Winter Wonderland Clairity Click-it: Nonprofit Links, Free Resources
It’s been chilling, inside and out. I’d like to warm you up with a new poem that spoke to me this week. It’s about love and giving. Extraordinarily appropriate for the time in which we’re living. And, for philanthropic organizations, all the time.
An Upcoming Meeting
Sometimes I think
about the day I’ll get to have
some kind of conversation with,
yes, my maker.Not with the man
with the white beard, no gates, but still
— some kind of reconciliation,
some kind of reckoning.I think we’ll all have it –
and we will feel the people
we loved and helped,
and also those we hurt,
the ones we judged, or deceived
the ones whose pain
we turned away from.I picture Spirit saying to us,
not with anger, but with passion:Do you know how much I loved that person?
Do you know how much I thought about them,
when I dreamed up their being,
when I mixed the combination
of dreams and wounds, gifts and life lessons
that, in combination, only they are?
I made them, like a precious work of art.Do you know how much I gave of Myself,
how I poured love and life into them?
It was Me I poured into them.One day, you and I
will have a conversation with
that larger creative force of life,
and we will be asked to look
to look
at how we treated
each one
that Life loved so much.
—Tara MohrThis issue of the Clairity Click-it brings together a carefully curated mix of ideas and resources to help you both feel those you love and help, and engage more effectively with those who love and help you.
You’ll find content to support leadership, communication, and decision-making, all organized by category so you can easily scan for what’s most relevant to you right now. Or come back when your priorities shift.
As you read, I invite you to look for just one idea you might try or adapt. If something resonates, save it, make a note, and put it on your calendar so it’s there for you when the moment is right.
As always, a big thank you to my primary 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 FEBRUARY 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: Threats to Civil Society
If you feel that every day something happens in the world that demands your attention, you’re not alone. Civil society is at a crossroads. Which is why your attention to philanthropy (aka philos + anthropy = love of humanity) work matters more than ever. Here are some takes on how to survive in the year(s) ahead.
Click-it: How Will Your Nonprofit Survive? A confluence of events has dislocated funding for US nonprofits, and the disruption is likely to endure for some time. For most nonprofits, the problem isn’t simply the cancellation of funding; it is the uncertainty of when they will receive any continued funding. Because of this, this article in Stanford Social Innovation Review envisions more than 20% of nonprofits will be forced to close their doors by the end of 2027, if not earlier. The author recommends three strategies for service organizations to consider implementing in the near term: (1) Innovate new revenue streams; (2) Partnerships and mergers to leverage resources, and (3) Invest in asset development. You don’t have to do everything at once, but action is imperative.
Click-it: The Pressure on Nonprofits Has Never Been Higher — Here’s How to Survive What’s Coming. 2026 sees us facing a paradox: As nonprofit budgets tighten in response to growing uncertainty and waning resources, demand for services is actively increasing. Ed Mitzen explains in NonProfitPro the dynamic threats undermining nonprofit stability, and suggests digital transformation – AI in particular — can be your strongest lifeline.
Click-it: Can Philanthropy Deliver in an Age of Crisis? David Callahan writes in Inside Philanthropy: “In many ways, today’s social sector isn’t built for this age of crisis… in other respects, however, our sector is designed for disruption.” Read his analysis of philanthropy’s strengths and weaknesses, and consider how you might play to the former and overcome the latter.
Click-it: Holding the Line Together: Civil Society & the First Year of the Trump Administration. Nonprofits and other parts of civil society have become targets. Why? It makes bringing neighbors together, supporting and strengthening communities, vetting and disseminating information, helping people to debate ideas and organize around issues they care about, and generally fostering an engaged citizenry, more difficult. This article in Nonprofit Quarterly outlines what is happening, and offers key take-aways from the past year plus hopes for a better future through collective action.
AND… these are resources shared by Amy Eisenstein, Capital Campaign Pro, for those of you looking for ways to stand in solidarity with the philanthropic community and the people in Minnesota.
