Category: Fundraising Tips

Welcome to our new website… we’re glad you’re here!

Post author By steven.dale.johnson
Post date July 1, 2023

Our new website is a resource for all nonprofit organizations interested in boosting their fundraising efforts, learning how to bring in more donations in less time, with less stress, and freebie downloads.

This year nonprofits are actively seeking new ways to stay connected with sponsors, with underwriters, with grant-makers, and with the local community they serve. They are trying to do more with less. They are struggling to make fundraising simpler with leaner staffs, less time, fewer volunteers.

We are excited to provide you with valuable fundraising content that can help you raise more money in less time, with less stress, and without having to hire an expensive outside firm to do it for you. Our goal is to help you get all the money you need to fund your mission and make a positive impact on the world.

Our website is designed to be a one-stop-resource for all your fundraising needs. We have a wide range of resources available to help you, including articles, guides, templates, and tools. Our content covers a variety of topics, including:

Fundraising strategy: Learn how to create a comprehensive fundraising plan that aligns with your organization’s mission and goals.
Donor engagement: Discover best practices for engaging with donors and building lasting relationships that drive donations.
Fundraising events: Get tips and templates for planning and executing successful fundraising events that capture the attention of donors.
Online fundraising: Learn how to leverage online fundraising platforms and social media to reach more donors and raise more money.
Grant writing: Get expert advice and templates for crafting winning grant proposals that can help you secure funding from foundations and corporations.
Major gifts: Learn how to identify, cultivate, and solicit major donors to support your organization’s most significant initiatives.

Our content is designed to be easy to understand and actionable, so you can start implementing our advice right away. We also offer personalized consulting services to help you tailor our content to your specific needs and goals.

At our website, we understand that fundraising can be challenging, especially for small and medium-sized nonprofits with limited resources. That’s why we are committed to providing you with the resources you need to succeed, so you can focus on making a difference in your community and beyond.

Thank you for visiting our website, and we look forward to helping you achieve your fundraising goals!

Sincerely,

Steve Johnson

Founder

www.NonprofitFundraisingToolkit.com

Author

“The 4-Hour Fundraiser: How To Drum Up Donations In Just 20 Minutes A Day!”

Paperback version now available!

The hardcover version of this next books is available now on Amazon.com

Click here to “Look Inside” now…

What is The 4-Hour Fundraiser all about?t?

The 4-Hour Fundraiser is a concise, no-fluff system that teaches you how to quickly and easily raise between $3,000 to $10,000 for your nonprofit in a short amount of time. This book is not about theory or prospect psychology, but rather provides a two-step process that you can use to reach out, contact, talk to, email, and collect money from local businesses that benefit from supporting their local community.

In short: It is the perfect solution for those looking to run a quick fundraiser for events such as hosting a free community event, launching a new program or service, purchasing new equipment, getting sponsors to underwrite a workshop with VIP speakers, boosting a scholarship fund, running a winter coat drive for local school children, sponsoring an annual nonprofit awards banquet, and more.

Who can benefit from this book?

Anyone who volunteers or works for a nonprofit can benefit from this book and the toolkit that is included. The system is easy-to-follow, simple, and proven to work, making it perfect for those looking to raise funds for worthwhile projects.

What sets this book apart from other nonprofit fundraising books on the market today?

Unlike other books on this topic, The 4-Hour Fundraiser is not complicated, but rather delivers a simple, direct, and proven 2-step process that anyone can learn and put into practice. This book provides a clear path for anyone, anywhere, who wants to bring in bucks for the worthy nonprofit projects and events they believe in.

What is the value of this book?

Adding The 4-Hour Fundraiser to your arsenal is worth over $500 in hiring somebody to draft your letter and spending thousands of dollars having someone run your fundraiser for you. The value to you is that it costs just the price of the book, a little time getting ready, and simply 20 minutes of your time a day to drum up donations for your nonprofit.

What’s inside The 4-Hour Fundraiser?

The book begins by dissecting the mindset it will take to turn you into a superstar fundraising pro, including ways to gain confidence and overcome obstacles. It then provides a two-step fundraising strategy that you can start using the same day you learn about it. The book also includes a toolkit that provides guidance on how to create engaging email templates, scripts for phone calls, a tracking sheet, and more. The flow of the book is crafted to overcome obstacles and provide a clear path for everyone looking to raise funds for their nonprofit.

“The 4-Hour Fundraiser: How To Drum Up Donations In Just 20 Minutes A Day!” is now available.

Fundraising Tips

Your best time to post on social media might not be what you think it is

Post author By steven.dale.johnson
Post date July 1, 2023

Hey there nonprofit pros! Are you trying to figure out the best time to post on social media? Well, you’re not alone.

But instead of posting randomly every day, slow down and listen to this: Data shows that Thursday is the sweet spot for posting content. Experts says it’s best to avoid posting on weekends (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) unless those are the days of your event. Thus it is indeed worth your effort to be strategic with your social media outreach posting schedule.

