Lightning Fast Grant Writing

JULY 21, 2024

Now the presidential election is heating up, I find myself interested in the little tricks used by political consultants to influence voters. As a grant writer, I have applied a lot of their ideas to benefit the clients we serve at Drew & Associates. Some of the political consultants’ best ideas are the result of eye-tracking experiments. The question is how can we apply these ideas to improving a proposal cover letter?

Letter Of Inquiry 264

Letter Of Inquiry Grant Grants Grant Writing 264

Pamela Grow

JULY 10, 2024

The latest GivingUSA report on charitable giving in the United States is out. What do smart fundraisers, particularly those heading up “one-person” development shops, need to know? Charitable giving in the U.S. declined by 2.1% in 2023 after adjusting for inflation. Nonprofits have been concerned about the decreasing number of American donors for years, and the 2023 report reinforces these worries.

Letter Of Inquiry 275

Letter Of Inquiry Nonprofit Grant Grants 275

Clairification

JULY 18, 2024

While you no doubt want more donors of all sizes, you especially want loyal donors who make above average size gifts. Because that’s where you’ll get the greatest return on your investment. Today, let’s talk about major donors. Why? They account for the lion’s share of all contributed income. Studies show over 88% of all funds raised come from just 12% of donors.

Nonprofit 254

Nonprofit Budget Fundraising Goals 254

Hands-On Fundraising

JULY 9, 2024

Playing cute tricks with donors isn’t the win you think it is I’ve been stewing about a certain kind of gift solicitation. I’ve hesitated to write about it. But I get more annoyed the more I think about the damage these things can do. Want some examples? This is an email I got. (Good organization; […] The post Don’t invoice me when you want a gift appeared first on Hands-On Fundraising.

Fundraising 260

Fundraising IT 260

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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.

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Ann Green's Nonprofit

JULY 9, 2024

Over the years I’ve realized the importance of keeping things simple. We have so many ways to fill our time (many of them involving screens), but I often find pleasure in simple things such as taking a walk, reading, and doing yoga. Keeping it simple doesn’t have to mean a bare-bones existence. There’s a Swedish term called lagom meaning everything in moderation or not too much, not too little.

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Calendar Nonprofit Electronics Donation 221

Wild Apricot

JULY 5, 2024

New member orientation doesn’t have to be boring. With these orientation tips and activities, your organization can welcome new members smoothly and easily, inspiring member engagement and retaining them longer.

Retainer 147

Retainer 147

Pamela Grow

JULY 24, 2024

Auctions are among the most engaging and lucrative fundraising events your nonprofit could host. They appeal to a wide range of supporter interests and foster a fun atmosphere of friendly competition. Plus, they have the potential to raise thousands of dollars for your mission through winning bids on items, entry fees, and additional donations made during the event.

Procurement 130

Procurement Nonprofit Pass-Through Indirect 130

Clairification

JULY 15, 2024

The world reacted with shock and outrage. There was a pervasive feeling of “how could this happen here?” People screamed… cried… prayed. This was five years ago. Last spring. When a fire wreaked devastating damage to something that, for many, represented the soul of a nation. And more. Notre Dame Cathedral is iconic and symbolic. It’s much more than a cathedral and historic building.

Government 258

Government Fundraising Media IT 258

Hands-On Fundraising

JULY 23, 2024

There is no faster way into our brains than an image. As Peter Temple explains in this post, “We don’t see words as a series of letters. We see them as pictures.” He goes on to say that our brains read words as a series of images. We’re able to quickly (milliseconds) put them together when […] The post How do you connect with donors? Show more. appeared first on Hands-On Fundraising.

Fundraising 217

Fundraising 217

Ann Green's Nonprofit

JULY 23, 2024

Are you having trouble with your donor engagement? If you answered yes, it may be because your communication is well, just meh. The remedy I like to recommend is the 5 C’s of good nonprofit communication. Keep these in mind when you’re writing a fundraising appeal, thank you letter, update, or any type of donor communication. Is it Clear? What is your intention?

