Soapbox Engage Blog

We're back with a recap of NPSP Day Los Angeles! On May 28, the Salesforce nonprofit community gathered at the Braille Institute for a day of learning, collaboration, and community building.

From the moment attendees arrived, there was an unmistakable sense of excitement in the room. Whether reconnecting with familiar faces or meeting new members of the community for the first time, people were eager to share ideas, compare notes, and learn from one another. The conversations started early and never really stopped, carrying from breakout sessions into lunch discussions in the Braille Institute's beautiful outdoor courtyard.

A huge thank you to our sponsors, Idlewild Partners, Data Geeks Lab, and Idealist Consulting, whose support helped make the day possible!

Happy Monday, Trailblazers!

This week’s roundup includes several resources focused on one of the biggest topics in the Salesforce ecosystem right now: upcoming security changes and what they could mean for day-to-day users. We’re also sharing some fresh content from Salesforce Break and a recap of NPSP Day Los Angeles.

Looking ahead, June is packed with opportunities to connect, including the first of this month’s Nonprofit AMA sessions tomorrow, plus the London Community Sprint, World Tour London, and a True to the Core Deep Dive on DevOps Center later this month!

Have a great week!

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Issue 305

Happy Tuesday, fundraisers!

As we move into June, this week’s roundup is a reminder that some of the biggest fundraising opportunities come from looking at familiar challenges in a new way. Whether it’s tapping into volunteers as donor prospecting partners, creating more meaningful donor engagement opportunities, or reaching the supporters who haven’t yet raised their hands, these pieces encourage us to think beyond the usual playbook.

Have a wonderful week!

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

Happy Monday, Trailblazers!

June is here, and this week’s newsletter features a mix of community conversations, release resources, and upcoming opportunities to connect with fellow nonprofit Salesforce users. We’re sharing the NPSP Day Seattle recap, a few fresh resources from around the ecosystem, and an interesting discussion on volunteer self-service in Nonprofit Cloud.

We’re also looking forward to NPSP Day Chicago this Thursday. Hope to see some of you there!

Don't forget, you can have the goodness of the PUB Crawl delivered into your inbox each Monday morning by subscribing today!

Your nonprofit carefully plans its finances, considering every variable. You account for seasonal fundraising dips, operational costs, and program expenses months in advance. But even the most meticulously planned financial strategies can be derailed by sudden economic shifts, unforeseen internal challenges, a major donor pulling out, or a community crisis.

When disaster strikes, revising your budget is necessary to protect your long-term sustainability and ensure your community impact never skips a beat. In this article, we'll provide a clear framework for identifying when a financial pivot is necessary and outline actionable steps to adapt your existing financial plan effectively.

We're back with a recap of NPSP Day Seattle! On May 14, the Pacific Northwest nonprofit Salesforce community gathered at the Panoramic Center for a full day of collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and hands-on problem solving.

Around 40 folks joined us for the day, and the energy in the room was everything we love about NPSP Days: a genuine willingness to share what's working, be honest about what isn't, and help each other build better systems. A huge thank you to Greg Scully and the team at 501 Commons for welcoming us into such a wonderful space.

Enormous thanks as well to our sponsors for helping make the day possible: Presenting Sponsor Idlewild Partners and Community Sponsor Data Geeks Lab.

Issue 304

Happy Tuesday, fundraisers!

This week’s roundup is all about the behind-the-scenes work that quietly drives fundraising success. From data hygiene and gift processing to improving email deliverability and donation page performance, these pieces focus on strengthening the systems that help every campaign run more smoothly.

You’ll also find ideas for raising more at events with live giving displays, along with practical guidance on engaging supporters during an election year.

Enjoy!

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

The annual gala is one of the most important nights of the year for a YMCA, JCC, or community center. You've spent months on venue, catering, program, and the ask. Your board has filled tables. The room is ready. What happens in the thirty minutes after the speaker sits down will determine whether you hit your goal.

That window, between the emotional close of the program and the moment the room begins to thin, is where community centers either build momentum or lose it. A live fundraising display turns that window into something the room can respond to together.

Issue 303

Happy Tuesday, fundraisers!

This week’s roundup is a bit of a reset. In a world where everything can feel urgent, these pieces gently push back with a simple reminder: motion is not the same as progress. From asking less but better to communicating with more honesty and clarity, it’s all about focusing your energy where it actually counts.

You’ll also find practical ideas for day-of-event confidence, insights into the future of peer-to-peer fundraising, and ways to strengthen your online fundraising and donor engagement. And if you’re experimenting with real-time tools, we’re highlighting Live Displays again as a way to bring more visibility and momentum to your events.

Have a great week!

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

Every four years, something shifts. Supporters who respond to donation appeals with mild interest suddenly have opinions, energy, and a heightened sense that what they do right now matters. Election years are unusual in this way: the ambient pressure to act creates an opening that doesn't exist in quieter political moments.

Most nonprofits don't take advantage of it. Either they assume engagement means advocacy, and advocacy means political risk, or they don't have the tools to do anything quickly enough to matter. Both problems are solvable. This post covers what's actually available to nonprofits that want to mobilize their supporters right now, without building a full advocacy program, and without jeopardizing their tax-exempt status.

Issue 302

Happy Tuesday, fundraisers!

