Hybrid Fundraising Models

Let’s talk “Ways to Give” pages - and how to make sure they’re not just website filler 💉 If you’re at a nonprofit and not sure what that is, definitely keep reading 👀 There’s a whole lot of ways someone could give beyond a credit card - a dedicated page to lay out those options (DAFs, Stock, QCDs, Bequests, etc.) is table stakes for nonprofit websites these days 🍽️ You might be thinking “but Mitch, you’re always going on about how critical it is to have a DAF payment option in the actual donation form, why do you care about Ways to Give pages?” 🤔 DAF Strategy is like improv - it’s always yes, and! 🎭 Yes, you’ll catch the most new DAF donors by having DAFpay in your donation forms, AND existing supporters are more likely to be poking around your website. You want to meet donors wherever they are with the easiest pathways for giving 🚂 All that to say, I’ve gone through 100s of examples & have a few tips: 1️⃣ Have a Ways to Give Page There are so many good precedents readily available to be inspired by - I’ll link some below 🌟 In deciding what types of giving to include, start with the ways you’re already receiving support & some areas you’re focused on expanding into 🥇 2️⃣ Assess how it’s used to have strategic ordering A client recently asked their digital team to move DAFs to the top of their ways to give page & the response was “oh that makes sense, people click on that way more than anything else” 😮 Evaluate what is getting the most interaction & iterate. I’m confident that most orgs are getting more DAF gifts than anything else (it’s nearly 20% of philanthropy these days!) 🏆 3️⃣ Have standalone pages for those highly trafficked options When a donor searches “your org name” + “giving method” you want an SEO optimized place for them to land. With DAFs for example, your website/donor-advised-funds or /dafs is incredibly valuable real estate. Invest in it! 🏡 4️⃣ Include key information In addition to a DAFpay button, or link to your org’s verified page on the DAF Day giving site (where donors can also complete a DAF gift in 3 clicks & you’ll get notified immediately with their email), there’s some other key items: 👉🏼EIN 👉🏼Full legal name 👉🏼Official address  👉🏼Point of contact with email & phone number - this is the most controversial & yes you’ll get some spam, but you’ll also present as a real & available human being which will be key for some donors. If you do nothing else after reading this post, go check your website and see how long it takes you to find your EIN… this is the easiest way to lose a DAF donor if they’re not giving through DAFpay! 👻 They have to look you up in their portal & since so many organizations have similar names or legal names that differ from their marketing names, it’s hard to give confidently without confirming your EIN ✅ What do think is most critical for a Ways to Give Page? What’s worked best in your experience? #nonprofit #fundraising #philanthropy

Stop launching your #GivingTuesday or year-end fundraiser at $0. I’ve watched too many strong campaigns underperform simply because they went live before showing even a tiny hint of momentum. Behavioral science backs this up. People are far more likely to act when they see others already doing the thing (social proof and herd behavior), and they’re more motivated when a goal looks “in motion,” not untouched (the goal-gradient effect). Here’s the smarter play: 1️⃣ Anchor the campaign with early supporters. Line up 3–5 early gifts from board members, champions, or monthly donors before you go public. You’re creating social proof that lowers the mental risk of giving. 2️⃣ Don’t press send at $0 raised. An empty thermometer reads like uncertainty. Even a small amount of visible progress signals that backing you is safe and worthwhile. 3️⃣ Name the momentum. “12 supporters already jumped in this morning” activates bandwagon behavior more effectively than any clever subject line. 4️⃣ Stack micro wins. Short progress updates throughout the day amplify the goal-gradient effect. The closer you appear to the finish line, the faster people give. 5️⃣ Help latecomers feel early. Don’t frame them as behind. Highlight what their gift unlocks next so they feel part of forward motion, not filling a gap. Most nonprofits blame donor fatigue. Often, the real issue is momentum fatigue — asking before you’ve built any. Want my Brave Fundraisers Guide with the scripts and prompts that help campaigns start strong? Comment BRAVE and I’ll send it to you. #nonprofits #funding #fundraiser #marketing #fundraising

