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The Ins and Outs of Nonprofit Executive Compensation
Bringing on the right executive is one of the most important steps you can take for growing your nonprofit. Setting compensation for that new executive, however, can be a complicated process. While publicly traded companies can attract leaders with stock options, and private businesses can decide their own compensation practices internally, nonprofits have limited resources and must follow a unique set of regulations. To help your nonprofit HR team overcome [...]
Tax-Deductible Limits on Estate & Bequest Gifts: A Refresher
The federal estate tax exclusion rose to $15 million per person for 2026, and it adjusts for inflation beginning in 2027. That figure determines which donors face estate tax and how a charitable bequest changes the outcome for their heirs. Planned giving leaders who understand the mechanics of this exclusion can hold more productive conversations with donors and their advisors and prepare their organizations to receive larger gifts. In this [...]
Planned Giving Vendor Evaluation & RFP Guide for Nonprofits
Bottom Line Up Front: For fundraising professionals exploring legacy or planned gifting, comparing software options requires a structured approach. This planned giving vendor evaluation guide balances technology cost with long-term gift yield. To execute a planned giving program effectively, nonprofit executives, Chief Development Officers, and procurement committees must evaluate total cost of ownership, CRM integration capabilities, vendor security protocols, and data protection before entering into software contracts. Read on to [...]
Legacy Giving vs. Planned Giving: Definitions & Positioning
While planned giving refers to the technical financial structures behind deferred gifts, legacy giving reflects the emotional, donor-centric messaging that inspires supporters to include nonprofits in their long-term estate plans. These differences are vital for executive leaders who want to maximize long-term major gift conversions. Defining the Difference: Legacy Giving vs. Planned Giving Understanding the difference between legacy giving and planned giving in nonprofit marketing requires executive leadership to separate [...]
How to Evaluate and Improve Your Employee Wellness Plan
Employee engagement is intrinsically linked to employee wellbeing. That means your employee wellness plan not only benefits your staff members but also creates a healthy workplace culture that strengthens your organization as a whole. Creating an effective employee wellness plan, however, is not a one-time effort. Instead, you must continuously update your programs to ensure they address your staff members’ changing needs. When you dedicate deliberate time, thought, and resources [...]
Improving Financial Fluency as a Nonprofit Leader: 6 Tips
A nonprofit program director may be able to recite outcome metrics with ease but have little to contribute when a board meeting turns to financial topics. This gap reflects a lack of exposure to financial concepts, which can be common among leaders who built their careers around mission-driven work. However, having a working knowledge of nonprofit finances can help make leaders in all kinds of roles more effective. Financial fluency [...]
How to Safely Use AI Tools for Donor Outreach: 4 Tips
Despite its potential, many nonprofits hesitate to adopt AI systems due to valid concerns surrounding privacy and data security. While Virtuous reports that 92% of nonprofits use AI in their process, only 7% have an effective plan to use it to successfully improve their mission. Additionally, AI use poses a real risk of data leaks, especially for nonprofit organizations that often hold a large amount of sensitive donor data without [...]
How to Create a Cohesive Nonprofit Communication Strategy
Imagine you’re a long-time donor receiving a heartfelt direct mail appeal. You’re excited to support the cause, but only an hour later, you get an automated email that contradicts the initial message entirely. Disjointed messaging like this creates confusion about your initiatives, frustrating supporters and undermining your organization's credibility. By contrast, a consolidated data and communication strategy across multiple channels unifies your outreach, naturally creating a clear, highly personalized journey [...]
Scaling Student Support: AI for Small to Mid-Sized Districts
For administrators in small and mid-sized districts, building an effective student support system can be a challenge. You are tasked with managing complex academic, behavioral, and attendance needs, often while navigating limited staff capacity and a tight budget. And often, the vital information needed to help students is scattered across different platforms. This means that instead of intervening and working directly with students, your educators end up stuck behind screens, [...]
5 Tips for Recruiting Volunteers for Product Fundraisers
Whether you’re selling popcorn, flower bulbs, cookie dough, candles, or another exciting item, a product fundraiser is a great way to engage your supporters and earn money for your cause. Since donors receive something in exchange for their donations, they’ll be more inclined to contribute—creating a win-win situation for all. A strong team of volunteers can help you plan and run these campaigns effectively. In this guide, we’ll provide tips [...]
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