RESOURCES

blog article

Mar 19, 2019

Nonprofit leaders don’t usually like to talk about the Form 990. Every time I bring it up and my eyes light up, their smiles turn down and a sick look comes over their face. I completely understand. It’s a tedious form with dozens of conf...

blog article

Mar 18, 2019

Every nonprofit loves to hear that it received a grant or a donation. Likewise, every nonprofit hates to hear that it missed out on an opportunity for funding. Sometimes as funders, we get caught up in the day-to-day hustle and bustle of our phi...

blog article

Mar 18, 2019

Whether you work for a small staff or you’re a bigger nonprofit with a clever new idea, crowdfunding can help you put your plans in motion. Crowdfunding platforms such as Kickstarter and Go Fund Me have shown great potential in terms of helping...

blog article

Mar 18, 2019

The nonprofit sector serves the public interest and plays an essential role in our economies. Working hard to strengthen communities and address a variety of issues and challenges, nonprofits enrich our lives in a variety of ways. They benefit our so...

blog article

Mar 18, 2019

A modern donor experience can make it easier for your nonprofit to attract new supporters, from one-time donors to monthly recurring donors and beyond. This is especially relevant given the expectations people have with modern platforms like Amazon, ...

blog article

Mar 18, 2019

People ask me this question a lot: “My monthly donors only make up 3 percent (or fill in another percentage) of my donors. Is that good? What’s the percentage I should strive for?” The answer is: “It depends!” Let’...

blog article

Mar 18, 2019

It is always amazing to me to hear managers and leaders who want to start or rebuild a major gift program say, “We will just hire some major gift officers and get going,” or something like that. It’s as if this MGO will arrive on th...

blog article

Mar 18, 2019

In Part 1 of this two-part series I began to talk about how neuroscience can help leaders be more effective and strategic in today’s economy. Above all else, we discussed the need to think about what people are thinking, not just observe what t...

whitepaper

Mar 17, 2019

Nonprofit organizations in the United States are now being challenged by major political, demographic, economic, and technological factors outside of their control, and are not able to adapt. There has been a tectonic shift in how consumers our donor...

blog article

Mar 15, 2019

Whether it’s as an employee or a volunteer, working for a nonprofit can be rewarding in many ways. But how do you sift through the thousands of nonprofits that cover hundreds of cause areas to find the right fit for you? Though there are many s...

blog article

Mar 15, 2019

In a small village up the Hudson River in New York, one small nonprofit is making a difference in the lives of local residents. Founded in 2003, Chiku Awali African Dance, Arts, & Culture of Rockland County is dedicated to fostering knowledge of ...

blog article

Mar 15, 2019

Even if you’re not the one in your household who pays the electric bill, checks your bank statements, or transfers the money into savings, you are still invested in the financial health of your family. How money is spent affects you and you&rsq...

blog article

Mar 15, 2019

I have been writing articles and blogs for many years. I love to promote having a nonprofit career and to share information with others. The by-product of writing is the variety of questions asked of me in a given month. These questions represent a w...

blog article

Mar 15, 2019

There are few structured career paths in the nonprofit industry. In fact, 67 percent of nonprofits have no talent acquisition strategy and 56 percent say they have no plan to change how they source for talent. But as the sector grows there are more a...

blog article

Mar 15, 2019

Whether you’re in the early stages of launching a capital campaign, planning an event, or just trying to hit your annual fundraising target, major gift donations are a must! This begs the question is every nonprofit focused on major gifts in th...

blog article

Mar 15, 2019

Thankfulness strengthens relationships, and it’s one of the most important and impactful types of donor communication. Demonstrating your appreciation shows that you value your donors and count them as an essential part of your team. Sending ta...

blog article

Mar 14, 2019

The recently released Fundraising Effectiveness Project Report summarizing the fourth quarter of 2018 provides numerous insights, that not only put the full year of 2018 into perspective, but also sheds insight into what 2019 should bring for the fun...

blog article

Mar 13, 2019

What’s the number one question to answer when creating a direct mail appeal for your nonprofit? If you’ve answered, ‘who is going to be featured in the letter’, sorry, think again. If your answer is ‘when to mail yo...

blog article

Mar 13, 2019

The U.S. Department of the Treasury expects Opportunity Zones to unlock well over $100 billion in private investment in low-wealth communities across the United States. The tax incentive, which became law as part of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, se...

blog article

Mar 13, 2019

Welcome back to our Storytelling Series based on the marketing book, Made to Stick by Chip Heath and Dan Heath. Last week we looked at the Challenge Plot which is similar to a lot of Hollywood movies hero faces adversity and triumphs in the end! ...

blog article

Mar 13, 2019

There is a vast chasm between the perspectives of foundation and nonprofit leaders when it comes to the state of investing in the people who make up grantee organizations. The Center for Effective Philanthropy’s Strengthening Grantees stud...

blog article

Mar 13, 2019

When I’m working with a client to launch a new website, one of the more difficult copywriting tasks tends to be coming up with a full page of content for a new program or service. You can definitely do better than a single line saying, “C...

blog article

Mar 13, 2019

The days of mass communications are over. Today, people expect a more personalized marketing approach. Consider your own experience—for instance, when you get recommendations from Amazon or other online shopping websites based on your browsing ...

blog article

Mar 13, 2019

Data is the key to success for any organization, for profit or nonprofit, that wants to go from the abstract realm of “I think” to the concrete world of “I know.” Instead of relying on guesses or a go-with-your-gut mentality, ...

blog article

Mar 13, 2019

Live Out Loud is a nonprofit that nurtures and empowers LGBTQ youth to build a successful future. One of the nonprofit’s board members decided to turn his birthday party into a fundraiser, and raised nearly $1,200 with DipJar! In lieu of g...

blog article

Mar 13, 2019

I view January and February as a test run of sorts, before we really embark on a new year and new resolutions. This may feel especially true as we’re still figuring out what happened in 2018. Last year we saw lower year-end fundraising results....

blog article

Mar 13, 2019

The content of your messages isn’t the only way to tailor your communications to each donor. You can also customize the way you communicate and the methods you use. The more you tailor your communication, the more you supporters will welcome yo...

blog article

Mar 13, 2019

Through the introduction of text-to-give, social media fundraising, and online giving, combined with the chance to reach thousands of your targeted demographic with $20 in Facebook ads, people wonder if the time-consuming efforts of getting to &ldquo...

blog article

Mar 12, 2019

Have an upcoming conference scheduled? We got you covered! Here are some tips to help you make the most out of the experience. In case you missed it; check out the top nonprofit conferences of 2019. Networking isn’t just for the event itse...

blog article

Mar 12, 2019

Instagram Stories create an extra layer of visibility for your nonprofit – whenever you want that visibility. Like Snapchat and Messenger Stories, Instagram Stories last for 24 hours. And like Snapchat, stories are told in a series of pict...

blog article

Mar 12, 2019

A newsletter can be a great way to engage with your donors, but the key word here is can. How often does that actually happen? Unfortunately, not very much because most donor newsletters can be used as a cure for insomnia. They’re too long and ...

blog article

Mar 12, 2019

These are questions we hear on a daily basis. Fortunately, the answers are all more encouraging than most people would hope. While there are a number of steps in the process, getting through all of them is not an insurmountable challenge. So how long...

blog article

Mar 12, 2019

Small funders have limited grantmaking capacity and must think about how to use those funds strategically to help their key nonprofit partners. When a funder can offer a nonprofit partner a fully-sponsored organizational assessment process led by a q...

blog article

Mar 12, 2019

Your human-service nonprofit exists to make a positive impact in the lives of the people you serve. But how do you get there, especially in the current environment? Join Sarah Olivieri, Founder of PivotGround, and host Valerie F. Leonard for a l...

blog article

Mar 12, 2019

My friend hates the word ‘donor.’ She isn’t a fundraiser…No, she’s a real person in the real world. And when she gets letters asking her to become a donor her mind strays to giving blood or donating her kidney.&nbs...

blog article

Mar 12, 2019

Statistics are used as a way to benchmark successes and growth opportunities. In an effort to be transparent and to help our readers continue to learn fundraising best practices, we’ve put together a 2018 year in review, now available for downl...

blog article

Mar 11, 2019

This post is part of a series covering the topic of donor insights. Here, we review key health metrics for fundraising organizations that ensure you keep a pulse on overall donor behavior. To continue learning about how to leverage donor data to rais...

video

Mar 11, 2019

QuickBooks Nonprofit software has enabled nonprofits and charities to manage fund accounting, track expenditures and allocate resources for specific programs in a better way. But the lack in real-time accessibility of QuickBooks application and ...

blog article

Mar 11, 2019

Last week, SSIR published a case study I co-authored with David Bley of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation detailing Gates’s significant investment in my organization, Rainier Valley Corps. Our partnership started with 1.1 million over four ...

blog article

Mar 11, 2019

All of a nonprofit’s actions are interconnected. If you do something to enhance your fundraising, that action is likely to affect another one of your strategies as well. Therefore, make sure you’re thinking through how one decision will a...

blog article

Mar 11, 2019

Are you looking for fresh, inventive, and effective fundraising ideas for your nonprofit organization? We know that choosing the right fundraising idea for your nonprofit can be challenging. There are a lot of factors to consider: budget and tim...

blog article

Mar 11, 2019

I think I’m changing my language on how a major gift officer’s approach with a donor who is difficult to engage should be. For years, both Richard and I have said you should be patient, yet persistent with a donor eventually you will come...

blog article

Mar 11, 2019

What makes the difference between donor communications that generate a response and action versus those that end up being forgotten? Effective donor communications share common characteristics based on best practices. Here’s how to create a com...

blog article

Mar 11, 2019

Nonprofit fundraising professionals, this month’s for you! We have great programming coming up, and I hope that this guide will help you make the most of it. For starters, we are kicking off the month with a great in-person program out of ...

blog article

Mar 11, 2019

I often turn to principles of neuroscience and psychology to understand what makes folks tick. I’m particularly interested in how these principles impact decision making. Especially, the decision to become involved philanthropically. To volunte...

video

Mar 10, 2019

The generosity of Duncan and Jan Andrews will support, in perpetuity, a new student each year undertaking the Bachelor of Commerce who is the first in their family to attend University. Learn about their motivations for giving to this transformationa...

blog article

Mar 08, 2019

Just because your organization is small doesn’t mean it can’t bring in big donors. In fact, some of your best prospects might be right under your nose. These tips will help you find major donors by capitalizing on the connections you alre...

blog article

Mar 08, 2019

On March 22, people around the world observe World Water Day. Water revolutionizes the health and future of entire societies, and for that very reason, many nonprofits have committed to bringing clean water solutions to global communities. To ce...

