February, 2025

article thumbnail

Think Like a Donor and Raise More Major Gifts

The Fundraiser Coach

One of the biggest challenges we face as major gift fundraisers is balancing two distinct ways of thinking: our internal, metrics-driven mindset versus the donor-focused approach that builds relationships. In the office, we're measured by revenue, the number of donors engaged, meetings booked, and Asks made (and successfully closed!). These are essential benchmarks, but when we sit down with donors, they’re not thinking in those terms.

article thumbnail

How to Create an Engaging Nonprofit Impact Report

Ann Green's Nonprofit

Is your nonprofit still producing one of those multi-page annual reports? If so, why? Anything thats more than four pages is too long. Besides that, theyre often boring, they focus too much on the organization and not on the donors, they require a lot of time and effort from staff, and theres no guarantee donors will even look at them. Now you have a dilemma.

Nonprofit 151
Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

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

article thumbnail

How to Fuel a Donor Journey that Yields Major Gifts

Clairification

The major gift journey is a synergistic one. You see, its both your journey and your donors journey. If you want to follow along the most direct pathway to sustainable philanthropy, youll want to consider the two-fold nature of the expeditious endeavor known as major gift fundraising. Or, as I prefer to call it, passionate philanthropy. First understand the pathway to passionate philanthropy is not just about the money; its every bit as much about the experience.

Goals 157
article thumbnail

6 Tips to Increase Lead Generation on Your Nonprofit Website

Pamela Grow

Does your nonprofit want to increase engagement with your marketing and fundraising efforts? If so, you need a lead generation strategy. You may have heard of lead generation in a business setting, but nonprofits can also effectively use this concept to drive engagement online and boost support for their missions. The top nonprofit websites capture audience interest at all stages of the donor funnel or journey.

Nonprofit 147
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

Transform your interview process into storytelling magic

Hands-On Fundraising

The best stories are personal If your organization wants to communicate well with donors in a way that moves them to feel connected to your mission youll need stories. Stories are how we relate… and have been forever. It’s a human thing. Consider Neanderthal cave art. Even before we were Homo sapiens, we […] The post Transform your interview process into storytelling magic appeared first on Hands-On Fundraising.

More Trending

article thumbnail

Grants that Empower Women and Girls!

GrantNews

We need to empower women and girls with the resources they need to thrive! Whether it’s mothers and daughters breaking barriers together, female athletes excelling in their sports, or women entrepreneurs building their dreams, grants are here to fuel their success. From education and training to job opportunities and overcoming financial obstacles, these essential funding sources provide the support that paves the way for growth.

Grants 116
article thumbnail

5 Revenue Streams to Strengthen Nonprofit Sustainability

Ann Green's Nonprofit

Diverse revenue streams provide a sustainable financial foundation for nonprofits. Explore revenue streams your nonprofit should pursue in this guide. Its important for you to diversify your revenue sources. This is especially important now because of the current chaos of eliminating (and then not eliminating, at least for now) federal grant funding.

Nonprofit 163
article thumbnail

People Want to Know if They Can Trust Your Nonprofit and You

Clairification

The work of philanthropy facilitation is very personal. And, fundamentally, its based on trust. Which is why establishing and building trust should be part of your nonprofit and personal mission. Amid times of change, one truth remains: trust is the foundation of progress — Edelman Trust Barometer 2025 Alas, I rarely see this in mission statements.

Ethics 144
article thumbnail

Post-Event Follow-Up to Foster Long-Term Donor Relationships

Pamela Grow

Nonprofit events are a powerful way to showcase your mission and raise critical funds. From the excitement of bidding in an auction to the inspiring stories shared on stage, these events are unforgettable experiences for your attendees. However, many organizations make the mistake of letting all that energy fizzle out when the event ends. Without a thoughtful follow-up strategy, the momentum youve worked so hard to build fades, leaving attendees and supporters with awkward silence.

