Winter Wonderland Clairity Click-it: Nonprofit Links, Free Resources
It’s been pretty cold in my neck of the woods, so let’s warm up with a cup of cocoa, coffee or tea and some good reads. I’ve got a lot of great stuff for you this week, so let’s get right to it!
The Clairity Click-it exists to bring you a range of voices from across the nonprofit world so you can resource, learn and digest at your own pace, coming to your own decisions. My hope is some of the free resources I’ve collected and curated for you will energize and enthuse you as you work towards guiding others on the pathway to passionate philanthropy.
As always, I’ve also got a little piece of wisdom to share with you from the inimitable Seth Godin:
In a world of automation, AI and outsourcing, what exactly do we do for a living?
Perhaps we make decisions.
And what’s in short supply?
A willingness to take responsibility.
If you choose to sign up to make and take, there have never been more tools or more leverage available to you.
— Seth Godin
Even though we’re entering a world of endless automation, you still have plenty of autonomy. You just must choose to use it! This issue of Clairity Click-it brings together a carefully curated mix of ideas and resources to help you show up humanly for the people you serve and lead. Every piece is selected thoughtfully — by me personally, not AI — with an eye toward practical insights and tools you can use to strengthen your work and its impact.
As always, a big thank you to my sponsor, Bloomerang, for making it possible for me to spend the hours of time hunting, gathering and choosing the eclectic resources I believe will best meet the needs of the diverse range of folks who comprise our critically important social benefit sector.
Thank you for doing your vital work, with gratitude,
Claire
P.S. If you’re an enrolled Clairification School student, your JANUARY TIPS are live. If you’re not yet enrolled, please consider helping me simply cover my costs. [This is a labor of love, but if the enrollment fee is a hardship, please email me and we’ll work it out. I want you on board – even if it costs me money. My motto: “If I know it I want you to know it!”]
Clairity Click-it, Your Nonprofit Ticket to…
SPECIAL FEATURE: Crisis Response — Where is the Love?
It’s been quite a year – and we’re just a couple of weeks into it. So much is happening in the world that demands everyone’s attention. And this can draw focus away from your organization’s philanthropic (aka philos + anthropy = love of humanity) work. Always remember: There’s a reason your organization was founded. There’s a reason you have supporters. There’s a reason people come to you. There’s a reason you do your work. It doesn’t stop being important. How do you carry your values forward during times of crisis? How do you spread love in the world when it seems in short supply? Here are a few articles with suggestions.
Click-it: Fundraising When All Hell Breaks Loose: Staying Relevant During a National Crisis. Patrick Kirby, Do Good Better, in response to unfolding current events, recently reposted this blog he wrote post-hurricane 2024. It’s a reminder to stay strong and mission-focused, even as seeming chaos swirls around you. Acknowledge what’s happening in the world without freezing your mission, your work, or your responsibility to keep showing up for the people who rely on you. He offers four tips.
Click-it: Seven Ways to Spread Love in the World in the New Year. Researcher Stephen Post explores ways to invest in each other’s well-being on the Greater Good Science Center blog. He recommends practicing “love leadership.” Here’s something that particularly resonated: “Simple acts of loving-kindness can transform us emotionally when we might otherwise get sucked down into despair and resentment. Emotions often follow actions, just as actions follow emotions. Kind giving creates dignity and worth. Studies of the brain indicate that when the circuits for kindness are turned on, the circuits for bitterness and hostility turn off.” When you connect meaningfully with donors, you are helping them and the world.
Click-it: How Authoritarianism Works: Minneapolis Was a Signal. This is about how messiness matters in a democracy. It’s a feature, not a bug. Katrina VanHuss and Otis Fulton of Turnkey writes about a recent moment that revealed what the world is currently facing. And it’s not a single leader problem. It’s more psychological than political. “People don’t ask for authoritarianism by name. They ask for relief. For certainty. For someone to take control.” How to get out of this mindset? VanHuss and Fulton suggests based on research, what matters and what works. This is worth reading and reflecting upon.
ARTICLES
Annual (Year-Round) Fundraising
Click-it: Reframing Philanthropy for Fundraising That Actually Lasts. It’s often said the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. If that may be hampering your fundraising outcomes, today is a good day to lift your head, take a deep breath, and look around. Try to see things through a different lens. In this article for NonProfitPro, I offer 3 simple steps to help you change the way you look at things, so the things you look at change. I’d love to hear back from you with what you think.
Click-it: Stop Saying “Deliverability.” Start Worrying About “See-Ability”.. This is a must-read from Roger Craver at the Agitator-DonorVoice. He highlights three acronyms that are no longer optional — they’re your passport to the inbox: SPF; DKIM, and DMARC. Do you know what they mean? If you want your email communications to be worth the resources you put into them, check this out!
