Stories are a cornerstone of our everyday lives. Whether we acknowledge it or not, we love the stories of Olympic athletes’ journeys to athletic greatness or lose ourselves in the pages of a great book (fiction or nonfiction). Stories help us understand complex issues and can even deepen our connection with each other.

If we love getting swept up in stories, why do so many nonprofits leave them out of the biggest storytelling project of the year?! Telling the right stories can showcase your impact, empower your donors to celebrate your collective accomplishment, and equip them to share about your organization with others.

Putting storytelling at the core of your annual report can make it an irresistible read and assure your donors they made a strong investment.

Have you ever been looking over your fundraising calendar and thought, "Man, we need some fresh fundraising events here!" Or have you found yourself on the brink of starting a new fundraising campaign and wanted some unusual fundraising event ideas to get things started?

We get it. Sometimes you get into a fundraising rut, and you just need some ideas to get those creative juices flowing, add a little spark of excitement, or rally people to reach your fundraising goal. That's why we rounded up some great fundraising event ideas that you can add to your fundraising calendar.

They say, "failing to plan is planning to fail." The same is true with fundraising, and experienced development professionals understand that successful fundraising demands strategy, organization, and a plan.

It can feel difficult--even overwhelming--to manage the entire fundraising process day in and day out. Things can get even more complicated when you're working with a fundraising team.

Creating a fundraising calendar can be an excellent recipe for year-round fundraising success! The great news is that you can develop and implement a fundraising calendar any day of the year. We've consulted with some fundraising and nonprofit experts to gather the best tips, tricks, and strategies to help you build a great fundraising calendar.

Giving days have risen in popularity and effectiveness in recent years. As I’m sure you guessed, the most popular giving day is #GivingTuesday. By now, most nonprofits and charities have some kind of Giving Tuesday plan and strategy. Still, there’s always room for a bit of growth and improvement.

Social media can be an excellent way to reach new audiences and raise awareness about your cause on Giving Tuesday. After all, giving days are practically designed for social media campaigns. But there’s a lot of “noise” as everyone is vying for attention around that day.

Have no fear! We’ve rounded up some tips and tricks to help you boost your #GivingTuesday social media campaign so you can enjoy greater engagement and more donations.

Issue 38

I've got lots of great content for you in this edition of the Fundraising Weekly! Today, I'm featuring tips to make your messaging stand out, ways to improve your newsletters and donor relations, and a look into the hybrid fundraising event model. And that’s only about half the content. I'm also highlighting an article that asks us to challenge the urgency in our communications and work style. It may seem unusual with so much emphasis placed on motivation, work ethic, deliverability, and deadlines. But slowing down is important, not just for peace of mind but also for quality of work.

Speaking of urgency and slowing down, today is as good a day as ever to take a moment to cherish the little moments. Call a family member or friend to check in. Appreciate the changing of the seasons (I’m noticing all kinds of flowers in DC!). Spend a little quiet time with yourself. Or slow down in whatever way is best for you!

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