Visionary Voices

Submit Your Ideas

No pay-to-play. No fluff. No AI filler. Just sharp, original thinking grounded in real experience. We’re seeking guest bloggers who want to amplify their voices and increase their visibility.

Three Platforms

Philanthropy.org’s Visionary Voices: We’ve deliberately reserved Visionary Voices (the blog of Philanthropy.org) for big-picture ideas—100-mile-high insights that challenge assumptions, spark debate, and reframe how we think about philanthropy, legacy, and leadership. 

This isn’t our corner for tactical how-to’s, step-by-step plans, or takeaway tips. If that’s your focus, we encourage you to submit to one of our other digital publications below.

  • PlannedGiving.Com’s Give and Take: Planned giving-related content. Marketing tips, planned giving best practices, gift types, success stories and more—if it’s related to legacy giving, this is the platform for you.
  • The Center for Major Gift’s Major Moves: Major gifts-related content. Tips on making the ask; primers on identifying prospects or marketing gifts; success stories; career tips and more.      

No matter where your content will appear, there’s a chance we’ll also invite you to submit an adapted version to GIVING magazine.

Being published on any of our platforms signals credibility—and connects you with a community shaping the future of giving.

Gail Perry, Gail Perry Group

Jim Langley, Langley Innovations

Eddie Thompson, Thompson and Associates

Russell James, Texas Tech University

Sam Samuels, Smith College

Sue Harpole, St. Jude Children’s Hospital

John Nersesian, PIMCO

Conrad Teitell, Taxwise Giving

Stuart Sullivan, Shriners Children

Deb Havighorst, Prairie State College Foundation

Mark Seeley, Reformed Theological Seminary

Anne McClintock, Harvard University

Jeffrey Cline, ALS Association

Lynn Elsken Brynes, The Bryn Mawr School

Penelope Burk, Cygnus Applied Research, Inc.

Kevin L. Brown, Fundable and Findable

Mike Esposito, Fundraising Consultant

Steve Clark, Virginia Tech

Ed Cable, Mount Vernon Nazarene University

Ben Madonia, Hamilton College

Jeff Comfort, Oregon State University

Josefa Bethea-Wall, Africa University, Inc.

Dennis Carlson, General Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists

Marilyn Van Houten, NYU Langone Health

Steven Clark, Virginia Tech

Kathryn Miree, Kathryn W. Miree & Associates, Inc.

