Nonprofit Hub

Legacy Gifts: What They Are and How to Get Them

Spencer Creal — Thu, 28 Sep 2023 14:15:31 +0000

Updated Sept. 28, 2023

Fundraising is quite the beast. It’s a sprawling, intricate process, and there are areas of it that nonprofits (especially new ones) tend to avoid to keep it simple. One of these areas is legacy giving.

Legacy giving, also called planned giving, is a type of donor-based fundraising that scares a lot of organizations, causing them to neglect it altogether. But it’s not that scary—at least, it doesn’t have to be.

This form of fundraising can be extremely impactful, helping you generate steady, predictable revenue streams of often unrestricted funding. It also creates many opportunities to deepen your relationships with donors, allowing them to work with you to create meaningful and long-lasting legacies.

Let’s go through the basics so you can decide if legacy giving might be the secret ingredient to your fundraising strategy. Here’s what we’ll cover:

What is legacy giving?
How to solicit legacy gifts
How to cut the jargon
Honoring gifts and growing your program

What is legacy giving?

A legacy gift is a donation made by an individual through their will or other formal estate planning designation.

Bequests (which designate a dollar amount or portion of the total estate to be donated) are by far the most common type of legacy gift. FreeWill’s guide to the types of planned gifts covers the other forms you may encounter as your program grows.

Legacy gifts are typically prepared by a financial planner and reflect the values and desires of the donor. Today’s online platforms have also made it easier for donors to create simple, planned gifts on their own.

But why do people want to leave legacy gifts? As the name suggests, most donors want to leave a legacy or memory of their life through their posthumous giving. Helping sustain the good work of a favorite charity for years can be a powerful motivator for some. Plus, planned gifts can bring various tax benefits, particularly reduced estate taxes for a donor’s heirs, making them a meaningful and practical choice for many donors.

In most cases, a legacy gift is made upon someone’s death, but not always. Legacy giving can take a number of forms, including recurring donations that begin while the donor is alive and continue after they’re deceased. Legacy gifts don’t have to be monetary, either. They can include material goods, property, mutual funds, stocks—anything valuable to the beneficiary.

How to solicit legacy gifts

Nonprofits solicit and secure legacy gifts through their legacy or planned giving programs. There are a few essential (and easy) steps you can take to get your program up and running:

1. Create a planned giving process.

How will you help donors create their legacy gifts? Playing an active role in the process can help increase completion.

For instance, many nonprofits offer their donors free will creation tools that simplify the process of creating a bequest (the simplest and most common type of planned gift). You can also provide detailed instructions and resources for donors once they’ve reached the point of wanting to set up a gift.

Either way, educating your team and understanding the process from start to finish will set you up for success.

2. Add legacy gifts to your website.

Most nonprofits don’t receive legacy gifts because their donors simply don’t know it’s an option.

Add a dedicated section about legacy giving to your website’s Ways to Give page, or go a step further by creating a separate landing page or microsite specifically about the different types of planned gifts, how they work, and their benefits. Here’s an example—the Humane Society of the Pike’s Peak Region created an entire microsite to promote planned gifts and other forms of non-cash giving.

3. Develop additional materials.

You’ll need more than just a web page to promote legacy gifts effectively. Letters, emails, phone scripts, mailers, and more will be helpful once your team discusses planned giving with interested donors.

And since this form of giving is often new to donors and more complex than straightforward cash gifts, you’ll need to provide user-centric educational materials. Remember to explain why these gifts are essential to your organization. Like any other form of fundraising, if a donor doesn’t see an organizational need, they may not donate. Explain to your donors the impact a legacy gift would have on your organization and the people you help.

4. Survey your donors.

The tricky part about legacy gifts is that a donor doesn’t necessarily need to notify you when they create one—your organization could already be in a donor’s will.

This is why it’s helpful to kick off your giving program with a quick email survey. Ask your donors a couple of questions:

Are you interested in creating a legacy gift with our organization?
If legacy giving is new to you, would you like to learn more?
Have you already created a bequest or other form of legacy gift for our organization?

If you find that donors have already created legacy gifts, immediately thank them and begin actively nurturing the relationships to maintain engagement.

Conducting a survey also allows you to gauge general interest in planned giving among your donor base. Suppose donors respond that they’re interested or would like to learn more. In that case, you can flag them for outreach by sending them educational materials or directly reaching out to discuss the process.

5. Start promoting your giving program.

With all the essentials in place, you’re ready to begin earnestly promoting legacy gifts.

