Soapbox Engage Blog

Issue 51

Here in the DC office, there have been hints of holiday music playing throughout the day. Though I initially struggled not to role my eyes (Christmas in July? Is this really necessary?), it did get me thinking about how this is usually around the time nonprofits start planning their big year-end fundraising campaigns. Maybe one or two songs isn’t such a bad idea to get into the season mindset. Thoughts to ponder!

This week, learn how to boost your volunteer retention, check out this fundraising summer reading list, or learn about the role of emojis in donor marketing! It’s great to see how the fundraising pros are keeping content fresh and relevant. Enjoy!

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Great Fundraising Posts

Boost Volunteer Recruitment and Retention for Your Nonprofit

Tim Forbes (Soapbox Engage)

Many nonprofits rely on volunteers to accomplish all kinds of tasks and carry out the mission. But how do you identify, recruit, and retain those stellar volunteers who generously give their time and talents? There are loads of recruitment strategies and approaches. Some might be more appropriate for your nonprofit than others. This blog offers some tips, tricks nad resources to help you fill your list with high-quality volunteers that meet your specific needs!

What Actually is a Fundraising Offer?

Steven Screen (The Better Fundraising Company)

Fundraising offers are perhaps one of the least understood but very effective ways for nonprofits to start raising more money. In short, a fundraising offer is the main thing your organization says will happen when someone makes a donation. This blog will help you understand what makes an effective offer and how to use them in your fundraising.

Emojis in Donor Marketing? Know the Pros and Cons

Jolene Miklas (Heroic Fundraising)

Emojis. Some people love them and some people strongly oppose their general existence. But do emojis have a place in fundraising? Well, there’s not a clear-cut answer, but we do have some concrete things to consider. This blog unpacks some of the pros and cons of using emojis in your fundraising content and some strategies to test emojis with your audience.

Fundraising Books You Need to Read This Summer

Richard Perry and Jeff Schreifels (Veritus Group)

Summer is a great time to pick up a book or two to help you continue refining and developing your skills, interests, and fundraising skills. Richard and Jeff share their list of books they regularly recommend to new fundraisers and nonprofit leaders. Take some time to invest in yourself and your development in these last few weeks of summer!

Why and How to Budget for Your Website and Digital Communications

Janelle Levesque (TechSoup)

Most nonprofits have very limited budgets when it comes to website development, marketing, and other things that can seem nonessential. Creating space in your annual budget for marketing and web design can help you develop processes and grow your outreach. After all, marketing is a major factor in your organization’s overall impact and success! Keep reading to learn more about why and how you should leverage your nonprofit’s budget for website designs and communications.

Don’t Expect Donors to Give at Your Next Fundraising Event

Lori Jacobwith (Ignited Fundraising)

It takes incredible amounts of time, energy, and planning to host a great fundraising event. But your guests don’t care as much about the centerpieces or other details as you might think. To make your fundraising event more successful, you’ll need to shift at least some of your focus to ensuring every guest can answer three specific questions before they attend. This blog will reveal those three questions and how you can accomplish this task to boost your fundraising event success!

Digital Marketing for Nonprofits: 6 Tools for Your Strategy

Guest Author (Get Fully Funded)

It’s critical for nonprofits to have a strong digital presence now. You’ll want to make sure you’re reaching current and potential donors on the devices they use all the time--smartphones, laptops, and other devices. If you’re creating your digital marketing strategy from scratch or looking to boost your existing plan, these online marketing tools and strategies will help you target your approach so you can expand your audience.

Impact Stories: How to Show Donors the Impact of Their Donations

Luis Orozco (Givelify)

Donors can be motivated by seeing the impact of their gifts. By making donor impact visible, you can improve your relationships with donors and affirm their influence. This blog discusses the importance of dnoor impact transparency and how you can accomplish it in your organization.