Winter Wonderland Clairity Click-it: Nonprofit Links, Free Resources
Borrow from the best. Always.
I happen to think Hugh MacLeod of The Gapingvoid Culture Design Group is a genius. So, I often borrow from him and lean into his inspiration. This week’s post, Script or Sprezzatura?, uses Starbucks as an example to teach us something about how internal culture spills outwards.
In a nutshell, rather than focusing so much on your scripted message, focus instead on your “why.” What makes you uniquely appealing and irresistible? What is the most human, and humane, of all your qualities? Why is this so critical? As MacLeod writes:
Instead of telling baristas what to say, give them something worth believing:
Every interaction with a customer is a chance to turn someone’s day around.
Genuine kindness costs nothing and changes everything.
The world is starving for unhurried human moments.
How will you nurture people moving forward?
This issue of the Clairity Click-it is filled with a mix of topics to help you enroll and engage more people. To accompany more supporters on philanthropic journeys. To inspire others to enact their values. To lead. To amplify. To create abundance. It’s arranged by category, to help you locate the pieces of curated content that most intrigue you and/or meet your needs of the moment.
Approach this with a learning mindset, vowing to find at least one thing you’ll do a bit differently (if not today, then tomorrow; save the idea and put it on your calendar so you’re sure to revisit it at the appropriate time).
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.
You’ve got this!
Thank you for doing your vital work, with gratitude,
Claire
P.S. If you’re an enrolled Clairification School student, your OCTOBER TIPS are live. If you’re not yet enrolled, what are you waiting for? [The enrollment fee just covers my costs, but if it is a hardship, please email me and we’ll work it out. My motto: “If I know it I want you to know it!”]
Clairity Click-it, Your Nonprofit Ticket to…
SPECIAL FEATURE: News You Can Use
The philanthropic universe is powered by shared core values. Yet many of these values are today in the crosshairs: Nonprofits are heading into a period of open hostility from political leaders. “An authoritarian movement… is not simply arguing about the meaning of our core values, it is rejecting them—or only using them when convenient.” [see Nonprofit Quarterly article immediately below]. The environment feels threatening, because it is. How can nonprofits carry their values forward, without succumbing to “slow death” strategies like compromise and appeasement? Here are a few articles offering food for thought for social benefit organizations with a range of missions and constituencies.
Click-it: Who Is Included in and Who Will Fight for “We the Civic”? John A. Powell writes: “The fight against authoritarianism is, at its core, a fight over who belongs—and whether we can build a civic “we” expansive enough to resist division and fear.” He goes on to suggest what it means to be a force for the common good. And when a university ceases to be a university, or a hospital ceases to be a hospital. How can you courageously create belonging (at scale), without othering? Because survival alone, without expansive belonging, is meaningless.
Click-it: Philanthropy Leaders Decry Trump’s Order to Investigate Liberal Groups. Whatever the political leanings, or lack thereof, of your organization, current attacks on 501 (c)(3) organizations are concerning. This Chronicle of Philanthropy article focuses on a recent executive memorandum ordering the IRS to refer certain tax-exempt organizations suspected (based on subjective criteria) of “domestic terrorism.”
Click-it: Living in Two Realities: What Nonprofits Need to Know. Katrina Van Huss writes: “fear by itself doesn’t raise money. In fact, overuse of crisis messaging leads to fatigue and disengagement. What sustains giving is identity. Donors want to see themselves as the kind of people who step up when times are tough.” How do you maneuver, building a simultaneous “crisis” and “hopeful” mindset? The author suggests nonprofits can offer belonging through shared identity.
Click-it: Protecting Classrooms: What Nonprofits Need to Know About ICE in Schools. Consider the constituency you serve, and whether you’ve an obligation to plan now to offer them the protections they require given the current environment. Liz Vinson’s articles in the Nonprofit Quarterly targets schools, but also applies wherever children congregate.
Click-it: How Justice-Rooted Organizations Can Respond to the Racial Justice and Equity Backlash. This Nonprofit Quarterly article analyzes the “Risk and Power Spectrum” for justice organizations, offering four courses of action: forced and/or pre-emptive compliance; silence; pragmatic support, and organized power. Do you see your own organization in any of these scenarios as they’re described? Give this a read. The authors note: “When we see what’s possible, we move from self-preservation to justice-aligned action.”
