Soapbox Engage Blog

Issue 80

Happy Tuesday fundraisers! I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who tuned in to the start of the 2022 Winter Olympics this weekend! I caught a bit of the women’s hockey, speed skating, and skiathlon events. Do you have a favorite Winter Olympics sport? Please share. I’m sure we can find some way to relate it back to fundraising…

Keep scrolling for some great fundraising content from the social benefit sector. Revisit some virtual fundraiser tips, learn the essential elements of a major gift program, or review the legal requirements when it comes to giving. Dig in!

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Great Fundraising Posts

6 Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Mistakes to Avoid

Tim Forbes (Soapbox Engage)

Peer-to-Peer fundraising campaigns have practically become a staple in the nonprofit fundraising "playbook." Now that COVID-19 pushed even more fundraising activity to online and virtual platforms, nonprofits are becoming increasingly reliant on this fundraising strategy because it's effective, requires little overhead, and it's an excellent way to expand your donor network. But like all strategies, peer-to-peer fundraising is not without its pitfalls. Check out these six common mistakes to avoid so you can set yourself up for greater success!

5 Steps to Return to Virtual Fundraisers

Lisa Bennett (Online Fundraising Today)

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, people have really upped their tech game and they're more comfortable with virtual events. This is certainly something nonprofits can use to their advantage in fundraising. This blog offers an easy step-by-step guide on how to plan a successful and effective virtual fundraiser that everyone will be eager to attend.

Storytelling for Fundraisers: 5 Ways to Vary Your Stories

Jolene Miklas (Heroic Fundraising)

Writing effective stories requires a lot of intentionality and strategy. A writer has to build empathy, create urgency, incorporate information about the mission, and deliver the donor to a convincing call-to-action–in as few words as possible. It's easy to fall into the habit of using a template. But when every story follows the same template, they all start sounding the same–and they become less effective. Keep reading to learn how to tell a compelling story.

(Major Gifts #1)The Three Most Critical Elements of Every Successful Major Gift Program

Jenn Shefcik (Fired-Up Fundraising)

With soaring stock markets, many major donors are still confident and ready to commit to major gifts in 2022. The team at the Gail Perry Group recommends taking advantage of the opportunity for smart major gift fundraising. But are there roadblocks keeping your nonprofit from closing more major gifts? Keep reading to learn about some of the common roadblocks and how to remove them.

Nonprofit Storytelling Around Tough Topics

Julia Claire Campbell (marketing for the modern nonprofit)

Storytelling is a critical fundraising tool for any nonprofit, but it doesn't always come easily. It can be a struggle, especially when serving vulnerable populations and navigating topics that are difficult to discuss. It's important to ensure stories are authentic and real but don't exploit or misrepresent people. Check out this blog (and accompanying podcast) to get insights and wisdom from guest, Madison Gonzales about effective storytelling.

Restricted Giving: Legal Requirements Nonprofits Should Consider

Heather DeBlanc (NonProfit PRO)

Most development professionals prefer to receive unrestricted donations because they can be used for any purpose. On the other hand, restricted donations can only be used for specific goals or purposes according to the donor's instructions. Thus, receiving restricted gifts adds a duty to abide by the restrictions set. This article highlights some of the key things you should know about restricted gifts and how to use them to their full potential.

Go Above and Beyond When You Thank Your Donors

Ann Green (Ann Green)

Many donors go above and beyond to support your nonprofit–especially over the last two years. That means it's appropriate to go above and beyond to offer gratitude and thanksgiving. Thank your donors isn't something you do once after receiving a donation. Gratitude is something you should show year-round and Valentine's Day is a great opportunity to do that! Check out this blog for some ideas and details.

An Unfortunate Thanking Adventure in Three Paragraphs

Steven Screen (The Better Fundraising Company)

A thank you email or note should be about the donor and the gift they already made, not about the organization and the donor's next gift. That's where many thank you adventures go awry. But Steven does a great job of unpacking a specific thank you email he received and offers some wisdom about how to write short and effective thank you emails.

How to Fundraise as a Team (Build a Better Fundraising Team)

Amy Eisenstein (Amy Eisenstein)

Fundraising is actually a team sport that should include the CEO/Executive director, the key board members, and the development director and staff. When done as an individual, you tend to get less impressive results. With that in mind, this blog has some wisdom and insights about how to build and improve a highly effective fundraising team for your nonprofit.