Nonprofit organizations provide invaluable support and services, address social and environmental issues, and pave the way to celebrate, aid, and unite communities. For all of their incredible contributions, mission driven organizations often struggle to find the resources, funding, and technology they need to maintain and grow their work.

Just last week, Microsoft announced the arrival of Microsoft Cloud for Nonprofit, an accessible tech solution that strives to support and simplify the transformative work of nonprofit organizations. This cloud-based solution aligns the capabilities of Microsoft 365, Power Platform, Dynamics 365, Azure and LinkedIn to address many common nonprofit scenarios. It connects nonprofits to Microsoft cloud offerings while utilizing the Common Data Model to unite their organizational data on a single platform.

And...this solution will be available in the second half of 2021. So, what do you need to know about Microsoft Cloud for Nonprofit to prepare for its release? This blog will walk you through the basics and help you determine if this solution is right for your organization.

Written by Gaurav Goyal (Guest Author)

Fundraising Campaigns serve life and blood to non-profits organizations. Without sufficient fuel, NPOs can't serve the cause; thus, there is a need for effective and innovative strategies to generate funds.

Traditional fundraising methods like bake sales are still working, but with the introduction of digital platforms, old methods have shifted to reach an audience.

Social media platforms are playing a huge role in the success of fundraising campaigns and generate more donations beyond expectations.

Displaying Social Walls proves to leverage fundraising campaigns, connecting with the audience more effectively and influencing them to become part of the cause by raising donations.

Every new year is accompanied with new technology. As we head into 2021, we are excited to highlight the Nonprofit Common Data Model’s virtual event happening next week - an event so nice, it's being held twice!

Online giving grew 6.8% in 2019 and made up about 13% of the average nonprofit’s total revenue--and that number is sure to keep growing! That means your donation page is the foundation of all your online fundraising efforts and practically an industry standard at this point!

Before we get into the year-end fundraising rush, we’d like to take a moment to get “back to the basics” about donation pages. Not all donation pages are created equal (trust us… we’ve seen a lot of them).

Online fundraising tools are increasingly important. In 2018, online donations increased by a staggering 23%, and the average retention rate for online donors was an impressive 38%. This means your organization needs a mobile-friendly, secure online giving option that donors trust.

If you're feeling overwhelmed by the sheer number of fundraising tools available these days, you're not alone! From custom donation pages to online payment platforms, the options and potential combinations are nearly endless!

PayPal is a familiar name in the online payment processing world. Businesses love it, and people generally know and trust the platform, making it a great option to process online donations and purchases.