Blogs

December 2025 Class of Certified Fund Raising Executives Announced

posted 7 days ago
Alexandria, VA, USA (December 9, 2005) – CFRE International announces the most recent class of Certified Fund Raising Executives (CFREs). These 222 individuals join more than 8,200 professionals worldwide who hold the CFRE designation. Individuals granted the CFRE credential have met a series of standards set by CFRE International which include tenure in the profession, education, and demonstrated ...

Creating a Signature Event for Your Mission: 4 Tactics

posted 13 days ago
As fundraising professionals, we’ve all run successful events. But how many of us can say that we’ve built a true signature event —one that becomes synonymous with our mission and grows more impactful year after year? Success at this level of event isn’t just about managing vendors, securing sponsorships, or ensuring attendees have a good time. It’s about building an event that truly reflects ...

Ethical Considerations in Fundraising: Maintain Donor Trust

posted 11-04-2025
According to Give.org’s Donor Trust Report , 67.4% of survey respondents rate the importance of trusting a charity before giving as a 9 or 10 out of 10. However, only 22.1% say they highly trust charities. Obtaining and maintaining donor trust requires your nonprofit to consider the ethics of its practices and adjust its fundraising strategy to uphold integrity. This guide will walk through ...

How to Convert One-Time Donors Into Recurring Supporters

posted 10-07-2025
For nonprofits, financial stability is both critical to fulfilling mission-centric work and difficult to secure from unpredictable funding sources. Sustainable fundraising requires not only acquiring donors but also retaining their long-term support. Recurring donations provide predictable income that can smooth out fluctuations in seasonal giving, making them one of the most reliable ...

5 Best Practices for Stewarding Prospective Donors After Events

posted 09-02-2025
After a successful fundraising event, you might feel like the hard work is over. But in reality, the moments that follow are some of the most important for long-term donor development. In fact, without strategic cultivation efforts, 70% of donors are likely to stop contributing within two years. That’s why effective event follow-up is so important—it helps you maintain momentum and effortlessly ...

5 Tips for Creating a Nonprofit Website That Tells Your Story

posted 08-12-2025
Imagine pitching your nonprofit to a potential donor in just 10 seconds. That’s exactly what your website does every day. A story-centric website makes your nonprofit look professional, connects emotionally with visitors, communicates your impact, and shows the faces of the real communities you help. It’s your virtual handshake, your first impression, and often, your best chance to encourage support ...

Are Your Fundraising Strategies Sustainable? Find Out Here

posted 07-29-2025
Imagine your largest donor suddenly decides to step back. Could your organization carry on at full strength for six months? A year? If that question makes you pause, you're not alone. More than 90% of large nonprofits in North America rely on a single revenue source for over 50% of their funding—a risky position when economic uncertainty looms. Achieving true sustainable fundraising ...

The Role of Data Segmentation in Successful Direct Mail Campaigns

posted 07-01-2025
Nonprofit professionals know that every campaign generates an extensive amount of data, from conversions to return on investment and engagement rates. The ability to gather, understand, and act on your data is essential for fundraising success. The better your nonprofit manages its data, the better you can connect with each supporter. For instance, direct mail is one of the best communication channels ...

How to Keep Volunteers Engaged & Motivated Long-Term

posted 06-03-2025
If you’ve worked in the nonprofit sector for any length of time, you know that donating isn’t the only meaningful, valuable way supporters can engage with your organization. Volunteering, in particular, is critical for many nonprofits to further their missions, whether you work for an animal shelter that needs help running its pet adoption events or a children’s literacy organization that recruits ...

How to Integrate Donor Testimonials into Campaigns

posted 05-06-2025
Donor testimonials are a powerful tool for nonprofits. They provide real human stories that showcase the impact of donations, build trust with potential supporters, and increase fundraising success. And sharing these testimonials pays off— over 70% of people trust a review from a stranger and 90% trust recommendations from a peer. But how can you effectively integrate donor stories ...

