Receiving an endowment gift is a milestone. It signals that a donor believes in your mission enough to fund it, permanently. But that check arriving is the beginning of a serious set of responsibilities, not the end of the conversation. And many nonprofit leaders are not handed a roadmap when it happens.

A well-governed nonprofit investment program should have more than good returns and a solid IPS. It has independent checks built into the structure, so no single firm has unchecked control over both the management and the holding of your assets. Understanding how third-party custody works is one of the cleaner ways a board can strengthen its oversight without adding complexity.

For many nonprofits, one of the biggest fundraising challenges isn’t donor generosity, it’s donor confusion.

Donors want to help. They want to do the right thing. But when tax laws change, even well-intentioned supporters can feel unsure about how (or whether) their giving still “counts” when tax time rolls around.

That’s why the addition of the above-the-line charitable deduction for non-itemizers in 2026 is something every nonprofit leader and fundraiser should understand and communicate clearly to donors this year.

This change may not solve every fundraising challenge, but it could remove a common mental barrier for millions of donors who don’t itemize their taxes. And considering the IRS reports that 87% of tax filers take the standard deduction, chances are this change may affect a lot of your donor base.

Let’s break down what this change means, why it matters to your organization, and how to talk about it without sounding like a tax advisor.

Make-A-Will Month is an annual initiative that happens every August. It is designed to raise awareness about the importance of creating a will and planning for the future. It’s a time when individuals are encouraged to take stock of their assets, reflect on their legacy, and ensure that their final wishes are legally documented.

For nonprofits, Make-A-Will Month presents a unique opportunity to engage with supporters in meaningful ways, secure long-term funding, and build stronger, more lasting relationships. By actively participating in a Make-A-Will Month campaign, your organization can take a significant step toward ensuring its sustainability and continued success.

Want help getting ready for Make-A-Will Month? Canopy has a free Make-A-Will Month Toolkit you can download to get started and maximize the impact of your campaign.

Endowment spending decisions are rarely about the number alone. Board members and nonprofit leaders are responsible for supporting today’s programs while safeguarding resources for the future, which means multiple factors must be considered when setting a withdrawal rate. 

For many nonprofits, the question isn’t if professional investment guidance will be helpful; it’s when. 

Early on, managing reserves and small investment accounts internally may feel manageable. But as assets grow, donor generosity increases, and boards ask more thoughtful questions, the responsibility around stewardship naturally becomes more complex. 

So how do you know when it’s time to partner with an investment advisor? 

This post walks through the common signs nonprofits experience as they grow, along with what an advisor can help with and how to choose the right one.  

As a nonprofit leader, you have probably heard of the Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act (UPMIFA). But are you familiar with what it includes and who needs to follow it? Don’t let your organization pay the penalty of being noncompliant with this important act. This post covers the key components of the law and its goals, who it applies to, an overview of steps organizations should take to ensure compliance with the act, and potential penalties for noncompliance.

Year-end always feels like a sprint. Donors are busy wrapping up the year, inboxes are overflowing, and your team is doing everything possible to make the most of the giving season. 

But amid the rush, there’s still time to help your supporters make a real impact, and even save a little on their taxes while they do it!

The truth is, many gifts in December are made in the final stretch. In fact, roughly 10% of all charitable giving for the entire year happens in the last three days. And although those donors definitely want to help your cause, they are likely making those gifts to lock in tax benefits for the year.  

That means every message you send, every story you share, and every opportunity you highlight between now and December 31 can make a difference. 

So while there’s not much time left on the clock, there is time to be strategic. Here are three smart giving moves your donors can still make before the end of the year, and how your nonprofit can help them do it. 

Many fundraisers think of cash when it comes to donations, but there's another valuable asset many overlook: gifts of stock. 

And no, we’re not talking about livestock! 

For savvy donors and nonprofits alike, stock donations present an incredible opportunity for giving that benefits both parties.

In this article, you will learn how stock donations benefit your nonprofit, the types of donors to focus on for this type of gift, and the tax advantages (and considerations) for both your organization and the donor.

Major gifts are almost always built on trust, timing, and strong relationships. 

But before a donor ever has coffee with you, they usually visit your website. 

And when they’re doing their research, often comparing multiple organizations they care about, they go back to your website again. What they find there can either build confidence… or quietly raise red flags. 

If you want to attract transformational gifts, your website needs to work with you, not against you. In this article, we'll explore 6 ways your website might be hurting your major giving program, and how to fix them.