Your Greater Cincinnati Nonprofit News 9/25/2025

September 25, 2025

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How Peer-to-Peer Cultivation Keeps Participants Engaged

By Molly Fast

Some of the most important and impactful work we can do as fundraisers has little to do with asking for money or recruiting event participants. It has everything to do with year-round peer-to-peer fundraiser cultivation — making participants feel valued regardless of how much money they raise or how many teammates they recruit.

Recruitment and fundraising are, of course, critical. But it’s equally important to cultivate relationships with participants year-round. When you consistently show them they matter, they’ll be more motivated and more willing to step up when it’s time to ask.

Here are a few simple, effective ways to cultivate those relationships outside of typical event touch points.

1. Mission Moments

Throughout the year, seize opportunities to show participants how their involvement makes a difference and how their fundraising dollars are used. Help them see themselves as partners in your mission, not just fundraisers for a single event. This deeper connection fosters loyalty and passion, which often leads to stronger fundraising performance and long-term commitment to your organization. Longtime participants, team captains and top fundraisers are ideal audiences for mission moments where they can see firsthand the impact of their support.

2. Anniversaries

Most participants join your event because your cause has impacted them or someone they love. Learn their story, write it down and act on it.

If someone participates because of a breast cancer diagnosis, note the date and send a thoughtful card on the anniversary each year. If they walk to remember a loved one, acknowledge the date of that individual’s passing. A heartfelt note becomes a welcome gesture on an otherwise difficult day, showing participants that their connection to the cause matters deeply to your organization.

3. Just Because

Good stewardship means reaching out without an ask. Map out touch points throughout the year with your key participants just because. Invite a participant for coffee if you’re nearby. Email the supporter who loves visiting Ireland a link to an article about the country to let them know it made you think of them. Send a playful “Ted Lasso” card to your top fundraiser who’s a fan of the show.

During the pandemic, I joined a virtual holiday social where participants shared ornaments. I brought a stick of butter ornament, and one participant loved it so much that it became a bonding experience between us. The following year, I mailed her that same ornament and later gave her a butter-shaped notepad at the next event. You can surprise and delight your participants in ways that have nothing to do with your event. These small, inexpensive and unexpected touches can mean a great deal.

Build Your Year-Round Peer-to-Peer Cultivation Toolkit

One easy way to strengthen relationships with your supporters is to create a toolkit. Here are a few things I keep in mine.

Send notes. I love to have adorable notecards on hand for quick, heartfelt messages. Throughout the year, I can send a hug, some love or a little luck to participants.
Use event photos. I take pictures with participants at events and, later in the year, turn those photos into stationery. I write a note on the back and mail it to them as a personal reminder of our connection.
Create event-specific stationery. Even if you don’t have a photo with the participant, print event photos to ensure you always have meaningful stationery on hand to remind participants of your connection.

More than material things, we need to regularly share our empathy, kindness and support so our participants feel the love. If we’re doing our jobs right, participants will become long-term supporters. Even if they eventually stop participating in events, we want them to know there are other ways to show up for the cause and be part of the organization.

An engaged participant is far more likely to volunteer, join a board or become a loyal donor if they feel deeply connected. By showing up for them consistently, you ensure they carry your organization with them well beyond event day — strengthening the impact of year-round peer-to-peer fundraiser cultivation.

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

OneSource Center for Nonprofit Excellence is proud to announce that Danyetta Najoli, Executive Director of Motherless Daughters Ministry, has been named the recipient of the 2026 OneSource Center Emerging Leader Award.

Lighthouse Youth & Family Services is pleased to announce Karen Roth, JD, MSW, LISW-S, LCSW, as its new Director of Outpatient Services.

Community Matters welcomes (L to R) Eric Braun, Fifth Third Bank, Neil Kelly, Hamilton County Job & Family Services, and Kai Lewars.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

bi3 is awarding $1 million to support new and expectant moms’ mental wellness in Greater Cincinnati. Mental Health America of Ohio and the Great Miami Valley YMCA – Booker T. Washington Community Center will each receive a three year, $500,000 grant with a goal of strengthening maternal mental health supports and access to care.

Valley Interfaith, a community resource, celebrates and thanks all the sponsors and guests who helped us raise over $800,000 at our Planting Seeds Awards Dinner.

Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CABVI) is grateful to the Millstone Fund for a generous grant to help create improved service space for Low Vision and Social Services for people who are blind or visually impaired.

Join Queen City Book Bank for a milestone celebration marking the 250th Little Free Library (LFL), Thursday, October 2, 1:00pm, 720 East Mitchell Avenue. This special event celebrates the powerful impact these neighborhood book-sharing libraries have had on our community and honors the dedicated stewards who help bring them to life.

Huntington National Bank has awarded a grant of $20,000 to support the Family Emergency Fund at DePaul Cristo Rey High School (DPCR). School leaders rely on this fund to respond to barriers that can interfere with a student's school success, using it for family emergency needs such as rent and utility assistance, groceries, and the purchase of school uniforms.