Electronics 154

Electronics Nonprofit Donation Fundraising 154

GrantNews

JULY 24, 2024

GrantWatch has small business grants for entrepreneurs! As the summer months stretch out before us, it might seem like a perfect time to step back and slow down. These long, lazy summer days are enchanting but there is work to do! Our economy is finally just beginning to bounce back from its frozen state over the last few years. Unfortunately, sky-high inflation, rising interest rates, and systematic barriers are still holding many business owners back.

Grant 136

Grant Grants Demographics Funding 136

Wild Apricot

JULY 15, 2024

Explore the top companies that generously donate to nonprofits. You'll also learn the different types of donations and tips for requesting donations.

Donation 148

Donation Nonprofit Fundraising 148

Pamela Grow

JULY 24, 2024

Imagine this: Your nonprofit is in the midst of several key projects and is planning to launch a new community program, all of which will greatly benefit your mission. When you combine the associated expenses with the costs of operating your organization day-to-day, you determine that you’ll need to add new fundraisers to your calendar to fund all of these initiatives.

Fundraising 130

Fundraising Retail Nonprofit Ethics 130

Clairification

JULY 25, 2024

Seth Godin once famously said, “The ideas that spread, win.” Hugh MacLeod of the GapingVoid just reframed this as “The ideas that spread are the ones that become social objects. ” They enable social interaction. If this brings to mind the recent memeification of the Kamala Harris campaign, or Trump’s red MAGA hat, or the amazing lightening-in-a-bottle nonprofit Ice Bucket Challenge, you’re right.

IT 169

IT Template Nonprofit Fundraising 169

Hands-On Fundraising

JULY 16, 2024

First, why does donor retention matter? Ah, donor retention. We talk about it often. But why does it matter? Acquiring new donors is hard and often expensive. (You still need to do it.) So not doing all you can to keep the donors you have is like tossing money out the window. Prioritize retention! Also… […] The post Your donor retention how-to appeared first on Hands-On Fundraising.

Fundraising 227

Fundraising IT 227

Ann Green's Nonprofit

JULY 2, 2024

Believe it or not, we’re halfway through 2024. The midpoint of the year is always a good time to see if you’re meeting your fundraising and communications goals. For this post, I’m assuming your fiscal year is the same as the calendar year. If you’re on a different fiscal cycle, you can make the appropriate time adjustments. Your fundraising revenue may be down.

Nonprofit 166

Nonprofit Metrics Goals Calendar 166

The Chronicle of Philanthropy

JULY 23, 2024

Walker redirected the foundation to focus entirely on inequality and engineered ambitious collaborations on issues like Detroit's bankruptcy. He will retire in 2025. By Alex Daniels Nate Langston Palmer, The New York Times, Redux Darren Walker, the president of the Ford Foundation, broke the mold of big philanthropy leaders by virtue of his identity as a gay Black man and ambitious grant making.

Engineering 129

Engineering Grant Grants 129

Wild Apricot

JULY 18, 2024

Want more event attendees? Who doesn't? Here are common reasons for low attendance and tactics you can use to boost it starting today.

IT 145

IT 145

GrantNews

JULY 25, 2024

Parenting Gifted Children. On the face of it, one might think that it’s no big deal parenting gifted children since they probably ‘know all the answers’ to the questions being asked of students at their grade level. But you might want to re-think that perception once you find out the ‘real truth’ about what parenting Gifted Children is all about.

Education 116

Education Grant Grants Award 116

Clairification

JULY 11, 2024

In the 1967 movie “The Graduate,” some of you may remember the scene where Mr. McGuire takes Dustin Hoffman’s character, Benjamin, off to the side and says “Plastics … there’s a great future in plastics.” Little did we know… While that turned out poorly for the planet, there’s a similar word that could be the future for nonprofits. And the sage who’s offering it up is none other than the inimitable Seth Godin.

