Soapbox Engage Blog

Before the advent of online donations, monthly or recurring donations were quite a burden for both the donor and recipient. It involved convincing supporters to mail a check or call your organization to donate by credit card over the phone regularly.

Now online fundraising systems make recurring giving convenient and accessible for nonprofits and donors. No more writing and mailing checks or making donations over the phone. People appreciate scheduling automatic withdrawal donations like they enroll in automatic bill pay programs.

Recurring giving programs have practically become a necessary fundraising strategy to cultivate more stable year-round revenue streams. Now that it's become more accessible and practical, it's time for nonprofits of all shapes and sizes to add a recurring giving program to their fundraising strategy. Let's explore some of the top benefits of recurring giving programs for nonprofits!

Major gifts are an important part of any basic fundraising strategy. They’re essential because they’re the largest contributions you receive from individual donors.

Many organizations refer to the 80-20 rule (or the Pareto principle) to discuss the importance of major donations. This principle dictates that 80% of a nonprofit’s funding is contributed by only the top 20% of their donors. Not every nonprofit fits perfectly into this model, but there’s no doubt that major gifts are an essential aspect of any nonprofit’s funding. 360MatchPro’s fundraising statistics show that over 5 years, major gifts of over $1,000 grew to 85% of the revenue generated at an average nonprofit.

2022 seemed to come with a little less fanfare than usual due to the ongoing pandemic. In some ways, it might feel like a continuation of 2020 and 2021. You might be feeling tired and worn or refreshed and energized, confused, hopeful, or even optimistic about 2022.

No matter how you're entering this year, having a solid strategy for personal and fundraising success remains critical. We'd like to take the opportunity to offer some ideas and to help you refocus as the calendar resets.

Being prepared felt difficult over the last two years because of many unpredictable factors and variables. Still, there are a few areas where preparation (even for the unexpected) can be instrumental and lead to greater success overall.

Issue 77

Hello wonderful fundraisers! I hope 2022 has been filled with rest so far as we’ve just come off the busiest part of the fundraising cycle. I always find that rest is what allows me to clarify my goals and dreams at the start of a new year, season, or project!

Scroll down for some awesome fundraising content to peruse at your leisure. We’ve got some great ideas around digital overhauls, major gift pipelines, and donor plans— plus a webinar about landing gifts in today’s tumultuous nonprofit climate!

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

Issue 75

Welcome to the new year, fundraisers! It feels good to be starting fresh, even if our first big snowstorm of the season has slowed things down a bit over here in DC. But a gentle start to the year may just be the best way in.

I hope you were able to rest and enjoy the holidays, and I hope you’ve been staying healthy and safe as we navigate another wave of illness. My thoughts are with you all.

Scroll down for some awesome fundraising content to get your minds turning with ideas for 2022!

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

Every year, my mother continues to give one member of our extended family a gift for the holidays. Why? Because this one cousin always sends my mother a thank-you note in return. Something about this exchange creates a transaction of value for both parties - Mum gets the warm fuzzies of dopamine, and my cousin gets gifts.

As the rush of holiday giving begins to slow, organizations will continue sending requests for donations. It's easy to get lost in this flood of calls-to-action and requests.

Well, it’s 2023. As we ease into this new year, now is the time that many of us are setting new year's resolutions, such as moving our bodies more or spending more time with loved ones. Setting new year resolutions doesn’t have to only apply to your personal life! This is a great time to do a “systems check” of your nonprofit. What’s worked well? What hasn’t? What happened in 2022, and what do you want to be different in 2023?

Keep reading for resolutions and assessment areas you can use to have the best 2023 possible for your organization.

Issue 73

Whew! Here we are, rounding the final quarter of 2021. I hope you have found some time to rest amidst holiday celebrations, year-end fundraising, and prep for 2022. We’re so close. Hoping you and your loved ones stay healthy, safe, and well-rested.

In our penultimate Fundraising Weekly of 2021, we dive into fundraising tips to end the year strong, major gift challenges for the year ahead, how to master monthly giving, and more. Dig in!

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

Over the last two years, there's been lots of talk about virtual fundraising amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of us shifted to online events and various virtual fundraising strategies (seemingly ages ago), while in-person gatherings weren't safe or feasible.

During the initial rush to incorporate virtual fundraising strategies, many people believed it was just a temporary shift. However, there are incredible benefits to this type of fundraising. From building stronger relationships with donors who live far away to diversifying your fundraising events and attracting more people, the advantages of virtual fundraisers are significant. Many experts indicate that virtual fundraising is here to stay, regardless of what happens next with the pandemic.

When it comes to school fundraising, creativity is vital. You need ideas that will raise sufficient funds to support after school programs, improve classrooms, and provide better course materials — all of which are vital for creating a more enriching learning environment for students. You also want ideas that keep your students interested and ready to participate.

