OUR BLOG
Sharing Your Story…Simplified!
It is important to express to your potential donors how their giving directly impacts your vision/ mission. Telling donors how important they are to reaching your goals reinforces how meaningful they are to you. It connects them to your goals and successes, which is why updates are also vital to preserving your donor base. 3 […]
From Fatigue to Fantastic: Donor Management 101
Donor Fatigue is something many nonprofits, private schools, churches, and ministries struggle with. Let’s take a look at some of the causes of donor fatigue and ways to spin it right back around in a positive way: Problem – Too many “urgent” requests – Be careful when marking those asks as “urgent” – only use […]
Simple Fundraising is Effective Fundraising
An easy donation experience offers value to both the school/ministry and its supporters. Your site should be as user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing as possible, but without a complicated back-end that is difficult to manage and keep track of. Features that Delight Donors and Staff Alike Text-to-Donate: Allows supporters to text in their donation information for […]
Sow Kindness, Reap Generosity
Personalization is an essential way to build relationships with your donors to support long-term fundraising goals. People are much more likely to pay attention and feel appreciated when their needs and interests are addressed. Just think, are you more likely to read a communication that says “Dear Valued Supporter” or “Dear [Your Name]”? Using your […]
Teamwork Makes the Dream Work (Especially on GivingTuesday!)
It’s not just up to the administration to get the word out – everyone in your community can make a difference in your fundraising efforts. It truly takes a village! A $1 donation doesn’t seem like a lot, but imagine if hundreds or even thousands of people each gave $1…it adds up! Remember this when […]
Save the Date! GivingTuesday 2021
November 30 is GivingTuesday 2021! It’s time to kick off the holiday season and Year-End Giving with the global day of generosity! Originally created in the United States in 2012, the day provided a wholesome and helpful outlet in response to the consumerism of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. It has since expanded to a […]
How Many Clicks Does It Take….To Donate?
Have you tried navigating a website, searching for your intended goal only to be slowed by disorganized pages or distracting content? Have you even been frustrated or given up on a website because you could not find what you were originally looking for? When fundraising, you don’t want to frustrate your donors. Simplifying a process […]
Summer’s Coming, is Your Fundraising Ready?
The end of the school year is fast approaching, to the delight of students and teachers as well. The curriculum is wrapping up, grades are being tallied, and vacation plans are being booked… but is there still a little more work to be done? There are many reasons to campaign at the end of the […]
Fundraising: Engaging vs. Exhausting, Part 3
Most nonprofits rely heavily on the generous donations from their support base. But they struggle with ways to expand their reach and grow their following beyond those that are immediately connected to their group. A Worthy Cause Whether you opened yesterday or 50 years ago, every day needs to be “Show and Tell”. Show what […]
Fundraising: Engaging vs Exhausting, Part 2
Since we’ve already discussed ways to make fundraising more creative and engaging, let’s take a look at how to actively involve and engage your donors in your campaigns. Genuine connection and engagement with your donor base is a key component to helping them stay invested in the mission and needs of your school, church, or […]
Fundraising: Engaging vs Exhausting, Part 1
Do you struggle with creative fundraising ideas? Stuck in the rut of finding the right gifts to sell or avoiding the same fundraiser that everyone has done for the past 20, 30, 40 years? Finding creative ways to ask for donations can be difficult. For years, schools and organizations across the country have relied on commerce […]
Quick Tips for Year-End Giving
With 2020 wrapping up, there is still time for one last giving campaign, and it just may be one of the most important of the year! Did you know? 30% of all annual donations occur in December December 31 is the tax deadline for making charitable gifts You can send your year-end appeals in a […]
The Remedy for Virtual Learning Fatigue
In a recent article by Education Week, it was pointed out that there is a larger than normal percentage of students who have been receiving failing grades on their progress reports and report cards. According to the article, the primary reason for this national drop in grades is due to virtual learning. Challenges of Virtual Learning […]
The Results are In! GivingTuesday 2020
On December 1, 2020, millions of people across the United States came together to celebrate generosity and over $2.47 billion dollars was donated to nonprofits of all kinds around the globe! Since its creation in 2012, GivingTuesday has grown into a global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate […]
The Power of Thank You
Yesterday millions of dollars were donated to nonprofits across the world. Today, let’s remember the power that is contained within two simple words: Thank You. The act of saying “Thank You” to a donor today can mean more donations in the future. The spirit of gratitude is a way to build relationships and show your donors […]
Perfect Promotion Techniques for GivingTuesday
Whether this is your first GivingTuesday or you’ve been involved for several years, the special day presents a powerful opportunity to connect your story, your staff, and your community with the causes you care about. It doesn’t matter how big or small your actions are, as long as you get involved! When you and your […]
Once Upon a Fundraiser
Stories influence our emotions and actions. If told effectively, they find their way to our hearts and heads in a way that very few other methods of communication can. We humans are hardwired to respond to stories and tend to remember a good story much longer than facts or figures. Why is storytelling necessary in […]
The Impact of Micro-Fundraising
