Soapbox Engage Blog

Issue 303

Happy Tuesday, fundraisers!

This week’s roundup is a bit of a reset. In a world where everything can feel urgent, these pieces gently push back with a simple reminder: motion is not the same as progress. From asking less but better to communicating with more honesty and clarity, it’s all about focusing your energy where it actually counts.

You’ll also find practical ideas for day-of-event confidence, insights into the future of peer-to-peer fundraising, and ways to strengthen your online fundraising and donor engagement. And if you’re experimenting with real-time tools, we’re highlighting Live Displays again as a way to bring more visibility and momentum to your events.

Have a great week!

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Great Fundraising Posts

Introducing Live Displays: Real-Time Fundraising Progress for Your Events

Soapbox Engage (Soapbox Engage)

Live Displays help turn fundraising momentum into something supporters can actually see, showcasing donations, goals, and activity in real time during campaigns and events. It’s a simple but powerful way to build energy, encourage participation, and keep donors engaged as progress unfolds live. We're also hosting an upcoming webinar, “The Power of Live Displays: Real-Time Fundraising That Inspires More Giving,” on May 28 for organizations that want to see the feature in action and learn practical ways to use it in their own fundraising efforts!

Motion Is Not Progress. Ask Less. Ask Better.

Roger Craver (The Agitator)

More fundraising activity doesn’t always mean more impact. This piece makes the case for slowing down, being more intentional, and focusing on fewer, more meaningful donor asks instead of constantly pushing out new campaigns. Sometimes the strongest fundraising results come not from doing more, but from communicating more clearly and thoughtfully.

Day-of-Event Confidence: How Go Time Powers Seamless Fundraisers

Tamara Varner (Greater Giving)

The best fundraising events feel smooth and effortless to attendees, but that confidence comes from strong preparation behind the scenes. This piece looks at how having the right tools and real-time visibility on event day can help teams stay flexible, reduce stress, and focus more on the donor experience. When logistics run smoothly, it creates more space for the moments of connection that actually drive giving.

The Future of Peer-to-Peer Fundraising

Dorothy Rosene (sgENGAGE)

Peer-to-peer fundraising continues to evolve beyond traditional campaigns into something much more relationship-focused and community-centered. This piece explores how nonprofits are creating more flexible, personalized experiences that make it easier for supporters to participate in ways that feel natural to them. The future of P2P fundraising isn’t just about raising more, it’s about helping supporters feel more connected to the mission and to each other.

It’s OK to Tell Your Donors When You’re Behind on Your Fundraising

Steven Screen (The Better Fundraising Company)

Many nonprofits hesitate to talk openly about fundraising shortfalls, fearing it will damage donor trust. But this piece makes a compelling case that honesty and urgency can actually strengthen donor relationships when handled thoughtfully. Supporters want to help, and sometimes the clearest, most human message is simply telling them where things stand and inviting them into the solution.

Welcome to the Future of Nonprofit Funding: Ecommerce

Soapbox Engage (Soapbox Engage)

As funding sources become less predictable, more nonprofits are exploring ecommerce as a way to create steady, mission-aligned revenue beyond traditional fundraising. This piece looks at how online stores, memberships, digital products, and other earned-income strategies can strengthen supporter engagement while helping organizations build long-term sustainability. The key takeaway: ecommerce isn’t about “selling stuff,” it’s about creating more ways for supporters to stay connected to your mission year-round.

Nonprofit Engagement Mindsets: The Better Alternative to Personas

Kivi Leroux Miller (Nonprofit Marketing Guide)

Many nonprofits rely on personas to guide messaging, but this piece suggests a more useful shift: focusing on why people engage, not just who they are. The Engagement Mindsets framework helps you tailor communication to different values and motivations—so your messages feel more relevant, human, and action-oriented. It’s a simple but powerful reminder that better engagement starts with meeting people where their motivations actually live.

Better Nonprofit Communications: 7 Simple Ways to Increase Donor Response

Claire Axelrad (Clairification)

Small shifts in how you write and structure donor communications can make a surprisingly big difference in response rates. This piece walks through practical ways to connect faster and more emotionally with donors—like leading with stories, focusing on people over programs, and making clear, specific asks. The throughline is simple: when communication feels clearer and more human, donors are more likely to engage and respond.

8 Questions Answered about Online Fundraising!

Mazarine (Wild Woman Fundraising)

Online fundraising works best when it’s treated less like a technical setup and more like a relationship-building practice. This interview-style piece walks through common questions nonprofits have, from getting started to improving results, with a focus on clarity, consistency, and donor experience. The throughline is simple: the tools matter, but the real impact comes from how you show up for your supporters.