10+ Creative Ways to Support Nonprofits and Causes

If there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s the importance of philanthropy in our communities and in our wider world. There are lots of organizations dedicating their time and effort to helping others. These organizations also rely on us for support, but it’s not always easy to spare some extra change. The good news is there are many ways to help nonprofits, not all of which require a monetary donation. 

Wondering how you can easily support your favorite nonprofits and causes through your habits and purchases you already intend to make? Here are 10+ creative ways to take action and help nonprofits make an impact.

1. Charity Charge

   Charity Charge is the only credit card that donates 1% back on ALL purchases to the nonprofit of your choice. There’s also no annual fee, a low interest rate, and your donation may be tax deductible. There’s a card for nonprofit business owners, too!

2. Charity Miles

   This fitness/movement tracker is easily downloaded onto your smartphone (for free!) and turns the miles you walk, bike, run, or hike into money for a nonprofit of your choosing. 

3. DoneGood

   Shop for yourself or for gifts for others on this site, where every purchase you make is good for both people and the planet. There are thousands of products from hundreds of brands who pay livable wages, are eco-friendly, and empower communities. 

4. Cultivate

   This free extension for your web browser will help you feel better about your purchases. Cultivate finds the best prices on products you’re already shopping for online and earns money to donate to causes.

5. Ten Thousand Villages

   Ten Thousand Villages is another online market with oodles of unique, fair trade crafts. Any purchase you make of an ethically sourced, handmade product supports both the earth and the communities of developing countries. 

6. The Little Market

   This charitable organization founded by women helps alleviate poverty by ethically sourcing their goods from artisan groups in over 25 countries. You can choose a specific cause to search products on their site.

7. Goodshop

   Goodshop provides coupons and shopping deals for an abundance of stores. Even better, they make a donation to a nonprofit or school of your choice for nearly every purchase you make.

8. Goodsearch

   Part of Goodshop and backed by Yahoo, Goodsearch is a search engine that allows you to surf the web while simultaneously providing donations to charities.  Why Google when you could Goodsearch?

9. Freerice

   Sharpen your brain and trivia knowledge with this fun game that also helps feed people in impoverished areas. Every correct answer is ten grains of rice donated through the United Nations World Food Programme to those in need.

10. ShareTheMeal

    ShareTheMeal, also an initiative of the World Food Programme, is an app that enables people to share meals with those who need them the most, for as low as just $0.50.

11. AmazonSmile

    Making the switch from shopping on Amazon to AmazonSmile makes a negligible difference to you but can still add up for nonprofits. Amazon donates 0.5% of eligible purchases to your favorite charitable organization, with no extra costs or fees. Charities can also create Charity Lists of needed items that you can browse and order from.

    Note: Amazon will be winding down this initiative as of February 20, 2023, but that may not be a bad thing.

12. Donate a Photo

    For every photo shared on the Donate a Photo app, Johnson & Johnson donates $1 to the cause of your choosing. 

13. Volunteer

    Volunteering your time is a life-changing way to help nonprofits spread their mission, make an impact, and gain support from others. Organizations both big and small are always looking for extra sets of hands, and it can lead to beneficial connections for you, too!

14. Donate what you don’t need

    If you can’t donate money, donate items you no longer need like gently used clothing, supplies, and food. Look past just taking everything to Goodwill, too. Research local second-hand shops, shelters, and organizations in your area. Goodwill is a fantastic charity, but if you are looking for a more personalized connection, a smaller, community-based organization may be a better fit for you.

15. Follow and engage on social media

    A simple, effective, and surefire way to help nonprofits with minimal effort, simply following organizations on social media and engaging with their content helps spread the word. Engagement tells the social media algorithm that the content is good and then it will be shared to more people. Plus, it’s an easy way for you to lend your voice and advocate online.

