The Nonprofit Edge: A Conversation with Dave Smith - Episode 6

Most nonprofit organizations are leaving transformational gifts on the table… and they don’t even realize it.

In this episode of The Nonprofit Edge, Chris sits down with Dave Smith, one of the leading voices in philanthropic strategy and gift planning, to challenge how we think about fundraising at its core.

This is not a conversation about planned giving as you know it.
It is a masterclass in rethinking the entire approach to donor engagement, strategy, and long-term impact.

Dave introduces a powerful distinction between planned giving and true gift planning and shows why this shift is the key to unlocking significantly larger, more meaningful gifts. Instead of waiting for donors to raise their hand, he outlines how organizations can proactively engage donors of all ages in conversations that align their values, assets, and aspirations.

The result?
Stronger relationships.
Smarter strategy.
And dramatically increased philanthropic impact.

You’ll hear:

• Why most fundraising strategies unintentionally limit donor potential
• How to move from transactional asks to transformational conversations
• The critical role of non-cash assets in unlocking major gifts
• How to identify and engage the right donors at the right time
• What it takes to build a truly collaborative, organization-wide approach to fundraising
• A remarkable real-world story of a $50,000 gift becoming a $1M commitment

Perhaps most importantly, this episode reframes the role of the fundraiser.

Not as someone asking for money, but as someone helping donors answer deeper questions:

How much is enough?
What impact do I want to have?
And how do I align my resources with what matters most?

If you want to elevate your fundraising strategy, deepen donor relationships, and unlock the full potential of your organization’s impact, this is an episode you cannot afford to miss.