Can you think of a website you recently visited that was beautiful and easy to navigate? How did it make you feel? It probably caused you to stick around longer, browse a little more, or consider adding a few extra things to the shopping cart.

Now recall a website you visited that was of poor design or quality. Did you stick around? Did you find what you were looking for? Did you trust the content or products?

Websites are increasingly essential for the success of any nonprofit and for-profit business. A useful website provides important (and engaging) information, reinforces an organization's credibility, and helps the fundraising efforts.

In the same way that a good website can build trust and help get the word out about your mission, a bad website can actually be harmful for your organization!

The great news is you don't have to be tech-savvy or hire a full-time web designer to have a beautiful, high-quality website! You also don't need to shell out thousands of dollars for a custom website design right away (though we do recommend that down the road).

With the help of a website builder, or a content management system (CMS), even the most tech-challenged people can create a functional website without breaking the bank. We've rounded up three website builders that are easy and cost-effective for nonprofits who want to build a basic website to tide them over until they can invest in a custom website for their organization.

When your company is worth more than $1,200,000,000,000 (I had to count the number of zeros, just to make sure I had it right), you have a unique opportunity to shape a better world. Some might go as far as to say it’s a responsibility to do so.

But what do you tackle?

Well, if you’re Microsoft, and you can scale the benefits of your services and products around the world, the sky’s the limit! Getting focused, and delivering actual solutions that can be used to do good requires insight and expertise working with those on the front lines. Plus, a good bit of leadership.

It’s no surprise then that Microsoft announced the launch of Microsoft Philanthropies in December 2015 to lead this charge, with among other things a plan to donate $1 billion of the company’s cloud services. Then, in September 2017, Microsoft Philanthropies announced the launch of Microsoft Tech for Social Impact (Microsoft TSI), with a focus to help more nonprofits around the world more fully leverage the power of the cloud.

As we enter 2020, the Microsoft TSI train seems to have picked up steam as the nonprofit community takes notice. But what exactly does Microsoft TSI plan to do?

What comes to mind when you read "annual giving campaign"? If you're thinking of a mass-mailing that an organization sends once or twice a year to everyone who ever provided their mailing address, then we'd like to invite you to buckle up, and join us for a ride.

Nonprofits used to rely heavily on just a few fundraising letters each year to raise enough money to cover the day-to-day costs of running the nonprofit. Today, successful annual giving campaigns are more robust and include a variety of fundraising tactics throughout the year.

There are many benefits to annual giving campaigns. Contributions to your annual campaign are considered "unrestricted funds" meaning your organization can use these funds to cover any expenses within your nonprofit. If done correctly, annual campaigns can help organizations develop stronger relationships with their current donors.

Before you get overwhelmed at the thought of fundraising all year for your annual budget, hear us out! This doesn't need to be an all-consuming thing. With the right organization, tools, and strategies, your nonprofit will be able to run a very effective annual giving campaign without running your staff ragged.

If one of your employees asked for the contact information for a specific donor, how long would it take for you to find the current phone number or email address on file? Do you have a way of recording every interaction you have with a potential supporter? Can you easily process online donations?

CRM is the abbreviation of Customer (or constituent) Relationship Management. CRM systems are an essential tool for businesses, nonprofits, and organizations of every size and shape. They help nonprofits organize and keep track of all kinds of interactions with current and potential donors, volunteers, and everyone else in your network.

Despite the dizzying number of CRM systems on the market, many organizations try to manage their CRM activities manually, which is usually inefficient, frustrating, and results in inaccurate records.

Unfortunately, it can be an overwhelming process to try to find the right CRM software for your organization. There are so many products on the market with countless features and options. Which one is right for your organization? Have no fear! We are here to help you understand exactly what to look for in a great CRM system for your nonprofit.

There are plenty of experts offering reliable advice, countless podcasts, blogs, and websites about nonprofit fundraising. Which sites do you spend your valuable time and energy reading? Which ones will keep you updated on the latest trends, data, and resources?

We curated a list of some of the best, most trustworthy blogs about fundraising for nonprofits. Each one is full of strategies, tactics, and tips that you can implement in your organization.