A reading list to help your organization look inward and examine how to better foster a culture where employees are empowered to thrive, collaborate, and innovate for maximum social impact. The internal operations of social sector organizations can make or break their impact. “Toxic” workplace cultures make headlines for failing to support employees’ personal and […]
Toronto
The 7 Deadly Sins of Asking for Donations
Even after loads of practice, asking for donations can make our palms sweat and our hair stand up. It’s not easy, and it shouldn’t be—after all, you’re asking people to part with their hard-earned money. But don’t worry: as long as you avoid these common mistakes, your fundraising efforts will be just fine—even if your palms are still […]
25 Creative Summer Fundraising Ideas
We’re not sure about you, but we’ve got the summer itch. When it comes to your nonprofit organization, summer fun and fundraising go hand in hand. It’s time to leverage the fact that school’s out and everyone’s looking for something exciting to do with their free time. With your help, favorite summer activities become opportunities […]
Three Roles of the Nonprofit CFO that Lead to Mission Success
Over the years, my experience in a variety of financial leadership roles has led me to the following hypothesis: nonprofit finance is critical to mission success. Whether determining how financial resources are spent or raised, clarifying organizational priorities, or building leadership—in many ways, finance determines mission success and impact. Completing the Circle With mission success […]
Nonprofit Spring Cleaning: Getting Rid of Unwanted Clutter
Ah, Spring. Finally, the sun is shining, the flowers are blooming, our allergies are resurging. And, if you’re like me, your office has become something of a warzone: papers, notes, books and old coffee cups crowding your desk, allowing just enough room to rest your arms. Even if your desk isn’t as disastrous as mine, […]
12 Donation Appeal Ideas for Each Month of the Year
One thing I hear often from the nonprofits I work with is that they only ask for money a few times a year. “We have a spring Gala, summer Golf tournament, and end of year appeal. We have ten major donors that we talk to and a handful of grants.” “We have two appeals (spring/fall). We […]
Your Spring Fundraiser Checklist
Spring fundraising season is upon us and the pressure is on for nonprofits to hit their goals at upcoming galas or events. Here’s a quick checklist to make sure your nonprofit is ready: Set expectations Leading up to your gala or big fundraising event, give attendees a sense of the flow of the evening, including […]
The SMART Way to Create Fundraising Goals
If you’re looking to increase donations for your nonprofit organization, your first move will be to improve the fundraising goals you set for your organization. Most nonprofits have fundraising goals, but not all goals are created equal. In 1981, an article by George Doran, There’s a S.M.A.R.T. Way to Write Management’s Goals and Objectives, appeared in Management Review. It […]
5 Ways to Make People Love Your Cause
What if I asked you to sell me a pen, how would you respond? Will you tell me about the pen? Would you tell me that each tip was hand polished to perfection for a smoother writing experience? Would you tell me about the millions around the world who use it as their go-to writing […]
3 Easy Ways to Cut Nonprofit Costs
Your nonprofit likely has an idealistic mission statement—one that doesn’t mention anything about overhead costs. And while finding ways to lower your nonprofit costs may not inspire the kind of enthusiasm your purpose does, every dollar you save contributes to those you serve. There’s nothing wrong with spending money on overhead—au contraire. But, at the end […]
11 Fundraising Emails Best Practices to Drive High Response Rates
Fundraising emails provide a significant stream of income for many nonprofit and cause-based groups. However, this fundraising technique requires your recipients to take action not once, but twice. First, you need to get your recipients to open the email and then you need to get them to respond to your message. Do it right, and […]
4 Editorial Best Practices your Nonprofit Should Adopt
Nonprofits that use editorial best practices are much more likely to produce effective communications, we know that from years of research, including the 2018 Nonprofit Communications Trends Report by Nonprofit Marketing Guide. Effective communications mean more program participants, more donors, more volunteers, more awareness, and more overall engagement and understanding of your work. If you […]