Lightly mention it across your various appeals and newsletters and in conversations with major donors. For donors who have already expressed interest, add them to an email stream or other outreach cadence that dives into greater detail about planned giving. Remember to have a concrete plan to guide interested donors toward a completed planned gift once they’re ready to start.

It’s also important to remember that donors will only leave a significant gift if they have a strong personal connection to the cause. Make sure you know your audience. Like with significant donations, legacy giving requires nurturing relationships with donors.

For instance, detailed discussions of planned giving should only go to engaged, active donors with whom the topic has already been broached. Asking a one-time donor or volunteer to leave a legacy gift upon their passing isn’t an effective use of your time (and can come off as tactless).

6. Keep track of gifts over time.

Once you begin securing legacy gifts, keep track of them. This will bring a few important benefits:

The ability to monitor the performance of your strategies and make improvements over time
More insights into the types of donors who choose to give legacy gifts will help you more easily identify future prospects
The ability to follow up with and actively steward your relationships with legacy donors

Track legacy giving data in your database or through a dedicated planned giving tool.

How to cut the jargon

A major barrier to legacy giving is the financial jargon that goes along with it. Bequest? Residuary? Annuities? What?

These terms are essential for donors to know. However, it’s not your job to explain the fine financial details. Your team must understand the different types of planned gifts and their benefits. But, donors’ financial planners will best handle the nitty-gritty of exactly how they work (especially more complex annuities and trusts) and their tax implications.

Instead, use concise, emphatic language to explain the benefits of legacy gifts for both donors and your organization. You don’t want to scare them off before they understand your needs.

Keep these key benefits front of mind as you discuss planned giving:

Benefits for donors
- Legacy-building by sustaining a cause they love
- Freedom to choose how the organization will use the gift
- Tax breaks (discuss with professionals as needed)
Benefits for nonprofits
- Reliable, predictable revenue
- Often unrestricted funds (although donors can restrict them)
- Builds a more engaged community of supporters

You can have more productive conversations with donors by emphasizing these benefits and the long-term good that legacy gifts can do for your mission.

Honoring legacy gifts and growing your program

If a donor grants your organization a legacy gift, it’s crucial to express gratitude. Honor their legacy with a dedication, a plaque, or a public thank you. If the donor had any specific wishes for their contribution, such as funding a particular program, abide by those requests. It’s also a good idea to keep staff and volunteers informed of the person’s impact on your organization and cause.

Over the long run, it’s important to continue stewarding your relationships with legacy donors. Keep them engaged with special events and personal messages. This will encourage further giving (making a legacy gift has been shown to increase future annual gifts) and ensure that you’re kept in the loop if a donor chooses to make changes to their estate plans.

Many nonprofits create legacy societies, special memberships just for legacy donors, to centralize their stewardship efforts. They can be as casual or formal as you want, whatever is most aligned with your organization’s culture—just be sure to anchor your outreach and events in gratitude.

*Originally published in 2017

The post Legacy Gifts: What They Are and How to Get Them appeared first on Nonprofit Hub.

Courage to Lead in the Nonprofit Sector

Delaney Mullennix, MPA — Fri, 22 Sep 2023 13:00:16 +0000

Courage to Lead in the Nonprofit Sector

In this episode of Nonprofit Hub Radio, host Delaney Mullennix interviews leadership coach Julie Boll regarding courageous leadership in the nonprofit sector. Julie explains why bravery and courage are vital for nonprofit sector leaders, as they must take risks, have difficult conversations, and disrupt the status quo to drive change.

Julie discusses how courageous leadership relates to the level of trust within an organization. Leaders who demonstrate vulnerability, accountability, and integrity are able to build trust, which in turn enables organizational success. On the other hand, Julie outlines tangible behaviors that can erode trust, like avoiding hard topics, finger-pointing, and hiding mistakes.

Julie discusses how courageous leadership relates to the level of trust within an organization. Leaders who demonstrate vulnerability, accountability, and integrity are able to slowly build trust over time. This built trust in turn enables organizational success. On the other hand, Julie outlines tangible behaviors that can quickly erode trust. These include avoiding hard topics, finger-pointing, and hiding mistakes.

Drawing on the research of Dr. Brené Brown, Julie shares four teachable and measurable skills of daring leadership. These are rumbling with vulnerability, living into your values, braving trust, and learning to rise. Mastering these skills empowers nonprofit leaders to have those courageous conversations and make bold decisions.

