November, 2023

article thumbnail

We Are Thankful for You

Lightning Fast Grant Writing

We want to take a moment to let you know how thankful we are to have customers like you. We wish you and your family the best this Thanksgiving and throughout the holiday season. Feel free to contact us anytime you have grant writing questions or concerns. Sincerely, John & Trish Drew Lightning Fast Grant Writing john.drew@lightningfastgrantwriting.

article thumbnail

The True Meaning of Giving Tuesday

Clairification

This year Giving Tuesday is November 28 th. So, soon. If you’ve not done so already, now is a good time to think about whether or not you want to jump on the bandwagon and, if so, how. There is more than one way to slice this particular piece of pie. And, really, that’s what Giving Tuesday is – just one piece of your total annual fundraising strategy.

Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

RBW Strategy and MyFedTrainer: Strengthening Grants Support for Public-Serving Organizations

RBW Strategy

RBW Strategy and MyFedTrainer: Strengthening Grants Support for Public-Serving Organizations For over a decade, RBW Strategy (RBW) has been a trusted partner for public-serving organizations of all sizes, providing invaluable…

Grants 278
article thumbnail

They challenge your fundraising appeal. How should you respond?

Hands-On Fundraising

So everybody’s got an opinion about your fundraising appeal… I do lots of copywriting. Case statements, email appeals, and especially mail fundraising appeals. I love it. It’s one of my favorite things to do. But over the years, I’ve also noticed I get the same questions. You too? Maybe I can help you head a few […] The post They challenge your fundraising appeal.

article thumbnail

AI for Grant Writing: 20+ ChatGPT Prompts You Can Use

This prompt guide for ChatGPT contains 20+ tested ChatGPT prompts, along with tips on how to use this tool the best way. Nonprofits can engage with ChatGPT to brainstorm ideas, refine project plans, and craft compelling narratives for grant proposals.

article thumbnail

Show Some Appreciation to Your Donors During the Gratitude Season

Ann Green's Nonprofit

Year-end fundraising coincides with the gratitude season, which includes Thanksgiving in the U.S. and the December holidays. This is appropriate since thanking your donors is part of the fundraising equation, even though many nonprofits don’t seem to realize this. Now is a great opportunity to show some gratitude to your donors. You could hold a thankathon , especially if you haven’t launched your appeal yet.

Donation 276

More Trending

article thumbnail

How to Make The Most of December: Plan for a Great 2024

Lightning Fast Grant Writing

For better or worse, the last two weeks of December are the worst possible time for fundraising activities. The problem is that your donors – individual, corporate, or foundation – are too busy during the holidays to worry about the needs of your charity. Nevertheless, you can make the best use of those last two weeks if you turn your attention to internal projects that otherwise might be neglected due to the business of the year.

article thumbnail

A Revolutionary Way to Influence Year-End Philanthropy

Clairification

You asked a bunch of folks to give a year ago. Some did. You thanked them. Once. Maybe twice. Now you want to ask them to give again this year. What’s wrong with this picture? Too often nonprofits ask once; then assume folks who’ve made the decision to give will continue to do so. This is similar to retailers thinking once someone has bought from them they’ll automatically do so again.

Retail 253
article thumbnail

Embracing Gratitude: A Journey of Appreciation

RBW Strategy

Embracing Gratitude: A Journey of Appreciation At RBW Strategy, we often find ourselves immersed in the world of data, strategy, and consulting, working diligently to help our clients achieve their…

article thumbnail

Are you caught up in “Yay Us” fundraising?

Hands-On Fundraising

“Yay Us!” Be honest… is that what your donor communications read like? First, I want you to know that I’m pulling for you. And if you’re lucky enough to work for a nonprofit whose work you absolutely love and believe in, I’m thrilled for you. Seriously. Not everyone is so fortunate. But you know your […] The post Are you caught up in “Yay Us” fundraising?

article thumbnail

Do Your Giving Tuesday Messages Look Like Spam?

Ann Green's Nonprofit

What’s the difference between messages you get for Cyber Monday, Black Friday, political candidates, and Giving Tuesday? Unfortunately, it seems like not a whole lot, and many of them look like spam. According to the Giving Tuesday website, “Giving Tuesday is a global generosity movement unleashing the power of radical generosity.” In theory, that sounds nice, but in reality, it’s a day when nonprofit organizations unleash an onslaught of transactional fundraising appeals by email and social med

Donation 174
article thumbnail

Nonprofit Radio for November 13, 2023: Fundraising 401

Tony Martignetti

Laurence Pagnoni: Fundraising 401 That’s Laurence Pagnoni’s latest book. When this first aired, it was his new book, but Laurence’s strategies and tactics are timeless. It’s a series of masterclasses for all levels and a collection of revelations he gained over 35 years in nonprofit management and fundraising. (This originally aired May 29, 2020.) … Continue reading Nonprofit Radio for November 13, 2023: Fundraising 401 → Laurence Pagnoni: Fundraising 401 That’s L

article thumbnail

How Your Nonprofit Can Benefit from Costco’s Key to Success

Pamela Grow

I love Costco. After all, what’s not to love? You’ve got the rotisserie chicken. Large and meaty. Seasoned to perfection and slow-cooked on rotating skewers. For my small family of two, Costco’s rotisserie chicken is a real value for the money. The birds are big and the meat is tender and moist. That means that just one of their chickens translates into three meals.