16. Forward information to friends

    Similarly, forwarding the emails that organizations work so hard to craft to friends and family can really make a difference in expanding their network and reach. You can also just send their websites so others can learn more. You may not have a lot of resources, but someone you know might and can help expand their impact. 

17. Roundup your total at stores and restaurants

    You know when you’re asked by the cashier at a shop, restaurant, or grocery store if you want to round up your total for charity? This is called point-of-sale fundraising, and it’s a highly effective way for nonprofits to raise money. It’s a few cents to you, but those cents will go towards donations to organizations that need it. Plus, the donations are often matched by corporate partners, so the total really adds up.

18. Leave a testimonial 

    Leaving a testimonial for your favorite nonprofit is vital to their success! When others research that organization, it can be incredibly helpful for them to see happy donors, volunteers, and supporters. Just think about how product and service reviews matter to you. Testimonials can be left on public sites like Google and Facebook and take just a couple of minutes.

All of these methods are relatively quick and easy ways to support the nonprofits that you already love and that are continuously putting their time, effort, and funds into making a real difference in both their community and the world.

We can all step up in ways big and small to help create a better world and be the change we want to see. So pick one of these—and start today!

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I'm Kristi Porter, and I started Signify to help small nonprofits and for-profits with a social mission get noticed and grow through effective marketing and communications. I also teach solopreneurs and small businesses how to incorporate philanthropy and giving strategies. I believe that cause-focused organizations like yours are the future of business. You're proof that companies can both make money and do good. And I'm here to make sure you focus and shine. When you succeed, we all win.

4 Tips for Turning Your Customers and Donors into Passionate Fans

If you haven’t heard of Change the World By How You Shop, you’re in for a real treat! LeeAnne McCoy has been a member of the Signify community since the early days, and I can testify that she and her ethical shopping guide are dedicated to helping people find products that they’ll not only love, but allow them to make a difference.

And in the course of researching brands to include in her guide, LeeAnne has had dozens of conversations with makers and founders, and has unique insight into why some brands can turn their customers and donors into passionate fans while others simply sell their goods.

I’ve asked her to share those differences with you in the hopes that you can also make the leap from store to sensation. Because when you can successfully turn customers into advocates, you’ll be able to take your mission to a whole new level and make a bigger impact.

A few months ago, one of Mercy House Global’s homes for teenage moms in Kenya burned to the ground. And in a passionate response to the tragedy, I watched the bars quickly fill up on their online fundraising campaign. Within a matter of hours, they raised thousands of dollars—enough to replace all the items lost in the fire including clothes, beds, and more for the young moms and their little ones.

And recently, Shelley, founder of Papillon, was visiting Haiti. She shared with her Facebook followers some of the medical needs of the artisans who work for her. Before she got on her flight home the next morning, she was able to tell her employees that people they had never met had donated enough to cover all their medical expenses. 

These kinds of stories are actually common for these two nonprofits. Not only do they quickly raise funds for their needs, but they also frequently sell out of newly released fair trade products. Why? 

They both have a very loyal following of customers and donors who are as passionate about their mission as they are. 

So, how can you turn your customers and donors into fans as loyal as those who follow Mercy House Global and Papillon? Below are four ways nonprofits and social enterprises turn followers into passionate fans.

1. Be Real

Lauren, owner of the small ethical online boutique Naupaka, is not afraid to admit her mistakes. As a one-woman-show, she sometimes sends out newsletters twice or sale notices on the wrong day and then sends a funny apology email with the correction.

Her transparency makes shopping from her online store feel like shopping at your local brick and mortar.

Shelley from Papillon is also very transparent about her challenges in running a nonprofit, as well as her relationships with her employees. She recently posted a live cell phone video on Facebook of the Papillon workshop in Haiti. Watching the banter, the smiles, and even those who ducked down because they were too shy to be on camera was like being there in person. This did far more to inspire support for Papillon than any professionally recorded video could have done.

