Soapbox Engage Blog

Issue 203

Happy Tuesday, Fundraisers!

I’d love to share another free resource with you all this week. This one is all about tools and strategies for optimizing online donations. You can download the Complete Guide to Online Donations for free here!

Keep scrolling for the latest fundraising ideas and strategies related to nonprofit finance, implementing AI, and fundraising renewal appeals!

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Great Fundraising Posts

Don’t Forget to Be a Human!

Jeff Schreifels (Veritus Group)

It’s easy to fall into a rhythm where you forget the human side of your relationship with a donor. You get focused on important things like impact reports, client stories, and ask amounts. But in the rush of everything, are you forgetting about the donor as a person? In this blog post, Jeff offers suggestions for connecting authentically with your donor.

How to Leverage Technology to Streamline Nonprofit Finance

NonProfitHub (NonProfitHub)

As technology becomes more advanced and the world becomes more reliant on these systems, integrating tech features into your nonprofit is a requirement for success. Nonprofit organizations can use technology to improve efficiency, expand reach, and make existing financial processes more effective. This blog post offers several tips to help you leverage technology to streamline your nonprofit’s finances.

How to Tell the Donor’s Story in Your Fundraising

Jeff Brooks (Moceanic)

Storytelling is the fuel of fundraising. We tell stories instead of merely stating facts because stories move people to action. In fundraising, no matter what story you tell, it needs to be part of a meta-story—the story about the donor and how they make the world a better place. Jeff elaborates on how to do that in this blog post.

The Critical Role of Mid-Level Donors in Capital Campaigns

FundraisingIP (FundraisingIP)

When planning and executing a successful capital campaign, it’s easy to focus on the major donors who contribute large sums of money. However, mid-level donors also play a crucial role in the success of these campaigns. This blog post explores the significance of mid-level giving and how to engage and cultivate these essential contributors.

How to Uphold Your Nonprofit’s Values While Implementing AI

Sarah Tedesco (Sarah Tedesco)

Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly popular in many areas of personal and professional life, including nonprofit work. However, there is still some hesitancy around its use in the nonprofit sector, particularly regarding how to maintain high ethical standards. In this blog post, Sarah shares some of the ways your nonprofit can leverage AI to support its mission, and walks through a framework for responsible AI use.

The Joy of Giving: Incorporating Gratitude into Fundraising

re:charity (re:charity)

While fundraising might seem mundane at times, it’s truly amazing that people go out of their way to support your cause and give up their hard-earned dollars to further your mission. By incorporating gratitude into your fundraising efforts, you can make the process more meaningful and show donors you appreciate their contributions. This post explores some methods for expressing your gratitude to donors.

5 Cardinal Sins for Nonprofit Fundraising Renewal Appeals

Claire Axelrad (Clairification)

Securing a first-time gift from a donor is a major success—but it’s only the beginning of the process! Continuing to cultivate that donor for future gifts is a very important part of fundraising. However, when appealing to a donor to renew, many seasoned fundraisers are making mistakes. In this blog post, Claire highlights five mistakes you may be making in your fundraising renewal appeals, so you can avoid them in the future.

How to Spend More to Make More in Fundraising

Jeff Brooks (Future Fundraising Now)

Sometimes, in fundraising, one of the goals is to keep the cost as low as possible. But sometimes, spending a bit more can offer a big return. In this blog post, Jeff highlights one way you should spend more money in fundraising to ultimately make more.

A Look at 3 Unconscious Biases That Affect Nonprofit Board Decision-Making

Otis Fulton, Ph.D. (NonProfitPro)

Your nonprofit board of directors is a key feature of your organization, as they make decisions that have long-term impacts on your goals and mission. But just like any other group of people, your board may have biases that are going unnoticed. In this blog post, Otis highlights unconscious biases that may be affecting your board’s decision making, and how to manage them in the future.