Resources

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Resources

Got some pain points?
Search for some solutions here.

Are You Losing Your Best Fundraisers?

Are You Losing Your Best Fundraisers?

Let’s face it: Development Director turnover is high. Like... really high. We're talking about an average tenure of just 16-18 months. It's not just inconvenient; it disrupts donor relationships and hampers long-term fundraising. Why does this happen? What’s Driving...

The Four Most Powerful Words in Nonprofits

The Four Most Powerful Words in Nonprofits

As nonprofits, we're accustomed to extending a helping hand to our beneficiaries. It's the cornerstone of our missions and the driving force behind our daily efforts. But in our laser focus on those we serve, are we overlooking a crucial aspect of our organizational...

Asana: Project Management App

Asana: Project Management App

Keep Your Team Organized & Get Work Done In today's fast-paced work environment, staying organized is essential. Many teams are turning to project and task management software to streamline their workflows. One of the most popular and user-friendly options...

The Nonprofit Network Secret

The Nonprofit Network Secret

When you think of nonprofit networking, what comes to mind? Maybe it’s fundraising events, community partnerships, or even collaborations with other organizations. Networking often feels like a necessary task to achieve a specific goal—whether that’s securing...

From Mundane to Memorable: Capturing Nonprofit Events

From Mundane to Memorable: Capturing Nonprofit Events

Are you tired of clicking through the same carousel of images after every fundraising event - the smiling group photo in front of the media backdrop, the shot of the dinner table settings, or the packed room shot? Me too. It's time to step out of the routine and think...

Nonprofit Consultants: It’s Not About Why…But When

Nonprofit Consultants: It’s Not About Why…But When

Navigating the world of nonprofit management is like steering a ship through ever-changing waters. You’ve got your mission as your compass, your crew (staff and volunteers) working hard, and donors fueling your journey. But even the best captains know that sometimes,...

The 80/20 Nonprofit Secret

The 80/20 Nonprofit Secret

Ever feel like some of your work really pays off, while other efforts... not so much? That's the Pareto Principle in a nutshell. People often call it the 80/20 rule, and it's pretty simple: about 80% of your results usually come from 20% of what you do. For those of...

From Bored Meetings to Board Meetings

From Bored Meetings to Board Meetings

Have you ever sat through a board meeting that felt like watching paint dry? I've been there and I'll bet you have too. Many nonprofit boards struggle with engagement. Meetings can often turn into monotonous sessions where financial statements are read aloud, votes...

Generational Strategies for Nonprofit Success

Generational Strategies for Nonprofit Success

Imagine you're in Las Vegas, caught up in the excitement of the lights, the sounds, and the thrill of the games. But luck isn’t on your side, and you end up losing $1,000. Now, you're faced with an uncomfortable reality—you need to ask for help to cover your rent. How...

The Top Five Benefits of Good Branding

The Top Five Benefits of Good Branding

Good branding is more than the visual identity. It is the real story of your mission and it aligns all the facets of your organization. This article shares the top five reasons that having a good brand is beneficial. Tells Your Story Great branding tells your story in...

Unpacking the Nonprofit Trends Report

Unpacking the Nonprofit Trends Report

Today I'm bringing you highlights and actionable insights from the 6th Annual Nonprofit Trends Report by Salesforce. As we look into the findings, keep your organization's recent hurdles in mind. You're likely to find similarities of your own experiences and, more...

Refocus on Nonprofit Relationship-Building

Refocus on Nonprofit Relationship-Building

Imagine if all of us hyper-focused on one simple, yet profound truth: at our core, we're not just in the charity, education, or [insert your mission here] business. We're in the relationship-building business. Our success, our impact, and our ability to thrive are all...

Understanding and Adapting to Donor Giving Preferences

Understanding and Adapting to Donor Giving Preferences

In the ever-evolving world of nonprofit fundraising, staying on top of shifting donor preferences isn't just wise—it's essential. Today, the way people choose to give is changing, and organizations that adapt swiftly are the ones that thrive. The Rise of Mobile Giving...

Should Your Nonprofit Leverage TikTok?

Should Your Nonprofit Leverage TikTok?

