Going Green: How Software Helps You Host Sustainable Events

October 25, 2023

Organizing a fundraising event can be daunting, and it might seem easier to leave sustainability out of the mix. And, with donations declining across the board for the first time in five years, organizations need to pay attention to the concerns of their donors now more than ever.  But with the right tools, you can […]

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New to Fundraising? Get to Know Your Donors with an Introduction Letter

October 22, 2023

Are you a new development director or executive director and feeling a bit lost on how to learn exactly what motivates your donors? Or maybe you’re a new major gift officer and you’d like to set up as many donor meetings as possible. If these scenarios sound familiar, this blog post is tailor-made for you. […]

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Lessons from MotivateMonday | Could AI be the Answer to Your Grantwriting Woes?

October 18, 2023

No time, staff, or resources when it comes to grant seeking? You are not alone. Fortunately, you now have access to hundreds of AI tools which can save you time. In fact, these tools can potentially save you hours when writing your next proposal. However, current AI tools cannot replace an effective grant writer. But […]

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Donor Fatigue | It’s Not Your Donors, it’s YOU

October 14, 2023

I see crap like this every day. On LinkedIn. In my inbox. Articles with headlines like The Reality of Donor Fatigue and Strategies to Overcome It. Or Give Your Supporters A Break. Usually from platforms marketing to nonprofits. Sometimes from nonprofit professionals who don’t have a clue. And it pisses me off. Big time. Truth bomb. Donor […]

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Lessons from MotivateMonday | Fundraising for Introverts with Brian Saber

October 12, 2023

Break free from the biggest stereotype holding you back – the misguided belief that only extroverts can be successful fundraisers. Join Brian Saber, author of Fundraising for Introverts: Harnessing Our Powers for What Matters, to learn all the powerful attributes we introverts bring to fundraising, not only in individual giving programs, but in special events […]

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Crafting a Fundraising Letter That Gets Results: The Original Fundraising Appeal Letter Template

October 4, 2023

Have you ever cringed in embarrassment after writing a fundraising appeal letter that fell flat? We’ve all been there. It’s a common challenge faced by many nonprofit organizations. Crafting compelling letters is an art, one that requires finesse and skill. Unfortunately, even an AI prompt is likely to bring up something like this… Dear Fill […]

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Lessons from MotivateMonday | The Philanthropy Pivot: Adapting to Post-Pandemic Fundraising Obstacles

October 3, 2023

Charitable giving declined by a whopping 10.5% in 2022. As we navigate the aftermath of this decline and the broader post-pandemic landscape, it’s crucial to understand the transformations in donor behavior and what you should be changing in your fundraising approaches. In this MotivateMonday webinar, Rob Wu, founder of CauseVox, shares the unexpected ways donors […]

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Three Strategies to Convert Website Visitors into Donors

September 20, 2023

This guest post is brought to you by Murad Bushnaq Murad Bushnaq is the Founder and CEO of Morweb. Since its inception in 2014, Murad has acted as Creative Director and Chief Technologist to help nonprofits spread their vision online through engaging design, intuitive software, and strategic communication. Imagine this: a new site visitor passionate […]

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Elevate Your Fundraising Game with These Essential Nonprofit Books

September 14, 2023

What are the nonprofit fundraising and communications books you turn to, time and time again? Those books that may have brought about a shift in thinking or a new way of doing your work? These are the books that line my bookcase. What’s your favorite? And which books are missing from my shelf? (Note: contains affiliate links) Fundraising […]

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Book Review | Fundraising for Introverts: Harnessing Our Powers for What Matters

September 13, 2023

“Don’t think of introversion as something that needs to be cured.” These words, from Susan Cain’s book, Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking, have always resonated with me. Because, as a fundraising professional, I never was one for the small talk of golf outings or galas. Instead, I preferred […]

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What’s in My Inbox | In a time of AI, keeping your emails human

September 7, 2023

Donor stewardship and communications make up the most important component in growing your nonprofit’s general operating support — AKA individual giving. So it follows that as a nonprofit trainer, I “mystery shop” roughly 100 or so nonprofit organizations every year. I’m looking at: How easy is it to make a gift? How do they respond […]

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Lessons from MotivateMonday | Answering the Sustainability Question

August 30, 2023

It’s the grant application question you always dread… How will your organization sustain this program when the grant is complete? But the real answers to the sustainability question start long before keying in the first word on a grant application. After all, without grants, you’d be hard-pressed to fund new infrastructure, increase staffing, or expand programs […]

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Summertime Projects | Ways to Reach Out to Your Donors NOW

August 15, 2023

Summertime….and the livin’ is easy Fish are jumpin’…and the cotton is high We all know that staying connected with your donors throughout the year is critical. How else to foster a sense of engagement and commitment that goes beyond a one-time donation? And summer offers a unique opportunity for you to rekindle connections with your […]

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4 Ways to Use Texting in Your Fundraising Strategy

August 15, 2023

The idea of permission marketing was popularized by Seth Godin, who wrote: Permission marketing is the privilege (not the right) of delivering anticipated, personal and relevant messages to people who actually want to get them. It recognizes the new power of the best consumers to ignore marketing. It realizes that treating people with respect is […]

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Lessons from MotivateMonday | Getting comfortable with acknowledging memorial gifts

August 2, 2023

How does your nonprofit acknowledge memorial gifts? Thanking in-memoriam gift donors, and notifying the family of the deceased can be a tricky situation. Should you include gift amounts in the notification to the family? Can you solicit additional gifts from in-memoriam gift donors? For anyone who is confused about exactly how to steward these delicate […]

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What’s in My Inbox | Celebrating National Make a Will Month

August 2, 2023

“I have great faith in a seed. Convince me that you have a seed there, and I am prepared to expect wonders.” ― Henry David Thoreau It’s been called Philanthropy’s Missing Trillions. We’re about to witness the largest wealth transfer in human history as the Baby Boomer generation passes its wealth on to the next […]

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Nonprofit Year-End Fundraising | The Free Checklist

August 2, 2023

We’re in the dog days of summer… And that can only mean one thing — year-end fundraising season is upon us! The numbers are down, but you’ve still got plenty of time to end the year ahead — far ahead — of your goals. Why end-of-year fundraising? Let the numbers guide you… 12% of all […]

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Is Your Nonprofit Storytelling Missing This Key Ingredient?

July 11, 2023

Introduction: Effective storytelling has the power to captivate audiences, but there’s one key ingredient that many nonprofit fundraisers struggle with — and even rebel against. Because when it comes to engaging your readers or listeners, statistics alone won’t cut it. In this blog post, we’ll explore the importance of emotional storytelling and how it can […]

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What’s In My Inbox | Your Holiday “Away” Message

July 6, 2023

Summertime And the livin’ is easy… It’s the time of long nights, lemonade, relaxation, and quality time, with friends and family. It’s also the time when inboxes are crammed with “Away” messages. Before you set out for your well-deserved break, it’s crucial to inform your colleagues, clients, and contacts about your absence. Composing an “Away” […]

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