Hands-On Fundraising

MAY 13, 2025

Measure your fundraising to succeed. Nonprofits often follow rules regarding fundraising appeals to maximize their success. For example, industry experts will tell you that personalization is key to stewarding donor relationships. And storytelling is a surefire way to tug at your audiences heartstrings. However, the most reliable source of information about what works for your […] The post 10 Metrics to Track Your Fundraising Campaign Success appeared first on Hands-On Fundraising.

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Ann Green's Nonprofit

MAY 19, 2025

Whether youre setting up your website or improving an existing one, explore best practices for promoting your nonprofit online effectively in this guide. By Carl Diesing Your website is an essential tool in your online marketing kit. It serves as the foundation of your digital strategy by providing a place for any individual to find the information they seek about your nonprofit, whether thats your mission statement, impact on beneficiaries, how to donate, or volunteer sign-up forms.

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Pamela Grow

MAY 1, 2025

Every now and then, an email lands in my inbox that reminds me exactly why we do what we do. And in this moment when political hostility toward LGBTQ+ youth and families is mounting, and inclusive spaces are being questioned, defunded, or erased entirely this one from Camp Ten Oaks stopped me in my tracks. Subject line? Nothing flashy. Just an honest, heartfelt thank you.

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Clairification

MAY 26, 2025

Remember, behind all your work there are people. Its your job to learn more about them. One of your best tools is curiosity. One study published in Harvard Business Review ,found curiosity builds trust and improves relationships in the workplace. It also builds trust between you and donors. Jon Simons, Executive V.P. of DBD Group, suggests curiosity is a muscle.

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This prompt guide for ChatGPT contains 20+ tested ChatGPT prompts, along with tips on how to use this tool the best way. Nonprofits can engage with ChatGPT to brainstorm ideas, refine project plans, and craft compelling narratives for grant proposals.

ChatGPT

Lightning Fast Grant Writing

MAY 12, 2025

Weve all been there. The grant deadline is in five days. Youve got one draft, three department heads who want to review it, a finance team that needs to “double-check just one thing,” and a program lead whos suddenly out of office. Cue the chaos, caffeine, and existential dread. Welcome to the high-stress world of tight review cycles, where rushed edits, overlapping feedback, and unclear responsibilities turn even the best grant writers into frazzled zombies.

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Joe Garecht Fundraising

MAY 13, 2025

Ive noticed a trend in fundraising communications recently. They seem to be more formulaic than ever before. Many of the fundraising letters and newsletters I receive are interchangeable just take the few sentences about Organization Xs mission and insert Organization Y, and theyre essentially the same letter. Some of this is undoubtedly good: more non-profits are learning what works and what doesnt and proceeding accordingly.

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Ann Green's Nonprofit

MAY 5, 2025

With all the economic uncertainty right now, you may be worried about your nonprofits finances. Maybe your giving has gone down and youve cut back on some expenses. While thats understandable on one level, you need to be careful before you nix something you think you cant afford. It may be something you should be investing in. Instead of going on autopilot and saying We cant afford this, think about how you can make the right investments.

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Pamela Grow

MAY 29, 2025

Every week, I receive an email or a DM from someone whos decided to walk away from nonprofit fundraising. Not because they werent successful. Not because they didnt care. But because, despite their passion and proven impact, theyve hit a wall. A recent message from one of my most successful students a woman whos delivered flat-out outstanding results at three separate organizations stopped me cold: Ive come to the conclusion that fundraising isnt what I want to do anymore I just cant do this a

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Clairification

MAY 8, 2025

13 happens to be my lucky number. I want it to be lucky for you too. Today, Im going to reveal to you how you can make this happen. A survey of wills reported on by the Chronicle of Philanthropy revealed the average bequest by everyday donors is $78,630. The survey is a few years old, but as a working average this will suffice. Some people will leave less; some people will leave more.