Unless you've been living under a rock, you're most likely aware of the phenomenon that is TikTok. But is it just a platform for trendy dances and viral challenges, or can it be a powerful tool for nonprofits seeking to boost awareness and fundraising efforts? Let's...

Embracing the Pillars of Meaning in Nonprofit Work

Embracing the Pillars of Meaning in Nonprofit Work

I was recently reminded of a topic that resonates deeply with our work in nonprofits, inspired by Emily Esfahani Smith's enlightening TED talk from April 2017 titled, "There's more to life than being happy." Smith's exploration of the four pillars of meaning –...

Making Stories Stick in the Age of Digital Amnesia

Making Stories Stick in the Age of Digital Amnesia

It goes without saying (and yet here I am saying it) that we are inundated with content every day. We watch, read, and listen to dozens and dozens of stories through various mediums. So much so, that we literally forget most of what we take in. Our brains simply...

The Win-Win of Giving: Telling the Donors Story

The Win-Win of Giving: Telling the Donors Story

Okay, quick pop quiz: When I say "philanthropy," what springs to mind? Many of us picture heartwarming stories of beneficiaries, right? But hang on a sec! What about the folks writing those checks or clicking that 'donate' button? Their side of the story is chock-full...

Staying Ahead in 2023: A Look at the Nonprofit Trends Report

Staying Ahead in 2023: A Look at the Nonprofit Trends Report

The annual Not-For-Profit Trends Report for 2023 has landed on our "desks," and it's chock-full of insights about the challenges and opportunities facing our sector. Let's explore some of the major takeaways from the UHY report and how we can adapt to these emerging...

So, Your Nonprofit Is Being Audited. Don’t Panic!

So, Your Nonprofit Is Being Audited. Don’t Panic!

It’s easy to view the word ‘audit’ as a four-letter word, especially in the nonprofit world. But it's really not as scary as it seems. Let's discuss what an audit is, why they happen, and the steps you need to take to navigate one smoothly. First things first, let’s...

Cold Numbers to Warm Hearts: Making Data Feel Human

Cold Numbers to Warm Hearts: Making Data Feel Human

We all know that numbers are crucial in the world of nonprofits. They provide us with goals, they track our progress, and they illustrate the impacts we're making. But let's be real here — numbers can feel a bit, well... impersonal. When we're dealing with subjects as...

Proactive vs Reactive: A Balancing Act for Nonprofits

Proactive vs Reactive: A Balancing Act for Nonprofits

There's a well-known saying in the business world: "Failing to plan is planning to fail." This wisdom rings particularly true in the nonprofit sector. Two types of planning often dominate the conversation - proactive and reactive. But what exactly do these terms mean,...

12 Essential Leadership Skills for Nonprofit Executives

12 Essential Leadership Skills for Nonprofit Executives

Before we dive into the essential leadership skills for success in the nonprofit sector, let's take a moment to acknowledge the importance of self-awareness. Recognizing our strengths and areas for growth is vital to becoming effective leaders. However, it's important...

Why Video is Essential to Nonprofit Marketing & Fundraising

Why Video is Essential to Nonprofit Marketing & Fundraising

People support nonprofits (through donations and volunteerism) because they have an emotional connection to the cause or organization. As you market your organization (I know, “yuck.” But it’s a necessary evil.), you’ll get better results by leaning into the emotional...

The Role of MS(S)Ps in Successful Audits

The Role of MS(S)Ps in Successful Audits

This article was authored by Apptega, provider of tools to simplify cybersecurity management and compliance. The word “audit” conjures dread for the never-ending questions, paperwork, and pressure it implies. Organizations that partner with security-focused IT...

The Ethical Dilemmas of Nonprofit Marketing

The Ethical Dilemmas of Nonprofit Marketing

Nonprofit organizations are tasked with the challenging goal of promoting their cause, engaging donors, and raising funds to make a difference in the world. Marketing and fundraising campaigns are essential to achieving these objectives, but they also present unique...

The Benefits of Humor and Play in Nonprofit Work

The Benefits of Humor and Play in Nonprofit Work

In the world of nonprofit work, it's easy to get caught up in the seriousness of the issues we're addressing. We're often dealing with pressing challenges, tight budgets, and high stakes. While passion and dedication are crucial to our mission, we mustn't forget the...