blog article

Mar 08, 2019

Shout out to all of you incredible women out there, because it is International Women’s Day! Every year on March 8, International Women’s Day celebrates the achievements of women.  Even more, we are called to a collective action to c...

blog article

Mar 08, 2019

Whether you've traveled to distant parts of the world and were inspired by the inventiveness of the communities you visited, read about an issue in an article, or maybe just feel a kinship with a special place, the desire to help others can quick...

blog article

Mar 08, 2019

Salesforce, the world's leading CRM, is used by nonprofits everywhere to store information about donors and details that will help them make stronger donation appeals in the future. As a nonprofit professional, you know the value of streamli...

blog article

Mar 08, 2019

Like all of us in this industry, we are invited to many nonprofit special events every month. These events represent breakfasts, luncheons and dinners that contain elements of meetings, seminars, lectures, receptions and other activities. Think about...

blog article

Mar 08, 2019

As we celebrate International Women’s Day it’s worth taking a moment to look at the state of women working in the nonprofit sector. In a field where so many women find their calling, what is it that drives us? In this past year, we&r...

video

Mar 08, 2019

Unreliable, time-consuming public transportation and expensive ride shares are hope crushing constraints on the dreams and potential of people with limited means. MyCityRides re-imagined the non-profit model to help working people adopt a new means o...

blog article

Mar 07, 2019

The DonorDrive team is back from the Peer-to-Peer Professional Forum Conference in festive New Orleans. This year, the event broke attendance records with more than 500 attendees from over 80 nonprofits. As the largest conference for peer-to-peer fun...

blog article

Mar 07, 2019

Having such a publicly accessible platform can be a powerful tool for spreading your charity’s message to a global audience and increase donations. The DonorDrives 2017 ‘State of Peer to Peer Fundraising’ report shows that since 201...

blog article

Mar 07, 2019

At a time when many people are questioning the value of philanthropy, the study aims to clarify its role in creating peaceful and inclusive societies that provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable, and responsive institutions...

blog article

Mar 07, 2019

As organizations who provide professional development and the support for career growth in a number of ways, both NTEN and Cornerstone were interested to better understand what trends, challenges, and successes may exist in the nonprofit sector with ...

blog article

Mar 07, 2019

We often hear nonprofits struggle to find enough time and resources to successfully fundraise. So, we have teamed up with our friends at Harbor Compliance to give you a solution that you may not have considered. Brock Klinger leads the Nonprofit Serv...

blog article

Mar 07, 2019

Do you have a background in finance? Me neither. What’s funny is that I wasn’t a person who loved data and numbers until I entered the nonprofit world. Much to my surprise I now live, eat, and breath numbers every day. I’m a di...

blog article

Mar 07, 2019

This report is compiled from the answers of the almost 600 nonprofit professionals who took our 2019 Nonprofit Communications Trends Survey in November, 2018. They answered these and other questions. How effective do nonprofit communicators believe t...

blog article

Mar 07, 2019

To keep supporters engaged, you need to know what motivates them. Communications that connect with what donors care about resonate and generate a response. Let’s look at six motivations that drive supporters to give and how you can craft your c...

blog article

Mar 07, 2019

This post originally appeared on GlassPockets as part of its “Road to 100 & Beyond” series. It is re-posted here as part of CEP’s blog series on international perspectives on philanthropy. I’ve been thinking about funder r...

blog article

Mar 06, 2019

Prior to working at Blackbaud, I spent 10 years working in annual giving.  I’m embarrassed to admit that it hadn’t occurred to me in those years that all my work in annual giving was really direct marketing. It’s all about craf...

blog article

Mar 06, 2019

Last September, I authored a post for Foundation Center titled Directors of Development Are in High Demand. How Can You Become A Chosen One?, where I explored the persistent demand for talented development directors. I opened the article by citing th...

blog article

Mar 06, 2019

Back in the summer of 2014, the internet was awash, almost literally, with videos of people throwing buckets of water over themselves. Why? Because of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. You may not have participated in this yourself, but you’ll almo...

blog article

Mar 06, 2019

A few weeks ago I shared Why Stories Are Important for Nonprofits and promised some more ideas on how to actually write those stories. In their marketing book, Made to Stick, Chip Heath and Dan Heath identify three different types of inspiration...

blog article

Mar 06, 2019

We’ve all heard how popular voice search optimization is, but the logistics are murkier, and the data can be tough to come by. See, when smart speakers or digital assistants provide oral answers to voiced questions, they don’t lead to act...

blog article

Mar 06, 2019

It’s a fact. Saying “thank you” is key to building strong relationships, and that includes donor relationships. Research by Penelope Burk and others affirms the positive correlation between effective thanking strategies and long-ter...

blog article

Mar 06, 2019

While you were sleeping, something transformative happened. People began to behave differently. To get their information differently. To communicate with their friends differently. To purchase things differently. We live in a digitally revolutio...

blog article

Mar 06, 2019

There’s a good reason why videos are increasingly popular. They’re easy to consume and they can be inexpensive to make. You can do a lot armed with just a smartphone. You don’t need an expensive crew, equipment, and studio to produc...

blog article

Mar 06, 2019

Announcements such as this one can offer great opportunities, but only if your organization is ready to act. Otherwise these announcements are just an interesting, and maybe somewhat frustrating, read. How do you prepare your small to mid-sized nonpr...

blog article

Mar 05, 2019

ones. Current donors are a curated universe who have already demonstrated a belief in your organization’s mission, and willingness to take action toward it. As such, for most nonprofit organizations, pursuing strategies to reducing donor losses...

blog article

Mar 05, 2019

I’m an accidental employee in the philanthropic sector. I was working for a nonprofit the first time I had even heard of foundations. The main funder of my program decided to go in a different direction; our program was phased out, and my contr...

video

Mar 05, 2019

In the last year, the Google Ad Grant saw a number of key policy changes that affected both grantee management tactics and compliance requirements. The Ad Grant program, which gives nonprofits $10k of in-kind search advertising per month, is an incre...

video

Mar 05, 2019

Davinder Mann, Director, Salesforce.org APAC, Salesforce chats to Sherrill Nixon, Director of Donor Relations, Australian Schools Plus and Nicolas Brown, General Manager, Batyr about how their organizations are using technology and corporate partners...

blog article

Mar 05, 2019

The early months of the calendar year tend to be when nonprofit staff turn their minds towards donor cultivation. The year-end fundraising frenzy has abated and the time feels ripe for hosting house parties, behind-the-scenes tours, getting-to-know-y...

blog article

Mar 05, 2019

Donor retention rates continue to be poor, especially for first-time donors. Donors don’t keep magically donating to your organization and you can’t hope you’ll get lucky and they’ll donate again. You need more than luck to ke...

blog article

Mar 05, 2019

I didn’t follow a traditional path into a nonprofit career. When I became the first employee of She’s the First in 2012, I faced the daunting task of figuring out how to be a CEO and also fundraise. I was 23 years old and I didn’t h...

blog article

Mar 04, 2019

If you’re looking for new ways to keep your supporters engaged, consider launching a membership program. Both parties benefit here, as member fees can provide long-term financial support for your organization while supporters receive additional...

blog article

Mar 04, 2019

How’s the morale in your office? Are your staff members excited to work together? Or are you plagued with high turnover? How your staff feel about their work affects your bottom line, as donors and volunteers are turned off by a revolving door ...

blog article

Mar 04, 2019

2019 marks 20 years since online giving first began in any significant way. In 1999, Blackbaud pioneered the nonprofit technology market by introducing reliable, secure, and donor-friendly online donation forms. Fast forward 20 years to today and onl...

video

Mar 04, 2019

Blackbaud Guided Fundraising helps you choreograph the personalized, multichannel outreach strategy that effectively reaches modern donors. Today's donors expect tailored, thoughtfully coordinated appeals, but this approach requires sophisti...

blog article

Mar 04, 2019

In 2020 the International Fundraising Consultancy (IFC) will have been moving the dial on making the world a better place to live for twenty years. We have done that through giving expert advice on fundraising to non-profit organisations worldwide, e...

blog article

Mar 04, 2019

Snow. The cold white stuff. It’s been falling steadily for the past few hours, and there’s more to come. It reminds me of the time when my husband and the boys attended a special winter scout camp called The Klondike Derby. It w...

blog article

Mar 04, 2019

Have you ever taken some time to think about what values you and your organization live by? I live in a building in the South Bronx that contains 11 residential condominiums and two commercial spaces. I know all of my neighbors, but being a cond...

blog article

Mar 04, 2019

As the weather is getting warmer, many nonprofits are ramping up for the Spring fundraising season. Here are some tips that all nonprofits, big and small, can apply to their fundraising plan! There are definitely events that are more heavily foc...

blog article

Mar 04, 2019

The power of social media, combined with access to personal networks and the ease of online giving, combine to make peer-to-peer fundraising one of the most effective ways for organizations to increase donations. Today’s digital tools and commu...

blog article

Mar 04, 2019

When you consider how to plan a run for charity, there are a lot of moving parts. If you’re not a runner yourself, it can be difficult to anticipate the needs of your guests and create a memorable experience. Yet with adequate research, a ...

blog article

Mar 04, 2019

Technology is an important part of any nonprofit’s overall strategy for engaging and retaining donors, but have you ever considered enhancing your existing fundraising strategies with technology? There are so many things that go into your ...

blog article

Mar 03, 2019

If you’re reading this, chances are that you’re preparing for a fundraising campaign or attempting to craft the perfect copy for your donation page and you got stuck. Fundraising is tough. Whether you’re organizing a big f...

blog article

Mar 02, 2019

There’s been some excellent talk recently in the nonprofit community about how difficult it can be for some nonprofits to gain access to credit card information. Many companies use the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards as a barrier ...

blog article

Mar 01, 2019

When nonprofits experience growth, one of the major changes they can expect is the need to assume software that will support their expanding network. For organizations of a certain size, buying your first dedicated donor management software marks a k...

blog article

Mar 01, 2019

The importance of storytelling is undeniable. For a brand that wants more exposure, using storytelling in marketing is a must. But how can nonprofits benefit from storytelling, and does it work any differently for them? Writing stories for a nonprofi...

blog article

Mar 01, 2019

How can you help nonprofit fundraisers become better at their craft? It turns out that a bit of coaching goes a long way. I sat down with Kimberly O’Donnell, head of the Professional Coaching Program at Network for Good to learn more about who ...

blog article

Mar 01, 2019

Getting sick of Twitter? Are you considering joining the DeleteFacebook movement? Have you considered using Instagram for nonprofits? Even though it’s owned by Facebook, building an engaged community of supporters on Instagram may be a viable s...

blog article

Mar 01, 2019

Having worked and consulted with multiple nonprofit organizations through the years, I have studied each nonprofit to see if they have four-star success in a variety of areas. In a perfect scenario, each major element of the nonprofit would be consta...

