Soapbox Engage Blog

Issue 57

As we say goodbye to August and welcome September, I have my mind on all my favorite soothing fall activities— be it apple picking or gathering around a campfire with friends. Here in DC, we get a colorful display of autumn leaves, and I’m already noticing a few of them starting to change.

Amidst these calming images, I know that the change of seasons also means it’s time to brace for the most hectic time of the fundraising year. If there is anything the Fundraising Weekly can do to support you in this four month dash to year-end giving, please drop me a line! I will happily take content requests or any other feedback. And remember, you’ve got this!

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Great Fundraising Posts

Top Considerations for Using PayPal for Nonprofit Fundraising

Tim Forbes (Soapbox Engage)

PayPal is a known and trusted giving platform that many people feel comfortable using for charity and shopping. Overall, it's one of the best, most secure ways to send and receive donations because donors don't have to reveal their credit card or bank information. But for all of its benefits, PayPal does come with some drawbacks and factors to consider for nonprofits. This blog unpacks some of these potential pros and cons so you can make a balanced, informed choice about using PayPal as a payment processing platform for your nonprofit.

It's a Peer to Peer World Virtual Conference

null (Cathexis Partners)

This conference is for nonprofits and companies that serve nonprofits. Join this gathering that offers a deep dive into peer-to-peer fundraising tactics. You'll hear from experts on the topic and attend webinars on aspects that pertain to your specific context and interests. Learn from other nonprofits who are successfully peer-to-peer fundraising techniques in real-world situations. Come for inspiration, learning, encouragement, and fresh ideas! Head over to the event page to get all the details.

How to Write Fundraising Emails That Get Results

Sandy Rees (Get Fully Funded)

Email remains one of the most powerful marketing tools for businesses and nonprofits alike. But to get the maximum results, you need to learn how to write effective fundraising emails that connect emotionally with your readers. It takes strategy and knowledge about your donors to get the results you're looking for! This blog unpacks the key pieces of a great fundraising email so you can boost your results.

Are Donors the Problem With Fundraising?

Mary Cahalane (Hands-On Fundraising)

Donor dominance is the idea that because some donors behave poorly, all donors must receive some kind of education or preparation--or at least be convinced that they don't deserve any special treatment in exchange for their generosity. Unfortunately, this mindset leads to poor donor care for most donors. Donors deserve gratitude and respect. This blog offers some ways to manage donors who do behave poorly and how to treat each donor with the appropriate dignity and honor.

10 Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Best Practices for More Successful Events

Candace Kassman (Aly Sterling Philanthropy)

Peer-to-peer fundraising has been a staple for nonprofit fundraising for years. These fundraising strategies are becoming even more popular among donors. Peer-to-peer fundraising strategies are great for bringing in much-needed funds, engaging your community, and spreading awareness about your organization. This blog offers 10 best practices to help you get the most out of your next peer-to-peer fundraising campaign.

Keep Calm and Stay Strong

Ann Green (Ann Green's Blog)

Unfortunately, we're still living with a lot of uncertainty driven by the pandemic and other global factors. You may be falling short of your fundraising goals or stressed about your year-end campaign. These fears and concerns are so understandable and reasonable, but it's important to stay calm and mindful. This blog will help you plan ahead, segment your donors, and focus on boosting donor retention.

Reminding vs. Informing

Steven Screen (The Better Fundraising Company)

Did you know that effective fundraisers prioritize reminding donors of information they already know rather than sharing new information? It's important not to give your audience too much information, creating more work for them to understand your fundraising request. The more work your readers need to put into reading your message, the less likely they are to finish reading and make a donation. So, effective fundraisers reduce the readers' cognitive load by filling their fundraising content with statements and information that donors already know and believe. Head over to this blog to explore this communication strategy and learn why it's so effective.

How to Use Healthy Data for Effective Year-End Appeals

Tanya Fitzgerald, CFRE (NonProfit PRO)

The year-end giving season is just around the corner and it's time to start planning your giving campaigns. Even during the height of the pandemic, fourth-quarter giving continued to bring in great funding for nonprofits in every sector. Your database can be your most powerful tool to help you take advantage of these giving trends this year. It's time to clean up the data in your CRM system to update old addresses, remove duplicates, and make sure you're ready for a successful year-end giving campaign. This blog will help you organize and use great data.

How to Write a Better Nonprofit Thank You Letter

Joe Garecht (Joe Garecht Fundraising)

Unfortunately, thank you notes are an afterthought for many nonprofits. But these little acts of gratitude and appreciation are a critical part of the fundraising and donor care process. Sending the right kind of thank you note can be the next step toward a second, third, or hundredth gift from that donor! This article offers helpful rules for sending a powerful thank you note that helps you raise more money and build stronger relationships with your supporters.