Soapbox Engage Blog

Issue 223

Happy Tuesday, Fundraisers!

November is here and we are just weeks away from the busiest part of the fundraising year. Take a deep breath, you got this! To keep yourself on track, you can check out these top 10 tips for holiday fundraising success.

And remember, we have a free resource to help you make the most of online fundraising year-round, not just during the “giving season.” You can download the Definitive Guide to Online Fundraising at any time.

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

Great Fundraising Posts

Matching Gifts at Year-End: Your Ultimate Toolkit for Success

Soapbox Engage (Soapbox Engage)

The year-end giving season is one of the most critical times for nonprofits, with many donors feeling the spirit of generosity and looking for impactful ways to make a difference. One of the most effective methods for maximizing donations during this period is through matching gifts. This post walks through why matching gifts are crucial at year-end, strategies to boost these contributions, and the essential tools you need to maximize matching gifts.

How Should You Determine Solicitation Priorities?

Duke Haddad, Ed.D. (NonProfitPro)

As a fundraising professional, you have a portfolio of prospects. Ideally, this contains a large variety of prospects ranging from individuals to foundations and corporations. So, how do you prioritize who to solicit? Duke talks about that in this blog post.

Donor Cultivation: A Term We’re Using Out of Context

Jim Langley (MarketSmart)

“Cultivation” is a term used a lot in fundraising circles. But we’re not all using it effectively. In this blog post, Jim talks about the true meaning of donor cultivation, and how to do it effectively.

Stand Out This GivingTuesday: 200 Email Subject Lines

Kate Averett Anderson (The ENGAGE Blog)

We’re about a month out from this year’s GivingTuesday! On GivingTuesday, the inboxes of your supporters are bound to be flooded with messages from countless organizations. The sheer volume can feel overwhelming. That’s why nailing your email’s subject line is more critical than ever. This blog post offers 200 great subject lines to experiment with this year.

“Our Donors are Different” — Oh Really?

Jeff Brooks (Future Fundraising Now)

Some organizations might believe that their donors are “different,” and therefore a lot of fundraising advice doesn’t apply to them. However, while there may be small differences, all donors have something in common. Jeff talks about what that is, and how to apply it to your fundraising in this blog post.

The Importance of Showing Gratitude to Your Donors

Ann Green (Ann Green’s Nonprofit Blog)

Year end fundraising coincides with gratitude season in the United States. That’s great timing, because thanking your donors is a very important part of the equation—even though some organizations forget that part. In this blog post, Ann talks about the importance of showing gratitude, and offers tips on how to do it well.

You’re Using Campaigns as a Crutch!

Jeff Schreifels (Veritus Group)

Have you had more than two capital campaigns in your organization’s history? If so, you may be using campaigns as a crutch to not develop authentic relationships with donors. In this blog post, Jeff talks about why that’s not great for your fundraising, and what you can do instead.

Mastering Your Giving Tuesday Fundraising Email Campaign: How, When, Why, and Who

Tamara Varner (Greater Giving)

Giving Tuesday is one of the largest global giving days of the year, and email campaigns are essential for successful fundraising. Do you have your email campaign already planned out? If not, check out this detailed blog post which lays out the how, when, why, and who of a successful Giving Tuesday email campaign.

Why You Need a Great Ask at Year-End

Mary Cahalane (Mary Cahalane Hands On Fundraising)

Your organization is one of many that is asking for money in the last months of the year. That means you need to stand out. This blog post breaks down what it means to have a “great ask” for your year-end fundraising, rather than just asking because it’s the time to do so.