Click-it: Donor Retention’s Low-Hanging Fruit: What to Fix First (And Why). This is the best evergreen advice from donor retention guru Lisa Sargeant – yet way too few nonprofits follow it. Honestly, it’s not that difficult. Make this the year you commit to doing these 5 things.
Data
Click-it: Unlocking the Power of Employment Data in Prospect Research. Where a donor works can be influential in unlocking corporate matching gifts and grants, as well as sponsorships and volunteers. This article from re:charity explores how to leverage corporate data – an opportunity too many nonprofits overlook.
Events
Click-it: Winter Peer-To-Peer Fundraising Campaign Ideas. Winter doldrums? Who needs ‘em! Grab some groovy ideas from Eventgroove to inspire supporters to raise money on your organization’s behalf. Here are 8 fun suggestions to spark your own creative ideas.
Major, Mid-Level, and Capital Giving
Click-it: Deeper Meaning Equals Deeper Pockets: When People Own Problems, They Want To Solve Them. Donors, especially major donors, aren’t just investing in what you do. They’re investing in who they are — through you. Fundraisers often assume major donors are motivated primarily by results — metrics, outcomes, and return on investment. But research tells a different story: meaning matters more. Here’s an article I authored for the Bloomerang blog.
Click-it: Capital Campaigns in 2026: 6 Trends We’re Watching. Steven Shattuck, Capital Campaign Pro, outlines six trends already shaping how campaigns are planned, funded, and carried out, from shifts in tax policy and donor behavior to the growing role of AI, foundations, and research on how donors make big decisions. Rather than predictions for prediction’s sake, Steven focuses on what these trends mean in practice.
Click-it: How to Use the Quiet Season to Deepen Donor Relationships. Now that the busy season is over, how do you stay relational without defaulting to “tactics?” Jeff Schreifels of Veritus Group shares how to approach your major gifts development work moving forward. It’s a substantive read.
NEXT STEPS: If you want to learn HOW to do all these things – and truly become a master of major gift fundraising I highly recommend this Certification Course for Major Gift Fundraisers. You’ll receive a certification, rack up CFRE points, and set yourself up for excellence for the rest of your career. If you’re the executive or manager, there’s also a companion course for you! The next cohort begins February 9th – just in time for your new year strategic planning. After completion you’ll become a member of the prestigious Veritus Scholars. This is the best thing you can do to supercharge your fundraising for the coming year – and beyond! And you can grab an exclusive Clairification Community discount – a whopping first-time-ever 35% off – using this code: CLAIRE35.
Online Fundraising and Marketing
Click-it: 3 Evidence-Based Ways to AI-Proof Your Fundraising Emails. Patrick Kitchen, NextAfter, shares strategies backed by research to assure your emails get a competitive advantage over others cluttering your donors’ inboxes.
Strategy, Planning, Management and Leadership
Click-it: Top Nonprofit Fundraising Trends for 2026 and How to Prepare. Kick off the new year with a bit of thought leadership from the folks at Soapbox Engage. There are eight trends noted here; my faves in terms of real bang for your buck are ## 3, 4, and 5.
YOU
Click-it: Six Strategies to Prevent Job Burnout. Check out these strategies you can apply to save yourself from mental and physical exhaustion – from Viken Mikaelian at plannedgiving.com.
OTHER LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
ONLINE CONFERENCE
Click-it: Fundraising Breakthrough Summit [Register for free for multiple sessions, 1-5 to 18 2026]. I’m excited to share I’ll be speaking at the Fundraising Breakthrough Summit, launching January 5-18, 2026! This FREE online event, hosted by Amplifora, brings together 25+ nonprofit and fundraising experts to help you start the new year with clarity, confidence, and strategies that truly work. It’s designed to be manageable: each day is just 30 – 60 minutes worth of material.
Click-it: The Believer Blueprint: Monthly Giving Summit [Register for free, virtual community 2-25 & 26, 2026]. Connect with your peers, review case studies, brainstorm with an expert, and much more over this two-day live and interactive virtual conference hosted by Dana Snyder of the Monthly Giving Mastermind.
Click-it: Corporate Volunteering Summit for Nonprofits [Register for free, virtual community event 2-25 & 26, 2026]. Corporate volunteers can become true champions for your mission. This Double the Donation summit – with 20+ experts — is your space to learn how to nurture those relationships and turn workplace volunteer engagement into lasting support for your mission.
WEBINARS, PODCASTS, ROUNDTABLES & ON-DEMAND AUDIO RESOURCES
If you can’t attend live, or are interested in sessions happening at overlapping times, note many are available via recording – but ONLY if you REGISTER!