Julie provides examples of courageous nonprofit leadership from her own experience. She describes a CEO disrupting longstanding but ineffective programs. She also describes a board chair giving candid feedback to the executive director despite personal discomfort. Both of these moments of courage resulted in increased trust and overall organizational health.

Julie Boll, M.Ed, CPCC, is the founder of Julie Boll Consulting, which provides leadership training, executive coaching, and strategic planning for nonprofits. Julie has more than 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, serving in marketing, public relations and grant development roles. Julie is a certified Dare to Lead Facilitator, and, in 2019, was a part of the inaugural global cohort of Leadership and Organizational Development professionals selected by thought-leader Brené Brown to facilitate her work in organizations.

As a Courage Catalyst in the Dare to Lead™ program, Julie focuses her work on helping nonprofits learn the skills, practices and tools needed to support brave leaders and build more courageous cultures. Over the course of her career, Julie has helped her clients and employers secure more than $10 M in competitive grants from foundation, state and federal funders. She is Grant Professional Certified by the GPCI Institute and is a Grants Professionals Association (GPA) Approved Trainer. Julie is a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC), and McNellis Compression Planning® facilitator. Julie holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Relations and a Masters Degree in Education, both from Quincy University.

Shout out to our friends at Neon One for making today’s episode possible!

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Every Nonprofit Employee Deserves to Retire with $1 Million or More in Their 401(k)—With the Right Retirement Plan, It’s Possible

Jean Smart — Thu, 21 Sep 2023 15:00:59 +0000

The typical narrative about the nonprofit employee is that they so deeply believe in the mission that they are willing to sacrifice their own financial stability in order to help facilitate meaningful change in the world. No doubt more than once, they’ve probably received the most unhelpful feedback: “You’re not going to get rich working for a nonprofit!”

Yet, there’s no reason why nonprofit employees can’t be saving the world while meaningfully saving for their own future. If you start early and are consistent with your savings, nearly anyone can become a 401(k) millionaire. And it’s even easier if you have some support from your employer.

Providing life-changing benefits to your deserving employees

Let’s imagine a 25-year-old nonprofit employee who earns $58,000 a year. If she invests 6% of her salary a year, her employer matches 3.5%, and her investments see an 8% annual rate of return, she’ll have more than $1 million saved by retirement. If she’s able to save 10%, her retirement nest egg grows to over $2 million.

It should go without saying that nonprofit employees should be able to retire comfortably after years of dedicating themselves to helping others. But frequently, these hardworking, dedicated employees aren’t receiving the same quality benefits that their corporate counterparts enjoy.

Sure, nonprofit leaders have a lot of competing responsibilities. And managing a nonprofit budget requires leadership to make sure that donor dollars are used efficiently to help the cause. It’s not entirely surprising that employee benefits might be one of the last things a nonprofit leadership team wants to worry about. But that could ultimately hurt the mission.

Caring for your employees should be a top priority. Offering a 401(k) with matching should be standard in the industry. When every dollar of a nonprofit’s budget matters, it’s more important than ever to make sure you’re taking care of your employees in an effort to retain the best team for your organization.

Choosing the right retirement plan for your nonprofit employee

There are a number of retirement plan options for nonprofits to choose from. Most have heard of the 403(b), which is the traditional nonprofit retirement plan. In many ways, a 403(b) plan is similar to the widely used 401(k) plan. A 403(b) plan allows employees to set aside some of their salaries each pay period in individual retirement accounts, and the money is allowed to grow tax-free until it’s withdrawn.

The investment options available through 403(b) retirement accounts are typically more limited than the options associated with some other retirement savings plans. Generally, 403(b) account investments are limited to annuities and mutual funds, and these plans typically do not offer an employer match.

But one of the biggest drawbacks to a 403(b) plan are the fees. A 2022 study from the U.S. Government Accountability Office found that the expense ratios for the annuities and mutual funds range from about 0.01% to 2.37%. That amounts to investments costing up to 237 times more than other lower-cost retirement plans. Additionally, there may often be surrender fees, or fees for selling or withdrawing money from an investment within a set period of time, charged when investing in annuities in a 403(b) account. Surrender fees can be as much as 10%.

These fees can have a huge impact on a nonprofit employee’s long-term savings goals. When you only have a small amount to invest in the first place, you want to make sure you’re not paying more in fees than you’re earning on your investments.

Let’s go back to our young nonprofit employee. If she’s paying 2% AUM fees each year, she’ll forfeit more than $600,000 over the course of 40 years. Even an AUM fee of 0.5% will cost her $200,000+ over the course of 40 years.