Metrics 147
article thumbnail

Integrating Peer-to-Peer Fundraising with Annual Campaigns

Hands-On Fundraising

If youre looking for a compelling fundraising campaign idea to supplement your nonprofits annual fundraising efforts, look no further than peer-to-peer fundraising. What makes peer-to-peer fundraising such a great strategy to support annual fundraising campaigns? This fundraising style allows your nonprofit to: Lets explore five strategies your nonprofit can use to integrate peer-to-peer fundraising into […] The post Integrating Peer-to-Peer Fundraising with Annual Campaigns appeared first

article thumbnail

Boost Your Fundraising Team’s Success with a Grant Consultant: Here’s How

Millionaire Grant Lady

How a Grant Consultant Can Amplify the Impact of Your Fundraising Team Many different staff positions fulfill fundraising duties. Depending on the size of the nonprofit organization, just one person may handle all fundraising tasks, while in other organizations the fundraising team may be comprised of a dozen individuals each with a unique focus. In a large fundraising team, leadership and strategy may be assigned to the Director of Development or a Major Gifts Officer, while donor relationships

article thumbnail

The Top 10 Association Websites in 2025

Wild Apricot

Want to create a website for your association? We've rounded up the top 10 best association websites of 2025 and will show you how to create your own.

128
128
article thumbnail

Grants to Support and Elevate Minority Business Owners

GrantNews

Minority Business Owners continue to shape the American economy with resilience, innovation, and ambition. Yet, despite their contributions, they often encounter barriers to success, from limited access to capital to systemic challenges in securing resources. The good news? Support is available to help level the playing field. Many foundations and corporations recognize these disparities and step up to provide funding, mentorship, and entrepreneurial programs tailored to minority business owners

Grants 107
article thumbnail

4 Nonprofit Strategies to Build Donor Trust & Lasting Relationships

Clairification

Trust is Built By What You Do In my last article, I wrote about why establishing and building trust should be part of your nonprofit and personal mission. Because trust is the foundation of all lasting relationships. If you dont build trust, or if you somehow manage to destroy it, youre going to lose your donor. It’s an uphill battle, requiring a proactive approach.

Nonprofit 157
article thumbnail

Lessons from MotivateMonday | Great Fundraising Organizations (and how to become one!)

Pamela Grow

Our day-to-day overwhelm here in the US is intense. And its designed to make us all feel uncertain. Helpless. Passive even. Your overwhelm is the goal. If we give in, we find ourselves suffocating in distractions. But the good news is you can counteract that when you focus on the pursuit of excellence. Becoming your best your strongest, your most resilient, your most loving, your smartest self Becoming YOUR best self, for lack of a better way to say this, will effortlessly snowball into the b

article thumbnail

How to Write a Killer Letter of Inquiry (LOI) to Get a Grant

Get Fully Funded

Often, the first step in getting a grant is a Letter of Inquiry (sometimes called a Letter of Intent ) – or LOI, for short. A Letter of Inquiry is a quick way to introduce your organization to a prospective funder and to open up a conversation about how a grant would make a positive impact on the community you’re serving and change lives.

article thumbnail

Nonprofits Get More Donations When They Vary Their Facebook Fundraising Messages, New Research Finds

The Chronicle of Philanthropy

By Abhishek Bhati SERSOL/Stock via Getty Images Plus Researchers also found that when nonprofits share messages of gratitude or highlight progress toward their goals, they tend to raise more money than if they just ask for donations.

Donation 108
article thumbnail

The Only Nonprofit Accounting eBook You Need

NonProfit PRO

Download this comprehensive resource for the latest best practices for budgeting, closing books, audits, reporting, managing payroll, compliance, and much more.

Budget 97
article thumbnail

Why Accurate Payroll and Time Allocation Is Crucial for Your Nonprofit Grant Reporting

Blackbaud

As a nonprofit finance professional, you want all your data to be accurate. And payroll and grant reporting are two areas of your financial processes where accuracy is non-negotiable. You want your staff paid fairly, and you want to maintain good relationships with your grant funders. Maintaining compliance can protect existing funding, as well. But allocating your payroll and time to your grants can be a cumbersome, manual, and time-intensive process.

Grants 94
article thumbnail

12 Donation Website Templates + Examples to Inspire You

Wild Apricot

If you're looking to create or update your nonprofit's donation website, check out these templates from WildApricot + examples to get you inspired.

article thumbnail

Lessons from MotivateMonday | Great Fundraising Organizations (and how to become one!)

Pamela Grow

Our day-to-day overwhelm here in the US is intense. And its designed to make us all feel uncertain. Helpless. Passive even. Your overwhelm is the goal. If we give in, we find ourselves suffocating in distractions. But the good news is you can counteract that when you focus on the pursuit of excellence. Becoming your best your strongest, your most resilient, your most loving, your smartest self Becoming YOUR best self, for lack of a better way to say this, will effortlessly snowball into the b

article thumbnail

Revenue in a Bottle: What’s a Wine Pull & Why Does It Work?

