The Nonprofit Podcast

Send us a textTop nonprofit fundraising trends for 2023 take center stage in our last episode for 2022.  Cara and her guests tackle three key issues that will influence fundraising in the coming year, unpacking how to manage, mitigate or make them work for you.Recession, conflicts, and a distracted, time-pressed audience present a mixed bag of opportunities and challenges.  The global economy is on a downtrend, donors are more discerning in their giving, and blanket communication strategies aren’t cutting it, so what does a strategic nonprofit fundraiser need to do to sustain? From polite, persistent but carefully planned appeals and leveraging digital wallets, to standing out in your service area Cara and her guests offer tactics to meet, manage and maximize your donor engagement, streamline your supporter relationships and keep your funding flowing. We have three great guides to assist you in implementing some of today’s tips on our Nonprofit Blog, you can find them here:How to Create a Nonprofit Landing Page that ConvertsThe Guide to Creating a Perfect Nonprofit Case Statement Donorbox UltraSwift™ Pay | Make Giving a Breeze with Fast Payments Or find out more at: https://donorbox.org/    The Nonprofit Podcast will be back with a new season on January 12, 2023, and we look forward to sharing your nonprofit journey with you.  Thank you so much for your support, and for choosing to join us each week as we work together to change the world for the better.DO YOU have a question? The Nonprofit Podcast is here to answer your questions!  Our weekly Ask-Me-Anything feature is one click away, simply open the form, add your name and ask us! ANYTHING!!  ➡️ https://donor-box.typeform.com/to/wXlnEX3X Support the show

Send us a textAfter a year of change, conflict, and challenge, what did 2022 teach the savvy nonprofit fundraiser?Any expectation that 2022 would be ‘business as usual’, with a reassuring return to pre-pandemic fundraising strategies evaporated by February.  We’ve experienced a sharp increase in the need for nonprofit services globally, from humanitarian aid to the protection of freedoms, matched only by tightening economic realities.  Through it all nonprofits have continued to serve and fundraise, meeting the need as best they can.  From evolving in-person event strategies and discovering how to do more with less to communication that cuts through the noise, Cara and Jena look at 2022’s three top trends and what they mean for the future of nonprofit fundraising.So, join us as we look at what this volatile and demanding environment has taught us and find out how to make those learnings work for our organizations as we head into 2023.You can take a deeper dive into the essential and free marketing tools recommended by Cara on our Nonprofit Blog here:  10 Essential and Free Marketing Tools for Nonprofits  Or find out more at: https://donorbox.org/    DO YOU have a question? The Nonprofit Podcast is here to answer your questions!  Our weekly Ask-Me-Anything feature is one click away, simply open the form, add your name and ask us!  ➡️ https://donor-box.typeform.com/to/wXlnEX3X Support the show

Send us a textDo you feel that your team may be heading for burnout? The last three months of the year are a little frenzied, and a lot stressful, for most nonprofits.  This intense fundraising period requires the most energy, intention, and action from your team!  So if you’re all feeling a little fried as the festive season sets in, Jena has 5 practical actions you can implement immediately to support your team through the last few weeks of your year-end push, without pushing them over the edge!Burnout has been a hot topic for the past few years in the nonprofit industry, with many workers and volunteers reporting they feel ‘used up’ despite the gratification of their work. Burnout impacts physical, emotional, and mental well-being following extended periods of stress, and if that doesn’t describe Giving Season, nothing does!  Burnout has an enormous impact on performance and the quality of program delivery and is often a major contributing factor to losing committed team members who feel overwhelmed and lose enthusiasm at work, and in their personal life.  Your team is your most precious resource, so take 5 minutes and try our tactics to get you to your Giving Season goals intact, in tune, and ready to tackle a new year with the team you trust, and support!We have a great guide to recognize the causes, identify the symptoms, and 11 techniques to effectively manage burnout on our Donorbox Nonprofit Blog, here:Nonprofit Burnout: How to Recognize And Manage It: https://donorbox.org/nonprofit-blog/nonprofit-burnout Or find out more at: https://donorbox.org/ DO YOU have a question? The Nonprofit Podcast is here to answer your questions!  Our weekly Ask-Me-Anything feature is one click away, open the form, add your name and ask us ANYTHING!!  ➡️ https://donor-box.typeform.com/to/wXlnEX3X?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=podcast_40   Support the show