What Should YOU Do?
Click-it: Year-End Messaging in a Year Like No Other. This O’Brien On Message post suggests what you might consider, depending on whether you’re an “into the fray” or “beyond the reach” organization. And remember, whether your organization is impacted by politics or not, it’s in the air for your donors. So, don’t completely ignore how your constituents may be feeling.
Articles
Annual (Year-Round) Fundraising
Click-it: What Your Direct Mail is Like for Real People. Fiona McPhee writes on the Moceanic blog about how donors don’t look at your direct mail the same way you do. So, in crafting your appeal package, you must put your personal opinions aside. Learn what donors look for. Then learn how to cater to three different types of readers. There’s a lot of truly helpful tips in here!
Click-it: The First Commandment of Advancement: Show Don’t Tell. Per Jim Langley on the Market Smart blog, the most effective ways to engage new donors and raise the sights of existing ones are not to entertain them or bombard them with propaganda. Rather, the key is to draw them into the inner workings of our organization and allow them to interact with our most impressive mission advocates. Provide experiences money can’t buy. That’s advancement at its best.
Donor Retention
Click-it:. How to write a meaningful donor thank-you letter. Did you know 45% of donors said it was an outstanding thank-you letter that inspired them to give again? Check out this post on the Bloomerang Fundraising (formerly Qgiv) blog. You’ll learn everything you need to know to write a compelling donor thank-you letter that inspires ongoing giving – including different formats to consider.
Click-it: Using surveys to get answers and deepen donor relations. Surveys are an underused donor touchpoint. Here, Big Duck suggests how to use them and ways to create, disseminate and analyze them.
Click-it: Rant on Retention Redux. T. Clay Buck writes on the Next River Fundraising Strategies blog: “Not every donation is meant to repeat annually—and if your retention report doesn’t distinguish between types of giving or even funds, it’s not a retention report. It’s a glorified count.” Better retention means better donor care. Focus on the relationship more than the numbers – which can be wonky. This article suggests action steps.
Events
Click-it: Fundraiser Marketing: How to Promote a Fundraiser on Social Media. Learn from the experts at Eventgroove to reach a wider audience, gain new supporters, and solidify relationships with event attendees.
Giving Tuesday
Click-it: Giving Tuesday 2025 Is Coming: Here’s How to Get Ready. Giving Tuesday is not just a single day to raise money. It’s a kick-off to the most generous time of the year, and a way to also strengthen your community ties, recruit volunteers, and build relationships. The Tech Soup blog has some terrific tips to help you maximize the benefit.
Grants
Click-it:. Success in grant seeking: How much money to ask for in a grant proposal. This post on the Candid blog outlines how to craft a successful ask. The tips here are excellent, and will boost your chances of success. This is a must-read if you’re new to grant seeking.
Major, Mid-Level, Capital and Legacy Giving
Click-it: Help Your Supporters Plan for the Future During Estate Planning Awareness Week. Estate Planning Awareness Week, held annually in October (October 20-26, 2025), offers an important opportunity to remind donors that creating or updating an estate plan is a simple, empowering step toward building a lasting legacy. This Stelter blog post suggests five strategies to help donors understand the impact they can make.
Click-it: How AI Can Help Your Nonprofit Secure More Major Gifts. Working with limited resources got you down? It’s beyond time for you to think about how AI can help you with major donor research, cultivation and stewardship. The experts at Virtuous/Momentum review three ways AI can help you earn more major gifts, as well as what types of tools to look for and how to use them responsibly.
Psychology of Giving
Click-it: 12 human quirks you can use to fundraise better. I’m a huge proponent of applying psychology, neuroscience and behavioral economics to the practice of fundraising – so I love this article! Mary Cahalane, Hands-On Fundraising, offers a dozen thoughtful tips. Think about how you might employ them to your advantage. Many serve as decision-making shortcuts for your supporters!
Storytelling
Click-it: How Best to Start an Appeal? Read this beautiful story on the Agitator-DonorVoice blog, and then start telling stories like it. What’s really helpful here is the guidance on what to stop doing.
