Soapbox Engage Blog

Issue 006

When you get a chance to drive across the country, you get a lot of thinking time. As I took to the highway this weekend, I played catch-up on podcasts while saying to myself, "ah, that's what's making those circles I see while flying!"

A favorite podcast I enjoyed was Marketing School, which is like a never-ending buffet of snack-sized bits of knowledge that had me pausing and going into creative brainstorming mode for hours. It's definitely worth taking a listen if you're the one tackling online marketing in your organization.

Meanwhile, it was great to end the trip, and see all the great actionable content our own fundraising community has been cranking out. Without further ado, here's another week of hand-curated community knowledge goodness!

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. Giving Tuesday Ideas for 2020 | 25+ Tips To Maximize Support
   Tim Forbes (Soapbox Engage)

   It’s never too early to start thinking about Giving Tuesday, one of the biggest opportunities for nonprofits to raise awareness for their cause and generate some much-needed funds. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and economic uncertainty, there are some great ways your organization can have a successful Giving Tuesday campaign. This blog has some great tips and tricks for the entire process, from campaign planning to follow-up.

2. Nonprofits Need Investors More Than Donors
   Tim Lockie (Now IT Matters)

   This isn’t an issue of semantics or a difference in what we should call financial supporters. There are actually some key differences between donors and investors that really matter to nonprofit organizations. BUT our language does affect donors and impact how we think about and attract new supporters. Learn more about this very critical distinction and how it should impact the way you fundraise!

3. The Annual Fund, Best Practices and the Donor Pyramid
   F. Duke Haddad (NonProfit PRO)

   One of the main goals of annual fundraising is to build strong, healthy relationships with donors. (Annual giving campaigns bring in much-needed money, too.) This blog offers some key best practices nonprofits can use to enhance their annual giving campaigns, improve donor relationships and retention, and cultivate major gift planning.

4. The Catastrophic, Revenue-Killing Mistake That You Might Be Thinking About Making Right Now
   Jeff Brooks (Future Fundraising Now)

   Have you ever moved high-performing donors from your direct mail file to your major gift file? Fundraising experts say this is a revenue-killing mistake that might cost you valuable donations! Learn more about why this is not a recommended move in this short-and-sweet blog post.

5. How To Build Trust Through Social Media
   John Edwards (Nonprofit Hub)

   Social media can be a powerful tool for nonprofits to grow their donor base, raise awareness for their cause, and much more. But it can also be a double-edged sword--you can either boost or undermine your credibility. This blog has five great tips on how to harness the power of social media and build your online presence.

6. Give Your Fundraising A Digital Boost
   Brian Gawor (Ruffalo Noel Levitz)

   Many development professionals are asking the same question right now: “How do you maintain engagement when you can’t be in the same physical space as your supporters?” Many nonprofits are leaning into all the changes in fundraising that are coming because of COVID-19. Even though most of the in-person events aren’t practical this year, you can still boost your digital fundraising appeals with a few easy tactics.

7. What’s In My Mailbox: Beating the drum of monthly giving
   Pamela Grow (Pamela Grow Consulting)

   In the midst of the pandemic and economic uncertainty, a monthly giving program is more important than ever! This insightful blog post includes a case study on how one nonprofit tripled their monthly donors in just a month and offers ideas for how you can advertise your monthly giving opportunities.

8. How Peer-To-Peer Fundraising Events Can Get Active In A Virtual World
   Tim Sarrantonio (NonProfit PRO)

   It seems like everyone has an activity tracker of some kind these days--an Apple Watch, FitBit, Garmin, or even just a smartphone. This is good news for nonprofits who can use activity tracking software (like Strava or Garmin Connect) for peer-to-peer fundraising events. And, organizations that take the time to build popular virtual events can potentially translate them into exciting in-person events when it’s safe to gather again. Learn more about how to harness the rise of wearable apps to boost your fundraising.

9. 7 Volunteers You Don't Want Serving On Your Nonprofit Board
   Amy Eisenstein (Amy Eisenstein Consulting)

   Did you know that who you have on your board can dramatically impact your fundraising success? No organization has a perfect board of directors, but there are a few people you definitely want to avoid inviting to serve on your board. This blog post has some great tips on how to find the best people to lead your organization and improve overall fundraising.

10. Run A Productive, Fun Nonprofit Board Meeting
    Sandy Rees (Get Fully Funded)

    It might come as a shock to most development professionals, but board meetings don’t have to be long, monotonous, or boring. With just a few easy adjustments, you can actually plan a fun, effective, efficient board meeting that everyone is excited to attend. Sandy also offers some possible solutions to obstacles that may derail your best-laid plans!

11. 5 Nonprofit Copywriting Techniques to Create A More Meaningful Connection with Your Donors
    Riley Landenberger (NextAfter)

    Did you know that writing for the purpose of fundraising is more complex than some other kinds of copywriting? It’s essential to create a more meaningful connection with your readers and these five copywriting techniques will help you write compelling, informative fundraising content that your donors will love.