Strategic Planning

#NPPTrendingNow Ep. 13: How Do You Approach Wealthy Donors?
August 18, 2017 at 10:50 am

Welcome back to #NPPTrendingNow, a weekly video series where NonProfit PRO Editor-in-Chief Nhu Te breaks down the top three coveted stories of the week. Here's what we've got going on for you this week: Andrea Kihlstedt quizzes you with eight possible approaches for engaging wealthy donors; Nick Ellinger dives into donor retention; and we talk about how tragedies can spur charitable giving...

The Theory of Change: A Tool for Bringing Board Members Together
August 17, 2017 at 9:27 am

Passion for mission, also known as the dissatisfaction with the status quo, is often described as the driver for what brings individuals to a nonprofit board. But remember, a board consists of individuals, and while years of service can often result in an aligned board being clear about values and interests, a “Theory of Change” exercise is an efficient and effective process and resultant tool for developing a collective “term of agreement...

Get in the Spirit: 5 Best Practices for a Fruitful Year-End Fundraising Campaign
August 16, 2017 at 11:29 am

Once the leaves begin changing colors, we know that we’re entering the fall season, which also means we’re at the cusp of the most exciting—and generous—time of the year. The holiday season is kicked off with the most playful of them all: Halloween, where children, and adults alike, engage in ghoulish activities...

Beware of the ‘Cult of Personality’
August 16, 2017 at 11:21 am

The term “cult of personality” tends to conjure dramatic images of political or religious leaders influencing the masses. It seems grandiose and powerful. Cult of personality has varied definitions, but they all basically boil down to this: The situation that arises when an individual person gains intense loyalty from a group of people from the sheer force of his or her personality...

Charlottesville: The Art and the Crime of Polarization
August 16, 2017 at 10:55 am

We watched in horror as Charlottesville, Va., erupted into violence this past week. Otis graduated from the University of Virginia (UVA) in 1979. There, he met the Dalai Lama, he met students of diverse backgrounds, he played basketball on a diverse team and he became a Buddhist…

What Fundraising Entrepreneurs Know About Raising Money
August 14, 2017 at 11:26 am

“Fundraising is both a science and an art,” says M. Gasby Brown of Bridge Philanthropic Consulting, one of the nation’s foremost fundraising firms. “It is great to give strategy,” adds her partner, Dwayne Ashley, “but an organization needs money coming in the door. If you don’t drive that result, nothing else matters.” Before Brown and…

We Don’t Provide Direct Service, We Have No Stories to Tell
August 11, 2017 at 9:11 am

Your organization has no cute kids, puppies or people that you regularly serve. But you keep hearing that you’re supposed to share those “mission moments” about real people to engage your community. How does sharing powerful stories work for you?...

Thyngs Partners with PayPal for Cashless Donations
August 8, 2017 at 11:04 pm

Thyngs, the mobile proximity platform, has added PayPal to its payment options for charities taking cashless mobile donations via its platform. PayPal will be added as a new core payment method for charities using its tap-and-scan cashless donation solutions on items, such as collecting boxes and direct mail, and in-person. The integration will streamline donation…

Enhance Your Nonprofit's Online Presence: 4 Ways to Humanize Your Social Media Campaign
August 8, 2017 at 10:42 am

A strong social media strategy can be a fantastic tool to enhance a nonprofit’s online presence. Authenticity is critical when using this platform, because social media is about connecting donors and prospects with the organization’s mission. Nonprofits need to humanize their social media message, so the audience can effectively connect with your organization...

Digital Strategy Skills: Do You Have Them?
August 8, 2017 at 10:31 am

We’ve had this conversation before. The nonprofit sector is changing, and it’s more important than ever to understand how it’s changing and why it’s changing. We’re adopting a more digital mindset when it comes to our “business” strategies—it’s how we acquire donors, build relationships with them and get them to donate to our organizations...