Soapbox Engage Blog

Issue 91

Does your org have a LinkedIn profile— do you know what sorts of content you should be sharing and engaging with? Have you considered finding corporate partners for your nonprofit? Are you facing barriers to connecting with your donor base? Have you lost your sense of wonder when it comes to fundraising— it is hard work after all! If you have faced any of these questions, I have great news for you! These are just a few of the topics covered in this week’s newsletter.

Scroll on down to learn something new! And have a great week!

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Great Fundraising Posts

7 LinkedIn Best Practices for Nonprofits

Tim Forbes (Soapbox Engage)

LinkedIn is a digital relationship map of everyone you know and everyone they know. It helps you explore those first, second, and third-degree connections you might not even know you have! For that reason alone, LinkedIn offers many opportunities for nonprofits to use the platform to grow their network and expand their impact. Head over to this blog to explore some of the benefits of LinkedIn and best practices to help you get the most out of your presence and activity on the platform.

Keep Your Sense of Wonder in Your Fundraising Work

Jeff Brooks (Moceanic)

Everyone loses the wonder of just about every situation Over time, we tend to trade wonder for annoying, miraculous for boring. Sometimes, that loss of wonder spurs us to make changes we should make. Other times it drives us to make poor decisions. That's why it's important to have a way to recapture the wonder–to keep yourself off a futile merry-go-round of seeking elusive wonder. This blog includes some specific and practical ways to beat stress, clear your head, refresh yourself, and recapture the wonder in fundraising.

How to Find and Attract Corporate Partners for Your Nonprofit

Guest Author (Get Fully Funded)

Individual donors make up the vast majority of supporters for nonprofits. In 2020, corporate giving was only about 4% of the total amount of individual donations. So why should nonprofits spend time attracting corporate partners? Check out this blog for six specific ways companies can support your nonprofit and how you can effectively attract corporate partners and sponsors.

Your Nonprofit Newsletter Should Engage Your Donors, Not Bore Them

Ann Green (Ann Green)

Newsletters can be a great way to engage with your donors–if your newsletter doesn't put your audience right to sleep! Too many newsletters are too long and filled with boring updates that brag about accomplishments. The good news is that it's possible to write engaging and effective newsletters that your donors will be excited to read! Check out this blog for some specific and actionable steps to improve your newsletter.

Deluxe Return Envelope Can Improve Your Direct Mail Results

Jeff Brooks (Future Fundraising Now)

Super short and sweet, Jeff gives specific reasons for why spending 53 cents for deluxe return envelopes can increase your response rate for your next direct mail campaign. The key detail for success with this strategy is that generally, it's something you should only do with donors that give $100 or more.

Four Accidental Barriers to Connection with Your Donors

Steven Screen (The Better Fundraising Company)

Whether we acknowledge it or not, there are small ways that nonprofits accidentally put up barriers between themselves and their donors. Steven dives into four of these barriers that are surprisingly easy to resolve or eliminate so you can enjoy better, more effective communication. For example, even the typeface and size that you choose in your communication can impact whether people read your entire letter or email!

Focus on What Donors Want to Hear

Lori Jacobwith (Ignited Fundraising)

Of course it's understandable to want to tell your donors all the details and information. Unfortunately, talking about yourself over adn over is NOT an effective method for engaging donors. People are busy so it's important to get to the heart of your message ASAP. More critically, focus your content and message on what donors want to hear. Notice what you may currently be sharing with your stakeholders. Then, take a look at what your donors actually WANT to know. The good news is your goal and your donors' goal are the same: how do we solve a problem together? Check out this blog to learn how to craft effective messages that your donors want to hear.

Create A Culture of Learning and Adaptability

Richard Perry and Jeff Schreifels (Veritus Group)

Creating a culture of learning and adaptability is critical in keeping your nonprofit adaptable and highly functional. Jeff and Richard share six specific focus areas that you can focus on to cultivate an environment of learning. It starts with creating an open environment where your team can dream, critique, explore, suggest, and give input. Then it requires you to try some new things, which will eventually lead to real systemic change!

The X Factor

Alicia M. Lifrak, CFRE (NonProfit PRO)

We spend a lot of time talking about Millennials. Many nonprofits focus incredible amounts of time, energy, and resources on capturing the Millennial "audience." But that means Generation X gets overlooked in the process–no wonder they're sometimes referred to as the "Forgotten Generation"! But this could prove a costly mistake for both commercial and nonprofit enterprises. Check out this blog to get to know Gen X and how nonprofits can better engage this "middle" generation.