Soapbox Engage Blog

Issue 127

Happy Tuesday, Fundraisers! And WELCOME to 2023!

I am so excited for what this year has in store for this community and the greater fundraising and nonprofit communities! At Soapbox Engage, we plan to bring you even more value through our blog, free resources and guides, and events. If you have any content requests or ideas for how we can add more value to this weekly newsletter, please let us know!

Whether you are a resolutions person or not, I hope you have much to look forward to and work toward in this New Year! Onward!

You can receive the Fundraising Weekly newsletter each Tuesday by subscribing today!

Issue 125

Happy Tuesday, Fundraisers! I hope you’re staying warm and cozy this season. Tomorrow is the winter solstice, marking the first official day of winter. BUT it also means that after tomorrow, we get a little bit of sunlight back each day— those of us in the Northern Hemisphere at least. That’s certainly something to look forward to!

Scroll on down for this week’s selection of top fundraising content. We have tips relating to donor conversations, SEO keywords, and advocacy campaigns. Enjoy!

You can receive the Fundraising Weekly newsletter each Tuesday by subscribing today!

At the start of this month, we were able to gather in person again for another NPSP Day— this time, in San Francisco! I was fortunate enough to once again facilitate the event alongside Katie McFadden from Common Voyage. It was another exciting day, filled with collaboration and new connections!

The purpose of an NPSP Day is for nonprofit staff, consultants, and Salesforce admin to come together to share knowledge, pose questions, and solve problems to benefit the nonprofit and education sectors' use of the Salesforce Nonprofit Success Pack. And no better setting for NPSP Day than the Salesforce Tower in downtown San Francisco!

Issue 124

Happy Tuesday, Fundraisers!

Did you know that 31% of annual giving occurs in December, and 12% in just the last three days of the year? We’re in the final stretch— and the most important one! Here are our top tips for year-end fundraising success.

Scroll on down for this week’s selection of top fundraising content. We have tips relating to year-end donors, communication calendars, and engaging board members. Enjoy!

You can receive the Fundraising Weekly newsletter each Tuesday by subscribing today!

It’s the happiest season of all for fundraisers and a time for celebrating as all the hard work of the past year comes to fruition. Individuals gave more than $324 billion in 2021, and 30% of all donations come in during December, this means over $97 billion is headed your collective way in the next few weeks. That’s something to celebrate!

Issue 123

Happy Tuesday, Fundraisers— and Happy December!

If you’re looking for some tips to finish the fundraising year strong (and start the new year even stronger), check out this guide! You’ll learn how to solicit end-of-year donations in the final three days of the year, tips for evaluating your software toolkit, and the best ways to share mission and fundraising updates!

Scroll on down for this week’s selection of top fundraising content. We have tips relating to year-end emails, text-to-give, and Giving Tuesday followup. Enjoy!

You can receive the Fundraising Weekly newsletter each Tuesday by subscribing today!

Issue 122

Happy Tuesday, Fundraisers! Here we are on the other side of Giving Tuesday. I hope your campaigns were even more successful than you dreamed.

As you’re running your year-end fundraising campaigns, remember to keep donor followup and retention on your mind. Fostering relationships with donors is important not just for funding your mission, but for creating a community! Last year, we shared 6 practical strategies for donor retention after Giving Tuesday. Give them a look!

Scroll on down for this week’s selection of top fundraising content. We have fundraising tips relating to year-end giving, sharing impact, and nonprofit boards. Enjoy!

You can receive the Fundraising Weekly newsletter each Tuesday by subscribing today!

Issue 121

Happy Tuesday, Fundraisers! This time next week, we will be upon the biggest fundraising day of the year, Giving Tuesday! I’m so excited for you all to witness the payoff of your hard work. I know your Giving Tuesday campaigns are simply fantastic!

In the meantime, scroll on down for this week’s selection of top fundraising content. We have fundraising tips relating to awareness campaigns, donor thank you letters, Google grants, and starting a nonprofit. Enjoy!

You can receive the Fundraising Weekly newsletter each Tuesday by subscribing today!

Your nonprofit’s major donors weren’t always major donors. They may have started as low-level donors when they first started contributing to your cause, or maybe they jumped in as mid-tier supporters. But even before that, they had to hear about your mission to get inspired to give. They were drawn to your organization because of the cause you represent.

Awareness campaigns help your nonprofit spread the word about your cause, acquire new supporters, and expand your reach even further. However, these campaigns can be very challenging.

Issue 120

Happy Tuesday, Fundraisers! The countdown continues. Can you believe Giving Tuesday is now two weeks away?

As we get closer and closer to the big day, don’t forget to check in with yourself. It’s a hectic time of year, which is all the more reason to take moments throughout the day to slow down. I know you all have great fundraising campaigns planned, and I hope they are even more successful than you anticipate. Take some time to sit back and admire your own work!

Scroll on down for some fundraising tips relating to virtual events, board member giving, and young donors. Here’s to another great week with this fundraising community!

You can receive the Fundraising Weekly newsletter each Tuesday by subscribing today!

