February, 2025

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Think Like a Donor and Raise More Major Gifts

The Fundraiser Coach

One of the biggest challenges we face as major gift fundraisers is balancing two distinct ways of thinking: our internal, metrics-driven mindset versus the donor-focused approach that builds relationships. In the office, we're measured by revenue, the number of donors engaged, meetings booked, and Asks made (and successfully closed!). These are essential benchmarks, but when we sit down with donors, they’re not thinking in those terms.

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How to Fuel a Donor Journey that Yields Major Gifts

Clairification

The major gift journey is a synergistic one. You see, its both your journey and your donors journey. If you want to follow along the most direct pathway to sustainable philanthropy, youll want to consider the two-fold nature of the expeditious endeavor known as major gift fundraising. Or, as I prefer to call it, passionate philanthropy. First understand the pathway to passionate philanthropy is not just about the money; its every bit as much about the experience.

Goals 157
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6 Tips to Increase Lead Generation on Your Nonprofit Website

Pamela Grow

Does your nonprofit want to increase engagement with your marketing and fundraising efforts? If so, you need a lead generation strategy. You may have heard of lead generation in a business setting, but nonprofits can also effectively use this concept to drive engagement online and boost support for their missions. The top nonprofit websites capture audience interest at all stages of the donor funnel or journey.

Nonprofit 148
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5 Revenue Streams to Strengthen Nonprofit Sustainability

Ann Green's Nonprofit

Diverse revenue streams provide a sustainable financial foundation for nonprofits. Explore revenue streams your nonprofit should pursue in this guide. Its important for you to diversify your revenue sources. This is especially important now because of the current chaos of eliminating (and then not eliminating, at least for now) federal grant funding.

Nonprofit 151
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AI for Grant Writing: 20+ ChatGPT Prompts You Can Use

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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“Have you called each donor seven times?”

Joe Garecht Fundraising

Early in my fundraising career, I was tasked with calling through a list of major donor prospects. These were cold prospects people who had given to other organizations in our mission field but never to our organization. The goal for the calls was to set up meetings for our Vice President of Development. We had mailed out information packets to each prospect, and now my job was to call through about 100 donors to see if they would be willing to meet.

More Trending

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Boost Your Fundraising Team’s Success with a Grant Consultant: Here’s How

Millionaire Grant Lady

How a Grant Consultant Can Amplify the Impact of Your Fundraising Team Many different staff positions fulfill fundraising duties. Depending on the size of the nonprofit organization, just one person may handle all fundraising tasks, while in other organizations the fundraising team may be comprised of a dozen individuals each with a unique focus. In a large fundraising team, leadership and strategy may be assigned to the Director of Development or a Major Gifts Officer, while donor relationships

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People Want to Know if They Can Trust Your Nonprofit and You

Clairification

The work of philanthropy facilitation is very personal. And, fundamentally, its based on trust. Which is why establishing and building trust should be part of your nonprofit and personal mission. Amid times of change, one truth remains: trust is the foundation of progress — Edelman Trust Barometer 2025 Alas, I rarely see this in mission statements.

Ethics 144
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Post-Event Follow-Up to Foster Long-Term Donor Relationships

Pamela Grow

Nonprofit events are a powerful way to showcase your mission and raise critical funds. From the excitement of bidding in an auction to the inspiring stories shared on stage, these events are unforgettable experiences for your attendees. However, many organizations make the mistake of letting all that energy fizzle out when the event ends. Without a thoughtful follow-up strategy, the momentum youve worked so hard to build fades, leaving attendees and supporters with awkward silence.

Metrics 130
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Grants that Empower Women and Girls!

GrantNews

We need to empower women and girls with the resources they need to thrive! Whether it’s mothers and daughters breaking barriers together, female athletes excelling in their sports, or women entrepreneurs building their dreams, grants are here to fuel their success. From education and training to job opportunities and overcoming financial obstacles, these essential funding sources provide the support that paves the way for growth.

Grant 114
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The Top 10 Association Websites in 2025

Wild Apricot

Want to create a website for your association? We've rounded up the top 10 best association websites of 2025 and will show you how to create your own.

