This article from Inside Philanthropy says that Black History Month is an opportunity in philanthropy to emphasize the need for deeper, more equitable engagement with Black leaders and communities. Instead of doing the same thing year after year (extra funding for education initiatives, a new scholarship program or a fleeting new community empowerment project), Inside Philanthropy gives four ways that organizations can rethink philanthropy during Black History Month in order to truly foster change:

1. Be courageous: Repair past harm to make way for strong working relationships

2. Be proximate: Collaborate in the genuine sense of the term 

3. Invest in people and relationships even when they are unfamiliar: Get comfortable with the uncomfortable  

4. Value people and the reality of their experience, especially regarding race: Foster safety

Click here to read the full article.

Ever wondered how certain institutions reel in those huge donations? It might seem like they hold the keys to a secret vault, whether it's thanks to their large team, influential board, or endless financial resources. Even if your institution isn't blessed with those luxuries, there's a remedy available: fine-tune your fundraising strategy around precise metrics. The Giving Blog suggests tracking the following twelve metrics and the methods to use to track them with precision:

1. Donation “Asks” Made
2. Average Gift Size
3. Average Gift Size Growth
4. Average Giving Capacity
5. Gift Frequency
6. Major Donor Dependency Rate
7. Major Donor Acquisition Rate
8. Major Donor Churn Rate
9. Average Major Donor Lifespan
10. Lifetime Donor Value
11. Gifts Secured
12. Donation Revenue Growth Rate

Click here to read the full article.

This article from Evertrue gives five ideas you can use to make personalized video campaigns this year. Each example comes with a real video from institutions across the US. Here are the five ways Evertrue suggests you use video in 2024:

• Welcome first-time donors: Create personalized video campaigns to welcome new donors, share impactful stories, and make them feel valued for joining the cause.

• Celebrate career changes: Recognize donors who have recently changed jobs with congratulatory videos, acknowledging their achievements and fostering engagement.

• Thank a Giving Day donor: Utilize personalized videos to thank donors who contribute during Giving Days, emphasizing the immediate impact of their gifts and encouraging further support.

• Re-engage donors on their gift anniversary: Show appreciation to donors who gave Last Year But Unfortunately Not This Year (LYBUNTs) and Some Year But Unfortunately Not This Year (SYBUNTs) with personalized videos highlighting the impact of their past support and encouraging renewed involvement.

• Throw your donors a mini birthday party: Establish recurring campaigns to celebrate donors' birthdays with personalized messages or fun videos, creating a special connection and fostering ongoing engagement.

In an article from the Helen Brown Group, real estate expert Josh Otroski explains a 1031 exchange, which allows real estate investors to defer capital gains taxes by exchanging investment properties for others of equal or higher value. There are benefits to 1031 exchanges, such as increased buying power, portfolio diversification, and potential wealth creation. However, there are negative aspects, such as strict timelines and complex procedures. Donors to our institutions with investment properties could use 1031 exchanges for philanthropic purposes. Read more here.

Traditional philanthropy is evolving as societal challenges become more complex. This article from Forbes explores innovative alternatives reshaping philanthropic strategies, including Mission-Related Investing (MRI) and Recoverable Grants. The article also explores new legal structures like family LLCs and 501(c)(4) organizations, which offer greater flexibility and tax benefits for strategic allocation of resources. Forbes also delves into Program-Related Investments (PRIs) and navigating political activities in 501(c)(4) organizations. Click here to read the full article.

As we all know, nonprofit leadership boards can play a huge role in fundraising at our institutions. Board members can be powerful advocates despite lacking professional fundraising backgrounds. From sharing the organization's story and mission to personally inviting others to contribute, board members possess the passion, motivation, and networks necessary to drive successful fundraising efforts. This article delves into four roles board members can fall into: ambassadors, conveners, bridge builders, and solicitors and discusses why each role play a pivotal part in helping our organizations achieve financial goals and fulfill our missions.