whitepaper

Feb 28, 2019

Keeping pace with the rapidly evolving mediums of communication these days is no small task. When you’re a small or medium-sized nonprofit, incorporating all the latest developments can seem daunting. Fear not! You don’t have to do it all...

blog article

Feb 28, 2019

We’re doing a series of short posts called Mastermind Lessons. The Fundraising Mastermind is transformational consulting for nonprofits that we do with Chris Davenport of Movie Mondays and The Nonprofit Storytelling Conference. Today’s po...

video

Feb 28, 2019

Zomaron CEO Tarique Al-Ansari stops by Daytime Ottawa on Rogers TV to discuss how Zomaron's award-winning fundraising platform is helping charities across Canada increase donations in today's cashless society.

video

Feb 28, 2019

Kendra Sinclair, Strategic Managing Partner at Facebook, shares how organizations can get started with Facebook fundraising. She also reveals, what she can, about their new fundraising tool coming soon to Instagram.

blog article

Feb 28, 2019

There has been a lot of noise around artificial intelligence, and it can sound intimidating, especially for nonprofits. What is it? What do I need it for? And like most questions, if you don’t know the answers, you may assume it’s not for...

blog article

Feb 28, 2019

As Black History Month comes to a close, we’d like to shine a spotlight on U.S. nonprofits serving and supporting black populations. Searching IRS data, financial documents, and GuideStar Nonprofit Profiles,  we identified more than 2,500 ...

blog article

Feb 28, 2019

In my daily interactions with nonprofit CEOs, I am struck by how quickly the expectations for the role are evolving. During my time as a nonprofit CEO, nearly 10 years ago, I was acutely aware that my duties had progressed beyond those carried out by...

blog article

Feb 28, 2019

Whenever the calendar turns to a new year, nonprofits and their fundraisers breathe a collective but short-lived sigh of relief, having closed another calendar or fiscal year. In most cases, that year culminated with a December fundraising sprint tha...

blog article

Feb 27, 2019

Online donations have certainly made giving convenient. However, too many donors are still leaving the process midway. At DonorDrive, we’re continuously working to remove the friction from donating and make sure more donors complete the giving ...

blog article

Feb 27, 2019

One of my first questions for any new nonprofit client is: How good is your data? I’m not asking if they have data, but how good is it? As a marketer, I want to build communication strategies that are founded on research and real insights ...

blog article

Feb 27, 2019

Editor’s note: The following is excerpted from “Philanthropic Planning in Your Family Enterprise,” a new primer from Lansberg, Gersick and Associates (LGA). In 2004, NCFP partnered with LGA to publish Generations of Giving: Leadersh...

video

Feb 27, 2019

Chief Technology Officer Mary Beth Westmoreland talks about digital transformation and the impact it has on the peer-to-peer fundraising space. With peer-to-peer fundraising, individuals support causes they care about by rallying people in their...

blog article

Feb 27, 2019

We’re very excited about what’s happening this weekend. Our upcoming release includes changes to DonorPerfect and Online Forms. Both products will be improving one of our most popular Suggest and Vote ideas Offline Donations for Crowdfund...

video

Feb 27, 2019

In this talk, recorded at TEDxEustis 2019, changemaker catalyst Michelle Purl makes the case for treating non-profits and charities as businesses. From setting realistic marketing budgets to rewarding employees and leaders who achieve amazing results...

blog article

Feb 27, 2019

I get asked all the time about what non-profits can do to stand out in fundraising and communications. For a long time, my understanding of why people ask me for advice about this boiled down to the increasingly noisy space non-profits are operating ...

blog article

Feb 27, 2019

You may have heard that we recently hosted a Twitter chat with Nonprofit Tech for Good. These chats are a great way to share your knowledge and build relationships both with other influencers and with your audience of supporters on Twitter. And becau...

blog article

Feb 27, 2019

The Google Ad Grant sounds almost too good to be true. A question I often hear is, "So, Google is going to give me credit for up to $10,000/month to spend on ads in Google search and there's no end date? It just keeps going, month after mont...

blog article

Feb 27, 2019

The truth is there’s no universal formula you can follow to get the “perfect” fundraising email every time. There are best practices though, and following them can help you make your message as effective as possible. To help yo...

blog article

Feb 27, 2019

For many smaller and mid-sized nonprofits, media relations isn’t a stand-alone function. It’s an activity that is part of someone’s job or it’s something that is tag-teamed by multiple people. Often, that’s all...

blog article

Feb 27, 2019

Successful marketing campaigns can spark a conversation that reaches beyond your typical donor base. Grab some ideas from these viral nonprofit marketing campaigns that you can apply to your own nonprofit’s marketing! This campaign uses an...

blog article

Feb 27, 2019

Not too long ago, event planners would advertise upcoming events by posting a few flyers, mailing postcards and maybe running an ad in a few newspapers, with hopes that word-of-mouth would do the rest. Today, social media allows anyone holding a fund...

blog article

Feb 27, 2019

When you set up your nonprofit's cybersecurity plan, it's important to consider the various ways your organization is vulnerable to cyberattacks and other security threats. TechSoup and Tech Impact presented a webinar recently to outline sour...

blog article

Feb 27, 2019

Peer-to-peer campaigns are an increasingly popular fundraising method for nonprofit organizations. You’ve seen how other organizations are using peer-to-peer fundraising successfully, and you know it could help you as well. But if you’ve ...

video

Feb 27, 2019

Brad Little, Managing Director of U.S. Consumer Solutions, introduces Blackbaud Peer-to-Peer Fundraising, powered by JustGiving. This leading social giving platform empowers supporters to fundraise for your cause and grow support for your organizatio...

video

Feb 27, 2019

Today’s changemakers are dedicated, passionate, motivated people-of-action, and they’re finding new ways every day to connect with and support the causes they care about. Tap into these people with Blackbaud Peer-to-Peer Fundraising, a so...

blog article

Feb 26, 2019

For nonprofits, moving from annual fundraising to year-round fundraising may sound daunting after all, asking once a year is hard enough. Increasing the number of “asks” that you make throughout the year may provide some incremental incre...

blog article

Feb 26, 2019

This is the fifth post in a six-part series on what nonprofit leaders think foundation funders could improve upon in their work. Findings are based on survey responses from 244 nonprofit leaders who have agreed to be a part of CEP’s Grantee Voi...

blog article

Feb 26, 2019

Monthly donors are special because they’ve committed to donating to nonprofits long-term. Retention rates for monthly donors are 90%, which is considerably better than retention rates for other types of donors. You’d think because of...

blog article

Feb 26, 2019

The definition of resilience is the ability to bounce back from difficult situations. But a culture of resilience about the collective way that people in the organization work together and how the treat each other. Being a resilient organization is a...

blog article

Feb 26, 2019

Trusts research is a key part of the trust fundraising function so if you have already addressed the other factors that determine your success in raising funds from trusts (such as the strength of your case for support, the presentation of your finan...

video

Feb 26, 2019

The Nonprofit Leadership courses offered by the University of Idaho Coeur d'Alene are strategically designed to support staff, board members and aspiring leaders of local nonprofits. Classes are interactive, fun and relevant to current issues.&nb...

blog article

Feb 26, 2019

There are three critical periods in the fundraiser’s annual calendar that you should know about. They are as follows: Period I: The January Surprise: This is the second most lucrative time for fundraising. Period II: Summertime July and Au...

blog article

Feb 26, 2019

Your nonprofit’s most recent fundraising campaign may have ended, but that doesn’t mean that your efforts to motivate your donors need to slow down! Your fundraising can be successful all year long if you provide your donors with reminder...

blog article

Feb 26, 2019

Peer-to-peer fundraising is an ideal way for your supporters to raise donations for your organization. It gives them a way to engage further with your mission and make a significant impact. Simultaneously, it harnesses the relationships that your sup...

video

Feb 26, 2019

Lots of factors go into team size, but one of them is the size of your organization's overall budget. Our Nonprofit Communications Trends Report has become the "go-to" source for what's REALLY happening in the world of nonprofi...

blog article

Feb 25, 2019

As I reveal in my new book, If You’d Only Known, You Would Have Raised So Much More, there are 40 questions just like this that require answers if you hope to succeed in fundraising. "A young donor in the U.S. is sixty," expert J...

blog article

Feb 25, 2019

NGOs and civil society organizations around the world serve many different roles. In some countries organizations seek to augment the public services provided by governments. Still others may be called upon to step in to cover the needs where governm...

blog article

Feb 25, 2019

A lapsed donor doesn’t have to be a lost donor. Before you assume that a lapsed donor is done with your organization for good, take a moment to reach out to them. From sudden changes in a donor’s budget to a lack of consistent communicati...

blog article

Feb 25, 2019

Nonprofit organizations continually grapple with maintaining and improving their operations, especially in today’s volatile economy and a rapidly-changing world. Nonprofit organizations must constantly strive for sustainability, and an ess...

blog article

Feb 25, 2019

Today’s nonprofits have discovered the power of their donors’ ability to advocate on their behalf through peer-to-peer fundraising. We’re all influenced by our family, friends, and wider communities. We trust people we know and like...

blog article

Feb 25, 2019

Ever hear of this? A “Second Gift Strategy?” If yes, good for you! You’re likely beating the average when it comes to donor retention. If not, listen up! This may be the single most important thing you’ll learn all year. You. ...

blog article

Feb 25, 2019

17 years ago, I was working at one of the top direct-marketing fundraising agencies in the country. We had just landed a brand-new client, and I was in charge of leading the team to work on their account. If I told you which this nonprofit was, you w...

blog article

Feb 25, 2019

As more organizations start monthly donor programs, it’s imperative to take these two steps to grow your monthly donors. And they’re much easier than you think! You’re probably already doing a lot of it, but you’ve not yet tho...

video

Feb 25, 2019

We're talking about how to beat the competition for people's attention and create the absolute best fundraising video for your nonprofit organization's next campaign. We're digging into your campaign's purpose and audience, as wel...

infographic

Feb 23, 2019

Research shows there’s a strong link between social norms and charitable giving: when you see other people donate, you’re more likely to donate yourself. A new report from WPI explores how social norms infuence giving to women’s and...

blog article

Feb 23, 2019

Your nonprofit is staffed with people who love your mission. Passionate employees will work hard to accomplish a lot and make the biggest impact possible. However, even your best staff members can’t get by with just spreadsheets. Once you&...

blog article

Feb 22, 2019

In some ways, donor retention isn’t all that different from dating. Just like romantic relationships, your organization’s relationships with its donors thrive on communication, appreciation, loyalty, and trust. And just like a romantic re...

blog article

Feb 22, 2019

In the world of nonprofit fundraising, you have heavy downpours and you have steady, light rain. The annual galas and end-of-year campaigns are the downpours, as they bring in the singular, large contributions from major donors. The light rains are t...

