Soapbox Engage Blog

Issue 32

Happy Tuesday! We’re just about a year into various states of lockdown and I hope you’re all hanging in there. We were blessed with some sunshine in Washington DC today and a little it of vitamin D will turn the day around!

We have a lot of awesome content for you this week in the Fundraising Weekly. If you have any spring fundraisers coming up, get ready to draw some inspiration!

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

Summer has begun! Your donors are likely dreaming more about long days at the beach and less about another zoom meeting.

Is that a problem for your fundraising goals? Not one bit! While summer is not commonly thought of as a banner fundraising season, we think we’ve unlocked some tips and tricks to get people to attend your fundraising events and start donating.

Food is powerful. Eating is a very social activity that brings people together, helps people make fond memories, and so much more. And, everyone has to eat. So, fundraisers that involve food are usually very popular and successful.

Whether you're into pie-eating contests or fancy dinner parties, there's a food fundraiser for every type of audience! Since the Girl Scouts seem to hold the lion's share of the cookie fundraising market, we rounded up some great food-oriented fundraising ideas that any nonprofit can host.

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.

Issue 31

As the calendar turns to March, it's hard to not say, "wait, you again?" A year ago today feels so distant, as we all just went about our days maskless. Now just watching a movie scene that includes a crowd makes me cringe.

We seem to be turning a corner in the fight against COVID-19, and it just might be time to think about a post-pandemic future. Fundraising in-person. Galas. Dinners...inside!

Before we get too far ahead of ourselves, let's keep our eyes focused on the road ahead, and soak in some great fundraising community knowledge.

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

Issue 2

Hello Soapbox Engage partners!

February went by so fast, I feel like I blinked and it was gone. As we head into March, I’m looking forward to the seasons changing here on the East Coast. Every extra hour of daylight we get feels like liquid sunshine running through my veins, giving me more energy.

Like the changing of seasons, we have some changes of our own happening over here at Soapbox Engage! With mission in mind, we strive to continue moving forward, growing, and improving the tools we offer to the nonprofit community.

Spring is a time of newness, rebirth, and hope. People often feel more energized and full of life as we come out of the dark, dull, cold winter months and into warmer, brighter spring days. And you can take advantage of this as fundraisers!

Even though end-of-year fundraising tends to be the most profitable overall, spring brings some key events that nonprofits can leverage in your fundraising efforts, too. Plus, people have cabin-fever and are itching to get out and about.

Holidays like Easter, Purim, Passover, Mother's Day, and Nowruz can elicit a season of generosity. People who practice Lent often incorporate acts of service, generosity, and charity. Those who get big tax returns might have a wad of cash burning a hole in their pockets.

With these things in mind, we rounded up some fun and effective fundraising ideas that any nonprofit can incorporate into their spring fundraising plans.

Updated March 2026. Originally published February 2021.

The right auction items can transform a modest fundraising night into one your donors talk about for years. The wrong ones sit at their minimum bids all evening and go home unclaimed.

We've put together 60+ silent auction item ideas organized by category, with notes on what tends to perform best and why. Whether you're filling out a full gala program or planning a smaller community event, this list gives you a strong starting point.

Issue 30

We’re wrapping up February, then spring will be just around the corner! I'm sure my fellow northern hemisphere friends are as excited as I am. What are your spring fundraising goals? Do you have any special events planned — virtual or in person? Am I getting ahead of myself?

With spring on the way, I feel a renewed sense of hope. And it’s not just the thought of warmer weather and some leaves back on the trees. I’m hopeful that this season will renew some strength in the nonprofit community and nudge us just a little closer to the “normal” we all miss. For now, bundle up!

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

A quick assessment of your community will likely reveal dozens or hundreds of needs. When it comes to service projects, sometimes the challenge isn't figuring out what to do; it's knowing where to start!

Every year millions of people donate countless hours to local, national, and international causes. We're here to offer some benefits of participating in community service and volunteer projects and some excellent community service and fundraising ideas to get you started!

When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. When life gives you a global pandemic, you get creative with your summer camp fundraising. Summer camps like yours will provide a much-needed service as soon as it's safe. Parents all over the country are eager for some calm and quiet, and kids are anxious to get back to socializing, having fun, and exploring the world.

Between alumni, families, staff, and volunteers, you have a vast network of people who can clearly picture the value of giving a scholarship to a family or improving the camp amenities. All you have to do is tap into that network with some creative fundraising. We're here to give you some practical fundraising ideas for summer camps so you can provide much-needed scholarships, maintain your facilities, hire new staff, or cover other costs.

