Soapbox Engage Blog

Happy Monday, Trailblazers!

I’m settling back into somewhat of a routine today after last week's Nonprofit Technology Conference in Portland— which, by the way, was absolutely delightful! I want to give a special shoutout to those of you I was able to connect with in person during the event. Meeting people face-to-face serves as a fantastic reminder of how vibrant this community is and why I love being a part of it!

Keep reading for some great events, ideas, and resources from the Trailblazer Community!

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Your nonprofit needs a strong infrastructure and internal culture to move with full force toward your goals. You might have a dedicated base of staff and volunteers who are eager to push forward your initiatives, but what about your board members?

Your board can play a significant role in your nonprofit’s success, but if they aren’t engaged and excited about your mission, it’s easy for their talents and connections to go unused. As a result, you might be leaving pivotal fundraising opportunities on the table.

If you’re struggling with board engagement, use these best practices to reinvigorate your board members and connect them to your greater purpose. With your board members’ full support, you’ll be able to operate your nonprofit much more effectively and take your mission to new heights.

Most people love a good story. Whether we’re watching our favorite TV series, reading a popular new novel, or listening to a friend talk about their recent vacation, storytelling engages our emotions and holds our attention. Plus, studies show that stories are up to 22 times more memorable than facts alone!

These effects are why organizations across different industries incorporate stories into their marketing content. For nonprofits in particular, storytelling can help your organization connect emotionally with current and potential supporters, show them your impact in concrete ways, and inspire them to take action.

In the nonprofit world, effective fundraising isn't just about collecting donations—though that’s obviously an integral component. Instead, it's about fostering sustainable growth to fuel your organization’s efforts.

If you’re looking for a powerful way to supercharge this growth while engaging individual donors and corporations alike, workplace giving programs (like matching gifts and more) might be just what you need.

In this guide, we'll delve into the essence of workplace giving⁠—and why it matters for nonprofits⁠—explore various programs, and equip your team with strategies to maximize its corporate fundraising potential.

Issue 189

Happy Tuesday, Fundraisers!

I don’t know who needs to hear this, but we are exactly one week away from the official start of spring. Time to shake off the winter! Check out these 5 Fundraising Ideas for Spring to get inspired for this next season!

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

Happy Monday, Trailblazers!

I’m excited to see many of you in Portland this week at the Nonprofit Technology Conference! If you want to make sure we connect, reach out to me here.

In other upcoming event news, the next NPSP day will be here before we know it! Join us on April 11 for NPSP Day Minneapolis, and get ready for a full day of unconference learning and contributing! Details and registration here.

Keep reading for more great events, ideas, and resources from the Trailblazer Community!

Don't forget, you can have the goodness of the PUB Crawl delivered into your inbox each Monday morning by subscribing today!

Issue 187

Happy Tuesday, Fundraisers!

Anyone planning anything special for Leap Day this Thursday? Seems like as good an excuse as any to gather some friends for a meal or a fun game!

And if you’re itching to grow your fundraising knowledge this Leap Day, we have a webinar for you :) - come join us Thursday at 3pm ET to learn how the Soapbox Engage Donations app can help you collect more one-time and recurring donations to fuel your mission.

Scroll on down for expert fundraising takes on volunteers, email marketing, and post-event engagement!

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

For nonprofits, the impact of technology on philanthropy and fundraising cannot be overstated. Salesforce, a trailblazer in the realm of customer relationship management (CRM), has unveiled a new solution designed for nonprofit organizations - the Nonprofit Cloud for Fundraising. This offering, part of the new Nonprofit Cloud, promises to streamline how nonprofits manage donor relationships, streamline fundraising efforts, and ultimately further their missions.

In this blog post, we'll introduce you to the Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud for Fundraising, exploring its key features and the potential it holds for the nonprofit sector.

Happy Monday, Trailblazers!

My apologies for getting this out a bit later than usual. Anyone else having an incredibly busy Monday? We have so many exciting projects and events happening in Soapbox Engage world. We’re particularly pumped about our upcoming Soapbox User Summit, happening one month from today! Head here for event details and registration. If you’re interested in coming, I’d plan on grabbing tickets by this Thursday so you can get the discounted price!

On another note, please reach out if you’re planning to attend the Nonprofit Technology Conference (NTC) in March! I’d love to catch you there! Whew, time really is flying…

Scroll on down for the latest and greatest of the Trailblazer Community!

Don't forget, you can have the goodness of the PUB Crawl delivered into your inbox each Monday morning by subscribing today!

Issue 186

Happy Tuesday, Fundraisers!

