Soapbox Engage Blog

Issue 208

Happy Tuesday, Fundraisers!

Have you evaluated your process for acquiring donors lately? Prospecting, or the process of identifying and learning about donors with a high likelihood of giving major gifts, is a crucial part of fundraising. But once you’ve done the research, what’s next? Learn what steps to take in this guide.

Keep scrolling for some excellent tips related to nonprofit culture, donor qualification, and mid-level giving. Enjoy!

You can receive the Fundraising Weekly newsletter each Tuesday by subscribing today!

Great Fundraising Posts

3 Simple Donor Acquisition Strategies for New Nonprofits

Bonnie Meyer (NonProfitPro)

Acquiring donors is challenging enough for nonprofit organizations with a long history, but if you’re a new nonprofit, the challenge is even greater. You’re facing a saturated market with limited resources. However, there are ways you can rectify this. In this blog post, Bonnie offers three strategies that will help you maximize your reach and impact in order to acquire donors.

Donors Are Not You: A Guide to the Differences

Jeff Brooks (Moceanic)

As humans navigate relationships, conflict often arises because we can’t read minds, and often assume that what someone else wants is what we want. This is no different in fundraising relationships—unsuccessful fundraising often stems from the mismatch between what you think would work for you and what is most likely to work for donors. However, we are all different! In this blog post, Jeff breaks down commons ways donors differ from you, and what that means for your fundraising.

AI Can Be Your Most Powerful Tool for Growing Mid-level Giving

Katrina Grant (The ENGAGE Blog)

Mid-level donors are a loyal group that are often overlooked, and don’t get the love they deserve. If stewarded effectively, they represent a significant opportunity for growth. Luckily, AI can help with that! AI is becoming a powerful tool for identifying and engaging the unfulfilled potential of donors in the middle of your database. Check out this blog post to learn about how you can use AI to grow your mid-level donor engagement.

Does Your Language Create a Barrier to Giving?

Jolene Miklas (True Sense)

When crafting copy, it’s important that your messages resonate with readers from varied backgrounds and abilities. You want to remain accessible, and avoid “insider jargon.” In this blog post, Jolene offers a few examples to think about and ensure you’re not creating a barrier to giving with your language.

Top Reasons Why Nonprofit Major Donor Qualification is Essential

Claire Axelrad (Clairification)

Loyal donors who make above average gifts contribute to a large chunk of any nonprofit’s revenue. Cultivation of these donors is important, but before you even get there, you need to identify them first. In this blog post, Claire breaks down the six practical steps for donor qualifications that will save you precious time and resources in the long run.

Improving Your Nonprofit’s Internal Culture

Jennifer Loftus (Greater Giving)

The success of your nonprofit organization is a reflection of your internal culture. If there is a high turnover rate, low morale, and frequent conflict, it is unlikely you will be able to meet your fundraising goals and fulfill your mission. And yet, people often leave workplace culture as an afterthought. This blog post offers eight strategies to help you strengthen your nonprofit from the inside out.

10 Commandments for Annual Giving Success

Gail Perry Group (Gail Perry Group)

You may be thinking it’s too soon to worry about your annual year-end giving campaign. But the truth is, it will be time for that before you know it! And it’s best to get ahead. This blog post from Gail Perry Group offers ten commandments for a successful annual giving campaign, so you can ensure successful fundraising results as you start the next year.

How You Can Find Innovation in Fundraising

Jeff Brooks (Future Fundraising Now)

No matter what the status of your nonprofit organization right now, there is always room for improvement. Things could always be better! That means it is important to look for ways to innovate your processes. In this blog post, Jeff highlights the importance of innovation and how to find opportunities for it.

Assume Speed

Steven Screen (The Better Fundraising Co.)

When creating fundraising materials for donors to look at, we may hope they meticulously pore over every word. But the truth is, they’re probably moving fast. In this blog post, Steven highlights how you can use that assumption to make materials that are more accessible.