Ann Green's Nonprofit

JULY 30, 2024

Donor motivations are the “why” that drives their support of your nonprofit. Learn how to uncover those motivations and inspire more support in this guide. By Ryan Carpenter For the last several years, nonprofits have struggled to make ends meet due to falling revenue, rising inflation, and an increase in community needs. Charitable giving saw a 2.1% decrease in 2023 after inflation, showing how challenging it is for donors and nonprofits to keep up with inflation rates.

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Ethics Donation Demographics CRM 284

Pamela Grow

JULY 10, 2024

The latest GivingUSA report on charitable giving in the United States is out. What do smart fundraisers, particularly those heading up “one-person” development shops, need to know? Charitable giving in the U.S. declined by 2.1% in 2023 after adjusting for inflation. Nonprofits have been concerned about the decreasing number of American donors for years, and the 2023 report reinforces these worries.

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Letter Of Inquiry Nonprofit Grants Grant 278

Clairification

JULY 18, 2024

While you no doubt want more donors of all sizes, you especially want loyal donors who make above average size gifts. Because that’s where you’ll get the greatest return on your investment. Today, let’s talk about major donors. Why? They account for the lion’s share of all contributed income. Studies show over 88% of all funds raised come from just 12% of donors.

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Lightning Fast Grant Writing

JULY 21, 2024

Now the presidential election is heating up, I find myself interested in the little tricks used by political consultants to influence voters. As a grant writer, I have applied a lot of their ideas to benefit the clients we serve at Drew & Associates. Some of the political consultants’ best ideas are the result of eye-tracking experiments. The question is how can we apply these ideas to improving a proposal cover letter?

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Letter Of Inquiry Grants Grant Grant Writing 264

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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.

ChatGPT

Hands-On Fundraising

JULY 9, 2024

Playing cute tricks with donors isn’t the win you think it is I’ve been stewing about a certain kind of gift solicitation. I’ve hesitated to write about it. But I get more annoyed the more I think about the damage these things can do. Want some examples? This is an email I got. (Good organization; […] The post Don’t invoice me when you want a gift appeared first on Hands-On Fundraising.

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Ann Green's Nonprofit

JULY 9, 2024

Over the years I’ve realized the importance of keeping things simple. We have so many ways to fill our time (many of them involving screens), but I often find pleasure in simple things such as taking a walk, reading, and doing yoga. Keeping it simple doesn’t have to mean a bare-bones existence. There’s a Swedish term called lagom meaning everything in moderation or not too much, not too little.

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Calendar Nonprofit Electronics Donation 225

Pamela Grow

JULY 31, 2024

Have you ever heard of something called the ‘honeymoon phase?’ In marketing, the term ‘honeymoon phase’ refers to the period (usually one to two weeks) following a customer’s purchase. They’re in love with the product or service. And the savvy business builds on that relationship. Right from the start. You’ve probably seen honeymoon phase influence used a lot.

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Fundraising Donation Funding IT 162

Clairification

JULY 15, 2024

The world reacted with shock and outrage. There was a pervasive feeling of “how could this happen here?” People screamed… cried… prayed. This was five years ago. Last spring. When a fire wreaked devastating damage to something that, for many, represented the soul of a nation. And more. Notre Dame Cathedral is iconic and symbolic. It’s much more than a cathedral and historic building.

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Government Fundraising Media IT 260

GrantNews

JULY 24, 2024

GrantWatch has small business grants for entrepreneurs! As the summer months stretch out before us, it might seem like a perfect time to step back and slow down. These long, lazy summer days are enchanting but there is work to do! Our economy is finally just beginning to bounce back from its frozen state over the last few years. Unfortunately, sky-high inflation, rising interest rates, and systematic barriers are still holding many business owners back.

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Grant Grants Demographics Funding 138

Hands-On Fundraising

JULY 23, 2024

There is no faster way into our brains than an image. As Peter Temple explains in this post, “We don’t see words as a series of letters. We see them as pictures.” He goes on to say that our brains read words as a series of images. We’re able to quickly (milliseconds) put them together when […] The post How do you connect with donors? Show more. appeared first on Hands-On Fundraising.

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Fundraising 235

Wild Apricot

JULY 18, 2024

Want more event attendees? Who doesn't? Here are common reasons for low attendance and tactics you can use to boost it starting today.