Your supporters are inundated constantly with advertisements and requests for donations, but a sense of authenticity can make your requests stand out from the crowd. 

2. Be Personal

Because of the pandemic, connecting in person with your followers may not always be possible, but there are numerous ways to personally connect from a distance.

A handwritten note goes a long way. I treasure the many handwritten notes I have received from various social enterprises and artisans I support through Change the World by How You Shop. A personal email can have the same impact.

Facebook offers some great opportunities for connecting personally with your followers. Shop with a Mission has had to close the doors of their fair trade store in California all year because of COVID-19. However, they started weekly Facebook live shows where they laugh, tell jokes, host giveaways, and show off products. By watching the live shows, both local and out-of-state followers get to connect personally with the owners and employees.

Several other fair trade shops have utilized Facebook to introduce international artisans via live video. Others, like Mercy House Global, have created an “insiders” group which invites a small group of their fans to be a special part of their mission. Shelley from Papillon goes one step further and “friends” customers and donors on her personal Facebook page.

People are more likely to support organizations they have a personal connection to. Thus, the common joke about “Mom is my biggest fan.” Whatever method you employ, keep looking for ways to help your followers feel like they are personally invested in you and your mission. 

3. Be Specific

Recently, I purchased a basket from Eternal Threads, a nonprofit fair trade organization. Beautiful as the handwoven basket is, I bought it not just for its beauty or because I wanted to support a generic cause such as fighting poverty in Africa. I bought it because it was Rosemary’s basket. From following Eternal Threads, I had learned Rosemary’s story, how she lost both her parents and was raising her younger siblings and selling baskets to pay their school fees. I bought her basket to remind me to pray for Rosemary and because she inspires me. 

Even when you cannot share names or pictures, you can still be specific: 

Likewise, Papillon recently shared that one of their employees’ sons was HIV positive. Because of the stigma around HIV, they could not share names or pictures, but they shared enough details of the story to inspire many to donate.  

And when Mercy House Global started their fundraising campaign after the fire, they raised funds for specific needs, one at a time, such as mosquito nets, beds, and toddler clothes. Each individual need they posted was quickly provided for by donors who understood their mission, what was being asked of them, and what the result would be from their contribution.

4. Follow Up

Giving frequent updates on your supporters’ impact will strengthen their commitment to your mission. Papillon sends frequent updates to the donors who contributed to their employees’ medical needs. And Mercy House continues to send updates on the teen moms who lost their homes in the fire and the new homes they hope to purchase for them.

Eternal Threads, who sells Rosemary’s baskets, continues to share her story. Recently, her little brother was robbed and beaten on the way to work and his cell phone and bicycle were stolen. When they shared the need for donations to cover his medical care, it was simply one more chance to be part of an ongoing story.  The update and personal thank you from Rosemary they forwarded to donors ensured they would be quick to participate in the future as well.

Every little step you take towards having authentic, personal, specific, and ongoing communication with your followers will help build their relationship with you. And nurturing those relationships over time will turn customers and donors from occasional supporters into passionate fans who will be vital partners in accomplishing your mission.

It’s certainly worked for the organizations above. How will you make it work for you?

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LeeAnne McCoy is a mother of six young children and a piano teacher in Washington State. In her "spare time," she is also the creator of Change the World by the How You Shop, an online ethical shopping guide which makes it easy to find products from brands that go beyond ethical and fair trade to change lives around the world. Her mission is to support those brands by helping more people discover their products.

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I’m Kristi Porter, and I help cause-focused organizations understand and execute effective marketing campaigns so they can move from stressed to strategic. Your resources may be limited, but your potential isn’t. Whether you’re a nonprofit, social enterprise, or small business who wants to give back, I’ll show you how to have a bigger impact.

11 Simple Ways to Improve Your Year-End Giving Campaign

We’re headed into the final weeks of the year, which means nonprofit fundraising is in overdrive. About 30% of nonprofit donations occur during the month of December, so yes—it’s go time! And whether you’re late to the party or have been planning for months, I know you’re all about maximizing your time and effort. So, I’ve outlined 11 simple ways to improve your year-end giving campaign.

