Soapbox Engage Blog

Summer is just around the corner, and it's time for some sunshine and fundraising! Many nonprofits experience a noticeable decrease in donations during the summer months. This summer brings the added complexity of coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic.

While many social distancing rules are relaxed or even eliminated, many individuals are still taking precautions, and nonprofits must find a balance to meet donors who have varying comfort levels with in-person events.

Issue 91

Does your org have a LinkedIn profile— do you know what sorts of content you should be sharing and engaging with? Have you considered finding corporate partners for your nonprofit? Are you facing barriers to connecting with your donor base? Have you lost your sense of wonder when it comes to fundraising— it is hard work after all! If you have faced any of these questions, I have great news for you! These are just a few of the topics covered in this week’s newsletter.

Scroll on down to learn something new! And have a great week!

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

LinkedIn might be the most underrated and underutilized out of all the leading social media platforms available. Yet, it's considered the world's largest professional networking platform with more than 810 million members in over 200 countries and territories worldwide!

Facebook is a valuable tool for sharing links, videos, and other interactive content. Instagram is ideal for visual content. Twitter is great for sharing quick updates and "tweetable" soundbites. LinkedIn offers a unique tool for establishing a reputable online presence and building a robust local, national, and international network.

Issue 90

It’s that time of the week once more! Time to level up on your fundraising skills and learn from industry experts. Want to improve your online donation forms and optimize virtual gifts? Need to better engage with the Millennials and Get Zs (hint: connect with their activism)? Or if you are just getting started, we have an article on how to succeed in your first year of fundraising at a startup nonprofit. Wherever you are in your career, the Fundraising Weekly has your back!

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

No matter your fundraising strategies, most of your donors will probably wind up in the same place–your online donation page!

One reality in the nonprofit world is that if you want to raise more money, you have to make the giving process easy and pleasant. Your online fundraising growth is directly tied to the quality of your donation page.

Many studies and polls continue to assess the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the related economic crisis on nonprofits and other sectors. Since 2020, organizations have navigated months of remote work, forced closures, inconsistent reopenings, and unpredictable economic factors.

Yet, nonprofit leaders continually adjust by implementing creative strategies and solutions to accomplish their goals and continue serving their constituents. "Adapt and get creative" seems to be the ongoing theme, even in 2022.

Issue 88

Happy April, fantastic fundraisers! It’s a rainy, dreary day here in Washington, DC, but you know what they say about April showers… I’m looking forward to more sunshine and enjoying the view of DC’s famous cherry blossom trees while they are still in peak bloom! I hope your April is off to a good start too.

Read on to catch the latest tips from all things fundraising and philanthropy. Notably, we have a crash course for nonprofit CRM selection, capital campaign planning ideas, and some nonprofit spring cleaning pointers!

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

Peer-to-Peer (P2P) fundraising is a powerhouse fundraising strategy for nonprofits. It combines the influence of social media with access to personal networks, easy online giving strategies, and sometimes a bit of friendly competition sprinkled on top. This strategy started with people going door-to-door collecting spare change and contributions, but today's digital tools and communication platforms make this one of the most popular fundraising strategies of the 21st century.

One of the secrets to the long-term success of P2P fundraising is that nonprofits who use this strategy are empowering their supporters to become advocates and partners. Not only does it help you reach your financial goals, but it can also expand your donor base and open up new networks. Peer-to-peer fundraising can also help boost donor retention rates.

Issue 87

Well in DC we were certainly fooled by 60 and 70 degree weather in the past couple of weeks. Last night, as I was making my way home, it was 27 degrees with a wind chill that made it feel significantly colder. Regardless, April IS around the corner and soon we will begin the next quarter. I’m grateful to have taken the plunge into 2022 with this incredible community. Onward!

In the Fundraising Weekly, learn some text messaging strategies for boosting donations, peruse 10 great questions for major donors, or check out some best practices for nonprofits’ use of Instagram!

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

It's so tempting to take a step back from fundraising now that the rush of year-end giving is over. Summer is right around the corner… what's the harm in waiting for the more traditional summer fundraising rush?

While late winter and spring might not be the most popular time of year for fundraising, there are many advantages to using this time strategically. Since the New Year, enough time has passed that many people are ready to consider making another donation, especially before summer vacations and travels begin.