video

Feb 22, 2019

The statement of activities is one of the main financial statements of a nonprofit organization. Unlike a for profit income and expense report, a statement of activities must segregate financial activity by revenue classes to identify funds received ...

blog article

Feb 22, 2019

Good news, folks the nonprofit sector is looking more lively, vital and resilient than ever. Results from the Johns Hopkins Center for Civil Society’s 2019 Nonprofit Employment Report show that the nonprofit sector is not only one of the l...

blog article

Feb 22, 2019

Keeping it simple is most often the first step to success in any endeavor. Improving donor retention is no different, especially for organizations without an effective strategy already in place. Establishing a strong foundation of simple stewardship ...

blog article

Feb 22, 2019

Mediaplanet recently interviewed Network for Good CEO, Bill Strathmann, for a supplement in USA Today. The series, Empowering Nonprofits, included a piece titled “Experts on How Technology Is Changing the Future of Fundraising,” featuring...

blog article

Feb 22, 2019

Without actually meeting a supporter or donor, the closest you can possibly get to them is through a phone call. By calling them, you’re ensuring a personal touchpoint for communication, which is a great way to engage people in open-ended conve...

blog article

Feb 21, 2019

Last month we wrote about discovering your inner eco-warrior to help max your office zen. This month, as part of our better tomorrow series, I’m shining a light on some free tools that you can use to save time and grow your cause. These to...

video

Feb 21, 2019

BRIC Emmy-winning Media Share program helps Brooklyn-based and Brooklyn-affiliated nonprofits tell their unique story with an in-kind grant valued at $6K-$10K. Get free training, mentorship, and access to equipment. The New York Emmy-winning BRI...

blog article

Feb 21, 2019

Steven Shattuck recently gave us an update on an experiment he did with monthly donors. He made a gift to ten different organizations and then saw if they received any special treatment on Giving Tuesday. Spoiler alert: only one out of the ten did so...

blog article

Feb 21, 2019

Are you trying to raise money for your nonprofit with minimal resources and limited time? If so, you’re not alone. When it comes to fundraising, these are just a couple of the hurdles nonprofits face regularly. Although fundraising has evolved ...

blog article

Feb 21, 2019

Most nonprofits understand the basic benefits of holding fundraising events, but some don’t realize the added benefits of holding specific kinds of events, such as charity auctions. Although holding a charity auction is an involved multi-step p...

video

Feb 21, 2019

We’re talking today about the value of Email Automation for your organization. Not only are setting up email automations valuable, but they are extremely easy to manage once you have built out and optimized your messaging.

whitepaper

Feb 21, 2019

Peer-to-peer fundraising is a method of fundraising that involves your supporters raising money on your behalf. It works by empowering your fundraising partners with their own individual donation pages, which they can share on their social media page...

blog article

Feb 21, 2019

Books, apps, podcast, social media groups…there’s a seemingly endless list of nonprofit resources out there! We’ve done some serious work rounding up the best options. Check them out! Have a free Sunday? Nonprofits new and old...

blog article

Feb 21, 2019

I was lucky enough to be in the room at the European Parliament in October 2018 when Apple CEO Tim Cook made an impassioned plea for a federal privacy law in the USA. It was something I thought I would not hear from a Silicon Valley CEO in my lifetim...

blog article

Feb 21, 2019

Who doesn’t love a good story? When it comes to the nonprofit marketing space, and you’re asking people to reach deep into their pockets and donate to your mission, your story better be good. Go with me here for a minute. When I was ...

blog article

Feb 21, 2019

Higher education advancement teams from around the country are noticing that alumni participation is shrinking, even as donations and commitments from a small group of big donors has grown. Maybe you’ve felt the effects of reduced alumni partic...

blog article

Feb 20, 2019

Do you think your nonprofit should try live streaming or different kinds of videos in 2019? Desperate to try new software for your editorial calendar? Tired of producing long, boring printed annual reports and wish you could put it online? When ...

blog article

Feb 20, 2019

The African proverb, If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together gives insight to peer-to-peer fundraising. The many strategic benefits of team-centric events outlined below can play a vital role in your success. If you want ...

blog article

Feb 20, 2019

When I started in nonprofit years ago I had no idea what a Form 990 was. All those numbers and checkboxes seemed like a lot of painful information for someone to fill out. Frankly, I didn’t understand what most of it meant. I’ve put off f...

blog article

Feb 20, 2019

We recently heard from a client who had just sent out an email newsletter but didn’t notice that the date of an upcoming fundraiser was incorrect. Did they need to send out a new email with a correction? Should they post about it on Facebook? H...

blog article

Feb 20, 2019

What if Instagram Stories could help your nonprofit reach its’ audience? The social media struggle, especially for nonprofits and social causes, is real. Organic reach is plummeting on Facebook. Twitter is removing millions of fake followers fr...

blog article

Feb 20, 2019

A couple of weeks ago I wrote a piece on the impact of the government shutdown on the flow of nonprofit data. In that piece I suggested it would be unlikely that the IRS would release a new Exempt Organization Business Master File (BMF) on schedule i...

video

Feb 20, 2019

Want time tracking for non-profits? Here is what to look for. TimeSheet Reporter allows you to track time via your Microsoft Outlook calendar appointments and makes Outlook time tracking for your non-profit really easy for everybody, both employees a...

blog article

Feb 20, 2019

Reputation is everything. Unfortunately, for today’s fundraisers, it can also be a precarious concept. Just recently, The Guardian revealed that Spice Girls t-shirts sold to raise money for Comic Relief’s “gender justice” camp...

blog article

Feb 20, 2019

Starting in March, I will share more on how to write stories, but today we get down to the basics in case storytelling isn’t a priority at your nonprofit: You may have a lot of facts and figures to share, but if you don’t have any emotion...

blog article

Feb 20, 2019

Nonprofit organizations are reaching more people through digital channels than ever before. While some experts were quick to declare that e-mail is dead during the social media boom, the data says otherwise. However, while email revenue increased by ...

blog article

Feb 20, 2019

Busch Wildlife Sanctuary, a neighbor of Loggerhead Marinelife Center, recently implemented DipJar into their fundraising plan. Keep scrolling to see how the addition of DipJar has lead to a 26% increase in credit card donations on-site! Busch Wildlif...

blog article

Feb 20, 2019

Don’t let the name confuse you: Nonprofits need profits. When nonprofits don’t post the surpluses they need, every day can present a new crisis pushing back bills, missing paychecks, or going without air conditioning, to name a few. Crise...

whitepaper

Feb 19, 2019

Although most Chicago residents are people of color, they are typically left out of conversations about the future of local news, marginalized in mainstream media coverage and underrepresented in newsrooms. In a paradigm shift, this summer, the Field...

blog article

Feb 19, 2019

This is the fourth post in a six-part series on what nonprofit leaders think foundation funders could improve upon in their work. Findings are based on survey responses from 244 nonprofit leaders who have agreed to be a part of CEP’s Grantee Vo...

blog article

Feb 19, 2019

This week we are excited to have our friend and partner Joanna Hogan, Strategic Fundraising Coach, take over our blog and share with you her expertise on how to get the most out of meetings with your donors. It’s often said, “If you ...

whitepaper

Feb 19, 2019

The Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) has determined that West Virginia has 127 Mental Health Professional Shortage Area designation sites within West Virginia. The numbers affected, and severity of current addiction, related to the opi...

blog article

Feb 19, 2019

At JustGiving, our mission is to grow the world of giving. Thanks to the number of people and causes supported via our platform, we have an unparalleled view across the events fundraising landscape. The data from the many events run tirelessly by ded...

blog article

Feb 19, 2019

Most people are deathly afraid of fundraising. They’d rather undergo root canal. Fear of fundraising comes from four basic places in my experience: Fear of begging for money. Fear of looking stupid. Fear of rejection. Fear of public speaking. M...

blog article

Feb 19, 2019

Prospect research is a valuable tool by which nonprofits can collect data on donors to appeal to them in an effective and personalized manner. Whether your organization is new to the world of online fundraising or has a well-established Internet pres...

blog article

Feb 19, 2019

Curious if your salary as a nonprofit communications director is in line with what others are making? There’s a huge range depending on the size of your nonprofit and where you live. Check out the salary data for U.S. nonprofit communications d...

blog article

Feb 19, 2019

What kind of experience do you provide your donors? You’d be surprised how many donors say they want to hear from organizations they care about more often. Or that the information being shared isn’t relevant to them. Or that they feel lik...

blog article

Feb 19, 2019

You’ve done the hard work of sending an email, using online ads, or getting website traffic to your donation page now it’s time to help complete the online giving journey. Unfortunately, this last step is also one of the biggest hurdles f...

blog article

Feb 18, 2019

There’s no free lunch anymore, if there ever was. At least not when it comes to social media. In the early days it may have seemed like “free marketing” no stamps, no paper, no printing but it always took time. So even then you may ...

blog article

Feb 18, 2019

Have you noticed that it’s getting increasingly difficult to meet the needs of your entire donor base? It seems like we have so many different ways to connect with our donors, but all that noise often drowns out the impact. Even if you cater to...

video

Feb 18, 2019

Nonprofit fundraising ideas have to be fresh, fun and easy in the digital era. Here are our Top 5 FAVORITE Fundraising Ideas for Nonprofits! If you are a part of a nonprofit, PTO, or school community, you probably know how challenging raising money c...

blog article

Feb 18, 2019

My husband and I just came back from a trip to Las Vegas and Phoenix for some sunshine. We didn’t get as much as we’d hoped, which is unusual, but It was still nice to take some time off. This made me think of monthly giving. I often...

blog article

Feb 18, 2019

In many of my blog posts, I talk about being appropriately persistent in your relationship with your caseload donor and worrying more about the relevance of your content with that donor than the frequency of your communication. In other words, make s...

blog article

Feb 18, 2019

Nonprofits are expected to provide the public with an annual report. This gives donors, volunteers, members of the community and others information about the organization’s accomplishments and growth over the past year. The report includes deta...

blog article

Feb 18, 2019

The federal holiday landing on the third Monday in February is officially known as Washington’s Birthday. First celebrated in 1885 to honor you guessed it George Washington’s birthday, this holiday has since broadened its scope to become ...

blog article

Feb 17, 2019

Last fall, I was invited to speak about collaboration for social impact and corporate volunteerism at the annual Russia Donors Forum conference in Moscow. The conference brings together philanthropy and corporate social responsibility professionals f...

blog article

Feb 17, 2019

The past couple of years have been tough for nonprofit fundraising, with higher donor expectations, more competition, increased regulation and cuts to traditional funding streams. Additionally, the rise of the Internet has brought about a high degree...

