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.

53.37% of nonprofits agree that it’s vital to acquire multiple major gifts. Yet, 58.87% of organizations lack a major gift strategy, and 75.32% attribute this to a lack of investment on their part. 

This staggering contradiction underscores the need to emphasize major gift fundraising. While technology-driven engagement tactics and personalized outreach can grab prospects’ attention, achieving success with major donors is about more than simply asking for funds. It’s about strategically positioning your organization as a trustworthy and effective partner by clearly demonstrating the measurable return on investment (ROI) their gifts generate. 

Impact data turns your major gift fundraising appeals from transactional requests into proposals for strategic, long-term partnerships. With an effective impact reporting process in place, your nonprofit can establish deeper trust with donors and cultivate stronger relationships that lead to major gifts. 

Let’s unpack the role of impact reporting in cultivating major gifts. 

It’s no secret that planned gifts are essential for your nonprofit’s long-term financial health. However, the challenge comes when it’s time to create a clear communication strategy that encourages donors to make a long-term commitment. So, where do you begin? 

A successful planned giving program is built on trust, education, and open communication. From creating a central resource for donors to celebrating their gifts in a meaningful way, this guide will provide everything you need to inspire planned (also called legacy) gifts. 

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. 

During chaotic times, it makes sense that many nonprofits are only able to focus on their immediate future. A recent survey of nonprofits found that 52% of respondents have the cash on hand to support their organization for only the next three months or less, with 18% having just one month or less.  

If your nonprofit is struggling, creating long-term financial plans may seem like a luxury. However, whether your nonprofit is doing well or starting in a poor position, the first steps to sustainability are the same: assessing your strategy, researching solutions, and restructuring as necessary.  

In this guide, we will provide tips for ensuring long-term sustainability across leadership teams, donor cultivation processes, and other internal operations.  

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.

Experts generally estimate that 80% of donations come from about 20% of donors. Bloomerang’s research shows an even greater divide, with 88% of donations coming from 12% of donors. 

That’s why cultivating major donor relationships is so important. They can truly make a massive impact on your cause and help you serve more beneficiaries. This guide will walk you through how to follow up with major donors to retain their support and keep them as part of your community. 

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.

When most nonprofit leaders think about endowments, they picture something… big. 

Big gifts. Big donors. Big institutions with big budgets. 

It’s no wonder many small and midsize nonprofits assume endowments are out of reach.  

Something to think about someday, when the organization is larger, the budget is less tight, or a transformational donor finally walks through the door. 

But what if that assumption is holding your organization back? 

The truth is, you don’t need a million-dollar gift to start building long-term financial stability. You don’t even need a donor. With the right mindset and a board vote, your nonprofit can start creating a board-designated endowment (also known as a quasi-endowment) using funds you already control. 

In this post, we’ll share four reasons why your organization should consider this powerful (and underutilized) tool, no matter your size. 

To sustainably fund its mission, your nonprofit needs to not only encourage engagement from its supporters, but also cultivate their loyalty. Donor loyalty is built on trust, so it’s vital to instill confidence in how you’re managing your organization to make a positive impact, especially when it comes to finance. 

While developing procedures for everyday recordkeeping and regular reporting is important, effective nonprofit financial management also involves planning for the unexpected. This is where risk management plans come in. 

In this guide, we’ll walk through four steps for creating a financial risk management plan that can help see your organization through challenges that may come your way. Some of these actions can also strengthen your day-to-day procedures, helping you demonstrate that you’re using donors’ contributions as promised for a good cause. Let’s dive in!