October, 2024

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Why fundraising communication is different

Hands-On Fundraising

The focus is different in fundraising This is a big difference that can cause friction in your organization. Fundraising communication is about the donor and the beneficiary. Your organization fades into the background. You’re a means to a meaningful end. That’s why “branding” is less important in fundraising. Yes, you need to build trust in […] The post Why fundraising communication is different appeared first on Hands-On Fundraising.

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The Importance of Showing Gratitude to Your Donors

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 always 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 166
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Fall Back Clairity Click-it: Nonprofit Links + Free Resources

Clairification

I’m beginning again, as I often do, with a bit of borrowed insight, this time from a colleague’s newsletter: If I had to sum up my advice for this week, it would be to don’t be scared. There are many reasons to feel scared. I understand that and want to acknowledge that feeling. However, we must remember that within our DNA is something deeply coded to be helpful, kind, compassionate, and focused on collaboration and community.

IT 167
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Nonprofit Rehab and Mental Health Grants for PTSD

GrantNews

GrantWatch has nonprofit rehab and mental health grants that address PTSD. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) affects people from all walks of life, including veterans, first responders, and anyone who’s experienced trauma. What’s more, if left untreated, it can have lasting effects on the lives of those who suffer from it. It often requires both mental health and rehab support for recovery.

Grants 115
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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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GoFundMe, Meta Combine On Sharing Features

The NonProfit Times

GoFundMe and Meta announced new sharing features intended to drive more donations to nonprofits. Through the collaboration, donors and nonprofits might be able to more easily share the causes they care about with their social networks. Nonprofits using GoFundMe’s software company, Classy, will have access to the enhanced sharing experience on Instagram.

Metrics 103

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Why is it so damned hard to say thank you?

Hands-On Fundraising

Why is it so hard to say thank you? We spend a lot of time thinking about how to raise more money. We labor over the appeal: the language, the images, the right ask. And then, too often, we treat the thank you as an afterthought. It’s not that hard to write a good, emotional […] The post Why is it so damned hard to say thank you? appeared first on Hands-On Fundraising.

IT 292
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Recipe for Success #1 – Take Me Out to the Ball Game

The Almoner

This post begins a new series of articles called “Recipes for Success.” Each “recipe” will be a successful fundraising model used by a Knights of Columbus council in a parish setting. This post begins a new series of articles called “Recipes for Success.” Each “recipe” will be a successful fundraising model used by a Knights of Columbus council in a parish setting.

Contract 105
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Melinda French Gates Is Gone, but Her Vision for Gender Equality Remains

The Chronicle of Philanthropy

The division the philanthropist helped shape at the Gates Foundation is pushing forward with ambitious plans for women's health care and economic power. By Sara Herschander Alice Plati As president of the Gates Foundation’s gender equity division, Anita Zaidi has helped fund research and distribution networks for breakthrough innovations like self-injectable contraceptives and implemented far-reaching mentorship programs.

Funding 132
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12 Must-See Grants for Teachers, Apply Now!

GrantNews

Grants for teachers help alleviate the financial burden many educators face when purchasing classroom supplies. Teachers often have to purchase their own supplies for special projects, decorating their classrooms, and creating learning environments. Even standard office supplies, like pens and paper, sometimes come out of a teacher’s personal savings.

Grants 116
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What Halloween candy taught me about fundraising

Future Fundraising Now

I like candy. That’s why I like Halloween — the only reason, come to think of it. The other day, I ate a couple of Tootsie Fruit Rolls. These are fruit-flavored versions of regular brown-flavored Tootsie Rolls. The regular kind taste like an unholy combination of fake chocolate, wax, and dirt. The fruit version is pretty yummy. While I was eating a Fruit Roll, I noticed the release of saliva that followed biting into it.

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The more you know: Key facts about Black nonprofit leadership 

Candid

A key factor in understanding the impact of Black-led nonprofits is the representation of Black leaders across the sector. The data reveals important insights into disparities in leadership, funding, and support. Two new fact sheets from Candid, produced in partnership with ABFE , offer a snapshot of nonprofits with Black CEOs and majority Black leadership.

Budget 22
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Why you need a great ask at year-end

Hands-On Fundraising

We’re heading into the year-end flurry of fundraising. What’s your ask? Tis the season, and fundraisers everywhere are preparing. What’s your year-end ask? It’s also the season for multiple “giving days”… like GivingTuesday or December 31st. I hope you’re already polishing up the last details of your year-end campaign. But before you mail anything or […] The post Why you need a great ask at year-end appeared first on Hands-On Fundraising.