whitepaper

Feb 15, 2019

In September 2018, we asked our charity partners to answer an in-depth survey about their use and management of digital technology, their priorities, pain points and plans for the future. The results gave us valuable insight into how charities in the...

blog article

Feb 15, 2019

Company culture is defined by strongly held and widely shared beliefs that organizations support through their strategy and structure. As any executive search consultant will tell you, cultural fit is a critical factor in hiring. While this is true f...

video

Feb 14, 2019

This segment answers how you go about Reporting Donations Your Nonprofit Received (IRS Form 990). Get YOUR most pressing tax questions answered by one of the nations top tax attorneys LIVE. Whether your a small business owner, real estate business ow...

blog article

Feb 14, 2019

This is the third post in a six-part series on what nonprofit leaders think foundation funders could improve upon in their work. Findings are based on survey responses from 244 nonprofit leaders who have agreed to be a part of CEP’s Grantee Voi...

blog article

Feb 14, 2019

We’ve all heard the saying “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks”. Have you ever tried? It’s a myth. You sure can! New forms of games or play can actually provide more happiness and longevity in a dog’s later year...

blog article

Feb 14, 2019

As a kid, I was saturated by symphony performances and choral music. My dad was a conductor and composer, my mom his accompanist. They were also involved in a chorus called the Tanglewood Festival Chorus (TFC, as we referred to it for the next 25 yea...

blog article

Feb 14, 2019

As a kid, I was saturated by symphony performances and choral music. My dad was a conductor and composer, my mom his accompanist. They were also involved in a chorus called the Tanglewood Festival Chorus (TFC, as we referred to it for the next 25 yea...

blog article

Feb 14, 2019

As development professionals, we often find ourselves laser-focused on closing gifts to reach our revenue goals. On average, gift officers spend more than three-quarters of their time identifying, cultivating, and soliciting new leads. While it is im...

blog article

Feb 14, 2019

You know what is an unsung holiday for loving on donors? Valentine’s Day. You know who is not expecting to hear from you on Valentine’s Day? Your donors! Why not surprise them with some donor love? I’ve outlined 21 ways to show you ...

blog article

Feb 14, 2019

Fundraising is like a marathon. It takes sustained efforts over a longer period of time and a lot of grit to achieve the desired outcomes and goals. Successful fundraising starts from effective planning and goal setting. Your fundraising goals and pl...

blog article

Feb 14, 2019

While you tend to hear the term more in relation to for-profit businesses, the importance of branding for nonprofits cannot be stressed enough. Your brand is what people think about when they think of your organization. This impacts your public image...

blog article

Feb 14, 2019

There is a lot of talk in nonprofit circles about “donor love” but what does this phrase really mean? Some nonprofits interpret it as a way to thank donors with kitschy gifts and cutesy thank you notes. We’d challenge you to think f...

blog article

Feb 13, 2019

You already know that Facebook Live lets any nonprofit live-stream fundraising events, breaking news, impact stories, and more, directly from their Facebook Page. But did you know that Facebook lets nonprofits add a donate button to their Facebook Li...

blog article

Feb 13, 2019

If your nonprofit is just getting started, it’s easy to be daunted by the challenges that arise with fundraising efforts. This is especially true if you compare yourself to larger and more established organizations, which draw on brand recognit...

blog article

Feb 13, 2019

When talking with potential clients, I often ask the following questions: “What do you consider a major gift? How many donors contribute at that level?” The phrase “major gift” perplexes some people. If needed, I might rephras...

blog article

Feb 13, 2019

When it comes to resources, most annual giving teams have limited time and money for annual giving appeals. Little wins add up a donor renews her gift for $500 more than last year, a direct mail campaign motivates a larger group of donors than antici...

blog article

Feb 13, 2019

The reality of nonprofit fundraising is that circumstances and needs change from year to year. The fund development office is an important function for any nonprofit. As these changes occur, a restructure of this department is sometimes necessary. So...

blog article

Feb 13, 2019

We recently hosted a tweet chat with Nonprofit Tech for Good about nonprofit tech trends for 2019. In case you missed it or would like a re-cap, we pulled together the highlights from each topic we touched on. Fundraising on social media will co...

blog article

Feb 13, 2019

Amanda, a do-it-yourself nonprofit expert, had wrestled with the idea of creating her charity a website for far too long. “Today is the day,” Amanda repeated to herself as she got on her computer and did what any rational person in the 21...

blog article

Feb 13, 2019

Nonprofit professionals know thanking donors isn’t just as an expression of gratitude and good manners, but rather a way of building relationships. When done properly, donor recognition can encourage future gifts and continued involvement, whet...

blog article

Feb 13, 2019

While technology has made it easier for us to stay connected, it can also limit personal, human interaction and make us feel further apart. The convenience of firing off an email or posting on social media has replaced the personal connection of a ph...

blog article

Feb 13, 2019

When nonprofit organizations are in the midst of fundraising efforts, follow-ups can fall by the wayside. Asking for and receiving funds takes the focus, and nonprofit employees may forget to extend their appreciation. Several months can go by betwee...

blog article

Feb 13, 2019

According to Giving USA’s 2018 data, private contributions to the nonprofit sector that derived from corporations accounted for a total of $21 billion dollars, approximately 5% of all private contributions to the sector. The CEO Force for Good ...

blog article

Feb 12, 2019

Nonprofits can’t afford to take event team captains for granted. Their value is huge: They recruit participants, motivate their team, and are likely to come back year-after-year. Through their teams, captains are responsible for helping bring i...

blog article

Feb 12, 2019

Would you like more nonprofit marketing training but aren’t sure what you need and don’t have a lot of spare time? We can recommend online, self-paced courses for you, and we only need you to answer two questions to do it. We&rs...

blog article

Feb 12, 2019

At a group convening I attended a while back, we discussed some of the challenges facing leaders of color in the sector, including how 90% of funding still go to white-led organizations, how funders still use a very white lens in what is considered g...

blog article

Feb 12, 2019

In the non-profit sector we talk a lot about storytelling. These one-off stories about something that happens to a person, place or thing offer a glimpse into the work our non-profit is doing. In the context of fundraising, these stories connect dono...

blog article

Feb 12, 2019

Most nonprofit organizations post their announcements on social media, typically Facebook and Twitter. Far fewer nonprofits use social media listening to take full advantage of social media. Today, most people connect with friends, companies and othe...

blog article

Feb 12, 2019

Many groups end the year and then move onto their next project starting Jan. 1. While forward-thinking and acting is important, it is also equally as critical to do some analysis of the past year; calendar year-end, particularly, since it is a barome...

blog article

Feb 12, 2019

When it comes to science and technology, it's never too early to inspire interest and imagination within young minds. Doing so enables kids who may not have otherwise been exposed to STEM education to cultivate a lifelong passion. FIRST Illinois ...

blog article

Feb 12, 2019

The modern fundraising landscape has gone digital and there’s no going back. If you want to stay relevant, you need to keep up. Technology has changed the face of our daily interactions and engagement. Social media and text messaging offer...

blog article

Feb 12, 2019

We know it’s still cold, but it’s never too early to start planning for Spring-time fundraising! Here are a few low-effort ideas to help you get started: Spring break means the kids in your community are free to get involved with local no...

blog article

Feb 12, 2019

Last year for a research study, I signed up to get emails from 152 Canadian charities to see how they were capturing emails and then what they were sending when it came to fundraising. This post will look at four ways Canadian charities can improve t...

blog article

Feb 12, 2019

Is video part of your nonprofit’s digital content strategy? Have you used video in your digital fundraising and crowdfunding campaigns? For digital fundraisers, a compelling video is a critical way to drive donations. This powerful tool cuts th...

blog article

Feb 11, 2019

Philanthropy is a cooperative market. Its constituents work to unite funds and policies in order to meet common economic, social, and cultural needs in our ever-changing social sector. If armed with an equal voice, both the givers and doers can infor...

blog article

Feb 11, 2019

Online fundraising has become one of the most prominent trends in the nonprofit world. As Millennial and Gen Z donors make up a larger percentage of donors, nonprofits have found that they need to adjust their fundraising strategies to be more accomm...

blog article

Feb 11, 2019

You may recall that I had the good fortune of being a Peter Drucker fellow. I think of his teachings often, and I have even dedicated my upcoming book to him, “Fundraising Truths to Live By,” which should be out later this year. Druc...

blog article

Feb 11, 2019

Choices. Opportunities. There are so many ways for donors to give now it can be overwhelming. Not just for donors, but especially for you as the organization. Text-to-give. Crowdfunding. Facebook. YouTube. Instagram? Donate buttons anyone? You worry ...

video

Feb 11, 2019

At Credit Suisse, we believe that capacity building is essential for non-profit organizations (NPOs) to succeed in their mission and achieve greater impact. In APAC, Credit Suisse Corporate Citizenship has been funding a series of workshops for NPOs,...

whitepaper

Feb 10, 2019

Embrace the digital age of fundraising! The technological advances of the modern world allow us to search for information on Google, receive personalized “Top Suggestions” emails from Netflix, and create wish lists on Amazon. Information ...

blog article

Feb 10, 2019

While private businesses rely on the sale of goods and services to finance their operations, nonprofit organizations rely almost entirely on the generous hearts of their donors. Even so, it’s easy to get swept away with planning the perfect fun...

blog article

Feb 08, 2019

Nonprofits have wonderful stories to tell about their organizations. In fact, many nonprofits have wonderful branding opportunities. That said, the sad fact is nonprofits generally do not have the funds and knowledge to market themselves well or at a...

blog article

Feb 08, 2019

As a self-proclaimed data nerd, I love digging into a piece of research or sifting through the latest social science data to glean insights that I can apply to my work. But I know that’s not the case for everyone. Over time, I’ve learned ...

blog article

Feb 08, 2019

Outside of the time leading up to and including the year-end fundraising season, the months of April and May generate the highest donation volume, according to 2017 Classy data. To prepare yourself for a stellar spring, we’ve compiled 25 spring...

video

Feb 07, 2019

With Zomaron Fundraising, you get flexible fundraising solutions that allow you to accept online, on-the-go, and unattended donations. Join the growing number of organizations who use our award winning solutions to fundraise smarter.

blog article

Feb 07, 2019

You host peer-to-peer campaigns and events to extend your fundraising reach. But, how do you get more people to participate, and get those participants more involved? Here are five ways to get more participants more involved with your peer-to-pe...

blog article

Feb 06, 2019

This week's article is from Craig Van Korlaar, CEO at TopNonprofits. It takes a thorough look at peer-to-peer fundraising personas. When planning a P2P fundraising event, it is important to understand who your audience is as well as the audi...

blog article

Feb 06, 2019

Have you been wondering how to position your organization or a member of your executive team as a thought leader? There are many online and offline ways to work toward this goal from public relations to LinkedIn posts to speaking engagements so there...

