campaigning to educating — and open the door for donors to come to them Why "best kept secret" is the worst possible position for a nonprofit to be in Why legacy giving is about values, not wealth — and how that shift changes the entire conversation How the definition of legacy has evolved from what happens after someone passes to what impact they want to see while they're still living Why touching base with donors 8 to 12 times a year — with non-solicitation outreach built into the plan — is the real work of relationship building Why donors are people, not "cards" — and how moves management connects annual, event, online, and legacy giving into one continuum 🎧 Listen in for a conversation that will leave you rethinking how your organization treats its donors — because if the people leading up to the legacy conversation don't do the work, the legacy officer never gets a shot. Key Topics/Themes: Legacy giving, donor relationships, rural fundraising, moves management, transformative vs. transactional relationships, values-based philanthropy, donor retention, annual giving, giving while living, nonprofit leadership, development planning, community action organizations Resources: Jeffrey Prottas on LinkedIn & Mission in Motion — Jeff's upcoming short-form video series launching in August on LinkedIn, TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram

August 11, 2026Episode 941 min

Mission-Driven and Built to Last: Growing a Startup Nonprofit, with Pablo Waissbluth

What does it look like to launch an international nonprofit from lived experience — and build it to outlast its founder? In this episode, host Kristi Ackley of Growth By Design is joined by co-host Jeffrey Prottas of Nonprofit-360 Consulting for a conversation with Pablo Waissbluth, founder and chair of Vivo Crónico, a US-based 501(c)(3) dedicated to improving quality of life and advancing health equity for people living with chronic and complex health conditions across the Americas. Pablo brings a rare combination of 26 years of multinational business experience and a deeply personal journey as both a patient and caregiver to his work building an organization designed not just for today, but for long after he is at the helm. ✨ In this episode, you'll learn: Why the founder's story is the most authentic reason a nonprofit exists — and when it's time to let the organization build its own identity How to think about succession and organizational sustainability from day one, especially when a founder's own health is part of the equation Why diversifying revenue streams matters just as much in nonprofits as in for-profit business How partnerships are the key to executing at a high level with a small team Why building a pipeline of connected believers matters more than chasing dollars directly Why the best-kept secret in your community is actually the worst place to be as a nonprofit 🎧 Listen in for a conversation that will challenge you to think bigger, build smarter, and design your organization for impact that extends far beyond any one person. Key Topics/Themes: Startup nonprofits, founder story, organizational identity, revenue diversification, hybrid funding models, health equity, chronic illness, donor relationships, strategic donors, nonprofit sustainability, partnerships, network building, community building, arts and storytelling Resources: ⁠Vivo Crónico⁠

July 28, 2026Episode 840 min

Beyond the Check: Unlocking Major Gifts Through Estate Planning, with Eddie Thompson

Most nonprofits are leaving millions — sometimes billions — on the table by asking donors for the wrong thing. In this episode, hosts Kristi Ackley and Jen Emerick-Cayton sit down with Eddie Thompson, founder and CEO of Thompson and Associates, a charitable estate planning firm with associates across the country. With more than 30 years of experience planning thousands of estates and generating well over $3 billion to charity, Eddie brings a perspective that challenges nearly every assumption nonprofits hold about how — and whom — to ask for major gifts. ✨ In this episode, you'll learn: Why asking donors to give from discretionary income — less than 3% of the average person's budget — keeps most nonprofits stuck at average Why the smartest organizations ask for gifts of net worth instead Why even a billionaire may hesitate to give because wealth rarely feels like enough The three types of donors — habitual, emotional, and strategic — and the very different strategies each one requires Why 36% of baby boomers don't plan to leave any inheritance to heirs, and what that means for charitable giving How Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) from IRAs can unlock larger gifts without impacting a donor's cash flow Why being at the table during estate planning — not just during a campaign — is where the biggest gifts are born How to move from nonprofit-centered asking to truly donor-centered relationship building🎧 Listen in for a conversation that will expand the way you think about donor relationships, planned giving, and the staggering potential your organization may not even know it has. Key Topics/Themes: Planned giving, estate planning, net worth giving, discretionary income, donor types, qualified charitable distributions, QCDs, required minimum distributions, charitable gift annuities, donor-centered fundraising, legacy gifts, wealth and philanthropy, major gifts strategy Resources: Thompson and Associates

