Classic Event-Based Ideas That Build Community Traditional events still pack a punch because they combine physical participation with fundraising. Plus, they create those memorable experiences people actually want to share. Walk-a-thons and fun runs let participants collect pledges per mile, offering low barriers to entry and serious turnout potential. Bike rides and spin-a-thons work similarly…
You've sat through dozens of strategy meetings, right? Whiteboards covered in ambitious goals, spreadsheets showing exponential growth curves, slides promising transformational impact. Fast forward six months and, well, nothing's really changed. Revenue's stuck, your team's exhausted, and the mission feels like it's drifting. Here's the thing: most nonprofit strategies don't fail because of bad planning.…
Look, we need to talk about nonprofit email marketing. Not because it's trendy, but because it's probably the most underutilized powerhouse in your fundraising toolkit. Here's the thing: your supporters actually want to hear from you. They're opening emails at higher rates than almost any other industry. But turning those opens into meaningful engagement? That's…
Your mission deserves better than patchwork tech held together with digital duct tape and prayers. Look, here's the thing. With over 1.4 million nonprofits in the US, most operating under $1M in annual revenue, the "technology gap" isn't just annoying. It's a systemic barrier that caps your impact before you even begin. In this guide,…
Most nonprofit boards live in a state of financial anxiety, spending way more time worrying about budget cuts than imagining what transformational impact could look like. Here's the thing: board members are naturally cautious (it's basically written into their job description), but that defensiveness can freeze the very growth that'd make your mission stronger. So…
Look, peer-to-peer fundraising isn't just another tactic to add to your already overflowing plate. It's about turning your supporters into active champions who rally their networks on your behalf. Instead of simply asking people to give, you're inviting them to become part of something bigger, creating authentic connections that can seriously amplify your reach. As…
Looking to master nonprofit email marketing? Here's the thing: it's not just about picking any platform off the shelf. Email drives 33% of donor inspiration to give (Nptechforgood) , which means your choice of software can make or break your fundraising results. Implementing peer to peer fundraising best practices can significantly enhance your outreach efforts.…
When economic clouds gather, most nonprofit leaders instinctively brace for donor flight. But here's the thing: history tells a surprisingly different story. Recessions can actually strengthen fundraising if you understand donor psychology and communicate strategically. In this article, we'll explore why hard times reveal your most committed supporters, how to harness urgency without screaming desperation,…
You've perfected your case for support. Your campaign messaging resonates deeply. Your email open rates are climbing. Yet somehow, 89% of visitors who click through to your donation page vanish before completing a gift . Here's the thing: in modern fundraising, the "Giving Experience" often trumps the "Ask" itself. While most nonprofits obsess over crafting…
Look, here's the thing: your donors' brains are already wired to be generous. The question is whether you're tapping into that natural wiring or working against it. There's this fascinating molecule called oxytocin (nicknamed "The Empathy Molecule," which sounds a bit sci-fi but stick with us here) that's basically the chemical driver of trust and…
Look, here's the thing about modern fundraising: your donors aren't just looking for another tax receipt to file away. They want to see themselves reflected in your mission. And when that connection clicks? When someone's personal identity aligns with your organization's work? That's when generosity becomes sustainable, giving deepens, and you build the kind of…
Look, here's the thing: cutting through the noise in your donors' inboxes feels like a daily uphill battle. You're competing with everything from cat videos to urgent work emails, and somewhere in that chaos, you need your message to land. That's where humor comes in. We've found that funny donation messages do more than just…
What if simply asking donors about their future giving plans could nudge them toward actual generosity? It's not fundraising magic. It's the Question-Behavior Effect (QBE), a psychological phenomenon that turns surveys into subtle catalysts for action. Here's the thing: when people predict they'll do something charitable, they're more likely to follow through. For nonprofits wondering…
Look, here's the thing about nonprofit storytelling: we've all seen those appeals that make us cringe a little. You know the ones. Heavy on suffering, light on dignity, designed to tug at heartstrings (and wallets) with what's sometimes called "poverty porn." It triggers donations in the short term, sure. But it damages something deeper. Trust…
You know that sinking feeling when a board member asks about donor retention and you realize your latest numbers are three weeks old, buried in a spreadsheet you haven't had time to update? Yeah, we've all been there. The good news is that dashboards can transform how you track what matters, turning overwhelming data into…
Look, nonprofit leaders are juggling a lot right now. Economic uncertainty, donor fatigue, transparency demands. It's a lot. And with giving growth projecting at a modest 2-4% (BDO Insights), tracking the right nonprofit KPIs isn't just smart management anymore. It's how you survive. Here's the thing: think of KPIs as your nonprofit's vital signs. Just…
Think about your last fundraising conversation. Were you doing most of the talking? If so, you're not alone. Traditional fundraising often feels like a monologue where we recite statistics, rattle off needs, and hope our eloquence moves donors to give. But here's the thing: the most powerful fundraising tool isn't your pitch deck. It's your…
Look, there's this massive vault sitting in American philanthropy right now, holding $230 billion in charitable funds that are already earmarked for nonprofits. And yet, most organizations are walking right past it. We're talking about donor-advised funds, or DAFs. These aren't some exotic financial instrument reserved for the ultra-wealthy anymore. They're basically charitable wallets that…
Look, if you're like most nonprofits, you're probably treating your donors like one big homogeneous blob. But here's the thing: the retired teacher dropping $20 each month? She's got nothing in common with the tech executive hunting for measurable ROI. Donor personas are semi-fictional profiles of your ideal supporters, built from real data on demographics,…
With a strong stock market and an historic generational wealth transfer happening right now, donating appreciated securities has become one of those fundraising strategies you can't afford to ignore in 2026. Here's the thing: this financial approach lets your donors avoid capital gains taxes while getting a full fair-market value tax deduction, which means they…