Winter Wonderland Clairity Click-it: Nonprofit Links, Free Resources
Throwing shade or throwing light?
One takes a little more effort than the other.
While throwing shade might be more fun, it eventually runs out of energy. It’s designed to end conversations, not start them, to intimidate, not encourage.
Turning on lights helps everyone.
— Seth Godin
You are on a meaning-seeking journey. Through your work, you create positive change and make lives easier and better. One person, family, community, region at a time. Your donors seek the same.
Part of your job is to bring meaning, not just to the beneficiaries of your organization’s mission but also to the people who contribute towards your meaningful outcomes.
It turns out when you consider what brings meaning and value to philanthropists – donors and volunteers – you do a more effective job creating abundance all around.
Use some of the resources in this week’s issue of the Clairity Click-it to help you on your journey. And to help your supporters on theirs. Whatever your role, you’ll find something in this issue to nourish you. So, start digging through the curated content from across the web. I hope it will make your job easier, and more fulfilling. Get curious!
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 resources I believe will be most useful to you.
It is my sincere pleasure and honor to help you find the ideas, strategies, templates and tools you need to succeed.
Thank you for doing your vital work, and making our world a better place,
Claire
P.S. Please scroll down to see all my Clairification School sponsors who enable me to offer enrollment in ‘Clairification School at an affordable price [If the enrollment fee is a hardship, please email me and we’ll work it out.]
Clairity Click-it, Your Nonprofit Ticket to…
SPECIAL FEATURE: News You Can Use
ALERT
Click-it: Without Consent: GoFundMe Creates Donation Pages. Last week, GoFundMe (GFM), the largest crowdfunding platform, created 1.4 million “donation pages” for U.S. nonprofits without consent or any contact with said nonprofits. if someone inadvertently lands on that site and decides to donate, Go Fund Me sets their “voluntary tip” at anywhere from 14-16.5%, in addition to charging a transaction fee of 2.2% to the receiving nonprofit PLUS a $.30 per donation charge. At best, this is confusing for the donor, who may unknowingly use that platform and for the nonprofit that doesn’t even know this page exists If you would like to claim your nonprofit’s page, and perhaps take it down, this may help.
ARTICLES
Click-it: Study Finds Widespread Self-Censorship in the Philanthropic Sector. Ted Siefer writes in the Nonprofit Quarterly about the very real bind nonprofits face when it comes to avoiding arbitrary and potentially existential targeting by the Trump administration, on the one hand, and standing publicly by their values, on the other.
Click-it: Trump’s Data Cuts Could Leave Nonprofits ‘Flying Blind’. This Chronicle of Philanthropy article highlights working being done to mitigate against the unraveling of the information infrastructure that nonprofits and philanthropies rely on to identify needs, measure results, and make informed investments. A growing group of grant makers are supporting alliances of nonprofits, universities, and civic technologists to track data loss, archive federal information, and create independent public dashboards.
Click-it: Fundraising in Hard Times: Lessons, Tactics, and Proven Campaigns. Roger Craver, the Agitator-DonorVoice, has worked in the social benefit sector a long time. Heed his wisdom, and take heart.
ARTICLES
Annual (Year-Round) Fundraising
Click-it: Tax deductibility is changing. Your donors need you to lead them through it. Donors will look to nonprofits for clear explanations and smart giving strategies — like bunching gifts, using donor-advised funds effectively, or timing contributions to maximize tax benefits. Helping donors navigate this new terrain is about deepening trust, demonstrating leadership, and potentially inspiring greater generosity during a period of uncertainty. See my article on Bloomerang.
Click-it: Bad News is an Opportunity. Don’t overshare, but if something unanticipated happens – and negatively affects your ability to serve – let your donors know. Steven Screen of The Better Fundraising Co. says donors are more likely to respond when they feel needed. Think of them as a lifeline when you need one.
Click-it: Respecting the Donor’s Time as a New Measure of Success. This is a reminder from Lauri Thompson of what true donor-centered philanthropy facilitation looks like. Hat tip to Beth Ann Locke for sharing!
Click-it: Your Guide to Winning with the 80/20 Rule. Jeff Brooks writes on the Moceanic blog about how “spend more to make more” can be a crude guideline. Better is “spend smarter to make more.” Especially when there’s not always “more” to spend. Learn how one organization did this.
Culture of Philanthropy
Click-it: Rethinking Fundraising: The Power of Friendraising to Strengthen Donor Loyalty. Gail Perry writes “when you focus on friendships first, everything shifts. You start by deepening trust, inviting people to stand beside you, not just give to you. And over time, that sense of connection naturally leads to greater generosity.” Get started by creating a culture of philanthropy that makes relationship-building a priority.