Notice I said “simple,” not “easy,” because we all know there’s a big difference! Simple is focused, minimal, or straight-forward. Easy is typically done in a short time period and with little work.

Simple is Joanna Gaines decorating a room effortlessly and beautifully because it’s what she does every day. Easy is me picking up her decor at Target rather than me trying to design a room on my own. (Thanks, Jo!)

So, while some of these ideas take more energy and planning than others, all are time-tested and proven to help increase your donations. Think about what you’ve already got planned, and then take a peek below to see what you can include in your upcoming fundraising campaign. It’s likely that at least one of these ideas can enhance your current strategy.

People are feeling charitable (and tax-deductible) this time of year, so let’s make sure your cause gets their attention.

1. Ask For Only One Thing in your year-end giving campaign

Chances are, you’re going to be asking for donations. If that’s the case, ask your tribe to show you the money.

Don’t also ask them to follow you on social media, watch an unrelated video, join your Facebook Group, register for something . . . and, well, you get the point. Keep your emails and communication focused on the one, main thing you want them to do. Any other asks can come later. The exceptions to this rule would be something like a contest where they have to take multiple actions for an entry.

Additionally, you can leave some of these smaller asks such as social media links in secondary spaces like footers. You can also still make some of these requests occasionally on your platforms. Just be sure that you’re creating more content than you are asking for something because it shows that you want to build a relationship.

However, when you are sending an email, posting about your year-end giving campaign, or presenting to a group of people, keep it simple. Ask for only one thing and don’t clutter your message.

Remember, Nonprofits Source says that “30% of annual giving occurs in December.” So, this is no time to confuse people on what you want them to do! Giving them too many options or actions may result in them taking no action at all. Yikes.

2. Evaluate Your NONPROFIT’S Website For Optimal Giving

Even if people typically donate to your nonprofit through social media, text, or an app, you need get your website’s house in order to optimize year-end giving. Many people still give through websites, and if someone is new to you or your cause, they may check out your site before donating through another avenue like texting.

Make sure your campaign is front-and-center on your homepage, your donate button is easy to see and ideally in the top right corner, and evaluate any other pages where giving should be mentioned.

No need to only designate one or two pages for fundraising efforts. Of course, you don’t want to bombard people, but it may be appropriate to create an “event” for your campaign on your calendar page, add a pop up, or even include it on your About page. Additionally, you can create a banner at the top of your site that will display on all pages. (See mine in red at the top?) This is done through the “Hello Bar” plug-in on Wordpress and the “Announcement Bar” in Squarespace.

Want more of an explanation? Take a look at my video on how your website is less like IKEA and more like a mall.

3. Increase Your Promotion Frequency

There’s a tricky balance to this, and I explain it more in this video, but you definitely want to increase your email/social media/video/promotion frequency leading into year-end giving. This practice holds true anytime you launch something new, but especially because you’ll be dealing with a lot of competition during the holidays. Other nonprofits will be combing the interwebs for more donations, too, and lest we forget about all of those unbelievable sales at your favorite retail stores.

The takeaway here is that you shouldn’t send an email in November and December, post the campaign on social media a couple of times, and call it a day. You are going to have to work hard for that money, as the song goes. And you’re going to have to see it through until the end. Give Back Nation states that 12% of annual giving occurs during the last three days of December! So, send those reminders!

The caveat here is for my friends who’ve been so busy working that they let all their marketing and communications efforts fall by the wayside. Is that you? No judgement, but now’s the time to rev up those engines. Start now by sending your audience an email on what’s been happening, posting the latest on social media, and having general update conversations with people. This way you aren’t only going to send them a bunch of requests for money. That’s no bueno.

