An M+R benchmarks study found that nonprofit text messaging audiences grew by 26% in 2020, outpacing growth for other popular channels like Facebook and email. To examine just a few reasons why: Text messaging allows for 1-to-1 communication, giving it the upper hand over social media. Text messages have a [...]
Giving to religion-based organizations often tops lists of philanthropic statistics. In fact, in the recent Giving USA 2020 report, donors gave more than $131 billion to religion-based organizations in the United States in 2020. Nonprofit professionals working in this sector of philanthropy cite a strong belief in their organization’s mission [...]
This digital-first fundraising post is the first in a six-part series. “Every few hundred years there occurs a sharp transformation. We cross a “divide… ACTION POINT: Next time you hear colleagues pounding the table for something that is clearly yesterday’s news, find a way to tell them they need to wake up [...]
As many organizations begin eyeing the post-COVID fundraising landscape, many may find themselves in need of increased capacity to better serve their communities and drive their missions forward. For these nonprofits, the pandemic brought about simultaneous surges in both support and need for their services—an exciting but certainly unprecedented and [...]
We’ve all heard how important stories are to fundraising communications. But how do you actually pick a great story? And more importantly, how do you take a great story and turn it into a great fundraising story? To have a great fundraising story, you need a few key things. You [...]
Unfortunately, there are no “silver bullets” in fundraising. Above all else, consistency, a positive mindset, and smart strategy are the only true “secret ingredients” to sustainable fundraising efforts and success. But there are a few strategies you can use to make a major impact in terms of dollars raised with [...]
For the last three years, I’ve devoted virtually every day to the challenge of training professionals and especially volunteer fundraisers to overcome the fear of asking for gifts for their favorite nonprofits. There are a variety of ways to raise private money including grant writing, special events, telethons, posting on [...]
This is the first post in a 3-part series. Stay tuned for part 2 and part 3. Faced with existential crises thanks to the pandemic and the social upheaval of the past year, businesses of all stripes (nonprofits included) went into survival mode. Alarmed at how unprepared they were, they [...]
Has anyone ever asked you, “I just don’t get it. What’s the formula for effective fundraising?” Well, here it is: 12141. Say this out loud: One Two One, Four One. Or another way: One to One, for One. Sounds good, but what does it mean? This is the “formula” for [...]
Your donors are the ones who make your organization’s mission possible. They fund your programs and ensure you’re able to continue the amazing work that you do on a daily basis. With all they do for your organization, are you thanking them thoroughly enough? Nonprofits that don’t adequately show appreciation [...]
My last article of this two-part series, “Nonprofit Giving Trends and Future Fundraising Strategy,” began a discussion of smart fundraising strategies to take advantage of best practices and current trends. It covered broad brush strategies all nonprofits today should incorporate into their donor fundraising/marketing mix. Today, I want to offer [...]
As COVID-19 took hold of the country, your organization had to undergo a pretty drastic change. Deciding whether to cancel your events or move them to the virtual sphere was just one of the many great challenges in 2020. In 2021, the coronavirus vaccine is available, and with it being [...]