While 403(b) retirement plans have been a nonprofit standard for years, there’s no reason why your organization can’t use a more cost-effective plan that ensures your employees can enjoy the full benefits of the years they spent working and saving.

The benefits of a Safe Harbor 401(k)

The most widely offered retirement plan option, 401(k) accounts allow employees to make pre-tax payroll contributions from their paychecks each pay period in the same manner as 403(b) plans. And like 403(b) plans, the money is allowed to grow tax-free until it’s withdrawn during retirement.

A 401(k) plan typically offers employees a wider range of investment options including stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. Equally importantly, when offering a 401(k) retirement plan, employers, including nonprofits, can make contributions to employee accounts, thus helping employees to be more adequately prepared for retirement. Fees tend to be lower as well. The best 401(k) plans offer AUM fees that are less than one percent. Unfortunately, many of the big financial institutions charge their customers upwards of 2%, which again, can take a big chunk out of an employee’s long-term savings.

While the investment diversity is indeed a benefit, as is the ability to make matching contributions, traditional 401(k) plans also come with more significant reporting and administrative requirements. Specifically, traditional 401(k) plans must adhere to non-discrimination rules established by the federal government. And to ensure that plans meet these requirements, employers must conduct annual tests known as the Actual Deferral Percentage and Actual Contribution Percentage tests. As the IRS explains, these tests are designed to verify that deferred wages and matching contributions from employers do not favor employees who are more highly compensated.

But don’t let these administrative requirements trip you up. With the right 401(k) provider, you won’t have to worry about these steps. One of the best solutions is a Safe Harbor 401(k). A Safe Harbor 401(k) is a type of retirement savings plan that allows employers to avoid most annual compliance testing that traditional 401(k) plans must undergo. If a company meets the requirements for Safe Harbor matching contributions, it is deemed to be in compliance with certain nondiscrimination tests.

By offering employees a Safe Harbor 401(k), nonprofit leaders can avoid losing time on all the administrative headaches that used to be involved with offering an employer-sponsored retirement plan. All they have to do is set up the plan, automatically enroll their employees, and start matching their contributions.

Employer-sponsored retirement plan benefits everyone

Offering a 401(k) plan and a match can make a meaningful difference in an employee’s life. But it can also have a huge impact on a nonprofit. A 2023 Morgan Stanley study found that 92% of employees view retirement planning assistance as a priority when choosing where to work.

Keeping a good employee will not only save nonprofits money potentially lost to recruiting costs, but also help them earn more in the long run.

Time is also of the essence, as there’s never been a more affordable time to set up a new 401(k) plan. Small business employers, including nonprofits, with up to 50 employees, are eligible to receive a tax credit covering 100% of administrative expenses (up to $5,000) for the first three years of a new plan.

Offering a cost-effective 401(k) plan to your nonprofit employees is a win for everyone. You can help them achieve financial security while they help you achieve your goals for saving the world.

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Why Your Nonprofit Should Do Public Opinion Research

Delaney Mullennix, MPA — Fri, 15 Sep 2023 13:00:56 +0000

Why Your Nonprofit Should Do Public Opinion Research

In this episode of Nonprofit Hub Radio, host Delaney Mullennix interviews Adam Probolsky, founder of Probolsky Research, about using public opinion research to benefit nonprofits. Adam explains this involves surveying and analyzing data from a target population to gain insights. He advocates that nonprofits should leverage research for several key reasons.

First, public opinion research helps nonprofits better understand their audiences for more effective messaging and outreach. By gathering data directly from stakeholders, nonprofits can craft communications tailored to what resonates most. Second, the research informs nonprofit fundraising approaches and donor targeting. Survey data provides insights into donors’ values and motivations.

Additionally, this research aids nonprofits in developing programs, services, and policies aligned with their community’s needs and priorities. Rather than guessing, nonprofits can make data-driven decisions. Adam provides examples of public opinion research improving museum programming and helping a nonprofit expand into new services.

While research requires an investment, Adam argues the data and insights gained are invaluable for nonprofit strategy across messaging, fundraising, and programming. He encourages nonprofits to approach this research as an essential tool, not an optional extra.

In summary, this episode makes a case for nonprofits to leverage public opinion research surveys to gain stakeholder insights that strengthen organizational strategy and community impact.

Adam is President of Probolsky Research. Adam has acted as pollster and strategic
advisor on hundreds of successful crisis communications and public affairs projects,
local, county and statewide initiatives and candidate campaigns as well as citizen
outreach and education efforts. Additionally, Adam has been a key advisor to the firm’s
clients on matters of public policy, legislation and business strategy.

