2025

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Nonprofit Crisis Response Tip-a-Day-DO-Dah!

Clairification

No matter your politics, this is crisis time for many nonprofits who rely on federal grants and loans (about 30% of all charities ). It’s also crisis time for the beneficiaries of many nonprofits, who are scared, stressed, depressed and otherwise at loose ends due to the rapidly changing environment. Many of the resources on which folks once relied have disappeared or are at risk.

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How to Make 2025 a Successful Year for Your Nonprofit

Ann Green's Nonprofit

Happy New Year!Its hard to believe its already 2025. I hope 2024 was a successful year for your nonprofit organization. If it wasnt, you can work to make 2025 a better year. And if you were successful, you want that to continue. Many individuals make New Years resolutions and set goals. Your nonprofit should do the same. As with personal resolutions, you want your goals to be realistic and attainable.

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Follow these rules and raise more

Hands-On Fundraising

Here are some basic rules that I use when I write to donors. After many years writing for donors, there are a few rules I always keep in mind. Because I know when I do, what I write raises more. So consider following these rules as well. I hope they help! Rule 1. Kind beats […] The post Follow these rules and raise more appeared first on Hands-On Fundraising.

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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.

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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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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.

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More Trending

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Foundation Grants vs. Government Grants: What the Millionaire Grant Lady Recommends

Millionaire Grant Lady

As you are building your nonprofit, most nonprofits early on come to understand that they must increase their funding so they can serve more people, serve the community, and do all the things that they got into this industry to do. As you are building revenue sources, you need to focus on diversifying funding sources. There are three main types of grants.

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Pre- and Post-Award is like PB&J

RBW Strategy

Thinking through the post-award experience from a pre-award vantage Picture this – you work at a nonprofit and have a big, audacious project that you are looking to get off the ground. You are carefully researching different funding sources and feel strongly that federal grant funding will help provide the financial boost that you need to get things moving.

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Women Entrepreneurs and the Power of Business Grants

GrantNews

The power of business grants presents real opportunities for women entrepreneurs. With over 13 million female-led businesses in the U.S., accounting for about 42% of all businesses nationwide, that’s no small feat! For women entrepreneurs, securing start-up capital can be a real challenge. Many turn to grant funding to launch and expand their business ventures.

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4 Top Donor Retention Strategies to Keep Your Year-End Donors

CauseVox

Its officially 2025! We made it through 2024, and with it the final push for year-end donations. Now is the time to make sure that your organization has donor retention strategies in place to bring those year-end supporters with you into 2025. You might be asking why you need to put a ton of time and energy into bringing your donors back for a second donation.

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DEI May Be in Retreat, but Faith Leaders Are Demonstrating the Power of Diversity

The Chronicle of Philanthropy

An upswell of interfaith cooperation on issues such as immigration offers valuable lessons on what effective diversity work looks like. By Eboo Patel Courtesy of ISNA and Scott Spitzer for CCAR Basharat Saleem, left, executive director of the Islamic Society of North America, and Rabbi Hara Person, chief executive of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, were among the signees of a statement supporting immigrants and refugees.

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Unforgiveable Nonprofit Thank You Letter Mistakes

Clairification

I recently received a prickly thank you letter that made my blood boil. Not because it was so bad, but because it wasnt good. It didnt make me want to renew my support. And thats unforgiveable. Because the point of the first gift is to get a second one. Otherwise, donor acquisition costs you more than you make. Its simply not worth the effort unless you commit to donor retention.

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5 Best Practices for Nonprofit Employee Onboarding

Ann Green's Nonprofit

Your nonprofit needs a skilled, dedicated team to advance its mission. Use these onboarding best practices to set your new hires up for lasting success. By Debbie Willis Every new employee brings passion, talent, and a fresh perspective to your nonprofit. However, recruiting and retaining these essential team members is not always easy. In fact, 60% of nonprofit leaders report experiencing staff-related concernswhether thats a lack of staff capacity or losing staff because they cannot provide co

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How to raise more money? Less sell and more tell

Hands-On Fundraising

Facts fail where stories sail. When I see what comes into my inbox or mailbox from nonprofits, the ones I shake my head at usually have something in common. They ask for a gift based on a list of statistics and accomplishments. And I understand the urge. You’re proud of the work you do. You’re […] The post How to raise more money? Less sell and more tell appeared first on Hands-On Fundraising.