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Nonprofit Fundraising IT 157

Lightning Fast Grant Writing

MAY 12, 2025

Grant writers, raise your hand if youve ever opened an old proposal and discovered that the current executive director left two years agoand your orgs mission statement has since gone through three rewrites and a rebrand. Yep. Weve all been there. Keeping the organizational grant story updated can feel like trying to change a tire while the cars still moving.

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Hands-On Fundraising

MAY 20, 2025

How hard are you making it to give? Seriously, giving shouldn’t be so confusing. The other day as we paid our bills, my husband and I pulled an appeal from our pile to make a donation. Then we turned the response form over and over, trying to figure out what to do. I’m a professional… […] The post How hard are you making it to give?

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Joe Garecht Fundraising

MAY 5, 2025

Over the past 25 years, Ive worked with hundreds of non-profit clients. And the vast majority of those clients have heard me say one (or all) of the following maxims. I repeat these sayings often because they are true, and each captures something important that can help your non-profit better understand the fundraising process. Here are my top 3 fundraising sayings, in no particular order: #1: Big vision, big gifts.

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Ann Green's Nonprofit

MAY 27, 2025

Some of you may remember when people sent postcards when they went on vacation, especially back in the days before email and social media. Now people are more likely to post pictures on social media, sometimes posting more than you want to see. We dont use postal mail as much anymore and many nonprofits are a part of that group. This is a mistake. Direct mail is more personal and your donors are more likely to see something they receive in the mail, as opposed to any type of electronic message y

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The Chronicle of Philanthropy

MAY 8, 2025

Bill Gates said his foundation will give away $200 billion over the next 20 years, accelerating donations in global health and other areas. By Stephanie Beasley AP Bill Gates plans to donate $200 billion from his foundation the largest amount a private foundation has ever given away. Bill Gates said his foundation will give away $200 billion over the next 20 years, accelerating donations in global health and other areas.

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Clairification

MAY 12, 2025

The results are in, and the news is generally bleak. The 2024 Fundraising Effectiveness Project Report * shows downward trends in numbers of donors (down 4.5%), and retention (down 2.6%). First-time donor retention is at its lowest-ever recorded rate. Less than one in five new donors (acquired in 2023) gave again. New donors accounted for 40% of all givers.

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Lightning Fast Grant Writing

MAY 12, 2025

Youre deep in a federal proposal, juggling 10 stakeholders, two budgets, and a narrative that still needs serious polishthen your inbox pings: Hey, can I shadow you today? Welcome to the wild world of mentoring junior grant writers. Sure, its rewarding. But lets be honestit can also feel like trying to teach someone to drive while youre still fixing the engine and steering with your knees.

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Hands-On Fundraising

MAY 6, 2025

Every time I hear a frustrated fundraiser talk about donors who aren’t giving, that lyric pops into my head. (In case you don’t know, it’s thanks to Steven Patrick Morrissey and Johnny Marr, of course). I know it’s human nature to look around for someone to blame when things don’t go as planned. And right […] The post You just haven’t earned it yet, baby: 5 ways to start appeared first on Hands-On Fundraising.

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The Fundraiser Coach

MAY 4, 2025

Welcome to my B.R.I.D.G.E. blog series, a six-part guide for building stronger, more sustainable donor relationships. Each post explores one part of the B.R.I.D.G.E. Framework , my connection-based approach to major gift fundraising. So far in the B.R.I.D.G.E. series, we’ve talked about connection , rapport , and aligned asks. But what happens after the meeting or the gift?

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NonProfit PRO

MAY 23, 2025

The budget reconciliation bill Republicans are calling The One, Big, Beautiful Bill heads to the Senate despite cries from the nonprofit sector that it would hand over a $50 billion tax bill to tax-exempt organizations over the next decade.

