How Smart Tech Is Transforming Nonprofits
Allison Fine
DECEMBER 9, 2021
Automation and AI can free up staff in fundraising, communications, finance, and service delivery efforts.
2021
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SpaceX’s Inspiration4 Campaign for St. Jude Surpasses $200M Fundraising Goal
NonProfit PRO
SEPTEMBER 20, 2021
Inspiration4 returned from orbit Saturday, raising millions for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in the process. Though the campaign goal was met, it will continue raising money through February 2022.
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On Being a White Thought Leader in the Nonprofit Sector
Nonprofit Marketing Guide
MARCH 22, 2021
TL;DR: Getting called in and called out comes with the territory of being a thought leader. You need to learn to manage that, regardless of how uncomfortable it is, or find another line of work. . Over the last few weeks, our friend and colleague Tom Ahern made a series of bad decisions that rightly resulted in the cancellation of a AFP webinar he was scheduled to present later this week.
How to Create Your 2020 Annual Report
Ann Green
FEBRUARY 18, 2021
The nonprofit annual report is a mixed bag. Organizations do need to share accomplishments and show gratitude to their donors, but many annual reports are done poorly. They’re often too long, boring, and basically a demonstration of the organization patting itself on the back. There’s often very little appreciation for donors. It’s also time consuming to put together, even when we’re not in a pandemic.
From Curiosity to Competitive Edge: How Mid-Market CEOs Are Using AI to Scale Smarter
Speaker: Lee Andrews, Founder at LJA New Media & Tony Karrer, Founder and CTO at Aggregage
This session will walk you through how one CEO used generative AI, workflow automation, and sales personalization to transform an entire security company—then built the Zero to Strategy framework that other mid-market leaders are now using to unlock 3.5x ROI. As a business executive, you’ll learn how to assess AI opportunities in your business, drive adoption across teams, and overcome internal resource constraints—without hiring a single data scientist.
Newsletter: Why You Should Include Pets in Your Nonprofit Marketing; T-Mobile, Burlington Team Up to Pay Off Holiday Layaways ; 2021 Has Not Been a Good Year for Corporate Giving
Selfish Giving
DECEMBER 8, 2021
Last week it was the secret formula for storytelling success according to Marvel Comics. This week it's why you should use pets in your nonprofit marketing.????? I'm not sure why, but a publisher recently sent me a new book called Pet Nation: The Inside Story of How Companion Animals are Transforming Our Homes, Culture, and Economy. It's a fascinating read.
Why We Are Leaving Facebook Groups
Nonprofit Marketing Guide
OCTOBER 5, 2021
I was going to wait a bit longer before sharing this news, but after yesterday’s Facebook worldwide blowout, I figured I might as well share now. Over the next several weeks, we are transitioning out of our Facebook Groups and into a private-label solution called Circle. We at Nonprofit Marketing Guide have used Facebook Groups practically since they became available.
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3 Reasons Why Nonprofits Fail and How To Avoid Them
NonProfit PRO
AUGUST 13, 2021
In the United States, about 1.5 million nonprofits exist. But, then a natural question is how many of them fail? As we know, during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, as many as one-third of nonprofits were at risk of closing their doors. So, what are the top reasons nonprofits fail—aside from a situation like the pandemic? And more importantly, if you're a nonprofit leader and founder, how do you avoid it happening?
How the Supply Chain Problem Affects Your Nonprofit
NonProfit PRO
NOVEMBER 16, 2021
The supply chain issue in the U.S. and abroad is something that affects all of us. However, it has ramifications for your nonprofit beyond what you may think. Sure, if you’re an organization reliant on providing things to people you serve, it could be an incredible challenge.
Fundraising Isn’t the Only Thing Nonprofit Communicators Do
Nonprofit Marketing Guide
MAY 6, 2021
Every now and then, a fundraising consultant will write a post essentially saying that all nonprofit communications and marketing should be driven by fundraising goals and staff, with a few limited exceptions, like media relations and general branding. Here’s the latest example of this point of view from Richard Perry and Jeff Schreifels , further amplified here by Jeff Brooks.
What Nonprofit Donors Want To See in Your Marketing and Social Media
NonProfit PRO
DECEMBER 21, 2021
What's happened is that we live at a time of immense transparency and authenticity because of the way data is consumed. Donors could hold nonprofits and their leaders accountable if they realize something isn't quite right. Therefore, in this time of easy communications, you want to ensure quality and value marketing and social media.
A New Look At Grant Management: Why Use A System When You Have Excel?
Speaker: Gareth Webb & Phill Selley, Founding Partners at Intouch Business
For many nonprofit organizations and NGOs, managing grants with spreadsheets and manual processes feels familiar—but is it holding your organization back? As funding requirements become more complex and stakeholder expectations for transparency grow, relying on outdated methods can lead to inefficiencies, missed opportunities, and compliance risks. Join Gareth Webb and Phil Selley in this new session as they walk through the grant lifecycle, highlighting key operational and financial challenges
Why Nonprofits Are Leaving Facebook
NonProfit PRO
OCTOBER 21, 2021
Did you know 90% of Facebook users live overseas? That's just one reason why nonprofits are increasingly looking for alternatives to Facebook. At some point, I anticipate that there will be increased shifts away from the platform. Here's why.