4. Offer Multiple Ways to Give to your nonprofit

Give your people multiple ways to give. This goes back to the basics of knowing your audience. If you have a younger audience, consider adding the ability to donate via text. Check out these compelling stats from Mobile Cause, including the one that says, “96% of donors use a mobile phone as their primary device.”

If you have an older audience, you might want to consider hopping back on the snail mail wagon. There is no perfect answer here. The right answer is the one that works for your tribe.

Again, you always want to make it easy for them to donate by removing any barriers in their path.

5. Add a Bonus

If you’ve got merchandise on your hands, you may want to give donors a gift in exchange for their contribution. You could even have something created just for this purpose, like a mug, tumbler, t-shirt, or jewelry. What do your people love?

People who are invested in your organization and your cause will be delighted to receive swag for their support. Plus, then they’re carrying your message around with them in public. (<— good marketing!)

6. Get Up Close and Personal with your donors

I don’t need to go in-depth on this one, but a face-to-face interaction will always be your best bet when it comes to fundraising. It works better than any sponsor presentation, email, video, or social media post. Get on the calendar of your biggest donors to date, or potential big givers, and make your case over lunch or coffee. Maybe even pay for it!

Another option here is to at least email people personally and start a conversation. Don’t rely on the mass emails that come from your nonprofit. Write specifically to that one person, and make sure they know it’s coming straight from you. (For the right people, phone calls or video chats are also a good option here.)

Don’t have time? This is potentially the most powerful of all the ideas you’ll read here today, so if you don’t have time, I suggest you make it.

7. Get Everyone on Board

Year-end fundraising is an all hands on deck situation! Make sure your board, employees, volunteers, and any other key stakeholders are carrying the banner.

I talk about this topic a lot on the blog and elsewhere as it relates to launching (<— the creation and promotion of something new), but this is a big deal, so it shouldn’t be left to the development or communications department. Everyone needs to be involved!

(For more on this topic, read this post.)

8. Go Out and network

Yes, it’s getting chilly outside, but this may be the prime time to get out there and start cultivating more donors at events, whether you’re hosting them or not. There’s already plenty happening this season!

It’s easy to leave all of the fundraising to your digital marketing strategy, but shaking hands has a powerful impact on people. In fact, this study shows that “a handshake preceding social interaction enhanced the positive impact of approach and diminished the negative impact of avoidance behavior on the evaluation of social interaction.”

A handshake and a smile can put people at ease, and give you an open door for talking about your cause. Someone may not be ready to donate during that first interaction, but you’re paving the way to a future relationship, which is a big win overall.

9. Participate in #GivingTuesday (At Least to Some Extent)

Some of you probably love #GivingTuesday, and some of you could care less. Some of you may even be new to the “holiday” as a whole, since it’s been around less than a decade.

Now in its eighth year, this unofficial holiday occurs the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, and celebrates ways people can contribute to causes, whether monetary, through volunteering, or some other type of involvement.

A few of my clients have participated in #GivingTuesday in the past, but most haven’t. What I suggest to them all, however, is to jump into the mix in some way or another. There are tens of thousands of charities participating each year, so why not be a part of the conversation?

You don’t have to come up with a specific #GivingTuesday campaign, but I think it’s a great idea to send an email on this day or the day before, post on social media about your year-end fundraising campaign, and anything else that keeps you in front of your audience while numerous other nonprofits are out there seeking donations.

Even the most generous of us still only have so much money to go around, so make sure you’re getting a piece of that pie.

10. Ask Partners to Promote your year-end giving campaign

If you are lucky enough to have influencers, partners, sponsors, and the like who rally around your cause, it may be time to call in a favor. You may, of course, need to do something for them in return (or at least offer), but if there’s someone who can help you get your message out in the world, this could be a great time to rally the troops.

Let me sing my song again, though: Make it easy for them. Don’t just say thanks, and leave them to put together their own social media promotions and emails. It’s less likely to get done, or the messaging may not be what you want.