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8 Tips for GivingTuesday Social Media Posts

CauseVox

After the commercialism craze of Black Friday and Cyber Monday is over, GivingTuesday is a day to help us all refocus. So, what exactly is GivingTuesday? Well, quite simply, it’s a day dedicated to fostering a spirit of selflessness and philanthropy. Since its start in 2012, GivingTuesday —which occurs on the first Tuesday after the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday—has developed a solid reputation as the global day of giving.

Media 97
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NPO Cybersecurity Getting New Defense Level

The NonProfit Times

NetHope announced the launch of the Partner Collective for the Global Humanitarian Information Sharing and Analysis Center (Global Humanitarian ISAC) during its recent 2024 NetHope Global Summit. This initiative unites a group of organizations dedicated to providing funding, expertise, tools, and technology to support the Global Humanitarian ISAC mission of enhancing cybersecurity for global humanitarian and conservation nonprofits.

Training 103
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Cleaning Up: Top Grants for Recycling, Garbage, Waste Reduction and Trash

GrantNews

All humans are stewards of our home planet, Earth. The current human population is over 8.2 billion. As the human population grows, so does garbage and waste production. In truth, each individual living on our planet has a responsibility to protect our environment. Because of this, it is critical to have sustainable solutions for garbage, recycling, and trash.

Grants 100
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5 Tips for Securing Appealing Nonprofit Auction Items

Greater Giving

For many nonprofits, a live or silent auction is the pinnacle of their fundraising event calendar. Auctions have the potential to generate significant revenue for your mission and keep supporters coming back year after year—if you take steps to engage participants effectively. One critical success factor in planning an engaging auction is securing high-quality, unique items that appeal to your target audience.

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3 strategies for more meaningful donor engagement 

Candid

Donors are an important part of any nonprofit’s mission. Yet, according to the Fundraising Effectiveness Project , donor retention rates have been falling since 2020. Nonprofits may need to reimagine their donor engagement strategies to go beyond occasional outreach or standard fundraising appeals and forge relationships that resonate with their values and inspire continued support.

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Mind the gap

Hands-On Fundraising

It can be the toughest part of your fundraising communications to grasp. Like a slippery fish, it keeps jumping from your grasp. I’m talking about your fundraising offer, of course. The gap that describes your need. The central part of fundraising that’s so easy to slide over, or step around. The guts of the whole […] The post Mind the gap appeared first on Hands-On Fundraising.

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Unlocking the Power of Giving Tuesday: A Comprehensive Guide for Nonprofits

Community Boost

As the holiday season approaches, a powerful movement reminds us to shift our focus from spending to giving. Giving Tuesday is not just a single day of generosity; it’s a call to transform our communities and inspire collective action. Let’s dive into what Giving Tuesday is, its history, and how nonprofits can leverage this day to kickstart year-round fundraising efforts.

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How to Use AI for the Right Ask (Without Being Creepy)

Blackbaud

We’ve all received cringe-worthy fundraising messages that just don’t feel quite human. They’re vague, don’t explain the impact of the donation, and ask for an arbitrary amount of money. If an appeal feels like it was written by a robot, it likely was generated by AI. Such subpar messages may be the reason that 63% of fundraisers feel uncomfortable using AI for personalized donor communications.

AI 103
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Verify Your Email Address on GrantWatch to Maximize Your Grant Search

GrantNews

Verifying your email address on GrantWatch is not just a formality–it’s a vital step that unlocks the platform’s full potential. From accessing advanced features to ensuring timely updates and enhancing your credibility, email verification plays a key role in your grant-seeking journey. Don’t miss out on valuable opportunities by skipping this simple yet essential process.

Grants 97
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FreeWill Acquires AI-Driven GrantAssistant

The NonProfit Times

FreeWill has acquired GrantAssistant, an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven platform designed to provide nonprofits and international development organizations with a proposal workflow toolkit that streamlines the grant application process. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. GrantAssistant’s full team, located in Washington, D.C. and Lahore, Pakistan, become part of FreeWill, whose employee footprint for the first time will span beyond the United States.

AI 95
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3 common fundraising mistakes nonprofits make—and how to avoid them 

Candid

Despite the importance of raising money well, the majority of small to midsize nonprofits use suboptimal strategies—methods that are expensive, time-consuming, and yield only minimal returns on a lot of hard work. As founder and CEO of Altruist Partners LLC, creator of the Altruist Accelerator, I have almost 20 years of experience working in the social impact sector.