Remember early 2020, when we were meticulously planning our in-person events (only we didn’t call them “in-person” events at that time), only to have every plan entirely derailed by the pandemic? Terms like “new normal” and “in-person” became infamous. Event planners were forced to think outside the box and creatively figure out ways to bring the event to people at home.

But as they say, “necessity is the mother of invention,” and providing virtual opportunities for events became very successful, allowing nonprofits to reach a broader geographic range while maintaining high levels of engagement.

Now, we use the advantages of virtual events intentionally. Maximize your next virtual event with these five best practices.

Fundraising and nonprofit development is not easy. Luckily, there are many great blogs out there providing excellent information to help you learn more about fundraising. We’ve rounded up some of our favorite blogs that will help you grow your skills, get more donations, strengthen your organization, and keep up with the latest news!

Issue 119

Happy Tuesday, Fundraisers! The Giving Tuesday countdown has begun, and we are exactly three weeks away from the big day.

While you’re preparing for the big donation ask, take a moment to reference this free 15-page Guide to Asking for Donations. The words you use matter even more than you’d think! Watch support for your nonprofit grow by improving your wording when asking for donations.

Scroll on down for more great fundraising content relating to year-end fundraising, community engagement, best kept revenue secrets, and more. Enjoy!

You can receive the Fundraising Weekly newsletter each Tuesday by subscribing today!

Issue 118

Happy Tuesday, Fundraisers! Hopefully you’re coming back from a festive and spooky fall weekend feeling refreshed. Here we are at the start of November, just weeks away from the busiest part of the fundraising year. Take a deep breath, you got this!

To keep yourself on track, you can check out these top 10 tips for holiday fundraising success. And remember, we have a free resource to help you make the most of online fundraising year-round, not just during the “giving season.” You can download the Definitive Guide to Online Fundraising at any time.

Scroll on down for more great fundraising content relating to hybrid galas, major donor meetings, the nonprofit SEO checklist, and more. Enjoy!

You can receive the Fundraising Weekly newsletter each Tuesday by subscribing today!

On October 21st, we were able to gather in person once again for the return of NPSP Days! We kicked off our first event (since 2019!) with our friends in Seattle. I was thrilled to facilitate NPSP Day Seattle alongside Katie McFadden and Natali Terreri from Common Voyage.

NPSP Days are a chance to come together for a full day of collaboration to benefit the nonprofit and education sectors' use of the Salesforce Nonprofit Success Pack. These events have happened across the globe and have yielded some incredible solutions, workarounds, and ideas. And this event was no different!

For most nonprofits, a large percentage of total funding comes from a small group of donors who make large or major donations to your organization. These donors are known as major donors. Major donor qualifications vary depending on the size and fundraising goals of each nonprofit. But no matter how you decide who qualifies as a major donor, you know that they’re a critical component of your organization’s overall success.

That’s why it’s essential to host engaging and inspirational one-on-one meetings with prospective major donors. Donor meetings give you the chance to get to know donors on a deeper level, understand their passions and motivations, and propose giving opportunities that appeal to their interests.

Issue 117

With Giving Tuesday just over a month away, it’s time to make sure your campaign is ready to go. You can consider using matching gifts to make your donations go further. But whatever approach you take, remember to communicate authentically with your supporters— giving is inherently a very personal act!

Scroll on down for more great fundraising content relating to Google Ad Grants, multichannel fundraising campaigns, and improved donor relations. Enjoy!

You can receive the Fundraising Weekly newsletter each Tuesday by subscribing today!

We no longer live in times when direct mail advertising and word of mouth is enough to inform people about your organization. We’re in a digital era, meaning there are many other channels of communication that we need to master. According to websiterating.com, people are 4 times more likely to click ads on Google than on other advertising networks.

However, spending a lot of money on ads might not be feasible for your budget. Luckily, Google Ad Grants is a virtually free advertising program that can help your nonprofit acquire website users while furthering your organization’s impact. Unlike most grants, Google Ad Grants also has a very simple application process.

According to fundraising statistics from Double the Donation, 30% of all charitable giving happens in the month of December, with about 10% of all annual donations coming in the final three days of the year. That means if your team has yet to reach your year-end fundraising goals, you still have time to do so!

We recommend ramping up your strategy with the following tried-and-true best practices.

Issue 116

Happy Tuesday, Fundraisers! Have you taken some time to enjoy October? Over the weekend I had the chance to volunteer at a local community garden and prep some beds for end-of-the-season garlic planting. I even got to take a few green peppers home and make a soup to share with friends. However you choose to spend your autumn days, I hope you are able to slow down and be with loved ones!

Keeping up with the theme of Giving Tuesday prep, I wanted to share this helpful blog we wrote last year about Donor Retention After Giving Tuesday. Yes, that’s right— when planning your Giving Tuesday campaign, you should include the steps you want to engage your donors once the day has passed. It’s a lot to consider, but we break it down into some simple steps here!

Scroll on down for more great fundraising content relating to email marketing, text to give, and donor acquisition. Enjoy!

You can receive the Fundraising Weekly newsletter each Tuesday by subscribing today!