Kim Johnson, Mount St. Mary’s University

Meredith Sossman, MM&C Consulting

Delia G. Perez, Fairleigh Dickinson University

James Salley, Africa University

Joe Garecht, Garecht & Associations

Paul Chip Hurd, United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley

Larry Raff, Copley Raff

Dr. Sarah K. Nathan, Middletown Community Foundation

Stephanie Cory, Stephanie Cory Consulting

Lynn Ierardi, University of Pennsylvania

Russell James, Texas Tech University

Sandra Pollack, Daughters of the American Revolution

Nigel Allen, Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare Foundation

Mindy Aleman, Kent State University

Kenneth Meifert, National Baseball Hall of Fame

Tania Yount, Barnabas Center

Joe Tumolo, Donor Centric Fundraising

Gary Bukowski, Sarah A Reed Children’s Center

Camilyn Leone, University of Virginia Law

Jeff Mueller, American Heart Association

Dale Keshishian, HealthWorks Academies

Andre Gorgenyi, Tower Hill Botanic Garden

Jim Murphy, Episcopal Church Foundation

Jane Danek, Princeton University

Rebecca Price-Janney, Author

Michael Einbinder-Schatz, Life Lessons Collective

Suzanne Lutz, Robert Kennedy Center for Justice

Seetha Aiyar, Hindu American Foundation

Debbie Shupp, The Parkesburg Point

Steve Grourke, The American College

Dan Rice, Alliance Community Foundation

Scott Janney, The Salvation Army

Jory Barrad, The Pathway School

Cynthia Pritchard, State System Foundation

Michelle Gollapalli, ECRI Institute

Allen Thomas, Thomas Charitable Advisors

Nanette Fridman, Fridman Strategies

Sylvia Bastani, Girard College

Cam Kelly, Duke University

Kevin Jameson, Dementia Society of America

Daniel P. Condoluci-Smith, Humane Animal Partners

Elizabeth Fitzgerald, Kronstadt Consulting

Creal Zearing, Gathering Waters: Wisconsin’s Alliance for Land Trusts

Marlo Schalesky, Wonder Wood Ranch

Judy Frazier, We The Kids, Inc

Rhett Wilson, White House Historical Association

Jennifer Green, Alpha Bravo Canine

John Lepp, Agents of Good

Johnne Syverson, Charitable Giving Resource Center

William Curtis, CommonSpirit Health

Brad Caswell, Acadia Squam Group

Amy Varga, The Varga Group

Dien Yuen, Daylight Advisors

Brian Saber, Asking Matters

Elizabeth Thompson, World Relief

Claire Axelrad, Clairification

Stephen Frey, Geneva College Foundation

Linda Garrison, Acuity Consulting

Carolyn Ridley, Asbury University

Cole Eason, Truman Heartland Community Foundation

Wayne Lynch, Global School Consulting Group

Phil Bloyd, SAR Foundation

Petrina Williams, Susan B. Anthony

Troy Nuss, Ronald McDonald House of Delaware

Matt Sleezer, Kaleida Health Foundation

Jessica Gottlieb, Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation

James Gold, Accordant Health

Scott Lumpkin, Scott R. Lumpkin & Associates

Ramona Ramadar, The Salvation Army

Michelle Staes, United Way of Atlanta

Pazit Levitan, The Path to Impact

Chelsea Brown, Outlier Media

Chris Needles, Wounded Warrior Project

Rebecca Locke, American Red Cross

Wayne Olson, Shriners Children

Wes Davis, West End Neighborhood House

Doris Parent, Philadelphia Orchestra

Dwayne Walton, The Parkesburg Point

Leigh Brown Perkins, Blackbaud

Ryan Park, Upbring

Brent West, High Peaks Alliance

Kimberly Johnson, Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart

Elizabeth Racheva, The Phillips Collection

Mark Mills, Smithsonian Institution

Larry Chinn, New Life Church

Patience Boudreaux, Rideout Foundation

Susan Campbell, Polk County Community Foundation

Shari Hunter, Two & Company

Adam Morgan, MVP Advisors

Cheryl Mott Smith, Kairos Trust

Patience Boudreaux. Rideout Foundation

Aquanetta Betts, George Mason University

Dolores Nypaver, Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh

Kim Timko Johnson, Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart

Melissa Braillard, WUCF TV & WUCF FM

Jennifer Amarnick, Jupiter Medical Center Foundation

Lynn Brynes, The Bryn Mawr School

Phil Bloyd, Sons of the American Revolution Foundation

Shelita G. Bourgeois, The National World War II Museum

Karen Alonso, United Way of Southern Nevada

Brent West, Highpoint Alliance

Dan Rice, 4Alliance Community Foundation

Michelle Khateri, Pacific Charter Academy

Cheryl Mott Smith, Kairos Trust

Mark Troyer, Asbury University

Rebecca Watkins, National Park Foundation

Jeffrey W. Cline, ALS United Mid-Atlantic

Emily Wills, Madison Reading Project

Daniel Minich, CSU Pueblo Foundation

Doris Parent, Philadelphia Orchestra

Mark Mills, Smithsonian

Sylvia Bastiani, Queen of Green

Gary Bukowski. Sarah A. Reed Children’s Center

Shannon Neblett, Heart of the Valley YMCA

Nathan Alvarez, Greater New Orleans Foundation

Cam Kelly, Duke University

Rebecca Locke, American National Red Cross

Cassandra Grimes, English Hudson Consulting

Craig Shelley, Carey & Co.