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How to Write a Killer Letter of Inquiry (LOI) to Get a Grant

Get Fully Funded

Often, the first step in getting a grant is a Letter of Inquiry (sometimes called a Letter of Intent ) – or LOI, for short. A Letter of Inquiry is a quick way to introduce your organization to a prospective funder and to open up a conversation about how a grant would make a positive impact on the community you’re serving and change lives.

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Why Accurate Payroll and Time Allocation Is Crucial for Your Nonprofit Grant Reporting

Blackbaud

As a nonprofit finance professional, you want all your data to be accurate. And payroll and grant reporting are two areas of your financial processes where accuracy is non-negotiable. You want your staff paid fairly, and you want to maintain good relationships with your grant funders. Maintaining compliance can protect existing funding, as well. But allocating your payroll and time to your grants can be a cumbersome, manual, and time-intensive process.

Grant 98
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Amid Funding Freezes and ICE Raids, What Will It Take to Support Grantees?

The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Grant makers need to reassure nonprofits that they have their backs during these tumultuous times. By Lisa Pilar Cowan MARIA MOTTOLA Grant makers need to reassure nonprofits that they have their backs during these tumultuous times.

Funding 109
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Lessons from MotivateMonday | Great Fundraising Organizations (and how to become one!)

Pamela Grow

Our day-to-day overwhelm here in the US is intense. And its designed to make us all feel uncertain. Helpless. Passive even. Your overwhelm is the goal. If we give in, we find ourselves suffocating in distractions. But the good news is you can counteract that when you focus on the pursuit of excellence. Becoming your best your strongest, your most resilient, your most loving, your smartest self Becoming YOUR best self, for lack of a better way to say this, will effortlessly snowball into the b

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4 Benefits of Accounts Payable Automation for Nonprofits

NonProfit PRO

Here's a look into how using accounts payable automation can help nonprofits gain efficiencies and insight.

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12 Donation Website Templates + Examples to Inspire You

Wild Apricot

If you're looking to create or update your nonprofit's donation website, check out these templates from WildApricot + examples to get you inspired.

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Revenue in a Bottle: What’s a Wine Pull & Why Does It Work?

OneCause

Wine pulls are a fundraising idea where guests donate a fixed amount for the chance to pull a wrapped bottle. Learn how to boost revenue with this idea here.

IT 98
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Responsive Grantmaking: Five Ways to Stay Connected to Your Community During Times of Crisis

Blackbaud

From funding uncertainty to overlapping natural disasters to the possibility of another global pandemic, the modern grantmaker must be prepared for a variety of challenges. When the Two Ten Footwear Foundation began seeing an increased demand for their financial support as well as a need for financial, legal, and mental health counseling, they knew they had to take a long-term approach while also meeting the short-term needs of their community.

Grant 88
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Volunteers Are Now Tracking What’s Already Been Lost in the USAID Freeze

The Chronicle of Philanthropy

These grassroots tracking efforts are largely self-funded and self-directed. Thalia Beaty, Associated Press Manuel Balce Ceneta, AP These grassroots tracking efforts are largely self-funded and self-directed.

Funding 100
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Lessons from MotivateMonday | Great Fundraising Organizations (and how to become one!)

Pamela Grow

Our day-to-day overwhelm here in the US is intense. And its designed to make us all feel uncertain. Helpless. Passive even. Your overwhelm is the goal. If we give in, we find ourselves suffocating in distractions. But the good news is you can counteract that when you focus on the pursuit of excellence. Becoming your best your strongest, your most resilient, your most loving, your smartest self Becoming YOUR best self, for lack of a better way to say this, will effortlessly snowball into the b

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A Small Sensor that Can Save You BBBBIG.

NonProfit PRO

PHLYSense is a 24/7 property monitoring and alert solution. Organizations get real-time alerts if water is detected or temperatures reach a hazardous level. The program includes sensors and 24/7 monitoring and support all at no-cost to policyholders with property coverage.

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How social sharing sparks ‘generational generosity’ for nonprofits 

Candid

If weve observed anything about nonprofit supporters, we know each person, situation, and generation has a unique approach to giving, with the one consistent throughline being the power of connection. At GoFundMe and Classy, we see every day how connections drive giving to myriad causes. That power of connection is also the driving force behind how people show up on social media platformsjoining groups and digital communities with shared values, locations, or interests.