Retail 162
article thumbnail

Grateful Clairity Click-it: Nonprofit Links + Free Resources

Clairification

Let’s begin with this week’s bit of wisdom… “Let us conceive of gratitude in its largest, most beautiful sense, that if we receive any kindness we are debtor, not merely to one man, but to the whole world. As we are each day indebted to thousands for the comforts, joys, consolations, and blessings of life, let us realize that it is only by kindness to all that we can begin to repay the debt to one, begin to make gratitude the atmosphere of all our living and a constant expression in outward acts

IT 201
article thumbnail

42 Community Service Ideas for Your Club

Wild Apricot

Looking for the best community service ideas for your club? Check out these 42 ideas and examples for all seasons, volunteer ages and types of event.

147
147
article thumbnail

Your last-minute year-end appeal checklist

Hands-On Fundraising

Ah… your year-end fundraising appeal isn’t out yet. And maybe, just maybe, life got in the way, too. I’m trying not to panic about Christmas shopping myself. But if you haven’t sent your year-end appeal yet, maybe this will help. And if you have already mailed something, maybe this will help with those late December […] The post Your last-minute year-end appeal checklist appeared first on Hands-On Fundraising.

article thumbnail

I Spent 3 Years in Solitary Confinement. Why Isn’t Philanthropy Doing More to End this Torture?

The Chronicle of Philanthropy

A movement to end solitary confinement is gaining momentum, but criminal justice donors feel their money is better spent elsewhere. That’s a mistake. By Johnny Perez Getty Images A movement to end solitary confinement is gaining momentum, but criminal justice donors feel their money is better spent elsewhere. That’s a mistake.

140
140
article thumbnail

Nonprofit Radio for November 6, 2023: Your Website Performance

Tony Martignetti

Charles Lehosit: Your Website Performance The first of its kind, 2023 Nonprofit Website Performance Report reveals startlingly disappointing performance across nonprofit websites. RKD Group’s Charles Lehosit explains the shortcomings and how to make the advances needed, so your site’s vital signs improve. Listen to the podcast Get Nonprofit Radio insider alerts!

Nonprofit 173
article thumbnail

Welcome Your New Donors With Open Arms

Ann Green's Nonprofit

Year-end fundraising is underway. I hope your campaign is going well so far. Perhaps you also participated in Giving Tuesday. The latter often brings in new donors and that’s never something you want to take for granted. These donors saw a need and found a connection to your cause. Or maybe they were drawn into whatever Giving Tuesday promotion you initiated, but I like to think they wanted to help you make a difference.

article thumbnail

Clairity Click-it: Cornucopia of Nonprofit Links + Free Resources

Clairification

Let’s begin with this week’s bit of wisdom… The reluctant spammer “I don’t want to send this pitch to a list of every single podcaster in the world, but we have to get the word out.” “I don’t want to send an email to every one of our previous donors every three days until they unsubscribe, but our work is so important, it has to be done.” “I don’t want to robocall every person in the district, but if I don’t, our campaign has no chance… the other guy is even more aggressive than we are.

IT 190
article thumbnail

Jump-starting Year-End Gift Conversations

The Fundraiser Coach

"Donor, would today be the right time to speak about your impact with [charity]? Our impact continues to [impact]." If you still have donors or prospects on your list who you meant to ask, tried to ask, or have been trying to have a conversation with. now is the time to get engaged in conversations. Some of you might be thinking: This year has been too much of a financial strain - for everyone In these depressing times, with all the need, how can I ask?

Funding 130
article thumbnail

Lessons from MotivateMonday | John Lepp Shows You How to be Creative

Pamela Grow

Breaking the rules can be one of the very best things you can do to increase response for your next nonprofit direct mail appeal. But how? John Lepp, author of the direct mail fundraising bible for nonprofit communicators, Creative Deviations: how you can infuse your storytelling, fundraising and direct response with more creativity , dropped by MotivateMonday this week to share some surprising ways you can use creativity in design, storytelling, strategy, and love to raise more for your nonprof

Training 130
article thumbnail

Extra! Knight Taps News Veteran to Lead Its Plan to Revitalize Local News

The Chronicle of Philanthropy

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation has named Maribel Perez Wadsworth to be its next president, making the Cuban-American news veteran the foundation's first woman leader. By Alex Daniels Gesi Schilling Longtime Gannett executive Maribel Perez Wadsworth will be the next president of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. The John S. and James L.

