Be a Human: Trust, Consistency, and the Long Game of Fundraising [DPP Lunch Analysis]

​Fundraising has become increasingly automated, transactional, and focused on speed. Donors receive endless emails, scripted outreach, and constant urgency — yet many organizations are struggling more than ever with donor retention, pipeline fatigue, and authentic engagement.

This session is a reminder that fundraising is still fundamentally human work.

“Be a Human” explores how trust, consistency, responsiveness, and genuine relationship-building continue to outperform short-term tactics. Through practical examples and real fundraising stories, we’ll talk about what donors actually remember, why stewardship matters more than ever, and how meaningful relationships are built over time.

We’ll also discuss the role technology and AI should play in fundraising — not as a replacement for connection, but as a tool that helps fundraisers spend more time building real relationships.

Attendees will leave with practical ideas for:

• ​Building stronger donor relationships

• ​Improving stewardship and retention

• ​Creating more authentic donor communication

• ​Balancing technology with human connection

• ​Playing the long game in fundraising

​Because at the end of the day, donors are not just responding to strategy. They are responding to how organizations make them feel.

​About: The Donor Participation Project (DPP) is a community of fundraisers who co-create solutions to reverse the nationwide decline in donor participation (20 million US households lost between 2000-2016).

​This event will take place over Zoom.

​The session will be recorded and accessible post-event for DPP members only.