April, 2024

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Two Ways Nonprofits Get Donor-Centered Fundraising Wrong

Clairification

I find a widespread misunderstanding about the notion of what constitutes being donor-centered. It derives from two misconceptions: Assuming people don’t want to be asked. Spending all your time on cultivation, assuming folks don’t need an ask and will simply give spontaneously as a result of being wooed. Both of these rationales short-change your would-be donors.

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Is Your Nonprofit Newsletter Engaging or Boring?

Ann Green's Nonprofit

In theory, a newsletter can be a great way to engage with your donors. In reality, that doesn’t often happen because most donor newsletters can be used as a cure for insomnia. They’re too long and filled with boring articles that brag about how wonderful the organization is. A newsletter is a vital part of the ask, thank report, repeat formula and you can’t just go through the motions.

Nonprofit 296
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How to raise money for an arts organization

Hands-On Fundraising

Are arts organizations different? I spent the better part of my nonprofit career at arts organizations. My love of theater brought me into the nonprofit world. So I know more than a little about raising money for an arts organization. Let me tell you a little story. One day I was talking with people at […] The post How to raise money for an arts organization appeared first on Hands-On Fundraising.

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How to Get Funding for a Nonprofit: Tips on Tapping into 12 Top Funding Sources

Wild Apricot

Knowing how to get funding for a nonprofit is the first step towards success! Discover the pros & cons of the most common nonprofit funding sources.

Funding 169
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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.

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What’s in My Inbox | Staying Human-Centered in an AI World

Pamela Grow

The growth of AI in nonprofit donor communications means that lately my inbox has been filled to the brim with nonsense like this: We hope this message finds you well and filled with the same warmth and gratitude that we feel as we reach out to express our deepest thanks for your unwavering support of XYZ. Your commitment to making a positive impact in our community has been nothing short of inspiring, and we are genuinely grateful for the trust and generosity you continue to show.

AI 147

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The Meaning of Philanthropy, Not Fundraising – Part 1

Clairification

Get on the Pathway to Passionate Philanthropy, Not Forgettable Fundraising Philanthropy is a mindset. An embracing culture. A noble value. Fundraising is a means towards that end. Servant to philanthropy. Philanthropy, not fundraising. This has been the tagline for my business and blog since I began Clairification in 2011. It grew naturally out of my experiences working as a frontline development director for 30 years.

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Future-proof your fundraising: 3 ways to thrive long-term

Ann Green's Nonprofit

Is your nonprofit poised for long-term growth? Check out these future-proof nonprofit fundraising strategies based on today’s top philanthropic trends. By Patrick Schmitt Achieving your mission takes time and resources. As a nonprofit professional, you know this all too well and likely implement all kinds of cost-saving and efficiency-boosting practices into your work.

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Please don’t go! 5 ways to win donor hearts again.

Hands-On Fundraising

A lapsed donor is a donor who hasn’t given in a while. (And of course, that’s insider talk. But you’re an insider, so we’ll use the term here.) But how do you define that period? How long do you consider a donor active? Experts tell us that after a first gift, you need to thank […] The post Please don’t go! 5 ways to win donor hearts again. appeared first on Hands-On Fundraising.

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The Top 15 Member Retention Strategies to Grow Your Community in 2024

Wild Apricot

Retaining your membership base saves money on recruitment and helps build a lasting community. Get inspired by these 15 member retention strategies!

Retainer 155
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What’s in My Mailbox | “We created a brand new revenue stream!”

Pamela Grow

Email or print donor newsletter? Smart nonprofits utilize both to keep their donors close. But only print donor newsletters have the “sticky” quality that leads to greater donor loyalty — and the greatest gift of all, the bequest gift. Leading international fundraising copywriter, Lisa Sargent, calls print donor newsletters your “retention engines.

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Philanthropy Spent $11 Million to Prevent Changes to DAF Rules

The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Opponents of the 2021 attempt to speed donor-advised fund payouts stopped the legislation dead in its tracks. By Alex Daniels Opponents of the 2021 attempt to speed donor-advised fund payouts stopped the legislation dead in its tracks.

