Soapbox Engage Blog

Issue 229

Happy Tuesday, Fundraisers!

In just over two weeks, we will find ourselves in 2025! We can’t wait to see what another year has in store for this community. Remember to take time to rest and celebrate your successes before we head into another year of raising money to better our communities.

Scroll on down for some excellent fundraising tips related to social media, nonprofit websites, and direct mail fundraising.

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

Great Fundraising Posts

Failing Forward: Why Embracing Failure Is Key for Nonprofit Leaders

Wayne Elsey (NonProfitPro)

Unpredictability is baked into today’s modern landscape, including the nonprofit sector. Amidst unpredictable conditions, nonprofit leaders must try and create space for healing and support for whomever they are helping via their missions. It is important to embrace failure in these times, as it is the path to change and innovation. Wayne talks about what that looks like in this blog post.

Turn That Pyramid Into a Funnel to Raise More Money

Jeff Brooks (Future Fundraising Now)

You’ve likely heard of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, and maybe you’ve even incorporated it into your nonprofit fundraising. However, if you neglect the bottom of the pyramid when communicating with donors, you’re likely leaving money on the table. Jeff talks about what can be gained by turning the pyramid into a funnel.

Year-End Gratitude: Your Nonprofit’s Key To New Year Success

Tim Badolato (Greater Giving)

For nonprofits, expressing gratitude isn’t just a courtesy. It’s a powerful strategy that transforms one-time support into lasting commitment. A thoughtful “thank you” may inspire supporters to give once more, helping you reach your annual revenue goal before the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s. This blog post explores creative appreciation strategies to help your nonprofit show supporters gratitude this holiday season.

4 Strategies for Mobilizing Volunteers on Social Media

Julia Claire Campbell (Marketing for the Modern Nonprofit)

You’re likely already utilizing your social media channels to acquire donors and raise awareness about your mission. But are you using it to engage volunteers? This blog post offers four strategies to engage and connect with volunteers.

How to Encourage Donations on Your Nonprofit’s Website

Ira Horowitz (Ann Green’s Nonprofit Blog)

Your nonprofit’s website is more than just a hub for your online presence—it’s a versatile platform that can help you connect with supporters, amplify your mission, and make a lasting impact. It’s also a great place for fundraising. This blog post explores actionable tips and strategies to help you design or revamp your website to turn it into an effective fundraising powerhouse.

4 Proven Direct Mail Fundraising Strategies For Nonprofits

Pamela Grow (Pamela Grow)

In an age dominated by digital outreach, direct mail fundraising remains a powerful tool for nonprofits to connect with donors. It offers a personal touch that builds trust, evokes emotion, and drives meaningful engagement. To help incorporate direct mail into your marketing plan or elevate your current direct response fundraising approach, this guide will walk through several strategies for honing your outreach.

How to Streamline Your Data Entry and Reconciliation Processes with Integrated Fundraising and Finance Solutions 

Carrie Watkins (The ENGAGE Blog)

A good reconciliation process keeps your financial records accurate and up to date. But without the right systems, this process can be mind-numbingly time-consuming and prone to errors. By integrating fundraising and finance systems, information flows easily from gift records to journal entries, saving time, reducing the risk of fraud, and simplifying audits. This blog post explains how a connected fundraising and finance system can simplify reconciliation for nonprofit organizations, and what it would look like in practice.

Why Are You Afraid to Ask?

Janet Levine (Janet Levine Consulting)

It is appeal season, and appeals of all kinds are flooding everyone’s inboxes. But when you wrote your appeal, did you actually include an ask? This blog post talks about how to make sure you write your appeals in a way that gets you what you need.

Actionable Insights for Managing Gen Z in the Nonprofit Workplace

Jamie Heslin (The ENGAGE Blog)

In recent years, “Gen Z” has entered the workforce. When a new generation enters the workforce, there is a lot of scrutiny and criticism about their working styles. However, rather than lament about the differences between younger and older generations, you can embrace them. This blog post lays out insights for managing Gen Z in the nonprofit workplace.