The Nonprofit Podcast

Send us a textMaking the ask is what fundraising is all about, but writing appeals that inspire donors to engage and donate with your organization can push your powers of persuasion to the limit.  This week Kara Schmid, Senior Content Writer at Donorbox, takes the anxiety out of creating an awesome ‘ask’ for your year-end appeal campaign.  Tackling the timeline,  tone and methods to make your appeals deliver, she details how to maximize every stage of your appeal strategy planning, and implementation.Join Cara and Kara for an enlightening discussion of tried and tested tactics, innovations that inspire and the three absolute must-dos for any fundraising appeal!And we are excited to share the Donorbox Academy Appeal Writing Course that will boost your appeal writing strategy all year long.  You can sign up for  “Asks that Appeal” here: Donorbox Academy and make your appeal anxiety disappear with actionable techniques that work. Or, if you are looking for more information to drive your donation appeals this year-end our Donorbox Getting You Ready for Giving Season 3-step Road Map  you will find more on our Nonprofit Blog, here: https://donorbox.org/nonprofit-blog/giving-season If you have any questions, or a story to share reach out to Cara at Podcast@Donorbox.org or find out more at DonorboxTo kickstart your fundraising journey, visit: Donorbox today! 🏁🏁#nonprofit #podcasts #givingseason Support the show

Send us a textIf you think Direct mail is dead - it’s time for a reality check! Direct mail is having a major resurgence as a key donation driver across nonprofit fundraising campaigns worldwide.So, if you think physical mail is too ‘last century’ for your Giving Season strategy, this 15 minute session with Cara and Joe Leach, President of Bliss Direct Media and Appealmaker, is about to change your mind and your appeal strategy.  Joe shares his vast knowledge and keen insights into the mission-moving impact direct mail delivers based on his two decades experience in the nonprofit world.  Much sought after for his  Top 10 Direct Mail Hacks for Nonprofits, Joe condenses his key learnings into 3 Immediately Implementable Hacks you can get started on today to take your 2022 Giving Season to the next level.  From revenue generation to response rates, find out why direct mail is dominating the digital divide and why savvy nonprofits are strategizing around this high impact communication tool.If you would like to hear more from Joe you can find the Donorbox hosted webinar, Top 10 Direct Mail Hacks for Nonprofits, on our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nB6GiMMROWYYou can sign-up here for our Donorbox Academy ‘Asks That Engage’ course and create fundraising appeals that will raise more money for your mission.  https://academy.donorbox.org/p/fundraising-appealsTo explore more about Direct Mail Fundraising Best Practices or the importance of Direct Mail for Nonprofits with Appealmaker visit - https://appealmaker.com/ Or, if you are looking for more information to drive your donation appeals this year-end our Donorbox Getting You Ready for Giving Season 3-step Road Map  you will find more on our Nonprofit Blog, here: https://donorbox.org/nonprofit-blog/giving-seasonIf you have any questions, or a story to share reach out to Cara at Podcast@Donorbox.org or find out more at DonorboxTo kickstart your fundraising journey, visit: Donorbox today! 🏁🏁#nonprofit #podcasts #givingseason Support the show

Send us a textDonor segmentation is a term that gets thrown around a lot during strategy sessions, especially as you start to gear up for Giving Season fundraising appeals and events.  But what exactly is it, and what can it do for your organization?  In a perfect world, nonprofit fundraising professionals would be able to personalize marketing efforts. However, individualizing marketing per donor is an impossible task.  What is possible instead for most nonprofits is to make marketing feel personal. The right segmentation strategy can help you achieve that.Join Cara and Jena to look at how to best segment your donors based on their relationship with your organization, and unlock targeted, meaningful communications that lead to the all important action you need from your supporters this fundraising season.  Donor segmentation can make all the difference to your appeal impact, simply by tailoring your messaging to the relationship you already have with that individual or sub-group of donors. We all enjoy the personal touch when it comes to giving, and that increasingly means more than just a first name, or the amount of our last donation.   Cara has result-driving insights to share backed up by practical, easily implementable tips from Jena, so take 15 minutes, grab a cup of coffee and change your fundraising outcomes.Find out more about what Donorbox can do for your organization by joining us on a demo, click here to book your seat and shake up your Giving Season:  https://my.demio.com/ref/cp5yFBcCAwTlVq0b Or head over to our Nonprofit Blog for more information on today’s highlighted features:Nonprofit Donor Management | Tips & Best Practices (2022)15 Techniques to Boost Donor Acquisition - Best Practices (2022)If you have any questions, or a story to share reach out to Cara at Podcast@Donorbox.org or find out more at DonorboxTo kickstart your fundraising journey, visit: Donorbox today! 🏁🏁#nonprofit #podcasts #givingseason Support the show