blog article

Feb 06, 2019

Foundations typically approach most grants as a team sport, debating their merits and deciding, collectively, whether they’re likely to achieve the foundation’s goals. However, in addition to granting as a group, some foundations give the...

blog article

Feb 05, 2019

Let’s face it. The impending takeover of technology is no longer impending it’s here and nonprofit organizations must learn to adapt to stay relevant and sustainable in this new landscape. Along with a handful of other technological ...

blog article

Feb 05, 2019

When was the last time you thanked your donors? I mean really thanked them. That lame, automatic thank you email you sent after your year-end appeal doesn’t cut it. And even if you were one of the few organizations who did a good job of thankin...

blog article

Feb 05, 2019

You might be looking to enter the nonprofit world from one of many different starting points. Maybe you’re fresh out of college and eager to change the world. Maybe you’re mid-career and and hoping for a change. Maybe you’re a paren...

infographic

Feb 05, 2019

We’ve all seen the stats outlining the poor retention rates for working fundraisers, with most leaving their positions every 16-18 months. Researcher Penelope Burk found that this costs nonprofits $127,650 in direct and indirect costs every tim...

blog article

Feb 05, 2019

A strategic marketing plan can help your nonprofit raise awareness and take in a lot more donations! We put all our best marketing tips in one place to help you get started. Marketing can be intimidating, so staying up to date on the new terminology ...

blog article

Feb 05, 2019

What does marketing have to do with the donor experience? Everything. If you’re not a born marketer and who is? self-promotion may feel like boasting. It’s not. Sharing the mission and vision of your nonprofit, the need you fill, and...

blog article

Feb 05, 2019

Every nonprofit organization including yours needs a written fundraising plan in order to be successful.  Whether you are launching a small clinic and have yet to raise a dollar or are a multibillion-dollar research or medical center, you need a...

blog article

Feb 05, 2019

Have you ever signed up to get email updates from 152 Canadian charities? What about receive, read, and analyze 1,234 emails from those organizations? Or how about make $25 donations to each and every single one of those 152 charities? The answer is ...

blog article

Feb 04, 2019

Are you an association looking for association software options? This post sets out a list of software that is specifically designed for the needs of associations. We clarify the common needs of associations and then recommend options depending ...

blog article

Feb 04, 2019

If you’re a nonprofit, you’re probably looking to recruit and engage volunteers, receive more donations, or develop stronger, more effective programs this year. One way to initiate growth is to upgrade your free volunteer management subsc...

video

Feb 04, 2019

Shopify can be a great solution for non profit organizations. Here are 5 reasons why. Electric Eye are certified Shopify Experts and Partners making eCommerce brands more money every day. Electric Eye is a boutique agency focused on helping...

blog article

Feb 04, 2019

I laid on the mat and listened to my instructor explain the next move. Point your toes to the sky. Engage your core. Reach for your toes. Breath with consistency. I sat there wondering if she was serious. I had never been asked to make the letter V w...

blog article

Feb 04, 2019

It’s the beginning of the year and for many of us it’s performance evaluation time. This is the time of year where we review the ambitious goals we set, the progress we’ve made and the effectiveness of our performance. Our 360-degre...

blog article

Feb 04, 2019

If you’ve read any blog posts on marketing these days, you must have heard about SEO. While it might seem like just another digital marketing buzzword, SEO is a must for almost any organization operating in the modern world, including for nonpr...

blog article

Feb 04, 2019

Whether you are an established nonprofit or are just getting started, there are opportunities to assess, update, or add-on to your annual fundraising strategy. To help start the nonprofit strategic planning process, we’ve collected our top five...

blog article

Feb 04, 2019

The capital campaign industry has been operating more or less the same way for nearly a century. But now, fueled by the Internet, the traditional models are being replaced by new, more efficient systems and practices. For as long as we can determine,...

blog article

Feb 04, 2019

The Internet is becoming an ever-more central part of our everyday lives, and raising money is no exception to that rule. With the Baby Boomer generation aging, Millennials, and members of Generation Z will soon make up the majority of donors. Failin...

video

Feb 03, 2019

The Art of Persuasion In Fundraising For Non Profits By Kal Jurdi at the American Fundraising Professionals event hosted by Blair Singer Academy. An introduction by Dr. Willard White, Senior Consultant and Principal, Marts and Lundy. The Learning Pla...

whitepaper

Feb 01, 2019

The Global Trends in Giving Report (givingreport.ngo) is a research project that seeks to gain a better understanding of how donors prefer to give and engage with their favorite causes and charitable organizations. Sponsored by the Public Interest Re...

blog article

Feb 01, 2019

Content marketing is dominating marketing trends and if everyone was blogging and doing it well, we’d leave you alone. Due to shrinking budgets and overworked staff, blogging has taken a backseat for many nonprofits. Producing quality blogs and...

video

Feb 01, 2019

We’re talking three high level takeaways from this past year with the Google Ad Grant that we think are worth sharing. Tune in for more on maximize conversions bidding strategy, donation focused Copy, and Donation Focused Landing Pages.

blog article

Feb 01, 2019

Odds are your nonprofit has amassed valuable data as a result of regular day-to-day activities like processing online donations; managing virtual staff or volunteers; or capturing details of those who subscribe to your nonprofit’s newsletter.&n...

blog article

Feb 01, 2019

It never fails. As soon as the iconic glittery New Year’s ball makes its descent in Times Square and the calendar turns to January nonprofit boards review their list of goals for the new year and begin to tackle tasks like updating woefully out...

blog article

Feb 01, 2019

Book-lovers of the nonprofit world, unite! Even seasoned fundraisers and nonprofit professionals need to learn new skills and hear new perspectives. That’s where nonprofit management books come in or simply great management books! To gathe...

blog article

Feb 01, 2019

It’s no secret that people working at social good organizations, and at nonprofits in particular, have the reputation of being “overworked and underpaid.” According to the 2018 Nonprofit Finance Fund State of the Nonprofit Sector Su...

whitepaper

Jan 31, 2019

Asking for upgrades, major gifts and bequests is something that every fundraiser wants to do. But identifying the best supporters in your lists for those types of asks can be an even bigger challenge than the ask itself. Oftentimes we look only to th...

blog article

Jan 31, 2019

At CEP, we adhere to the core principle that grantees are a crucial link between funders and their ability to have impact. This shouldn’t be surprising nor controversial. After all, grantee organizations and the individuals who make them up are...

video

Jan 31, 2019

We're answering five of your frequently asked questions about how to improve your nonprofit's Facebook ad performance. Tune in to learn more! All Your Nonprofit's Facebook Marketing FAQs Answered. We're answering five of your fre...

blog article

Jan 31, 2019

We work with nonprofits big and small young and old extremely established organizations, and organizations that are still working on that 501c3 status. Below are some great grant opportunities coming up in 2019 that are definitely worth applying for....

blog article

Jan 31, 2019

Looking for some fresh ideas to energize your fundraising campaigns and donor retention efforts? There’s no better time than now to try something new! This short, action-packed video has 5 effective and enjoyable strategies that’ll bring ...

blog article

Jan 31, 2019

Sometimes, fundraising with social media can feel like shouting into a void. It can difficult to determine who is seeing your messages and even harder to ensure that they are clicking the links, especially if you aren’t utilizing paid ads. ...

blog article

Jan 31, 2019

Advocacy and legislative advocacy. Have I scared you off yet? These can be frightening  words for some nonprofits but they shouldn’t be. Most nonprofits, from community groups to social justice organizations, are focused on ...

blog article

Jan 31, 2019

Today, we’re going to talk about donor prospect outreach. Specifically, methods you can incorporate into your fundraising efforts to attract new donors to your nonprofit. In How to Attract New Donors – Part 1, we discussed how to ide...

blog article

Jan 31, 2019

Novices equate the word “fundraising” with “the ask” the moment when the gift is requested in person, at an event, online, through the mail, or by phone. Taken holistically, as I make clear in my book What Every Board Mem...

blog article

Jan 30, 2019

Here are some useful numbers and the takeaways: A participant who comes back to do the same peer-to-peer event five years straight has 22 times the dollar impact of a one-time participant. Their impact totals $4,425 on average. Their overall val...

blog article

Jan 30, 2019

Sometimes, finding new donors seem like magic. These mythical beings appear out of nowhere, bearing money and enthusiasm. Oh, I just drove by your office and saw your sign,” they say. Or, I was looking at charities online, and you seemed great....

video

Jan 30, 2019

We're going through the basics of setting up your nonprofit's Facebook ads with a quick step-by-step guide. Facebook advertising is something that can help your organization boost brand awareness and drive online donations. Learn more about h...

blog article

Jan 30, 2019

If you are like most nonprofits, your organization is often strapped for capacity. In fact, on average, most nonprofits spend a mere 2% of their budget to support key operations like marketing, technology, or human resources, while peers in the corpo...

blog article

Jan 30, 2019

My first trip outside the United States probably ruined me for “normal” travel. I had an opportunity to work in Kuwait out of college and I took it. Little did I know that experience would whet my appetite for a lifetime of travel to, let...

blog article

Jan 30, 2019

Picture this: It’s been a handful of years since you’ve gone through your nonprofit’s branding process and you’re considering a logo redesign. Maybe your nonprofit logo is starting to look a little tired, or maybe you were rus...

blog article

Jan 30, 2019

The technological world we live in helps make our lives easier. For example, companies can be run by a distributed workforce from all corners of America, meetings incorporate high definition video calls, and marketing software can automate a week&rsq...

blog article

Jan 30, 2019

Earlier this month, Network for Good held our annual Kick-Off Summit near our offices in Washington, D.C. Our mission for the day bring the full organization together to start the year as a unified front. The day began with a rousing keynote add...

blog article

Jan 30, 2019

I found your recently penned article titled “Why nonprofit staff should not be asked to donate to the organizations they work for” thought-provoking and see it touched a nerve, engendering a lot of commentary, pro and con. I found the art...

video

Jan 29, 2019

Ever wondered where the funds to run your nonprofit will come from? It's a common question. In this video Megan Tarnow and I discuss the sources of nonprofit fundraising and how to make sure you're doing it the right way.

blog article

Jan 29, 2019

According to the 2018 M+R Benchmarks study of nonprofits, email messaging drove 28% of all online revenue for nonprofits in 2017.  Email is an important, effective and economical marketing channel, especially for small to midsize nonprofits.&nbs...

blog article

Jan 29, 2019

This week’s topic may be polarizing and possibly rile you up, so please stare at the nearest houseplant for a few minutes. Once a while our community gets into a discussion about whether nonprofits should ask their staff to donate some amount o...

blog article

Jan 29, 2019

Your donors made a commitment to your organization by giving to you. Are you making the same commitment to them? Donors have a choice. There are many nonprofits they could donate to, but they chose yours, along with others I’m sure. D...

