Soapbox Engage Blog

Issue 96

Believe it or not, June starts tomorrow! This season has been flying by, but I’m going to credit that to a fantastic couple of busy months. I hope your spring has been as refreshing and motivating as mine has been. Fundraisers stay busy all year round, but I know this time can be restorative before the huge year-end fundraising prep begins over the summer. Wishing you all the best!

In this week’s Fundraising weekly, learn how inflation can impact giving, build a successful fiscal year-end fundraising campaign, or take charge of major donor asks!

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Great Fundraising Posts

Setting Fundraising Goals for Nonprofit Campaigns

Tim Forbes (Soapbox Engage)

Setting fundraising goals that are too ambitious can actually work against you. Any goal that feels unachievable can make your fundraisers feel inadequate or set up for failure. On the other hand, goals that feel too easy aren't inspirational or motivating, so they won't bring a sense of satisfaction when achieved. There's both an art and a science to setting goals for your fundraising campaigns. It's essential to set goals that are appropriately challenging for each campaign and this blog will help you do just that!

The Effect of Inflation on Charitable Giving

Duke Haddad, Ed.D (NonProfit PRO)

The success of charitable giving depends on a variety of positive factors. People give when they feel the environment for giving is good. If donors feel comfortable with their personal financial situation, they will assist charitable organizations. When negative economic forces affect personal finances, the concern of self-preservation of assets overshadows the desire to give. Inflation is a general increase in the prices of goods and services. It causes an unsettling effect on potential donors. Check out this blog to get the details on three ways in which inflation is likely to affect charities and nonprofits.

NonProfit Leaders Don’t Have to Learn This Lesson the Hard Way

Richard Perry and Jeff Schreifels (Veritus Group)

In today's business and nonprofit climate, the rank-and-file workforce has the advantage for demanding better pay, benefits, and working conditions. And, for many workers, they're getting it. But, while frontline fundraisers are finding better pay and benefits, many nonprofits are still executing their fundraisers to do "everything for everyone." If you are a nonprofit leader or manager, you have the chance to reset your mid, major, and planned giving fundraising programs. Besides offering competitive pay and benefits, make it simple. Keep reading to learn how to reimagine how you run your one-to-one fundraising programs.

Exactly How to Run a Fiscal Year-End Email Campaign

Steven Screen (The Better Fundraising Company)

Using email to raise money at fiscal year-end is exactly like using email to raise money in the last week of December. Check out this blog to learn how to use email to take your fiscal year-end campaign to the next level and raise even more money.

Why Fundraising Writers Should Sweat the Small Stuff

Jeff Brooks (Future Fundraising Now)

Communication is cumulative. All written communication is in context–whether it's that software agreement you never read or fundraising communication. It is training donors to think of it as interesting, or exciting, or important. For this reason small choices and the words we use matter. This is why it's important to sweat the small stuff and look for the best, most concrete words to use that will evoke emotion and action. Keep reading this blog to get more details–and a specific example of one word to avoid.

Fundraising Strategies: Ways to Raise Funds from Major Donors

null (Not Your Father's Charity)

Nonprofit major donors are often more complicated than individual donors. In short, they're more challenging to reach and often require more time, education, adn resources. However, like all donors, they can make a significant financial impact. They can help you grow your organization and expand your mission. And they ensure your nonprofit's program and activities reflect your mission, values, and goals. Check out this blog to learn more about ways to raise money from major donors.

Proven Strategies to Take Charge of Major Donor Asks

Claire Axelrad (Clairification)

The major donor journey is typically a long one. It's critical to craft a blueprint for the process and takes time, along the way, to assure the journey is sparking joy and bringing energy. If you've never asked for a major gift, it can feel scary and daunting. Check out this article to help overcome the nerves and worry about asking for a major gift. How? By putting it in context and framing it as an opportunity rather than a burden.

Year-End Giving is a Sham: A Better Way to Raise Money

Amy Eisenstein (Amy Eisenstein)

What would you say to a proposal that there's a better way to fundraise than year-end giving campaigns? Most nonprofits rely heavily on year-end fundraising because the holiday appeal strategy brings in a significant chunk of their annual fundraising revenue. Wouldn't it be great if you could glide into December knowing you've already crushed your fundraising goals for the year? Check out this way to learn about a better way to fundraise so you feel happy and confident heading into year-end fundraising.

Ditch the Capital Campaign Public Phase?

Jenn Shefcik (Fired-Up Fundraising)

This might come as a shock, but the fundraising experts over at Fired-Up Fundraising are actually suggesting considering canceling the public phase of your capital campaign. Public phases are a tried-and-true part of all capital campaigns. Most board members who are experienced in capital campaigns literally expect the consultants and staff team to follow this framework and would be mortified at the idea of canceling the public phase of your next campaign. But the capital campaign phases were invented at least 50 years ago and just might be a bit outdated. Head over to this blog to read a bit about why the team at Fired-Up Fundraising suggests ditching the public phase of your next capital campaign.