Is Technology Dehumanizing Nonprofits?

Is Technology Dehumanizing Nonprofits?

In today's fast-paced world, technology has become an integral part of our lives. It revolutionizes the way we work and communicate with each other. For nonprofits, technological advancements have brought about numerous benefits, making their work more efficient and...

Handling High-Stakes Data Security Audits

Handling High-Stakes Data Security Audits

  Audit. It’s a word that if not scares, at the very least, makes IT Management, the Security team, and Executives uncomfortable. When you’re doing everything you can to keep things running, the last thing you want is to have someone come in and tell you you’re...

Webinar: Navigating High-Stakes Audits

Webinar: Navigating High-Stakes Audits

Art Provost, VP of Security Services at Filament Essential Services and a 30-year security veteran with deep experience as both the auditor and auditee, shares best practices for streamlining the collection and presentation of evidence, articulating compliance with...

The Power of Nonprofit Branding

The Power of Nonprofit Branding

Branding has been a part of human culture for millennia, from the creation of cave drawings to religious symbols to modern-day logos. In recent times, branding has become an essential tool for nonprofits looking to make a difference in the world. Nonprofit branding...

Best of the Web: Branding for Nonprofits

Best of the Web: Branding for Nonprofits

Discover the crucial role and effect of marketing materials that accurately reflect your nonprofit’s current story. These articles give insight to the function of marketing materials, the reasons for updating them and the significance of maintaining consistency.7...

From Research to Results: Crafting a Strong Grant Proposal

From Research to Results: Crafting a Strong Grant Proposal

Have you ever wondered how foundations decide which nonprofits to fund? It's a maddening question as so many struggle to carefully craft the perfect grant proposal. Putting yourself out there for the judgement of others is an exercise in humility. Especially, since we...

Onboarding Checklist

Onboarding Checklist

The main goal of your onboarding process is to set up your new staff member to succeed. This means helping them quickly learn the basics of their job, understand workplace culture and begin building relationships across the organization. Here’s a checklist of topics...

Know Your Channel!

Know Your Channel!

The Golden Rule of social media marketing: use the channel how your audience wants to use the channel. Not how you want them to use it. Here’s the thing… they’re on social media TO BE SOCIAL!  They want to interact with friends/family – to pursue hobbies and interests...

Good Nonprofit Videos

Good Nonprofit Videos

There’s a lot that goes into making effective marketing and fundraising videos. The temptation is to talk about your mission and services. Which is all fine and good, but what’s your point? What, specifically, are you trying to accomplish? And who, exactly, are you...

Top Secrets for Getting Results with Video

Top Secrets for Getting Results with Video

You’ve produced a killer video with a concrete objective and directed at your target audience that connects on an emotional level. Now what? Get. It. Seen. Your videos are like a flyer. You can have the best one in the world, but you have to get it in front of your...

DIY vs PRO Video Production

DIY vs PRO Video Production

Full transparency: I want to produce videos for your organization. Not only that, I want to help with the strategy, planning and implementation. That being said, that phone of yours shoots some pretty good video and there’s a case to be made for shooting/editing your...

Internet Scams 2022

Internet Scams 2022

Happy Safer Internet Day 2022! From cyberbullying to social networking to digital identity, each year Safer Internet Day aims to raise awareness of emerging online issues and current concerns. Here are some web resources that can help protect you and your loved ones...

Protip: How Using 2 Spaces is Like Fruitcake

Protip: How Using 2 Spaces is Like Fruitcake

Every year your grandma brings a fruitcake to your holiday gathering. It’s old-fashioned, disgusting and goes largely untouched. The only people who eat it are either just being polite or are also, you know, “of that age.” But she grew up on it, she loves it and...

School Fundraising: A Mom and Marketer’s Guide

School Fundraising: A Mom and Marketer’s Guide

I’ll be honest. When my daughters were in elementary school, I did everything I could to avoid being a part of the parent teacher organization (PTO). It isn’t because I didn’t care what happened at their school. We were blessed to attend a public elementary school...