blog article

Jan 29, 2019

An editorial calendar is an essential tool for all nonprofit communications directors. We know that the most effective nonprofits use one consistently and that 80% of nonprofits use some sort of editorial calendar. If you aren’t using an e...

blog article

Jan 29, 2019

Just because they’re young, does not mean your youth group can’t hold some high impact fundraisers! Here are some great fundraising ideas that your youth group can take the reins on, and provide a great experience for the whole church com...

blog article

Jan 29, 2019

It’s the question every nonprofit fundraiser must face. The white whale of fundraising. And you need to have an answer. Don’t let finding donor prospects intimidate you. In part one of this two-part blog series, we’ll explore s...

blog article

Jan 28, 2019

These are the fundamental areas your nonprofit must focus on in the year ahead. And I mean focus. Prioritize these areas. Create written plans for these areas. Include goals, measurable objectives, strategies and timelines. Assign staff and volunteer...

blog article

Jan 28, 2019

Fundraising is a complex and challenging ordeal for most nonprofits. While there are many funding sources out there available to nonprofit organizations, it can be hard for a nonprofit to decide on a funding model that would suit its individual needs...

blog article

Jan 28, 2019

Your organization may have a successful grant seeking strategy. You may have great relationships with foundation and perhaps even state agency grantmakers. You may be managing your funding and reporting requirements well. But as your Board of Di...

video

Jan 28, 2019

MPW Strategies provides a suite of innovative fundraising solutions that enable our nonprofit partners to advance their missions and further their positive impact in our communities. Kaye Taavialma, Director of Ricardo Flores Magon Academy, and the D...

blog article

Jan 28, 2019

With any annual fundraising campaign, your organization has the opportunity to examine your results and revise your strategy for the following year in an attempt to make an even bigger splash. Yet, the nature of Giving Tuesday requires intense focus ...

blog article

Jan 28, 2019

In "Major Gift Fundraising’s Most Important Fairy Tales," Claire Axelrad, JD, CFRE, principal of Clairification, ties enduring moral tales to effective major gift fundraising strategies. There’s a lot of common sense here, and t...

blog article

Jan 28, 2019

Chances are, you are already very familiar with marketing strategies for your nonprofit. You've likely engaged in the writing of fundraising letters, recruitment emails, sponsorship requests, and more. Now you're looking for new ways to refin...

blog article

Jan 28, 2019

People have recently asked us if the December 22, 2018-January 25, 2019, government shutdown has affected the availability of nonprofit data. Yes and no. Before getting into the details of the shutdown’s impact, I should note that even during t...

blog article

Jan 28, 2019

A meeting of minds can be a powerful thing, especially in the Tech4Good community. And in case you're not aware, TechSoup supports a global network of nonprofit technology meetups called NetSquared. With 120 chapters globally, there's probabl...

blog article

Jan 26, 2019

According to the latest edition of Giving USA, charitable giving in the U.S. exceeded $400 billion in 2017, a record. And in each of the four categories covered by the report giving by individuals, by foundations, by bequest, and by corporations the ...

video

Jan 25, 2019

Text-to-donate is one of the most effective, and affordable, ways to raise money for your nonprofit. In this video we'll cover the basics of how to set up a text-to-donate campaign. Find out how easy it is to have supporters donate via text messa...

blog article

Jan 25, 2019

Fundraisers sometimes tell me: “I don’t want to convert my donors to monthly giving, because then I can’t ask them to give more!” Well, that’s an absolute myth! The best real-life example of monthly giving came from...

whitepaper

Jan 25, 2019

Planning an acquisition strategy is similar to planning any other campaign. Review your past efforts and results. What worked and what didn’t? Use your data as a guide to set goals for how many new donors you need to acquire. Your previous...

blog article

Jan 25, 2019

Planning an acquisition strategy is similar to planning any other campaign. Start off by reviewing your previous efforts and results. What worked? What didn’t? Your data is a great guide to determining new donor goals. Use your donor manag...

blog article

Jan 25, 2019

U.S. nonprofits maintained a robust pattern of job growth through 2016, the latest year for which data are available. But for-profit companies are making significant inroads in key nonprofit fields, cutting into nonprofits’ market share. These ...

blog article

Jan 24, 2019

Using personalized communications to reach more donors is certainly not a new concept in the nonprofit sector and there is proven data that makes a powerful case for custom messaging. According to a recent Constant Contact study, personalized emails ...

blog article

Jan 24, 2019

We know vital missions require the best tools. We also know that measuring and sharing impact can be challenging, yet it’s the most important barometer that foundations and nonprofits have for their work. Impact is why we launched the Fluxx Gra...

blog article

Jan 24, 2019

I like to say that here at the Bainum Family Foundation, our middle name is “Family.” And just as our founders Stewart and Jane Bainum were intentional about passing along their commitment to giving, the Foundation is equally intentional ...

blog article

Jan 24, 2019

Reading through different nonprofit blogs, articles and newsletters, you’ll likely come across something about fundraising on Facebook or Amazon. The corporate philanthropy efforts of Amazon Smile and Facebook Fundraising have certainly made a ...

blog article

Jan 24, 2019

While the federal government was dealing with the shutdown at the start of 2019, many nonprofits were trying to sort out new reporting guidelines concerning their fiscal conditions. Issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), &ldq...

blog article

Jan 24, 2019

As the yearly calendar starts anew, you may be busy renewing your gym membership, searching for that lost diet plan, or shopping for a new agenda to keep yourself organized. On a professional level, now is also a great time to pause and reflect on yo...

blog article

Jan 24, 2019

Before Jack Welch retired, he was quoted as saying, “Good business leaders create a vision, articulate the vision, passionately own the vision, and relentlessly drive it to completion.” The start of a New Year is the perfect opportun...

blog article

Jan 23, 2019

As we start the new year, there’s much uncertainty for nonprofits: Will you have to make up any shortfall due to the new tax law? Will your long-standing events prove they can keep up with the times? Where exactly is peer-to-peer fundraising he...

blog article

Jan 23, 2019

Welcome to the new year, fundraiser! Look at you all bright eyed and bushy tailed. You are awesome. Stay that way. Look at that clean slate in front of you! Congrats on your sparkling fresh start. And because no fundraiser ever started the year plann...

blog article

Jan 23, 2019

We’re excited to introduce a NEW feature on your charity’s CanadaHelps Customizable Donation Form: flexible funds management. Flexible funds management puts you in the driver’s seat by allowing control of how and which funds to disp...

blog article

Jan 23, 2019

The single greatest threat to effective communications is our inability to identify and prioritize who we’re communicating with. However, in spite of this well-known truth, an easy solution sometimes feels out of reach. Shortcomings cost us val...

blog article

Jan 23, 2019

Are you thinking about updating your online fundraising plan this year? Why not incorporate data from over 6,000 donors around the world into your decision-making process? Using giving trends to adjust your fundraising will help to standardize your p...

blog article

Jan 23, 2019

Mobile fundraising is gaining popularity, and the statistics prove it. According to recent research, mobile fundraising accounted for 21 percent of the online donations made in 2017. This figure rose from 17 percent the year before. But mobile f...

blog article

Jan 23, 2019

Editor’s Note: Many state associations of nonprofits develop leading or “best practices” for nonprofits that reflect the specific legal obligations in their state. In the following piece, one state association shares a mini-case stu...

blog article

Jan 23, 2019

The 2019 Nonprofit Communications Trends Report found that the most successful nonprofit communicators were putting significantly more emphasis on content marketing than less effective organizations. For the most effective nonprofits, 24% consid...

blog article

Jan 23, 2019

Directly across from the standing desk I use is a bookcase. When peering over my monitor, I’m drawn to the top shelf where, kept at eye level, is a stack of books I have read. They sit there as reminders of concepts I want to have right in my f...

video

Jan 22, 2019

Digital marketing trends for nonprofits to watch out in 2019 which you can't overlook. Donors will expect personal, deeper connections on digital medias, in-person, and social communities. Donor preferences change more quickly than you think. Non...

blog article

Jan 22, 2019

Unless you have a dedicated social media manager at your nonprofit, you know that routinely sharing your stories on social media can take up a lot of your time. And, if we’re all being honest, posting often doesn’t make it to the top of y...

blog article

Jan 22, 2019

Whenever I conduct a board session on philanthropy, I come across big-time resistance to fundraising. People have a lot of deep-seated, negative beliefs when it comes to asking people for money. When asked to give one word that comes to their minds w...

blog article

Jan 22, 2019

The number one indicator of individual donor fundraising success is having a plan. You know you need one—and one you can stick to. The question is: how do you create a really solid plan? Don’t let writing a fundraising plan overwhelm...

blog article

Jan 22, 2019

We know some of you are on top of things after the holidays, but it’s not so easy for the rest of us. You know the drill—you set your resolutions with determination on New Year’s Day, but within weeks you already catch yourself losi...

video

Jan 22, 2019

Learn about the Maryland Nonprofit Development Center Program and Fund - Nonprofit, Interest-Free, Micro Bridge Loan Account (NIMBL). This interest-free, micro bridge loan program and fund supports the operations of nonprofit entities. The program pr...

blog article

Jan 22, 2019

Now that it is January, you may think that it is time to relax a bit after that hectic holiday season. However, now is the time to ensure that you have strong follow-up to your calendar year-end appeal. If you have closed out one fundraising yea...

video

Jan 21, 2019

We know that non-profit organizations can have difficulties raising funds. Most people really dislike fund raising. They may think that fund raising is akin to begging, but funding your non-profit organization is critical to your mission and to ...

blog article

Jan 21, 2019

Like your organization, TechSoup is a nonprofit, so we know how critical it is to have a robust fundraising, grantseeking, and development program. To that end, TechSoup offers a selection of apps, tools, and services to allow you to more effectively...

blog article

Jan 21, 2019

I heard a story recently about a very gifted, wealthy and influential major donor who decided to accept an invitation to become a member of the organization’s board. This gentleman had founded his own company, had thousands of employees and was...

blog article

Jan 20, 2019

For most of the last century, news media operated on a simple premise: building a readership by providing content and then selling the attention of that audience to advertisers. In the past two decades, newspapers, magazines, radio and TV, all h...

blog article

Jan 18, 2019

There are over 1.5 million nonprofits in the United States. That means if you want to stand out, you need to do something different. Sure, you could offer different pricing, features or benefits, but there’s one element you can tweak to increas...

blog article

Jan 18, 2019

As a nonprofit organization, you are mission-driven; you care more about tirelessly delivering your mission than anything else. But software, at first glance, appears to have little effect on mission work or crucial fundraising efforts. So why spend ...

