Your nonprofit does incredible, life-changing work. Your year-end fundraising campaigns should show your donors what you’ve accomplished together over the past year, and invite them to give toward an even brighter future. Excellent year-end campaigns need to strike a balance between hitting uplifting emotional beats that are relevant to your mission and delivering a compelling case for why people...
Ask any nonprofit fundraiser if he or she wants to increase the results of their fundraising efforts and you’ll get a resounding “yes”! The next question, of course, is how? The answer is in understanding your goal and audience, and then matching your pitch to the prospect. In other words, you create donor journeys. If you’ve never done so,...
If your nonprofit is thinking about planning a golf fundraiser in 2023—whether it’s a brand new event or an established tournament—there are a few simple steps to take right now to make sure your outing is set up for success. 1. Start With Technology The right technology tools are key to easy planning and successful execution of a golf...
Volunteers are a lifeline for many nonprofits. More than 10.4 million volunteers are currently needed to support nonprofits (VolunteerMatch). And the current estimated national value of each volunteer hour is $29.95 (Independent Sector). Let’s do the math and make a conservative estimate. If every needed volunteer contributed just one hour each week, that time could be valued at about...
Startup nonprofits, nonprofit newbies, umbrella organizations, community foundations, mentors… there are a lot of ways people may think about or refer to fiscal sponsorships, even if they’re unfamiliar with the term “fiscal sponsorship.” Fiscal sponsorship started in 1959, although it gained in prominence starting in 1993 when Greg Colvin published the first edition, Fiscal Sponsorship: Six Ways to Do...
When you think of why your nonprofit’s donors support your organization, do you expect each of their motivations to be the same? If not, are you acknowledging those differences in the way you build relationships with these supporters? If you answered “no…well actually… maybe,” then you are not alone. When time and resources are scarce, it’s easier to send...
When a donor signs up for a recurring donation online, there are no checks to mail and no monthly reminders needed; much of the expense and hassle on the nonprofit’s side have been eliminated. In light of these advances, it’s time for your nonprofit to consider developing its own online recurring giving program. Discover the benefits of recurring donations....
Creating your next fundraising campaign requires a lot of work: you must identify your goals, your audience, segment your lists, create compelling content, and set up and test everything in your CRM. When the moment finally arrives to call your constituents to action, the last thing you want is for your hard work to be whisked away into a...
When it comes to online fundraising for nonprofits, a sweepstakes is one of the best options for engaging and activating individual donors. Donors find the idea of winning a coveted prize to be exciting, fun and new, and nonprofits have an opportunity to expand their reach beyond an existing donor base to a broad audience that cares about the...
Controversial opinion: In many ways, sweepstakes are easier than raffles. Sweepstakes aren’t just the domain of big, nationwide brands that can conduct far-reaching promotional giveaways. They can also be used by nonprofits large, small, and in between. Especially those who are unable to host raffles due to legalities. Why Sweepstakes Are a Great Option over Raffles Whether virtual, in...
Nonprofit fundraising had been due an upgrade to catapult it into the modern era for a while. When the pandemic hit, that event finally came. Most charities had used the same tried-and-tested methods for decades (namely, galas and sponsored endeavors), but with new health and safety guidelines to contend with, this was no longer possible. Innovation was a “need...
Many nonprofits use an accounting approach called fund accounting. This method focuses on the use of resources more than profitability, with transparency and accountability at its core. It provides the framework for organizations to tell their stories and remain accountable to their stakeholders. Fund accounting also requires specific industry expertise, knowledge and experience to bridge the gap between tracking the use of funds and...
Strategic branding is critical for your nonprofit to build trust among your supporters and get the word out about your services. When your brand is consistent and strong, you can increase your organization’s visibility in your community and move your audience to action. What Are Brand Guidelines? Brand guidelines expand on the decisions you have made with the design...