Soapbox Engage Blog

Issue 87

Well in DC we were certainly fooled by 60 and 70 degree weather in the past couple of weeks. Last night, as I was making my way home, it was 27 degrees with a wind chill that made it feel significantly colder. Regardless, April IS around the corner and soon we will begin the next quarter. I’m grateful to have taken the plunge into 2022 with this incredible community. Onward!

In the Fundraising Weekly, learn some text messaging strategies for boosting donations, peruse 10 great questions for major donors, or check out some best practices for nonprofits’ use of Instagram!

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Great Fundraising Posts

Fundraising Software Essentials for 2022

Tim Forbes (Soapbox Engage)

Most people expect to access online donation options, so you could be missing out on thousands of dollars without the right fundraising software. Fundraising software can also give you the tools to run various campaigns, from peer-to-peer fundraising to email appeals. But there are hundreds of software options on the market without clear guidelines about how to narrow down your options or choose the best one for your organization. This guide will give you the insights you need to make the best all-around choice.

It’s Time to Unload Some of Your Responsibilities

Richard Perry and Jeff Schreifels (Veritus Group)

It's very common for development professionals to take on so many different tasks that they lose focus on the one thing they are truly responsible for: their donor caseload. This can be especially true for experienced fundraisers who are seen as experts or leaders in the organization. This blog is a quick guide for how to start identifying and unloading the tasks and responsibilities that are negatively impacting your fundraising performance.

4 Text Messaging Strategies that Boost Donor Stewardship

Laurence Pagnoni (NonProfit PRO)

Text messaging is an effective, but largely underused donor stewardship tool. Many fundraisers have been slow to embrace SMS or text messaging. Perhaps they're afraid of intruding or being perceived as a nuisance. Yet, text marketing has an impressive 98% open rate! Head over to this blog to learn four strategies to incorporate text messaging into your donor stewardship efforts.

5 Points to Consider for a Nonprofit Board

null (Not Your Father's Charity)

Serving on a nonprofit board is a rewarding and fulfilling experience, but it's not always easy for people to commit to this role. If you're inviting people to serve on your board, this blog has some valuable insights and information that people will likely find helpful as they commit to serving. It will help you articulate the benefits of serving on a nonprofit board and key questions your prospective board members should consider.

The Distance

Steven Screen (The Better Fundraising Company)

Do you help your donors understand the "before" and "after" of their gift? The contrast can help donors understand the power of their donations. How does it work? When you're asking for a gift, share about the current state (before receiving donations) and the potential after–how you envision the donations making a difference. If the distance between the before and potential after is large, the donor will feel like their gift is making a big difference and you'll likely receive more donations. Keep reading to get some ideas on how to use this strategy in your next appeal.

Instagram for Nonprofits: 5 Tips to Get More Followers and Engagement

Julia Claire Campbell (marketing for the modern nonprofit)

You probably have a Facebook account for your nonprofit, but do you have an Instagram account, too? Instagram is a powerhouse when it comes to social media marketing and awareness. Recently, Instagram added fundraising tools like Donate buttons and the Instagram Donation Sticker. That means it's time to jump on the Instagram bandwagon for your fundraising strategies. Especially since a recent study found that 40% of US adults use Instagram. Check out this MasterClass and blog to get some ideas and best practices for adding Instagram to your online fundraising efforts.

10 Questions You Can Ask Major Donors to Build the Relationship

Sandy Rees (Get Fully Funded)

It's understandably a bit scary to ask major donors for a financial gift. If you're new to major donor work, you probably know exactly the fear we're talking about. Understanding your major donors can make engaging major donors far easier. The best way to get to know your major donors is to ask good questions that spark conversations. The more donors tell you what matters to them, the more effectively you can customize the ask. Check out this blog to learn more about how to get to know your major donors.

How to Use Storytelling at a Non-Profit Fundraising Event

Vanessa Chase Lockshin (The Storytelling Non-Profit)

Storytelling is a valuable tool in your nonprofit fundraising and communications goals. If you do event fundraising, storytelling can easily be added to your event plan and make for more compelling presentations. This blog offers some key strategies to make your next fundraising event appeal more impactful with the right storytelling.

Fundraising When You Don't Have Any Decent Photos

Jeff Brooks (Future Fundraising Now)

Photographs are a powerful addition to fundraising material. There's a lot of truth to the saying, "a picture is worth a thousand words." Photographs usually tell a deeper and more nuanced and emotional story. But the wrong photo is worse than no photo at all. Check out this quick blog for some guidance on how to choose a good photo and what to do when you don't have good photos at hand.