Donor Advised Funds
Click-it: The Future is #DAF: Donor-Advised Fund Growth and How Nonprofits Can Benefit. DAFs are one of the fastest-growing tools in fundraising, presenting an opportunity for leveraging more philanthropy for your nonprofit. CCS Fundraising discusses the new landscape, and how you can benefit.
Donor Retention
Click-it:. Nonprofits Say Please. But Do We Still Have to Say Thank You. Even though younger generations don’t put pen to paper too often, this isn’t a reason to think you don’t have to thank donors in these generational cohorts. The folks at Click & Pledge suggest some guidelines to retain donors of all ages.
Events
Click-it: 5 Creative Ways to Attract Younger Donors to Your Winter Fundraiser. Looking for ways to engage different demographics? Eventgroove suggests ways to tap into the energy and enthusiasm of younger donors through a range of creative events they may be drawn to.
Click-it: The Complete Guide to Understanding your Event ROI. This ‘how-to’ from Wild Apricot should prove invaluable next time you want to determine whether your event was worth the time and energy you put into it. Learn what event ROI is, and how to measure it – both financial and engagement metrics. Not everything will be obvious, so be sure to read this for a comprehensive overview of what constitutes cost and benefit. The devil’s in the details.
Online/Social Marketing and Fundraising
Click-it: Social Media KPIs That Top Growth Companies Track. How do you know your social media initiatives are worth the resources you put into them? Neal Schaffer, social media guru, shares what the big companies track. Learn which metrics matter! When you track the right KPIs, you create clear connections between social media activities and business results. This clarity enables smarter resource allocation and strategy refinement.
Psychology of Giving
Click-it:. The 9 Secrets Behind a Donor’s Mind: A Psychological Look at Charity. This Give Central post explores the psychological, emotional, and social motivations that inspire people to give philanthropically. Once you understand why people donate, you can use some of the strategies suggested here to design more effective campaigns.
Strategy, Planning, Management and Leadership
Click-it: This is why you can’t find a great development director. Mary Cahalane, Hands-On Fundraising, addresses five reasons organizations have trouble recruiting and retaining someone to lead their philanthropy facilitation initiatives. Learn how to stop being penny-wise and pound-foolish.
Technology as Tool
Click-it: What your Nonprofit Should (And Shouldn’t) Use AI For. In today’s world, knowing where AI strengthens your nonprofit’s work and where it may create risks or diminish authentic connection is important. Here the fundraising + AI experts at Virtuous/Momentum break down where AI tools can be a powerful ally for fundraising, grant writing, and digital transformation, and where relying on them can undermine trust, introduce bias, or drain resources.
Click-it: The 16 best donor management software options for nonprofits in 2025. If you’re in the market for new software to manage your data, check out this compendium from Bonterra. This is packed with information to help you make comparisons.
Click-it: Advanced ChatGPT Features for Any Business. It’s not simply a writing tool. Social Media Examiner shares three advanced ChatGPT features that can save you hours every day: agent mode that acts on your behalf, deep research that produces comprehensive reports in minutes, and vision mode that troubleshoots problems in real time.
Writing
Click-it: First, develop your appeal letter prime real estate. Julie Cooper, fundraising copywriter extraordinaire, suggests beginning with these seven elements. Invest your first splashes of writerly energy in getting your key puzzle pieces in place. You’ll find great examples here.
Click-it: Top 10 Tells That Someone’s Using ChatGPT. This is a great piece by Willis Turner in NonProfitPRO, all about the ways AI can water down the impact of your prose. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use it, but do be aware of what to avoid. You don’t want your appeals, newsletters and reports to sound like they came from a stock template.
Year-End
Click-it: 9 Year-End Giving Campaign Ideas. Find terrific ideas – built on research, not guesswork – in this article on the NextAfter blog. May as well begin with what works, right?
ONLINE CONFERENCE
Click-it: Virtual Workplace Fundraising + Volunteering Summit [Register for free 2-day conference, 10-29 and 30, 2025]. Designed by Double the Donation specifically for nonprofits and schools looking to elevate their workplace giving programs, you’ll hear from industry experts and discover proven strategies for growing your fundraising efforts in areas such as: Matching gifts; Volunteer grants; Payroll donations; In-kind donations, and Sponsorships.
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!
Corporate Giving
Click-it: Introduction to Corporate Giving [Register for free webinar, 10-30-2025]. Corporate grantmakers are different from traditional foundations in many ways. This Candid class provides a basic overview of different types of corporate giving; what motivates corporations to give. And how to find potential corporate partners.