What Nonprofit Communications Directors Should Name and Own
Nonprofit Marketing Guide
APRIL 15, 2021
I use this quote from Thomas L. Friedman in my training all the time: “In the world of ideas, to name something is to own it. If you can name an issue, you can own the issue.” Here are some of the ideas and issues you should be naming and owning in your nonprofit as a communications director. The Marketing and Communications Planning Documents.
The Magic of No: When to Say “No” and How
Nonprofit Marketing Guide
AUGUST 23, 2021
All my people-pleasers gather around and let me tell you about a magical trick that will grant you more time in your schedule, reduce burnout and clear your mind. It’s saying “No” Unfortunately, all magic comes with price and the price you might pay when you turn someone down is feeling guilty. But maybe you don’t have to decide between being over-committed or feeling bad about letting someone down.
Donor Fatigue Is a Myth
NonProfit PRO
SEPTEMBER 7, 2021
It’s amazing to me the wild stories nonprofit leaders and fundraisers make up in their heads about why donors are not giving. It’s like you’re trying to develop excuses not to go out and fundraise — and you’re a fundraiser!
What Your Financial Statements Are Telling You—And How to Listen!
Speaker: David Worrell, CFO, Author & Speaker
Your financial statements hold powerful insights—but are you truly paying attention? Many finance professionals focus on the income statement while overlooking key signals hidden in the balance sheet and cash flow statement. Understanding these numbers can unlock smarter decision-making, uncover risks, and drive long-term success. Join David Worrell, accomplished CFO, finance expert, and author, for an engaging, nontraditional take on reading financial statements.
Is This the End of Email Open Rate Tracking?
Nonprofit Marketing Guide
JUNE 10, 2021
You may have seen the latest batch of announcements from Apple about the privacy changes they are making to their software, including this one: In the Mail app, Mail Privacy Protection stops senders from using invisible pixels to collect information about the user. The new feature helps users prevent senders from knowing when they open an email, and masks their IP address so it can’t be linked to other online activity or used to determine their location.
Is Facebook Now Optional for Nonprofits?
Nonprofit Marketing Guide
OCTOBER 7, 2021
When I’ve trained nonprofits on social media over the years, I told them they had to have at least a minimal presence on Facebook. It was always the elephant in the room that you couldn’t ignore. I’m not saying that anymore. While Facebook is still indispensable for many nonprofits, including those that have found ways to successfully fundraise there through peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns or newsy or value-laden advocacy campaigns, it’s just not universally true anym
Do You Have an Email Welcome Series for New Subscribers? Probably Not
Nonprofit Marketing Guide
FEBRUARY 10, 2021
Do we sound like a broken record yakking on and on about email marketing? Yes! Do we care? No! We are fired up right now about making sure nonprofits are following email marketing best practices. We’ve pretty much dedicated the entire month of February to email marketing training. So until we see these stats change, we will continue to metaphorically scream at the top of our lungs about the Nonprofit Email Apocalypse.
You Can’t Do All the Things. Pace Yourself.
Nonprofit Marketing Guide
JULY 13, 2021
Someone recently told me that while they appreciate all the diverse professional development topics that we and others offer on nonprofit communications and marketing, the fact that there is so much of it and so many things to learn also contributes to her sense of imposter syndrome. I get it! There really is so much variation in this work, and things are changing constantly.
Forecasting Failures Are Costly: Heres How To Fix Them
Speaker: Dave Sackett
Traditional budgeting and forecasting methods can no longer keep pace with today’s rapidly evolving business environment. Static budgets, rigid annual forecasts, and outdated financial models limit an organization’s ability to adapt to market shifts and economic uncertainty. To stay ahead, finance leaders must leverage a future-forward approach—one that leverages real-time data, predictive analytics, and continuous planning to drive smarter financial decisions.
Email Deliverability Is Down (Meaning Your Emails May Not Be Making It to Inboxes)
Nonprofit Marketing Guide
FEBRUARY 3, 2021
In doing research for next week’s webinar Email Marketing Trends for Nonprofits webinar series, I came across the 2020 Email Deliverability Benchmark Study done by Validity. According to their report: Globally, the average inbox placement rate was 83 percent in 2019—meaning one out of every six messages failed to reach the inbox. Global deliverability saw a slight decline of two percentage points from the 2018 average of 85 percent. 2020 Email Deliverability Benchmark Study.
How to Use Artificial Intelligence Ethically for Your Nonprofit
NonProfit PRO
JUNE 15, 2021
Technology and artificial intelligence are most certainly making our lives easier and improving efficiencies. But, the power is beyond anything humans have ever seen, and we're heading to a point where technology will soon entirely exceed our capacity and performance on just about everything. Therefore, it's a balancing act.
