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!

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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!

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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!

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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!

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Issue 26

Most folks don't know about the little blue line. It appears once every four years, stringing together the US Capitol and the White House, and provides the path of the new President to their new residence.

It also happens to go right by my office building.

This year, that meant me, a US secret service officer from Texas, and a building security guard watched from inside glass doors as the President slowly drove past the office, right before making a left to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. The officer put it best, "I've been doing this for 24 years, and I've never seen anything like this."

As we're all launching into 2021 with a sense of disequilibrium, it helps to know that there's a path pointing you home. Here's another fantastic batch helpful guidance from fellow non-profiteers. Consider this your own little blue line, taking you right to the knowledge you need to keep bringing success home to your organization.

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Issue 25

Living near downtown Washington DC has meant that life has seemed a bit different during the past week. There's the military presence, anti-climb fencing, and the types of things you see on TV in far away war zones.

So when I took a moment to leave the city for a hike and a view, I had a chance to take a deep breath of the cool air and think, "maybe those skies are beginning to part, and maybe we have better days ahead of us."

We're early in our journey together here in this newsletter, but I'm darn proud to work alongside fellow fundraising professionals looking to make the world a better, more just place. For those of you in the US, here's to a peaceful Inauguration Day tomorrow. After pausing for a moment tomorrow, let's get right back to work serving the communities we care so much about.

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Issue 24

Let's just cut to the chase. I was hoping to be able to come back this week and say, "I hope you've all had a relaxing week, recharging your batteries, and taking the past few days to relish the calm of the post-fundraising season."

Alas.

It's a challenging time. And if I'm going to hurtle through these days, I'm darn proud to be doing so alongside the folks in our nonprofit sector focused on making the world a more just and peaceful place. Here's to doing the hard work, sharing knowledge, and stepping up to the challenges in front of us.

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Issue 23

My friends, we made it! I really expected to look at my watch on New Year's Day and see it read "December 32". Luckily, it said 2021, and I was able to breathe that same relief I heard across DC.

As we transition into fundraising rest mode (even just for a moment), it's great to take a moment to reflect on the success of 2020. While our Soapbox Engage community reported pretty hard hits on event registrations, we saw our organizations solidly grow their online fundraising during one of the toughest fundraising years in a long time.

Nice work, fundraisers!

Wherever you find yourself today, I hope you get a moment to reflect and enjoy a bit of peace. You deserve it!

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Issue 22

It's the end of the year as we know it, and I feel...like it can't end fast enough. Fundraising during a pandemic has been difficult, and development leaders around the world are breathing both a sign of relief and hope for a fruitful new year.

As you gear up for 2021, I send all my best wishes for just a bit of rest before you get started. I hope you've enjoyed this first year of the Fundraising Weekly. I'm looking forward to finding more nuggets of knowledge for the community!

Here's to 2021!

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Issue 21

As we get ready to bid adieu to 2020, we can all be thankful that wherever the road leads us next, it won't be back to 2020. Right? Wherever this week's email finds you, I'm sending you and yours best wishes and happy holidays before you head off to your well-deserved, end-of-year, out-of-office-until-2021 holiday breaks.

Between slow sips of egg nog mixed with your secret ingredient, enjoy a healthy dose of this week's fundraising community knowledge.

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