Fundraising Talks
News and updates from the USM Office of
Advancement Research
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The article from NonProfitPRO emphasizes the need for nonprofits to involve young professionals and community members in their boards. Nonprofits should reimagine the qualifications for their board members and consider professional expertise, personal experience, and diversity. The article suggests five ways to engage younger generations for board leadership, including proactively seeking and recruiting candidates, providing leadership development opportunities, demonstrating the importance of board diversity, offering opportunities to enhance their values of social responsibility, and being tech-friendly. Additionally, the article suggests ways to keep young leadership in the pipeline. Organizations need to ensure that young board members feel valued, be open to new ideas, and be open to networking and mentorship. Click here to read more.
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The inaugural State of Capital Campaigns Benchmark Report dispels several myths about capital campaigns in the nonprofit sector. First, the report challenges the belief that only large organizations can conduct successful capital campaigns and shows that smaller organizations with budgets under $1 million can achieve success by focusing on a compelling case for support, clear planning, and dedicated leadership. Second, the report debunks the idea that capital campaigns harm annual funds, as 79 percent of organizations currently in campaigns reported increased or stable annual funds. Third, the report states that a wealthy board is not a prerequisite for a successful campaign, as board member contributions accounting for an average of 14 percent of campaign goals. Finally, the traditional donor pyramid remains relevant, with major donors contributing significantly to campaign goals. Click here to read more in-depth about the findings. | | |
This article from Nonprofit Tech for Good discusses the importance of using social media effectively for nonprofit organizations, especially in preparation for Giving Tuesday. Here are the five key strategies the article suggests to improve social media content:
- Posting with intention and purpose
- Using hashtags strategically to avoid overloading posts
- Selecting the right social media platforms based on your audience
- Creating unique and engaging content to stand out
- Utilizing paid advertising to reach a broader audience due to the decline in organic traffic on social media platforms
Click here to read more.
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The Engage Blog talks about the importance of a strong end-of-year fundraising effort for nonprofit organizations. The blog post states that 30 percent of annual giving occurs in the last three months of the year, with 12 percent in the last three days. The following are practical strategies institutions can take to maximize year-end fundraising success:
- Analyze, clean, and segment donor data for personalized appeals
- Following up with donors to ensure contributions are collected
- Optimize the digital experience for donors
- Express gratitude with timely thank-you notes and involving key staff and board members in the process
- Share fundraising results with donors and celebrate achievements
Click here to read more.
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Advancements in payment technology have significantly influenced spending behavior, and these trends have also affected the nonprofit sector, where catering to the latest payment methods can boost donation volumes. This article from nten discusses payment trends that are emerging in the nonprofit space. First, online donation forms have become increasingly popular, particularly in the space of mobile giving. Next, digital wallets like Google Pay and Apple Pay have made donating easier, and organizations that support digital wallets have seen significant increases in mobile giving. Third, recurring payments are on the rise, as they give donors the option to make ongoing, smaller contributions, and many payment solutions offer recurring payment scheduling features. Next, kiosks and tablets at events allow donors to use credit or debit cards in-person. Finally, donor-advised funds are increasing in popularity. Click here to read more about these trends. | | |
Corporate philanthropy accounted for only 6 percent of the $499.33 billion donated to charity in 2022, leading nonprofit leaders and fundraisers to question the value of corporate fundraising efforts. However, a strong corporate program can offer long-term benefits, such as developing a pipeline of volunteer leadership that can serve as a valuable resource for individual donors, this blog post from GG+A argues. The post provides three in-depth ways a corporate giving program can accelerate long-term growth in your organization. The solutions include developing a pipeline of volunteer leadership, identifying mutual benefits that align with your mission, and being mindful of your capacity. Click here to read more.
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