IT 189

IT Nonprofit Template 189

Hands-On Fundraising

JULY 2, 2024

I’m convinced we’re made of stories And if that sounds a little goofy, then I’m guilty. But I’m sticking to it. The stories we tell ourselves about our lives and loves. The stories we hear from other people that shed light on who they are. And the stories that we read… whether in a great […] The post How to unearth the stories you need appeared first on Hands-On Fundraising.

Fundraising 233

Fundraising IT 233

Center for Effective Philanthropy

JULY 16, 2024

At the heart of the Latino Community Foundation’s (LCF) mission to unleash the civic and economic power of Latinos are our most passionate advocates: the members of our Latino Giving […] The post How Giving Circles Have Shaped the Latino Community Foundation’s Grantmaking — And What Comes Next appeared first on The Center for Effective Philanthropy.

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The Chronicle of Philanthropy

JULY 24, 2024

For a moment, Benefits Data Trust was a golden child of the nonprofit tech world. How did it all go so wrong, so fast? By Sara Herschander Getty Images For a moment, Benefits Data Trust was a golden child of the nonprofit tech world. How did it all go so wrong, so fast?

Nonprofit 113

Nonprofit IT 113

Wild Apricot

JULY 22, 2024

Discover essential fundraising metrics your nonprofit must monitor for success. Explore key performance indicators (KPIs) that drive donor engagement, revenue growth and organizational impact in our comprehensive guide.

Metrics 117

Metrics Fundraising Nonprofit Management 117

GrantNews

JULY 19, 2024

Grants serve as critical financial aid for individuals and organizations across various sectors, supporting endeavors ranging from education and scientific research to entrepreneurial ventures. But here’s a big question: Do you have to pay taxes on grant money? Whether your grant is tax-free or taxable depends on its purpose and how the funds are used.

Grant 121

Grant Grants Liability Finance 121

Clairification

JULY 8, 2024

Today I’m writing about something that’s not fundraising or nonprofit marketing strategy per se. It’s more about how to have hope – and take action – during times that may feel hopeless. For most of us, we’ve perhaps never been in more perilous times during our lifetimes. For a host of reasons. And it’s not just in the United States. The world has been veering towards more authoritarian, less egalitarian, rule for a while now.

Fundraising 189

Fundraising IT Nonprofit Management 189

The NonProfit Times

JULY 17, 2024

The grant deadline is barreling toward you like a freight train. You asked program staff for critical information weeks ago, but still have not received it. They’re ignoring your texts, emails, and phone calls, and you’ve just learned an essential player has gone on vacation. “Unfortunately, this doomsday scenario is not unusual. Grant professionals consistently lament the lackadaisical response of staff members when asked for data, program details, budget figures, and other essential informati

Grant 111

Grant Grants Proposal Budget 111

Center for Effective Philanthropy

JULY 18, 2024

As the old saying goes “Victory has a thousand fathers.” And few victories come as close to that claim as the successes wrought by funders and their grantees. It takes […] The post Four ‘T’s for Better Funding Relationships and Healthier Nonprofits appeared first on The Center for Effective Philanthropy.

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Funding Nonprofit IT 108

The Chronicle of Philanthropy

JULY 18, 2024

While making medical school free is a worthy endeavor, to truly transform health care, Bloomberg needs to think bigger. By Amy Schiller Courtesy of Johns Hopkins University Michael Bloomberg’s $1 billion gift to Johns Hopkins Medical School guarantees the money goes where it’s needed most, but it also ensures education remains a commodity. Students are still consumers paying for a service.

Education 114

Education IT 114

Wild Apricot

JULY 25, 2024

Donor relationships are at the heart of every nonprofit. Take our quiz to evaluate your organization’s relationships and learn how to make them stronger.

Nonprofit 104

Nonprofit Fundraising 104