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IT 173

Ann Green's Nonprofit

JULY 23, 2024

Are you having trouble with your donor engagement? If you answered yes, it may be because your communication is well, just meh. The remedy I like to recommend is the 5 C’s of good nonprofit communication. Keep these in mind when you’re writing a fundraising appeal, thank you letter, update, or any type of donor communication. Is it Clear? What is your intention?

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Electronics Nonprofit Donation Fundraising 176

The Chronicle of Philanthropy

JULY 23, 2024

Walker redirected the foundation to focus entirely on inequality and engineered ambitious collaborations on issues like Detroit's bankruptcy. He will retire in 2025. By Alex Daniels Nate Langston Palmer, The New York Times, Redux Darren Walker, the president of the Ford Foundation, broke the mold of big philanthropy leaders by virtue of his identity as a gay Black man and ambitious grant making.

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Clairification

JULY 11, 2024

In the 1967 movie “The Graduate,” some of you may remember the scene where Mr. McGuire takes Dustin Hoffman’s character, Benjamin, off to the side and says “Plastics … there’s a great future in plastics.” Little did we know… While that turned out poorly for the planet, there’s a similar word that could be the future for nonprofits. And the sage who’s offering it up is none other than the inimitable Seth Godin.

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IT Nonprofit Template 193

GrantNews

JULY 19, 2024

Grants serve as critical financial aid for individuals and organizations across various sectors, supporting endeavors ranging from education and scientific research to entrepreneurial ventures. But here’s a big question: Do you have to pay taxes on grant money? Whether your grant is tax-free or taxable depends on its purpose and how the funds are used.

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Grant Grants Liability Finance 126

Hands-On Fundraising

JULY 30, 2024

Great development directors are precious. It seems there is a constant demand for development directors. Turnover is a tremendous problem. People wonder why they can’t find a great one. In their study, Underdeveloped, CompassPoint and the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund found “high levels of turnover and lengthy vacancies in development director positions throughout the sector” […] The post This is why you can’t find a great development director appeared first on H

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Funding Fundraising IT 220

Wild Apricot

JULY 25, 2024

Donor relationships are at the heart of every nonprofit. Take our quiz to evaluate your organization’s relationships and learn how to make them stronger.

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Nonprofit Fundraising 158

Ann Green's Nonprofit

JULY 16, 2024

It’s summer! I hope you’ll get a chance to take a vacation or just some time off. It may be quieter at your nonprofit, but you don’t want to be too quiet and ignore your donors. Summer is a great time to do some relationship building. You should communicate with your donors at least once a month and that includes the summer months. Don’t make the mistake of taking a vacation from your donor communication.

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Policy Policies Budget Electronics 172

The Chronicle of Philanthropy

JULY 10, 2024

Embracing the word “solidarity” alongside “justice” and “equity” will help philanthropy rethink what it means to do good. By Leah Hunt-Hendrix George Walker IV/AP Supporting labor unions should be part of any philanthropy-in-solidarity strategy. Embracing the word “solidarity” alongside “justice” and “equity” will help philanthropy rethink what it means to do good.

IT 135

IT 135

Clairification

JULY 8, 2024

Today I’m writing about something that’s not fundraising or nonprofit marketing strategy per se. It’s more about how to have hope – and take action – during times that may feel hopeless. For most of us, we’ve perhaps never been in more perilous times during our lifetimes. For a host of reasons. And it’s not just in the United States. The world has been veering towards more authoritarian, less egalitarian, rule for a while now.

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Fundraising IT Nonprofit Management 193

GrantNews

JULY 25, 2024

Parenting Gifted Children. On the face of it, one might think that it’s no big deal parenting gifted children since they probably ‘know all the answers’ to the questions being asked of students at their grade level. But you might want to re-think that perception once you find out the ‘real truth’ about what parenting Gifted Children is all about.

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Education Grant Grants Award 115

Hands-On Fundraising

JULY 2, 2024

I’m convinced we’re made of stories And if that sounds a little goofy, then I’m guilty. But I’m sticking to it. The stories we tell ourselves about our lives and loves. The stories we hear from other people that shed light on who they are. And the stories that we read… whether in a great […] The post How to unearth the stories you need appeared first on Hands-On Fundraising.

