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A Quick Guide to Planning a Successful Live Auction Event
Planning a successful fundraising event requires significant time, resources, and effort. This is especially true if you’re going the route of a live auction to support your nonprofit—but the potential payoff of this event is well worth the upfront investment! Every effective event starts with clear goals. For a live auction, your primary goal is likely to generate a specific amount of revenue, and you may also have a secondary [...]
5 Realities That Will Improve Your Donor Email Strategy
Put yourself in your donors’ shoes. They’re constantly inundated with communications from for-profit and nonprofit organizations alike, all vying for their attention. How likely is it that they’ll see—let alone read—your emails? Email is a tried-and-true way to reach your supporters, but you must be strategic about the messages you send. Otherwise, you risk wasting donors’ time and your resources on sending emails that never get read. To help you [...]
4 Easy Social Media Fundraising Ideas for Nonprofits
Social media has transformed the way nonprofits connect with donors, making it easier than ever to inspire giving. With millions of people scrolling and engaging daily, these platforms offer a powerful, low-budget opportunity to expand your reach. By integrating social media into your fundraising strategy, you’ll create connections that drive stronger engagement, more donations, and greater awareness for your cause. Social platforms empower supporters to give and advocate on your behalf, turning [...]
Improving Your Association’s Learning Program: 4 Strategies
Why do professionals join associations? It isn't just for the annual conference or networking events anymore—although those opportunities are a big part of it! They also join for career advancement and continuing education opportunities. If your learning program feels static, disjointed, or outdated, you risk losing engaged members to more agile competitors who offer modern experiences. To become the go-to resource for your industry, your association needs to develop its [...]
Member Management Software: Frequently Asked Questions
Association professionals face a challenging paradox: members demand personalized digital experiences, yet many organizations are still operating on fragmented systems that treat members like static data points. Choosing the right technology goes beyond maintaining a clean database. It's about finding a platform that can drive growth, personalization, and engagement. Enter member management software. This type of platform makes every touchpoint in the member journey—from initial sign-ups to renewals—seamless and professional. [...]
Payroll Giving Eligibility: A Guide to Recurring Revenue
For any nonprofit development director, the ultimate goal is not just raising money—it is raising predictable money. While galas and end-of-year appeals bring in vital spikes of cash, they are resource-intensive and volatile. The true financial bedrock of a resilient nonprofit is recurring revenue. Enter payroll giving. Payroll giving (also known as workplace giving) is the most efficient, sustainable fundraising channel available. It allows employees to pledge a portion of [...]
Volunteer Time Off Eligibility: The Complete Guide
In the nonprofit world, volunteers are your most valuable resource. They power your events, mentor your beneficiaries, and bring essential skills to your operations. But there is a special tier of volunteers who bring an added bonus: they are being paid to be there. Volunteer Time Off (VTO) is a corporate benefit where employers grant employees paid days off specifically to volunteer with nonprofit organizations. Unlike traditional volunteering that happens [...]
Volunteer Grant Eligibility: The Complete Nonprofit Guide
In the nonprofit sector, time is a resource just as precious as capital. Your volunteers dedicate countless hours to your mission, from tutoring students and walking shelter dogs to serving on your board of directors. You value their time immensely, but did you know that their employers might value it financially as well? This is the power of volunteer grants, a form of corporate philanthropy where companies provide monetary donations [...]
Corporate Sponsorship Eligibility: A Guide for Nonprofits
Securing a corporate sponsor can feel like a watershed moment for a nonprofit organization. It is more than just a check; it is a stamp of approval from the business world that brings funding, credibility, and access to entirely new audiences. A single partnership can fund a program for a year, provide the technology needed to scale operations, or lend the marketing muscle required to turn a local campaign into [...]
Top Fundraising Strategies for Donors Without Employer Matches
Unfortunately, not all donors are going to qualify for employee matching gift programs, which is a key means of tapping into corporate giving revenue. This ineligibility may include some retirees, freelancers, self-employed individuals, and employees at organizations without matching gifts. Rather than focus solely on what employers won’t do, we recommend that nonprofits like yours take proactive steps to engage these “unmatchable” supporters through creative alternatives.Strengthening your donor engagement strategy to [...]
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