Annual (Year-Round) Fundraising
Click-it: The 7 Fundamentals of a Monthly Giving Program [Register for free webinar, 1-20-2026]. Thinking of starting a monthly giving program? Join recurring giving guru Erica Waasdorp and CharityHowTo for this live 30-minute session that will answer all your questions.
Events
Click-it: Weaving Storytelling Through Your Fundraising Events [Register for free webinar, 1-21-2026]. Do you pour time and money into events that leave guests mildly entertained, but not moved to become long-term supporters? This is, alas, more common than not. This session from the event experts at Auctria will help you plan an event with narrative flow that builds emotional engagement that sticks. Learn how to use table tents, testimonials, short-form content, and ambassadors, plus how to craft a resonant keystone video. And don’t forget the follow-up!
Major, Mid-Level, Capital and Legacy Giving
Click-it: The Autobiographical Interview [Listen to free, on-demand presentation]. Jim Langley, President of Langley Innovations, shares: How to identify your most likely estate donors using the right criteria; How to respectfully engage potential givers; How to conduct an interview that deepens connection and trust, and How to leverage what you learn to align donor interests with your mission.
Online Marketing and Fundraising
Click-it: Digital Strategies to Drive Sustainable Fundraising Growth [Listen to on-demand webinar]. The team at Virtuous talks with a digital expert, Matt Lombardi, to unpack what real digital engagement looks like when it’s done well and why it actually leads people to take action. Learn what separates organizations that grow sustainably from those stuck on the acquisition hamster wheel. From donor personas and retention strategies to recurring giving programs that actually work, you’ll walk away with practical insights you can apply immediately.
Click-it: Kick-Start Your Mission in the New Year with Google Ad Grants [Register for free webinar, 1-22-2026]. Make 2026 the year your nonprofit’s message reaches more people. Google Ad Grants provides up to $10,000 per month in free advertising to help you share your story, attract supporters, and drive meaningful action. In this Tech Soup webinar, you’ll learn how Ad Grants work, what it takes to stay eligible, and how to create campaigns that advance your mission.
Strategy, Planning and Management
Click-it: Your 2026 Nonprofit Playbook [Register for free webinar, 1-20-2026]. Need some clear direction for the year ahead? Join Mightycause to learn how to create a month-by-month fundraising plan – tips + tools — that drives results.
Click-it: Understanding Nonprofit Law – Practical Guidance for Nonprofit Leaders – Live Q&A [Register for free webinar, 2-5-2026]. Operating a nonprofit requires navigating legal challenges and requirements — a daunting task. Elizabeth Schmidt, author of “Rules of the Road for Nonprofit Leaders: Using the Law to Achieve Your Mission,” leads a discussion and answers your questions in this Blue Avocado offering.
DOWNLOADABLE GUIDES, PAPERS, TEMPLATES & OTHER RESOURCES
YOU
Click-it: GoldenRuleism [Download free e-Book]. These times are good ones to revisit the Golden Rule – a worldview rooted in humanity. That’s precisely what this resource does. From GoldenRuleismCAN, it’s a concise and informative resource, perfect for those wanting to delve deeper into this timeless principle.
Did You Miss My Newest Articles?
Here are links to the most recent articles on the Clairification blog. Remember, your goal is not simply to squeeze money out of people. It’s to give donors a squeeze and a hug for being caring and generous. This will make them feel good, which will move them to continue sticking with you.
🚀 Boost Your Team’s Productivity with 5 Proven Nonprofit Collaboration Strategies
🔍 Fundraising Do’s vs. Don’ts: Year-End Email Appeal Strategy Review
🎯 The Best Advice from People You Don’t Know (But Probably Should Listen To)
❤️ Fundraising’s Real Purpose: Community, Belonging, and Meaning
😖 The Thank You Mistakes That Quietly Cost You Donors
💡 3 Top Strategies to Close Out the Fundraising Year Spectacularly
Finally… if you have a question, any question…
Check out my free fundraising advice column on the Bloomerang blog! Ask your question here. And bookmark the Ask an Expert page for any time you have a question! Here’s one: In which year are gifts made on or before December 31, but received in January, counted?
REMINDER for Clairification School students: Don’t forget to log in to your “My Clairification/Subscriber Dashboard/Monthly Tips” to grab your exclusive, timely tips for each month. Exclusive JANUARY tips have arrived — and they’re jam-packed. If you’re not yet an enrolled student, and don’t have direct, immediate access to ALL my blog articles, monthly tips, webinars, podcasts and much more, you can get in on the fun here — and grab a BONUS!
And now, a nice new mural painted on a wall. I even was able to watch the artist painting it as it unfolded over the space of several weeks!
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