February 16, 2022
6 steps to help you create a fundraising planDoes your organization need to create a fundraising plan? A fundraising plan helps you prioritize your work and guides your way to fundraising success. Without one, you’ll have a hard time effectively focusing your time and energy to best serve your organization. And you’ll probably…
Read ArticleFebruary 2, 2022
Acknowledging memorial gifts: What you need to knowAs a fundraiser, your daily or weekly routine likely includes sending acknowledgment letters to donors who made a gift to your organization. You may be so accustomed to this process that you don’t have to think twice before generating an acknowledgment letter and dropping it…
Read ArticleFebruary 2, 2022
How to acknowledge gifts from donor-advised fundsNot exactly sure what donor-advised funds are or what to do when your organization receives a gift from one? Here’s a quick guide you can use. Overview A donor-advised fund, otherwise referred to as a DAF, is a philanthropic vehicle established by institutions like investment…
Read ArticleJanuary 31, 2022
How to start a planned giving program without a planned giving officerHow to start a planned giving program without a planned giving officer Want to talk about death and finances? Didn’t think so. Planned giving, at its core, is indeed about death and finances, so if the words “planned giving” tie your stomach in knots, you’re…
Read ArticleJanuary 31, 2022
How to set realistic fundraising goals with a gift pyramidHave you ever been disappointed by the results of your fundraising appeal or event? A fundraising effort can fall short of its goal simply because the goal wasn’t realistic. Oftentimes, it’s only when you’re looking backward that you recognize the goal was nearly impossible to…
Read ArticleJanuary 27, 2022
Entering a pledge in your donor management systemWe are often asked about the best way to deal with the difficult task of tracking gifts that people commit to make sometime in the future, especially when dealing with monthly donations. The question is, should we use the pledge functionality all the time? Like…
Read ArticleJanuary 27, 2022
The difference between pledges and recurring gifts Many people refer to pledges and recurring gifts interchangeably, but they are actually very different. While both are effective tools to raise revenue for a nonprofit, it's important to understand the differences so that you can avoid confusion and develop processes to manage each appropriately. We want…
Read ArticleJanuary 7, 2022
3 things to keep in mind when you create annual gift statementsWhen you send annual gift statements to donors, you provide them with a convenient summary of their charitable contributions. These statements are more than just a helpful document for donors as they complete their taxes, though. They also give your organization an additional opportunity to…
Read ArticleDecember 22, 2021
Check out some of our favorite blog posts from 2021 As the year draws to a close, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite blog posts of 2021: What can a fundraiser learn from the Great British Baking Show? Find out if your organization can pass the technical challenge, and if you’re ready…
Read ArticleDecember 10, 2021
Make a plan to retain donors in the year aheadThanks to year-end giving, you probably receive more gifts in December than any other month of the year. As you scramble to enter these year-end gifts into your database and send prompt acknowledgments, don't forget the importance of making a plan to retain those donors…
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