Send us a textFinding the best software fit for your nonprofit is the smart strategic move, but what to look for and where to start can be confusing.  Online fundraising platform, donor management software…or both, or are they the same?  Join Cara and Amy Champagne, Donorbox Account Executive, to find out what to ask, what to look for and what to avoid, to turn your platform into a strategic springboard as we head into the busiest period of the fundraising year.With so many fundraising sites to choose from it can be challenging to know which one will provide the best-fit functionality for your needs – and the best experience for your donors and team.  Amy zeroes in on the critical questions all nonprofit organizations need to ask to maximize every opportunity to raise funds, and optimize every opportunity to engage and retain donors.  From start-up to scaling, your platform needs to grow with you and support your objectives, integrate your administrative processes, and free you up to focus on your cause.  Using best use cases from her extensive engagement with organizations of all sizes Amy puts a laser focus on the key deliverable you need to level up your fundraising this Giving Season.If Amy has inspired you to Be a Protector of Pride you can find out more  and make a donation here:  Donate and Support Seattle Pride and while you’re there don't forget to check out their amazing donation form!Find out more about what Donorbox can do for your organization by joining us on a demo, click here to book your seat and shake up your Giving Season Donorbox Group Demo - DemioOr head over to our Nonprofit Blog for more information on today’s highlighted features:Donorbox UltraSwift Pay | Make Giving a Breeze with Fast PaymentsAccept Apple Pay Donations With Donorbox | UpdateIf you have any questions, or a story to share reach out to Cara at Podcast@Donorbox.org or find out more at DonorboxTo kickstart your fundraising journey, visit: Donorbox today! 🏁🏁#nonprofit #podcasts #givingseason Support the show

Send us a textOwn the Why!  Take 10 minutes to change your Giving Season outcomes with the persuasive power of a strong case statement.Why you do what you do can be hard to capture, but that story or statement is a valuable and versatile tool to explain the purpose and impact of the work your nonprofit organization does.Case statement, case for support, just as it has multiple impact points this donation catalyzing tool also has many names, but always delivers!  By making your donors, old and new, aware of where and how their gifts make a difference, you are giving them a reason to make that donation - right now!  Whether it's used for major donor appeals, corporate sponsorship proposals, grant applications or on your website, donation page or annual report Cara has tactics and tips on maximizing this tried and tested tool, especially as we head into Giving Season.Take 10 minutes and change your Giving Season outcomes with the persuasive power of a strong case statement, and if we have inspired you to get ahead of the curve you can join Cara’s Giving Season Masterclass series with our special podcast 30% discount, using the promo code PODCAST to register.  Find out more from Cara in the episode, or register here: https://academy.donorbox.org/ 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 textThink of Us & Sixto Cancel Fostering Hope, Driving Change!Using technology to forge critical human connections may seem counter-intuitive, but the innovative and life-changing work Think of Us is driving in the US foster care system is doing exactly that!  Founded by today’s guest, Sixto Cancel, Think of Us is a research and design lab for foster care, driving equitable systems change so that the youth and families most impacted by the system have the greatest power and opportunity to reshape it.Sixto’s personal journey through the foster care system has shaped his purpose in tackling an outdated and sterile bureaucracy and defined his decision to give those who need it most a “voice in the choice” by anchoring policy changes in the lived experience of those within the system.  But like any ‘Big Ask’ policy change needs metrics to move forward, and here Sixto’s maverick approach to using technology really stands out.  From the initial idea for an app with self-help videos (and not a tech developer in sight) to the Think of Usof today representing over 38,000 people in the Lived Experience Network, they are bringing informed, dynamic and effective changes to ‘a broken system’.From student start-up to lobbying The White House, Sixto and his team at Think of Us are creating a world in which data-driven change is raising awareness, and the critical funds needed to address the many inequities entrenched in a system that no longer represents the challenges facing foster children and youth.To find out more, donate or support Think of Us click here: https://www.thinkof-us.org/If you have ever doubted the value of data in delivering social change programs this episode is about to change your lived experience.  Join Jena and the very data-savvy Sixto today, to take your nonprofit to the next level tomorrow!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 textHow big a deal is your year-end giving campaign, and is it worth the work?  Short answer?  Huge, and YES!!!As Giving Season preparation information starts to dominate your social media and inbox, you might be wondering if Giving Season campaigns are really ‘All That’?  And if so, how to navigate the next 5 months of campaign creation, implementation and follow-up?Join Cara and Jena to unpack key campaign planning priorities, timing, and available support, tools and tactics to unlock any potential analysis paralysis on your Board or management team.  Taking the lead from large nonprofits with well-established, winning campaigns delivering high-impact results, they explore workable strategies for small to medium organizations using the successful planning that sits behind the big wins!Click here for your free resources: https://poweredby.donorbox.org/podcast-givingday-resources/If we have inspired you to get ahead of the curve you can join Cara’s Giving Season Masterclass series with our special podcast 30% discount, using the promo code PODCAST to register.  Find out more from Cara in the episode, or register here: https://academy.donorbox.org/ If you have any questions, or a story to share reach out to Cara at Podcast@Donorbox.org or find out more at Donorbox - Getting you ready for Giving SeasonSupport the show