- Guidance from the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits on ICE operations and nonprofit considerations
- Plain language FAQs from Public Counsel on nonprofit and small business rights related to immigration enforcement
- Legal guidance for nonprofits from New York Lawyers for the Public Interest
ARTICLES
Annual (Year-Round) Fundraising
Click-it: The Evolving Economics of Direct Mail Acquisition. When I started in this business, response rates were 2%. Today, they’re 0.4 – 0.6%. True Sense explains why this is happening, and why it’s not as bad as you think. Because direct mail today yields more highly engaged, longer lasting donors. The key? Shifting towards more data driven, intentional, and sustainable value over volume strategies.
Click-it: What Can Nonprofits Do to Increase Average Donation Amount? Check out these great recommendations from Greg Warner, the Fundraising Report Card. This is filled with good information.
Click-it: Do you want to really connect? Show, don’t just tell me. Mary Cahalane, Hands-On Fundraising, weighs in on the power of images and warns against ‘feel good’ photos. She also shares 4 features, from Getty Images, that make an image impactful. Good stuff!
Boards
Click-it: Does the Executive Director Belong in Board Executive Committee Meetings? Jan Masaoka explains in Nonprofit Quarterly that, unless you want a docile board, it is important for board members to have a sense of the board and its committees as separate from the staff. She then lays out when to include/when to exclude.
Data
Click-it: Data Hygiene Basics for Nonprofits. Good, easy-to-access data helps. Poor, difficult to use data hurts. Here the folks at True Sense Marketing lay out common pitfalls and practical steps forward.
Donor Retention
Click-it: First-Time Donor Retention: 3 Nonprofit Best Practices. This is a useful, practical read from Nonprofit Hub. If you don’t do these things religiously, you’re throwing your donor acquisition money in the toilet (sorry to be so blunt).
Events
Click-it: How to Market Your Event to Attract Sponsors & Auction Donors. Learn to communicate what is uniquely valuable about your particular constituency. Then learn to match these features with the benefits sponsors and auction donors seek. Think from the donor perspective, consider what motivates them, and align your event with their goals. This article from the event specialists at Auctria explains how.
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.
Click-it: What Are the Challenges of Hybrid Fundraising? Hybrid events can help you reach more donors, reduce costs, and boost engagement. But navigating technology, managing two audiences, training volunteers, and keeping everyone engaged can all feel overwhelming without the right plan. The folks at DoJiggy offer such a plan here, with lots of practical tips.
Online Fundraising and Marketing
Click-it: How a sticky donate button with a campaign specific CTA effects donor conversion during a high urgency campaign. See a NextAfter A/B study showing that a broad “donate” call to action swapped out for a specific “save a baby” CTA increased donations by 55%. The right words can make a big impact!
Writing
Click-it: Do Direct Quotes in Copy Matter?. Now that you’ve got a little time to think about the year ahead, how about taking this advice from the Agitator/DonorVoice to turn over a new leaf in your donor communications. These are some simple tips. You just need to get in the habit of using them.
OTHER LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
ONLINE CONFERENCE
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 Foundation: Why Monthly Giving Is the Base You Need [Register for free webinar, 2-5-2026]. 4aGoodCause hosts Garret Kalt, who will be sharing case studies of three housing nonprofits who built 100+ monthly donor communities. They’ll share essential ingredients of successful monthly giving programs; what it takes to turn “give monthly” into “belong here,” and practical steps to launch, grow, and sustain momentum.
Click-it: Special direct mail clinic – The one with Danielle Wallace (on typography!) [Listen to free podcast]. Also with John Lepp, this clinic on SOFII shows you how typography is the ‘unsung hero of direct mail’ – getting more people to actually read your copy. It’s fun, useful and just 20 minutes.
Data as Tool
Click-it: Misinformation Is Costing Nonprofits: The Data Leaders Need Now. Tim Sarrantonio, chair of the Fundraising Effectiveness Project (FEP), led a boardroom-level conversation on the Nonprofit Show with Julia C. Patrick. The goal is fighting misinformation by offering monthly, real-world insights into donor behavior at a scale that fundraisers rarely get, and fast enough to influence decisions in real time. For nonprofit leaders trying to forecast revenue, frame strategy, or explain retention trends to a board, this is not “nice-to-know” information—it’s operational intelligence.