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Fundraising IT 225

Wild Apricot

JULY 30, 2024

PayPal is a household name when it comes to online payment providers, but it's not always the best option for nonprofits. Here are 7 alternatives that might be a better fit for your organization.

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Nonprofit IT Fundraising 144

Ann Green's Nonprofit

JULY 2, 2024

Believe it or not, we’re halfway through 2024. The midpoint of the year is always a good time to see if you’re meeting your fundraising and communications goals. For this post, I’m assuming your fiscal year is the same as the calendar year. If you’re on a different fiscal cycle, you can make the appropriate time adjustments. Your fundraising revenue may be down.

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Nonprofit Metrics Calendar Goals 168

The Chronicle of Philanthropy

JULY 26, 2024

Since launching her Eras Tour, the billionaire pop star has donated the equivalent of hundreds of thousands of meals. Yet food bank operators say the donations have provided only temporary relief. By Stephanie Beasley Courtesy of Channel One Food Bank At Channel One Regional Food Bank of Minnesota, it usually costs about $8 million a year to keep shelves stocked with enough food to support roughly 300,000 visits from people in 14 counties.

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Donation IT 134

Clairification

JULY 31, 2024

“Give me one moment in time. When I’m more than I thought could be. When all of my dreams are a heartbeat away. And the answers are all up to me.” Ah, the lyrics remembered from a Whitney Houston song sung at the 1988 Olympics Opening Ceremonies. The Olympic torch. The parade of nations. The stories, stories and stories. Chills run down my spine.

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The NonProfit Times

JULY 30, 2024

It was the same story, different day, for fundraising during the first quarter of 2024. Giving was up (4.1%) compared to the first quarter of 2023, but the number of donors and retention both declined again, 1.3% and 3% respectively. Micro donors, those who give $100 or less and make up 59.3% of all donors, had the sharpest decline at 10.4%. That is twice the percentage decline of the next largest group, donors who give $101 to $500, which was 5.2% and making up 28.1% of all donors.

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Fundraising Retainer CRM Metrics 111

Hands-On Fundraising

JULY 16, 2024

First, why does donor retention matter? Ah, donor retention. We talk about it often. But why does it matter? Acquiring new donors is hard and often expensive. (You still need to do it.) So not doing all you can to keep the donors you have is like tossing money out the window. Prioritize retention! Also… […] The post Your donor retention how-to appeared first on Hands-On Fundraising.

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Wild Apricot

JULY 5, 2024

New member orientation doesn’t have to be boring. With these orientation tips and activities, your organization can welcome new members smoothly and easily, inspiring member engagement and retaining them longer.

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Retainer 147

GrantNews

JULY 11, 2024

Can you believe it?! School is out for summer, and kids are already lounging around the house, glued to their screens. However, the warmer weather brings so many opportunities for outdoor fun and exercise. Instead of letting the summer slip away, why not take advantage of this time to improve your health and well-being? Break from the monotony of indoor routines.

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Funding Grant Grants Government 112

The Chronicle of Philanthropy

JULY 11, 2024

The Knight Foundation just pledged $7 million to fight election misinformation in swing states. But recipients of grants to bolster accurate political information say their work is being thwarted by social media platforms, A.I., and escalating partisanship. By Alex Daniels AFP via Getty Images The Knight Foundation just pledged $7 million to fight election misinformation in swing states.

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Media Grant Grants 138

Clairification

JULY 4, 2024

Feeling a bit overloaded? It’s the new plague. And a highly contagious epidemic, from which no one is immune. Are you showing any symptoms? I feel like: I’m working all the time, but not getting that much accomplished. I’m working on 10 projects at once, but none get finished. My ‘to-do’ list never gets completed. I’m in meetings all day and don’t have time to work.

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Conference Management 154

The NonProfit Times

JULY 17, 2024

The grant deadline is barreling toward you like a freight train. You asked program staff for critical information weeks ago, but still have not received it. They’re ignoring your texts, emails, and phone calls, and you’ve just learned an essential player has gone on vacation. “Unfortunately, this doomsday scenario is not unusual. Grant professionals consistently lament the lackadaisical response of staff members when asked for data, program details, budget figures, and other essential informati

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