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You get the edge when you’ve got the goods!

A Glass Half-Full Approach to Fundraising for 2024

As I prepare for 2024 with optimism, I’ve been reflecting on this past year. In 2023 we saw the end of the pandemic. However, the effects still linger, and many of us may find ourselves feeling apprehensive about the state of the economy. It’s costing many non-profit organizations more to fulfil their missions. Meanwhile, the…

The key to transforming your monthly donor programs

For many not-for-profit fundraisers, new donor acquisition has been the primary focus of their monthly donor program. As most of us in the space know, it takes a lot of money to land a new donor, especially one that’s going to give on a regular basis. But new evidence from our JAM Collective first cohort…
This Season of Giving, there's reason for hope!

This Season of Giving, there’s reason for hope! (And more money for your mission.)

As we head into the holidays, we can all agree on one thing: this year has been tough for fundraisers. With commercial companies tightening their belts, and inflation and higher living costs for the average North American, you may be feeling like it’s harder than ever to raise more money to achieve your mission. Industry…
Approaching AI with cautious optimism

Approaching AI with cautious optimism — and a human touch

As we continue to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of technology, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on a recent AI Summit we had with ST leadership and share some insights on the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in our work for our clients. AI, at its core, is software that mimics human activity.…
Future-Proof Your Revenue with Monthly Donors

Future-Proof Your Revenue with Monthly Donors

Monthly — aka Sustainer — giving programs are becoming increasingly vital for non-profit organizations to build a predictable revenue stream. In fact, CanadaHelps, whose fundraising platform supports more than 26,000 Canadian charities, reports that the number of monthly gifts is increasing and now represents 22% of total donations. That reality, as well as the popularity…
Keep Your Monthly Donors Coming Back for More

Keep Your Monthly Donors Coming Back for More

Some of my most memorable experiences as a donor have come from grassroots organizations who tend to be smaller in size but just as passionate in delivering their mission as larger, more established ones. Perhaps it’s the fact that their more limited resources inspire more creative thinking. Whatever the inspiration, these organizations prove time and…
Behind the curtain

Behind the Curtain – ST’s Seven Secrets to Staffing Success

The fundraising environment is tough these days. Talks of recession, rising costs, production delays and the almost constant pressure to meet financial goals is taking its toll on all of us. And the result? Stress, discontent and staff turnover rates increasing in our sector. I read an article recently on Givebutter that stated the average turnover…
The JAM Collective is "Just About Monthlies".

The JAM Collective is “Just About Monthlies”

Disponible en français Here’s what that means to you and why you should get in while the gettin’s good. JAM Collective is an effort to create more thought leadership and benchmarking data for the monthly and sustainer donor fundraising community. (We use monthly and sustainer interchangeably. In Canada, we call them monthly, in the US…
Declining results?

Declining Results? You Are Not Alone. Here Are 5 Things You Should Do.

In October, AFP released their Fundraising Effectiveness Project (FEP)* report on second quarter fundraising in the US. The report compares second quarter results this year with last and reported that the total number of donors between April and June 2022 had decreased by 7%. This can be attributed to declines in small (<$500 donor segments)…
The edge

Why Fundraising Leadership Should Care About Google Analytics

To navigate a complex media environment, reach younger donors, and stand out in a crowded marketplace, it’s become a fact that today’s fundraisers need to enhance their skill sets. In our highly interactive webinar, Philip King and I demonstrated the value of Google Analytics to fundraising. You might be surprised to discover how the data…
Keeping Your Edge in Uncertain Times

Keeping Your Edge in Uncertain Times

Saying recent years have been “turbulent” is an understatement. Between the pandemic, supply chain issues, social change, rising costs and declining donors, non-profits are facing challenges unlike any we’ve seen before. And we are all worried about the current state of fundraising. So, how can fundraisers go forward, keeping our edge in these uncertain times,…
When challenges come at you fast, be brave!

When challenges come at you fast, be brave!

After the pandemic hit, it was no surprise that our clients’ traditional fundraising efforts took a hit. Yours probably did, too. You couldn’t host events. Or meet in person with donors. Face-to-Face fundraising stopped, as did Door-to-Door. Mail and digital became really the only viable options for fundraising and, lo and behold, in spite of…
Improve your digital experience

When non-profits improve their digital experience, good things happen!

As much as we’d all prefer to be finding our way out of the pandemic, we are still navigating through it. This further heightens the need for charities and non-profits facing decreased donations to improve the quality of the digital experiences they deliver – for today and for whatever shape the next normal takes. Today…
7 Fundraising Trends banner

7 Trends Email Series

Our president, Paula Attfield took an in-depth look at various fundraising stats and studies, as well as what’s happening with our clients, and identified 7 fundraising trends she thought not-for-profits might be interested in. Enjoy exploring the trends!