As a Communications Officer in an NGO, targeting donors, funders, and partners on social media requires strategy — not just storytelling. Here’s how I would approach it: 1. Segment Before You Speak Not all audiences are the same. Donors want impact, transparency, and emotional connection. Funders want data, scalability, governance, and measurable outcomes. Partners want alignment, visibility, and shared value. A single generic post won’t convert all three. Content must be intentional. 2. Lead With Impact + Evidence Social media is crowded. Credibility wins attention. I would consistently publish: Before/after impact stories Clear outcome metrics (beneficiaries reached, % change, ROI of intervention) Visual dashboards and infographics Short case studies Numbers build trust. Stories build connection. Together, they build funding confidence. 3. Position the Organization as a Thought Leader Donors don’t just fund projects — they fund competence. I would create: LinkedIn articles on sector insights Commentary on policy trends Reflections on lessons learned from field implementation Data-driven threads on SDG alignment This attracts institutional funders looking for strategic partners — not just implementers. 4. Showcase Partnerships Publicly Tag existing partners. Celebrate collaboration. When organizations see their peers working with you, social proof increases credibility. Partnerships attract partnerships. 5. Clear Call-to-Action Every campaign should answer: Are we seeking grants? Corporate sponsorship? Strategic collaboration? Technical partners? The CTA must be visible and specific — website link, proposal deck, contact email, impact report. 6. Retarget & Nurture Social media is the first touchpoint, not the final conversion. Connect with decision-makers on LinkedIn Send tailored follow-up messages Share quarterly impact briefs via email Invite prospects to webinars or virtual field tours Campaigns convert when communication continues beyond the post. Key Takeaways Targeting donors, funders, and partners on social media is not about posting more. It’s about: Strategic messaging. Evidence-based storytelling. Consistent positioning. Relationship building. Because funding follows credibility. #NGOCommunications #FundraisingStrategy #DevelopmentSector #SocialImpact #CommunicationsOfficer #CommunicationsManager

If I had to rebuild nonprofit fundraising from scratch today, I wouldn’t start with galas or golf tournaments: I’d start with LinkedIn. Because after meeting 400+ leaders here at Raise, the surprising truth is: Most nonprofits aren’t even on it. They’re curious. They know it matters. But they don’t know where to begin. Here’s exactly how I’d go from zero to building a real LinkedIn growth engine: 1. Optimize, don’t improvise Your profile isn’t a résumé. It’s a landing page. • Headline = who you help + how • Banner = your impact in one glance • About = donor-facing story, not org history If a corporate exec lands on your profile, can they tell in 5 seconds why they should partner with you? 2. Your network is your pipeline Fundraising isn’t about spraying cold emails. It’s about adding the right people. • Start with 30 new connections a day • Focus on titles that control budgets: CSR, HR, Marketing, Partnerships • Curate, don’t collect, every connection should be a potential partner, donor, or amplifier 3. Consistency compounds Posting once a month won’t cut it. • Share 2–3 posts per week (impact stories, behind-the-scenes, partner shoutouts) • Comment daily on corporate leaders’ content, it’s free visibility • The algorithm rewards activity, not perfection 4. DMs are your growth engine Forget “spray and pray.” • Send 100 targeted DMs a month • Use curiosity-led openers (“We help companies like yours measure impact… curious if that’s a priority?”) • Track responses like you’d track donors in a CRM 5. Measure what matters Likes don’t pay the bills. Partnerships do. The KPIs to track: • Calls booked from LinkedIn • Intros made by your network • Corporate dollars secured That’s the LinkedIn flywheel: Profile → Network → Content → DMs → Partnerships Most nonprofits think LinkedIn is “extra.” It’s not. It’s the growth channel hiding in plain sight. Comment “LinkedIn” and I’ll send you a free resource on how to go from zero to sending 100 DMs to your ideal audience. With purpose and impact, Mario

