Sat.Dec 30, 2023 - Fri.Jan 05, 2024

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13 Top Secrets of Donor Thank You Letters Revealed

Clairification

Let’s begin with a question: What do you spend more time on? Asking or thanking? You’ve probably just completed a quarter hyper-focused on asking. I’ll bet you devoted a lot of time to this endeavor. Now… you should be devoting at least as much time to thanking the donors who responded to your appeals, with the goal of retaining and upgrading them over time.

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Want some action? Use emotion.

Hands-On Fundraising

Years ago, on vacation, as I read 2312, by Kim Stanley Robinson a phrase stopped me cold. I had to dog-ear the page. “Reason can’t work without emotion. People who are cut off from their emotions can’t decide.” Reason can’t work without emotion. People who are cut off from their emotions can’t decide. So, ok, […] The post Want some action?

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Education Success Starts with Family Involvement. Why Aren’t Donors Funding It?

The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Addressing post-pandemic learning loss should include far greater support for programs that involve parents and caregivers in their kids’ educations. By Ambika Kapur and Stephanie Sharp Addressing post-pandemic learning loss should include far greater support for programs that involve parents and caregivers in their kids’ educations.

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Grab This Fundraising Plan Template for New Nonprofits

Get Fully Funded

If you’re starting a new nonprofit, you already know that you need to raise money. What you might not know is that the right fundraising plan template can make the job much easier. In the beginning you may self-fund your fledgling organization. (Many founders do.) Or you may ask your friends, coworkers, and family to give a few bucks. But long term, you can’t run an entire organization from the generosity of only a handful of people.

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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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Leading Your Nonprofit with Hope, Not Optimism

Clairification

What will you hope for in the coming year? Recently a college classmate asked me and others this question, ruminating on how hope and optimism are similar yet different. It struck a chord with me You see, I’m not generally an optimist. Yet I’m often hopeful. I’d just never taken time to actively consider how these concepts are different. Now I have, and I think it matters in the times we’re in.

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5 Trends Fundraisers Need to Watch in 2024

The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Among the forces that will shape development this year: artificial intelligence, the explosion of DAFs, and the culture wars. By Rasheeda Childress Getty Images Among the forces that will shape development this year: artificial intelligence, the explosion of DAFs, and the culture wars.

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How to Write an LOI: Letter of Intent, Letter of Interest, Letter of Inquiry

GrantNews

You may be noticing that there are many foundations asking for an LOI before requesting a full grant proposal. A funding source also uses an LOI to determine if applicants align with their vision mission. LOI: Letter of Intent, Letter of Interest, Letter of Inquiry An LOI should be thought of as a mini-grant proposal where you hit each of the points generally required in a full proposal.

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Empowering Nonprofit Supporters Through Content Creation

NonProfit PRO

Here's how your nonprofit can empower and align with donors and gain more visibility through the creation of educational content.

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Podcast: Unlocking the Power of Cultivation in Capital Campaigns

Capital Campaign Pro

Season 3, Episode 39 In this episode, Amy Eisenstein and special guest Xan Blake, a Capital Campaign Pro supreme advisor with decades of experience in nonprofit consulting, dive deep into the critical topic of cultivation. Many people are confused about what cultivation really means in the context of capital campaigns, and in this enlightening conversation, […] The post Podcast: Unlocking the Power of Cultivation in Capital Campaigns appeared first on Capital Campaign Pro.

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Nonprofits That Host In-Person and Hybrid Events Raise More Money

The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Donors seem to appreciate the chance to gather in-person again; 44 percent of respondents to a survey said their supporters attended only in-person fundraising events. By Emily Haynes Donors seem to appreciate the chance to gather in-person again; 44 percent of respondents to a survey said their supporters attended only in-person fundraising events.

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Role-based Grants Management: Tailoring the Experience for all Stakeholders

Fluxx

In the dynamic realm of grants management, technology stands as a cornerstone in streamlining operations and enriching the overall grant experience. Grants Management Systems (GMS) have evolved into indispensable tools for organizations looking to allocate resources efficiently and manage their grant processes seamlessly. However, as the complexity of these systems continues to grow, there's a compelling need to reevaluate conventional approaches to GMS selection.

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How to Mobilize Philanthropic Resources for Their Best Possible Uses

NonProfit PRO

Here are three practices that all boards of trustees should consider to create an innovative and maximally impactful philanthropic strategy.

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Historic Preservation: Remember Our Roots and Look to the Future

GrantNews

Historic Preservation. Have you ever stopped to consider this phrase? What it means? Why the concept is so important? The reality is that most of us don’t pay attention to historic preservation. As a philosophy, it is a set of actions that are vital to maintaining links to our diverse cultures and unique heritages. As an actionable practice, it means knowing that the act of preserving our past leads to a stronger future.

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Foundation Assets Are at All-Time Highs, but Don't Expect a Giving Boom

The Chronicle of Philanthropy

The stock-market rally in the final stretch of 2023 left foundations with $1.48 trillion in assets. By Sara Herschander The stock market rally in the final stretch of 2023 left foundations with $1.48 trillion in assets.

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10 (Additional) Lessons Learned for Funders Considering the Grantee Perception Report

Center for Effective Philanthropy

The post 10 (Additional) Lessons Learned for Funders Considering the Grantee Perception Report appeared first on The Center for Effective Philanthropy.

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6 Ways to Be a True Partner to Your Donor This Year

NonProfit PRO

Here's what needs to be in place to grow your relationship with a donor and how to handle various situations that may come up.

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Coffee, Calendars, and Sticky Notes: These are a few of my favorite things!

