Fridays 4 Fundraising

Summary In this episode of Fridays 4 Fundraising, Kelly talks about the importance of maintaining a clean and up-to-date donor CRM, and how to leverage slower months (like August) to prep it for busier times (like year end). Kelly shares practical steps for nonprofit organizations to streamline their donor data, prepare for major gift campaigns, and leverage CRM cleanup as a strategic tool for fundraising success. Links Check Out Donorbox Request a Discovery Call Register for Major Gifts for the Small Shop Workshop Takeaways Regular CRM cleanup prevents duplicate donor accounts which avoids critical relationship management errors. Up-to-date donor profiles improve communication and engagement. Cleaning your CRM now saves time and effort later. A systematic approach to cleanup can be manageable and effective. CRM maintenance is crucial for long-term fundraising success. Keywords nonprofit fundraising, donor CRM, data cleanup, major gifts, fundraising strategy, nonprofit tips, donor management, CRM best practices, fundraising success, nonprofit growth

Summary In this episode of Fridays 4 Fundraising, Kelly challenges you to call your 10 most recent donors AND create the infrastructure to keep calling your donors every Friday. Links Check Out Donorbox Request a Discovery Call Takeaways Build and schedule a report from your donor CRM to keep you on top of calling your donors. End your week with calls to your donors to maximize your donation relationships and end your week with encouragement. Keywords fundraising, nonprofit, donor communication, stewardship

Summary In this episode of Fridays 4 Fundraising, Kelly tells you how her clients have successfully gotten more responses from emails to donors with a simple, practical email strategy to improve donor communication and stewardship, emphasizing strategic and sparing use of mail merge for maximum impact. Links Check Out Donorbox Request a Discovery Call Takeaways Mail merge can personalize donor updates and increase engagement when used SPARINGLY. Using mail merge for important, targeted communications can create a sense of exclusivity and intimacy. Always use mail merge strategically to avoid spamming donors. Tools like Outlook, Gmail, and third-party plugins can facilitate mail merge. Donor stewardship emails sent via mail merge can generate immediate responses and conversations. Keywords fundraising, nonprofit, mail merge, donor communication, stewardship, email marketing, nonprofit tips

Summary In this episode of Fridays 4 Fundraising, Kelly explains how to effectively use LYBUNT reports to re-engage donors and build sustainable support. Learn actionable steps to improve donor retention and strengthen your fundraising efforts. Links Check Out Donorbox Request a Discovery Call Takeaways Check LYBUNT reports monthly to catch donors before they lapse Reach out to donors who haven't given this year to re-engage them Understand why donors lapse and address their concerns Use donor data to inform your fundraising strategy Build relationships beyond financial contributions Keywords fundraising, nonprofit, donor retention, LYBUNT, donor engagement, fundraising strategy, nonprofit tips

Summary In this episode of Fridays 4 Fundraising, Kelly shares practical strategies for email list segmentation and donor engagement to boost nonprofit fundraising efforts. Learn how to effectively categorize your supporters and leverage integrated platforms for better outreach. Links Check Out Donorbox Request a Discovery Call Takeaways Segment your email list based on donor activity and interests. Use integrated platforms like Neon One, DonorBox, and CauseVox. Allow supporters to self-select their interests to improve engagement. Update donor tags with last donation date for targeted campaigns. Leverage Zapier to connect platforms that don't natively integrate. Keywords nonprofit fundraising, email segmentation, donor management, CRM, donor engagement, fundraising strategies, nonprofit tips

Summary In this episode of Fridays 4 Fundraising, Kelly shares something a little different: a deeply impactful mindset quote that she wants to share with you. Take this weekend to rest, instead of continuing to hustle. The work will be there again on Monday. Links Check Out Donorbox Request a Discovery Call Takeaways When we don't take time for rest, we're asking to burn out. Even when the work is hard and urgent, rest is yet more urgent because you are your mission's greatest asset. Keywords fundraising, fundraiser burnout, nonprofit burnout, rest is resistance, nonprofit leadership