Send us a textIn 2021, the average open rate was 21.3%. In 2022 it stands at 16.97%.  So how does the founder and Executive Director of Ten Eighteen Uganda, Jennings Wright, achieve almost triple that - twice a week?Join us as Jennings shares the fine art of email storytelling. From how to break through writer’s block to demolishing common misconceptions about communicating, she provides simple tips and tactics that can be put into practice right away to ensure your email is eagerly anticipated, and read! No one can do everything, but everyone can do something!  This was Jennings’ big ‘Aha’ moment when she started Ten Eighteen Uganda, Touch the Slum.  So, she and her colleagues did what they could, while fully engaging as many people as possible who would also do ‘something’. For Jennings, her ‘something’ was creating compelling communications to inspire donor support for the much-needed programs driving cultural change for young women and girls in Uganda. Often excluded from education and socially marginalized, teen mums in the Namuwongo slum face devastating poverty and lack basic necessities and services.  Tackling the huge problems facing these girls alone would have completely overwhelmed the young organization in 2009, today the bi-weekly clear, concise and totally engaging communications help to ensure that teen mums and girls have free crisis care, Skills for Life vocational training, and holistic literacy training to change their lives.  Sign-up here to find out more, receive their newsletter, and support Ten Eighteen UgandaFor more on honing your email skills and strengthening your appeal communications head to our Donorbox Nonprofit Blog.  We have articles to assist from every angle, you can find them here:How To Create A Sense of Urgency In Fundraising Appeals - 10 Easy Tips 5 Must-Dos for Engaging Fundraising Appeal Letters [+ Samples] How to Devise the Perfect End-of-Year Appeal (Free Samples)   Or find out more at: https://donorbox.org/ DO YOU have a question? The Nonprofit Podcast is here to answer your questions!  Our weekly Ask-Me-Anything feature is one click away, open the form, add your name and ask us ANYTHING!!  ➡️ https://donor-box.typeform.com/to/wXlnEX3X?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=podcast_40    Support the show

Send us a textIf stewardship is about so much more than a thank you, what is it? And how do you make it work for your nonprofit?Donor stewardship is the intentional practice of building a relationship with your donors.  Today Cara and Jena examine how thanking and showing impact together underpin a sound donor stewardship strategy and support your all-important donor retention. It cannot be said enough, relationships matter when it comes to stewardship!From how to build meaningful donor relationships to creating ongoing commitment and recurring donations for your cause, we have five key tips that will help your nonprofit grow with gratitude.  For a deeper dive into understanding and leveraging today’s advice, head to our Donorbox Nonprofit Blog.  We have three excellent guides to get you ‘growing with gratitude’, you can find them here:Key Nonprofit Stakeholders and How to Steward Them: https://donorbox.org/nonprofit-blog/nonprofit-stakeholders   Acquiring and Stewarding Major Donors: https://donorbox.org/nonprofit-blog/acquiring-major-donors   Donorbox Introduces Powerful & Time-Saving Donor Reporting Templates: https://donorbox.org/nonprofit-blog/donor-reporting-templates Or find out more at: https://donorbox.org/ DO YOU have a question? The Nonprofit Podcast is here to answer your questions!  Our weekly Ask-Me-Anything feature is one click away, open the form, add your name and ask us ANYTHING!!  ➡️ https://donor-box.typeform.com/to/wXlnEX3X Support the show

Send us a textIf your Giving Tuesday strategy isn’t quite ready, take a breath, and make the most out of the time you have! Heading into the 10 day countdown to Giving Tuesday a full panel of Donorbox Giving Season gurus are here take you through a comprehensive, game-changing checklist that will have your nonprofit ready to “Go Live” with confidence on November 29!From tips to broaden your donor base to engagement tactics, and a final strategy ‘health check’, our fundraising fundis have tweaks and tools to get your nonprofit’s Giving Tuesday strategy fit for purpose, and your team ready to raise more funds than ever before.To support implementing today’s advice, here’s our great free Peer-to-Peer resource to guide a super successful Giving Tuesday fundraiser:Peer-to-Peer fundraising, with checklists and templates for your fundraisers, is much easier with our free Donorbox Academy P2P Toolkit is waiting for you here ➡️: https://academy.donorbox.org/p/peer-to-peer-fundraising-with-donorbox Plus our Donorbox Nonprofit Blog has two excellent guides to assist your Giving Tuesday preparation and implementation, you can find them here:Giving Tuesday Toolkit for Nonprofits: https://donorbox.org/nonprofit-blog/giving-tuesday-toolkit  #Make the Most Out of Giving Tuesday Now | A Nonprofit’s Guide: https://donorbox.org/nonprofit-blog/giving-tuesday-now  DO YOU have question? The Nonprofit Podcast is here to answer your questions! Our weekly Ask-Me-Anything feature is one click away, open the form, add your name and ask us ANYTHING!!  ➡️ https://donor-box.typeform.com/to/wXlnEX3X Or find out more at : https://donorbox.org/ Support the show

Send us a textFinding donors is challenging, keeping donors is an art! Everyone will tell you finding donors is hard, fewer will share how hard they work to keep those hard-won relationships alive and healthy!  But we are here to share 5 tactics that will make it easier.  Today Cara drills down into the nuts and bolts of donor relationship building based on a well-implemented communication strategy, plus how to keep donors engaged, and excited about your mission.From where to find donors to communication channels that reach directly into that identified community with maximum impact, these tips will help you build your base, grow and ultimately sustain your organization.  To ensure you get the optimal impact of today’s episode we have two free resources to guide you through.The first great downloadable resource will help keep your communication strategy on track: Donorbox Communication Best Practices handout ➡️ Click Download Free Donor Communication Plan Template [PDF Version] And for more about Peer-to-Peer fundraising (with checklists and templates for your fundraisers) our free Donorbox Academy P2P Toolkit is waiting for you here ➡️ Peer to Peer Fundraising with Donorbox And finally we have a new way to communicate directly with you.  From today The Nonprofit Podcast is open to answer your questions!  Simply click the link, open the form, add your name and ask us!!  ➡️ https://donor-box.typeform.com/to/wXlnEX3X  Support the show

