January 14, 2021
How to make convenient year-end tax statements for your donors
When you send year-end tax statements to donors, you provide them with a convenient summary of their charitable contributions. In addition to being a helpful document for donors to have as they complete their taxes, these statements give your organization an additional opportunity to express…
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December 22, 2020
4 simple ways to be a sustainable fundraiser
As a fundraiser, you work hard to ensure that your nonprofit has multiple sources of funding. It’s a crucial component of your organization’s sustainability. But how often do you consider your own sustainability as a fundraiser? The high rate of turnover among fundraisers is well-documented, and…
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December 8, 2020
A simple 5-step checklist for fundraising emails
Email appeals are an important component of your fundraising efforts. Before you click "Send" on your fundraising email, run through this simple 5-step checklist to make sure recipients will be able to successfully support your organization. Is your organization listed as the sender? Unless your…
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November 11, 2020
6 tips for successfully acknowledging pledges
When it comes to managing pledges in your donor management system, it's important to understand what they are and how to best acknowledge them. What is a pledge? A pledge is a constituent’s promise to donate a specific sum to an organization. The donor fulfills the…
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October 27, 2020
Your simple #GivingTuesday checklist
The idea behind #GivingTuesday is simple enough: It’s designed to encourage making online gifts to nonprofits on the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving. But a successful #GivingTuesday requires careful planning in advance. Here’s a quick checklist you can follow to get your organization ready for #GivingTuesday…
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October 6, 2020
How to create an acknowledgment template for sponsorships
Sponsorships might be an important funding source for your nonprofit organization. As you prepare to solicit sponsorships, set some time aside to prepare an acknowledgment template specifically for your sponsors. Sponsorships are different from a typical charitable gift, so there are some key elements to keep…
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September 24, 2020
Six tips to prepare a successful mailing
Whether you’re sending out a solicitation letter for your annual appeal, an event invitation, or a newsletter, a successful postal mailing requires careful planning and careful review. Here’s a simple checklist of six tips to help you prepare a successful mailing. 6 tips for a…
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September 10, 2020
How to make your events more meaningful
Making your nonprofit's special events more meaningful is more important than ever! I first read The Art of Gathering: How we meet and why it matters by Priya Parker in 2018, at a time when my mind was focused on holiday gatherings with extended family. When I…
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August 13, 2020
Your guide to writing a compelling appeal letter
Are you staring at an empty screen, trying to craft a compelling fundraising appeal letter? We’ve all been there! Check out our collection of resources to take you from blank page to rough draft to polished appeal letter, complete with remittance envelope and acknowledgment letter,…
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July 22, 2020
Lessons from political campaigns for year-end appeals
As appeal season draws closer in 2020, there are some key takeaways from political campaigns you can incorporate into your appeal plan. Consider these two scenarios: Imagine it’s 5pm on a local election day. You get a call from a volunteer with candidate XYZ’s campaign,…
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