I've been paying attention to how donors under 40 are engaging with nonprofits. And if your fundraising strategy was built for Boomers and Gen X, you're probably missing them entirely. Here's what I'm seeing: Younger donors aren't necessarily giving less. They're giving differently. And most nonprofit fundraising systems aren't designed for how they operate. ✅ Pattern 1: They want to give online, easily, now. If your donation process requires more than 3 clicks or doesn't work seamlessly on mobile, you're losing them. They're not going to mail a check. They're barely going to tolerate a clunky web form. One organization simplified their donation page to 2 steps on mobile. Conversions from donors under 35 increased 40%. ✅Pattern 2: They respond to peer influence more than institutional messaging. Traditional direct mail and email campaigns don't land the same way. But when someone their age shares your work on social media or texts them a link? They pay attention. The organizations reaching younger donors effectively are empowering their young supporters to fundraise on their behalf. Peer-to-peer campaigns. Social sharing tools. Making it easy to spread the word. ✅Pattern 3: They want transparency and impact proof upfront. They're researching before they give. Checking Charity Navigator. Looking at financials. Reading reviews. The "trust us, we're doing good work" approach doesn't fly. Organizations winning with this demographic are leading with data. Showing exactly where money goes. Being transparent about challenges, not just wins. ✅Pattern 4: They're less loyal to institutions, more loyal to causes. Boomers often give to the same organizations for decades. Younger donors are more likely to shift their giving based on what feels most urgent or impactful at the moment. This doesn't mean they won't be loyal, but you have to earn it constantly, not assume it. What's working: 1️⃣ Organizations that meet younger donors where they are instead of expecting them to adapt to traditional fundraising methods. 2️⃣ Mobile-first donation experiences. Social media strategies that aren't just broadcasts. Radical transparency about impact and finances. Opportunities to engage beyond just writing checks. The shift: If your donor base is aging and you're not intentionally building relationships with donors under 40, you're building a sustainability crisis. They're not going to start giving the way their parents did. We need to adapt to how they give. What's your strategy for engaging younger donors? Is it working? #youngerdonors #millennialgiving #genz #fundraisingstrategy #donorengagement #nonprofittrends #maine #nonprofits #philanthropy

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻’𝘁 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹. They’re identity-driven. They want to see themselves in the mission...not just on a mailing list. If your fundraising strategy still centers around “give, get, repeat,” you’re going to lose them. Younger generations - especially Gen Z - care deeply about impact, alignment, inclusion and visibility. Here’s how to meet them where they are: ✅ Invite co-creation: “How would you like to see your gift in action?” Let them shape the story. ✅ Give them language to share: Impact reels. Digital badges. Something they can proudly post and say: “This reflects who I am.” ✅ Build a community, not just a pipeline. Think less annual gala, more cause-based Slack channel or micro-volunteer events. People want to belong, not just donate. Be the vehicle that helps them do that. #fundraising #nonprofits #belonging

The average nonprofit raises $1.11 per email contact—but some outperform by 5x. The most successful digital appeals feel hand-crafted—because they are, at scale. Using first names in subject lines can boost open rates by 26%. Segmenting appeals by giving history or interest increases click-through rates up to 36%. Donors who watch a 60-second “thank you” video are 33% more likely to give again. A regional animal shelter started sending short, individualized appeal videos from staff to donors who hadn’t given in six months. Their reactivation rate soared—even lapsed donors responded. The most scalable fundraising tool is a message that feels one-on-one. How are you personalizing donor outreach to stand out in a crowded inbox?