Now, look, we could have used a headline like one of these to lure you here:

“Mastering the Social Media Game: Best Times for Nonprofits to Post”

“Get Noticed on Social Media: Optimal Times for Nonprofit Posts

“Don’t Waste Your Time: When to Post for Maximum Impact on Social Media”

or even

“Timing is Everything: How to Reach More Donors on Social Media”

But we didn’t want to do that. What we do want to do, though, is to let you know this simple fact: Your donors’ peak time on social media is the best time to increase engagement and get more potential donors on board.

Yes, we know, that’s easier said than done, figuring that out by yourself. You’ve got to ask your current tribe what works best for them and then guesstimate.

It’s not an exact science. But this bit of advice is simply common sense:

Every time you do post on social media, make sure you’ve added in a link to your fundraising event on your website to drive more potential donors to view what you are doing via your site.

Oh? Your website stinks? Well, read this about mistakes your website might be making when new visitors stop by….

In any event, here’s some good news for you: engaging with your followers on social media usually leads to them taking action! So the effort to do social media right is worth learning how to do it well.

It’s been reported that over half of the people who engage with nonprofits on social media wind up donating money or volunteering their time and talents.

Social media is free to use — or abuse — and that’s only part of why it’s still a very powerful tool for nonprofits that are seeking connections in their local community.

Here’s the secret sauce: By posting at the right times and targeting your audience, you can make your organization more visible and effective. So, keep on posting, engage with your followers when it’s convenient for them, make it easy for them to connect with you, and watch your nonprofit grow!

Read this free bonus report: “Creating Successful Sponsorship Proposals For Nonprofits: A Step-By-Step Guide”

Content curated by search on internet and OpenAI with formatting and editing by staff. Photo courtesy of Josh Withers on Unsplash

Fundraising Tips

12 Promises to Make to Your Donors for Maximum Impact and Ongoing Support

Post author By steven.dale.johnson
Post date July 1, 2023

Cartoon image of woman speaking to audience

Looking to boost your nonprofit’s funding potential and retain donors? Here are 12 “pinkie promises” you need to make to your supporters: Promise transparency, impact, accountability, recognition, stewardship, communication, collaboration, innovation, empowerment, sustainability, recognition, and gratitude.

Keep these promises by being open, tracking progress, establishing strong internal controls, acknowledging donors, using donations efficiently, providing updates, seeking partnerships, being adaptive, empowering individuals, setting long-term goals, expressing appreciation, and staying in touch.

By making and keeping these promises, your nonprofit can secure long-term support and build lasting relationships with donors.

We’ll post a downloadable white paper on this topic soon that you can download for free and share with other members of your nonprofit to brainstorm ways you can apply these ideas for improved fundraising success.

* Research by OpenAI with editing/formatting by staff. Image provided courtesy of Andrew Petrov on Unsplash

Fundraising Tips

Are you just being busy being busy at your nonprofit?

Post author By steven.dale.johnson
Post date June 29, 2023

You find out exactly what nonprofit organizations need and what they lack by working in nonprofits.

Likewise, you see what board members of nonprofit organizations need by watching them struggle with moving the organization forward.

You know what nonprofits need when you realize they do not know what they do not know, yet struggle on blindly just the same.

I’ve witnessed many nonprofits stay busy being busy and wonder aloud how they can take their organization to the next level.

They think they can’t. And, that’s the problem.

They can… once they think they can.

They can when they stop doing what they’ve been doing and start doing what they ought to do.

They can when they make moves to learn new strategies and ways to tell their story.

They can when they invest in training, tutorials and tools that show them how to pivot and expand their ability to grow.

They can when they begin to believe they can.

But how is that possible? How does leadership of a nonprofit grab the bull by the horns and begin a new reinvention of itself?

It begins with recognition that it is more painful to stay the same than to change.

Tony Robbins said it best: “The path to success is to take massive, determined action.”

The massive payoff is worth the pain and all the trouble. The payoff is when a nonprofit organization renews its image and its reputation in their local community to the point that they step to the head of nonprofits and establish themselves as a trusted team that truly leads.

That’s what I deliver in my book “The 4-Hour Fundraiser” and here on my website www.NonprofitPublicityTookkit.com

Tools. Tutorials. Lessons. Learning opportunities. A roadmap. The shortcuts that take them to where they want to be in the shortest amount of time and effort.

I’ve developed a system based on my real-world experience — on the work I’ve done that works — a system that leads any small hometown nonprofit to become more and do more. More fundraising success. More fundraising clout. More fundraising impact. More fundraising donors and volunteers.

But knowing how to raise money is not the only key to nonprofit success; a nonprofit needs how to tell its story and how to get that story in front of its target audience. That’s why I’ve also developed training and online courses on the topic of nonprofit publicity.

In those courses nonprofits can leverage my know-how of writing the perfect news release that news editors love to get and even how an average writer can craft a compelling news article that can get published without much editing.

The secret in getting nonprofit’s publicity is a new understanding that local hometown media are stressed and understaffed to the max. You can sit around and complain about it or see it as the perfect opportunity to exploit it and use it to your advantage. I have. And, I will show you how you can do it too.

Underlying everything is my firm belief that nonprofit leaders must become storytellers and leave breadcrumbs in their tales they weave to bring donor dollars to the coffers of their nonprofit’s bank account.

