Fundraising, Nonprofit Technology
PR Newswire | January 11, 2024
Bloomerang, the complete donor and volunteer relationship management platform for thousands of small and medium-sized nonprofits, today announced that they acquired Qgiv, a leading provider of fundraising technology solutions. This strategic acquisition accelerates Bloomerang's vision to build the giving platform of the future.
Nonprofits currently face a shifting donor landscape, dwindling donations, disconnected technologies, and increasingly limited resources–making it difficult to engage supporters and deliver better outcomes. The addition of Qgiv's best-in-class fundraising solution to Bloomerang's leading donor and volunteer relationship management platform will accelerate nonprofits' ability to raise more money and improve fundraising outcomes through stronger relationships with supporters.
"Both Qgiv and Bloomerang are top-rated solutions that lead the market in addressing some of the common challenges that nonprofits face today–raising funds, finding new donors, and cultivating existing donors," says Dennis Fois, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Bloomerang. "Together we can deliver an expanded solution that exceeds the needs of the nonprofit sector–intuitive, easy-to-use donor management, volunteer management, and deep fundraising capabilities–in a single place. By bringing together the best of fundraising and donor relationship management, we can help nonprofits maximize the full potential of their donor communities and ultimately raise more donations, time, and support."
"The integration between Qgiv and Bloomerang is wonderful," said Maggie Mestrich, Director of Business Development at Carmel Swim Club. "It eliminates duplicate tasks, makes our stewardship more seamless, and helps our organization work more efficiently."
Since 2020, fundraising software has seen a big shift in importance for nonprofits. Together, Bloomerang and Qgiv fill a need in the market to accelerate innovations in donor engagement and help nonprofits realize their full potential. The combined solution will provide numerous benefits for nonprofit organizations:
Increase fundraising revenue: Uncover high-performing campaigns and strategies to maximize giving potential and improve fundraising outcomes through the unification of data, people, and tools in one place.
Enable deeper relationships: Automated constituent insights allow for personalized engagement and deeper relationship-building with supporters.
Employ dynamic fundraising: Automatically tap into supporters' strengths and passions in order to maximize their gifts–whether it's time, dollars, or talent.
Save administrative time: Automate repetitive tasks, spend less time on data entry, and access a wider range of solutions, more support, and additional educational resources.
Achieve better outcomes: Deepen supporter engagement to generate long-term giving relationships and more funds raised.
"For 15 years our focus at Qgiv has been providing best-in-class fundraising technology to help nonprofit teams raise more in support of their missions," says Todd Baylis, Qgiv CEO. "By adding Qgiv's end-to-end fundraising solution to Bloomerang's leading donor relationship management platform, we can help nonprofits raise more by supporting the entire donor journey. We recognize that our technologies, people, and skills complement each other, and we have a tremendous opportunity to build the sector's first and most efficient giving platform."
Bloomerang's long-standing integration with Qgiv is available today with plans for more enhancements in 2024 and builds on a continued phase of exciting growth for the company. In 2023, the company launched Bloomerang Volunteer following the acquisition of volunteer management software. The company also released several product updates and enhancements including a refreshed self-serve Donor Portal, dynamic segmentation with its Groups functionality, contactless payment options with Tap to Pay, and a variety of new reports and dashboard updates to support more than 16,000 nonprofit organizations.
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Fundraising, Philanthropy
PR Newswire | January 04, 2024
Colossal Management, a pioneering force in changing the landscape of fundraising through online competitions, announces the allocation of over $23 million in donation funds raised in 2023. Colossal's unique approach to fundraising benefits both charities and competitors, bringing together communities to support important causes. Through various competitions, Colossal has successfully raised substantial amounts, and the funds are now being directed toward impactful initiatives. All donations raised from associated votes cast during a Colossal competition go directly to DTCare, a 501(c)(3) charity, which subsequently grants the donations to a designated nonprofit at the end of the competition.
The following are standout examples of the impact a Colossal competition can make.
Favorite Chef
Benefiting James Beard Foundation (JBF)
Guest Appearance: Carla Hall
2023 grant amount: over $4.7 million
The grant enables JBF to:
Dedicate extra resources to advocacy around the Farm Bill, a major piece of federal legislation.