Adam was both a planning and finance commissioner for the City of Irvine where he
oversaw and approved billions of dollars in private development and public
infrastructure projects. As a past chairman of the Irvine Valley College Foundation, he
has overseen the fundraising and the award of hundreds of thousands of dollars in
scholarships to students and funding for college police. He was also a member of the
Orange County Waste & Recycling Commission where he oversaw landfills, recycling
programs, waste hauling companies and power generating facilities. As a member of
the Orange County Transportation Authority’s Environmental Mitigation and Oversight
Committee, he oversaw the expenditure of over $175 million dollars in public
transportation funds.

Adam is a former journalist and he previously served as a board member and
development committee chairman for Jewish Family Service of Orange County, a non-
profit organization that serves families in need, and volunteered for nearly eight years
with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department as a spokesperson.
Adam formerly served as a member of the Policy Committee on Energy and the
Environment of the United States Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Probolsky’s research and commentary has been published in numerous media
outlets including The New York Times, Riverside Press Enterprise, The Chicago Sun
Times, the Orange County Register and Politico and the San Francisco Chronicle.
Adam earned his master’s degree in data analytics and visualization from the Maryland
Institute College of Art in Baltimore Maryland, a historic urban college founded in 1826.

Shout out to our friends at Neon One for making today’s episode possible!

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Tips on Fundraising: Direct Mail & Personalization

Delaney Mullennix, MPA — Fri, 08 Sep 2023 13:00:37 +0000

Tips on Fundraising: Direct Mail & Personalization

In this episode of Nonprofit Hub Radio, host Delaney Mullennix interviews David Wachs, founder of Handwrytten, a service enabling nonprofits to send personalized, handwritten notes to donors. David explains how Handwrytten helps nonprofits scale meaningful outreach amid the digital shift.

When asked about doubts over “mass-produced” handwritten notes seeming impersonal, David emphasizes why personalization is so critical for nonprofit tips on fundraising. He argues digital communication makes small personal touches stand out more, deepening donor relationships. David provides tips on fundraising like sending handwritten stewardship notes, which make donors feel valued.

David also shares tips on fundraising through handwritten notes for purposes beyond donor stewardship. Handwrytten enables nonprofits to efficiently send handwritten invitations to events, onboarding notes to new volunteers, and more. These small personal touches boost engagement.

Regarding whether direct mail is ineffective, David debunks this myth. While costly, with creative strategy and personalization, direct mail can provide excellent tips on fundraising. Handwrytten allows nonprofits to incorporate personal handwritten touches into mailings at scale.

David encourages nonprofits to explore tips on fundraising through scalable personalized outreach with Handwrytten. As communication goes digital, small human touches make a nonprofit stand out.

In summary, David provides tips on fundraising using Handwrytten to incorporate personal, handwritten communication that deepens donor relationships. He argues physical mail and notes still resonate when thoughtfully executed.

A serial entrepreneur, David’s latest venture, Handwrytten, is bringing back the lost art of letter writing through scalable, robot-based solutions that write your notes in pen. Developed as a platform, Handwrytten lets you send notes from your CRM system, such as Salesforce, the web site,apps, or through custom integration. Used by major meal boxes, eCommerce giants, nonprofits and professionals, Handwrytten is changing the way brands and people connect. Prior to starting Handwrytten, David founded Cellit, a leading mobile marketing agency. Cellit was sold to HelloWorld in 2012.

Shout out to our friends at Neon One for making today’s episode possible!

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How to Transform Your Online Fundraising

Delaney Mullennix, MPA — Fri, 01 Sep 2023 15:00:22 +0000

How to Transform Your Online Fundraising

In this episode of Nonprofit Hub Radio, host Delaney Mullennix interviews Owen O’Doherty, the founder and CEO of DonorSee, an innovative online fundraising platform. Owen explains how DonorSee is transforming fundraising by allowing donors to give directly to vetted nonprofits and projects around the world. Donors can then see video updates showing the impact of their donations.

Owen shares the story of Gret Glyer, whose online fundraising through DonorSee has helped provide over 500,000 meals to children in Haiti. This transparent model gives donors a meaningful connection to the cause. Owen states DonorSee overcomes two key nonprofit challenges – acquiring new online donors and retaining them. The platform makes online fundraising engaging through personalized videos and updates.