Always offer to create whatever resources they may need to share about your nonprofit. If they don’t need anything, great! But if they do, you’ll be the hero!

11. Recruit Someone to Match Gifts

I’ve left this one for last because it’s potentially the hardest. In fact, because we’re already in November, it may even be too late. But depending on your network and resources, maybe not! I’d certainly give it a try. If it’s an option you need to table for now, make it one of your top priorities for next year.

And let me clarify. This idea could include workplace charitable giving with a matching option, or one of those, “Give by December 15th and all donations will be matched up to $50,000” kind of campaigns that is instigated by one generous donor.

According to Double the Donation, “Mentioning matching gifts in fundraising appeals results in a 71% increase in the response rate and a 51% increase in the average donation amount (and that’s prior to receiving matching gift funds).” That stat makes it a big deal!

So, determine your heavy-hitters as well as your corporate partners, and see what it will take to move the needle in your direction. This could be a huge win for your nonprofit!

What else has helped you haul in those end of year donations?

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I’m Kristi Porter, and I help cause-focused organizations understand and execute effective marketing campaigns so they can move from stressed to strategic. Your resources may be limited, but your potential isn’t. Whether you’re a nonprofit, social enterprise, or small business who wants to give back, I’ll show you how to have a bigger impact.

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5 Essentials You Should Be Communicating to Your Donors

Today’s guest post comes from Amy Crowell, a fundraising pro if there ever was one! Her company, Next Stage Advisors, helps nonprofits through event consulting, board development, grant writing, and more.

Amy and I go way back to the days of when I was at a hospitality PR firm and she was at a little ol’ org called Share Our Strength. Yep, that one. During her time there, she raised more than $3 million dollars for their No Kid Hungry campaign, so she definitely knows her stuff.

Below, she’s boiled down donor communications to a few, main points that you should be aware of. If you’re strapped for time and resources when it comes to talking to your donors, make sure you at least cover these five bases.

PS: These same ideas work for social enterprises, too!

Nonprofits, no matter their mission or size, are always on the lookout for more donors. But some organizations aren't event sure how to start the process of engaging new people into their mission, never mind actually turning them into donors.

Donors come in all shapes and sizes. Your donor may be someone who writes a small or large check, but they could also be a volunteer, committee member, special event attendee, board member, or a donor of products or services that your organization needs.

No matter what type of donor you are talking to, nonprofits need to consistently communicate with donors, while at the same time targeting the specific message that prompted the donor to initially become engaged. Keeping everyone informed may very well graduate them from one level of supporter to another. Use these “5 Essential Tips” to expand your reach and add additional people to your potential donor pipeline.

Essential 1: Who or What You Help

This is a no brainer, right? Of course you are going to tell your potential donors who or what you help. However, it’s more than that. Yes, donors need to be told specifically who you are helping, but they should also be informed of the numerical statistics for the problem in your community you are helping.

Specific and detailed information about the problem you are working towards solving will show that your nonprofit is one that needs to be supported. For example, if a local organization tells you that the teen pregnancy in your state was triple the national average and then explained how they were helping to solve that problem, a donor would be much more likely to support them than if they were merely told that they help cut the teen pregnancy rate.

Tell your donors the specifics, such as:

• How many people in your community deal with the issue that your nonprofit is trying to solve? Is it increasing or decreasing? How quickly?

• What progress have you made so far?

• What innovative methods are you using to fulfill your mission (especially if they are more successful compared to similar organizations in your community)?

• When you accomplish things that work toward your mission, what changes?

• How is your community a better place because of your organization, its mission, and successes?

Essential 2: Real Stories About How Your Organization Has Made a Difference

Showing your passion can go a long way to creating a new donor. Most donors give to an organization because they feel an emotional connection. Help potential donors feel this connection by telling them true stories about the work you are doing. Share success stories about people you have served.

