Soapbox Engage Blog

Issue 54

Happy Tuesday everyone! I hope this week has been treating you kindly. It’s another travel week for me— I’ll be flying out of Lake Tahoe on Thursday! I’ve relished my time here with family and some top notch views, but I’m ready to get back to my home base, Washington, DC. I’ve got some fun celebratory actives planned for this weekend, and I hope good things await you all as well.

In this week’s newsletter, dig into some great information on nonprofit event management Learn some corporate partner strategies that hold up during a pandemic. Or determine if you are a “farmer” or a “magician” when it comes to fundraising. Enjoy!

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Great Fundraising Posts

6 Key Lessons About Nonprofit Event Management

Tim Forbes (Soapbox Engage)

Events are an essential part of almost any nonprofit’s fundraising strategy. But planning and managing fundraising events can be quite a task! Whether you’re planning a small gathering for your top donors or a massive gala with hundreds of guests, the right event management tools and strategies can help you raise more money. This blog offers top lessons, tips and tools to help you streamline your event management strategy.

Making a Case Statement Your Donors Will Love

Anne Guillen (Fired-Up Fundraising)

It can be really difficult to write creative, compelling case statements that your donors will love and appreciate. In this blog, Anne unpacks the advice and strategies from Jerry Panas to create effective case statements. For example, Jerry says organizations should never ask for help. Instead, they should talk about important investments needed to make the vision happen.

Why You Need Different ‘Prices’ for Donor Asks

Richard Perry (NonProfit PRO)

In fundraising, a donor gives their money when they perceive that the “price” being “paid” is worth what happens when the money is used. Each donor gives a certain amount of money in hopes of a desired outcome. This article explains why this concept is essential to remember and pay attention to, especially when designing asks for major gifts.

Social Media for Nonprofits: 4 Rules for Success

Joe Garecht (Joe Garecht Fundraising)

Of all the online fundraising strategies, social media seems to be the least understood and most misused for nonprofits. Why? Because it seems easier than it really is! Social media can be a great way to raise money, but only if you use it correctly. This article has four strategies to help you use social media more effectively for fundraising.

Are You a Farmer or Magician?

Mary Cahalane (Hands-On Fundraising)

In fundraising, there are two types of people: magicians and farmers. In this short but effective blog post, Mary (and her colleague, John) use a creative analogy to explain the difference between the two types of fundraisers and which one is far better for long-term fundraising success.

Why You Need a Thank You Plan

Ann Green (Ann Green)

Anne argues that your thank-you plan is just as important as your fundraising efforts. Yet, thank-you’s too often remain a secondary priority. But, prioritizing gratitude and donor relations will help people remain engaged and invested in your mission. That’s why having a year-round thank-you plan is so critical. Head over to this blog to learn how to create an effective thank-you plan for your organization.

Self-Care Can’t Wait

Lori Jacobwith (Ignited Fundraising)

Self-care has become a more popular topic recently—and for good reason! Many people in the nonprofit industry probably feel the pressure to stay extremely busy and even see it as a badge of honor. In this blog, Lori shares why self-care can’t wait, along with some valuable questions to guide your self-evaluation and some excellent self-care resources for nonprofit workers.

Powerful Corporate Partnerships Strategies for the Pandemic

Katie Mcdonald (Bright Spot Fundraising)

Many nonprofits have found it difficult to get corporate sponsorships during the pandemic. The good news is corporate sponsorships are still out there! This blog outlines some practical and effective strategies to help nonprofits get corporate sponsors (with examples) that are still relevant even during the residual chaos of the pandemic and economic uncertainty.

Bragging is Not Reporting (Example)

Steven Screen (The Better Fundraising Company)

Steve says most of the organizations they work with don’t report enough--especially to major donors. And many of the reports that do go out spend too much time bragging about what the organization did rather than focusing on the donors’ role in the story. This blog has some valuable wisdom about writing well-balanced reports, including examples!