When asked about the future of online fundraising, Owen predicts even more involvement of visual media and storytelling. He envisions a shift from nonprofits pushing one-way messaging to interactive conversations with empowered donors. Owen encourages nonprofits to explore innovative online fundraising approaches on DonorSee to deepen donor relationships.

In summary, this episode provides insight into transforming online fundraising through transparent models like DonorSee. Owen argues that creating a meaningful donor experience is critical for acquisition and retention.

Owen is the CEO of DonorSee. From Ireland originally, he is mission driven and has a passion for developing technology for good to build communities that drive change in the world.

Owen has a background in product design and development, and is a graduate with a first class honors in Business Information Systems. Prior to leading DonorSee, he founded, developed, and ran a successful technology platform for family caregivers and care teams. He has won awards for innovation from Microsoft, as well as national innovation awards. His expertise also extends to academia, having lectured on the Design of Digital Business and Information Systems and Analytics at masters level.

Owen continues to channel his passion and expertise to effect meaningful change through his leadership at DonorSee. ‘I love seeing the difference that the DonorSee’s partners and community make every day in the world.’

Shout out to our friends at Neon One for making today’s episode possible!

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Where to Find Grants for your Nonprofit Organization

Matt Spitsen — Thu, 31 Aug 2023 15:00:47 +0000

Finding grants for your nonprofit organization is a lot like shopping for a pair of jeans. They come in all shapes and sizes, require some self-reflection and can be an incredibly time-consuming process. And maybe it’s not your favorite thing to do.

Plenty of resources exist to find that perfect grant for your organization that has the style, flexibility and price tag you need – or maybe that’s the jeans. But here are a few resources to get you on your way to finding the necessary funding for your organization. It may require some sifting and searching on your part, but this will surely save you from those pesky grant-writing blues.

Square one on your mission to finding grants for your nonprofit starts here.

Grants.gov

Not only is Grants.gov a place to find grants, but it’s also a place to educate yourself on how grants work and what they’re all about.

If you find a federal grant that interests your organization, you’ll need to go through the following stages:

Pre-Award Phase
This is the phase where you’ll seek out new grants that are applicable to your organization and work toward submitting an application that matches the given criteria.
Award Phase
The award phase occurs when federal agency staff members make decisions to grant your organization the funds to continue with a project.
Post Award
While this seems like it should be the easiest phase of the grant process, it’s actually one of the most labor-intensive. The post-award phase involves implementing the grant that your organization has been awarded and actually documenting the progress of what your organization said they’d do. In order to succeed at the process, you’ll need to submit a report detailing both the financials and the program progress.

Make sure to fully utilize the educational aspects of Grants.gov. Search the site and sort by the newest or most relevant grants by sorting them into various categories.

Local foundations

The best place to start is a foundation that understands the work you’re doing. Search online for foundations in your area or try to meet funders through networking events in your community. If the marketing and storytelling you’ve been implementing in your community has been doing its job, foundations should already have some sort of understanding of how your organization operates. That helps give you a leg up in the funding world.

While this option seems to be the vaguest, it could have the most promise for your organization. People love to give locally because it helps stimulate their own economy and helps give back. So get out there, open your eyes and consider the possibilities happening in your own backyard.

GrantWatch.com

This site could be suitable for your organization if it fits into one of the following (ample!) categories: universities, hospitals, government agencies, schools, community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, research institutions and some small businesses and individuals.

That’s a ton of opportunity for your organization. Plus, this site adds new grants and archives old grants daily, ensuring you’re getting the most out of your time. Keep in mind, this is a paid option, and there are other paid options out there to consider. Start slow and determine if the return could be worth it for your organization.

Now you have the browsing power to at least begin your search into the grant world. Check them all out, see which resources work best for your organization and apply to the grants that matter.

Additional options:

Foundation Center – This site lets you browse over 2 million foundation and corporate grants for free. Filter and search by location, grant type, subject, recipient type and more. Useful tools like grant trend data reports and foundation profiles provide valuable context. Create a free account for saved searches, tracking, and email alerts on relevant grants for your nonprofit.

GrantStation – While pricier, GrantStation gives you robust search tools and custom alerts for finding new grants for your nonprofit. The extensive database is updated daily. Use calendar reminders for upcoming deadlines. Run statistical reports to identify your most fruitful funding sources. The premium features make it easier to spot and track relevant grants for your nonprofit.

Corporations/Foundations – Keep major national corporations in mind for grants for your nonprofit. Companies like Target, Google, and Walmart operate philanthropic foundations offering grants in key focus areas. Browse their websites for grant programs aligned with your nonprofit’s mission and work.