Giving Tuesday
Click-it: The Giving Tuesday Prep Sprint: Build Your Campaign in Just 3 Hours [Register for free mini-course, 11-3-2025]. Sandy Rees, Get Fully Funded, is offering this simple, proven plan with practical steps. Set a clear fundraising goal. Craft an irresistible ask. Grab pug-and-play templates for emails, social posts, and graphics. Create a donor-friendly giving page + thank-you page checklist. Learn strategies for bigger gifts—like matches and ambassadors. And get a posting and emailing schedule that keeps excitement going all day long.
Leadership
Click-it: How Nonprofit Leaders Can Prevent Burnout, Build Trust, and Take Back Their Time [Download on-demand podcast]. The Influential Nonprofit spotlights a conversation between Maryanne Dersch and Jen Recla about how leaders can set boundaries, focus on what truly matters, and create feedback cultures built on trust and psychological safety. If you want to stop burnout before it starts, listen in.
Major, Mid-Level, Capital and Legacy Giving
Click-it: Missing Our Mid-Level Donors [Listen to free, quick, on-demand podcast]. Mark Rovner of Sea Change Strategies is a guest for The Lilly Family School of Philanthropy Fundraising School podcast. He talks about a study of mid-level donors, finding they’re too often neglected. But, if you pay proper attention to them, you’ll reap enormous benefits.
Technology as Tool
Click-it: How Nonprofit Professionals Can AI-Proof Their Careers [Register for free mini webinar, 12-3-2025]. Early adopter marketing and fundraising professionals are experimenting with generative AI, but as we speed towards achieving artificial general intelligence (AGI), working with predictive and agentic AI are also must-have skills of the future. Learn from Heather Mansfield, Nonprofit Tech for Good, how to become AI-literate in the concepts most immediately to impact your career so you can start the process of upskilling now and thrive in your career for years to come.
DOWNLOADABLE GUIDES, PAPERS, TEMPLATES & OTHER RESOURCES
Events
Click-it: Event and Auction Fundraising MEGA Guide [Download free resource]. Auctria‘s Mega Guide is your playbook for event and auction fundraising. Key discussion topics from planning to implementation to checkout are all laid out in an easy-to-understand format. Choose your fundraiser; plan the event; run the event, plan and implement follow-up. It’s all here – in one place.
Major, Mid-Level, Capital and Legacy Giving
Click-it: 2025 Planned Giving Report [Download free report]. This report is an analysis of estate plans and charitable bequests made through FreeWill’s platform from June 2024 through May 2025. In the report, they explore the trends influencing the modern will-maker and discuss what strategies nonprofits can implement to make the most of the Great Wealth Transfer that is currently underway.
AND EVEN MORE HERE: If you want to become a master of major gift fundraising – a highly valued skill – this might be a great time to consider exploring certification. I highly recommend this Veritus Group course: Certification Course for Major Gift Fundraisers. If you’re the executive or manager, there’s also a companion course for you! The next cohort begins October 27th – just in time for year-end fundraising and 2026 strategic planning. After completion you’ll become a member of the prestigious Veritus Scholars. Check it out – it is game-changing!
Strategy, Planning, Management and Leadership
Click-it:. 2025 Nonprofit Leadership Impact Study [Download free report]. NonProfitPRO has put together a comprehensive look at how today’s leaders are adapting to tomorrow’s challenges. Learn how nonprofits are tackling donor acquisition and retention; the latest on staffing, burnout, and board engagement; where organizations are investing in AI and technology; where skills are falling short, and more. Plus, you’ll find practical strategies for growth, loyalty, and efficiency.
Technology as Tool
Click-it: AI For Nonprofits Resource Hub [Click to access comprehensive resources]. NTEN has dedicated a website landing page to everything you always wanted to know about AI and your nonprofit – but weren’t informed enough to ask! Click and learn.
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.
🌟Top 10 Strategies to Elegantly Transform Reluctant Fundraisers into Ready Philanthropy Facilitators
💡Reframe Fundraising: Responsibility, Privilege and Opportunity
💖Tip Your Nonprofit Donors: The Secret to Keeping Them Close
🔍 Why Aren’t Nonprofits Retaining More Donors?
❤️Fundraising Do’s vs. Don’ts: Annual Online Renewal Appeal Strategy
💼 6 Proven Strategies to Make a Major Donor Solicitation that Gets Top Results
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 Are The Most Important Elements For A Year-End Appeal?
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. OCTOBER tip is live! 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 your BONUS! Don’t miss out. Please.
And now, some BOO-t-ful scenes I found on my walks. ‘Tis the BOO-t-ful season!
Please support my extraordinary sponsors (see below). The Clairity Click-it content is free, and Clairification School is affordable, because of their generosity.
