If your nonprofit organization hosts a peer-to-peer event with thousands of happy participants and supporters, but you don’t have a plan to convert those bikers, gamers, walkers, golfers, dancers, scavenger hunters, or pub crawlers into monthly donors, you’re missing out on the point of putting on an awesome P2P event. It should never be a one-off experience. Done right, your P2P event can be a ready-made source of excellent prospects for your sustainer program. Best of all, you really only need to adopt a few proven and productive cultivation and engagement methods to start converting your pe ..read more

Foundations play a crucial role in supporting nonprofit organizations and driving positive change within communities. Traditionally, their primary function has been to provide financial assistance to grantees. However, in recent years, there has been a growing recognition that foundations possess the potential to offer more than just monetary resources. By embracing a community leadership role, foundations can amplify their impact and empower grantees to achieve long-term, sustainable success. In this blog post, we will explore the concept of community leadership in foundations and discuss how ..read more

Scholarship programs are critical tools for students to propel themselves forward and for schools to court and steward donors. Yet, institutions often struggle to get enough qualified students to apply for available scholarships. This complicates and prolongs the award process and contributes to a more significant issue: underutilized scholarship funds. Addressing this challenge is crucial for institutions to ensure deserving students receive the financial support they need to pursue their educational goals. Increasing utilization of scholarships can also help allay stewardship concerns when d ..read more

In a sector that is so risk-averse—afraid of change, reluctant to explore new ideas, and adopt new practices—why do we rely on super risky problem-solving skills? Yes, we must steward our investments responsibly and ethically, but what is responsible and ethical about potentially wasting massive amounts of resources, using outdated problem-solving skills, and getting minimal impact for our efforts? In her new book, No More Status Quo: A Proven Framework to Change the Way We Change the World, consultant Heather Hiscox, founder of Pause for Change and Possibility Project, discusses the problems ..read more

Enrollment management is a strategic process used by schools to attract and retain students while ensuring the institution’s financial stability and success. It involves using data to optimize recruitment, financial aid, academics, student life, and relationships with stakeholders. By effectively implementing enrollment management strategies, K-12 and higher ed schools can build a favorable reputation among prospective and current students and their families. Table of Contents Key Components of Enrollment Management Roles and Responsibilities Five Tips for Successful Enrollment Management Fiv ..read more

Donor stewardship is the process of nurturing and maintaining relationships with donors to encourage their ongoing support for a nonprofit organization. It involves consistent communication, gratitude, and engagement to ensure that donors feel valued, informed, and connected to the organization’s mission. Table of Contents Why is Donor Stewardship Important? Donor Retention by the Numbers Donor Stewardship Best Practices Avoid these Four Donor Relationship Mistakes How Donor Stewardship Software Can Help Why is Donor Stewardship Important? Donor stewardship is vital because it helps to build ..read more

There is a shadow lurking behind all the excitement around your next big event. Something is looming behind your next major campaign. Among all buzz that goes along with the execution of your nonprofit’s financial strategy, there is still one critical thing every organization must prepare for—the fiscal year-end audit. While the term ‘audit’ might strike fear into even the most seasoned of finance departments, the process doesn’t have to be a frightening one. If you approach the fiscal year-end and audit with a game plan, you can turn the entire process from a nightmare to a breeze. In this gu ..read more

A Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) is a charitable giving vehicle that donors can use for their philanthropic activities. It allows individuals to make tax-deductible contributions to a fund maintained by an organization, which supports DAFs. Donors can then recommend grants from the fund to eligible non-profit organizations over time, providing flexibility, anonymity, and simplified management of their charitable giving. Table of Contents How to Start Contributing to a Donor-advised Fund What Kind of Contributions Can You Make? Donor-advised Fund Recipient Qualifications Benefits of a DAF Drawbacks ..read more

ESG, or environmental, social, and governance, has become an expected reporting framework for companies that highlights how they are managing risks and opportunities within those three pillars. A concept that first originated in the 1950’s, ESG has grown to be a prominent component of companies’ strategies, with investors, employees, and consumers all paying attention to a company’s ESG performance. With this growth in prominence of ESG, there’s a big opportunity for nonprofits, education institutions, and other social impact organizations to consider ESG factors as part of their overall strat ..read more

A Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) is a charitable giving vehicle that donors can use for their philanthropic activities. It allows individuals to make tax-deductible contributions to a fund maintained by an organization, which supports DAFs. Donors can then recommend grants from the fund to eligible non-profit organizations over time, providing flexibility, anonymity, and simplified management of their charitable giving. Table of Contents How to Start Contributing to a Donor-advised Fund What Kind of Contributions Can You Make? Donor-advised Fund Recipient Qualifications Benefits of a DAF Drawbacks ..read more