Fundraiser Education

15 Key Steps to Set Up a Charity
April 20, 2017 at 3:29 pm

Nonprofit charitable organizations are intended to operate for the public good. When a nonprofit charitable organization is qualified as tax exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC), donors can generally deduct their contributions to the charity on their tax returns. Donors are thus more likely to support charitable organizations that have an…

Nonprofit Group Commits $30M for New Omaha VA Facility
April 20, 2017 at 3:29 pm

A nonprofit corporation announced Wednesday that it's signed an agreement with federal officials to raise $30 million for a new veterans outpatient clinic in Omaha. Officials said it's the first of five public-private pilot projects nationwide for the Department of Veterans Affairs. The local money will be added to $56 million already appropriated for the…

5 Trends Facing Nonprofits Now
April 20, 2017 at 3:24 pm

Evaluating—or re-evaluating—recruiting strategy, community outreach and ways to improve volunteer programs should include a thorough understanding of current trends and changes impacting the nonprofit sector. In conducting our latest research into the state of volunteerism and volunteer screening in America, we asked for feedback from more than 700 nonprofit professionals...

Who Is a Fundraiser?
April 20, 2017 at 3:15 pm

I constantly write blog posts for audiences with vast experience as nonprofit pros. As I was sitting at my computer recently, it occurred to me that many individuals who do not work in our profession read a variety of these blog posts...

#GivingTuesday Donations on the Rise
April 19, 2017 at 2:53 pm

The day after Thanksgiving, the holidays hit full-force. And it’s not just the radio stations blasting “Here Comes Santa Claus” every half hour—it’s the shopping frenzies of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Thankfully, (no pun intended) for the past four years, we’ve had a day to shift the focus away from materialism and back to the true spirit of the holidays: Giving Tuesday...

Random Fundraising Resources and Thoughts
April 19, 2017 at 2:30 pm

Learn from others. Measure what matters. Start out right. Live out thankfulness. This old dog knows that it takes more than these four things to be a successful and fulfilled fundraiser, but this isn’t a bad place to begin for anyone new to the profession or looking to hit the reset button on his or her career in the nonprofit sector...

5 Myths of Evergreen Philanthropy: Part 5
April 19, 2017 at 2:24 pm

Just as many nonprofit organizations have one-size-fits-all fundraising appeals, they also tend to treat all their donors the same. “What’s wrong with that?” you say. “Are they supposed to give the big guys special treatment?” Well, yes—and no...

Grow the Number of Volunteers in Your Nonprofit
April 19, 2017 at 9:31 am

From 2015 to 2016, the number of nonprofit organizations with 50 or more volunteers increased from 55 percent to 76 percent. Growing numbers of volunteers could mean major benefits to the nonprofit sector. Volunteers are an important source of labor, expanding fundraising networks and saving many organizations thousands of dollars with their unpaid service...

More Donors Starting Funds Rather Than Giving Directly to Charities
April 19, 2017 at 9:13 am

For the first time on record, the nonprofit that received the most in donations in the country is not what you typically think of as a nonprofit—and that has some in the nonprofit sector worried that the new model is upending traditional philanthropy. Giving accounts allow donors to get an immediate tax benefit when they…

No Puppies? No Problem: Digital Marketing When You Don’t Have Easy Imagery
April 18, 2017 at 10:20 am

Big-eyed kittens and cute puppies are great ways to catch donors’ attention and play on their heartstrings. But sadly, we’re not all animal welfare groups, and we need creative that represents our missions and brands. There are many techniques and tactics that can help you make the most of digital marketing when you can’t rely on easy imagery...