Summary In this episode of Fridays 4 Fundraising, Kelly shares practical strategies for engaging lapsed donors, including real-life success stories and actionable steps to re-engage supporters and boost fundraising efforts. Links Check Out Donorbox Request a Discovery Call Takeaways It's worth calling lapsed donors, not to raise more, but to find out how to improve your fundraising efforts. A real life story about how Kelly brought a donor back into the fold at a higher level than they'd ever given before. Keywords fundraising, lapsed donors, donor engagement, nonprofit, Kelly McLaughlin, donor retention, fundraising tips

Summary In this episode of Fridays 4 Fundraising, Kelly shares how nonprofit organizations can leverage Zapier to automate routine tasks, saving time and increasing efficiency in fundraising efforts. Links to Tools Mentioned Zapier - https://zapier.com DonorBox - https://www.donorbox.org Neon One - https://neonone.com Monday.com - https://monday.com Takeaways Zapier can connect multiple tools to automate fundraising tasks. Automation frees up staff to focus on relationship-building rather than data entry. A well-structured automation system can operate seamlessly without constant oversight. Nonprofits can implement sophisticated workflows even with small teams. Chapters 00:00 Welcome to Fridays 4 Fundraising 00:48 Thanks to Donorbox! 01:17 This Week's Focus: Drop busywork with Zapier 02:07 How to drop busywork with Zapier 06:55 Resources to Support You 08:10 This Week's Assignment: Automate something that will save you hours Keywords fundraising automation, Zapier, nonprofit efficiency, donor management, workflow automation

Summary In this episode of Fridays 4 Fundraising, Kelly talks about how to get your board to buy into professional development budgets. Links Check Out Donorbox Request a Discovery Call Takeaways Present fundraising investments as gains, not a way to prevent losses. Use data to show the potential return on investment. Frame fundraising needs as opportunities for growth. Keywords fundraising, nonprofit, professional development, donor retention, board engagement, fundraising strategy, nonprofit success, donor retention improvement, fundraising support

Summary In this episode of Fridays 4 Fundraising, Kelly emphasizes the importance of personal donor engagement through calls, advocating for a return to traditional relationship-building methods to boost fundraising effectiveness. She shares practical steps for nonprofit leaders to reconnect with donors and improve retention. Links Check Out Donorbox Request a Discovery Call Takeaways The decline of digital-only fundraising strategies The importance of personal donor relationships Practical steps for calling and engaging donors Chapters 00:00 Welcome to Fridays 4 Fundraising 00:41 Thank You to Donorbox! 01:08 This Week's Focus: Call Your Donors, part 2! 04:10 How to Approach Calling Donors You Don't Know 05:49 Let's hang out! 06:53 Your Homework Assignment: Call 10 Donors You Don't Know Keywords fundraising, donor engagement, nonprofit, relationship-building, donor calls, fundraising strategy, Kelly McLaughlin, From Scratch Fundraising

Summary In this episode of Fridays 4 Fundraising, Kelly explains how nonprofit fundraisers can leverage calendar scheduling links to increase efficiency and build stronger donor relationships. Kelly shares practical steps to implement these tools and improve fundraising outcomes. Links Check Out Donorbox Request a Discovery Call Takeaways Using calendar links is now essential for donor engagement. Set up three default meeting types: 30-min virtual, 60-min virtual, 90-min in-person. Choose a platform that integrates well with your existing tools. Donors prefer efficient, no-hassle scheduling options. Chapters Chapters 00:00 Welcome to Fridays 4 Fundraising 01:07 The Shift in Donor Scheduling Preferences 01:38 Why Calendar Links Are a Must Now 03:55 Choosing the Right Scheduling Platform 05:17 Setting Up Default Meeting Types 06:09 Matching Meeting Types to Donor Needs 06:50 Quick Setup Tips for Calendar Links 06:58 Your Weekly Homework: Implement a Calendar Link Keywords fundraising, nonprofit, calendar scheduling, donor relationships, efficiency, digital tools, fundraising tips

Summary In this episode of Fridays 4 Fundraising, Kelly shares insights on managing fundraiser burnout by understanding the physiological stress response and practical techniques to stay resilient. Links Check Out Donorbox Request a Discovery Call Sign up for How To Fundraise Without Burning Out workshop Takeaways Burnout is the freeze response, a physiological reaction to stress. Managing stress involves making your body feel safe through physical and social activities. Understanding the physicality of stress is crucial for long-term resilience. Chapters 00:00 Welcome to Fridays 4 Fundraising 02:40 Understanding Fundraiser Burnout 05:19 Physiological Responses to Stress 08:14 Strategies for Managing Stress 10:58 Building a Burnout Recovery Action Plan 13:51 Workshop Invitation and Conclusion Keywords fundraiser burnout, stress management, nonprofit, sustainable fundraising, mental health, stress response, burnout recovery, Kelly McLaughlin, DonorBox, fundraising tips