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"Thank U, Next" Fundraising

The Fundraiser Coach

In the world of major gift fundraising, relationships ought to be at the heart of the work we do. As I noted in " Affinity Eats Capacity for Breakfast ," chasing dollars without alignment to donor values can lead to missed opportunities and eroded trust. With the pressure of ever rising revenue goals, lack of full staffing, or a focus on "getting the gift," some fundraisers fall into the trap of treating donors like transactions.

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What History Teaches Us | How to fundraise NOW

Pamela Grow

I launched my consulting career smack-dab in the middle of the 2008 financial crisis. Id just come from working at a family grant-making foundation, and I witnessed something Ill never forget. Local nonprofit after nonprofit, small and heavily reliant on grants, shutting their doors for good. It was heartbreaking. But it was also eye-opening. In transitioning to fundraising, I always had three words running through my brain.

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Getting Around the Gatekeeper: A Guide for Fundraisers

Joe Garecht Fundraising

When it comes to major donor fundraising, nothing is more important than talking directly with your donors and prospects. To successfully solicit major gifts, you must cultivate your donors and build relationships with them , which requires one-on-one conversations. Generally speaking, major donors tend to be busy people. They are usually engaged in business or philanthropy at a high level, meaning there are many demands on their time and many people trying to get in touch with them.

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Demystifying Grant Attachments: A Complete Guide to Boost Your Funding Success

Millionaire Grant Lady

The writing part of grant writing is a relatively small percentage of the actual work required to win grants at a high level consistently. To someone who is new to writing and submitting grants, the entire grant process can feel convoluted, overwhelming, and tedious. Even if you know that the potential funding could be enormous for your organization, the process of dealing with so many details can be tedious, time-consuming, and disheartening.

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7 Signs Your Organization Is Ready for an Enterprise-Scale CRM

Blackbaud

As a tech leader at a growing social impact organization, you know that migrating to an enterprise-scale constituent relationship management (CRM) system can be a daunting proposition. While you may be aware on a general level that your CRM platform is becoming a headwind to your organization achieving its fundraising goals, the prospect of migrating vast amounts of data, retraining staff, and committing the money and resources required for a successful upgrade can make it tempting to say, Lets

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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.

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How nonprofits can win at competitive online fundraising 

Candid

Nonprofit organizations often collaborate with one another to share resources, seek grants, and scale public service delivery. At the same time, nonprofits also compete directly against one anotherfor attention, for funding, for clientsalthough this competition rarely gets acknowledged. As a scholar of nonprofit management and public service, Ive explored, among other things, to what extent the element of competition affects nonprofit messaging in an online fundraising competition, and what type

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Faced With Anti-DEI Complaint, Gates Opens Scholarship to White Students

The Chronicle of Philanthropy

After Edward Blum's complaint to the IRS about the Gates Foundation's "illegal" scholarship program for students of color, the Seattle philanthropy giant said it would change the scholarship's eligibility criteria to include all races. By Alex Daniels Susan Walsh/AP After Edward Blum's complaint to the IRS about the Gates Foundation's "illegal" scholarship program for students of color, the Seattle philanthropy giant said it would change the scholarship's eligibility criteria to include all race

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Clairity Click-it: Basket of Nonprofit Links + Free Resources

Clairification

Today I want to remind you thatpart 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.

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How Are You Building Relationships With Your Donors?

Ann Green's Nonprofit

Why does making a donation often feel like a transaction? Organizations get so caught up in the raising money part that they forget about building relationships with their donors. Giving Tuesday is the worst example of this, with Year End close behind. Generally, it happens way too often. Remember this Building relationships is just as important as raising money.