Funding 143
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The Meaning of Philanthropy, Not Fundraising – Part 2

Clairification

Get on the Pathway to Passionate Philanthropy, Not Forgettable Fundraising In Part 1 I laid out why philanthropy inspires, and fundraising tires. Fundraising must be done, of course, but there’s something about how it’s too often practiced that turns too many people off. It’s the “fund” part of the word. This makes people think it’s all about money, when really it’s all about valued outcomes.

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How Your Nonprofit Can Stand Out in a Sea of Information

Ann Green's Nonprofit

Our world is packed with information, too much at times. When I was growing up, we just had a few TV channels to choose from. Now there are countless streaming options. We also have email, the internet, and social media, just to name a few. It’s a lot! How does your nonprofit organization compete with all this? You need to communicate regularly with your donors and you need to do it well.

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Finding the stories you need

Hands-On Fundraising

Giving is an emotional act. And stories are the way we connect to people’s feelings. You understand that. You know that we humans are wired for story. And that a story will plant an idea in someone’s head much better and faster than any list of facts. Feelings unlock donors’ desire to help. That’s why […] The post Finding the stories you need appeared first on Hands-On Fundraising.

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46 Unique Nonprofit Software Tools to Bring You Success in 2024!

Wild Apricot

Nonprofit software simplifies, automates and powers up your daily tasks. Accounting software, fundraising tools, CRM solutions, analytics and more!

Software 147
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Celebrating success: Millionaire Grant Lady and Associates raised more than $8.2 million in grant funding in 2023

Millionaire Grant Lady

The landscape of philanthropy is always changing. Foundations change funding priorities and funding strategies. Grant applications get longer and more complex. Maintaining meaningful communication with donors can be difficult to keep up throughout the year. Without an experienced grant partner, it can be hard for nonprofits to navigate this shifting scene and connect to the dollars they need to tackle some of the most pressing issues facing society today.

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Columbia U.'s Firestorm Is Just the Beginning. Here's How Philanthropy Can Bring Down the Temperature.

The Chronicle of Philanthropy

A young nonprofit leader argues that there's a brief window of opportunity to ensure that hate won't thrive on college campuses. By Manu Meel Anadolu via Getty Images Police arrest students at New York University during demonstrations in solidarity with the students at Columbia University in New York City on April 22. A young nonprofit leader argues that there's a brief window of opportunity to ensure that hate won't thrive on college campuses.

Nonprofit 140
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Clairity Click-it: Bouquet of Nonprofit Links + Free Resources

Clairification

Take some inspiration from the inimitable Seth Godin: If we’re restless, it pays to get up and walk around. Is stress different? Along the way, it seems as though we got confused about the best way to deal with the stress that comes from work and from the projects we work on. “Push through the stress and on the other side, everything will be okay.” Simply get all the details right, get an A, get into a famous college, make the sale, polish the logo, do the pitch and then… reassurance will follow

IT 204
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Why, Oh Why

Ann Green's Nonprofit

A common problem with nonprofit communication is that it’s not focused on why something is important. There’s usually a lot of what and how, but not much why. The typical fundraising letter and newsletter article rambles on about accomplishments without explaining why something matters. Some organizations also like to pour on the statistics. These numbers don’t mean much without more information.

Donation 141
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Why you should write a thank you from the heart

Hands-On Fundraising

Answer honestly: how much attention do you pay to the thank you letters or emails you receive after giving? Do you quickly review it to be sure it’s a thank you letter, then file it for your taxes? And does that make the whole experience feel a bit… impersonal? I’m asking not because I think […] The post Why you should write a thank you from the heart appeared first on Hands-On Fundraising.

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Are You Ready to pivot?

The Fundraiser Coach

Ad from Alaska Airlines I used to smile when I would see this ad from Alaska Airlines. It was witty and exemplified making a quick decision appropriate to the occasion. As a fundraiser, sometimes you need to be ready for a change of plans - a sudden opportunity to speak to a prospect, a change of venue for a meeting, or a mini-crisis at an event. If you have been working in the profession for some time, you have had to rise to meet your own challenges - a board member who forgets to show up for

Readiness 130
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The Voices of Neurodiversity: Celebrating World Autism Month

GrantNews

We live in a world where diversity is increasingly celebrated and recognized. So, it stands to reason that the voices of neurodiversity deserve to be heard and recognized as well. Neurodiversity encompasses a spectrum of neurological variations, including autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and more. Rather than viewing these differences as deficits to be remedied, they should be embraced and celebrated as integral aspects of human variation.

