Winter Wonderland Clairity Click-it: Nonprofit Links, Free Resources
How are you doing?
We live in a passionate time, with emotions running high. Sometimes, things seem beyond our control and we become overwhelmed. Or, worse, negative. Cup half (or totally) empty. But, the truth is you may have more control than you think. At least as to how you frame things and approach the world. And this reframing can make a huge difference in how you feel. And what you’re able to accomplish.
Here’s some wisdom from Seth Godin, who I always find thought provoking.
“Emotions are personal and most of the time, we can put effort into creating them (or avoiding them).
But in a community, emotions spread. And not at the same rate. Consider these emotions, roughly sorted by their virality:
- Panic
- Apprehension
- Enthusiasm
- Frustration
- Indignation
- Elation
- Nostalgia
- Curiosity
- Cynicism
- Determination
- Gratitude
- Vulnerability
- Melancholy
- Triumph
- Contentment
- Resignation
- Apathy
- Overwhelm
- Wonder
- Joy
- Satisfaction
- Serenity
If we want to share the emotions near the bottom of this list, we’re going to have to really work at it.”
What might you do in the coming weeks to work at fostering wonder, joy, satisfaction and serenity? How might you help others (e.g., your colleagues, volunteers and donors) to also feel these cup-full emotions?
I hope you will use some of the wisdom gleaned in this week’s issue of the Clairity Click-it newsletter to do the work that nourishes you, so you can then nourish others. Start digging through this curated content from across the web. I hope it will make your job easier, and more fulfilling. There’s lots to get curious about!
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. Please scroll down to see all my Clairification School sponsors who enable me to offer enrollment in ‘Clairification School (access to absolutely all of my content for a full year) at a beyond-affordable price [The enrollment fee just covers my costs, but if it 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
ARTICLES
Click-it: Building Bridges Is Good. Building the Power to Counter Extremists Is Better. This article from David Callahan, Inside Philanthropy, speaks to the season of polarization in which we find ourselves. While working to bridge partisan divides is important (as has always been true), right now depolarization efforts alone may be inadequate to the task at hand. He writes “it’s hard to imagine bridge-building scaling to the point that it can offset the vast reach of media sites, influencers and politicians who are working 24/7 to turn Americans against each other.” He suggests more promising ways that philanthropy can move the needle.
Articles
Annual (Year-Round) Fundraising
Click-it: How to Turn a Single Direct Mail Appeal into a Full Campaign. One of the top reasons donors don’t respond to a fundraising message is they simply fail to notice it. That’s why one of the best ways to boost the impact of an appeal is to make it into a multi-part integrated fundraising campaign. Jeff Brooks, on the Moceanic blog, offers a plan for doing that, focusing on email – the lowest-cost way to reach out to donors.
Click-it: 5 Advantages Direct Mail Offers Nonprofits. Jessica Fox of Eventgroove writes on the Nonprofit Tech for Good blog about the benefits of physical mail. Our brains process it faster than digital ads or unread emails, and it demands attention. Plus, it can do multi-channel double duty. Just incorporate a QR code linked to a specific URL, letting supporters donate instantly while giving you tracking data to see what’s working.
Click-it: Launching a Monthly Giving Program: Your Key to More Reliable Revenue. Developing a robust monthly giving program is one of the most overlooked strategies to increase your revenue, today and tomorrow. Learn how in this piece on the Engage blog.
Click-it: The 7 game changers for monthly giving and the 5 things that stop its growth. Here’s a bit of history on the evolution of monthly giving through the years from guru Erica Waasdorp of A Direct Solution.
Click-it: ‘But We Don’t Actually Do the Work’. Read this if you’re a community foundation or a ‘middleman’ organization that facilitates the work of other organizations. Steven Screen, the Better Fundraising Co., insists you can absolutely tell donors what their gift will specifically accomplish. Because donors care about what you make possible, not about how you do it.
Boards
Click-it: Three Conversations Every Nonprofit Board Should Have Before Year-End Giving Season. Whether it’s fear of rejection, lack of confidence, or sheer discomfort, many board members hesitate to engage in fundraising activities. Your job is to give them clarity, and meaningful ways to participate. This post on the Winkler Group blog suggests conversations you must have with your board if they’re to fulfill their important financing role.
Culture of Philanthropy
Click-it: Who’s Responsible For A Nonprofit’s Culture Of Philanthropy? Check out my piece on the Bloomerang blog about what development staff can – and should – do to facilitate the flow of philanthropic dollars to the organization. Everyone is impacted by your ability to raise money. And that definitely includes all your staff. Bottom line: Everyone’s work makes the mission happen. Or not.
Events
Click-it: Tap into Your Nonprofit’s Hidden Growth Engine. This article from Eventgroove explains how to harness event registration and data-based understanding to build stronger, more lasting donor relationships. By analyzing participation trends, you’ll be able to segment your audiences and do more personalized outreach. Plus, using a platform reduces manual work and provides easy access to growth-driving insights.
Giving Tuesday
Click-it: Giving Tuesday Deserves a Strategy, Not Just a Sprint. Rather than thinking of Giving Tuesday as a single point in time, why not reframe it as a launchpad to spark momentum that lasts longer than 24 hours? So suggests Barbara O’Reilly of Windmill Hill Consulting. It’s a terrific idea – well worth your time to consider. I especially like the notion of using it as a promotion for recurring giving.
Grants
Click-it:. Which Grants Should You Pursue? Use Our Free Decision Tree!. If you’re new to applying for grants, this piece from Bristol Strategy is a good blueprint.
Major, Mid-Level, Capital and Legacy Giving
Click-it: The Role of Wealth Screening in a Major Campaign: A Guide. Wealth screening has its place, yet it’s still just one part of a successful donor cultivation and stewardship strategy. The experts at Virtuous/Momentum break down everything you need to know about the best ways you can understand your donor prospects.
Click-it: Charitable Giving and the New Tax Law: What Capital Campaign Leaders Need to Know. Steven Shattuck writes on the Capital Campaign Pro blog about how changes in the tax law from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) will affect donor giving strategy for year-end 2025 and 2026. The article particularly explores the strategy of “bunching” which will be helpful to major gift donors. It’s something you need to understand, particularly in a capital campaign, as it may alter the flow of donations from donors to your nonprofit.
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 a companion course for you! The next cohort begins October 27th – just in time for 2026 fundraising planning. Check it out – it is game-changing!
Psychology of Giving
Click-it: The Problem with Using Wealth Screens to Qualify Donors. IMHO, this is a “must read.” Katrina Van Huss writes “wealth is a relative perception.” Which means wealth screening may not help you at all. Because it’s not a reflection of generosity. How people perceive their financial situation is often more predictive of charitable giving than the number of zeroes in their portfolio. Learn what to do to inspire philanthropy, instead of just relying on numbers.
Click-it: Our Words Have the Power to Build Bridges or Break Them. I talk all the time about reframing the way you approach fundraising in order to come from a place of love. To invite donors, not fight them. Here is Tammy Zonker’s take on this subject.
Writing
Click-it:. Is Your Appeal Too Much, Too Soon? Great advice: “Start with the person, not the pathology.” So suggests Kevin Shulman on the Agitator-DonorVoice blog. There’s fascinating info here, derived from tests and surveys, about the effect of naming the scary thing vs. starting more slowly, with a story.
Year-End
Click-it: 25 Year-End Fundraising Ideas Nonprofits Can Launch Now. Here are 25 actionable, creative fundraising ideas from the Giving Block you can start planning today. These strategies cover everything from thematic campaigns to donor stewardship, online fundraising, and tech-powered giving enhancements.
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: 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!
Events
Click-it: It’s Not Too Early to Strategize for Giving Tuesday 2025 [Register for free webinar, 10-8-2025]. By the end of this Auctria webinar, you’ll be able to design a complete plan, use match challenges, engage major donors and board members early, and build a stewardship program so folks want to give again.
Click-it: Nonprofit Fundraising Events that Move People [Listen to free podcast. MatchNice hosts Samantha Swaim sharing how to design fundraising events that move people: from storytelling that doubles giving, to match strategies that multiply impact, to follow-ups that turn donors into lifelong supporters.
Marketing
Click-it: Marketing Your Nonprofit [Register for 6-week e-course]. Wild Apricot just launched a brand new, free email course to help you design a marketing plan that feels manageable and truly supports your organization’s mission. You’ll get: 6 strategic emails; one focused lesson per email; tools, templates and worksheets, and real-world examples to draw inspiration from.
Technology as Tool
Click-it: Strategic Technology Planning for Nonprofits [Register for free webinar, 9-30-2025]. Wouldn’t it be great if you could better track your progress, demonstrate impact to stakeholders, and make data-driven decisions to improve programs and services? In this session from TechSoup, you will gain understanding of: Strategic vs. tactical technology planning; How to assess your current technologies; Prioritizing projects and expenditures, and Aligning technology to your strategic goals.
Click-it: The State Of The Sector (Beginning With AI) [Listen to free, on-demand broadcast]. This year, any conversation about the nonprofit sector finds its way to Artificial Intelligence. So Tony Martignetti, Nonprofit Radio, hosted Gene Takagi, NEO Law Group and Amy Sample Ward, NTEN, for a conversation on security issues and board duties around tech, budgeting and planning. Both see resilience as critical.
Year-End Giving
Click-it: Removing Barriers: How to Gain Clarity for Tangible Year-End Fundraising Results [Register for free webinar, 9-30-2025]. Join Donor Search and nonprofit coach Mallory Erickson for this session that will help you eliminate roadblocks to year-end fundraising success, and develop a straightforward, realistic action plan.
DOWNLOADABLE GUIDES, PAPERS, TEMPLATES & OTHER RESOURCES
Major, Mid-Level, Capital and Legacy Giving
Click-it: Touch Point Planning Guide [Download free resource]. This guide from the Veritus Group explores various touch points to enhance donor engagement. Creating meaningful touch points is key to building lasting donor relationships across mid-level, major gifts, and planned giving. These interactions align with donor interests, fostering trust and commitment. A strategic approach ensures donors feel valued, leading to stronger retention and long-term support.
Psychology of Giving
Click-it: The Behavioral Economics Nonprofit Playbook [Download free resource]. Read this! The folks at NextAfter offer 32 behavioral concepts, each unpacked with clarity and backed by real-world examples and experiments, tailor-made for the nonprofit landscape. Learn how to tactically implement these powerful concepts in your fundraising strategy. This is packed with data-driven, tested, and proven research.
Technology as Tool
Click-it: A first-timer’s guide to CRM migration. If you’ve never done this before (or it’s been more than a hot minute since you last did this), you’ll find this blueprint from M+R useful. It includes a “Top 5” list of things to make your transition go smoothly.
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.
💼 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
🔥Top Secrets to Igniting the Philanthropic Fire and Keeping the Warm Glow Burning?
💡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: Boardroom Missteps: How Do You Navigate Member Conflicts?
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. SEPTEMBER TIPS are still live; October TIPS are on the way! (Just log in to your Member Dashboard). Your support is much appreciated, and helps me to support you. Thank you!
Here are some things I appreciated over the past couple of weeks. Enjoy!
Painted on a public meter box. Love it!
Spied this art car parked on the street. It realy jazzed up the neighborhood!
Spectacular painted public bench. Just makes you want to celebrate!
May your weeks ahead be filled with blessings and happy surprises.
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