Send us a textGrowing a donor base is a challenge for all nonprofits.  Can a recurring giving program plus a lean team sustain, and grow, an organization?Join Cara and Rodger Obley, Creative Director at Pittsburgh Kids Foundation, for impactful and implementable insights into the PKF “Long Haul Mentality”, and discover how creating “a community of passionate monthly givers who believe every kid deserves the opportunity to thrive” sustains and grows this lean, but mighty, team.Faith-based organization, Pittsburgh Kids Foundation, works in the USA to reach middle school and high school students through their one of a kind camps, while investing in local youth leaders through the Pittsburgh Kids Network. Their work in Cap Haitien, Haiti, addresses immediate needs, provides quality education, and creates sustainable jobs that transform communities in partnership with local organizations and PKF program alumni.At the heart of these soul sustaining and life changing camps, education, skills, housing and health programs sits a sound monthly giving strategy, the PKF Dream Team.  This caring community of committed donors and partners helps fund programs and projects designed to help kids thrive throughout their lives. This work takes time, but PKF’s Dream Team is in it for good, their “long-haul mentality” is nurtured through a digital communication strategy conceived and implemented by Rodger, a skilled visual storyteller.  Today he shares the steps and strategy that sustained PKF through the Pandemic and is growing the Dream Team's future impact.Pittsburgh Kids Foundation has seen what happens when kids have the support they need to pursue their dreams. They grow up to become doctors, lawyers, pastors, the list goes on. But they all have one thing in common - they had the support they needed to pursue their dreams. Imagine if every kid had that support. You can find out more about their work and support them here: Let's Dream Big — Pittsburgh Kids Foundation Our Donorbox Nonprofit Blog has two excellent guides on getting started on your monthly giving strategy, you can find them here:10 Tips to Create a Great Monthly Giving Program (Recurring Donations)10 Best Donation Form Examples to Improve Your Giving Experience If you have any questions, or a story to share reach out to Cara at Podcast@Donorbox.org or find out more at DonorboxSupport the show

Send us a textDonation pages are packed with donation driving potential, are you making the most of every element to enhance your donors experience?  Your donation page has one simple purpose, to inspire donors to give to your cause. But, they also need to make the giving experience easy and quick, create a connection to your mission and allow you to collect enough information to reach donors again. Today Cara and Bobbi-Jo Rockstrom take you through a final ‘Must Do’ tech-tune up before Giving Season to tweak your design, maximize your page and deliver donations.  From streamlining page flow to adding an extra layer of security, everything you do to optimize your donors experience builds a stronger relationship with your organization and moves your mission forward.  Take 15 minutes to perfect your donation form’s branding, content, and technical details today and you’ll feel the benefits long after the Giving Season is done.In addition to Bobbi’s insights you will find a range of resources to make your donation page pop this Giving Season on our Nonprofit Blog:10 Best Donation Form Examples to Improve Your Giving Experience How to Create a Fundraising Page That Boosts Donations 12 Actionable Tips to Boost Online Donations If you have any questions, or a story to share reach out to Cara at Podcast@Donorbox.org or find out more at Donorbox Support the showSupport the show

Send us a text🎃If making “The Ask” has you more anxious than a Halloween Haunted House🦇 join Cara for 5 easily actioned steps to banish the “Actioning the Ask” bogeyman 👻this Giving Season.Breaking the Fundraising Cycle down into easily managed stages, Cara applies her bite-sized treats and tricks to creating and scheduling an ‘Ask’ amplifying year-end fundraising appeal plan anchored in 5 simple steps.  Not only will you conquer “The Ask” anxiety that’s been holding you back, you’ll come away with sound stewardship strategy fundamentals to serve you through Giving Season, and into 2023.So, this Halloween rather than calling Ghostbusters, face your fundraising fears and join Cara’s Giving Season Masterclass series with our special podcast 20% discount, using the promo code PODCAST to register.  Find out more from Cara in the episode, or register here: https://academy.donorbox.org/ And our Nonprofit Blog treat bowl is filled with range of resources to make your Giving Season appeals monstrously impactful: How to Devise the Perfect End-of-Year Appeal (Free Samples) Getting You Ready for Giving Season 2022 [With a 3-Step Roadmap]How to Ask for Donations: Donation Appeal Emails - DonorboxHow To Create A Sense of Urgency In Fundraising Appeals - 10 Easy Tips If you have any questions, or a story to share reach out to Cara at Podcast@Donorbox.org or find out more at Donorbox Support the showSupport the show