The future belongs to the curious.

When I was in your shoes, leading the development operations for a multi-million-dollar non-profit, I wish I had the insider knowledge I have now about digital transformations, so I could avoid some of the pitfalls. 

In 2020, most nonprofit marketers have a working knowledge around why personalization converts but less insight around how to structure a strong personalization strategy. The secret to success? Lead with data. 

In April 2020, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella observed, “We have seen two years’ worth of digital transformation in two months” and the results of those investments will persist long after the crisis. 

The pandemic is accelerating how nonprofits adapt to structural trends, both new and existing. While temporary trends such as transitioning from in-person events to virtual fundraisers have emerged, prudent leaders are adjusting how their organization can evaluate growth opportunities and reposition themselves to emerge from the global pandemic with a business model aligned for the future. 

Before reallocating your capital, evaluate your growth opportunities and sketch out how you will modify your business model to take advantage of structural changes.

Below, we’ve outlined a process for adapting your nonprofit’s business model to the new reality. It starts with understanding how changes in behavioral habits will likely grow or contract as a result of the pandemic.

Originally published on TechSoup

In 2020, it can feel like nonprofit staff are working twice as hard to raise half as much. 

Where in-person fundraising events have dropped off, volunteers have stepped up, foundations are giving more, and donors' commitments have remained steadfast. 2020 may mean additional risks to mitigate, but the opportunity to raise funds during a year-end fundraising campaign is still there. The key to success lies in how you go about structuring your year-end campaign, by optimizing the tools you have on hand. 

Originally published on Tech Soup

Text messaging puts the power to make a gift in the palm of your supporters’ hands. The majority of nonprofit website visitors do so via mobile (51%), and 25% of givers donate via mobile. These benchmarks highlight just how important it is to reach your supporters on-the-go, and why you should incorporate text messaging into a multi-channel communications approach.  

In the nonprofit sector, it’s all too easy to focus on initiatives instead of investments. However, taking the time to explore your fundraising metrics grants insight to upgrade your strategy, improve operations, and plan for the future.

Participating in the global fundraising sprint of Giving Tuesday can feel overwhelming for nonprofits big and small. Although it’s a crowded space, there are a few recommendations to standing out in order to maximize return through this charitable fiesta. 

When was the last time you re-evaluated your nonprofit email communications? 

Let’s say you’re curious to learn more about humpback whales. Chances are, you’ll head to the Google machine or favorite search engine to begin your research. You might want to know about where humpback whales live, interesting facts about humpback whales, and ways you can support their survival. Depending on what you search, varying articles and websites will appear. Eighty percent of visitors never get past the first page of Google, so if you’re not finding what you’re looking for, you will likely change the keywords you search to refine your results instead of heading to page two.