It’s no crime to ask for money when you’ve doing good things for your community.

In fact, think of it this way: you’re helping to put your community outreach in a new light and your sponsors will be able to bask in this spotlight. You’re doing them a favor. Approach your fundraising with this mindset and the whole fundraising effort becomes much easier. Less stressful. More fun.

Fun fundraising? Am I joking? No. I’ve experienced the low-stress, high-payoff fundraiser, and I can help you experience it too.

The entire theme of “The 4-Hour Fundraiser” revolves around a low-key, low-stress approach to any worthwhile fundraising campaign. Notice that I said “worthwhile.” Simply make the decision that you’ll only run a fundraiser for a worthy aim and you’ll never work hard a single day of that campaign. It will be fun, exciting, rewarding.

See the difference?

Like Steve Covey suggests: “Begin with the end in mind” each day, and you too can begin a difficult task of raising money by ensuring that a successful outcome is not only about the money, but also it is about the impact and completing your mission.

Seriously, the challenges that nonprofit organizations face are numerous and can often be overwhelming.

Fundraising can be a never-ending battle, and finding new sources of support can seem like an impossible task. Volunteers can be difficult to recruit and manage, and even the most committed board members can be hard to come by.

Developing and implementing a clear strategic plan can be a daunting process, and effectively communicating to different audiences can feel like an uphill battle. Program evaluation, financial management, technology solutions, staff retention, collaborations and partnerships, advocacy and policy change, and addressing issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion are all challenges that can leave nonprofits feeling frustrated and grumpy.

However, with dedication, focus, persistence, and a strong team, these challenges can be overcome, and nonprofit organizations can continue to make a positive impact in their communities.

I’ve compiled a number of articles and motivational tools to help fundraising pros stay inspired and fired up to keep “Dialing & Smiling” as they go about their work. I will be adding them into a e-learning section of this website. There are titles like:

“Why optimism is the crucial component of success in nonprofit fundraising campaigns”

“Motivational quotes that inspire shy fundraising participants to help them take massive action and reach their goals”

“Ways to beat procrastination when your fundraiser gets underway”

“Simple strategies fundraising pros use to eliminate self-doubt”

“How dialy routines can boost your productivity as a nonprofit fundraiser”

More will be added over the months ahead.

Yes, a rather long post, but vital for me to show and tell how this site will not only meet your expectations, it will exceed them.

* Photo courtesy of Olena Sergienko on Unsplash

Fundraising Tips

Has your nonprofit developed some bad habits?

Post author By steven.dale.johnson
Post date June 29, 2023

It’s OK to have habits. The habit of showing up for work each day, the habit of watching what you eat, the habit of paying your bills on time. There are all good things.

But what about those bad habits? Not so good.

Nobody argues the fact that fundraising is a critical component of any nonprofit organization because that’s the way nonprofits are able to secure the necessary resources to carry out their missions and provide services to their communities.

However, fundraising can be a challenging and time-consuming process, and it can be easy to fall into bad habits that can hinder your efforts.

To help you navigate the fundraising process, we’ve asked OpenAIs ChatGPT to complike a list of the 10 best habits that nonprofits can practice to maximize their fundraising efforts. That list is shown below:

Develop a fundraising plan: Before you start any fundraising efforts, it is important to develop a fundraising plan that outlines your goals, target donors, and fundraising strategies.
Focus on donor relationships: Building strong relationships with your donors is key to fundraising success. This includes showing appreciation for their support, communicating regularly, and providing opportunities for engagement.
Create a compelling case for support: Your case for support should clearly articulate your organization’s mission and the impact that your work has on your community. This will help donors understand why their support is so critical.
Diversify your fundraising strategies: It’s important to have a variety of fundraising strategies in place, including events, grant writing, and individual giving campaigns. This will help ensure that you are not relying too heavily on one strategy.
Set realistic fundraising goals: Your fundraising goals should be ambitious, but also realistic. Make sure that you are setting goals that are achievable and based on your organization’s capacity.
Stay organized: Keeping track of your fundraising activities and donor relationships is crucial. Use a CRM system or other software to keep your information organized and easily accessible.
Invest in staff and volunteers: Fundraising is a team effort, and it’s important to invest in the people who will be leading your efforts. Make sure that your staff and volunteers have the training and support they need to be successful.
Show impact and results: Donors want to see the impact of their support. Make sure that you are regularly communicating your organization’s accomplishments and the results of your work.
Continuously evaluate and adjust: Fundraising is an iterative process, and it’s important to evaluate your efforts regularly and make adjustments as needed.
Say thank you: Showing appreciation for your donors’ support is crucial. Make sure that you are regularly thanking your donors and showing them the impact of their support.

Not a bad list to start replacing bad habits with good habits. And, by incorporating these habits into your fundraising efforts, you are certain to increase the effectiveness of your fundraising efforts and ensure that your organization is able to continue making a meaningful impact in your community.

*Content resourced by OpenAI and edited/formatted by staff. Photo courtesy of Manan Chhabra on Unsplash

Fundraising Tips