LOI 122
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10 Words and Phrases You Should Never Use

The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Philanthropy loves big words. Americans don't By Alex Daniels Chronicle illustration; iStock Philanthropy loves big words. Americans don't. So why is the nonprofit world filled with philanthro-speak?

Nonprofit 139
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Clairity Click-it: Showers of Nonprofit Links + Free Resources

Clairification

Today I want to remind you that part and parcel of your personal mission, as a philanthropy facilitator , is to bring supporters opportunities for meaning and purpose. Because when you help increase others’ sense of wellbeing, not only is the world a better place but these folks are more likely to demonstrate gratitude by giving of themselves. Meaning drives us to act with generosity and resolve.

IT 195
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The Maui wildfires: A record in disaster philanthropy, an opportunity to ‘get it right’ 

Candid

Part of my work at the Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP) involves monitoring philanthropic giving in response to disasters through our annual Measuring the State of Disaster Philanthropy: Data to Drive Decisions (SODP) report. However, due to lags in reporting, that data is two years behind. When we can look at numbers immediately after a disaster, it gives us a unique perspective.

IT 121
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Don’t let the AI robots steal your humanity

Hands-On Fundraising

AI is the new kid on the block. You know, the one with rich parents. Who has the best toys. You were eager to play. But you had to wait for an invitation, of course. Then the big day arrived! And you realized the kid didn’t have anything interesting to say. Just sort of repeated […] The post Don’t let the AI robots steal your humanity appeared first on Hands-On Fundraising.

AI 177
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Donor Readiness: The Secret of All Successful Capital Campaigns

Gail Perry Group

Written by Chuck Davis , Senior Consultant at The Gail Perry Group. All successful capital campaigns have one basic thing in common: They have donors of means who are willing to invest in the campaign. Campaigns of every size will rise (or fall) based on the right number of lovely people with a passion for your cause and a pocketbook to support it. How can we ensure that this basic factor is in place?

Readiness 119
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The Impact of MacKenzie Scott’s Open Call Grants

NonProfit PRO

MacKenzie Scott recently awarded $640 million as part of her open call for grant applications. Here's the impact it's already having.

Grants 119
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A New Lawsuit Could Erase the Red Line Between Politics and Charity

The Chronicle of Philanthropy

If successful, the suit brought by a small nonprofit would damage the charitable world’s legitimacy and fuel partisan divisions. By Craig Kennedy Getty Images If successful, the suit brought by a small nonprofit would damage the charitable world’s legitimacy and fuel partisan divisions.

Nonprofit 138
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These Fundraising Appeal Fallacies Will Cost You Money

Clairification

Ever have a well-meaning, yet perhaps overly controlling or risk-aversive, boss say to you: Our fundraising letter must be no longer than one page. That’s too simple; we don’t want to talk down to our donors. We need to say more about our accomplishments. We need to describe numbers of people served; that’s what’s impressive. That’s not how I talk. That’s not our corporate style.

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Youth community service: Belonging, reciprocity, and agency 

Candid

How do young people today see their role in making the world a better place, and what are the implications for the social sector? A report from the Center for Expanding Leadership & Opportunity (CELO) and The Allstate Foundation explores how Gen Z is expanding the definition of “community service” and seeking to maximize impact—for themselves and the communities they serve.

Funding 119
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2024 Government Grants Are Accepting Applications

GrantNews

There are so many 2024 government grants available today! And GrantWatch has the scoop on some important facts you need to know! For instance, government grants come from the federal, state, and local governments. In addition, they are given expressly for causes like stimulating the economy, providing goods and services to underserved communities, and funding projects that align with the goals of that federal agency or governing entity.

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How Does Your Organization Think About Fundraising? (#2 of 6)

Veritus Group

If your organization views donors as a source of cash rather than as true partners, your donors will not feel valued, and they will not stay. The post How Does Your Organization Think About Fundraising? (#2 of 6) appeared first on Veritus Group.