IT 136
article thumbnail

Nonprofit Radio for November 20, 2023: Your Case For Support

Tony Martignetti

Febe Voth: Your Case For Support Whether you call it a case statement or case for support, it’s a critical part of your next fundraising campaign. Febe Voth has devoted decades to the art of crafting these fine documents. She shares lots of savvy advice from her 2023 book, “the case for your cause.” … Continue reading Nonprofit Radio for November 20, 2023: Your Case For Support → Febe Voth: Your Case For Support Whether you call it a case statement or case for support, it’s a criti

Nonprofit 160
article thumbnail

How to Make Better Fundraising Asks

Joe Garecht Fundraising

Do you want to learn how to make successful fundraising asks at your non-profit? Do you want simple, step-by-step guidelines for asking your donors for money in-person, over the phone, and through Zoom or video-conferences? Would you like sample scripts that you can use to ask your donors for money and get them to say “yes”? If so, then I invite you to join me for my brand new webinar: How to Make Successful Fundraising Asks!

article thumbnail

Falling Back* Clairity Click-it: Nonprofit Links + Free Resources

Clairification

Let’s begin with this week’s bit of wisdom… Confusion and certainty When facing a complex problem, it’s easy to become confused. Lately, it’s become socially acceptable to express your confusion with certainty. Untrained in the field, make a pronouncement that makes it clear that you have not just an understanding of what’s going on, but also that you’ve figured out the causes and the next steps.

IT 184
article thumbnail

Fundraising is like cooking.

The Fundraiser Coach

Happy Holidays! While prepping a small feast during the holiday season, I thought about how similar fundraising is to cooking. And if you, like me, really enjoy both, you may savor this post. I'll include the evening's recipes at the end! Planning— A well-considered plan always provides the best result for fundraising or cooking. But sometimes, as a fundraiser—and as a cook—you need to be nimble and whip something up at the moment.

article thumbnail

6 Sustainable Ways to Bring More Money into Your Auctions

Pamela Grow

Sustainable fundraising is all about developing key, core practices within your organization that can be applied to several different events and initiatives so your team isn’t constantly feeling burned out and at capacity. For many nonprofits, auctions can often feel taxing—without the right tools or practices in place, they can become burdensome—making it anything but sustainable for both your team and organization.

article thumbnail

After Year of Down Giving, Charities Make Push for Big GivingTuesday

The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Matching gifts, social-media appeals, and collaborations with other groups are some of the strategies nonprofits are using to connect with donors. By Emily Haynes and Rasheeda Childress Matching gifts, social-media appeals, and collaborations with other groups are some of the strategies nonprofits are using to connect with donors.

Media 134
article thumbnail

Nonprofit Radio for November 27, 2023: Donor Surveys & People-Powered Movements

Tony Martignetti

Crystal Mahon & Christian Robillard: Donor Surveys You’ll make the most of the donors you have by discovering their potential through surveying. Crystal Mahon and Christian Robillard talk principles, best practices and goal setting. Crystal is with STARS Air Ambulance and Christian is at Beyond The Bake Sale. Celina Stewart & Gloria … Continue reading Nonprofit Radio for November 27, 2023: Donor Surveys & People-Powered Movements → Crystal Mahon & Christian Robillard: Do

Nonprofit 133
article thumbnail

Gratitude is the Right Attitude in Grants

Millionaire Grant Lady

Some people in fundraising have taken an attitude of entitlement for nonprofits and grants by suggesting that nonprofits deserve funding. They have implied that for the wealthy or for foundations to not support a nonprofit with grants is perpetuating inequities and all sorts of evil in the world. I could not disagree with them more. I believe that gratitude is the right attitude for grant seeking.

Grants 130
article thumbnail

What’s Going On? What Can We Do?

Clairification

I had a pure strategic fundraising post all ready to launch today, but I just couldn’t quite do it. The world seems wildly out of whack right now. I can’t pretend it’s business as usual. I try to stay away from “politics,” because I know that’s not why you read my blog. However, we live in a political world. And so do our nonprofits, our staff, our volunteers, our donors and our clients.

Readiness 167
article thumbnail

The Case for Direct Mail in the Digital Age

NonProfit PRO

As digital marketing grew from its nascency to sheer dominance over the past quarter century in relation to overall marketing spend, its century-old cousin, direct mail, was all but declared dead and supposedly relegated to the annals of history.

IT 122
article thumbnail

4 Ways to Streamline Online Giving For Your Donors

Pamela Grow

As a nonprofit professional, fundraising is at the center of what you do. But along with fundraising comes the responsibility of engaging donors. After all, your fundraising efforts won’t be successful if you don’t turn community members, social media followers, and website visitors into donors. An easy donation process makes these prospects more willing to give, and the simplest way for people to donate is through online giving.

Software 130