Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Nonprofit Consultant In this episode, Heather Yandow discussed the circumstances that indicate when to hire a nonprofit consultant. When you’re looking for a consultant for your next project, what’s the best way to make sure you find a great person? Searching online can be a great starting point, of course. But what else do you need to do? It’s not writing the perfect Request for Proposals (RFP). It’s not sending out dozens of emails to prospective consultants. It is starting the work with your organization – thinking about your needs and resources. This inte ..read more

Create Reports Funders Want to See How to create a nonprofit report that funders want to see Want to learn how to create a nonprofit report to boost donor trust? You can use this guide to identify what funders use to make decisions. Connecting a nonprofit’s impact to its reporting provides steps for measuring program outcomes. Defining objectives and focusing on quantitative measurements is essential to improve nonprofit reporting processes. Next, data should be collected, and caseworkers should understand the larger picture. The data can then be analyzed to develop outcomes that show the non ..read more

Attracting Men to the Fundraising Profession In this episode, Patrick Kirby shares his interest and favorite aspects of the fundraising profession. Kirby is a fundraising professional who discusses the gender imbalance within the fundraising profession. While women largely dominate the nonprofit workforce, the fundraising profession is almost 50% men. However, he recognizes the impact of gender imbalance on the sector’s ability to raise more funds. This issue is similar in other industries, such as education and STEM. Kirby recommends more efforts to motivate different groups.  Kirby be ..read more

If fundraising is the lifeblood of your nonprofit, then your board of directors is the heart that keeps the organization moving forward. You may need to get your board fundraising for that statement to be true and the board of director meetings are your best bet. Read these 7 tips to more productive meetings so that you don’t have to learn these lessons the hard way. The first problem is that despite fundraising being an obvious responsibility for board members to engage in, the majority of board members aren’t doing it. The second problem is that despite their importance, many people view the ..read more

Inclusive is as Inclusive Does ‘Inclusive is as Inclusive Does” is about prioritizing equity and inclusion. Equity and Inclusion can have a significant positive impact on the nonprofit workplace. Things like decision-making or problem-solving improve when the workplace is welcoming. In this episode, we speak with Kia Croom about the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Kia discusses why nonprofits struggle with diversity in terms of their board of directors and internally through donor acquisition. She speaks about how nonprofits may talk the talk of diversity and inclusivity but ..read more

How to Assemble and Maintain A Volunteer Fundraising Structure In this episode, we speak with Whitney Anderson about volunteer fundraising. A volunteer fundraising structure can significantly impact a nonprofit’s diversified fundraising strategy. Assembling and maintaining a volunteer fundraising structure requires careful planning, dedication, and ongoing communication. This episode focuses on how nonprofit organizations can turn volunteers into effective fundraisers. Whitney highlights the importance of empowering volunteers to fundraise and provides tips on how to do so effectively while ..read more

Tips for Retaining Nonprofit Employees Nonprofit executive directors and hiring managers have notoriously over-packed schedules and to-do lists, so if you’re blissfully relieved to cross off your “fill x role” task once a candidate has accepted your job offer, it’s certainly understandable. However, it’s wise to think of that box as being temporarily checked—and to implement strategies to ensure it stays that way for as long as possible. For many reasons, employee retention should be just as integral to pursuing your mission as fundraising and providing core services are.   As of 2022, t ..read more

Myths and Realities of Major Gift Solicitation In this episode, we speak with Edward Leibman about gift solicitation. This episode investigated whether nonprofits should pause major gift solicitation during economic downturns. Currently, many nonprofits are considering pausing their solicitation efforts. However, experts advise against this approach. While it may seem counterintuitive to ask for donations during tough times, major gift donors may still be willing to give, and pausing solicitation may lead to missed opportunities in the long run. We also discussed Hudson Ferris, a compan ..read more

As a new nonprofit founder, you can uniquely shape your organization’s identity with brand clarity. But, if your brand message needs clarity or consistency, you risk losing potential supporters. This article will explore four essential tips to help clarify your nonprofit’s brand and attract like-minded supporters who care about making a difference. You might not realize it, but your brand could be coming off as confusing to your donors, staff, and constituents. Just as an effective brand attracts supporters to your organization, a disjointed brand can confuse potential donors, driving them aw ..read more

Prospect Research for Planned Giving: 5 Fundamental Steps Planned gifts can be hard to predict—donors may never notify you when they create one, meaning you can’t thank them, get to know them, or learn why they decided to give in the first place. This also makes it harder to identify characteristics that might signal other planned giving prospects. For many nonprofits, planned giving isn’t a top strategic priority. It might be casually promoted in one-on-one conversations with prospects and donors who’ve already given generously to your mission. But are you broadcasting it as a giving option a ..read more