The Myth of Summer Giving | Joshua Crowther

Does giving really go down in the summer—or have nonprofits simply come to expect it?

In this episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast, Trent Dunham, President+CEO of Dunham+Co, is joined by Joshua Crowther, VP of Dunham+Co, to unpack the myths and realities of summer giving. Together, they discuss how disrupted rhythms, vacations, fiscal year timing, and donor communication all shape giving behavior during the summer months.

Rather than accepting the “summer slump” as inevitable, Trent and Josh explore how nonprofits, churches, and ministries can use this season to communicate urgency, tell compelling stories, steward donors well, and create momentum heading into the fall. 

Chapters:
00:00 – Introduction 01:27 – Is the Summer Giving Slump Real?
03:30 – Disrupted Rhythms and Donor Behavior
06:03 – Fiscal Year-End as a Summer Opportunity
08:00 – Creating Urgency During a Low-Urgency Season
10:40 – Don’t Let Summer Become a Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
13:27 – Building Momentum Out of Summer
19:16 – Final Encouragement: Try Something Different