It’s a slower time of year for fundraising, which makes it a good time to evaluate your fundraising strategies, particularly when it comes to online giving.

Effective online fundraising can be broken down into three components: storytelling, relationships, and optimization. This Definitive Guide to Online Fundraising has all the tips, insights, and strategies you need to incorporate each of these components into your online fundraising strategy. Bookmark it for regular reference and make sure it stays handy year-round.

Scroll on down for curated fundraising content related to nonprofit e-commerce, major gift fundraising, and payment processors!

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

Happy Monday, Trailblazers!

I know many of you had the day off today, so I’ll get right to it! Here are some great questions, ideas, and best practices from the Trailblazer community. Be sure to check out that new user interface!

Don't forget, you can have the goodness of the PUB Crawl delivered into your inbox each Monday morning by subscribing today!

Issue 185

Happy Tuesday, Fundraisers!

Did you know there is an easy, passive way to increase the number of donations your nonprofit receives? That’s the power of automated popups! Join us this Thursday as we show you how to drive web traffic to your donation pages and boost fundraising. Register for the free webinar here.

Scroll on down for curated fundraising content related to relationship fundraising, donor calls, and digital waivers!

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

Happy Monday, Trailblazers!

This week’s edition of the newsletter is particularly rich! With the long-awaited arrival of Spring ’24, many instances of community-generated knowledge, and fantastic opportunities on the horizon, there is sure to be something here for everyone.

Enjoy!

Don't forget, you can have the goodness of the PUB Crawl delivered into your inbox each Monday morning by subscribing today!

Is your nonprofit embracing the realm of e-commerce? If not, then now is the time. E-commerce has become a crucial adaptation for nonprofits in recent years, offering a valuable avenue to generate additional income, meet funding goals, and advance your mission by selling items through an online store.

However, deciding what to sell can be a dilemma. While some organizations can readily identify physical products, others may find it more challenging. That's where incorporating digital products into your e-commerce shop proves beneficial. Digital products are advantageous for nonprofits as they have enduring value, entail minimal overhead costs, and are accessible to a broader customer base.

Issue 184

Happy Tuesday, Fundraisers!

Planning on hosting any virtual events this year? Consider choosing an event software that integrates with virtual meeting platforms like Zoom. Check out this webinar to learn how to make virtual events more accessible to your community and successful for your organization.

Scroll on down for curated fundraising content related to donor engagement, AI fundraising, and matching gifts!

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

Happy Monday, Trailblazers!

This year is shaping up to be a truly eventful one! I’m grateful to be heading to DC this week to see the Soapbox Engage team in person. It’s always wonderful (and a small miracle :)) to have the whole team in one place. But it’s great for morale and our continued commitment to enriching the nonprofit community. If you want to catch us in March at the 2024 Soapbox User Summit, you can register here— we just extended early bird pricing through the end of this month!

Scroll on down for the latest questions, ideas, and resources from the Salesforce Trailblazer community. Cheers!

Don't forget, you can have the goodness of the PUB Crawl delivered into your inbox each Monday morning by subscribing today!

While we are still in the thick of winter, it’s actually time for the Spring 2024 Salesforce Release. Each year, Salesforce releases three seasonal updates that provide enhancements and key upgrades to their product offerings. This next one is sure to promise exciting developments that can significantly benefit nonprofit organizations. Read on to learn some of the highlights of Spring ‘24.

As a nonprofit professional, you might not consider public speaking to be one of your primary job responsibilities. However, many of your daily activities probably fall under the umbrella of public speaking. Interacting with donors, grant funders, board members, and other stakeholders requires clear, concise communication.

That’s why it’s important to build strong presentation skills. When you can effectively communicate your organization’s mission to a variety of audiences, you can secure more committed, long-lasting support for your cause.

In the nonprofit world, the average donor retention rate, or the percentage of donors who continue to give year after year, has been in a steady decline. According to AFP’s Fundraising Effectiveness Project, the average donor retention rate was 30.7% percent in the third quarter of 2023. For context, the average donor retention just three years earlier in 2020 was 43.6%.

While donor retention varies year to year and from organization to organization, such a steep drop in retention should serve as a sign that your nonprofit needs to stay on top of its relationship-building efforts in order to secure funding for its mission.

Issue 183

Happy Tuesday, Fundraisers!

Wondering how you can boost nonprofit donations by using popups? Attend this free webinar on February 15 to learn how to drive traffic to your donations pages, encourage site visitors to subscribe to your newsletters, and more!

Scroll on down for curated fundraising content related to AI fundraising, recurring donations, and nonprofit industry trends!

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