OneCause

Wine pulls are a fundraising idea where guests donate a fixed amount for the chance to pull a wrapped bottle. Learn how to boost revenue with this idea here.

IT 98
article thumbnail

Polarization's Chilling Effect on Advocacy

The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Groups are shying from lobbying and policy work, fearing donor blow back and government retribution, a survey finds. By Heather MacIndoe, Lewis Faulk, and Mirae Kim Groups are shying from lobbying and policy work, fearing donor blow back and government retribution, a survey finds.

Lobbying 104
article thumbnail

3 Ways to Improve Culture and Reduce Turnover at Your Nonprofit

NonProfit PRO

While not all turnover can be prevented, here are three culture-building strategies that can help keep your nonprofit's employees happy.

article thumbnail

Responsive Grantmaking: Five Ways to Stay Connected to Your Community During Times of Crisis

Blackbaud

From funding uncertainty to overlapping natural disasters to the possibility of another global pandemic, the modern grantmaker must be prepared for a variety of challenges. When the Two Ten Footwear Foundation began seeing an increased demand for their financial support as well as a need for financial, legal, and mental health counseling, they knew they had to take a long-term approach while also meeting the short-term needs of their community.

Grants 83
article thumbnail

The Nonprofit’s Guide to Donor Wealth Screening

Wild Apricot

Donor wealth screening can help nonprofits identify high-value donors, personalize fundraising efforts, and maximize giving potential. We'll share tools and best practices to boost your fundraising.

article thumbnail

Top 2025 Foundation Grants to Power Your Nonprofit

GrantNews

Foundation Grants for Nonprofits are among the most sought-after grants, and for good reason. Foundation application processes are often simpler than government grants, making them more accessible. Plus, foundation grants tend to have fewer restrictions, allowing for greater flexibility in how funds are used. Another advantage is the huge variety of grants available, with opportunities open to nonprofits , businesses , and individuals both nationally and internationally.

Grants 93
article thumbnail

How Candid’s AI can uncover new funding opportunities

Candid

Candid has a wealth of data and insights on decades worth of foundation grants. Every day, nonprofit fundraisers use our in-depth data to identify prospective funders to approach and requests for proposals (RFPs) to apply for. Now were introducing AI tools to recommend new funders and funding opportunities personalized to your needs, eliminating work that might have taken hours and surfacing opportunities fundraisers might not have discovered on their own to help fundraisers find what they need

AI 70
article thumbnail

Amid Funding Freezes and ICE Raids, What Will It Take to Support Grantees?

The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Grant makers need to reassure nonprofits that they have their backs during these tumultuous times. By Lisa Pilar Cowan MARIA MOTTOLA Grant makers need to reassure nonprofits that they have their backs during these tumultuous times.

Funding 114
article thumbnail

4 Benefits of Accounts Payable Automation for Nonprofits

NonProfit PRO

Here's a look into how using accounts payable automation can help nonprofits gain efficiencies and insight.

article thumbnail

Managing Your Operating Reserves During and After an Emergency

Blackbaud

A strong operating reserve in a time of crisis helps everyone focus on helping the people who need to be helped. But its not a blank check either. If you expend all your operating reserves, you can put your organization in a pinch going forward. With the right policies and strategies in place, your nonprofit organization can draw from your operating reserves during and after an emergency without putting future operations at risk.

article thumbnail

What’s the Cost Behind Starting a Nonprofit Organization in 2025?

Grant Writer Team

Staring a nonprofit organization can be a fulfilling endeavor that leads to an exciting journey, and ultimately, to a rewarding future. However, the decision comes with important financial considerations. The money involved with establishing a nonprofit varies based on factors like location, structure, and the scope of your mission. Understanding the costs id key to setting a strong foundation for your organization.

article thumbnail

10 Grants to Boost Youth Sports and Outdoor Activities

GrantNews

Youth sports and outdoor activities inspire teamwork, build confidence, and encourage a lifelong love of movement. Think back to your own childhood and remember what it felt like to be a part of a team, and how it felt to score your first goal, conquer a hiking trail, or learn archery. These experiences helped promote your physical and mental well-being.

Grants 80