Articles
Writing from the work we do every day.
Fundraising, donor retention, Google Ad Grants, events, recruitment and digital strategy, drawn from webinars we’ve hosted and campaigns we run for mission-driven organizations.
StrategyDonor Acquisition for Nonprofits: Costs, Expectations and Long-Term Value
How donor acquisition costs work, how to judge results over time, and what needs to be in place before your organization starts looking for new donors.
StrategyHow to Choose a Fundraising Agency for Your Nonprofit
How to evaluate a fundraising agency, what to ask before you sign, and how to tell whether your nonprofit needs an agency, a consultant or neither.
StrategyHow Much Does Nonprofit Direct Mail Fundraising Cost?
What drives the cost of a nonprofit direct mail campaign, what agencies charge for, and why acquisition and renewal mailings need different budgets.
Digital AdvertisingYour Ticket Problem Probably Isn’t a Budget Problem
When ticket sales are slow, the instinct is to spread the budget across more platforms. Why the calendar matters more than the money, from our Fill Every Spot webinar.
Google Ad Grants20 Ways to Put a Google Ad Grant to Work
A Google Ad Grant pays off when it's pointed at something specific. Here are 20 ways to use it, from year-end giving to volunteer, event and program recruitment.
Google Ad Grants20 Ways a Google Ad Grant Account Gets Shut Down
Twenty common reasons Google Ad Grant accounts get suspended or restricted, checked against Google's current requirements, so you can catch them first.
Digital AdvertisingDigital Advertising 301: Which Platforms Actually Deserve Your Budget
Meta, Google, YouTube, TikTok, connected TV or ChatGPT? How public media stations can decide which platforms earn a share of a limited budget.
Digital AdvertisingDigital Advertising 201 for Public Media Stations
Once a station's digital campaigns are running, what makes them work? Campaign goals, funnels, retargeting, attribution and budget discipline.
Seasonal & EventsHow 3 Iconic Green Spaces Grow Their Fundraising
Fundraising leaders from a botanical garden, a sculpture park and a Brooklyn park share how they turn visitors into members and members into donors.
Digital AdvertisingDigital Advertising 101 for Public Media Stations
What every public media station should have in place before spending on digital ads, from analytics setup to choosing the right platform for each goal.
Data & TechnologyThe DAF Opportunity: Capturing More Donor-Advised Fund Gifts
Billions sit in donor-advised funds, already set aside for charity. Three things every fundraiser should know about making DAF gifts easy to give.
Data & TechnologyStop Guessing: When to Fix, or Replace, Your Fundraising Tech
Is your CRM working for you, or against you? How to tell whether your fundraising technology needs fixing or replacing, and what to protect if you switch.
StrategyWhat Nonprofits Need to Know About Digital Marketing Right Now
How AI search is changing the way nonprofits get found, where to advertise, and what's working for donor acquisition right now.
Donor RetentionThe Overlooked Middle: Building a Mid-Level Donor Program
Mid-level donors are often overlooked. A practical playbook for finding, cultivating and stewarding the supporters in the middle of your file.
Donor RetentionHow to Grow Your Monthly Giving Program
Monthly donors provide reliable, unrestricted support. A practical roadmap for starting or growing a sustainer program at any stage.
Seasonal & EventsYear-End Fundraising: There’s Still Time!
It's not too late to make year-end count. A focused plan for your donation page, email, digital ads and thank-yous in the final weeks of the year.
Seasonal & Events5 Things to Do Now for a Successful Giving Tuesday
Giving Tuesday falls on December 1, 2026. Five moves to make now, from locking in a match to segmenting your outreach, plus a week-by-week timeline.
Digital AdvertisingSEO and GEO for Nonprofits: How to Show Up in Google and ChatGPT
People now ask ChatGPT and Google's AI answers where to give, volunteer or get help. Here's how nonprofits can make sure those answers include them.
Donor RetentionDonor Retention Strategies That Actually Work
Why donors stop giving and the retention strategies that keep them: better thank-yous, clear impact, personal messages and fewer, better asks.
StrategyWhen Library Funding Is Under Threat: How Library Foundations Can Respond
When public funding for libraries is cut, patrons feel it. How library foundations can build private support, tell their story and rally their community.
StrategyFive Key Traits for a Winning Newsletter
A strong newsletter keeps donors connected between appeals. Five traits the best print and digital newsletter programs share, and how to put them to work.
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