Soapbox Engage Blog

Virtual events are likely here to stay, especially for the foreseeable future. They're convenient, low-cost, and, most importantly, effective. Yet, virtual fundraising events offer new opportunities and challenges for development professionals, event planners, and attendees.

One of the big questions is how to boost your attendance at virtual events and hold people's attention in a digitally distracted world? Physical events offer the benefit of gathering people in a common space, usually away from computers and other distractions at home. Virtual events and webinars don't have that luxury.

With nearly a third of all charitable giving coming in during the month of December, year-end giving is a critical time for most nonprofits for year-round financial stability. Year-end fundraising is probably one of the most demanding, exciting, exhausting, and engaging times of year for development professionals.

Add the ongoing COVID-19 global pandemic, and you've really got some added uncertainty this year! A practical year-end giving timeline can you stay organized, reduce stress, and improve your overall fundraising performance.

A successful year-end fundraising campaign takes months of planning and preparation. The great news is that it's never too late to create a timeline for your year-end fundraising. We'll help you get there!

Building and executing a successful fundraising campaign takes thought, strategy, and a lot of work. With Giving Tuesday and the year-end giving season fast approaching, now is the time to start putting together a top-notch Giving Tuesday website.

Whether you choose a simple landing page or a full-blown website, there are some practical things you can do to drive more visitors to your page and increase donations. This blog will help you build an effective Giving Tuesday landing page for your nonprofit.

Issue 8

Hey Soapbox Engage partners!

Welcome to September! I’m ready for the East Coast to cool down and for the leaves to change from vibrant greens to an array of yellows, oranges, and reds. I know I’m getting ahead of myself, but hey, Autumn is my favorite season! It’s a time for connection, gratitude, and transformation.

I’m glad we can connect so you stay up-to-date on the latest and greatest things happening at Soapbox Engage. Thanks to our amazing engineers, we’ve had some handy releases roll off the assembly line. Keep reading to learn more!

Issue 57

As we say goodbye to August and welcome September, I have my mind on all my favorite soothing fall activities— be it apple picking or gathering around a campfire with friends. Here in DC, we get a colorful display of autumn leaves, and I’m already noticing a few of them starting to change.

Amidst these calming images, I know that the change of seasons also means it’s time to brace for the most hectic time of the fundraising year. If there is anything the Fundraising Weekly can do to support you in this four month dash to year-end giving, please drop me a line! I will happily take content requests or any other feedback. And remember, you’ve got this!

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

For those new to the nonprofit space, the difference between development and fundraising may seem unclear. Common definitions such as “asking for donations” and “asking for major donations” may seem like splitting hairs and cause some to wonder why the distinction is made in the first place.

However, there is a fundamental difference between the two, a difference that leads to happier, more connected donors and a happier, less-stressed fundraising team. To help explore that difference, this article will discuss:

PayPal is a known and trusted giving platform that many donors feel comfortable using. Overall, it’s one of the best, most secure ways to send and receive donations because donors don’t have to reveal their credit card or bank information. In fact, 79% of donors reported they felt confident using PayPal on unfamiliar websites.

For all of its benefits, PayPal does come with some drawbacks and factors to consider for nonprofits. We’ve gathered some of the pros and things to consider so you can make a balanced, informed choice about whether to use PayPal as a payment processing platform for your nonprofit!

Schools are starting again. The Pumpkin Spice Latte is rumored to return to Starbucks menu any day now. So, although you might not be thinking so, it’s time to start talking about Giving Tuesday. This global giving day will be here before we know it. Though there's a moderate push to make it more of a weekly endeavor, the global Giving Tuesday event traditionally takes place the day after "Cyber Monday" (November 28, 2023).

Year after year, shared moments like holidays or giving days (like Giving Tuesday) create a sense of connection for donors to understand they're part of something bigger than themselves.

Issue 56

Happy Tuesday to all the fundraising experts, newbies, and learners of all levels! As we start to wrap up the summer, I hope you have some final fun plans on your calendars. Personally, I’m looking forward to a long weekend spent in France! But for now, back to business!

This week’s newsletter is complete with advice on how to source year-end stories (yes, you should already be thinking about those), ideas for how your board can fundraise, how to avoid burnout in the digital age, and more. Check it out!

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

When a user lands on your school website, what type of experience are they met with? Are they met with rich resources and an engaging design that makes exploring your website fun and engaging? Or, are they met with a generic site that is difficult to navigate and feels frustrating?

Your website needs to deliver the best user experience possible while helping site visitors learn more about your school. An effective school website can help your institution expand its reach, attract more support for its fundraising efforts, and provide important information and resources for current students, parents, and staff.

Issue 55

Happy Fundraising Weekly Tuesday! We recently picked up quite a few new subscribers, so I wanted to say, “Welcome to this community!” We are thrilled to continue growing and sharing the wealth of information around fundraising, philanthropy, and nonprofit success.