Nonprofit Support Orgs – Connecting locally with groups and community foundations can uncover grants for your nonprofit. Discuss funding opportunities for community programs. Partnering on grant proposals can increase your chances of securing funding together.

Your Network – Speaking with peers at other nonprofits, volunteers, donors, and partners can provide insider knowledge on potential funders and opportunities. Collaborating with others who share your focus makes your grant applications stronger. Personal outreach and relationships may get your foot in the door with a funder.

Searching far and wide using large databases, local networking, and personal connections will help uncover the most promising grants for your nonprofit. Cast a wide net in your pursuit of funding opportunities and be relentless in your efforts.

Our friends at Instrumentl put together a list of helpful websites for grantseekers you may want to check out as well.

Originally published 5.24.17—Updated 8.31.23

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[PODCAST] The Power of Nonprofit Servant Leadership in Fundraising

Delaney Mullennix, MPA — Fri, 25 Aug 2023 15:00:32 +0000

The Power of Nonprofit Servant Leadership in Fundraising

In this Nonprofit Hub Radio episode, host Delaney Mullennix interviews Evan Wildstein, author of The Nonprofiteer’s Fundraising Field Guide. Evan explains how he entered fundraising after college. He discusses nonprofit servant leadership’s importance for nonprofits. Servant leaders empower teams rather than pursue power.

Specifically, Evan says servant leaders listen, demonstrate empathy, prioritize others’ needs, and develop skills. This leadership style promotes fundraising through collaboration. Evan also spotlights his new book, offering practical fundraising tips. He argues anyone can fundraise with the right mindset – building relationships and understanding donors’ passions.

Additionally, Evan shares how servant leaders impacted him. A past supervisor modeled compassion, built trust, and supported Evan’s growth as a young fundraising professional. Evan states a nonprofit servant leadership behavior boosting fundraising is humility. Leaders should empower teams, not themselves, fueling motivation. Listeners can demonstrate this by praising team accomplishments, providing coaching/mentorship, and encouraging risk-taking.
Moreover, Evan offers “good news” – he sees nonprofits adopting new technologies and strategies. Servant-led nonprofits able to adapt and rally teams around purpose will thrive.

In summary, this episode examines nonprofit servant leadership’s fundraising role. Evan provides career examples and takeaways from his book. He advocates nonprofit servant leadership practices, including empowering teams, cultivating trust, and remaining humble. Evan expresses optimism about adaptable, purpose-driven nonprofit leaders.

Evan Wildstein is a nonprofiteer with twenty years of experience in fundraising, strategy, and operations. He has worked with organizations like The Juilliard School, Rice University, and Asia Society to raise funds and develop unique programs. In addition to his work in social impact, Wildstein has coached organizations on board development and talent growth, commissioned operas, and produced learning initiatives. He regularly contributes to Philanthropy News Digest, NonProfit PRO, and other publications, writing about the nonprofit sector and organizational leadership.

Cause Camp tickets are on sale now! Register here and join us for lessons in momentum this September & help us celebrate 22 years of a conference built by a nonprofit for nonprofit professionals like you.

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Top Nonprofit Hashtags of 2023

Cara Godlesky — Thu, 24 Aug 2023 22:29:05 +0000

Top Nonprofit Hashtags of 2023

In today’s digitally connected world, hashtags have become more than just a trend. They can act as a tool to amplify the impact of nonprofits on social media platforms.

Nonprofits can add hashtags to their social media strategies as a way to enhance their visibility, expand reach, and engage with a wider and more diverse audience.

Hashtags categorize social media posts, making it easier for users to discover and connect with causes they care about.

By utilizing relevant and popular hashtags, nonprofits can tap into ongoing conversations and trends and increase the likelihood of their content being seen and shared.

A few things to remember about nonprofit hashtags

Before you go adding 50 new hashtags to all of your social media posts, there are a few things you should take into account:

To utilize hashtags, your social media account must be public.
More is not always better. Limit the amount the amount to 5 to 10 per post. If you add too many, it can come across as spammy.
While using already created hashtags is helpful, you should also make your own unique ones for your organization or fundraising event.
Don’t always pick the top hashtags. If you consistently only add hashtags that are used over a million times, there is a good chance that your post will get buried and not easily seen. Use a mix of top nonprofit hashtags and some that are more specific and used under 100k times.

Top Nonprofit Hashtag List

You can use this list as a guide and inspiration for hashtags to include in your social media posts. The data below is pulled from Instagram in August 2023.