🚨 Hot take: DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE IS NOT OPTIONAL, IT'S CRITICAL! 🚨 This morning at 5 AM, I'm doom-scrolling Facebook (we've all been there), and I spot a donation opportunity for a well known, national organization I'm passionate about supporting. They urgently need funds. I'm in! But then... ❌ Default to 1x donation option (psst... you could have had me at monthly) ❌ Manual entry for ALL my details (at 5 AM? Really?) ❌ Credit card as the sole payment method ❌ No digital wallet option ❌ No recapture or offer to remind me to come back later to finish my donation. Now, maybe I'm the odd one here, but I don't keep a credit card by my bed, but my digital wallet? Always ready! Nonprofits, listen up! 🔊 The stats don't lie: 📊 Digital wallets can boost conversion rates by up to 35% (PYMNTS) 📊 18% of online shoppers abandon carts due to complicated checkouts (Baymard Institute) 📊 Offering multiple payment options can increase conversions by up to 50% for nonprofits (NextAfter) Your supporters WANT to help. But in 2024, if you're not optimizing: ✅ Recurring donation options ✅ Streamlined form filling ✅ Multiple payment methods (Stripe, PayPal, Apple Pay, etc.)✅ Or recapturing opportunities You're leaving money on the table. 💸 The tech is out there (I can give you some suggestions). The solutions exist. It's time to prioritize your digital infrastructure. Because when donating is as easy as a couple of taps, everyone wins. Your cause gets funded, and supporters like me can act on that 5 AM generosity/rage impulse! Who else has faced similar frustrations? Please reach out if you have questions, need referrals, or want to share your thoughts on donation conversions and what is holding us back. This should be one of the easier problems to solve. #NonprofitTech #DigitalTransformation #FundraisingTips #UXMatters

As a nonprofit email consultant, I’ve seen firsthand how small adjustments to your email strategy can lead to big increases in donation rates. These are some of the strategies I’m actively implementing with my clients to help them engage supporters and drive results: 1. Focus on audience targeting: Segment your email list to send messages that feel personal and relevant. For example, a lapsed donor may need a different message than a first-time giver. 2. Lead with impactful stories: Stories that highlight the direct results of donations—paired with a clear, actionable ask—are incredibly powerful. “$25 provides a meal for a family” resonates far more than a general appeal. 3. Optimize for mobile: With so many emails opened on mobile devices, it’s crucial that designs are clean, buttons are easy to click, and content gets straight to the point. 4. Create a sense of urgency: Deadlines or limited-time opportunities like matching gifts can be effective motivators. I’ve seen significant lifts in response rates when urgency is baked into the message. 5. Test and analyze everything: From subject lines to donation ask amounts, I encourage my clients to test different approaches and make decisions based on the data. A small tweak can make a big difference. 6. Always follow up: A simple thank-you email after a donation not only builds goodwill but also lays the groundwork for future giving. I know every nonprofit’s audience is different, but the common thread is that thoughtful, intentional email campaigns can create meaningful connections and drive real impact. I’d love to hear what’s working for you—what’s been your most effective email fundraising tactic?

Giving Tuesday Alert: Sam Stephens of AB InBev Foundation says 80% of US corporate funders reduced their giving in 2025. What to do now? I work in nonprofit fundraising. And we have a problem. 💸 Donor funding [big aid, foundations, corporations] has declined for the fourth year in a row. Yet total giving still grew 3%. Why? 64% of all donations come from individuals, not corporations. The money is still moving, just through different channels. 🛑 We need to stop chasing corporate foundations ✅ We must start doing these three things Your organizational survival depends on diversification - systematic approaches to individual donor cultivation, monthly giving infrastructure, and AI-driven personalization. 1️⃣ Launch Monthly Giving Programs NOW Monthly giving programs showed 5% revenue increase in 2024 while one-time gifts stagnated. Organizations using subscription models report 40% higher donor retention rates. 2️⃣ Deploy AI for Donor Intelligence Predictive AI analyzing donor behavior patterns can boost retention to 64% for organizations with advanced donor management systems. Sadly, 77% of organizations rate their data quality as average or worse. Fix this first. 3️⃣ Target Donor-Advised Funds Aggressively Like I said before, over $250 billion is currently sitting in DAFs awaiting distribution. DAFs are becoming accessible to individuals at various income levels, not just ultra-wealthy donors. Oh and organizations that embrace digital transformation are 4 times more likely to achieve mission goals and 2 times more likely to improve operational efficiency. Sources: ☑️ Chronicle of Philanthropy 2025 Fundraising Trends Report ☑️ Association of Fundraising Professionals 2025 Trends Analysis ☑️ PNC Insights Philanthropic Giving Analysis 2025 ☑️ CCS Fundraising Donor Acquisition Research ☑️ Orr Group Philanthropy Trends Analysis