Soapbox Engage Blog

Issue 304

Happy Tuesday, fundraisers!

This week’s roundup is all about the behind-the-scenes work that quietly drives fundraising success. From data hygiene and gift processing to improving email deliverability and donation page performance, these pieces focus on strengthening the systems that help every campaign run more smoothly.

You’ll also find ideas for raising more at events with live giving displays, along with practical guidance on engaging supporters during an election year.

Enjoy!

You can receive the Fundraising Weekly newsletter each Tuesday by subscribing today!

Great Fundraising Posts

How Live Displays Help Community Centers Raise More at Events and Galas

Soapbox Engage (Soapbox Engage)

We’re exploring how community centers can use Live Displays to make fundraising feel more visible, interactive, and energizing for supporters. By showing donations, goals, and activity in real time, Live Displays help build momentum during campaigns and events while creating a stronger shared sense of participation. We’re also hosting an upcoming webinar, “The Power of Live Displays: Real-Time Fundraising That Inspires More Giving,” where we’ll share practical examples and ideas for bringing this experience into your own events and campaigns!

Why Data Hygiene Is the Most Underrated Fundraising Strategy in 2026

Mark Becker (NonProfit PRO)

Clean data may not be the most exciting part of fundraising, but it quietly shapes almost every donor interaction your organization has. This piece highlights how accurate records, thoughtful organization, and ongoing database maintenance can lead to better personalization, stronger donor trust, and smarter fundraising decisions over time. It’s a helpful reminder that sometimes the most impactful fundraising work happens behind the scenes.

Is Your Acquisition Renting the Same Pond?

Kevin Schulman (The Agitator)

A lot of “new” donor acquisition isn’t actually new at all, it’s the same audience pool being reshuffled across channels while the broader donor base quietly shrinks. This piece challenges nonprofits to rethink what acquisition really means and whether their efforts are truly expanding reach or just competing in the same crowded pond. The real opportunity is in understanding donor quality, not just donor count, and building strategies that actually grow the ecosystem instead of recycling it.

Ditch Donor Drop-off: The Complete Guide to High-Converting Donation Pages

Meghan Speer (Nonprofit Hub)

Your donation page is often the moment everything comes together, or quietly falls apart. This guide digs into what actually helps supporters finish their gift, from reducing friction in forms to improving clarity, trust, and overall user experience. It’s a practical, grounded look at how small changes on your donation page can lead to more completed gifts and fewer drop-offs.

Gift Processing 101: A Practical Nonprofit’s Checklist

Erin (FundraisingIP)

experience. This checklist breaks down the essential steps from receiving and recording a gift to acknowledgment and reconciliation, helping ensure nothing slips through the cracks. It’s a helpful reminder that strong fundraising isn’t just about the ask, it’s also about what happens after the gift comes in.

How Nonprofits Can Engage Supporters Beyond Donations in an Election Year

Soapbox Engage (Soapbox Engage)

Election years bring a lot of attention, but also a lot of noise, which can make it harder for nonprofits to keep supporters engaged in meaningful ways. This piece explores how organizations can stay focused on their mission, communicate with clarity, and give supporters simple, relevant ways to take action without adding to the overwhelm. The goal is steady engagement that feels human, helpful, and grounded, even in a crowded news cycle.

[PODCAST] Trust & Revenue: Optimizing Nonprofit Donation Pages

Meghan Speer (Nonprofit Hub)

Your donation page is doing more than collecting gifts, it’s quietly shaping how much donors trust you in the moment they’re deciding whether to give. This piece explores how clarity, simplicity, and thoughtful design choices can directly impact conversion, helping more visitors complete their gift instead of dropping off. It’s a helpful reminder that small improvements to the giving experience can translate into real revenue gains, without needing more traffic or bigger asks.

Forecasts Don’t Have to be Perfect to be Powerful: Four Truths to Help Nonprofit Leaders Forecast Consistently

Stephanie Skryzowski (sgENGAGE)

Forecasting often feels harder than it needs to, but this piece makes a simple case: consistency matters far more than perfection. It walks through four mindset shifts that help nonprofit leaders move from “we should probably forecast” to actually using forecasts as a practical, decision-making tool. The real value isn’t in getting every number right, it’s in having a clearer, more honest view of what’s coming so teams can plan with confidence instead of guesswork.

How to Get Your Fundraising Emails Delivered

Jeff Brooks (Moceanic)

Email is still one of the most powerful fundraising tools we have, but getting into the inbox is getting harder as AI-driven filters and stricter provider rules reshape deliverability. This piece unpacks what’s changing, from how messages are being evaluated to why engagement and trust now matter more than ever for reach and performance. The takeaway is simple: great fundraising emails don’t just need to be written well, they need to be built for how inboxes actually work today.