Send us a textSpread the Vote founder Kat Calvin is inspiring and profoundly practical in her approach to resolving the daily challenges millions of Americans face in their struggle to obtain valid photo IDs.  Unconventional in her approach, fearless in her determination, Kat pulls no punches as she discusses the challenges and achievements Spread the Vote has faced and overcome in the past 5 years.Relying on strong volunteer support, particularly in election years, Kat’s approach to recruiting, training and retaining volunteers may hold some answers for your Giving Season planning, plus great advice on promoting recurring donations through monthly giving programs and the immediate impact of good storytelling all year round.  While her unusual thinking around nonprofit collaboration in the areas of grants and funding opens up a potential new avenue for small or start-up organizations to consider.Find out more, volunteer or donate to Spread The Vote here: https://www.spreadthevote.org/Join Jena and the catalyzing passion of Kat Calvin today, to take your nonprofit to the next level tomorrow!If you have any questions on the Nonprofit Fundraising Podcast, or a story to share reach out to Cara or Jena at - Podcast@donorbox.org  To kickstart your fundraising journey, visit: https://bit.ly/3SKfTdo today! Support the show

Send us a textCara’s Top Time Management Tips and Strategies for Giving Season will take the bite out of year end planning for you and your team.  Most nonprofits start their Giving Season in October but our 3-2-1 countdown calendar puts you on the path to success from August, setting out step-by-step tactics and timing that will have you cool, calm and completely prepared for Giving Season success.  To help get a handle on your Giving Season planning Cara has created a clear, simple and easily actionable plan, and 3 downloadable resources to help you tame your time management over the next six months.  From making decisions without dithering, to a month-by-month checklist of activities, Cara unpacks procedures to alleviate pressure for nonprofit teams, freeing you up to focus on what matters, delivering on your mission!  Click here for your free resources: https://poweredby.donorbox.org/podcast-givingday-resources/If we have inspired you to get ahead of the curve you can join Cara’s Giving Season Masterclass series using our special 30% discount using the promo code PODCAST to register.  Find out more from Cara in the episode, or register here: https://academy.donorbox.org/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 textGrants can be ‘Instrumentl’ in growing and sustaining your organization, but they can also be time-consuming and confusing.  Gauri Manglik, CEO and Founder of Instrumentl, a barrier-breaking grant discovery, research and tracking tool, talks to Cara about how the challenges of sourcing grants inspired her and her partners to create a single source for organizations seeking grants.Touching on her personal experiences and inspirations, Gauri unpacks the best use case for the platform, and digs deep into everything from eligibility to application pro-tips for nonprofit organizations of all sizes and geographic locations.  If you are questioning your strategy or weighing whether grants or Giving Season will be your focus for the second half of the year, Cara and Gauri will help guide that decision today in an episode packed with advice for nonprofits at all stages of development.  You can find helpful government and technology grant guides on our Donorbox Nonprofit Blog, here:Government Grants for Nonprofits: Who is Eligible and How to Get One (donorbox.org)Technology Grants for Nonprofits: Where and How to Find Them [2022] (donorbox.org)Plus Gauri has opened up Instrumentl’s resource repository for our listeners, which you can download for free here:The Ultimate Grant Writing Resources Collection: features over 100 pages of grant writing resources ranging from grants calendar guides to RFP evaluation tools.Live Grant Writing Classes: weekly live and free grant writing education featuring best-selling authors, educators and more.Grant Writing Classes On-Demand: 50+ hours of free grant writing education that can be watched by any grant writer regardless of skill levelSuccessful Grant Proposal Examples: The Ultimate List: this post digs into successful grant proposal examples to show how you can start winning grant funding for your organization.49 Grant Writing Resources: The Ultimate List: the most comprehensive list of grant tools and grant writing resources for nonprofits.8 Things That Only Instrumentl Can Do: learn what makes Instrumentl the definitive institutional fundraising platform for nonprofits.Anyone using code DONORBOX50 will save $50 off their first month or year of Instrumentl. You can sign up for a 14-day free Instrumentl account here: https://www.instrumentl.com/r/NPPodIf 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