Do you have video testimonies from parents or principals that have firsthand knowledge of how your program changed a child? Stories about how your organization extended the life someone, allowing them to attend a major life event of their child or grandchild? Examples of how someone you helped felt less stigma about a problem they had, which helped them to build their self-esteem and have a more “normal” life? Or perhaps you can take them on a tour of your facility to show your organization at work.

If you are looking for new donors, you should have a set of emotionally-driven stories that demonstrate your work in action and the benefits to those you serve.

Essential 3: Why Your Organization is Different

Many organizations look similar on paper—potentially serving the same type of person, geographical area, or otherwise. It’s important to differentiate yourself from others that may appear similar. Why would I give my money to you when XYZ nonprofit down the road does the same thing?

Donors want to know what your organization does that makes you different and worth investing in. Do you tackle the same problem in a new way? Does your program go a step further in that it follows people for six months after they leave, ensuring they continue their path to success? Are you the only organization serving X in this zip code? Do you address something that other similar organizations don’t? Perhaps your organization has more of a “teach a person to fish” versus a “give them a fish” philosophy? Tell your donors!

Essential 4: What Their Donation Can Accomplish

Whatever donors are giving—time, money, services, or products—they want to know how it is helping your nonprfoti fulfill its mission. Even though every organization needs non-restricted funds to pay for expenses like rent, utilities, and supplies, most donors would prefer that their donation be connected more directly to the mission they are supporting.

This is where equivalencies come in. Being able to tell donors that $1 connects a child to 10 healthy meals, $500 pays for a month of diapers for a previously homeless child, or something similar, goes a long way to help visualize what a donation can accomplish and how it helps those you serve.

These equivalencies can be used in multiple places, including online donations, special events (ex: live or silent auction, fund the need campaigns), or challenge/matching grants. Being able to show specifically what dollars can provide is important and will bring more donors to the check writing stage.

Essential 5: Share Your Organizational Goals

No different than deciding which mutual fund you want to invest your retirement savings in, donors want to see long-term goals and a healthy organization working toward them. They want to see an ROI on their investment, such as increased growth towards the overall mission.

Share with donors where you want your nonprofit to be and when. Do you want to reach 85% of your target market by the year 2020? Increase the hours you are open by 10% this year? Hire a new staff member?

Talk about both short- and long-term goals so that donors feel like they are part of your progress and that their money is actually an investment not only in your organization, but to the people or problem you are trying to help. Communicating a high-level vision and what it takes financially to get there will make donors more invested overall, potentially moving them from a one-time donor to a reoccurring one.

These “5 Essentials” can go a long way towards building a pipeline of supporters that can help you not only have increased donations, but also fill other important roles your nonprofit needs such as board members, volunteers, special event attendees, and more.

Be sure each essential is documented so you can share them with all the key stakeholders in your organization—especially staff and board members. Once you have them, you’ll likely find that not only are they helpful when speaking to supporters, they can also be used in other communications such as your website, newsletter, grant applications, and more.

Don’t have all five in place? Add the missing pieces to your priority list to increase success in the future.

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Amy Crowell, founder of Next Stage Advisors, has more than two decades of experience in nonprofit management, fundraising, event management, and strategic and financial planning. She has overseen numerous nonprofit fundraisers, including grassroots campaigns, events of all sizes, and national multimillion-dollar corporate-sponsored programs.

Amy helps nonprofits meet and beat their fundraising goals via event consulting, board development, grant writing, and more.

Connect with Amy on LinkedIn.

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I'm Kristi Porter, and I started Signify to provide writing and consulting services to nonprofits and for-profit organizations with a social mission, primarily through copywriting, marketing, and business communications. I also teach solopreneurs and small businesses how to incorporate philanthropy and giving strategies. I believe that cause-focused organizations are the future of business. You're proof that companies can both make money and do good. And I'm here to help you get noticed and grow. When you succeed, we all win.

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