All Look, we get it. You're trying to figure out why some donors give once and disappear while others stick around month after month. It's not just about the money (though that's obviously important). It's about understanding what's actually going through people's heads when they decide to support your cause. We've spent over a decade working…
All Your digital fundraising might be putting in the work, but here's the question that keeps nonprofit leaders up at night: are all those efforts actually converting supporters into donors? If you're watching traffic hit your donation pages while your results stay disappointingly flat, you're definitely not alone. We've seen it countless times. The thing is,…
All Writing thank-you letters well can make or break your donor relationships. Here's the thing: when you're working with a small team and wearing seventeen different hats, it's easy to let gratitude slip down your to-do list. But in our experience, these letters aren't just nice to have. They're one of the most powerful retention tools…
All Look, here's the thing that probably keeps you up at night: you're working so hard to bring in new donors, and then… they just disappear. Never give again. Never respond to emails. It's like throwing a party where everyone shows up once and ghosts you forever. But what if the problem isn't that you need…
Look, we get it. You're trying to figure out why some donors give once and disappear while others stick around month after month. It's not just about the money (though that's obviously important). It's about understanding what's actually going through people's heads when they decide to support your cause. We've spent over a decade working…
Your digital fundraising might be putting in the work, but here's the question that keeps nonprofit leaders up at night: are all those efforts actually converting supporters into donors? If you're watching traffic hit your donation pages while your results stay disappointingly flat, you're definitely not alone. We've seen it countless times. The thing is,…
Writing thank-you letters well can make or break your donor relationships. Here's the thing: when you're working with a small team and wearing seventeen different hats, it's easy to let gratitude slip down your to-do list. But in our experience, these letters aren't just nice to have. They're one of the most powerful retention tools…
If you've ever struggled to explain how your nonprofit changes lives in a board meeting or grant proposal, you're not alone. Sure, numbers are easy. Served 500 families, raised $200K. But what about the mom who finally felt heard? The teen who discovered their voice? Those transformative moments are your real mission impact, and they…
Looking to make sense of your donor data without drowning in spreadsheets? Here's the thing: most nonprofit leaders get buried in numbers that don't actually tell them much. But when you track the right metrics, you'll finally understand what's working, which donors are sticking around, and where your next big opportunity lives. In this guide,…
If you're running a nonprofit with a small team, you've probably felt that familiar tension between wanting to do more good and drowning in spreadsheets. Here's the thing: data doesn't have to be overwhelming or reserved for organizations with fancy analytics departments . In our experience, the right approach to data actually reduces burnout while…
Your digital fundraising might be putting in the work, but here's the question that keeps nonprofit leaders up at night: are all those efforts actually converting supporters into donors? If you're watching traffic hit your donation pages while your results stay disappointingly flat, you're definitely not alone. We've seen it countless times. The thing is,…
Picture this: someone lands on your donation page, inspired and ready to give. But then they encounter a clunky form, too many fields, or a confusing checkout process. They hesitate, close the browser, and your opportunity evaporates. Sound familiar? If you're a nonprofit marketer working with a small team, every lost donation stings. The good…
Look, if you're reading this, you probably already know mobile giving matters. But here's the thing: knowing it matters and actually optimizing for it are two very different beasts. We've found that most nonprofits are missing huge opportunities simply because their donation pages weren't built with thumbs in mind. So let's figure out how to…
Look, we get it. You're trying to figure out why some donors give once and disappear while others stick around month after month. It's not just about the money (though that's obviously important). It's about understanding what's actually going through people's heads when they decide to support your cause. We've spent over a decade working…
Writing thank-you letters well can make or break your donor relationships. Here's the thing: when you're working with a small team and wearing seventeen different hats, it's easy to let gratitude slip down your to-do list. But in our experience, these letters aren't just nice to have. They're one of the most powerful retention tools…
Looking to keep your donors around for the long haul? You're in the right place. Donor retention is honestly the secret sauce of sustainable fundraising , but here's the thing: most nonprofits are way better at finding new supporters than keeping the ones they've got. In our experience working with small nonprofit teams, smart retention…
Finding the right email frequency for your nonprofit can feel like you're constantly second-guessing yourself. Send too many, and you risk annoying your supporters. Send too few, and they might forget you're out there doing amazing work. Here's the thing: there's no one-size-fits-all answer. Expert recommendations range from 1-2 emails per month to 3-5 per…
