Soapbox Engage Blog

Issue 20

Welcome to the final two weeks of the fundraising season! I know it's a hurried dash from this point forward, so let's get right to the point and dive into some fundraising community knowledge sharing...maybe with a side of egg nog.

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It’s been a long year, and like us, you’re probably eager to see 2021. To send 2020 off in style (or with “good-riddance”?), we thought we’d go through the past two years and look at the philanthropic landscape. And wow do we have some great news to share with you!

Here are some of the key statistics and takeaways we think are important to keep in mind as you lead your nonprofit in fundraising and donor care.

This guest post was written by the giving experts at GiveCentral.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an immense impact on nonprofit organizations. Adapting to the change has become the need of the hour.

Emphasizing the power of giving has become all the more important, and thankfully, this can be achieved through well-strategized communication alone. There are multiple success stories of charities and organizations raising funds in such difficult times, with social media playing a large role in getting the word across. Fundraising on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube, among others, is on the rise and working well for organizations doing it correctly.

But how can you tap into these trends while proactively looking for ways to keep strengthening your approach for the year to come? Digital communication and engagement is a bigger priority than ever before, but a stagnant strategy won’t serve you well in a fast-changing 2021.

Issue 19

Giving Tuesday? Check. End-of-year fundraising plans in motion? Check. Hurriedly making changes to online fundraising campaigns in motion as you're getting real-time feedback from donors and your teammates. On it.

As fundraisers around the world focus on smoothing out any speed bumps getting in the way of year-end fundraising, I've pulled together some tips and ideas that might come in handy in these final weeks of 2020. So grab a beverage, relax, and let's take a tour through the collective hive mind of knowledge for the week!

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

Perhaps as you’re wrapping up another year of fundraising you’ve noticed your database isn’t quite as automated as you would like, the fees on your donation apps are not ideal, or maybe your donor contact efforts could be more targeted. In short, you’ve been thinking of getting or upgrading your fundraising software.

You may have even looked online at a few options (and found this blog!). But there are so many apps and feature lists to sort through, each one promising the moon. It can be hard to make a simple choice and you’ve got a lot to do. You want simple, practical, and affordable.

So, in the spirit of simple, we’ve come up with three easy steps to help you figure out what online fundraising tools, software, apps, platforms, or widgets will help you streamline your fundraising efforts and empower your nonprofit to soar even higher.

Most nonprofits rely on the generosity of donors for a majority of their funding. It’s the primary way organizations pay bills, employ staff, and steer their impact in the world! That means fundraising is a necessary (and massive) undertaking… but it doesn’t have to feel like a “necessary evil”!

Great fundraising can (and should) be a learned skill. Sure, many development professionals are naturally skilled in the fundraising department, but excellent fundraisers take the time to hone their craft— and they back their skills with a strong fundraising plan that equips volunteers for success and cultivates a stronger, sustainable organization.

We know that time, energy, and money are precious for development professionals, so we created this nonprofit fundraising guide to help you build a fundraising plan that fits your nonprofit’s strengths and mission.

Issue 18

By the time you receive this message, my hope is that you've begun a little celebrating for the end of another Giving Tuesday. Congratulations for crossing the finish line!

After you get a chance to recharge the batteries, the latest ideas from your fellow fundraising community leaders will be here. For now, enjoy a moment of relaxation.

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

As a busy development professional, you have a lot to do, a shoestring budget, and not a lot of time to do it all. We know the internet is overflowing with nonprofit marketing strategies and quick tips to increase your reach, and it can be challenging to narrow it down to the must-know information.

What you need most is easy, efficient, and effective online marketing solutions that you can put in place for your nonprofit now. We have good news: you’re likely already doing half of it!

If you're like us, you're probably still trying to find the most effective way for your team to work remotely while maintaining connectivity, productivity, and sanity.

Most of us discovered Zoom pretty quickly as a video conferencing software to hold virtual meetings, coffee dates, brainstorming sessions, and other online gatherings. But, many development professionals are still on the hunt for additional resources to keep their team connected and engaged.

We know there's no one-size-fits-all technology solution, but we think Microsoft Teams comes pretty close! Our tech experts spent time learning about Microsoft Teams to identify the best features for fundraisers and development professionals. We believe Microsoft Teams just might give your nonprofit the fundraising productivity boost you're looking for!