Brian Marquez, Southern Scholarship Foundation

Karla Aho, Michigan Technological University

Heidi Bagwell, Easter Seals Midwest

Mike Esposito, Mike Esposito Fundraising

Joe Anderson, Lutheran Life Communities Foundation

Contributor Benefits

  • Potential publication in GIVING magazine (print and digital)
  • Contributor bio and backlink on Philanthropy.org
  • A digital Contributor Badge to proudly display on your website or profile
  • Exposure to our growing audience of nonprofit leaders, fundraisers, and philanthropic advisors

Submission Guidelines

  • Original articles only (800–1,200 words preferred).
  • Topics should relate to giving, fundraising, nonprofit strategy, donor behavior, planned giving, major gifts, leadership, critical issues, career development or related insights.
  • No outright promotional or sales content.
  • We reserve the right to lightly edit submissions for clarity or formatting.

What to Expect

Once you submit, our team will review your idea for fit, originality, and relevance. If it’s a good match, we’ll follow up with next steps for submission and publication.

We review every submission manually to maintain quality and avoid spam. We appreciate your understanding.

GIVING magazine

Click here to contribute to GIVING magazine.

Visionary Voices // Philanthropy.org

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Guiding Questions to Support Your Writing

To help you get started, we’ve included a list of guiding questions and a sample issue for inspiration. These are simply prompts — feel free to take your article in the direction that best reflects your perspective and expertise.

Need a hand or have questions? Email us — we’re happy to help!

  • What fundraising tips, tricks, or tools offer a good return on time and investment?
  • Do you recommend any giving vehicles or technologies for cultivating or stewarding gifts?
  • How have donors reacted to the giving tools you prefer?
  • How do you find colleagues or donors using this tool most often?
  • What do you wish you could improve in current nonprofit support resources and ways of giving?
  • Have you found this trend represented in your organization or career?
  • What obstacles could you see this trend presenting, whether true or false?
  • What strategies would you update to reflect this true or false trend?
  • What is your favorite way to keep yourself updated on philanthropy news?
  • What have you found is working well for you recently, particularly in major gifts or planned giving?
  • What obstacle, big or small, have you recently found a solution for (or made progress in solving)?
  • What would you recommend other fundraisers incorporate into their own work?
  • Sample article (pop up)
  • How did you enter your fundraising career?
  • What life lessons have you learned from growing in this profession?
  • What is a favorite moment with a colleague or donor you’d like to share?
  • How has your personal life journey impacted how you engage with donors?

GIVING magazine submissions click here.

Sample Article: Tried and True (Tools & Techniques)

As someone who’s been in fundraising for a while, I’ve learned that staying on top of things takes a mix of effort, creativity, and the right tools. It can be overwhelming, but there are some simple strategies that can make a big difference.

First, it’s really important to stay organized. Keeping track of donors, who they are, and how often you’re reaching out to them can help you build stronger connections. This can be as easy as setting reminders or using a basic spreadsheet. The goal is to make sure you’re not forgetting anyone and are able to reach out in a meaningful way.

Another tip that’s worked for us is focusing on telling stories. People love hearing about how their support has made a difference. Whether it’s sharing a success story or showing how a donation helped a specific person or project, these stories help people feel more connected to your cause. Even just including a picture and a couple of sentences in a newsletter can make an impact.

These small changes have helped us overcome some of the biggest challenges we face in fundraising, like donor fatigue or people feeling disconnected from our mission. When donors feel appreciated and see the real-world impact of their gifts, they’re more likely to keep giving.

If you’re just starting out or looking for ways to improve, start small. Focus on organization and communication. Build from there. It might not happen overnight, but with some consistency, you’ll start seeing results. And remember—every little bit of effort can make a big difference!

Sample Article: Trend or Tales?

Example trend: Women are more philanthropic than men.

