Soapbox Engage Blog

Issue 004

These days, life can feel especially overwhelming. Now, pile on the beginning of the end-of-year fundraising preparation season, and it's no wonder why many of in the fundraising world are trying to take a little extra time this summer to recharge our batteries.

For me, I've been lucky enough to get some headspace in the desert of the southwest. It's pretty incredible what getting outside of the city does for my soul. More time to think, read, and learn, which is why this week's newsletter is filled to the brim with some great information from our fundraising community.

So, grab a cozy chair, and take a tour with me of the latest fundraising community knowledge!

Don't forget, you can have the goodness of the Fundraising Weekly delivered into your inbox each Tuesday morning by subscribing to the Fundraising Weekly today!

Great Articles from the Fundraising Community

1. 5 Steps to Designing Donation Tiers to Raise More Money
   Tim Forbes (Soapbox Engage)

   Do you use donation tiers on your fundraising forms? Setting donation tiers is both an art and a science, but getting it right can make all the difference! This blog takes you through five easy steps to help you figure out the right giving tiers for your organization.

2. 7 Absolutes for Major Gift Fundraising Success
   Richard Perry (Veritus Group)

   Richard Perry and Jeff Schreifels reveal their seven “absolutes” every development professional should follow when managing major gift programs. These principles are designed to set your fundraising program up for long-term success and year-over-year growth. Here’s the good news: these 7 “absolutes” aren’t hard, but they do take some intentional effort.

3. How To Use Storytelling For Nonprofits To Tug Heartstrings and Raise Funds
   Sandy Rees (Get Fully Funded)

   Did you know that developing good storytelling skills could make the difference between getting a major gift and your donation request going nowhere? Stories connect with our hearts and move us to action. You don’t need to be a professional writer to tell your nonprofit’s story! You just need to understand the basic elements of a good story and practice a few different ways to tell that story. This blog will give you the tools to do just that.

4. How Matching Gifts Can Help Your Fundraising Team Succeed
   Ann Green (Ann Green's Nonprofit Blog)

   Even in today’s uncertain climate, it’s important to keep fundraising. Matching gifts can be a great way to boost your donation revenue. Many nonprofits don’t leverage matching gifts as a primary source of revenue, which means there’s potentially a lot of money left on the table! Fundraising guru, Ann Green, offers some advice on how to incorporate matching gifts into your fundraising strategy.

5. The US Postal Service and You
   Mary Cahalane (Hands-On Fundraising)

   You might have heard some things about the US Postal Service these days. Many people are complaining about slower mail service. But, that doesn’t mean direct mail fundraising is over. Quite the contrary! It’s still a fundraising channel with one of the best response rates (especially among older donors who tend to give larger gifts). Fundraising coach, Mary Cahalane, gives some practical steps on how to position your organization for greater success.

6. Things That Really Don’t Matter in Fundraising: Part 4: Your Elevator Speech
   Jeff Brooks (Future Fundraising Now)

   Have you memorized an “elevator speech” about your organization? Many development professionals push this as part of an effective fundraising strategy. And, it’s not really BAD… it’s just not the best strategy for nonprofits. Fundraising advisor, Jeff Brooks explains why in this blog post.

7. What’s The Right Time To Ask for A Gift?
   Gail Perry (Fired Up Fundraising)

   Timing is key, especially when you’re asking for a donation. But, when we aren’t sure when to ask, we tend to delay our fundraising ask, leaving money on the table. This blog has some great tips about how to know when it’s the right time to ask for a donation.

8. Charity Auctions: 3 Best Practices for Fundraising Success
   Jordan Faircloth (The Fundraising Coach)

   Charity auctions can bring in a lot of much-needed funding for your nonprofit and they give donors a fun way to support your cause. You can use a charity auction to keep your supporters’ attention--and it’s easy to move your auction online! This useful blog post will tell you how to have a successful virtual auction this fall.

9. 5 Ways to Maximize Your End-of-Year Fundraising
   Piper Sullivan (Nonprofit PRO)

   It’s only August, but it’s the right time to start preparing your end-of-year giving strategy. This blog has five great tips to kickstart your preparation so you can get the most out of this years’ fundraising efforts.

10. How To Welcome Major Donors
    Jeff Schreifels (Veritus Group)

    How do you welcome new donors? Do you have a plan and strategy? It’s a critical part of donor care--especially for major donors! Jeff Schreifels shares his strategy for welcoming a new donor and fostering a healthy relationship.

Great Events

1. Building Your Nonprofit’s Communication Engine - September 09, 2020 @ 12pm ET
   Farra Trompeter (Big Duck)

   Join facilitator, Sarah Durham, for this Zoom session for nonprofit leaders who need to set clear goals, build a stronger team, and manage communications so it truly advances the mission. You’ll learn a scalable theory that you can immediately apply to your organization.