People in Fundraising, ep. 110: Dan Saftig

It's an honor for me to have interviewed today's guest, Dan Saftig. He is a veteran fundraiser and fundraising consultant, a pioneer in earning a Master's degree in nonprofit administration in 1989, and someone who has worked in development across the U.S.

In his current role as a consultant, Dan is "Campaigns 'R Us," helping about 15 public and private universities that are in campaigns, closing campaigns, or planning for their next campaign. I know Dan through my tenure at Weber State University.

Look for Dan's fascinating anecdotes and insights:

At the 10-minute mark, Dan describes a fundraising campaign he led for the Vatican to raise money for "The Pope Scope."

At the 13-minute mark, discusses fundraising trends that concern him (a lot more competition; fewer unrestricted donors; decrease in number of overall donors; how less than 50% of U.S. households donate to nonprofits), as well as ones that give him encouragement for our industry’s future (moving from transactional to relational donor engagement; building a healthy environment that encourages fundraisers to stay much more than the typical 18-month tenures).

At the 32-minute mark, what Dan looks for in top fundraisers – curiosity and emotional intelligence lead the way. He cites and holds up several books that explore these topics, including David Brooks' "How to Know a Person," published in October 2023, and a few titles from team/leadership management practitioner Patrick Lencioni.

Dan also shares his thoughts on the need for outstanding stewardship; the importance of gift compliance officers; and why the most successful shops are laser-focused on leadership gifts.

Thank you Dan for a deeply interesting and very enjoyable conversation! I am sure many in the "People in Fundraising" audience will also enjoy your interview.