July 14, 2026Episode 739 min

Stronger Together: The Power of Collaboration in Nonprofit Fundraising, with Jennifer Pinske

In a sector where competition for donors and dollars can feel fierce, one fundraising leader is making the case for a radically different approach — one built on partnership, curiosity, and community trust. In this episode, hosts Kristi Ackley and Jen Emerick-Cayton sit down with Jennifer Pinske, Director of Community Engagement at Family Service Rochester, a cornerstone nonprofit serving individuals and families in Southeast Minnesota for more than 60 years. Jennifer brings 25 years of nonprofit experience to a conversation that challenges the scarcity mindset and shows what's possible when organizations choose collaboration over competition. ✨ In this episode, you'll learn: Why collaboration — not competition — is the foundation of a truly effective nonprofit How to identify gaps in your community rather than duplicating services that already exist What it looks like to partner with other nonprofits on programs, grants, and county initiatives Why referring a donor to another organization can actually deepen their trust in yours How to talk to donors about the bigger community picture — not just your own mission Why your organization's reputation in the community matters more than you think when it comes to legacy giving How smaller nonprofits and rural communities can start building collaborative relationships one step at a time Why the most meaningful donor relationships are partnerships, not transactions 🎧 Listen in for a conversation that will challenge you to think beyond your own organization — because when nonprofits rise together, the whole community wins. Key Topics/Themes: Nonprofit collaboration, community partnerships, donor trust, legacy giving, duplicative services, stakeholder engagement, relational fundraising, community impact, donor referrals, nonprofit leadership, rural nonprofits

June 24, 2026Episode 643 min

The State of American Giving: What the 2025 Giving USA Report Means for Your Nonprofit, with Josh Birkholz

Every year, one report shapes how the nonprofit world understands philanthropy in America — and this year's findings are worth paying attention to. In this episode, hosts Kristi Ackley and Jen Emerick-Cayton of Growth By Design sit down with Josh Birkholz, Senior Fellow of Philanthropy Innovation at BWF Zuri, a fundraising and philanthropy consulting firm based in Minneapolis. Josh is a past chair of the Giving USA Foundation board and brings both deep data expertise and genuine passion for the mission of giving to this conversation about what the numbers really mean for nonprofits of every size. ✨ In this episode, you'll learn: Why 2025 was the highest announced year of charitable giving in U.S. history — and what that number actually represents How giving is shifting across sectors, with human services now ranking second behind religion Why individual donors still drive roughly 80–85% of all giving decisions — even when gifts flow through foundations or donor-advised funds What the 10-year growth trend in bequests signals about the coming intergenerational wealth transfer Why everyday donors and affluent donors give differently — and why you need both How building friendships among your donors can increase their lifetime giving by a factor of four or five What "mission esteem" means and why it outperforms self-esteem when making the ask Why relational, high-touch fundraising is outperforming mass communication strategies across every sector 🎧 Listen in for a data-rich, deeply human conversation that will leave you better equipped to make the case for your mission — and bolder about asking others to invest in it. Key Topics/Themes: Giving USA report, charitable giving trends, bequests and planned giving, donor-advised funds, intergenerational wealth transfer, human services sector growth, everyday vs. affluent donors, donor community building, mission-driven fundraising, predictive analytics, relational fundraising models Resources: Giving USA

March 24, 2026Episode 542 min

The Sponsorship Playbook: How to Attract and Retain Corporate Partners with Mike Esposito

