Soapbox Engage Blog

Issue 236

Happy Tuesday, fundraisers!

This intro might feel a bit different and more personal. We know things feel uncertain right now. With the federal funding freeze in the air, nonprofits are facing tough questions about how to keep their missions moving forward. Fundraising has always been hard work—but right now, it feels even heavier.

At Soapbox Engage, our roots are in service. PICnet was born out of a deeply personal experience when our co-founder and I were in Albania in 1999, helping refugees fleeing a warzone. We worked alongside NGOs, USAID, and the UN World Food Programme, witnessing firsthand the power of mobilizing resources in times of crisis. The work of helping those most in need is ingrained in our DNA, and I’m saddened by the thought of those who may not receive the support they desperately need.

Now more than ever, we need to lean on each other. If there’s something you’re struggling with, a challenge you need help navigating, or just a topic you’d love to see highlighted in Fundraising Weekly, let’s talk. We’re in this with you.

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Great Fundraising Posts

You Optimize What You Measure

Steven Screen (The Better Fundraising Co.)

What you decide to measure is important, because it determines what you tend to optimize. If you over-prioritize measuring one metric, this will lead to problems with your fundraising strategy. In this blog post, Steven shares how to identify the right mix of metrics to measure and enhance your fundraising.

How to Get the Most from Your Corporate Sponsorships

Barbara Cecil (Moceanic)

Corporates sponsorships for fundraising events are a time-honored way to make your events raise more money. But they don’t just happen, you have to put the work in to get there. In this blog post, Barbara shares some things she’s learned about getting the most from corporate sponsorships.

Communicating with Donors in An Uncertain Funding Environment

Stacy Rooney (The ENGAGE Blog)

Given the recent proposed legislation surrounding federal funding and the immediate court challenge, there is a lot of uncertainty about what is to come. This makes it particularly urgent for nonprofits to strengthen operations and to keep constituents aware of how they can help. This blog post offers best practices for communicating with donors about funding challenges.

4 Sustainable Fundraising Revenue Streams for Nonprofits

Julia Claire Campbell (Marketing for the Modern Nonprofit)

Most nonprofits know how to capitalize on periods of elevated giving throughout the year, such as Giving Tuesday, and the year-end season. However, with so much fundraising focusing on maximizing these opportunities, it’s easy to overlook strategies to boost daily donations. When nonprofits want to grow their capacity or take on large projects, they need consistent, reliable revenue. This blog post examines four sustainable revenue streams nonprofits can implement to help them achieve a comfortable level of consistent revenue.

Dealing with Chaos: Three Steps to Take Right Now

Gail Perry (Gail Perry Group)

If you’ve been following the news, it’s been a chaotic and exhausting week. And, it’s likely only the beginning of threats to cut government funding of nonprofits. This blog post offers three steps you can take to communicate appropriately, guide your board, and keep your donors informed.

Ethical Marketing: Nonprofits' Trust-Building Tool

Kristy Morris (NonProfitPro)

Today's tech and social tools allow nonprofit organizations to extend their reach in a few clicks to support innovative marketing campaigns, and it's truly amazing. Still, these artificial intelligence (AI) tools, which now exist in virtually every software or app platform, bring many ethical responsibilities. This blog post examines the challenges that can arise and shares how you can make sure you are engaging in ethical marketing.

What’s Wrong with Donor Journeys: The Hidden Costs of a Misguided Approach

Greg Warner (Market Smart)

Automated donor journeys are everywhere. The pitch is enticing: automated journeys promise to save time, reduce workload, and improve donor engagement. But donor journeys, like any tool, have the potential to do as much harm as good. This blog post examines the potential problems of donor journeys and shares what works instead.

Go All In on Monthly Giving

Ann Green (Ann Green’s Nonprofit Blog)

Monthly giving is one of the few types of fundraising that does well. Whether you’re a big or a smaller organization or your fundraising went well last year or it didn’t, monthly giving makes so much sense. In this post, Ann shares why monthly giving is important for your nonprofit, how to start or grow your program, and how to nurture it going forward.

Your Year-End Charity Auction Was a Hit! What Comes Next?

re:charity (re:charity)

Did you have a year-end charity auction where you met your goals? Congratulations, that’s incredible! But the work isn’t over. This blog post lays out five key steps to take after the auction to maximize its positive impacts on your organization for the next year.