General

#Nonprofit – 8.5 mil

#Dogood – 3.2 mil

#Philanthropy – 1.9 mil

#Nonprofitorganization – 1.7 mil

#Socialgood – 1.5 mil

#Causes – 661k

#Changemaker – 581k

#Notforprofit – 460k

#NonprofitsofInstagram – 336k

#Nonprofitlife – 283k

#Supportnonprofits – 138k

#Nonprofitorganizations – 106k

Regional

#ChicagoNonprofit – 33.2k

#HoustonNonprofit – 26.1k

#DallasNonprofit – 20.7k

#NYCNonprofit – 19.1k

#ColoradoNonprofit – 15.1k

#AZNonprofit – 14.2k

#MiamiNonprofit – 12.3k

#DCNonprofit – 11.5k

#NashvilleNonprofit – 11.4k

#ATLNonprofit – 10.7k

#SeattleNonprofit – 10.6k

Donation/Fundraising

#Donate – 8 mil

#Fundraiser – 4.9 mil

#Giving – 2.5 mil

#GivingTuesday – 2.3 mil

#CharityEvent – 1.2 mil

#DonateToday – 487k

#CharityFundraiser – 225k

#Fundraisers – 194k

#GivingTuesdayNow – 155k

#CharityAuction – 121k

#GivingSeason 130k

#FundraiserEvent – 118k

Volunteering

#Volunteer – 9 mil

#GiveBack – 5.7 mil

#Activism – 2.2 mil

#DoSomething – 824k

#CharityWork – 431k

#GivingBackToTheCommunity 327k

#VolunteerWork – 313k

#Volunteerism – 257k

#SocialActivism – 233k

#AnimalActivism – 154k

#EnvironmentalActivism – 46.2k

*Volunteers (I would avoid this one, especially in the fall. It is often tagged with the Tennessee Volunteers Football team and has nothing to do with nonprofits.)

By thoughtfully adding these nonprofit hashtags, your organization can harness the full potential of social media to drive awareness, mobilize resources, and ultimately make a more significant and lasting difference in the world.

The post Top Nonprofit Hashtags of 2023 appeared first on Nonprofit Hub.

[PODCAST] How to Grow a Small Non Profit Organization

Delaney Mullennix, MPA — Fri, 18 Aug 2023 11:26:01 +0000

How to Grow a Small Non Profit Organization

In this episode of Nonprofit Hub Radio, host Delaney Mullennix interviews Beth Guckenberger. She is the Co-Executive Director of Back2Back Ministries. The discussion focuses on strategies for growing a small non profit organization.

Initially, Back2Back Ministries was a very small non profit organization. Their annual revenue was less than $1 million. However, through planning and relationships, they grew. Now Back2Back Ministries is a $5 million mid-sized nonprofit.

Beth gives advice to other small nonprofit organization leaders. Her key advice is not to fear seeking help. When capacity is limited, consult experts. Collaborate with other successful small nonprofits too. Learn what has worked for their growth.

Looking ahead, Beth is excited. She wants Back2Back Ministries to evolve more as a mid-sized nonprofit. Her goal is to serve even more youth through orphan care globally. With additional staff and resources, she sees potential. Small nonprofits like Back2Back Ministries have the potential to increase their impact with additional staff and resources.

Additionally, Beth reminds small nonprofit leaders about staying connected. Conferences and associations allow positive news sharing. This episode provides valuable insight overall into the opportunity for growth. The focus is on small nonprofits looking to scale their impact.

Beth and her husband, Todd, live with their family in Cincinnati, Ohio where they serve as Co-Executive Directors of Back2Back Ministries. After graduating from Indiana University, the Guckenbergers moved to Monterrey, Mexico where they lived for 15 years. Between biological, foster, and adopted children, they have raised eleven children.

Beth is the author of eleven books including adult and children’s titles. She travels and speaks regularly at conferences, youth gatherings and church services about reckless faith. Her style is based in story-telling and she draws from her vast field experience as a missionary, Bible teacher and parent for illustrations of biblical concepts.

For more information about Beth’s speaking schedule and contacting her, please visit recklessfaith.com

Check out her latest book, Throw the First Punch.

Cause Camp tickets are on sale now! Register here and join us for lessons in momentum this September & help us celebrate 22 years of a conference built by a nonprofit for nonprofit professionals like you.

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The post [PODCAST] How to Grow a Small Non Profit Organization appeared first on Nonprofit Hub.