May 13, 2021
3 meaningful fundraising metrics to trackTracking meaningful metrics enables you to evaluate and modify your fundraising plan for greater success—and to avoid losing the support of donors. Here are 3 meaningful fundraising metrics to consider tracking: Fundraising metric #1: Donor retention The number of first-time donors, consecutive donors,…
Read ArticleApril 28, 2021
A small book with big takeaways for nonprofit professionalsIf you work in a very small nonprofit, you’ve probably encountered one of these scenarios: When registering for a webinar, you're required to select your operating budget from a dropdown menu. The least amount listed is $500,000, so you choose that one—even though it dwarfs…
Read ArticleApril 15, 2021
3 simple ways to set your development committee up for successA development committee has the potential to maximize your organization's fundraising efforts, as long as you prepare and engage your committee members. Here are 3 simple ways to set your development committee members up for success: 1. Get the meeting agenda and any…
Read ArticleFebruary 9, 2021
What can a fundraiser learn from the Great British Baking Show?If you’ve watched the Great British Baking Show, you know there’s a lot to learn about choux pastry, the differences between Swiss, Italian, and French meringue, and of course, how to avoid a soggy bottom. I’d argue that beyond the baking-specific lessons, though, the Great…
Read ArticleJanuary 27, 2021
3 questions to ask as you plan your annual reportMany nonprofits create annual reports to provide financial transparency to their donors, thank supporters, and share the impact of the organization’s work over the past year. How can you prepare an annual report that conveys your organization’s message and is compelling to your supporters? Ask yourself…
Read ArticleJanuary 14, 2021
How to make convenient year-end tax statements for your donorsWhen 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…
Read ArticleDecember 22, 2020
4 simple ways to be a sustainable fundraiserAs 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…
Read ArticleDecember 8, 2020
A simple 5-step checklist for fundraising emailsEmail 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…
Read ArticleNovember 11, 2020
6 tips for successfully acknowledging pledgesWhen 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…
Read ArticleOctober 27, 2020
Your simple #GivingTuesday checklistThe 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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