Corporate sponsorships can be a game-changer for nonprofit events — but only if you know how to pursue them strategically. In this episode, hosts Kristi Ackley of Growth By Design and Carl Newbanks of Initiative Foundation sit down with fundraising expert Mike Esposito of Mike Esposito Fundraising in Brooklyn, NY, to break down what it really takes to attract and retain corporate partners. Mike brings years of hands-on experience to a topic that intimidates many nonprofits — combining practical strategy with a relationship-first philosophy that turns one-time sponsors into long-term partners. ✨ In this episode, you'll learn: Why relationship building is the foundation of every successful sponsorship How to use stakeholder mapping to identify your best prospects What "sponsors travel in packs" means — and how to use it to your advantage Why you should start outreach 9 to 12 months before your event How to bundle multiple events into a single sponsorship conversation The right way to structure sponsorship levels and recognition benefits Why stewarding sponsors like donors leads to deeper, lasting partnerships How to leverage LinkedIn and emerging tools to make warmer connections 🎧 Listen in for a conversation packed with actionable strategies that will leave you feeling confident — not overwhelmed — the next time you sit down to build your sponsorship ask. Key Topics/Themes: Corporate sponsorships, relationship building, stakeholder mapping, sponsorship levels, donor stewardship, LinkedIn outreach, board engagement, event planning, nonprofit fundraising, partnership development Resources: Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Benevity Mike Esposito Fundraising Mike Esposito on LinkedIn

March 12, 2026Episode 459 min

More Than a Will: The Human Side of Estate Planning With Rachel Schromen

Estate planning isn't just a legal task — it's one of the most meaningful acts of care you can take for the people (and animals) you love. In this episode, hosts Kristi Ackley and Ali Schneider sit down with Rachel Schromen, estate planning attorney and founder of Schromen Law in St. Paul, Minnesota, to demystify the process and make it feel a whole lot less scary. Rachel brings a refreshingly human approach to a field often seen as cold or intimidating — blending her legal expertise with training as an end-of-life doula and a deep belief that emotions belong in the room. ✨ In this episode, you'll learn: Why making the appointment is the hardest — and most important — first step How emotional barriers keep people from planning, and how to move through them What to expect at your first estate planning meeting Why even a small estate deserves legal protection The difference between a healthcare directive, power of attorney, will, and trust — and when you need each Which life events should prompt a review of your estate plan How to incorporate charitable giving into your plan, regardless of estate size Why pet planning matters more than most people realize — and how to do it thoughtfully 🎧 Listen in for a conversation that will leave you feeling empowered, not overwhelmed — because the best gift you can leave behind is a plan that reflects exactly what you valued in life. Key Topics/Themes: Estate planning, healthcare directives, power of attorney, charitable giving, pet planning, probate, life events and estate updates, end-of-life doula, compassionate legal practice, legacy planning

February 24, 2026Episode 343 min

Built on Trust: The Heart of Fundraising

Fundraising isn’t just about dollars raised — it’s about trust earned. In this thoughtful conversation, host Kristi Ackley sits down with fundraising professionals Rebecca Lynn Peterson and Amy Allen to explore the relational heart of philanthropy. From their unexpected journeys into the field to the long-term strategy behind planned giving, they share practical wisdom for building meaningful donor connections that stand the test of time. ✨ In this episode, you’ll learn: Why fundraising careers often begin organically How strong donor relationships are built on listening and shared values Why trust is essential — especially in planned giving How marketing supports fundraising by building awareness and credibility Why patience and consistency matter more than quick wins How every team member can serve as an ambassador for generosity Why you don’t need a large budget to communicate impact effectively 🎧 Listen in for an encouraging reminder that fundraising is a marathon, not a sprint — and that generosity grows best in the soil of authentic relationships. Key Topics/Themes: Relationship-based fundraising, donor trust, planned giving, nonprofit marketing, long-term stewardship, new fundraiser advice, generosity mindset

February 10, 2026Episode 230 min

Wisdom from the Archives: Planning for a Successful Year

As the new year gets underway, we’re revisiting this timely conversation to help you pause, plan, and move forward with clarity. The insights here are as relevant now as ever for nonprofits looking to start the year strong. Ready to start your year strong? Brenda Moore joins Mark Beenken and Carl Newbanks to share strategies for kicking off a successful fundraising year. ✨ Inside this episode: How to build a solid plan for legacy giving and fundraising success Time-tested tips from over 30 years of experience in development Maximizing the impact of your year through intentional planning 🎧 Press play to learn how to capture more of the current wealth transfer and set your nonprofit up for success. Key Topics/Themes: Legacy giving, fundraising strategy, annual planning, nonprofit leadership, wealth transfer

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