A shared interest may bring people through the door, but it takes more to make them stay. Membership grows when people feel welcomed, build relationships, and trust that the experience will live up to its promise.

People have choices, even when they care about your mission. Creating earned revenue begins with understanding your audience, the alternatives they consider, and the quality and trust that give them a reason to choose you.

A full room can hide a weak business model. Turning interest into sustainable earned revenue takes a plan that accounts for quality, resources, costs, customer acquisition, and the risks of delivering what you promise.

Every person carries within them a cause that resonates deeply—whether it’s educational equity sparked by their own struggles in school, environmental conservation inspired by childhood memories in nature, or economic mobility driven by witnessing family hardship. This personal connection, what we call “affinity investment,” represents the most powerful starting point for transformative philanthropy.

Are you thinking about joining a donor trip to see your favorite cause in action? Or perhaps you’re considering inviting friends to experience the work you’ve been supporting? Site visits can be transformative experiences that deepen understanding, strengthen commitment, and create lasting connections with the communities and causes you care about.

How families can move beyond frustration to create shared missions, stronger communication, and lasting legacy The conversation starts the same way in boardrooms across the country: "How do we get the next generation more involved?" What follows is often a familiar...

What is trust-based philanthropy? Trust-based philanthropy is a charitable approach that reimagines the relationships between donors, nonprofits and communities to rebalance power and decision making. It emphasizes partnership over paternalism, with six core practices: