Winter Wonderland Clairity Click-it: Nonprofit Links, Free Resources
This is a great month to do something you’re proud of. And to support others who are showing their spirit and pride. Actually, every month is good for these things!
Which, as it often does, brings me to share a bit of wisdom from the sage Seth Godin.
Simple five step plan for just about everyone and everything
The number of people you need to ask for permission keeps going down:
Go, make something happen.
Do work you’re proud of.
Treat people with respect.
Make big promises and keep them.
Ship it out the door.
When in doubt, see #1.
— Seth Godin
What do you have to be proud of? Think about this both professionally and personally. Pick one thing your organization did last week or month that made you proud. Pick one thing you did personally that made you proud. I encourage you to think about the proud moments and bask, as much as possible, in the positives. While you’re at it, poke around this issue of the Clairity Click-it and find something that speaks to you. Then… go make something happen!
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 JULY TIPS are live. If you’re not yet enrolled, there’s no better time. Get ALL my content delivered direct to your inbox — so you don’t miss a thing!
Clairity Click-it, Your Nonprofit Ticket to…
SPECIAL FEATURE: The Times We’re In
It’s a brave new world – in SO many ways. How do you, and your nonprofit, adapt to the disruptions impacting you and those who rely on you? Whether it’s funding cutbacks, financial uncertainty, political upheaval, climate change, AI – the ground underfoot is shifting. It can be scary and disorienting. Sometimes, it’s tempting to freeze. Or take flight. But, because the world needs your work, you must fight. Here are a few articles offering food for thought.
ARTICLES
Click-it: What’s Keeping Nonprofit Leaders Up at Night in 2025 — and How to Lead Through It. You’re not alone if you’re worried. But that’s no reason to give up. This article in NonProfitPRO suggests the positive ways you can approach the times we’re in – putting your best feet forward wherever and whenever you can. Times are tough, but there are opportunities into which you can lean.
Click-it: Report Uplifts New and Old Challenges Facing Nonprofits. Nonprofit Quarterly reports on the Center for Effective Philanthropy’s report on State of Nonprofits 2025: What Funders Need to Know. The three main findings are in these areas: (1) Navigating the current political environment; (2) Worries about future funding, and (3) Navigating burnout. If these things keep you up at night, you’ll want to read some of the suggested solutions and perhaps talk to your funders about these issues.
Click-it: How Nonprofit Professionals Can Begin to AI-Proof Their Careers. Predictions are that AI may wipe out millions of white-collar jobs and lead to 10-20% unemployment in the United States – in the near future. Heather Mansfield, founder and editor-in-chief of Nonprofit Tech for Good, shares thoughts on what you can do to assure you’re not one of the replaced.
Click-it: Strategies for Fundraisers Whose Donors Are Facing Tough Times. You and your organization aren’t the only ones who are worried. As a result, it could be prudent to rethink some of the strategies you use to raise money. How might you stay better engaged with donors, both strengthening your relationships and offering them alternative ways to connect with your mission right now? This Chronicle of Philanthropy article addresses the issue, offering lots of actionable ideas.
Articles
Annual (Year-Round) Fundraising
Click-it: Turn Small Donations Into Big Nonprofit Impact with Micro-Giving. This may not be something you’ve thought about, but per the experts at Eventgroove perhaps you should. Micro-philanthropy programs provide an effective entry point for those who find traditional giving models daunting. This article suggests 4 ways to effectively add micro-giving to your organization’s strategy. Plua, there are half a dozen ways to add micro-volunteering activities to create greater engagement.
Click-it: Thermometers Still Work! Something to consider for your next campaign. From John Lepp, on the Better Fundraising Co. blog.
Awareness Building/Branding/ Content Marketing
Click-it: Why Community is Key to Nonprofit Marketing Success. This comprehensive article from Community Boost makes a strong case for building real, human relationships to inspire action. There are a lot of great tips for connecting with your constituents. Actively.
Boards
Click-it: Why Your Board Needs a Give/Get Policy. Joan Garry definitively believes your board needs a policy that involves every member in contributing and fundraising so they can say to others: “join me.” If this is something you’ve been struggling to enact at your organization, read this!
Donor Retention
Click-it: From Thank-You Notes to VIP Events: 10 Donor Recognition Examples That Turn Givers Into Believers. If you think gratitude as a strategy is overrated, you’re just wrong. In 2025, nonprofits with structured donor recognition programs are experiencing a whopping 40% increase in overall donations compared to those without such initiatives. So, check out these tips from Keela. They’re6 excellent, and very thorough.
Major, Mid-Level, Capital and Legacy Giving
Click-it: Top Tactical Tips To Flip “NO” To “ON”. This is the second part of a two-part post I wrote for the Bloomerang blog – all about avoiding taking “NO” personally. There are reasons donors object, but most of them you can work with to flip the narrative. By listening, creating a generous space for the donor, staying positive as you endeavor to lift the donor up by meeting their needs, and getting clarity on the donor’s hopes and fears, you’ll be able to advance their journey. Grab some tactical tips!
Click-it: Where Are Your Boundaries with Donors? This is a tricky subject, but an important one. The Veritus Group works with hundreds of major gift officers, and they’ve heard it all. Here is some advice for honoring the donor, the mission, and your own ethical role in stewarding the relationship.
Click-it: How AI Can Help Your Nonprofit Secure More Major Gifts. Typically, major giving relies heavily on individualized, one-on-one connections between prospective donors and dedicated major gift officers. As a result, you may assume there is no place for AI in these relationships. However, the experts at Momentum beg to differ. Here they suggest 3 ways to use AI to boost your major gift strategy.
HOW ABOUT THIS: Tell your boss you want them to take a course so they can hold you accountable. That ought to get their attention! This Veritus Group Certification Course for Fundraising Managers and Executives is specifically designed for staff who manage major gift officers. It runs in tandem with the certification courses in Major Gifts & Mid-Level Fundraising, so your entire team can learn the same language and implement a consistent system. Depending on your budget, you can sign up for the course that most meets your needs. OR… take advantage of the generous 20% discount if you enroll three or more from your team. Email me for details on the group pricing. And make sure to use my exclusive Clairification Community discount code – CA5 — to save $100 no matter what you choose!
NOTE: The next cohort begins August 25, 2025, and you get $200 if you register before July 25th. Something to consider!
Online and Digital Fundraising and Marketing
Click-it: Apple’s iOS 26??? Digital Outreach just got a HUGE wake-up call. The team at M+R alerts us to a big change coming our way around the Fall of this year. And it will dramatically impact texting and phone banking by screening and filtering unknown callers. At the least, this means you’ll have to learn to craft an opening line that can pass the call screening’s muster and entice the user to pick up. There’s still time to adapt, but this is a game changer.
Psychology of Giving
Click-it: How to Build and Maintain Trust with Influential Donors. There’s nothing as important as building trust; you must prioritize this at every step in your communications with supporters. Here are some concrete suggestions from Snowball Fundraising.
Strategy, Leadership and Management
Click-it: If Your Strategy Works for the ‘Average Donor,’ It Works for No One, Kevin Shulman, the Agitator-DonorVoice, says if you keep treating outliers like noise, optimizing for averages, and blasting the calendar, you’ll always be chasing efficiency and missing impact. Because efficiency doesn’t scale. This article exhorts us to look for deep insights that drive everything. It requires asking Who, Why, How and When before you do the What.
Click-it: Fundraising in a Recession: How Nonprofits Can Maintain Momentum During Inflation. There are a lot of ideas in this article from the Giving Block. Certainly, there are some things mentioned here that you could be doing better. Pick one or two, and lean into them.
Writing
Click-it: Word Jumble: When Nonprofits Talk Fancy, America Tunes Out. The other day I was reading the home page of a nonprofit’s website, and couldn’t for the life of me understand what they did. Let alone why it mattered. So. Much. Jargon. This article in Philanthropy Today lays out the problem.
Other Learning Opportunities
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!
Events
Click-it: Gala Game-Changers: 5 Transformational Changes for a More Engaging & Profitable Gala [Register for free webinar, 7-16-2025]. Transform your nonprofit gala with 5 game-changing strategies to boost engagement, secure sponsorships, and maximize fundraising success. A.J. Steinberg presents for Charity How-To.
Click-it: Recalibrate Your Events to Fuel Year-Round Fundraising [Register for free webinar, 6-30-2025]. Chad Barger, Productive Fundraising, reviews the true purpose and ideal revenue model for events and how to make them even more worthwhile by converting event attendees to annual donors. He’ll also provide IRL examples from which you can borrow.
Grants
Click-it: Demystifying foundation grants: How to secure funding from major private foundations [ Register for free webinar, 7-8-2025]. Join Patrick Schmitt, co-CEO of FreeWill, for this special session featuring guests: Molly Gelinas, Program Officer at Gerstner Philanthropies, Caitlin Orth, Executive Director of The Ruth and Hal Launders Charitable Trust, and Danielle Woodhouse Johnson, founder of The Oasis Alliance and former Gates Foundation Goalkeeper to help your organization build the knowledge and confidence needed to engage more effectively with major private foundations. Grab practical tips about what foundation executives are looking for.
Strategy and Planning
Click-it: Nonprofit 101: The Basics of Fundraising Readiness [Register for free webinar, 7-9-2025]. If you are new to fundraising, or need to take your strategy back to the basics after funding cuts, this webinar is for you! Megan Frenz and Jess DiVito from Nonprofit People will break down the first steps you need to take to craft a holistic fundraising plan that will work for your organization. Sponsored by Nonprofit Hub.
DOWNLOADABLE GUIDES, PAPERS, TEMPLATES & OTHER RESOURCES
Events
Click-it: Boost Auction Revenue with Workplace Giving & Sponsorships. This guide from Auctria explores how to boost auction revenue through sponsorships, in-kind donations, matching gifts, volunteer grants, and more.
Online, Mobile, Digital Fundraising and Marketing
Click-it: Buyer’s Guide to Text Messaging Software [Download free e-book]. Note: everything you read may be somewhat outdated by the time you read it these days, as this landscape is changing quickly. Use this resource from Mobil Commons as a guide, yet be sure to do your own research.
Psychology of Giving
Click-it: The Behavioral Economics Nonprofit Playbook [Download free guide]. Here’s something I don’t think you can live without. Seriously. If you’re not applying principles of psychology, neuroscience and behavioral economics to your fundraising and marketing, it’s time to start! This information from the experts at NextAfter is “must have.”
Strategy and Planning
Click-it: 22 Strategies to Future-Proof Nonprofit Fundraising [Download free e-book]. The halfway point of the calendar year is a good time to reassess your strategies. The landscape, and technology, are in states or rapid flux. This guide from Bloomerang offers food for thought as to what you might consider doing differently as you move forward.
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.
Want to Raise More Unrestricted Dollars? Your Best Stories Can Lead the Way.
Smart Strategies to Raise Unrestricted Nonprofit Funding
When Gratitude Becomes a Gift: A Powerful Way to Deepen Donor Bonds
Do You Assume Donors Don’t Want to Be Asked?
The Psychology of Yes: What Every Fundraiser Needs to Master
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: Among Everything Else We Have to Do, Why Should We Prioritize Monthly Gifts?
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. JULY TIPS are live. Your support is much appreciated, and helps me to support you. Thank you!
This week I’m sharing painted telephone boxes found around San Francisco over the past two weeks. Turning ugly into beautiful!
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