Nobody likes paperwork, but some of it is actually important. Donor receipts are one of those necessary evils that nonprofit organizations need to pay attention to. Not only are they required by the IRS, if done correctly, sending donor receipts can be another great "touchpoint" with your valuable donors. And it doesn’t have to monopolize your staff’s time!

It’s critical for nonprofits of any size to develop a process to personalize and send donation receipts to their donors. We gathered all the essential information about donor receipts and some best practices to help you create an effective system for your organization.

While you're reading, it's important to note that you should consult your own legal and accounting professional before implementing any ideas listed here, and this should not be considered legal advice. Okay, with that, let's continue!

"Giving Days" are fun, community-wide variations on crowdfunding. It’s a 24-hour period when a nonprofit focuses on mobilizing its network to raise money for the cause. The best known "giving day" across the globe is Giving Tuesday, of course; however, more cities, regions, universities are hosting their own Giving Days to benefit nonprofits in their geographic area.

While Giving Days aren’t really new, they've grown in popularity over the past few years. Now, many organizations participate in at least one local or regional Giving Day as part of their annual fundraising plan.

Giving Days benefit the entire community as well as the charities that receive vital funding! With the right planning and preparation, your organization can raise a lot of money by participating in (or hosting your own) Giving Days. Perhaps more valuable is the publicity and visibility that comes with these types of events.

We unpacked some of the reasons why Giving Days are worth your time and gathered some tips and tricks to help you get the most out of participating in a Giving Day event.

These days, fundraising is just a part of participating in youth sports programs. Whether you join a city or county league, school team, or sports club, most athletes know the drill--sell the required number of candy bars, discount cards, or rolls of wrapping paper so they can play the sport they love. Most families have busy schedules and get tired of the "usual suspect" fundraisers. So, they resort to buying all the product instead of schlepping it around the neighborhood, or just writing a check for the minimum fundraising amount.

Fundraising can be a great teaching tool for young athletes! Choosing fundraisers that athletes and their parents actually want to do will help children learn valuable life skills, and your team gets the most out of your fundraisers.

We rounded up four fundraisers for sports teams that we think everyone will actually be excited to participate in (and will raise the money your team needs).

There are more nonprofits than ever, which means there is more competition for donations. To complicate matters further, donors are more informed and savvier than ever. They know good fundraising, and they are cautious givers. Donors have access to more information, thanks to the internet, and are becoming more sophisticated givers.

Donors want to know how nonprofits use their generous financial contributions. If we’re honest, that’s not an unreasonable expectation! Most nonprofits agree that fiscal responsibility is a good thing. In the past, financial transparency was an excellent "bonus" feature to an organization’s fundraising methods, but not really a necessary part of the process.

Today, donors expect to know how your nonprofit handles finances. Organizations must demonstrate that they are a worthy investment.

This might seem like a daunting task. After all, most nonprofit budgets are far more complicated than the usual household budget. But, with a little preparation and effort, you will be able to share your financial statistics with your donors confidently and in a manner that actually builds trust!

If you're in the development department at a charter school, you know how challenging fundraising can be. Yes, there's public funding, but so much of the great work you're doing for your students comes from additional funding sources, and those sources are being more scarce each year. In fact, most charter schools now rely on fundraising efforts to cover building expenses and subsidize their operating budget.

Many charter schools rely on major annual fundraising events like a fun run, golf tournaments, a glamorous dinner with live music, or a gala and silent auction.

No matter how your charter school decides to go about fundraising, there are many challenges to navigate and overcome. Here are some practical ideas and apps that are sure to help you conquer your fundraising goals and minimize the difficulties.