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Maybe you've felt it before. That moment when you're face-to-face with a potential major donor, or standing before your board, or speaking to a community group, and despite your preparation, passion and expertise, you can see their attention drifting. You know your organization's work is transformative. You can recite the statistics. You understand the impact. But somehow, in that moment, the magic of your mission isn't communicated as vividly as you hoped it would be.

I've been there and that is why I’m excited to share some reflections from a book I have read that has helped shape my approach to storytelling. Karen Eber's book, The Perfect Story: How to Tell Stories That Inspire Action and Get Results offers science-based frameworks that are easy to apply to how you tell stories about your organization’s impact and mission in action.

In The Anxious Generation, social psychologist Jonathan Haidt presents a compelling case for how smartphones and social media have transformed childhood—from active, play-based experiences to phone-based, screen-dominated ones. While much of the conversation around the book has focused on youth mental health, Haidt’s research holds deeper relevance for all of us living in an increasingly distracted, hyper-connected world.

As I read, I found myself reflecting not just on childhood, but on adulthood and on how we connect with one another as family members, neighbors, colleagues, and members of a shared community. Haidt’s analysis of how technology rewires our brains and behaviors applies just as powerfully to adults as it does to kids. And in the nonprofit sector, where our work depends on meaningful relationships and shared purpose, those insights feel especially critical.

I’ve been spending an increased amount of time in The Bible over the last couple of years and continue to be struck by how much practical application to donor relations there is in the teaching of Jesus. “Ask and you shall receive” encourages us to approach a fulfiller of needs with faith and diligence. The “parable of the talents” shows the benefit of being good stewards with what has been entrusted to us, namely that more will be entrusted.

The Headwinds

Turmoil and uncertainty leave nonprofit volunteers and staff at a loss. Should we launch our campaign? Should we pause our campaign? What about our annual fund? Where do we go from here where “here” keeps shifting?

If you’ve been putting off implementing a strategy to secure gifts from donor-advised funds, let this be the year that changes that. Why? The numbers are too big to ignore.

• Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) contributions represent 8% of all donations in the USA.
• Total Assets in DAFs in 2023 was $251.52B
• Total Value of Grants made by DAF fundholders in 2023 was $54.77B
• Total Value of Contributions made to DAFs in 2023 was $59.43B
• Average DAF Account size in 2023 was $141,120

In the aftermath of a natural disaster, timely, clear, and compassionate communication is essential for nonprofit organizations seeking to raise support for recovery efforts. Whether you are in this situation now or in the future, here are things to consider to help you stay connected to your donors – both immediately after you have assessed the damages, and in the months following as you continue to rebuild.

Where to start 

Once you have assessed the damages and identified urgent community needs, it's time to initiate your communications. But don’t wait too long. You don’t have to have all the answers before you start to reach out. Prioritize transparency and urgency in your outreach, while also offering hope and tangible ways for donors to make an impact. Early communications should focus on immediate needs and establish a foundation for ongoing updates as recovery efforts continue.

Whether you’re looking to finish strong on an already successful year, or you’re looking to close a gap to goal, this story of a high school wrestling tournament offers four ways to help any team reach their goal in the face of adversity.

First, let me set the stage…

As our clients seek to finish the year strong, we are helping them navigate the changing landscape of grant writing with its new challenges and opportunities. Staying ahead of the curve is crucial for anyone looking to secure funding in a competitive environment. Here’s a look at the latest trends that we are seeing in grant writing. Consider using these strategies to refine your approach and increase your chances of success.

Everyone agrees that stewardship is important, but too often it drops to the bottom of the priority list for busy nonprofit professionals. Here are five overlooked ways to say thanks all year long.

Nonprofit leaders are often unable to get their board and staff more actively involved in fundraising. For as long as I can remember this has been a popular topic for round table discussions, webinars, conference sessions and more. Suggested solutions often include establishing “give and get” requirements; better/more training; team competitions; clearer expectations; offering rewards and incentives; and more.