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How to Elevate Your Supporter Experience in 2025: 10 Proven Strategies for Fundraisers

Hands-On Fundraising

Supporters dont just give to charitiesthey give to people, experiences, emotions, and connections. And in 2025, expectations are higher than ever. Fundraising success isnt just about asking for money; its about creating meaningful supporter experiences that keep donors engaged, inspired, and coming back time and again. Here are 10 ways to enhance your supporter experience […] The post How to Elevate Your Supporter Experience in 2025: 10 Proven Strategies for Fundraisers appeared first on H

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Invite to Action: Ask with Connection and Confidence

The Fundraiser Coach

Welcome back to the B.R.I.D.G.E. series! If you missed the last posts, we began with Build Connection and Establish Rapport. Today, we step into the part many fundraisers both anticipate and avoid: Invitation to Action or the Ask. It’s time to Invite to Action Inviting isn’t demanding. It’s not persuading or convincing. It’s just that: an invitation.

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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.

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Does Cold Major Donor Outreach Really Work?

Joe Garecht Fundraising

Yes, it does. To be honest, I was tempted to leave this article there. I thought it would be amusing but true. Cold major donor outreach does work. But of course, thats not the complete story. The full answer is: Yes, it does so long as you do it right. Lets take a look at cold major donor outreach and how you can use it effectively at your non-profit.

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Why Google Isn’t Enough: Finding Hidden Grant Opportunities for Nonprofits

Millionaire Grant Lady

When you want to learn about something new, the natural first instinct is to Google it. Its such an integral part of our lives now that we turned the name of a search engine into a verb. Web searches are powerful tools, and we should never take for granted the privilege of living in a time in which the breadth of human history and knowledge is freely available through our computer, tablet, or phones.

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Beyond the Bottom Line: 5 Ways to Assess your Grants Program

Grant Professionals Association

Early in my fundraising career, my then boss gave me a great piece of advice to celebrate wins. What she meant was to not only look at how much money you raised, but to evaluate the many other indicators of progress that can often be overlooked. In the grant world, its easy to just look at the bottom line, asking yourself How much money did we raise from grants this year?

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5 Small Business Grants Entrepreneurs Can Apply for this March!

GrantNews

GrantWatch is the gateway for small business grants for entrepreneurs ! As spring blossoms, it’s easy to feel like slowing down and enjoying the season, but now is actually a great time to focus on your business. While the warmer days are tempting, the world of entrepreneurship still requires attention and action. Our economy is just beginning to recover after a challenging period, but obstacles like high inflation, rising interest rates, and systemic barriers continue to hold many busines

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April is National Volunteer Month. Do you know where your volunteers are? 

Candid

As the nonprofit sector seeks ways to continue its work in the face of ongoing challenges, volunteers may come to play a larger role. According to the U.S. Census Bureau and AmeriCorps, the U.S. volunteer rate fell significantly between September 2020 and September 2021 , although recent data shows it rebounded to 28.8% in 2022-23. So, what can organizations do to better engage and retain volunteers in 2025?

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Key Trends Shaping Major Gift Fundraising in 2025

Gail Perry Group

The landscape of philanthropy is shifting, bringing both challenges and opportunities for nonprofits in 2025. With economic changes, technological advancements, and evolving donor priorities, fundraisers need to adapt their strategies to thrive in this dynamic environment. Lets explore the most significant trends shaping major gift fundraising in 2025and how your organization can respond effectively. 1.

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Heartbreaking Missed Opportunities: Is Your Nonprofit Falling Short of Its True Fundraising Power?

Clairification

Survival Depends on Collective Commitment and Deep Support Too often, fundraising is relegated to an administrative function rather than a mission-central function. Its viewed as a necessary evil. As a result, either no one embraces it as central to their job description, or someone is hired and shunted off to a corner to do the dirty work. Others dont necessarily feel a need to cooperate or support the fundraising effort.

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