Soapbox Engage Blog

Issue 95

Did you know that when it comes to investing in fundraising strategies, it can be helpful to organize said strategies into three major categories? Direct marketing programs, relationship fundraising programs, and events/campaigns all require different tools/levels of investment. Once you’ve organized your strategies, there are some straightforward steps you can take to budget for your fundraising expenses. Is your interest peaked?

Scroll on down to more about investing/budgeting when it comes to fundraising— and so much more!

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Great Fundraising Posts

How to Recruit Sponsors for Nonprofit Fundraising

Tim Forbes (Soapbox Engage)

Corporate sponsors are for-profit businesses that provide money, goods, or services to a nonprofit event or program. They can be a great asset to your nonprofit as they provide financial or promotional support. Whether planning a summer fundraising campaign or a year-end event, corporate sponsors can bolster your fundraising efforts. Check out this blog to understand why and how to attract sponsors for your next fundraising event or campaign.

10 Ways to Make Your Nonprofit Copywriting More Readable

Beatriz "Bea" Jimenez (NextAfter Blog)

Anything you write and send to your donors should be engaging and compelling enough to urge people to donate to your cause. While there isn't a "one-size-fits-all" formula for writing good copy, there are some key elements to include and insights about what works and doesn't work. Check out this blog to learn about a tool that helps you measure the "readability" of your text and insights into how to write compelling copy.

How Your Nonprofit Can Use Web Engagement Data

Julia Claire Campbell (marketing for the modern nonprofit)

Your nonprofit's website is a crucial channel to connect with supporters, collect donations, and raise awareness about your mission. Like any traditional way to communicate with supporters, it's crucial to track engagement and understand where and how you can improve to make it more valuable to your audience. Check out this guide to learn more about two engagement metrics: conversion rate and bounce rate. These points can give your nonprofit insight into how effectively your site performs.

The Three Phases of a Capital Campaign

Jenn Shefcik (Fired-Up Fundraising)

There are traditionally three phases of a capital campaign–the planning phase, silent phase, and public phase. However, this model, which is still the standard for capital campaigns today, was developed in the 1960s and 70s. Check out this blog to unpack the three phases of a capital campaign. This will help your board members and leadership understand the timing and pace that will bring campaign success.

Can You Have Multiple Monthly Donor Programs?

Erica Waasdorp (NonProfit PRO)

Can a nonprofit have multiple monthly donor programs? This question is especially relevant when it comes to unrestricted versus restricted gifts. Monthly giving is ideally suited to provide unrestricted revenue to support operating budgets to keep the lights on and your mission going. Check out this blog to get some insights into whether or not it's a good idea to have multiple monthly giving programs and when it would be a good strategy.

Are You Investing in the Right Fundraising Strategies?

Richard Perry and Jeff Schreifels (Veritus Group)

How much should a nonprofit invest in the major categories of fundraising? This is a key question that Richard and Jeff often field. That prompted them to create some guidelines on how to think about your fundraising budget. This blog includes a process to help you focus your fundraising plans and invest your fundraising budget in the most strategic manner.

6 Ways to Keep Donors On Board

Jeff Brooks (Future Fundraising Now)

Getting donations is challenging. Keeping donors is even more complex–but it's the name of the fundraising game. Repeat donors are who really fund your nonprofit. The longer they keep giving, the more stable your fundraising is. That's why you should put a lot of your time and energy into donor care and donor retention. Check out this blog for six essential strategies to improve your donor retention.

10 Ways to Find Monthly Donors for Your Small Nonprofit

Sandy Rees (Get Fully Funded)

Starting a monthly giving program is an excellent use of your time. Monthly donors are the foundation of a small nonprofit–bringing in sustainable revenue and creating a safety net of loyal donors. Building a robust monthly donor program is a Fundraising 101 strategy, but some nonprofits keep this strategy on the bench in favor of events and campaigns for quick fundraising. By taking the time to create and follow a plan for a monthly giving program, you'll grow your base of monthly supporters adn increase your revenue significantly over time.

Three Top Lead Generation Tactics for Nonprofits

James Herlihy (Fundraising and Philanthropy Australia)

All nonprofits must think about digital lead generation. It's an essential part of the continuous community growth required for fundraising in the digital age. If you want to grow your online community, there are three popular lead generation tactics to explore. Check out this blog to learn more about these top lead generation tactics!