This week’s roundup is grounded in what’s becoming increasingly clear across the sector: data, timing, and storytelling matter more than ever. From building an AI-ready data foundation to making smarter investment decisions that support fundraising growth, these pieces focus on strengthening the systems behind your success.

You’ll also find takeaways from NPSP Day Oakland and the NAYDO conference, plus practical guidance on writing stronger donor thank-yous, preparing for prime fundraising season, and connecting today’s giving to tomorrow’s impact through blended giving.

Enjoy!

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

We're back with another NPSP Day recap, this time from sunny Oakland! On April 30, the Salesforce nonprofit community gathered at Preservation Park for a full day of collaboration, learning, and community connection.

This was our first time bringing NPSP Day to Oakland, and it could not have gone better! We had a fantastic turnout of 35 attendees with 100% attendance, an enthusiastic and welcoming room, and absolutely gorgeous weather all day long. The beautiful courtyard at Preservation Park made for the perfect lunch spot, with attendees gathering outside to continue conversations, swap ideas, and connect with peers between sessions.

Most nonprofits that run petitions treat the signature count as the outcome. They set a goal, collect signatures, deliver them to a decision-maker, and move on. That's a legitimate use of a petition, but it's also the least valuable thing a petition can do for your organization.

Especially right now. If your organization is thinking about how to engage supporters beyond donations in an election year, a petition is one of the lowest-friction ways to start. But only if you treat it as a beginning, not a deliverable.

A well-designed petition is a list-building tool, a constituent qualification mechanism, and a warm pipeline for future donation and engagement asks. Every signer is a person who raised their hand on a specific issue connected to your mission. That's something you can act on for years.

Issue 301

Happy Tuesday, fundraisers!

We’re kicking off May with something new from our team: Live Displays, a real-time way to showcase fundraising progress during your events. If you’re looking to bring more energy and visibility to your campaigns, this is built to help engage supporters in the moment and keep momentum going! Feel free to schedule a time to chat if you'd like to learn more!

This week’s roundup also explores how to stand out and stay effective in a crowded landscape—from making your messages more memorable to understanding shifts in donor behavior and building stronger grantmaker relationships. You’ll also find a helpful recap from NPSP Day Boston and ideas for creating community-driven events that expand your reach.

Enjoy!

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

We're back with a recap of NPSP Day Boston! On April 23, the Salesforce nonprofit community gathered at The Boston Foundation for a full day of collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and hands-on problem solving.

This was our first time back in Boston since 2020, and wow did it feel good to be back! The nonprofit community in Boston is so generous and enthusiastic, and gathering with them was a powerful reminder of why we do the work we do (as nonprofits and the tech companies that support them!). It was wonderful to see some old friends as well as some fresh faces, and we're already plotting our return for 2027.

From the opening sessions through afternoon breakouts, the energy in the room reflected what makes NPSP Day so special: a willingness to share openly, dig into challenges, and learn from one another across roles and experience levels.

An enormous thank you to our friends at Idlewild Partners for sponsoring the day and helping make it all possible!

Issue 300

Happy Tuesday, fundraisers!

After an event ends, an auction closes, or a campaign wraps, the real opportunity often begins in the follow-up. This week’s roundup explores how thoughtful next steps can turn one-time activity into lasting support. Below, you’ll find practical ideas for thanking donors after fundraising events, increasing engagement at charity auctions, and understanding what truly makes a donor valuable over time.

Hope you enjoy!

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

Picture the room ten minutes in: guests settled, the speaker closing, the ask about to land. Tonight’s goal glows on the screen behind them, $100,000. The first gift comes in and the thermometer begins to climb, a name appearing as someone at table six leans over to whisper to a friend. Another gift follows, then another, momentum building in real time. What started as anticipation has turned into action.

Today we're announcing Soapbox Engage Live Displays, a real-time fundraising display built to create exactly that kind of moment. Project your live thermometer, donor feed, and leaderboards on any screen in the room. There's no app to install, no software to configure, and no advance coordination needed with your A/V vendor.

If you run galas, walk-a-thons, peer-to-peer campaigns, or any live fundraising event, Live Displays gives your donors something to watch, something to respond to, and something to celebrate together.

Issue 299

Happy Tuesday, fundraisers!

As April rolls on, this week’s roundup is all about moving beyond the basics and building deeper momentum. From smarter donor segmentation and stronger monthly donor retention to turning your annual fund into a major gifts pipeline, these pieces focus on creating relationships that grow over time.

You’ll also find guidance on preparing for bigger moments ahead, including capital campaigns and planning successful gala events, along with thoughtful reminders that the questions we ask and the opportunities we offer can shape the results we get.

Dive in!

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

Most charity auctions leave money on the table, not because the items weren't good or the crowd wasn't generous, but because the bidding experience got in the way. Guests who can't find the catalog, items that open too high to attract a first bid, and a silent auction that closes without anyone noticing: these are all avoidable problems.

The tactics below are grounded in what actually moves bid counts and final prices at nonprofit auctions. Some are structural decisions made weeks before the event. Others are real-time moves your team can make on the floor.

The moment your fundraising event ends, the next one begins. Not in the logistical sense, but in the relationship sense. What you do in the 48 hours after an event is one of the strongest predictors of whether a donor gives again next year.

Most organizations send a thank you email. Fewer send the right thank you to the right person at the right time. This playbook covers the full post-event follow-up sequence: who to thank, when, how, and what to say at each stage.