How Smart Web Design Boosts Donor Confidence & Grows Giving

posted 04-02-2025
A well-designed website increases donor confidence and facilitates online giving, helping engage supporters and increase material support for your cause. If you don’t have a smart, thoughtful web design strategy, you’re missing out on a prime opportunity to grow supporter relationships. This guide explores the importance of intelligent web design for nonprofits and actionable steps you can ...

How to Gauge and Improve Your Nonprofit's Workplace Culture

posted 03-04-2025
While very rewarding, working in the nonprofit sector has its unique challenges; acing emotionally draining beneficiary situations, competing with businesses for top talent , and operating with constrained resources can be highly stressful. In fact, studies show that 95% of nonprofit professionals cite burnout as a major concern. However, having a supportive, capable team around you ...

6 Tips for Overcoming CFRE Test Anxiety

posted 02-18-2025
I have anxiety. It’s human to experience it. For those going through the CFRE certification process, it’s not uncommon to experience test anxiety when preparing for the CFRE exam. But I do know this … if you don’t control your test anxiety, it’ll be harder to pass the CFRE exam. In the novel, Dune , they say, “Fear is the mind killer.” I’d add that anxiety is the test-taking killer. Here ...

Organizing Donor Focus Groups: A How-To Guide for Nonprofits

posted 02-04-2025
Understanding your donors is the key to successful communication, fundraising, and long-lasting relationships. By hosting donor focus groups, you can get to know your donors on a deeper level, allowing you to align future decisions with supporter expectations and preferences. Plus, donor focus groups provide an additional engagement opportunity that enables donors to get more involved in your ...

3 Supporter Engagement Opportunities Outside of Donating

posted 01-07-2025
Look at any nonprofit’s financial statements , and you’ll see that dollars only tell part of the story. The real strength lies in the community behind the numbers: volunteers, event attendees, and advocates who bring each mission to life. Sustainable impact comes from engaged supporters who do more than write checks—they show up, speak out, and lead. If you want to grow your career ...

5 Steps to Recruit & Train Peer-to-Peer Fundraisers

posted 12-03-2024
Peer-to-peer fundraising is a powerful tool for nonprofits—it’s engaging, customizable, and puts less strain on your time and resources while empowering your supporters to take the lead. While peer-to-peer fundraising is not entirely hands-off, the payoff is well worth the effort! One of the first areas where an investment of your time will pay dividends throughout a peer-to-peer fundraising ...

4 Ways Ethical Fundraising Strengthens Donor Relationships

posted 11-19-2024
Trust is at the heart of what makes a non-profit organization thrive. The relationships we cultivate on behalf of our organizations are the lifeblood of the work we do, and the foundation of those relationships is built on trust. Donors trust us to be transparent about how their money is used, to steward their gifts with care, and to align with their values and vision for the future. This trust doesn’t ...

3 Ways To Attract Corporate Partners to Your Cause

posted 11-05-2024
Corporate partnerships aren’t just about funding—they’re about building relationships that benefit both your nonprofit and the company. As more corporations seek to enhance their brands through social impact, more nonprofits can unlock incredible support. Whether you need additional funding, volunteers, or marketing assistance, the right corporate partners can help you reach your goals and propel ...

Building a Nonprofit Board: 5 Tips for Recruiting Directors

posted 10-22-2024
Your board is an essential component of your nonprofit’s team. It provides governance and strategic direction to your nonprofit, ensuring everything runs smoothly and serves your mission. While you may already have a solid board in place, bringing fresh faces to your board can offer some much-needed new perspectives and help reinvigorate your organization’s overarching strategy. Whether you’re ...

4 Internal Controls For Preventing Fraud in Nonprofits

posted 10-01-2024
Fraud presents a significant threat to fundraising dollars, causing a median loss of $76,000 each year for nonprofits. Protecting your organization’s revenue against this threat is vital to powering your mission. After all, every dollar counts when it comes to funding your programs and services. Fortunately, the key to safeguarding your resources is within your nonprofit’s own processes. ...