Look, we're all a little tired of treating email like it's only for December panic mode, right? Here's the thing: email marketing has quietly become the workhorse of nonprofit fundraising, delivering an average ROI of 4200% (yep, that's $42 back for every dollar spent) (Funraise). But the real challenge isn't just sending emails. It's building…
You know that sinking feeling when you send an email campaign and crickets? We've all been there. Email might not be the flashiest marketing channel out there (sorry, TikTok), but it's still the workhorse of nonprofit fundraising. The thing is, inboxes are more crowded than ever, and your supporters are getting bombarded from every direction.…
Look, here's the thing that probably keeps you up at night: you're working so hard to bring in new donors, and then… they just disappear. Never give again. Never respond to emails. It's like throwing a party where everyone shows up once and ghosts you forever. But what if the problem isn't that you need…
Look, if you're running a nonprofit with a small team, you've probably felt that ache of wanting to do more but wondering where the budget's going to come from. Grassroots fundraising is basically your secret weapon here. We're talking about mobilizing everyday supporters through scrappy, creative tactics like community events, peer-to-peer campaigns, and local partnerships.…
Spring feels like nature's way of hitting the refresh button, doesn't it? For nonprofits, that same energy makes it the perfect time to reconnect with supporters who've drifted away. We figured we should do a li'l deep dive into spring fundraising because, well, there's something about warmer weather and fresh optimism that makes people more…
Small nonprofit teams are basically superheroes without capes, right? You're juggling fundraising, strategy, communications, and about seventeen other roles while trying to change the world. Here's the thing: you don't need a bigger team or budget to multiply your impact. You just need smarter systems that work as hard as you do. In this guide,…
Volunteer management can be the secret sauce that amplifies your nonprofit's impact, or it can become one more exhausting thing on your already overflowing plate. We've worked with enough nonprofits at Funraise to spot the patterns that lead to high turnover, frustrated volunteers, and staff burnout on both sides of the equation. So let's walk…
Working in nonprofits means you're carrying others' pain alongside your own already-full workload. Look, it's a beautiful calling, but here's the thing: there's a real cost. Compassion fatigue is what happens when prolonged exposure to others' suffering drains you emotionally, physically, and spiritually. It hits nonprofit workers particularly hard through what's called secondary trauma. In…
Look, we've all been told that Facebook is just for posting cute dog photos and keeping up with high school friends. But here's the thing: it's quietly become one of the most powerful tools for building sustainable monthly giving . And the best part? You don't need a massive team or a fancy agency to…
You're working hard on social media, posting regularly, trying to keep up with every platform. But here's the question that probably keeps you up at night: is any of it actually working? Without benchmarks, you're basically guessing whether your efforts are moving the needle or just eating up your already limited time. Here's the good…
Your mission statement isn't just a sentence collecting dust on your website. It's the compass guiding every program, fundraising appeal, and volunteer conversation you have. For nonprofit leaders working with lean teams, crafting a mission that actually moves people (and resources) can feel overwhelming. That's where the Write Draw Act Framework comes in—a practical, three-step…
Naming a campaign probably isn't the first thing on your to-do list when you're already juggling a million other tasks. But here's the thing: a catchy campaign name can be your secret weapon. It's not just about sounding clever. The right title sparks donor excitement, boosts social shares, and makes your cause stick in people's…
If you've ever stared at a spreadsheet of campaign metrics wondering why donors aren't responding the way you hoped, you're not alone. We get it. In our experience working with nonprofits, there's this constant pull toward data because it feels safe, measurable, and board-meeting-friendly. But here's the thing: character-driven stories cut through the noise by…
Looking to make your nonprofit's mission stick in people's minds? Here's the thing: donors scroll right past statistics, but they'll stop everything for a good story. We've found that the real difference between a forgettable appeal and a campaign that actually converts comes down to making your mission feel personal, not just important. In our…
Look, if you're running a nonprofit with a small team, you already know the drill. The to-do list never ends, donor emails need that personal touch, social posts are staring you down, and don't even get us started on grant applications. AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Funraise AI promise to help, but here's the…
Look, we've all been there. You're running a nonprofit with a team so small you could fit everyone in a minivan, and somehow you're supposed to create marketing campaigns that compete with organizations that have entire departments. It's exhausting just thinking about it. Here's the thing, though. AI-powered marketing automation is actually changing this game…
Why AI Changes Everything for Donor Prospecting Remember when donor research meant drowning in spreadsheets for hours, manually digging through wealth indicators, and basically crossing your fingers that your gut feeling about major gift prospects was actually right? Yeah, those days are fading fast. In 2026, AI-assisted donor research has turned that exhausting grind into…