Soapbox Engage Blog

Issue 24

Let's just cut to the chase. I was hoping to be able to come back this week and say, "I hope you've all had a relaxing week, recharging your batteries, and taking the past few days to relish the calm of the post-fundraising season."

Alas.

It's a challenging time. And if I'm going to hurtle through these days, I'm darn proud to be doing so alongside the folks in our nonprofit sector focused on making the world a more just and peaceful place. Here's to doing the hard work, sharing knowledge, and stepping up to the challenges in front of us.

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

Great Fundraising Posts

8 Steps to Building A Budget for Your Nonprofit

Tim Forbes (Soapbox Engage)

Healthy, effective nonprofits live (and sometimes die) by annual budgets. It’s the best way to get the most out of limited resources. But the budget-creation process doesn’t have to be long and painful! Head over to this blog to get some great tips, tricks, and best practices to help you create an effective budget for your nonprofit.

5 Ways To Be More Aggressive in Your Fundraising Efforts

Joe Garecht (Joe Garecht Fundraising)

Fundraising expert, Joe Garecht, says many nonprofits have a culture problem--they’re too focused on being nice and treading lightly when interacting with donors. Fundraisers worry too much about sending an email that might result in unsubscribes. Development directors worry about asking for donations too directly for fear of sounding impolite. But sometimes you just need to be aggressive to accomplish your goals. This blog offers five ways to be appropriately aggressive to raise more money.

The Problem with Problem-Free Fundraising

Jeff Brooks (Future Fundraising Now)

Many nonprofits try to operate on the assumption that donors only give to be part of ongoing success. But many fundraising and nonprofit experts suggest that donors actually give to solve problems! When you work in a nonprofit or around a cause for a long time, it’s easy to forget that your donors still need to hear about the problem. Jeff Brooks offers some valuable insights into why (and how) you should keep telling your donors about the big problem you’re working to solve!

How Likeable Are You?

Richard Perry and Jeff Schreifels (Veritus Group)

Major donor fundraisers really do need to be likeable. There are some fundamental “habits” of likeable people that fundraisers can (and should) adopt, but at the center of it all is being others-centered, authentic, thoughtful, and kind. Combine these characteristics with a fundraising philosophy that it’s not all about the money and you’ve got a high-quality fundraiser! Head over to this blog to get all the details about how to become a likeable, effective fundraiser.

It’s Time To Stop Complaining

Pamela Barden (NonProfit PRO)

2020 sure gave us a lot to justifiably complain about! Murder hornets; wildfires; global pandemic; economic uncertainty; the list is long. Nonprofits that prioritize showing care for their donors will be ones in the best position to survive and thrive after everything calms down and begins to return to normal. This blog has some insights into how to stop complaining and return to focusing on donors.

How to Supercharge Your Nonprofit Major Gift Fundraising Strategy: 10 FAQs

Claire Axelrad (Clairification)

Fundraising expert, Claire Axelrad believes that major gift fundraising isn’t really rocket science, it just requires a little learning. Like a lot of things, it’s about learning to do the right thing at the right time in the right way. Claire shares her experience and wisdom by answering 10 frequently asked questions about major gifts fundraising to help boost your fundraising this year.

The Habit

Steven Screen (The Better Fundraising Company)

Regularly using mail and email as a strategy to stay in touch with your donors is a habit that will help you raise more money and boost your donor retention. Here’s why this is so powerful (according to Steven): “A donor in motion tends to stay in motion.” Keep reading to learn how regularly reporting to your donors helps to show them the difference they’re making.

Some Insights from 2020 to Bring Into the New Year

Ann Green (Ann Green)

Despite all the events and uncertainty in 2020, many nonprofits were able to make the right changes to adapt and overcome. Throughout the year, we gleaned insight and a deeper understanding of how to effectively communicate and fundraise. This blog highlights some of the lessons and insights we can (and probably should) take into 2021 and beyond.

25 Essential Habits of Successful Board Members

Bill Crouch (BrightDot National Fundraising Consultants)

There’s no frill or fluff in this blog, but it’s worth the time to head over and read the list of 25 essential habits of successful board members. It’s a great resource for your entire board to read and discuss as we begin a new year.