Soapbox Engage Blog

Issue 93

As a fundraiser, your life is busy! Sticking to the fundraising basics and proven strategies is never a bad idea, especially when you’re feeling overwhelmed. But! It is also important to expand your fundraising horizons. Have you ever considered cryptocurrency? Are you actively deepening your conversations with donors? Do you know what sorts of questions to ask before starting your next fundraising job? Our newsletter tackles these subjects and more!

Hope you all have a wonderful week!

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Great Fundraising Posts

Add an Online Store to Your Nonprofit Fundraising Strategy

Tim Forbes (Soapbox Engage)

It's an increasingly competitive fundraising world, and cultivating various funding sources lays the groundwork for healthy, viable long-term success. This creativity can include opening an online store for your nonprofit. This blog explores some of the benefits of adding an e-commerce store to your networking and fundraising strategy and how to start your online store using the Soapbox Engage Shop app!

When Non-Profits Put Policy Over People

Richard Perry and Jeff Schreifels (Veritus Group)

Some nonprofits have policies that are driving the best fundraisers away. Richard and Jeff share a story from one of their development professionals who did everything right, and it resulted in a $32 million gift to the nonprofit for which he did not get credit because of policies within the organization. Keep reading to get the details of this story and insights into other policies that hurt nonprofits and chase away excellent people.

What to Say When Your Donor Asks: How Much do you Spend on Overhead?

Claire Axelrad (Clairification)

Appropriate overhead has been a topic of discussion in the nonprofit sector for many years. Too many nonprofits are rewarded for how little they spend rather than for what they get done. Really, measuring overhead does not neatly correlate with a nonprofit's impact or effectiveness! This blog unpacks the myth of the value of low overhead and some temptations to resist when communicating about your overhead costs with supporters.

What Skills Do You Need to Succeed in Your Management Role?

Duke Haddad, Ed.D (NonProfit PRO)

Management in today's world is much different. Your staff might be working a mix of in-person and remote schedules. Others have compressed schedules and only work a few days a week. Turnover is higher than average, and some positions might remain unfilled. Many nonprofit professionals receive on-the-job management training and feel the lack of structured training. Nonprofits need well-trained leaders, and development professionals need to understand what qualities and skills outstanding managers possess to learn and develop these skills.

4 Ways You Might Be Excluding Your Donors

Jeff Brooks (Future Fundraising Now)

Many nonprofits do small things to make fundraising needlessly difficult for donors. They aren't intentional barriers, and they're actually easy to fix! Things like using "in-house jargon" that your supporters might not understand can alienate donors and deter them from giving. Keep reading this list of four easy-to-fix barriers that might be excluding your donors.

Outline for Newsletter Stories

Steven Screen (The Better Fundraising Company)

Telling stories in newsletters is both an art and a science. Having the right outline for newsletter stories makes your newsletter easier and faster to write, and it ensures each story helps you achieve the purpose of your newsletter. Check out this blog to get a quality newsletter outline that will streamline your writing process and improve the quality of your newsletter storytelling!

Crypto Giving: 4 Things Nonprofits Should Know

Nhu Te (NonProfit PRO)

Cryptocurrency has made its way into nonprofit giving. It creates some new opportunities to raise more money, and many organizations have already added crypto to their giving options. If you're thinking about adding crypto to your donation options, this blog is for you! It answers some key questions about current crypto giving trends and how nonprofits can accept crypto donations.

10 Follow-Up Questions to Deepen Your Conversation with Major Donors

Greg Warner (MarketSmart)

Fundraising is a conversation that can either build or diminish trust with your donors. Trust is critical in any donor relationship, but it's imperative for major gifts and planned giving fundraising. One conversational element that is often overlooked but can be the most powerful tool for taking your conversations with donors to the next level is asking good follow-up questions! Follow-up questions build trust because they prove to your supporters that you're listening and thinking about what they're saying. Keep reading this blog to learn more about how to ask great follow-up questions that build trust and take your conversations to the next level.

6 Questions to Ask Nonprofits Before Starting a New Fundraising Job

Amy Eisenstein (Amy Eisenstein)

Experienced fundraisers with a solid resume are in high demand right now. While it's pretty easy to find a nonprofit looking for a qualified fundraiser, it's essential to do your homework before you consider leaving your current development job for another. Amy shares six key questions you'll want to ask when interviewing for a new fundraising job. These questions will help you better understand the nonprofit's fundraising strategies and work environment.