Peer-to-peer fundraising strikes the perfect balance for raising money and keeping your community interested! It empowers schools to connect with wider audiences and give students hands-on responsibility. They’ll see firsthand how their hard work pays off.

As the fundraising year draws to a close, many nonprofits are preparing to make one last fundraising push. For some organizations, this might be hosting a big, year-end fundraising event, while others might try to make the most of their last initiative before it wraps up for the year. If your organization is taking either of these approaches and plans to recruit volunteers, you need to know if they should sign a waiver.

Waivers are a core part of many fundraising events’ registration process. When thinking about waivers, many nonprofit organizations first consider whether or not their guests should be signing one and may end up forgetting about their volunteers.

College groups and clubs usually need extra money for various reasons, from funding a service project or buying supplies for an event to attending conferences or events. There are loads of great reasons for college clubs and organizations to fundraise.

But let's be honest, you've probably experienced that awkward walk past yet another fundraising table on campus. Even if it's a worthy cause, it can be tough to justify buying yet another baked good or participating in one more "change for change" campaign.

Have no fear; we've rounded up some great fundraising ideas for college students, clubs, and organizations that don't involve those awkward fundraising tables or uncomfortable conversations!

Issue 72

Happy Tuesday! This weekend, as I was walking around the DC holiday market in Penn Quarter, churro in one hand, gifts for my family in the other, I was reflecting on some of my favorite seasonal traditions. Whether you like to take holiday light tours, make old family recipes, or simply enjoy time away from your computer, I hope you are looking forward to something in these final few weeks. They are sure to fly by!

For this week’s newsletter, we take a look at practical strategies for retaining donors after Giving Tuesday, explore why you should consider a communications calendar, and forecast fundraising trends to follow in 2022. Enjoy!

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

Your nonprofit’s website is your digital hub for connecting with supporters, gathering donations, and sharing your organization’s mission with the world. As such, your site’s design should effectively engage supporters and help differentiate your nonprofit from similar organizations.

So, how can you optimize your website with the most robust features and best possible user experience? It all starts with your nonprofit website builder.

You may have initially built your nonprofit’s website using a free, simple, user-friendly website builder. However, as your organization has grown over the years, you may find yourself searching for a new platform that can handle your evolving needs.

Nonprofit advocacy and grassroots fundraising campaigns offer your supporters different ways to get involved in your mission, attract new donors, and expand your network. Nonprofits are utilizing this strategy more than ever to go beyond the standard fundraising campaigns and encourage their supporters to take different actions throughout the year.

If your organization is considering incorporating these strategies into your fundraising campaigns, we've got some best practices and insights to help you plan an influential and effective grassroots and advocacy campaign!

Issue 71

With Giving Tuesday behind us, you’ve hopefully had the chance to come up for air! But the craze of year-end fundraising endures, and it’s a lot of pressure. Take frequent computer breaks, and remember you are truly the superheroes of the nonprofit world. I have full faith that you’ll knock this last month out of the park!

Here are my top fundraising picks for the week! Brush up on best practices for fundraising during a pandemic, prepare some storytelling interview questions, or make time to welcome your new donors. Happy reading!

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

With the flurry and rush of Giving Tuesday behind us, it's so tempting to think the work of that campaign is over. But really, the most critical stage has just begun! While many people are motivated to give to campaigns and causes because of Giving Tuesday's momentum and social pressure, we all know that relationships and authentic connection to the cause are the roots of excellent donor retention.

Don't make the mistake of overlooking your Giving Tuesday donors. It really is possible to cultivate authentic relationships after they make their initial Giving Tuesday donation. Here are six practical steps you can take to boost the retention of Giving Tuesday donors.

It’s go time! The fast pace of the last quarter has kicked off, and you are running toward the goal line with all you have...feeling that all you have is rapidly diminishing. It may feel like there is little to no time for self-care, but recognizing why self-care is not only important but even imperative to your performance, especially in this busy year-end fundraising season.

Let’s have a quick "real talk" about why self-care is a key part of your performance and wellbeing as a development professional. Self-care doesn't just allow you to be at peak performance longer, it can actually increase your performance, sense of balance, and overall health and wellness.

Issue 70

Today’s the day! Giving Tuesday is here and all of your hard work, tedious plans, and strategies are about to pay off. Though today may be the single most important calendar day for fundraisers, we know that it is only the beginning of the mad dash to the end of the year. Remember to slow down, connect with loved ones, and enjoy some delicious food when you can!

If you have a spare moment in your busy day, I hope you’ll check out some of these awesome blog articles and resources— the learning never stops! Wishing you all much fundraising success!

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

Nonprofit merchandise can help boost donations, build your brand, and educate people about valuable causes. Everyone from the American Cancer Society to the Heal the Bay organization uses e-commerce stores to advance their causes—and you can, too!

Keep reading to get some expert advice about adding an online store to your fundraising and brand awareness strategies for the greatest success.