As "It's the most wonderful time of the year!" rings through the media these days, end-of-year giving campaigns are in full swing, and churches worldwide are working hard to reach their fundraising goals. Many churches and nonprofits, in general, depend heavily on this season of charitable giving for year-round financial stability.

Your church needs a plan to take full advantage of the year-end giving spirit. It doesn't need to be a complicated plan, but you know how the saying goes, "failing to plan is planning to fail." A little extra preparation and forethought (and the right tools) can really inspire generosity in your congregation!

Don't worry; we've got a basic year-end giving checklist that will help make your church fundraising a smashing success (and some tools to help you implement your plan with ease)!

Issue 17

It's been another busy week in fundraising world, and with GivingTuesday next week, we're all about to turn the dial up even more. Hang in there folks. Talk a long virtual walk with me along the beach in California. Just for a quick relaxing moment.

Luckily, our community has been stepping up to the challenge, and there's been some great content you can use to put some last-minute touches on your call-to-action campaigns. So when you're back from your virtual beach walk, join me for another round of fundraising knowledge!

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

Whether you're a small nonprofit just starting out or an established organization with a fabulous fundraising team, it's essential to familiarize yourself with what a development department is and how to build an effective team. We've put together 5 tips to help you assess your current fundraising needs and build (or expand) your development department appropriately. This process can also help you set fundraising goals for the coming year--so it's a win-win!

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).

Issue 016

Somebody told me that we're officially in the second half of November, but I didn't believe them. When you get a chance to drive the California coast, and soak in the beauty of the ocean and mountains, it's like you've stepped out of the end-of-year fundraising bubble for just a brief moment.

Ah, big, deep breaths.

Now, before I go on too long about taking a moment for yourself to just relax (while sipping a large cup of extra-caffeinated coffee), allow me to present to you this week's fundraising community knowledge.

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

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.

2020 is the year of event streaming platforms. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual streaming, hosting, and event interaction platforms have stepped into the spotlight and taken up the mantle of keeping businesses, nonprofits, and even families connected, engaged, and fully operational.

Before we go on, we’d like to pause and acknowledge the grit, tenacity, innovation, and creativity that fundraisers and development professionals have put on full display this year Despite many uncertainties, you continue to step into the unknown and explore the world of virtual fundraising!

As you are planning your year-end fundraising event, we completely understand if you’re having some trouble picking which platform to use. Here at Soapbox Engage, we’ve scoured countless articles, plan listings, and platform features to bring you this one-stop comparison guide on which virtual event streaming platform will work best for you!

When the topic of virtual event fundraising comes up, we wouldn’t blame you if Vimeo didn’t immediately spring to mind. Smaller than Youtube and less visible than Facebook Live, Vimeo is often forgotten when compared to other, more popular video hosting services. But that doesn’t mean Vimeo slacks when it comes to offering great features that are especially useful for nonprofits hosting virtual fundraising events.

We want to bring you a few considerations and tips on getting the most out of Vimeo in hopes that you’ll consider adding it to your toolbox of online resources for fundraising and connecting with your donors.

Issue 015

Well, the simulation is really pulling out all the stops these days, isn't it?

For my American fundraising friends, here's to hoping you were able to get some sleep between election week activities, virtual fundraising galas, online donation campaigns, and more. Also, did you take a moment to eat?

I've taken a quick moment to get some fresh Pacific coast air, and I'm excited to share another great round of knowledge coming from the community. So if you need a little break in the action, here's an easy reading list to keep your creative neurons firing.

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

Everyone is on Facebook these days. Your donors are on Facebook; your boss is on Facebook; some people’s dogs have more followers than most humans at this point!

So, as the year draws to a close and you’re looking for a great way to turn your year-end fundraising gala into a virtual event, Facebook Live is the place to go! Today we’re back with 6 tips to make your Facebook Live virtual event stand out from the pack.

Issue 014

This is where I insert an interesting tidbit, or a reflection of life and fundraising. Instead ... US election night ... brain ... mush ... living in Washington DC ... just need to get through the evening with an ounce of sanity remaining.

Thanks for understanding. I now return you to your stress-relieving tool of your choosing. And a television to vocalize your opinion of the state of news graphics in 2020.

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