Grants
Click-it: Grantseeking Smarter with a Small Team [Register for free webinar, 2-10-2026]. In small and midsized nonprofits, grantseeking is often “in addition” to your other responsibilities. Research, proposal writing, reporting, and relationship management are often layered on top of many other responsibilities. This Tech Soup session will help you create a collaborative grantseeking approach by assigning roles that play to team strengths.
Major, Mid-Level, Capital and Legacy Giving
Click-it: How Neuroscience Shapes Donor Decisions in Capital Campaigns [Listen to on-demand podcast with Amy Eisenstein and Cherian Koshy]. I love exploring how brain science explains donor behavior, which is why this Capital Campaign Pro podcast captured my attention. Listen in to equip yourself with science-backed clarity that strengthens storytelling, major gift conversations, and campaign structure.
Click-it: Asking Styles: A Revolutionary Concept in Fundraising [Register for free webinar, 2-11-2026]. You have your own Asking Style, and if you learn to ask in your Style, you will be more comfortable, confident and successful as an asker. Are you a Rainmaker? Go-Getter? Kindred Spirit? Mission Controller? A mix of two Styles? Join expert Brian Saber and CharityHowTo for this live 45-minute session. Plus… there are bonus materials for attendees!
NEXT STEPS: If you want to become a master of major gift fundraising I highly recommend this Veritus Group course: 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! 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 35% off – using this code: CLAIRE35. The next cohort begins February 9th – just in time for your new year strategic planning.
Online Marketing and Fundraising
Click-it: Digital Fundraising Strategies and Tips for Success [Register for free webinar, 2-12-2026]. Kiersten Hill of Firespring will break down the key components of a successful digital fundraising strategy. You’ll learn how to understand and reach your online audience, craft email campaigns that convert and stay ahead of online giving trends. Explore the power of influencer marketing, how to use text-to-give effectively, the secrets to optimizing your giving pages for maximum impact, and smart digital advertising tactics that can elevate your next campaign.
Strategy, Planning, Management and Leadership
Click-it: Understanding Nonprofit Law – Practical Guidance for Nonprofit Leaders [Register for free session, 2-5-2026]. This Blue Avocado discussion, with live Q&A, focuses on governance and fiduciary duties; legalities surrounding advocacy work, and the value of proper documentation and public disclosure. Submit questions when you register.
Technology as Tool
Click-it: How A Fundraiser and DBA Can Use AI In Today’s Nonprofit [Register for free webinar, 2-10-2026]. Join Kayla Schneider, and Carly Berna, respectively DBA and Fundraiser in Residence at Virtuous, for a practical conversation. Drawing from their experience as a database administrator and a fundraising leader, they’ll explore how they would use AI if they were still in those roles now. This session cuts through hype to focus on realistic, day-to-day ways AI can reduce busywork, improve decision-making, and free teams to spend more time building donor relationships.
DOWNLOADABLE GUIDES, PAPERS, TEMPLATES & OTHER RESOURCES
Strategy, Planning, Management and Leadership
Click-it: Fundraising insights for 2026: what leaders need to know, and what to do next. This article from Fundraising Everywhere is so thorough, I included it under “guides.” Use it as a blueprint as you prepare this year’s strategic plans and budgets. You’ll learn what other fundraisers are feeling, and prioritizing, for the coming year. Plus you’ll get great insight into strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and strengths.
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.
😖 What Causes so Many Fundraisers to Leave their Jobs?
💸 Money Matters: Why a Good Nonprofit Fundraiser is Hard to Keep
❤️Beyond Money: Why Belonging Is the Key to Sustainable Philanthropy
🚀 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)
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: What’s the Best Way to Thank Monthly Donors?
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 FEBRUARY 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 bit of spring in my neck of the woods.
Lovely yellow flowering plant with spikey, multi-pronged blossoms.
Early blooming camellias.
Magnolia petals create a beautiful carpet.
Please support my extraordinary sponsors (see below). The Clairity Click-it content is free, and Clairification School is affordable, because of their generosity.
