Soapbox Engage Blog

Issue 56

Happy Tuesday to all the fundraising experts, newbies, and learners of all levels! As we start to wrap up the summer, I hope you have some final fun plans on your calendars. Personally, I’m looking forward to a long weekend spent in France! But for now, back to business!

This week’s newsletter is complete with advice on how to source year-end stories (yes, you should already be thinking about those), ideas for how your board can fundraise, how to avoid burnout in the digital age, and more. Check it out!

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Great Fundraising Posts

Why (and How) Your Nonprofit Should Start a Recurring Giving Program

Tim Forbes (Soapbox Engage)

Monthly or recurring donations are one of the easiest ways for nonprifts to boost fundraising revenue without bringing in a lot of new donors. This giving strategy also appeals to many donors who want the convenience of giving monthly or may not be able to give large, one-time gifts. The great news is that online giving platforms and fundraising systems can automate most of the process, making monthly giving programs easier and more accessible for nonprofits, too! Head over to this blog to learn about some of the top benefits of starting a recurring giving program and how to get started!

8 Ways Your Board Can Fundraise Without Asking

Amy Eisenstein (Amy Eisenstein)

Do you have board members that are hesitant (or resistant) to participate in fundraising? Amy encourages you to ask three questions to ensure you’ve equipped and empowered them to feel confident as they fundraise. Amy also unpacks some reasons that board members might not like to fundraise, and some strategies or ideas to help your board members get involved with fundraising with asking for money.

Using Filler Words: When Did 'Um' Change to 'I Think'?

Lori Jacobwith (Ignited Fundraising)

Filler words are meaningless words or phrases (or sounds) that we use to fill space as we decide what to say next. Words and sounds like um, ah, basically, actually, and other filler phrases are common. Now Lori argues that “I think” is the new filler phrase. Practicing removing filler words can improve your overall communication skills, whether you’re giving a presentation to board members or on the phone with a donor. Head over to this blog to learn more about filler words and why development professionals should work to avoid them.

How Pet Peeves Create Ineffective Fundraising

Jeff Brooks (Future Fundraising Now)

“Peeve-driven decisions about fundraising are most likely wrong--bad for fundraising.” Why? Because the little things that annoy us really tell us very little about what actually works or doesn’t work. For example, you may really not like certain words, colors, fonts, or other things. But those might just be the things that actually work. Professional fundraisers must learn to ignore their personal pet peeves.” Head over to this blog to learn more about why this is important!

Fundraising’s Silver Bullet

Roger Craver (The Agitator)

Sometimes it feels like you can’t even buy a candy bar without the company asking about your experience and interests so they can improve and innovate. Seeking feedback and listening to what donors say can be the quickest and cheapest way to identify donor interest and improve the donor experience. Unfortunately, most nonprofits don’t do this. This blog unpacks why so many organizations resist collecting donor feedback, what kinds of information can be most helpful, and other critical bits of information that can help you use donor feedback in your strategies.

What’s the Math? 3 Questions Your Board Members Really Need to Know

Gail Perry (Fired-Up Fundraising)

Have you ever wondered if your board members would be more enthusiastic about fundraising if they understood the connection between fundraising revenue and your ability to accomplish your mission? Sure, you probably share plenty of financial information. But do they understand the impact or the lives behind those numbers? This blog will help you bring your budget to life and inspire your board members to really value--and even participate in the fundraising process!

How to Avoid Burnout in the Virtual Age

Julia Claire Campbell (Marketing for the Modern Nonprofit)

This blog includes the premiere episode of a new podcast, Nonprofit Nation. Julia Clair and Beth discuss a wide range of topics from techniques to increase workplace well-being to strategies for managing a hybrid team. Podcasts can be a great way to hear wisdom and insights from nonprofit leaders without dedicating time to sit down and read blog posts, articles, or books. Head over to this blog to check out the podcast and learn a little about Beth and Julia’s backgrounds.

Don’t Skip Gen X: Why Believing Certain Myths May Cause Your Nonprofit to Miss Out

Dan Reed (NonProfitPRO)

One report says that more than 40% of millennials feel optimistic that the worlds biggest challenges can be solved, compared to 15% of Baby Boomers and 22% of Gen X. Why aren’t nonprofits taking advantage of this optimism, especially among Gen X? This blog unpacks some myths around Gen X as a donor group so you can fundraise more strategically and effectively!

How to Source Great Year-end Stories

Guest Author (Get Fully Funded)

Humans love stories and every culture uses storytelling to communicate values and traditions. When you hear a story, your brain gets absorbed in a story and more readily accepts facts and data. Stories allow facts to seem more real. This blog will help you understand the seven elements of a great story and learn how to collect the story elements you need for great fundraising!