In the spirit of sharing knowledge, I’d like to highlight this awesome, free guide to online fundraising. (It may look familiar to some of you long-time Fundraising Weekly subscribers.) Check it out to learn all about the three key elements of effective fundraising— storytelling, relationships, and optimization. Enjoy!

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

Monthly or recurring donations are one of the easiest ways for nonprofits to boost their fundraising revenue without bringing in a lot of new donors. At a time when acquiring new donors has become more challenging, that is very valuable. This giving strategy also appeals to many donors who might not be able to make large, one-time gifts but can give smaller amounts more frequently.

With the rise in popularity of online giving, monthly giving programs are easier than ever to maintain. Before, nonprofits spent countless hours asking donors to commit to recurring giving, then track each gift and ensure donors actually followed through. Now, online giving platforms and fundraising systems can automate most of the process, freeing up time and energy and boosting revenue streams.

Donor management software is a powerful tool that helps nonprofits of every size and shape put their donor data to work on your behalf. Fundraising software helps you manage fundraising efforts and communications in one organized location. Ultimately, the right donor management software can help you learn about your donors so you can deliver better donor care, increase donations, save time, and even reduce overall fundraising costs!

The great news is that with all the options on the market, you're almost sure to find donor management software that will fit your unique needs and wants. The bad news is that it can take quite a bit of legwork to find the right software for you, and the process can feel a bit daunting. We've gathered some tips and insights to help guide your search.

It’s no secret that nonprofit fundraising has a lot of moving parts. Typically your organization will start by setting goals for a specific campaign or fundraising event and then spend months planning out your strategy. Once you have a solid plan in place, you’re finally ready to spread the word about your campaign.

That’s where marketing comes in. After all, half the battle for successful fundraising is promoting the campaign to your support base and letting them know about new opportunities to give.

Issue 54

Happy Tuesday everyone! I hope this week has been treating you kindly. It’s another travel week for me— I’ll be flying out of Lake Tahoe on Thursday! I’ve relished my time here with family and some top notch views, but I’m ready to get back to my home base, Washington, DC. I’ve got some fun celebratory actives planned for this weekend, and I hope good things await you all as well.

In this week’s newsletter, dig into some great information on nonprofit event management Learn some corporate partner strategies that hold up during a pandemic. Or determine if you are a “farmer” or a “magician” when it comes to fundraising. Enjoy!

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

Events are a critical way for nonprofits to connect with current and potential donors, share about the mission, and raise money. But planning and managing an event--whether in-person or online--can be quite a task, especially if it's an event you've never hosted before.

Whether you're planning a small gathering for your top donors or a massive event with hundreds of attendees, fundraising events require careful planning, promotion, budgeting, and many other things.

Event management tools and strategies can help you raise the most money possible at your upcoming nonprofit events and reduce the event planning stress for your entire team. We've gathered the top lessons, tips, and tools from fundraising experts to help you streamline your event management strategy!

If you’ve worked in the nonprofit sector for any length of time, you’ve probably found yourself needing a bit of inspiration from time to time. Perhaps you need an occasional reminder of why you give so sacrificially to make the world a better place. Or maybe you’re writing an appeal letter, and you need a quote to tie things together. We’ve all been there!

From successful entrepreneurs and CEOs to athletes and teachers, quotes and phrases motivate and empower us toward success. Inspirational quotes appeal to our thoughts and emotions and can shift our thought patterns toward a more hopeful, positive outlook. They can also communicate valuable truths in a “portable” way that people can easily remember.

Issue 53

And this week’s Fundraising Weekly is coming to you live from…Lake Tahoe! That’s right, I have found my way back to the west coast to spend some time with family. I will be here for another week and a half, so if you are familiar with the area and want to send me some great hiking or restaurant recommendations, I am always excited for new experiences! Feel free to give me a reply.

As always, this newsletter has been carefully curated to ensure you have the latest and greatest on all things fundraising. There’s something for everyone, with topics like CRM systems for nonprofits, foundation grants, digital marketing, and the future of virtual events. Enjoy!

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

Issue 7

Hey Soapbox Engage partners!

Happy August! I’ll be heading to the land of 10,000 lakes this week and I couldn’t be more excited for pontoon rides, paddle boarding, sunshine, and smores. I hope wherever you are, you’ve had time to enjoy the season you're in and spend time with the people you love.

Before I head out, I wanted to give you an update on what’s been happening in Soapbox Engage land! We had so many power-packed releases roll off the assembly line last month. We’re always working hard to improve our tools and give nonprofits the absolute best. Keep on reading to learn more!

Attracting and retaining donors, volunteers, and other supporters takes consistent outreach and donor stewardship. But moving donors toward new giving levels--that takes some serious strategy! And yet, retaining donors and helping them increase their giving is one of the most profitable places to spend your time and energy.

This is where Moves Management comes in! This is a master organizing tool that helps you organize and manage the nebulous process of moving a prospective donor through the entire life donation cycle. The overall goal of Moves Management is to increase your donor's awareness, interest, and commitment to your cause, so they ultimately make a gift or increase their giving.