The Fundraising Coach

One Leader’s Approach to Annual Team Planning “Coffee, Calendars, and Sticky Notes: These are a few of my favorite things!” by Amy Lazoff, Director of Philanthropy & Community Relations, Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo There is one thing I love about this time of year that not everyone quite understands – and that is the sheer joy I experience when picking out a planner for next year.

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A Lesson From the Wayne LaPierre-NRA Scandal: ‘Designated Contrarians’ Could Improve Nonprofit Boards

The Chronicle of Philanthropy

They can disrupt the kind of consensus and groupthink that contributed to the National Rifle Association’s woes. By Dana Brakman Reiser They can disrupt the kind of consensus and groupthink that contributed to the National Rifle Association’s woes.

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The Big Chill: Why Nonprofits Should Care about Affirmative Action

Blue Avocado

What can nonprofits do to continue supporting marginalized communities with the Supreme Court striking down affirmative action? The role of nonprofits in a post-affirmative-action world. Last June, the U.S. Supreme Court’s consolidated decision held that the use of affirmative action (or “race-conscious” admissions) at two higher education institutions violates the 14th Amendment’s equal protection clause […] The post The Big Chill: Why Nonprofits Should Care about Affirmative Action appea

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A Better Approach to Nonprofit Board Agendas

NonProfit PRO

Typically, board meetings follow a prescriptive order. I propose an approach that fits organizational needs and generates board enthusiasm.

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The next step to thank and retain year-end donors.

amplifi

We hope you met all your goals and raised a lot of money this appeal season that will help make the world a better place. You’re probably tired, but your work isn’t done! And you can do even more if you make it a priority to retain year-end donors! You already know making sure your current donors stick around is more sustainable than securing a bunch of one-off donations.

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Gifts From Warren Buffett and Phil Knight Top the List of 2023's Biggest Donations

The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Among the recipients: Harvard, Henry Ford Health, and the 1803 Fund to revive a once-thriving Black neighborhood in Portland, Ore. By Maria Di Mento Among the recipients: Harvard, Henry Ford Health, and the 1803 Fund to revive a once-thriving Black neighborhood in Portland, Ore.

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Top 2024 Nonprofit Trends

GrantNews

With increased use of new technologies, rapid change has occurred recently in many industries. Nonprofits are no exception. Expect to see nonprofits and businesses adopt modern business trends to manage their organizations due to the increase in organizations utilizing cutting-edge tools like GrantWatch , AI, and social media. While not all of the trends are applicable to your organization, having a heads-up on the nonprofit trends for 2024 may give your organization the leg-up it needs to run a

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Volunteer Engagement and Retainment: Tips for Keeping Volunteers Coming Back

NonProfit PRO

As the nonprofit sector tackles the volunteer shortage, here are ways you can engage and retain volunteers.

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To Complete or Not to Complete?

Blackbaud

The motivating factors that prompt students to enroll in a community college are as varied and diverse as their academic and socio-economic backgrounds. While most university-bound students apply to their four-year school of choice with the intent of completing a program of study and attaining a degree, a community college student’s “why” is typically neither as clear nor as linear.

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McGovern Foundation Awards $66 Million to Advance A.I. for the Public Good

The Chronicle of Philanthropy

By M.J. Prest Also, MathWorks committed $25 million to protect and restore land throughout Massachusetts, and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute promised $15 million to six research universities to bolster student success in the STEM fields.

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Top Nonprofit Trends For 2024

GrantNews

With increased use of new technologies, rapid change has occurred recently in many industries. Nonprofits are no exception. Expect to see nonprofits and businesses adopt modern business trends to manage their organizations due to the increase in organizations utilizing cutting-edge tools like GrantWatch , AI, and social media. While not all of the trends are applicable to your organization, having a heads-up on the nonprofit trends for 2024 may give your organization the leg-up it needs to run a

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Whose Agenda Is It?

NonProfit PRO

Typically, board meetings follow a prescriptive order. I propose an approach that fits organizational needs and generates board enthusiasm.

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Thinking in the Gray: A 2024 Leadership Challenge

Blackbaud

Every year when the calendar rolls over into the new year, leaders are presented with a fresh set of challenges. That is certainly the case in the K–12 space here at IC Catholic Prep. No matter what calendar your organization uses (academic, recruitment, fiscal, non-traditional), the fact remains that our personal calendars all start anew January 1 st.

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Art Bridges Foundation Chooses New CEO

The Chronicle of Philanthropy

By M.J. Prest Plus, ​​two community foundations have named new leaders, and the California philanthropist Betty Moore has died at age 95.

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Is This the Reason Your Team is Not Raising Major Gifts?

Gail Perry Group

All nonprofits want to excel at major gifts fundraising. Is this really true? In our 30 years in major gifts fundraising, we've seen familiar roadblocks crop up inside organizations. Roadblocks that somehow get thrown up to keep money from flowing into the organization. What?? You may ask? How could any nonprofit not want to pull in the funding that is really out there?

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Blackthorn.io Launches Blackthorn Industries, A New Initiative to Align With Salesforce Industries

NonProfit PRO

Blackthorn.io announced the launch of Blackthorn Industries, a venture to better align with Salesforce Industries.

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Cultural Inclusion Through Community Action & What You Can Do

GrantNews

Cultural inclusion through community action is a dynamic concept shaping our modern world. Integrating cultural inclusion creates an environment where diversity is acknowledged and celebrated. Imagine this, you are a 12-year-old refugee starting an American public school for the 1st time. Imagine further, that you do not know the language. How will you learn how to navigate this new place?

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