The use of micro-fundraisers can be a great way to expand your donor base and garner support from your community for things that they care about. It’s also a way to tell your small stories throughout the year rather than just one big story. There is also a bigger sense of accomplishment with micro-fundraising. Think […]
6 Pointers to Prepare for a Germ-Free GivingTuesday
In March things changed drastically for schools across the country. We went from being face-to-face with students, faculty, and staff to only seeing people through a computer screen. With this shift in the ability to be face-to-face in order to prevent the spread of germs, other things need to shift and change as well. One […]
Countdown to GivingTuesday 2020
December 1 is GivingTuesday 2020! Created in 2012, GivingTuesday started as a simple idea: a day focused on encouraging people to do good. It was birthed from a desire to unleash the power of people and organization to transform their communities around the world in a global generosity movement. Over the last 8 years, it […]
The Future of Fundraising
The Givedot Program’s virtual fundraising method is pertinent in helping schools and other organizations raise funds without face-to-face contact, especially in this time of pandemic. Partnering with Givedot allows the opportunity for family members and friends of schools to be made aware of available fundraising projects and track the progress of campaigns. They are also […]
How to Participate in #GivingTuesdayNow
Whether it’s helping a friend or neighbor, sharing a skill, advocating for an issue, or donating to causes, every act of generosity counts! #GivingTuesdayNow will emphasize opportunities to give back to communities and causes in ways that comply with public health guidelines. It’s Germ-Free Fundraising friendly! “For eight years, GivingTuesday has celebrated grassroots generosity, and […]
#GivingTuesdayNow
The last GivingTuesday on December 3, 2019 generated $2 billion in giving in the United States alone. The day inspires millions worldwide to volunteer, perform acts of kindness, and donate their time, money, goods and voices. An additional giving day, #GivingTuesdayNow is a revolutionary global movement taking place on May 5 2020 as an emergency […]
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Think Outside The Tissue Box
The school doors may be closed, but your fundraising efforts can remain wide open! As mentioned in our previous blogs, Virtual Fundraising for a Virtual World and Germ-Free Fundraising,virtual fundraising can be accomplished with the right online giving platform that enables you to stand out from the crowd. You can still raise funds for your […]
Germ-Free Fundraising
“Wash your hands!” “Wash your hands!” “Wash your hands!” This is not a new phrase for teachers and educators. However, in today’s world, it’s a needed reminder for everyone. Germs are what have caused the world to move to isolation. Social distancing so we don’t share and spread germs is a worldwide mandate. But because […]
Virtual Fundraising for a Virtual World
One day you are walking the halls of your school that is filled with staff and students. The next…the school is empty and the administration, teachers, and students are trying to figure out how to conduct school and lessons from home via their computers and the internet. It can feel like a chaotic time. And […]
Forward Together: Fundraising Best Practices for Private Schools
As we mentioned in our previous blog, surveys are a great way to learn about your donors and what appeals to them. The more you know about your audience, the more you can plan programs, giving campaigns and fundraising events with personal impact. At The Givedot Program, we are often asked about fundraising best practices […]
Using Online Surveys to Improve Nonprofit Communications
Improving your nonprofit communications means being more strategic about who you target with your messaging and appeals – not sending email blasts! A fantastic way to do this is by sending an online survey to collect data about the interests of your supporters and then modifying your campaigns to align with their goals and needs. […]
6 Essential Best Practices for Year End Giving
The holiday spirit tends to make donors more receptive to appeals for generosity, especially with the use of effective storytelling and marketing techniques to illustrate your missions! Studies have shown that 30% of all giving occurs in December and 12% of all giving happens in the last three days of the year. Plan your campaign […]
#ThankYouWednesday
Communications shouldn’t cease when the giving day ends. Donor appreciation is perhaps the most important part of Giving Tuesday; after all, fundraising success would not be possible without the loyal support of your donors. Saying thank you reinforces how much their investment in your organization matters and is a significant step in capturing lasting support. […]
#GivingTuesday is Here! What now?
It’s finally here, the much-anticipated global day of giving. Pat yourself on the back for all your hard work, but don’t kick back and relax just yet! Social Media: Monitor and update your platforms all day long. Share appeals but also make sure to share and respond to posts by supporters. Calling out your supporters […]
Promoting Your #GivingTuesday Campaign
Your community won’t support your organization on Giving Tuesday if they don’t know about it! It’s your job to keep your Giving Tuesday campaign first in mind and motivate supporters to get involved. Make sure that every day leading up to the global day of giving reminds your audience of the campaign and attracts new […]
Creating an Effective Campaign for #GivingTuesday (and the rest of the year!)
As Giving Tuesday continues to grow, it is more important than ever to create a powerful fundraising campaign. Think about the community that surrounds your organization, what inspires them to care? Not what inspires them to give, but what do they care about? Contemplate what makes your cause affect them personally. The key is to […]
Givedot and #GivingTuesday
Giving Tuesday is the spectacular day of giving that follows Black Friday and Cyber Monday, taking place this year on December 3, 2019. Encouraging people to “do good”, Giving Tuesday has flourished into a worldwide movement that inspires people to join forces and celebrate generosity. It started in the United States in 2012 and has […]