Active duty military members, veterans, and their families sacrifice a lot for our country. Some need a little financial help along the way to cover costs associated with moving or returning from deployment. Many veterans are thankful for help covering medical expenses. Some veterans benefit from service animals, or other forms of support.

There are countless worthy reasons to fundraise on behalf of military service members, veterans, and their families. Often, the challenge isn't finding a great cause to help; it's finding the right fundraiser for the cause! Have no fear; we've gathered some tried-and-tested fundraising strategies to raise money for veterans and military service members.

Issue 29

It’s a very special day for PICnet, the company behind Soapbox Engage… It’s our 20th anniversary! We’ve spent the last two decades advancing the world of nonprofit tech and serving the nonprofit community we deeply cherish. We’ve grown and evolved a lot over the years and it hasn’t always been easy, but we’ve loved every moment.

Thank you for being a part of this community. This newsletter and each subscriber is another reminder of why we love what we do. So, while we celebrate ourselves today and reminisce about laying ethernet cables in 2001, please know we are also celebrating you!

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

Happy 20th anniversary, PICnet!

Writing that makes my mind bounce between "that can't be true" and "heck yeah, that feels about right".

On one hand, it feels like it was only yesterday when Grey Frandsen and I were in Tirana, Albania. Way back in 1999, sitting on the top of the Piramida, we discussed ways we could help the relief groups we saw on the frontlines of refugee camps during the Kosovo War. Later that year, back in Los Angeles, we'd walk across the UCLA campus spinning ideas that we thought might lead to a business to solve these challenges, without any concept of what building a business meant.

If you're reading this, you've likely lost a loved one. Perhaps you're hoping to raise money in their memory or to cover funeral costs. The first thing we want you to know is that the Soapbox Engage team is sending our love and support to you as you navigate this difficult time.

Planning a memorial service can seem like a monumental burden, but we want you to know you're not alone. If you're wondering where to start planning a fundraiser in memory of your loved one or to help a friend navigate grief, we've written this article just for you.

Traveling is a profoundly transformative experience. It’s so valuable to have the chance to take in other cultures and lands, learn to empathize, and broaden your skills and horizons, while making new friends and new memories.

Travel is also expensive. When considering transportation, lodging, food (and souvenirs!), travel costs add up quickly. If only there was some way you could pick up some sweet moolah on the side to pad your travel bank account and finally afford that long-awaited excursion!

We racked our brains to come up with 9 great ways to raise money for your next trip. Our goal is to help you spend less time worrying about finances and more time exploring. So, whether you’re planning your next personal vacation or raising money for a gap-year, these travel fundraising ideas are for you!

Issue 28

Valentine's Day is just around the corner. For some, this may be a made-up holiday designed to sell cards and chocolates. But I like to think of it as an opportunity to practice gratitude in all areas of my life.

What about the nonprofit community do you cherish? How have you been expressing appreciation for your donors lately? Which of your coworkers could use some encouragement right now? There's lots of little ways to show love, and it goes a long way in a season like this. So cozy up with your favorite warm beverage and enjoy this week's thoughtful fundraising content!

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

Animal shelters and sanctuaries are definitely unsung heroes, caring for the abandoned and neglected animals who need love the most. Volunteers and employees work tirelessly to feed, house, and care for our furry friends, who return the favor with love, support, and enthusiastic tail wags.

But we know love and support are (unfortunately) not enough. It takes money to run a great animal shelter and help pets find the homes and hearts they need. Today we've got 10 great ideas for your animal fundraising so Fido can find his "fur-ever" home.

Fraternities and sororities are great places to build leadership skills, community, and a lifelong network of support, encouragement, and camaraderie. While it does require quite an investment of time, energy, and money, joining a fraternity or sorority can help boost academic success, provide opportunities to hone leadership and communication skills, and even lead to job opportunities.

Many people don’t realize that philanthropy and community service are a significant component of sorority and fraternity life! Most Greek organizations have a designated charity or cause they support year-round. Nearly all fraternities and sororities require their members to participate in some kind of community service project each year.

It can get challenging to come up with creative fundraising ideas that people will actually want to attend. If you’re looking for some fun and effective new fundraising ideas for your fraternity or sorority, look no further! We’ve got some ideas that will help you reach your fundraising goals for your service project or philanthropy without all the planning headaches.

Issue 27

Winter has officially arrived in DC. How is this measured? The speed by which the city shuts down at even the whisper of snow on a local Reddit forum.

While the National Zoo's pandas celebrated by doing their own version of body sledding yesterday, our fundraising community was busy at work with more knowledge sharing. Grab a cup of hot chocolate, east coast folks, and enjoy a round of thought-provoking content!

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