Add another WEL (Women's Entrepreneurial Leadership) cohort to their planned programming.
Produce a new series of toolkits for the virtual resource library to support culinary entrepreneurs.
Expand JBF Leadership Workshops across the country.
Develop a series of Advocacy Meetups and mini-training refreshers to bring chefs and other culinary workers together to collaborate on key advocacy issues (sustainability, farming practices, SNAP access, healthier school lunches, etc.).
Invest in a new Sustainability Certificate program that would incentivize independent restaurants to build more robust, sustainable infrastructures.
Help support chefs in residence at Platform by JBF, the new culinary performance and dining space at Pier 57 in New York City.
"We are absolutely delighted to see how Colossal competitions bring so many people together around food, and we are deeply grateful that this initiative will benefit the Foundation's efforts to champion a standard of good food anchored in talent, equity, and sustainability." –Clare Reichenbach, CEO of the James Beard Foundation
Super Mom
Benefiting Children's Miracle Network Hospitals (CMNH)
2023 donation amount: over $2.6 million
The Super Mom campaign was the largest first-year donation they've received to date, according to Frances Fu, Chief Financial and Strategy Officer of CMNH. For every $1 raised through underwriting, CMNH turns it into $8 in donations for children's hospitals to, in turn, use where they're needed most.
The grant enables CMNH to:
Help provide charitable care.
Support research & treatments.
Provide education.
Provide advancement services.
Contribute to patient services.
Improve life-saving equipment.
"The Colossal team is amazing at building online communities through their competitions that have made an unprecedented impact for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals! Their expertise and passion for fundraising and our mission are second to none." –Todd Fisher, Sr. Director of Business Development
Fab Over 40
Benefiting National Breast Cancer Foundation
Guest Appearance: Dolores Catania
2022 donation amount: over $8.2 million
The associated grant, generously presented to NBCF by Colossal's dedicated partner, DTCare, enabled the foundation to channel resources into critical programs and services, encompassing education, detection, navigation, and inspiration for individuals battling breast cancer and their loved ones.
The grant enabled NBCF to:
Navigate support for 51,047 patients.
Provide breast health education for 16,137 women.
Give 9,771 mammograms.
Make and distribute 6,745 HOPE Kits.
Provide outreach to 1,721 women through community programs.
"Colossal has helped us provide education, early detection, and support services to thousands of women affected by breast cancer over the last two years through the Fab Over 40 Competition. We are truly grateful for their generosity." –Candice Hensley, Sr. Manager of Strategic Partnerships, NBCF
Tony Hawk's Skatepark Hero
Benefiting The Skatepark Project
Guest appearance: Tony Hawk
2023 donation amount: $768,498.50
The grant enables The Skatepark Project to:
Help build new skateparks while also funding the nearly 700 public skateparks in underserved communities across all 50 states.
Increase access to outdoor recreation and free play through the creation of safe and inclusive community skateparks.
Support 'Supply the Ride,' a program dedicated to breaking down barriers and promoting accessibility by providing skateboards, helmets, and pads to youth in under-resourced communities.
Support the 'Fellowship' program, which works to guide the next generation of BIPOC skate advocates on how to create public skateparks in their own communities.
"The Skatepark Hero Competition is a celebration of the spirit and talent that drive skateboarding and will shape the future of this incredible sport!" –Tony Hawk
America's Favorite Pet
Benefiting Progressive Animal Welfare Society (PAWS)
2023 grant amount: over $3.2 million
Colossal raised an impressive $3.2 million through the 2023 America's Favorite Pet (AFP) Competition and was presented the prestigious inaugural Colossal Kindness Award at PAWS' 56th annual Wild Night gala.
The grant enables PAWS to:
Extend reach to areas affected by natural disasters.
160 animals from California saved during extreme flooding.
130 animals saved from New Orleans.
Many animals rescued after the Maui fires.
Complete Snohomish Wildlife Center built on a secluded 25-acre site to rehabilitate wildlife.
Enhance PAWS' professional training programs.
Broaden its community outreach initiatives.
Create new educational programs tailored to underserved youth to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of animal welfare.
Offer low-cost spay and neuter surgeries to address the critical issue of pet overpopulation.