Summary In this episode of Fridays 4 Fundraising, Kelly shares a simple yet powerful technique to enhance donor relationships and increase retention—BCC'ing team members on donation autoresponders. She explains how this easy step can foster real conversations, improve engagement, and ultimately boost fundraising success. Links Check Out Donorbox Request a Discovery Call Sign up for How To Fundraise Without Burning Out workshop Takeaways Using BCC in autoresponders helps to build relationships by prompting conversations with donors you wouldn't have otherwise. Improving donor retention requires personalized engagement Chapters 00:00 Welcome to Fridays 4 Fundraising 00:47 Thank You Donorbox! 01:31 This Week's Focus: Optimize Your Thank Yous 04:31 How To Set Up a BCC on your Autoresponder 10:25 Workshop: How to Fundraise Without Burning Outt 13:01 This Week's Assignment: Set up a BCC on your autoresponders Keywords fundraising, donor relationships, autoresponders, donor retention, nonprofit, digital fundraising, relationship building, Kelly McLaughlin, fundraising tips

Summary In this episode of Fridays 4 Fundraising, Kelly talks about why phone calls to donors still matter—even (and maybe in spite of) the age of digital efficiency. This week, start with your top 10 donors to begin making strides in donor retention and upgrades. Links Check Out Donorbox Request a Discovery Call Sign up for How To Fundraise Without Burning Out workshop Takeaways The importance of calling donors for relationship building Steps to effectively call top donors Using digital tools to enhance face-to-face interactions Managing fundraising burnout and stress Chapters Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Fundraising Focus 00:38 Kelly's Weekly Fundraising Assignment 01:34 Introducing the Call Your Donors Series 01:58 The Impact of Donor Calls on Fundraising 03:51 Digital Tools vs. Personal Relationships 06:04 How to Identify Your Top 10 Donors 06:42 Simple Steps to Call Your Donors 08:00 Treat Every Donor as Valuable 08:52 Voicemail and Follow-up Tips 09:22 Upcoming Free Workshop on Burnout Prevention 11:36 Weekly Homework: Call Your Top 10 Donors Keywords fundraising, donor calls, nonprofit, relationship building, donor retention, burnout prevention, digital tools, fundraising strategy

Summary In this episode of Fridays 4 Fundraising, Kelly shares practical strategies for nonprofit fundraising success, focusing on eliminating non-essential tasks to free up time for relationship building and mission impact. She emphasizes the importance of focusing on activities that directly support organizational goals. Links Join Sustain & Thrive: https://www.fromscratchfundraising.com/sustain-thrive Schedule a Discovery Call: https://www.fromscratchfundraising.com/schedule Check Out DonorBox: https://donorbox.org/?kfl_ln=zdbknju Takeaways Eliminate tasks that don't support primary goals or organizational survival. Use a three-question test to evaluate each task's importance. Focus on relationship-building activities to move fundraising forward. Automation and delegation are key to increasing productivity. Chapters 00:00 Welcome to Fridays 4 Fundraising 00:45 Thank You to our First Sponsor: Donorbox! 01:28 This Week's Focus: Boost Productivity & Eliminate! 02:22 How to Eliminate Non-Essential Tasks 04:24 Resources to Support You 04:59 This Week's Assignment: Find things to eliminate on your to do list Keywords fundraising, nonprofit, productivity, task elimination, relationship building, Kelly McLaughlin, From Scratch Fundraising, nonprofit tips