There’s been a growing conversation in the fundraising world about women giving more than men. It’s an interesting trend, and, in my own experience, I’ve seen it reflected in our donor base. We’ve noticed that women are not only giving more frequently but are often more engaged with the cause, asking thoughtful questions and showing long-term commitment.

This data, however, presents both opportunities and obstacles. On one hand, it’s encouraging to know that women are leading the way in philanthropy, but on the other, it raises concerns about whether we’re unintentionally neglecting male donors. If we overly focus on this trend, we could risk alienating male supporters or missing opportunities to engage them. Also, the data might not hold true for every organization or community, so it’s important to balance it with our own donor insights.

In terms of strategy, I’d suggest leaning into personalized outreach for both men and women. Instead of assuming one group gives more, focus on individual motivations. For women, we’ve found that emphasizing community impact and stories of transformation resonates well. For men, sometimes a focus on concrete outcomes and efficiency can work. Regardless of the data, building deeper relationships across all demographics remains key.

As for staying updated on fundraising trends, I’m a fan of reading nonprofit blogs, subscribing to industry newsletters, and joining professional networks. It’s a great way to not only stay current but also learn what’s working (or not) for other fundraisers. These resources provide actionable insights that I can easily implement in my own work, helping us keep pace with the changing landscape of philanthropy.

At the end of the day, knowing our donors as individuals is more important than relying too much on any single piece of data.

Sample Article: What’s Working?

One of the most effective strategies we’ve implemented recently in our major gift and planned giving departments is sending annual personalized thank you cards. It’s a small gesture, but it has had a big impact on donor relationships. We make sure each card is handwritten and tailored to the donor, referencing specific gifts they’ve made and the direct impact their generosity has had on our mission.

This approach does more than just express gratitude—it deepens the personal connection with our supporters. Donors have reached out after receiving these cards, some even calling it the highlight of their year. It shows them we don’t take their support for granted and that they’re not just a name in our database. One long-time planned giving donor mentioned that the thank you card was the deciding factor in making an additional commitment to include us in her will. It’s incredible how much a handwritten note can reinforce trust and loyalty.

I highly recommend incorporating personalized thank you cards into your strategy. While emails or automated messages are quick and easy, nothing compares to the personal touch of a handwritten card. It’s a way to stand out in an increasingly digital world and show donors they’re truly valued.

This practice has also helped us solve a key obstacle: donor retention. By sending these cards annually, we stay on donors’ minds and reinforce the idea that their contributions are making a lasting difference. It’s a simple, cost-effective way to nurture relationships, reduce donor fatigue, and encourage future giving. If you’re looking for an easy yet impactful addition to your stewardship efforts, start with thank you cards—they’ve been a game-changer for us.

Sample Article: Your Story Matters

I never planned on becoming a fundraiser. I actually started out in corporate marketing, climbing the ladder and doing what I thought I was supposed to do. But everything changed after I volunteered at a local charity event. I realized how much I enjoyed connecting people with causes that mattered. The real turning point came when I helped a small nonprofit raise funds to rebuild a community center after a devastating hurricane. Seeing the direct impact of my work sparked something in me, and that’s when I knew fundraising was where I belonged.

At first, I thought fundraising was all about asking for money. But over the years, I’ve learned it’s so much more than that—it’s about relationships. Understanding why people give and helping them connect their personal values to the mission of our organization has become the core of my work. I’ve become a much better listener. Whether it’s chatting with a donor at an event or having coffee to dive deep into their goals, I’ve found that asking the right questions and truly listening leads to incredible opportunities.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is the value of patience. Early on, I used to feel disappointed when a donor didn’t give right away. Now, I understand that fundraising is a long game. I’ve had donors take years to make a significant gift, and because I stayed engaged without pressuring them, those gifts were more meaningful—and often larger—than I ever anticipated.

What keeps me here is the impact. There’s something incredibly rewarding about connecting people’s passions to real change. Every day, I get to see how generosity transforms lives, and that’s what drives me. Fundraising isn’t just a job to me—it’s my way of making the world a little better, one relationship at a time.