Issue 86

In case you missed the memo, this past Sunday was the Spring Equinox. That means that those of us located in the Northern Hemisphere have officially survived the winter. As we begin this new season (my personal favorite!) and prepare for the next quarter, I’ll be taking some time to reflect on successes and set some goals for what’s next. I would love to hear from you to learn how this newsletter can continue to serve as a top fundraising resource. I’m all ears!

Scroll down to access a free 15-page guide to asking for donations, learn how to genuinely thank your donors, or discover your fundraising superpower!

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

Online donations are a vital revenue source for most nonprofits in 2022. Most people expect to access online donation options, so you could be missing out on thousands of dollars without the right fundraising software.

Overall, fundraising software simplifies the entire fundraising process and daily tasks like tracking donors, receiving online donations, and building campaigns. Fundraising software can also give you the tools to run various campaigns, from peer-to-peer fundraising to email appeals.

Issue 85

Greetings fundraisers! To those of you affected by Sunday’s ‘Spring Forward,’ hopefully you’re adjusting to the time shift and enjoying an extra hour of sunlight at the end of the day. I’ll take the sleepy start to the week if it means later sunsets!

By the way! If you’re looking for more fundraising resources beyond this weekly newsletter, be sure to give us (Soapbox Engage/PICnet) a follow on LinkedIn! We post free resources, guides, webinars, blog posts, and community events to our page regularly. And we would love to hear from you and maybe even team up to bring more fundraising goodness to the community!

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

In today's global and digital world, digital marketing isn't an option for nonprofits–it's a necessity for success! People rely on phones, laptops, and other devices for everything from work and shopping to social gatherings.

As a nonprofit fundraiser, it's critical to ensure you're reaching your supporters in the spaces they use most frequently–both digitally and in real life.

Issue 84

Happy Tuesday! Ever wondered exactly how much your nonprofit should be spending on advertising? Or if you should consider using fundraising ambassadors? Not every org has the budget for these strategies, but they are always worth looking at. Peruse some tips in this Fundraising Weekly. Plus, keep things light and check out that blog post of different kinds of fundraising errors— you’ll laugh, you’ll cringe, you’ll learn how to keep it all in perspective.

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

Think of the worst leader you’ve ever worked with. Maybe they acted unilaterally and made decisions without consulting the group first. Or, perhaps they refused to accept feedback or take team members’ concerns into account. Whatever the case was, you probably found working with that person to be nearly impossible.

As a board leader, you know the importance of fostering strong leadership skills among your board members. These individuals set your organization's strategic direction. They play a significant role in your fundraising and marketing efforts, striving to develop strong community partnerships that give your organization a leg up. Needless to say, you want to avoid having poor leaders like the ones described above in your midst.

Matching gifts and major giving or capital campaigns are definitely a winning combination. Countless nonprofits use capital campaigns to raise money for large projects. One practical and strategic way to increase your chances of reaching your campaign goal is to include matching gifts in your fundraising strategy.

Including matching gifts in your conversation with major donors or as part of your overall fundraising strategy gives people the opportunity to create more impact with their contributions.

Issue 83

Hey wonderful fundraiser! Welcome to March, with the promises of spring just around the corner. Here in DC, we had our last sunset before 6pm for the season just days ago. On to more warmth and sunshine!

Keep reading for this week’s pick of the best fundraising content. We have great topics like 2022 economic considerations for fundraisers, how to balance your appeal messaging, and even what Wordle can teach us about fundraising! I’m certain some of you have been enjoying that trend!

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

Social media can be a central part of attracting and retaining current and potential donors. It's a fantastic tool for keeping people updated and developing a vibrant community around your cause.

Still, it's not enough to create a Twitter or Facebook account and wait for the donations to start rolling in. It's critical to get strategic and understand how to leverage the power of social media to help boost your overall fundraising. Even when social media engagement is high, it takes strategy to lead someone from being a follower to a committed financial supporter.

Have no fear! We've gathered some wisdom and insight from industry experts to help you convert social media followers to donors.

Issue 82

Happy Tuesday, fundraisers! Here in DC, spring seems to be right around the corner. The past few weeks, we have been teased by 60 degree weather followed by snow storms less than 24 hours later— it’s hard to keep up! But I’m looking forward to more consistent warmth.

Read on for some great fundraising content about upgrading your monthly donors, measuring your community connections, and building a prospect management system. Enjoy!

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