Soapbox Engage Blog

Issue 296

Happy Tuesday, fundraisers!

As March wraps up, this week’s roundup is a bit of a nudge, in a good way. From the donor conversations we keep postponing to the reminder that there’s never a “perfect” time to fundraise, these pieces are all about moving forward anyway.

You’ll find takeaways from our recent NPSP Fundraising Day, along with thoughtful insights on listening to donors, ethical storytelling, and building stronger foundations— from your board to your website. It’s a mix of practical tips and gentle pushes to help you keep momentum as we head into April.

Enjoy!

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Great Fundraising Posts

NPSP Fundraising Day Recap & Resources

Soapbox Engage (Soapbox Engage)

Earlier this month, the New York nonprofit Salesforce community gathered for a special edition NPSP day focused on one of the most critical areas of nonprofit work: fundraising. This recap blog highlights the day’s breakout sessions and shares key takeaways, insights, and practical lessons surfaced by participants.

How Listening to Donors Can Strengthen Relationships and Funding

Bill Shiell (NonProfitPro)

Development officers spend much of their time showing donors how much they matter. Yet building strong, lasting relationships can be difficult. Often, the issue is the story we tell ourselves about the donor, especially when donor listening is missing from the process. In this blog post, Bill talks about how to avoid assumptions and identify what a donor really needs.

4 Ethical Considerations for Nonprofit Storytelling

Drew Payne (Greater Giving)

Your nonprofit operates on trust. Mission-driven work relies on the faith of your community, beneficiaries, and donors. Effective nonprofit storytelling can be one of the most powerful tools for securing their trust. However, this power comes with a responsibility to tell stories ethically. You must be careful not to misrepresent the facts in their narratives. To ensure your narratives are authentic, respectful, and true to your mission, Drew offers a few ethical considerations for nonprofit storytelling in this blog post.

Why Nonprofit Boards Fail (and How to Prevent It)

Sandy Rees (Get Fully Funded)

When nonprofit boards fail, the consequences can be devastating—staff burnout, less funding, loss of public trust, etc. Oftentimes, boards don’t fail because people don’t care, but because board members were never properly trained and there were no clear expectations. In this blog post, Sandy identifies the most common problems that cause boards to fail, and how to prevent them.

Best Nonprofit Event Management Software 2026

Soapbox Engage (Soapbox Engage)

Event management software has become one of the more crowded corners of the nonprofit technology market, and with good reason. Events drive a meaningful share of nonprofit revenue, and the tools you use directly shape the attendee experience, the quality of your data, and how much time your staff spends on logistics. This guide reviews the leading nonprofit event management platforms in 2026, covering their strengths, limitations, and which types of organizations they serve best.

5 Creative Ideas to Engage Your Nonprofit Website Visitors

Ira Horowitz (Ann Green’s Nonprofit Blog)

If your website feels like a digital brochure, you’re leaving an opportunity for impact on the table. Your website shouldn’t just sit there. It should feel like a living, dynamic hub—one that actively cultivates trust, ignites curiosity, and drives action. Luckily, you don’t need a massive budget or a full redesign to make meaningful improvements. In this blog post, Ira offers 5 creative nonprofit website ideas that can turn passive visitors into engaged supporters.

There’s Never a Good Time to Fundraise

Marc A. Pitman (The Fundraising Coach)

Do you ever look at what’s going on in the world and think “this is the worst possible time to ask for a donation?” You’re not alone. The truth is, there's never really a “good” time to fundraise. And no matter what is going on, your mission still matters. In this blog post, Marc shares how to not let your fear of bad timing stop you from getting the funds your organization needs to fulfill your mission.

Your Easy Guide to a Bequest Conversation

Christiana Stergiou (Moceanic)

Whether you’ve been a fundraiser for years or are only just getting started, asking for money can always inspire some nerves. And when you’re specifically asking for a donor to leave a gift in their will, the nerves may triple. In this blog post, Christiana offers some tips to overcome that nervousness and ask in a way that feels natural.

The Discovery Visit You Keep Postponing (And Why)

Gail Perry (Gail Perry Group)

Do you have a prospect on your list that you’ve been meaning to visit, but you just keep pushing the conversation? That’s common for many fundraisers. And the likely reason is that the purpose for the visit feels too vague—if you have a purpose at all. This blog post shares tips on how to properly prepare for a visit so that you won’t want to keep postponing it.