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The Chronicle of Philanthropy

MAY 23, 2025

How the new tax bill would impact foundations and nonprofits and the scramble to limit the damage. By Ben Gose POLITICO via AP Images House Speaker Mike Johnson speaks during a press conference after the House passed budget reconciliation legislation on Thursday. How the new tax bill would impact foundations and nonprofits and the scramble to limit the damage.

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Clairification

MAY 19, 2025

In a world filled with urgent headlines and heart-wrenching crises, its easy for fundraisers to wonder if their cause stands a chance of breaking through the noise. Especially when they’re not rescuing animals, feeding hungry people, or fighting the types of injustices leading the news cycle. But relevance isnt reserved for emergencies. THINK.

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Lightning Fast Grant Writing

MAY 9, 2025

If youve ever been asked to just whip up a million-dollar grant by Friday, youre not alone. One of the biggest hidden stressors in grant writing isnt the funders, deadlines, or formatting nightmaresits navigating the expectations of well-meaning but misinformed executives and board members. You know the type. They hear the word grant and immediately imagine giant checks floating down from the sky, as if by magic.

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Millionaire Grant Lady

MAY 5, 2025

Its two weeks before a federal grant deadline , and you just learned about the opportunity and that you are eligible to apply for grant funding. Unfortunately, your fundraising team is busy preparing for your organizations annual event, and it is all-hands-on-deck. This federal opportunity is nice, but you just cant tackle it right now. Your staff are up to their eyeballs in program operations and other work to grow your mission.

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The Fundraiser Coach

MAY 11, 2025

Welcome to my B.R.I.D.G.E. blog series, a six-part guide for building stronger, more sustainable donor relationships. Each post explores one part of the B.R.I.D.G.E. Framework , my connection-based approach to major gift fundraising. Many fundraisers think that once a donor gives, the heavy lifting is done. But the truth is, great fundraisers keep the conversation going—with care.

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Candid

MAY 29, 2025

According to a survey conducted in March by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, about three-quarters of the 1,229 respondents gave at least $1 to charity in the past year. The largest share, 23%, donated between $101 and $500 total. The survey goes beyond what causes the support to explore who they think should receive charitable assistance and who is responsible for helping those in need.

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Insurance Insurance Government Donation 100

The Chronicle of Philanthropy

MAY 6, 2025

Funding a 'Democracy Corps' national service program would ensure valuable expertise doesn't go to waste. By Michael Jarvis and Dean Jackson Getty Images/iStockphoto Funding a 'Democracy Corps' national service program would ensure valuable expertise doesn't go to waste.

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Clairification

MAY 22, 2025

When the world feels wildly out of whack, it’s time to figure out how to bring things back into some semblance of balance. Today I share a proven 1-2-3 formula for nonprofit fundraising success — even when the ground underneath feels shaky. This is a time when keeping one’s balance is quite a challenge.But, if you use this formula, you can steady yourself, right your organizational ship, and bring meaning, purpose and joy to others in your community who share your values.

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Lightning Fast Grant Writing

MAY 8, 2025

Isolation and the burden of being the go-to expert can lead to overwhelming pressure. Being the sole grant writer in an organization can feel overwhelmingyou’re often expected to be a strategist, writer, researcher, and administrator all at once. To cope effectively, heres what works best: 1. Clarify Expectations Early Meet with leadership to define realistic goals: How many grants per quarter?

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GrantNews

MAY 8, 2025

Paws up for Dog Moms ; there is funding support for furry families! For those folks who treat their pets like children, planning doggie birthday parties, prioritizing pet wellness, and proudly calling yourselves “pawrents,” you are not alone. The bond between humans and their four-legged companions runs deep, and that love is finally getting recognized in meaningful ways.

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Blackbaud

MAY 6, 2025

In the competitive world of online fundraising, your donation form is your gateway to success. With countless nonprofits vying for donors’ contributions, it’s crucial to understand how your donation form stacks up against industry standards. In particular, you need to track two essential statistics that will help you set a baseline to boost your fundraising efforts: form conversion rate and average gift amount. 1.

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