"This generous contribution has catalyzed PAWS' efforts to provide comprehensive care for thousands of cats and dogs. Many of these animals have been rescued from overcrowded shelters where euthanasia was imminent. Because of this generous grant, PAWS can provide safe shelter to animals like Odette, a senior dog with medical needs. Thanks to Colossal and DTCare, Odette was recently adopted into a loving home where her new family appreciates her calm nature and graying muzzle." –Heidi Wills Yamada, PAWS CEO
In 2024, Colossal continues to offer extraordinary experiences for competitors in a variety of fundraising campaigns, all in the name of charity. Past winners include the first-ever Super Mom, London Reber; the Skatepark Hero, Michael Manion; and the 2023 Favorite Chef, Karen Jenkins. Who's Next?
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Fundraising, Nonprofit Management
PR Newswire | February 02, 2024
The American Camp Association® (ACA) is honored to announce that Lilly Endowment Inc. has awarded ACA a $45,535,623 grant to support the creation of a new, multiyear initiative to grow, improve, and celebrate character development at camps across the United States.
Character at Camp is an innovative initiative anchored in the belief that summer and year-round camp programs provide an unparalleled opportunity to promote the character development of young people. While camps vary greatly in their mission, size, activities, programming, and location, many are run with an intrinsic focus on youth development and character-building skills and traits. ACA's recent National Camp Impact Study demonstrated that camp experiences support social connectedness among youth and the development of skills and traits such as perseverance, responsibility, and the willingness to try new things. This study also found that these skills and traits last over time. Individuals who attended camp as children demonstrate these skills and traits throughout academic environments and well into their early careers.
For more than a century, character development has been foundational to the camp experience, as each camp distinctively offers a variety of opportunities to develop important character skills and traits. Camps provide young people with experiences in less-distracting settings, often surrounded by nature, that can help support character development through social interactions with peers and counselors, time for reflection and other activities. For example, campers learn responsibility as they help set tables in the dining hall, engage in leadership when guiding groups during hikes, and practice empathy when they support fellow campers who are missing home.
In today's world, the benefits of building character skills and traits such as gratitude, kindness, creativity, curiosity, perseverance, resiliency, empathy, courage, and teamwork could not be more important.
The Character at Camp initiative will be conducted during the next six years. ACA will make available in-person and virtual training opportunities, educational tools, and other resources to camps to strengthen, expand, or establish character development programs at the more than 15,000 year-round and summer camps across the US. As a direct result of this new initiative, ACA will invite camp leaders to participate in educational and peer-learning opportunities, networking, training, other experiences to learn how to help develop character skills and traits at camp. ACA will work with camp professionals, youth-development experts, and others to create new educational resources, training, and assessment tools to provide camps with opportunities to engage in this important initiative.
Starting in 2025, all eligible nonprofit camps will have the opportunity to apply for competitive one-, two-, or three-year grants to support their character development programs. Eligible organizations will be able to apply for funding in amounts ranging from $50,000 to up to $300,000 based on the length of the grant period. Funds may be used for staffing, training, curricula, assessment, communications, and/or outreach and partnership efforts to support camps' specific goals related to character development. The initiative will support a broad range of camps serving young people from varied backgrounds and experiences, including under-resourced and underrepresented youth, as well as provide funding for developing character-based programming that is culturally relevant and values the diverse perspectives of youth and families.
"We are deeply grateful for Lilly Endowment's support of ACA and our shared commitment to support camps across the country with the funding, tools, resources, and education to expand and prioritize character development programs," said Tom Rosenberg, ACA president/CEO. "This Character at Camp initiative recognizes the diverse needs of children and youth. We know camp experiences build a world of belonging and growth, and we're excited to engage camps as they work to strengthen their character development programs."
"Lilly Endowment's founders firmly believed that developing the character of young people was vital to the future of communities and our country, and they supported many efforts to understand how character is formed," said N. Clay Robbins, Lilly Endowment's chairman and CEO. "For decades, well run camps have had a positive impact on the character development of thousands of campers. We believe, with the commitment, leadership, and expertise of ACA, its Character at Camp initiative can meaningfully enhance and expand character development from a variety of perspectives and in a diverse array of young people throughout the nation."
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