blog article

Jan 18, 2019

Your organization relies on volunteers to carry out the important work you do and often times interact with donors through fundraising campaigns and community events. Your volunteers are committed to your cause and represent your organization, so it ...

blog article

Jan 18, 2019

It’s 2019, and you cannot wait to begin working on that noble cause that will make a difference in your community. You promised yourself that you are going to do what it takes this year to get the funding you need. Well, you are in luck because...

blog article

Jan 18, 2019

Fundraisers disagree about the value of capital campaigns. Yesterday’s post argues they do more harm than good in the long run. Today’s post offers a different point of view. Some people worry that major gifts will suffer in the years aft...

blog article

Jan 18, 2019

There are weeks that go by when I do not dream or remember any dream that I might have had during the previous night. I recently came back to work after a week-long vacation in which I slept well and relaxed. I am back at work now and dreams are beco...

blog article

Jan 18, 2019

Ask your coworkers about your donor experience and you’ll probably hear positive feedback. You thank them in a timely fashion, you send an email newsletter a couple times a year, you celebrate them at your annual fundraising event. You’re...

infographic

Jan 17, 2019

The holiday season has millions of millennials considering how best to donate their money to charity. Famously derided as the me me me generation," millennials are not only giving in record numbers, but they're remaking the way charities do ...

blog article

Jan 17, 2019

There’s no denying that the digital era has dramatically changed giving. It’s never been easier for individuals to donate (now at the click of a button), crowdfund for a good cause, and even contribute a dollar or two on their way through...

blog article

Jan 17, 2019

Drawing potential donors to your online donation page is arguably the main reason behind your nonprofit’s online presence. Social media posts, e-newsletters, blogs…all crafted in an effort to inspire your audience to support your cause a...

blog article

Jan 17, 2019

A new year brings new goals and now is the perfect time to plan your social media content calendar for 2019. A content calendar is the link between posting daily on social media and a social media strategy. It will help you stay organized by pla...

blog article

Jan 17, 2019

A couple of weeks ago, CEP Manager, Assessment and Advisory Services, Charlotte Brugman was joined by City Bridge Trust Funding and Social Investment Director Tim Wilson and C&A Foundation Head of Effective Philanthropy Lee Risby for an insightfu...

infographic

Jan 16, 2019

Storytelling continues to be one of the most talked-about  topics in nonprofit communications and fundraising today. Researchers from Georgetown University's Center for Social Impact Communication conducted a survey of 81 nonprofits serving ...

blog article

Jan 16, 2019

When it comes to asking for donations, most of us head for the hills. We get it. It’s intimidating to ask other people to part with their hard earned cash. They might ask, “Why?” And we might not have a great answer. At it...

blog article

Jan 16, 2019

Ten years ago when I joined Facebook, I never dreamed social media would be so consequential in our lives or the philanthropic world. And yet here we are. Giving drives, nonprofit updates, invocations to do good, and nonprofit mission statements.

blog article

Jan 16, 2019

Your donor data is the lifeblood of your nonprofit, fueling your acquisition, retention, and stewardship efforts. So, who owns it? Many nonprofits assume they own this data. After all, it’s related to their supporters and their fundraising...

blog article

Jan 16, 2019

If you were to sit down and quantify the amount of time it takes you to prepare a document, send it, and capture a written signature, how long do you think it would be? In an effort to drive organizational efficiency, nonprofits are increasingly...

blog article

Jan 16, 2019

Social media is an integral piece of your nonprofit’s marketing plan. We’ve shared a lot of social media tips on the DipJar Blog, so we decided to put them all in one place! It is extremely important to “show” not “...

blog article

Jan 16, 2019

We really push for you to create a shorter, more visual nonprofit annual report here as opposed to long print reports. Shorter annual reports don’t take as many resources, can be shared more easily, and will be read more often. But whether...

blog article

Jan 15, 2019

To give you context, the majority of my digital working life had been within the charity sector, so when an opportunity came up at my favourite fitness studio, I couldn’t say no to exploring the world of a fast-paced startup driven by two inspi...

blog article

Jan 15, 2019

What’s the secret to attracting major donors? Join us for our webinar, Every Fish Can Become a Whale: Major Donor Fundraising, to find out! We’re thrilled to have special guest G.C. Murray II, Esq., DPL, join us. President and Founder of ...

blog article

Jan 15, 2019

The following article is an excerpt from the “CSR 2020: Experts Look Ahead“ eBook published by Blackbaud Corporate Solutions. Download it for free now to read more about trends that will affect how companies give back in the near future.&...

blog article

Jan 15, 2019

Some people will find it hard to believe that one of my favorite podcasts is produced by AARP. Twenty-five intriguing episodes of The Perfect Scam podcast series can be found on the nonprofit’s website, and I binge listened to EVERY SINGLE ONE ...

video

Jan 15, 2019

Learn more about how Facebook is a great platform for Nonprofit advertising and fundraising and why supporter lifetime value should be the metric guiding your organization's marketing efforts.

blog article

Jan 15, 2019

When it comes to nonprofit branding, the three questions that will drive real understanding of your supporters to better connect them to your organization are: What do my supporters struggle with? What are my supporters motivated by? Is there a memor...

blog article

Jan 14, 2019

You can, and should, have a major gift fundraising program whatever your size. If you don’t, you’re just ignoring the facts. Nearly 80% of all fundraising comes from individuals. Studies show over 88% of all funds raised come from just 12...

blog article

Jan 14, 2019

In recent weeks, it's been difficult to ignore the news surrounding the most recent government shutdown in the U.S. The shutdown, which began on December 22, 2018, has had major implications across the country. The lapse in federal dollars has al...

blog article

Jan 14, 2019

If your charity relies on trust fundraising for part of its income, you will certainly be thinking how you can grow this source of funds in 2019. A common request to consultants is for help in identifying new prospects for clients and sometimes ...

infographic

Jan 14, 2019

New research supports what we at GuideStar have long believed: (1) donors give more to transparent nonprofits and (2) transparent organizations tend to be stronger organizations. The research, recently published in the Journal of Accounting, Auditing...

blog article

Jan 14, 2019

The new year (calendar or fiscal) typically comes with increased funding goals. However, this doesn’t always have to cause stress! Higher goals should boost your own confidence in your organization because it shows that you are passionate enoug...

blog article

Jan 14, 2019

Last month, Richard and I hosted a webinar to answer questions you have about major gift fundraising. It was a lot of fun to do, and we got so many questions that we decided we would host one of these webinars every quarter or so. We had one question...

blog article

Jan 14, 2019

Only an estimated 19 percent of first-time donors return to make another donation. At this alarming rate, the work your nonprofit does to attract support is essential. And it’s essential that you do it over and over and over again. What if you ...

blog article

Jan 14, 2019

In today’s edition of NPCOMMLIFE, we suggest a few books you should read to ensure you are setting boundaries, overcoming fear, and preventing burnout. From the Amazon synopsis: Your boundaries are doing only one thing trying to take care of yo...

blog article

Jan 14, 2019

Many large U.S. based nonprofits working in the areas of international development, refugee services, and environmental conservation, among other sectors, perform a significant amount of work and raise a significant amount of money in the United King...

blog article

Jan 14, 2019

Rapid technological developments over the past few years have left many nonprofit professionals scrambling to stay up-to-date with the newest tools and techniques without wasting time and money on passing fads. Digital fundraising is area that has se...

blog article

Jan 14, 2019

As we crawl into a new year, hyper-personalization is a buzzword slowly creeping into the charity lexicon and bound to increase its prominence as the year unfolds. In fact, some would state that hyper-personalization will be a real game changer for a...

blog article

Jan 12, 2019

Online fundraising has become the bread and butter for nonprofit organizations around the world. It garners millions in charitable giving for the nonprofit industry every year. Although traditional charitable giving still deserves a lot of attention,...

blog article

Jan 11, 2019

Imagine for a second that you could mow your yard with a mower that would learn how to mow your yard the next time without you. The mower would learn your speed and turns and thousands of nuances that lead to a great-looking, freshly mowed lawn. (I&r...

blog article

Jan 11, 2019

Having clear goals in mind before you launch any fundraising or engagement initiative makes for a straightforward evaluation process. Use your planning phase to determine how you’re going to measure success for each individual campaign and the ...

blog article

Jan 11, 2019

The new year is here, and with it comes a season for planning. Do your goals for 2019 include growing your membership? Whether you’re part of an arts organization, an association, or local club, increasing your membership base can make all the ...

blog article

Jan 11, 2019

Direct mail fundraising is often a sore spot to talk about with many nonprofit organizations. Organizations tend to be hesitant toward this method because it is often viewed as old fashioned, so it's assumed that direct mail fundraising can't...

blog article

Jan 11, 2019

Your mission statement is the foundation for your nonprofit’s marketing and communications. In one or two sentences, it sums up the essence of your organization. It guides your decision-making processes and should make people want to learn more...

blog article

Jan 10, 2019

Over the last year in philanthropy we saw an extraordinary expansion of funds into nonprofit services and community efforts. In addition to markedly higher contributions from the formidable legacy foundations, we also saw material increases in fundin...

video

Jan 10, 2019

Not all of your data is important. So how do you determine what's helpful, what's not, and make decisions with the right data? Steve MacLaughlin has been analyzing data and helping nonprofits make data-driven decisions for many years, and sha...

video

Jan 10, 2019

United Digital & Associates is proud to support charities and non-profit organizations with their awareness and fundraising. The most common tools we use are email marketing, digital marketing, and video production. It is a fact that non-profits ...

blog article

Jan 10, 2019

Does your organization have a social media calendar? As a nonprofit marketer for a small organization, I am positive that you wear many hats. Between answering emails, making phone calls to supporters, editing the annual appeal letter and coordinatin...

blog article

Jan 10, 2019

If you’re like me, the fresh start of a new year is a welcome time to reflect on my accomplishments, set new goals and re-prioritize life. In recent years, with my “work hat” on, digital marketing and fundraising seem to have earned...

blog article

Jan 10, 2019

Generation Z may still be too young to make a serious financial impact, but it’s never too early to begin engaging with this generation that’s gearing up to make a big splash in the nonprofit world. Generation Z is comprised of those...

blog article

Jan 10, 2019

On average, nonprofit organizations lose more than 60 percent of donors each year. If you’re too focused on chasing new donors, you’re missing the low-hanging fruit already within reach your existing donors. As you embark on a new year, s...

blog article

Jan 09, 2019

I know indications are that giving is down slightly for nonprofits right now, but I’ll warn you up front: I’m a positive person. The current trends shouldn’t stop any organizations from looking at 2019 as a great year for growth. Ma...

blog article

Jan 09, 2019

Improving donor acquisition and retention are two of the best ways to increase your fundraising revenue. But how can you be sure you are connecting with donors in the most effective way possible? Donor management software records and organi...