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Donor Engagement Archives | CCS Fundraising

CCS Survey Shows Improved Fundraising Trends and Evolved Donor Engagement Tactics

The first two installments of CCS Fundraising’s Philanthropic Climate Survey series in May and June 2020 documented the immediate effects of a crisis in nonprofit fundraising. Our third-edition survey conducted from September 9 to September 16, 2020 provides a window into a nonprofit sector that—at this point, half a year into the global pandemic—has moved […]

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September 23, 2020

Sustainable Philanthropy in the New World: Endowment Growth for Arts and Culture Organizations

Endowments have long been an important tool for arts and culture organizations to promote financial stability and growth in their community. As nonprofits continue to shift programming and strategy in light of COVID-19, CCS finds that 36% of cultural organizations and 56% of performing arts organizations are anticipating a significant decline in their fundraising in […]

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July 29, 2020

Identifying and Developing Strong Relationships for Nonprofit Success

Relationships play an essential role in the success of any organization. Whether it is relationships within your organization, external partners, donors, clients, or volunteers, success is dependent on the support from others. Nonprofit organizations rely heavily on the engagement of teams and constituencies to ensure successful delivery of mission and sustainability for the future. Strong […]

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July 22, 2020

Adapting to the COVID-19 Crisis: A Look into Catholic and Episcopal Dioceses and Parishes

COVID-19 has forced organizations of all sizes and sectors to adapt to a digital model, with impacts that will likely last beyond the pandemic. Churches are no exception. As the pandemic spread in March, parishes and dioceses across the United States closed their doors and suspended all in-person gatherings and events. While doing so was […]

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July 15, 2020

Independent School Fundraising Strategy: Making the Most of Your Summer Months

For most nonprofit organizations, the future of fundraising remains uncertain. This is especially true of educational institutions that must also prepare for a new school year which may feature distanced learning or an adapted model. However, these institutions also have a summer break that can allow them some time to plan ahead for any contingency. […]

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June 24, 2020

CCS Fundraising Research Shows Nonprofit Resiliency During COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic had an immediate and major impact on nonprofit fundraising in the first few months of the crisis. While the picture still remains challenging for many organizations, new data from a large-scale CCS Fundraising survey of nonprofit organizations suggests that the philanthropic landscape has improved markedly thanks in part to innovative approaches to […]

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June 12, 2020

Combining and Sequencing Donor Request Strategies

An external crisis such as COVID-19 causes significant shifts for a nonprofit’s operational and strategic funding needs and plans. Whether it’s for a campaign or operational sustainability, through a focused and clear request strategy, your organization can secure immediate support from your closest and most capable supporters without compromising future strategic funding requests. In this […]

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June 9, 2020

Four Steps to Ensuring ROI for Virtual Events

For many nonprofit organizations, events are an important way to raise funds, gather close donors, and educate the community in a unique way. Current limitations for in-person gatherings present a challenge for organizations that were planning to hold events, particularly this spring and summer. An Assess-Decide-Communicate-Execute framework offers a process to clarify your event objectives […]

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May 28, 2020

Fundraising on the Front Lines: Communication and Immediate Action

National moments—such as elections, natural disasters, and the current COVID-19 crisis—tend to propel certain nonprofits to the forefront of philanthropic attention. In these moments, new audiences and a larger spotlight create an immediate need for a ramped-up communications program as scrutiny around deliverables and actions heightens. Stephen Peeler, Executive Director of the Infectious Diseases Society […]

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May 18, 2020

How Healthcare Organizations Can Continue to Fundraise for All Programs During COVID-19

Healthcare institutions around the world are currently doing everything they can to combat the COVID-19 crisis, and they are doing so while also ensuring that other essential programs, such as cancer research, rare disease prevention/treatment, and other lifesaving services remain active for the sake of all of their patients. Many healthcare organizations are therefore asking […]

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May 13, 2020

Nonprofit Survey Reveals Majority of Organizations Continuing Campaigns During COVID-19

Most nonprofits have moved forward with major fundraising efforts—with appropriate modifications—despite the impact of the current global health pandemic, according to a new CCS Fundraising study of 1,183 professionals representing nonprofit organizations across all major philanthropic sectors. Only 9 respondents (less than 1%) noted campaign cancellations. This news comes as nonprofits prepare for a downward […]

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May 12, 2020

5 Essential Strategies for #GivingTuesdayNow Follow-up

In a recent post, we offered tips on maximizing your #GivingTuesdayNow strategy. Now that this “global day of unity” has concluded, it’s time for participating nonprofit organizations to implement a quick but effective follow-up strategy to their audiences. Don’t let too much time pass before considering these principles of post-giving day communication. 1) Say thank […]

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May 8, 2020

The Keys to Maximizing Your Virtual Gala

Innovative solutions for engaging nonprofit supporters have emerged as the COVID-19 pandemic has caused organizations to reevaluate and revise their fundraising strategies, particularly those halted by social distancing practices. For nonprofits across sectors, it will take some trial and error to determine which solutions are most effective, and perhaps, worth integrating into long-term toolkits for […]

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May 7, 2020

Continuing a Nonprofit Fundraising Campaign in Uncertain Times

A common principle that has emerged in nonprofit fundraising through times of crisis and economic uncertainty is that the organizations who continue major fundraising efforts are much better positioned for success over those that pause activity. A shining example of this lesson is St. Joseph’s Villa in Richmond, VA, which maintained a successful capital campaign […]

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May 5, 2020

How to Elevate Your Next Virtual Donor Meeting During COVID-19

As COVID-19 presents challenges to fundraising activity, we are all the while uncovering new opportunities to exercise creativity in continuing to meet our transformational goals. This post is devoted to one possible solution: a virtual tour of your organization during a video meeting with a donor. While, of course, nothing compares with the live experience […]

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May 4, 2020

Donor Communication Strategies: Learning from Previous Times of Crisis

As nonprofits continue to find innovative ways to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic—especially when it comes to donor engagement—many organizations are drawing from lessons learned from past crises. Barbara Deutsch, CEO of Landscape Architecture Foundation (LAF) helped the organization continue fundraising initiatives through the 2008 recession which included a successful capital campaign bolstered by a robust […]

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May 1, 2020

How Performing Arts Organizations are Redefining Audience Engagement During COVID-19

As CCS Fundraising has previously noted, in the recovery that follows periods of crisis and economic uncertainty, organizations that pause fundraising activity lag significantly behind those that do not. A pause in programmatic activity may therefore represent a risk to an organization’s donor engagement, cultivation, and stewardship efforts. During the current pandemic crisis, nonprofits must […]

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April 30, 2020

Four Areas Where Your Board Can Focus its Strategic Thinking

In these uncertain times, your governing board must be the guiding light for your entire organization and its mission. By now your committed leaders, with their diverse set of skills, have assessed the current financial position, taken stock of the morale of your staff, and helped reach out to critical supporters. Now is the time […]

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April 17, 2020

Three Quick Tips for Making the Most of #GivingTuesdayNow on May 5

In light of GivingTuesday’s recent announcement of #GivingTuesdayNow—an event they are describing as a “day of giving, generosity, and unity” slated for May 5—we offer immediate steps to raise awareness and funds for your cause. The purpose of participating in a giving day is to offer new and established donors a special reason to engage […]

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April 13, 2020

How One Nonprofit Organization is Turning its Annual Gala into a Major Online Event

It is no secret that large in-person events and galas are instrumental in raising awareness and funds for nonprofits across geographies and sectors. With these events currently on hold during the COVID-19 crisis, organizations are questioning how they can replicate their impact. The good news is that we are already seeing many organizations successfully pivot […]

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April 9, 2020