Soapbox Engage Blog

Issue 014

This is where I insert an interesting tidbit, or a reflection of life and fundraising. Instead ... US election night ... brain ... mush ... living in Washington DC ... just need to get through the evening with an ounce of sanity remaining.

Thanks for understanding. I now return you to your stress-relieving tool of your choosing. And a television to vocalize your opinion of the state of news graphics in 2020.

You can receive the Fundraising Weekly newsletter each Tuesday by subscribing today!

Great Fundraising Posts

How To Host A Virtual Fundraiser Using Zoom

Tim Forbes (Soapbox Engage)

People all over the world are using Zoom to stay in touch with friends, family, and coworkers. Many nonprofits are harnessing the power of Zoom to keep in touch with donors and continue hosting great fundraising events. This blog has some helpful tips, tricks, and best practices to help you plan the most effective virtual fundraising event using Zoom.

Trust Your Gut: Five Times The Fundraiser Is Always Right

Melanie Scholz (Good Works Company)

Have you ever been in a situation where you “just know” something is right (or wrong), but you don’t have data, evidence, or proof WHY you know you’re right? Through training and experience, fundraisers and development professionals develop this “gut instinct” about how to connect with different supporters. Melanie Scholz explains why and how fundraisers should trust their gut instincts as they engage with current and prospective donors!

Raise More Money With a Multichannel Fundraising Campaign

Ann Green (Ann Green’s Nonprofit Blog)

Year-end fundraising season is upon us. In spite of everything going on in the world, there’s no reason to skip the year-end fundraising! Donors will surely help wherever they can. This blog has some great tips on how to approach this fundraising season and how to create a multichannel fundraising campaign with a series of asks.

5 Reasons You Need To Read Your Work Out Loud

Willis Turner (NonProfitPRO)

Most people write for the purpose of communicating with others. It’s important to find a way to keep your thoughts and ideas organized and communicate clearly with your audience. Fortunately, one of the best tools for this is your own voice! Reading your own work aloud will help you become a better writer. This blog post explains the benefits of reading your work aloud and how it will make you a more effective and efficient communicator.

What Focus Groups Can’t Tell You

Jeff Brooks (Future Fundraising Now)

Have you ever made a fundraising decision based on the data or information gleaned from a focus group? Unfortunately, focus groups don’t always offer reliable data because what people say about their giving habits or attitudes isn’t always the full truth. Many people aren’t sure of their motivations for donating. This blog post has some helpful insights into why focus groups aren’t always helpful for development professionals.

The Big Shift

Steven Screen (The Better Fundraising Co.)

Most nonprofits write an appeal letter that they believe will convince their donors to support their cause. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the most effective approach. But, there’s a simple shift that can really improve the effectiveness of your fundraising appeals and newsletters. What’s the shift? To move away from trying to get your reader to support your organization and start focusing on getting the reader to do one powerful thing for one beneficiary. This blog post explains why this shift works and how to do it!

4 Truths for Leaders to Remember About Taking Action

Bill Crouch (BrightDot National Fundraising Consultants)

Fundraising consultant, Bill Crouch shares four truths he gathered from working with organizations and teams through the pandemic. His biggest advice--don’t be paralyzed by limiting beliefs! Leaders should lead without hesitation, especially amidst times of uncertainty. Keep reading to glean some excellent advice from industry experts.

10 Ways To Use Visual Storytelling In Your #GivingTuesday Campaign

Julia Claire Campbell (Marketing For The Modern Nonprofit)

Great storytelling does more than just communicate a specific message. Impactful stories can comfort, clarify issues, form alliances, communicate information, and so much more! Stories help humans visualize how they can improve their own lives and the community around them. This blog post is packed with 10 easy ways you can use visual storytelling to boost your #GivingTuesday and year-end fundraising campaigns.

How To Set Up Your Nonprofit Accounting System Right So It Helps You Grow

Sandy Rees (Get Fully Funded)

Do you have an accounting system for your nonprofit? When set up correctly, an accounting system will help you manage your organization and streamline processes like budgeting, projecting cash flow, processing donations, and much more. You need to learn to manage the right numbers if you want to grow your nonprofit and fulfill your mission. This blog post has some great tips, tricks, and advice about how to set up or improve your accounting system.