Year-End
Click-it: 9 Year-End Giving Campaign Ideas. You’ll want to check these out, because they’re from the folks at NextAfter. And they back up their advice with research! Among the things you’ll learn (so you can use them to your advantage): (1) Web visitors are 60% more likely to donate on December 31st than on Giving Tuesday. (2) Revenue per donor of recurring donors is 77% more than one-time donors. (3) Adding a sticky bar to the instant donation page can lead to a 50% increase in donations. And there’s much more!
Click-it: How to Reduce Donation Abandonment Rates for Your Nonprofit. Here are some quick tips from True Sense Marketing to get you ready for year-end fundraising.
You
Click-it:. Kindness in the Workplace: Why It’s Essential and 8 Ways to Practice It. The world isn’t always kind. The workplace should be. This article in the HRMorning newsletter suggests what you, and others on your time, might consider to build a less toxic culture.
Other Learning Opportunities
ONLINE CONFERENCE, WEBINAR SERIES OR COURSE
Click-it: Generosity Exchange [Register for free 2-day virtual conference, 10-15 & 16, 2025]. Hosted by Neon One, you’ll have access to insightful keynotes and hands-on workshops grounded in real nonprofit stories. You’ll also have access to all session recordings and gain entrée into a large professional network. Plus, you’ll take home some curated templates, checklists, and tools inspired by the Generosity Report and event sessions.
Click-it: IFC Online [Register for free multi-day conference, 10-15 to 10-17, 2025]. The Resources Alliance has curated a condensed version of the in-person conference and is live-streaming it for free, along with the opening and closing plenaries. Check all the sessions from which to choose at this international event.
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, & 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!
Boards
Click-it: Inspire Board Members to Facilitate Philanthropy [Register for free webinar, 10-15-2025]. Want to turn your board members into your best fundraising advocates? In this webinar for Auctria, you’ll learn from me how to identify and overcome common fears and other fundraising barriers. Plus you’ll get action tips to help your board evolve.
Click-it: Find Your People: Board Recruitment with Intention & Inclusion [Join free virtual event, 10-22-2025]. Join Renee Rubin Ross and Christal M. Cherry for this interactive workshop to strengthen board recruitment. Leave with tools to build a board where every member feels valued, engaged, and ready to lead.
Major, Mid-Level, Capital and Legacy Giving
Click-it: Making the Ask: Turn Your Fundraising Conversations into Authentic Opportunities [Register for free webinar, 10-15-2025]. Join Mallory Erickson and Donor Perfect to learn how to confidently navigate the critical moments of asking for support from existing, lapsed, or new donors. In this actionable session, you’ll get a practical framework and verbiage that enables you to create real value, inspire genuine commitment, and move toward a confident “yes.”
DOWNLOADABLE GUIDES, PAPERS, TEMPLATES & OTHER RESOURCES
Major, Mid-Level, Capital and Legacy Giving
Click-it: Removing Obstacles to Major Gift Fundraising [Download free paper]. The Veritus Group suggests five avoidable issues harming your major gifts program. This will help you and your organization identify where you need to improve so you can grow and thrive.
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:. Free nonprofit budget template with sample and step-by-step guide. From GiveButter, this has everything you need to know (but were afraid to ask) about building a board-ready budget. You’ll also learn about five different types of budgets: income-based; incremental; zero-based; goal-oriented, and rolling forecast.
Year-End
Click-it: 2025 Ultimate End-of-Year Fundraising Toolkit [Download free resource]. Blackbaud has put together a toolkit with a three-month campaign checklist, ready-to-use email templates, and real customer examples, our Ultimate End-of-Year Fundraising Toolkit will help you tackle everything from Giving Tuesday through New Year’s Eve.
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.
🔍 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
🎯 12 Proven Strategies to Raise More Money Before Year’s End
💸 Top Reasons Your Nonprofit Should Actively Promote Stock Gifts
🏔️ Proven Strategies to Climb the Year-End Fundraising Mountain
💡Finally… if you have a question, any question…
Ask your question here. And check out my free fundraising advice column on the Bloomerang blog! You can bookmark the ASK AN EXPERT page for any time you have a question. Here’s one: Is setting up stock donations really worth the hassle for a small nonprofit?
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 TIPS are live! (Just log in to your Member Dashboard). Your support is much appreciated, and helps me to support you. Thank you!
This week, my walks took me past some folks already decorating for Halloween. Even though it’s early, some of these are standouts. Enjoy!
May your weeks ahead be filled with more treats than tricks, plus happy surprises.
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