What’s In My Inbox | UltraViolet communicates understanding, empathy, and opportunity

May 14, 2020

Digital fundraising is growing by leaps and bounds lately. Does that mean that you should abandon your other channels? No, but using email to the best of your advantage will benefit you, especially right now. The world is a chaotic place, but people remain connected to the internet, and connected to their email, as a […]

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The Impact of COVID-19 on Key Compliance Deadlines

May 13, 2020

The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted life as we know it at a scale that escapes recent memory. When it comes to the daily operations of your nonprofit, COVID-19 has unquestionably had an adverse impact. With so many pressing changes, compliance responsibilities may be far from front-of-mind. The reality is that these obligations continue, even in […]

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Lessons From Motivate Monday | Making Your Meetings Virtually In-Person

May 6, 2020

How hard is it to transition board meetings to video? Not very. But it does take planning in order to make it engaging for all. And it’s all about the people, too. How do you encourage the kind of camaraderie that builds relationships? How do you accommodate the participants who can’t see the screen? How […]

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What’s In My Mailbox | What a Little Girl’s Letters Can Teach You About Fundraising (and Life)

May 5, 2020

In recent years, fundraisers have been abandoning direct mail. But, the reality is, direct mail plays a critical role for the small nonprofit. Particularly as a component of a multichannel campaign. Steve McLaughlin, Vice President of Product Management at Blackbaud, has published some revealing statistics on donor retention. As you can see, donor retention rates […]

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A Tale of Two Nonprofits: Which One Represents Yours?

May 5, 2020

On a beautiful late spring afternoon, ten years ago, two women started two nonprofit organizations. They both had similar dreams for their missions. They both started out in similar mid-sized American cities. Last year, these two women met at a National conference. They were surprised to learn how much they had in common. Both were […]

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What’s in My Inbox | A #GivingTuesdayNow Prequel

April 29, 2020

#GivingTuesdayNow is a new global day of giving and unity that will take place on May 5, 2020 – in addition to the regularly scheduled Dec 1, 2020 #GivingTuesday – as an emergency response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19. Their website advises nonprofits to “come together to create a wave of generosity, citizen […]

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Asking for Monthly Gifts During a Pandemic: Two Email Examples

April 29, 2020

You should consider your monthly giving program a source of protection, especially at a time like this. Having a strong monthly giving program is potentially foolproof. It can see your organization through any crisis. But how do you ask now, in the middle of COVID-19? Monthly giving plays a big role in Simple Development Systems, […]

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What’s in My Mailbox | Adjusting fundraising campaigns in light of COVID-19

April 22, 2020

How do fundraisers continue to communicate and continue to fundraise in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic? How you fundraise now does require greater sensitivity. It requires a solid understanding and knowledge of who you are communicating with. And, it requires great empathy, compassion, and whole-hearted, genuine love.   Fundraisers who have their campaigns planned out […]

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What’s In My Inbox | Inspiring donor support during COVID-19

April 22, 2020

The ACLU never stops. Since their inception back in 1920, they’ve fought hard to protect the rights of the American people. This nonprofit has become a force to be reckoned with, and their donor base is a decidedly passionate one. Want to know how to get your supporters’ attention during a crisis? Be bold. Be […]

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Donor Communications: Now is the time for MORE communications, not less

April 20, 2020

As of today, in the middle of a global pandemic, I’ve only received exactly two COVID-19-specific mailings from nonprofit organizations. One was from the Salvation Army and the other from Heifer International. This despite being a donor to numerous organizations. And, while my usually jam-packed mailbox has been emptier than usual, the other communications I […]

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Fundraising Friday, April 17, 2020 | Donor call script download, “inspire & delight” NOW?, looking good on Zoom, and more

April 17, 2020

Fundraising & Donor Communications During COVID-19: The Supporter Experience is More Important than Ever. A free downloadable call script for communicating with your donors. Should we send our scheduled appeal/newsletter/annual report in the midst of COVID-19? A free downloadable Template for COVID-19 updates to accompany a scheduled appeal, newsletter, etc. If yours is an organization […]

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Nonprofit Communications in COVID-19 | Grow your digital skills with an emergency appeal

April 15, 2020

United Church Outreach Ministry values individuals and builds community in southwestern Kent County, Michigan, by providing material and educational assistance to meet basics needs, improve quality of lie, and promote self-sufficiency. On April 9, UCOM sent out an emergency appeal email requesting funding for food for their Healthy Food Choice Pantry program. The email was […]

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Lessons From Motivate Monday | Retaining and growing your monthly donors during COVID-19

April 15, 2020

Understandably, nonprofits all over the world are experiencing drops in fundraising due to COVID-19. So we thought it was prime time for Erica Waasdorp, author of Monthly Giving: The Sleeping Giant, to drop in for an extra-special Motivate Monday session. This former US Ambassador for the International Fundraising Conference works with nonprofit clients nationally and […]

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Should we send our scheduled appeal/newsletter/annual report in the midst of COVID-19?

April 9, 2020

The Coronavirus Pandemic has raised many questions around fundraising. And one of the biggest questions comes from organizations that had a newsletter, appeal, or annual report scheduled. “Do I need to pull it? Should I put it off?” In Coronavirus fundraising: What we’ve learned so far, Mark Philips advises fundraisers to go ahead with the […]

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In the midst of COVID-19, Trader Joe’s continues to delight

April 8, 2020

Trader Joe’s, an American chain of grocery stores headquartered in Monrovia, California, is known for its gourmet foods, fun frozen foods and snacks, and vegetarian dishes. They’re also known for their strong dedication to customer service. So, how has a global pandemic affected the usual fun, laid-back experience of shopping at Trader Joes? They’re constantly […]

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ITWOT, the most inspiring, fun and eye-opening conference in fundraising ever is going virtual!

April 8, 2020

Did you ever see a brilliant fundraising campaign and think to yourself, “Damn! I wish I’d thought of that?!” That’s the thinking behind ITWOT, the most inspiring, fun and eye-opening conference in fundraising ever, brought to you by our good friends at SOFII. AND NOW… because of the coronavirus pandemic, IWITOT 2020 will be available online it […]

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Lessons from Motivate Monday | Finding your organization’s coronavirus “story” and talking to major donors right now

April 6, 2020

How are smart fundraisers talking to their major donors doing during the uncertainty of COVID-19? For answers, I turned to Jeff Schreifels, Senior Partner of the Veritus Group, the leading donor-centered major donor consultancy in the United States and England. Jeff generously shared his firm’s experiences to date and advised that we all be on […]

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During COVID-19: The Supporter Experience is More Important than Ever

April 1, 2020

The entire world is on edge right now. We’re all self-isolating…and feeling isolated. You have the power to help ease that fear and uncertainty with a personal touch. Call a minimum of five donors today and every day to say hello and to find out how they’re holding up. Let your donors know that you […]

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What’s in My Inbox | Shedd Aquarium knows how to work Instagram during tough times

April 1, 2020

Times are tough right now, and we are struggling. You, I, and everyone else knows it. But what does that mean for nonprofits? Now, more than ever, donor service is paramount. Reaching out to those who make your work possible, particularly during these scary, uncertain times not only carries extra impact, it shines a light. […]

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Communicating During COVID-19: Interview

March 25, 2020

How are you communicating with your supporters during the COVID-19 pandemic? When I highlighted this terrific email, from my local film institute last week, I knew that I wanted to learn the decision making processes behind their quick and effective response to our current crisis. That’s why I was delighted when the Bryn Mawr Film […]

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