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Why Your Nonprofit Needs a Board Giving Policy (and How to Create One)

Gail Perry Group

Achieving 100% board giving can be a challenge for some nonprofits. The entire topic of board giving is sometimes awkward for board members and staff alike. Why do board members need to give generously? It's obvious, isn't it? Some board leaders avoid the topic because it feels embarrassing. They don’t want to feel like they're pressuring fellow board members.

Policy 98
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GiveSmart, MIP Earn Prestigious Buyer’s Choice Awards

GiveSmart

GiveSmart and MIP Fund Accounting received 2025 Buyer’s Choice Awards from TrustRadius. The inaugural Buyer’s Choice Awards recognized software with the best capabilities, value for price, and customer relationships. TrustRadius determined and issued the awards based on vetted, unbiased customer reviews, deciding whether the product’s support teams “live up to expectations,” and if they’d rebuy the software.

Award 98
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Preparing for the Inevitable: How Grantmakers Can Thrive Amid Climate Events

Blackbaud

A huge thank you to Audrey Kidwell, Grants Manager for the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, for providing many of the resources and tips included in this article. Hurricanes. Wildfires. Floods. Prolonged droughts. Climate events are no longer a once-in-a-generation occurrence. Modern grantmakers must be prepared and ready to support their communities when—not if—a climate disaster hits.

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Congratulations to LA Dodgers for their 2024 World Series Win!

GrantNews

The World Series is baseball at its finest. In case you haven’t heard, the 2024 Major League Baseball World Series just concluded. We’re excited to add our congratulations to the LA Dodgers as this year’s World Series Champions. They beat the mighty NY Yankees to claim their eighth World Series title! Baseball is considered one of the most popular sports in athletics, with many different levels of play, ranging from Pee-Wee leagues (beginning at age 5), to high school and colle

Grants 108
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Unexpected Giving Patterns Emerged During COVID

The NonProfit Times

The decline in giving rates due to the COVID-19 pandemic was much steeper than predicted for both recipients and non-recipients of federal stimulus money. Americans who received stimulus checks had a decline in giving rates that was approximately 2.7 percentage points greater than expected had there been no pandemic. Those without stimulus checks saw a decline that was estimated at 2.1 percentage points greater than anticipated.

IT 88
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Strong boards make strong nonprofits: What you need to know

Candid

A nonprofit is more like a public company than a private enterprise in that it’s governed by a board of directors as well as its executive team. Federal and state laws require a nonprofit’s board members to assume responsibility for the organization’s well-being–meaning it can be held responsible if something goes wrong financially or operationally.

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Storytelling is Old. You Need Storyselling.

Planned Giving

Storytelling is a highly effective marketing strategy, but to differentiate yourself in a crowded space, you need story selling —a strategic form of storytelling designed to motivate action. Emotionally driven narratives engage audiences significantly more than pure facts or statistics. The foundation of effective storyselling lies in focusing on individuals rather than addressing broad, impersonal groups.

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How To Use CauseVox To Maximize Your Year-End and GivingTuesday Fundraising

CauseVox

Looking to crush your Year-End and GivingTuesday fundraising goals? With donations more competitive than ever, it’s time to ditch the cookie-cutter playbook and bring your A-game. In this webinar, we’ll show you how to use CauseVox’s cutting-edge tools to create standout campaigns that grab attention and drive donations. Here’s what you’ll learn: How to set up and fully customize donation pages that convert Amplifying your reach with peer-to-peer fundraising Using dynamic features like matching

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Find Your Next Funder: Use Prospect Research to Secure Major Donors

Blackbaud

It’s every major gift officer’s nightmare scenario:You’re at a donor event, making small talk with an attendee you have never met before, and you’re struggling to come up with something to talk about. Uncomfortably, you glance at your watch, then look up to see a long-time major donor walking your way. You quickly jump into easy conversation with them, and you pat yourself on the back for cultivating and engaging with this important donor.

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The Ultimate Guide to Nonprofit Fundraising in 2025

Blue Avocado

Fundraising Fuels Your Nonprofit’s Mission Fundraising is the lifeblood of nonprofits. It’s the fuel that powers their programs, services, and ability to make a difference in their communities. This comprehensive nonprofit fundraising guide provides essential information and practical strategies to help nonprofits secure the funding they need to thrive.