5 Ways to Avoid Online Meeting Fatigue

5 Ways to Avoid Online Meeting Fatigue

Online meeting fatigue is real. There has been a significant increase in online meetings over the last year—and they are likely to remain commonplace because they are so convenient. At first it was a novelty, but now it’s causing some serious strain. It’s harder to...

6 Tips for Staying Connected While Working From Home

6 Tips for Staying Connected While Working From Home

While working remotely has been steadily increasing over time, our current situation has opened up a whole new ball game with entire organizations closing their offices and having staff work from home. As a result, employees across the country are missing the...

Zoom Like A Boss: The Webinar

Zoom Like A Boss: The Webinar

Online Meetings We’re doing lots of meetings internally and externally. It’s great way to connect, but we’re also getting easily fatigued. We hope there’s an end to our exile soon, but our landscape may also be changed forever to include more virtual meetings. This...

Protip: Online Meetings

Protip: Online Meetings

Are your work weeks filled with online meetings? The temptation is to just flip open your laptop, put on a funny background and let 'er rip. For some situations this is just fine. But keep in mind, your meeting setup reflects not only your credibility But also how...

Best of the Web: Tech Issues [Nov 2020]

Best of the Web: Tech Issues [Nov 2020]

These articles will help you diagnose/solve performance and technical issues, identify when your laptop might just be on its last leg and introduce a free download that takes the guesswork out of identifying your computer’s components. 10 Reasons Your Computer May Be...

Website ADA Compliance: Common Errors

Website ADA Compliance: Common Errors

To ensure your site can be enjoyed by the widest possible audience, maintaining ADA compliance is essential. For many organizations, it’s the law! The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires certain organizations to make accommodations for people with...

Pixlr X: Free Online Photo Editors

Pixlr X: Free Online Photo Editors

Create next-level images with easy-to-use, online photo editors The process of creating the perfect photograph goes beyond pressing the shutter button and capturing your image. Even while cameras and smartphones are taking great photos and becoming better every day,...

Best of the Web: Information Technology

Best of the Web: Information Technology

Find the software solutions you need all in one location, give thought to the process of technology replacement and learn to create an effective, sustainable technology plan for your organization with these insightful Management Information/Technology...

Protip: 7 Ways to Identify Phishing Emails

Protip: 7 Ways to Identify Phishing Emails

Are you sure that convincing email you just received from Southwest Airlines is really from Southwest Airlines? Companies and individuals are often targeted by cybercriminals using emails crafted to look like they are from a legitimate organization or financial...

Best of the Web: Digital Marketing

Best of the Web: Digital Marketing

Learn about free solutions for your projects, marketing tool options and metrics to help drive growth and extend your impact with these resourceful Communication articles found around the web.Digital Marketing Trends For 2020 For Nonprofits Digital marketing done well...

Speccy: See Inside Your PC

Speccy: See Inside Your PC

Need to know detailed specifications about your computer? Speccy, a free system informational tool has got you covered. If you are looking to see “what’s inside” your PC, Speccy can provide a detailed list of the hardware and software components of your computer....

1Password: To Manage Passwords

1Password: To Manage Passwords

Too many passwords to remember? 1Password is all you need You’ve been given access to another application at the office, opened a new savings account, an additional email for work, joined an online retailer’s homepage….and yes, you guessed it, they all require you to...

Best of the Web: Security

Best of the Web: Security

This month we have plucked a few of our favorite data security articles that show you what to look out for and how to protect yourself.Seven Deadly Weaknesses of Nonprofit Security This article focuses on understanding the most common security weaknesses and the risks...

7 Protips for Posting in Facebook

7 Protips for Posting in Facebook

You may not know this, but the new 2018 Facebook algorithm gives you style points for posting correctly. Here’s the secret recipe for getting high marks for your post. 1. All in the timing There are lots of statistics regarding the best time to post on Facebook. The...

The 2018 Facebook Algorithm Changes

The 2018 Facebook Algorithm Changes

The golden rule of social media marketing is to make sure you are using the channel the way your users want to use it instead of how you want them to use it. This is especially true on Facebook, and is also the reason they made some significant changes to the...

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