Aviatra Accelerators, the non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and championing women entrepreneurs, held its annual Flight Night on Thursday, September 4. The event celebrated seasoned women entrepreneurs and business owners who are leading the way in the region, as well as emerging entrepreneurs positioned for the next phase of growth.

The Clifton Cultural Arts Center (CCAC) is launching its fall term programming with a variety of events for guests of all ages, including The Rooftop Sessions, a concert series highlighting live music and local talent with breathtaking city views. As part of the broader fall programming lineup, CCAC will continue to host Sunset Salons and Second Sunday Showtimes, offering engaging conversations and family-friendly performances, alongside multiple exhibits featuring local artists.

A $2 million gift from an anonymous donor will fund the tuition of another 10 medical students in the incoming class at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. In 2020, a generous donation of $6.9 million established the Webster-Gustin Medical Scholarship Fund. Four classes of 10 medical students received scholarships, and a subsequent gift in May 2025 supported a fifth class.

Panorama Apartments is grateful for its recent $10,000 grant from the Charles and Ruth Seligman Family Foundation. This grant will support the organization's independent living rental housing and associated support services for senior citizens in Covington and Florence.

Ohio Valley Goodwill Industries (OVGI) recently celebrated the grand opening of its new Opportunity Center in Batavia, marking a significant milestone in the organization's commitment to serving rural communities throughout the region.

FUNDING AND RESOURCE OPPORTUNITIES

Applications are now open for Southwest Ohio GiveCamp 2026, happening February 20–22. During this single weekend, local technology professionals volunteer their skills to build websites, apps, databases, and tools for nonprofits—completely free of charge. 501(c)(3) organizations of all sizes are encouraged to apply. Learn more here or apply directly on the application form.

Millstone Fund supports the Greater Cincinnati community through investments in Health, Education, and the Arts. We prioritize work that supports the mental health of our community and seek partnerships with organizations who have had a successful tenure in our community of at least five years. Millstone Fund is currently accepting LOIs until October 1st. To learn more about Millstone Fund’s priority areas, grant types, eligibility requirements, and application process, visit their website.

Green Umbrella is accepting applications for its second annual Climate Research Incubator (CRI). The cohort links scholars and researchers with community members and government representatives across Greater Cincinnati, bridging the gap between research and practical steps that positively impact communities. Participants receive training in community engagement, collaborative research design, and climate justice. Following the training, the program hosts workshops and an annual symposium. Thanks to the program sponsor, CRI project seed funding will be available to apply for at the end of the program.

Zonta Club of Cincinnati is currently accepting applications for the Fall 2025 Grant Process. Grants are awarded in the amounts from $500 to $2,000 per grant cycle. Applications are due on or before October 1, 2025. Find more information and the application here.

Looking to expand your team’s capacity without expanding your budget? Public Allies Cincinnati is now recruiting nonprofit organizations to host a full-time AmeriCorps Ally for the 2025–2026 service year. Hosting an Ally is a powerful way to build your organization’s capacity while mentoring an emerging leader in the sector. Allies serve 10 months, full-time, in areas like community outreach, volunteer coordination, program development, and more. Apply here. Contact cincinnatioffice@publicallies.org with questions.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Join Interact for Health and Kendra Ramirez for a free, in-person training, “AI Simplified,” an engaging and practical two-hour hands-on workshop designed for you. Whether you’re just getting started with AI or new to the world of artificial intelligence, this workshop is tailored to help you harness the power of AI tools like ChatGPT or Copilot for your organization’s needs. Space is limited to 40 participants, so sign up today.

Navigating Change: Mergers, Money & the Modern Nonprofit, October 7, 2025, 8:00am-9:30am, Bricker Graydon, 312 Walnut Street. Is your nonprofit ready for the next wave of change? Join us to explore the latest strategies for nonprofit mergers & acquisitions, building financial resilience, and overall risk management in today’s evolving nonprofit landscape. In this current climate of funding uncertainty, legal complexities, and ever-increasing risk management, we’re here to help you increase long-term stability and grow, while maintaining your focus on impact. The event is free, but please register.

25^th Annual Securing the Future Conference, (Oct. 29, 8:00am-5:00pm) an annual conference hosted by Leadership Council for Nonprofits. EXPANDED full-day nonprofit conference presented by Leadership Council for Nonprofits. Workshops, exhibitor fair, and networking. Greater Cincinnati Nonprofit News is a sponsor of the conference. Learn more and register here.

Please join us for an afternoon of networking and conversation with nonprofit professionals. This event, hosted at Dean Dorton, is an excellent opportunity to build new connections, strengthen relationships, and share insights within the nonprofit sector. October 14, 2025; 4:00pm-6:00pm.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

ProKids works because of our volunteers who come from all walks of life. You don’t need to have any prior experience, as you will receive free training and be supported by an Advocacy Team every step of the way. The first step in changing a child’s life is attending a ProKids Snapshot session. Find more information and sign up here.

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