Every Nonprofit Needs Internal and External Ambassadors
NonProfit PRO
JULY 23, 2021
Every person who works for a nonprofit or is associated with an organization internally is an ambassador of that organization by virtue of association. As an employee of The Salvation Army, I wear, with pride, a shirt with the logo of The Salvation Army. Volunteers also wear clothing that signifies an association with the organization.
6 Ways to Fundraise With Video
NonProfit PRO
JULY 21, 2021
If your organization is a university or hospital foundation with millions in the bank, then hiring a company to do all video-related communications for you might make sense. For everyone else, the important thing is to share your organization’s mission story in a compelling way – and "compelling" doesn’t necessarily mean professionally produced. Use your iPhone or Zoom or whatever tool you are comfortable with to do the recording.
The Everyday Donor: Unlocking Prospecting Segments Through Behavior Analysis
Speaker: Tim Sarrantonio, Director of Corporate Brand
Do you really know your donors? Not just what they give, but who they are? 👥 In this interactive session, we’ll break down how nonprofits can use behavioral indicators (affinity, recency, frequency, and monetary value) to build prospecting segments that go beyond wealth screening and actually align with donor identity. You’ll walk away with practical strategies to move beyond basic demographics and cultivate supporters based on how they already engage with you!
Another Exercise for You: The Brain Dump
Nonprofit Marketing Guide
JULY 26, 2021
Last week I shared An Exercise to Reduce Burnout (and More): Start a List of Every Single Thing You Do at Work. The goal of that exercise was to see ALL of your tasks in one place so you could prevent burnout, manage expectations, combat imposter syndrome, and realize your worth. This week, I have a similar exercise for you, but this is more for times when your brain is completely overwhelmed with the things you need to do (or cluttered with things you just think you should do).
5 Ways Nonprofit Comms Directors Often Need to Lead Their Organizations
Nonprofit Marketing Guide
JUNE 24, 2021
“But is this really my responsibility?” That’s the response I sometimes get when I’m encouraging a nonprofit communications director to step up and start an often-hard conversation within their organizations. Of course, it’s usually not their job, technically. But the problem is that when executive directors and other senior staff don’t provide that kind of leadership, there’s a gap.
The 10 Keys to Nonprofit Communications Success
Nonprofit Marketing Guide
JULY 20, 2021
What are all of the things that nonprofit communications teams need to think about and potentially act on to be successful? Of course, it’s a really, really long list of potential items. To put some structure around it, so that you can start to understand your choices and then make them, we’ve identified ten keys to nonprofit communications success.
4 Questions to Ask to Get Your Messaging Right
Nonprofit Marketing Guide
AUGUST 26, 2021
Are you ready to get serious about your marketing and fundraising campaigns? Then you’ll need to invest some creative brainpower into your messaging. To get your messaging right, you need to answer four questions: 1. What’s Your Call to Action? . How do you want people to help? You need to be clear and specific about what you want people to do. 2.
Navigating Payroll Compliance: Future-Proofing Payroll in an Evolving Regulatory Landscape
Speaker: Jennifer Hill
Payroll compliance is a cornerstone of business success, yet for small and midsize businesses, it’s becoming increasingly challenging to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of federal, state, and local regulations. Mistakes can lead to costly penalties and operational disruptions, making it essential to adopt advanced solutions that ensure accuracy and efficiency.
Social Media, Blog, and Newsletter Ideas for July 2021
Nonprofit Marketing Guide
JUNE 30, 2021
A lot of you operate on smaller staffs during the summer, so if you need a spark of inspiration for next month’s editorial calendar, these writing prompts can help. These ideas come from our Monthly Nonprofit Writing Prompts email newsletter. If you would like these ideas sent to your inbox a month in advance, sign up for our Monthly Nonprofit Writing Prompts.
A Direct Mail Fundraiser’s Best Friend Just Might Be Digital
NonProfit PRO
JUNE 22, 2021
Direct mail fundraisers, this blog post is dedicated to you. The tendency to think about the offline and online channels as separate sandboxes is inadvisable for many reasons, but today we’d like to focus on a direct-mail-centric reason — one that is costing you revenue.
How to Create Lasting Impact After Giving Tuesday
NonProfit PRO
NOVEMBER 12, 2021
Giving Tuesday is the global day of giving that results in significant revenue raised. But, it is just one day. How can you better leverage your nonprofit's success after Giving Tuesday?
Bringing Community Centric Fundraising to Life
Nonprofit Marketing Guide
AUGUST 4, 2021
Rachel D’Souza-Siebert. Guest Post by Rachel D’Souza-Siebert, MPPA. Early in my nonprofit career, I learned that the job of a fundraising professional was securing resources to achieve a financial goal that would serve my employer. I had a responsibility to use whatever was at my disposal to build (less than) transformational relationships with donors.
Recognition Powers High-Performance — If You Do it Right
Speaker: Radhika Samant and Todd Wuestenberg
Employee recognition has often been deemed a "feel-good" initiative, tied closely to rewards. While we understand its importance, we tend to associate recognition with intangible outcomes like engagement and sentiment, rather than direct impacts on retention and high performance. In today’s workplace, the true ROI of recognition lies in its ability to regenerate tangible, business-driven results.
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