Summary In this episode of Fridays 4 Fundraising, Kelly shares a practical framework for nonprofit leaders to boost productivity by automating, operating efficiently, and delegating tasks. This episode offers actionable steps to free up time for relationship building and strategic growth via delegation--even when there's nobody to delegate to! Links Join Sustain & Thrive: https://www.fromscratchfundraising.com/sustain-thrive Schedule a Discovery Call: https://www.fromscratchfundraising.com/schedule Check Out DonorBox: https://donorbox.org/?kfl_ln=zdbknju Takeaways Automate repetitive tasks using tools like Zapier and QuickBooks. Delegate non-value-adding tasks to volunteers, contractors, or software. Use platforms like Volunteer Match to find volunteers for specific tasks. Hiring an accountant can save time and money, often more than the cost. Focus on relationship-building activities that drive fundraising. Chapters 00:00 Welcome to Fridays 4 Fundraising 01:31 This Week's Focus: Framework for Productivity - Delegate! 02:50 How To Delegate - even when there's nobody to delegate to 06:49 Resources to Support You 08:00 This Week's Assignment: Figure out something you can delegate today Keywords nonprofit, productivity, delegation, automation, fundraising, volunteer, small nonprofit, efficiency, Kelly McLaughlin, From Scratch Fundraising

Summary In this episode of Fridays 4 Fundraising, Kelly shares practical strategies for creating standard operating procedures (SOPs) to streamline operations, automate tasks, and build sustainable systems. She also introduces her Nurture and Grow consulting program to help organizations develop long-term fundraising strategies. Links Join Sustain & Thrive: https://www.fromscratchfundraising.com/sustain-thrive Schedule a Discovery Call: https://www.fromscratchfundraising.com/schedule Check Out DonorBox: https://donorbox.org/?kfl_ln=zdbknju Takeaways Create SOPs for recurring tasks to save brainpower and ease delegation/handoffs Prepare your organization to operate smoothly even in your absence Chapters 00:00 Welcome to Fridays 4 Fundraising 00:00 A Note from Donorbox 01:55 This Week's Focus: Productivity - Operate! 03:05 How to Create Standard Operating Procedures 07:30 This Week's Assignment: Create a few SOPs Keywords nonprofit fundraising, SOP, standard operating procedures, automation, nonprofit strategy, Kelly McLaughlin, fundraising systems, nonprofit growth, donor relationships, fundraising success

Summary In this episode of Fridays 4 Fundraising, Kelly shares practical strategies for nonprofit fundraisers to boost productivity through automation, effective use of tools like Zapier, and strategic planning. She emphasizes the importance of simplifying tasks, automating repetitive processes, and building sustainable fundraising systems. Links Join Sustain & Thrive: https://www.fromscratchfundraising.com/sustain-thrive Schedule a Discovery Call: https://www.fromscratchfundraising.com/schedule Check Out DonorBox: https://donorbox.org/?kfl_ln=zdbknju Check Out Zapier: https://zapier.com Takeaways Review your to-do list for automation opportunities Use tools like Zapier to automate repetitive tasks Leverage existing platform features for automation Chapters 00:00 Welcome to Fridays 4 Fundraising 00:40 Thank You to our First Sponsor: Donorbox! 01:43 This Week's Focus: Boost Productivity & Automate! 02:29 How To Boost Productivity through Automations 05:07 Resources to Support You 06:38 This Week's Assignment: Find things to automate on your to do list Keywords nonprofit fundraising, automation, productivity, Zapier, donor management, fundraising strategy, nonprofit tips, efficiency, system building

Summary In this episode of Fridays 4 Fundraising, Kelly walks you through the WHY of a welcome series so that you can better understand HOW to build an effective welcome series. Links Download the Welcome Series Template: https://www.fromscratchfundraising.com/email Join Sustain & Thrive: https://www.fromscratchfundraising.com/sustain-thrive Schedule a Discovery Call: https://www.fromscratchfundraising.com/schedule Check Out DonorBox: https://donorbox.org/?kfl_ln=zdbknju

Summary In this episode of Fridays 4 Fundraising, Kelly talks about where to build your email list, depending on whether your strategy includes just donors or other audiences. She also discusses unconventional strategies that are wildly successful for list building for small nonprofits. Download the Welcome Series Template: https://www.fromscratchfundraising.com/email Join Sustain & Thrive: https://www.fromscratchfundraising.com/sustain-thrive Schedule a consultation call: https://www.fromscratchfundraising.com/schedule Takeaways You don't always need an email marketing system that is separate from your donor CRM/donor database. In fact, there are some CRMs with great integrated email marketing tools. Think beyond social media when you think about list building. Offline methods are often far more powerful in helping you build an engaged email list.