Legacy gifts are among the most impactful contributions your nonprofit can receive. Most donor pyramid models put planned gifts at or near the top, even above major contributions from repeat donors. Plus, bequests (the most common type of legacy gift) make up nearly 10% of the entire charitable giving landscape and are growing in their combined value, according to Giving USA 2024.  

If your organization doesn’t have a solid strategy for soliciting and managing planned gifts, now is the time to create one! One of the keys to a successful legacy giving program is building strong donor relationships. Stewardship is especially important with planned gift donors, since their pledge and actual gift can be years apart. 

In this guide, we’ll walk through four strategies for showing gratitude to legacy donors and retaining their lifelong support. Let’s dive in!

The surrounding community provides nearly limitless opportunities for nonprofits to grow and expand their reach. Community outreach is a key strategy for acquiring donors and developing strong relationships with your organization.  

As your nonprofit explores new ways to improve outreach, it’s important to consider strategic partnerships, which can significantly enhance these efforts, providing additional resources, visibility, and support. In this guide, we’ll explore how to build and strengthen community partnerships to advance your fundraising goals.

Your nonprofit likely tells plenty of impact stories — on your website, in conversations with major donors, through program impact reports, and during your donor acquisition and volunteer recruitment efforts. Demonstrating your organization’s impact through storytelling is a powerful way to engage your stakeholders and prove the value of your work.

But for your stories to inspire real action from your audience, they must be grounded in data. In this article, we’ll explore a few steps you can take to infuse data into your stories, helping you earn more support for your cause, steward donors, and improve relationships with funders.

Attending the Nonprofit Innovation and Optimization (NIO) Summit last month was an unforgettable experience! 

The energy was electric, and the opportunity to connect with other nonprofit leaders was invaluable. The summit spared no detail with an incredible Indiana Jones-themed production titled "Generosity Jones and the Holy Grail of Fundraising"—a fun and memorable touch.

And very fitting - don’t you feel like fundraising is always an adventure of its own?

While the summit was packed with insights, one message stood out: optimizing the donor journey is critical, especially as we approach year-end fundraising. Read on to discover a breakdown of some of the things we learned and simple steps you can take to maximize your year-end success.

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.

Forget bake sales and car washes (although, hey, we still love those classics). Have you ever felt like your fundraising toolbox is getting a little…tired? We've all been there. But what if there was a hidden gem, a strategy that could boost your bottom line with the current donor base you already have? 

In this article, we'll shed light on the often-overlooked superpower of life insurance gifts. We'll break down the "hows" and "whys" in a way that's easy to understand and leave you feeling confident and equipped to chat with your donors about this powerful giving option. So, ditch the fundraising fatigue and get ready to discover a strategy that's as strategic as it is impactful. 

Are hidden friction points in your donor journey causing you to lose valuable supporters? 

In today’s fast-paced world, people are constantly bombarded with distractions and have little patience for complicated processes. Any friction in your donor journey—whether it’s before, during, or after making a donation—could deter potential donors from completing their contributions, leading to missed opportunities for your nonprofit. 

That’s where donor journey optimization comes in. This strategy involves analyzing and improving each step of the donor's journey, from initial awareness to post-donation follow-up.

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.

Are you struggling to find the right investment advisor for your nonprofit? 

You’re not alone. As a former Development Director, I know the overwhelming feeling of navigating the complex world of investments. When your mission’s success is at stake, you may be unsure of where to start and whom to trust with our nonprofit’s financial future.