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Top 2025 Foundation Grants to Power Your Nonprofit

GrantNews

Foundation Grants for Nonprofits are among the most sought-after grants, and for good reason. Foundation application processes are often simpler than government grants, making them more accessible. Plus, foundation grants tend to have fewer restrictions, allowing for greater flexibility in how funds are used. Another advantage is the huge variety of grants available, with opportunities open to nonprofits , businesses , and individuals both nationally and internationally.

Grant 87
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Discussing a Change in Leadership with Your Donors

Blackbaud

As bridge builders whose success depends on forging authentic relationships with donors, fundraisers can sometimes find the line between the professional and the personal becoming blurred. This can be particularly complicated if the institution makes decisions that the gift officer disagrees with personally. Inevitably, a donor or prospect will ask, But what you do you personally think about?

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How Philanthropy Built, Lost, and Could Reclaim the A.I. Race

The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Philanthropy helped build artificial intelligence as a nonprofit research field. But as costs soar and corporations take over, donors and grantees are struggling to stay relevant. By Sara Herschander Getty Images Philanthropy helped build artificial intelligence as a nonprofit research field. But as costs soar and corporations take over, donors and grantees are struggling to stay relevant.

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Podcast: Navigating Capital Campaigns: Lessons in Leadership and Strategy with Alexandra O’Connor

Capital Campaign Pro

Season 4, Episode 26 In this episode, Andrea Kihlstedt talks with Alexandra OConnor about her journey in capital campaign fundraising. From learning the ropes at Community MusicWorks to leading an ambitious endowment campaign at The Gordon School, Alexandra shares insights on donor engagement, strategic planning, and balancing operations with relationship-building.

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3 Ways to Improve Culture and Reduce Turnover at Your Nonprofit

NonProfit PRO

While not all turnover can be prevented, here are three culture-building strategies that can help keep your nonprofit's employees happy.

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A Guide to Creating Impactful Corporate Sponsorship Packages

OneCause

Create the perfect corporate sponsorship package to secure more support for your nonprofit. Check out our guide to creating stunning, personalized packages.

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10 Grants to Boost Youth Sports and Outdoor Activities

GrantNews

Youth sports and outdoor activities inspire teamwork, build confidence, and encourage a lifelong love of movement. Think back to your own childhood and remember what it felt like to be a part of a team, and how it felt to score your first goal, conquer a hiking trail, or learn archery. These experiences helped promote your physical and mental well-being.

Grant 77
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4 things your donors wish you knew about donor love

Future Fundraising Now

Donor love can transform your fundraising. And your fundraising career. But what, exactly, is donor love? It’s a set of tactics aimed at winning the donor over by putting her into the story. It’s honoring, thanking, and listening to the donor. But donor love is also an attitude, a mindset. It’s not unlike “being in love” — it sits in the background (sometimes in the foreground) of everything you do, guiding your thinking and behavior.

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His Ideas Inspired My Nonprofit. They Hold Keys to Staving Off Tyranny

The Chronicle of Philanthropy

The teachings of the late Aga Khan IV, spiritual leader of Ismaili Muslims, point to the role of civil society as a bulwark against the "frightful despotism that George Washington warned about. By Eboo Patel Sipa USA via AP Prince Shah Karim Al Hussaini Aga Khan IV, a champion of pluralism and the spiritual leader of the Ismaili Muslim community for nearly 68 years, died earlier this month.

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Mardi Gras giving: Grants supporting the LGBTQIA+ communities

Strategic Grants

The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is returning on14 February to 2 March 2025. The 2025 Festival theme Free to be is a celebration of the strides toward true LGBTQIA+ equality while also acting as a global reminder that our fight is far from over, and that we are not truly free until we are all free to be. In honour of Mardi Gras, we are sharing some upcoming grant opportunities focused on initiatives supporting the LGBTQIA+ communities.

Grant 71
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The Dilemma of Turning Data Into Major Gifts

NonProfit PRO

New tech is helping nonprofits collect huge amounts of data, which must be leveraged for fundraising. Here's how to turn data into dollars.