Soapbox Engage Blog

Issue 100

Happy Tuesday, fundraisers! Today is a particularly special Tuesday because it marks the 100th edition of the Fundraising Weekly Newsletter! I started this newsletter near the beginning of the global pandemic, as I was watching the real-time anxiety of nonprofits trying to stay afloat in such unprecedented times. I looked at the advice that fundraising professionals were eager to offer across the globe, and it just made sense to try to consolidate all the best practices and ideas into a single newsletter for the community.

Nearly two years later, and this community is still growing despite the odds. I never cease to be amazed by the ingenuity, creativity, and, most importantly, the generosity of this community. I’ve seen all the ways fundraisers and nonprofits have had to pivot, adapt for virtual spaces, strategize, and meet donors where they are. The knowledge sharing through such a tumultuous time is a special thing to witness. It's been a pleasure to highlight the great work of fantastic fundraising professionals, consultants, and leaders, and I can’t wait for the weeks and years ahead.

Thank you for the opportunity to hop into your inbox every week. If there's anything I can do to make this newsletter more useful and impactful, the Reply button is your friend. Thanks for coming on this journey, let's see what’s next!

PS, give us a follow on LinkedIn and Twitter— this week we are highlighting some of our top Fundraising Weekly contributors. Go give them some love!

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Great Fundraising Posts

Tracking the ROI of Nonprofit Recurring Giving Programs

Tim Forbes (Soapbox Engage)

There's no better way to retain current donors, enjoy sustainable revenue, and increase the lifetime value of your donors than through a monthly giving program. It's critical to accurately measure the effectiveness and progress of recurring giving programs. The right tools will help you track progress, gauge your success, and build on the most effective strategies. This blog offers strategies to track and identify the ROI of your recurring giving program.

4 Steps for Fundraisers to Nail Their Next Ask

Amanda L. Cole (NonProfit PRO)

Having a development plan, knowing a donor's giving capacity, and researching until you know everything about a prospective donor are effective fundraising tactics. But what happens after you've identified a qualified prospective donor? This blog offers some tactics offered by fundraising experts who were present at a recent fundraising conference. There are helpful insights for the entire fundraising process, from requesting a meeting with a prospective donor to responding to a "no."

The Only Reason Your Non-Profit Should Be Worried About the Economy

Richard Perry and Jeff Schreifels (Veritus Group)

Fundraising experts, Richard and Jeff assert that if you bring a compelling offer that matches your donor's passions and interests, then people will give regardless of the economic conditions. They also point out that nonprofits with strong mid, major, and planned giving programs suffer less during economic recessions. Now is the time to prepare for a turbulent economic time. Regardless of what comes, it's better to be prepared than to be caught off-guard. Head over to this blog for some insights about how to navigate economic downturns and recessions.

Better Fundraising Begins With Better Terminology

Jim Langley (MarketSmart)

Words are powerful to shape thoughts and emotions. In turn, thoughts and emotions influence our actions and decisions. Fundraising is often filled with "insider language" and "one-way terms," as if it's something we do TO donors rather than WITH them. This blog identifies some of those common "one-way terms" that can put off or alienate donors. After all, we shouldn't talk about donors in ways we wouldn't talk directly to them

Don’t Take a Vacation From Your Donor Communication

Ann Green (Ann Green)

Summer is here, bringing a bit more travel than in recent years. We all deserve some kind of vacation and many nonprofits slow down their fundraising and donor communication. But you don't want to be TOO quiet. Something we learned during the pandemic is that consistent communication is critical. In this blog, Ann offers a few ways to connect with donors over the summer that will help maintain the relationship.

Authenticity Isn’t Always Useful

Steven Screen (The Better Fundraising Company)

Many development professionals assume that being "authentic" will attract more donors to the cause. But authenticity isn't always the best strategy. Of course, honesty is always critical. Sometimes, focusing your fundraising on the strategies that are most effective can feel inauthentic. Steven unpacks this complex balancing act and offers some insights into how nonprofits can be authentic and honest in helpful ways.

Segmentation, Personalization & Stewardship for Nonprofits

Guest Author (Get Fully Funded)

Developing a personal relationship with your supporters will help you understand what prompted them to give in the first place and what might bring them back to continue supporting your cause. By focusing your fundraising mindset on retaining supporters rather than just acquiring them, you'll raise more money. Typically, the lifetime value of a donor is generally higher than a one-time donor. Head over to this blog to learn how donor segmenting and personalizing your fundraising and donor care can build more impactful donor relationships.

10 Ways to Make Your Donor Thank-Yous Crackle with Power and Joy

Jeff Brooks (Future Fundraising Now)

Jeff makes a great point in this blog: fundraisers spend a lot of time perfecting the ask, but we don't spend much time critiquing our thank-you strategies. But thanking donors well might be more impactful than the ask itself. It's a critical ingredient in building a relationship with supporters. Check out these 10 tips that will improve your thank-you letters!

The Real Secret to Better Donor Communications

Joe Garecht (Joe Garecht Fundraising)

How effective are your donor communications? Are you feeling stuck on the donor communications treadmill? If your donor communications aren't very effective, your nonprofit won't have the funds needed to thrive. But it is possible to build an amazing donor communications system for your nonprofit. This blog has some practical insights about how to do just that.