News/Blog

By Shivani Daga
Founder & CEO, SHrategy

When you hear the word "fundraising," you may think of effective campaigns, memorable events, or compelling asks.

But the magic really begins behind the scenes — with the team you assemble, the culture you cultivate, and the leadership you enable.

At SHrategy, we don't just believe that fundraising success is about dollars raised — it's about people inspired.

And that inspiration starts with one of your nonprofit’s most overlooked secret weapons: a strong, visionary HR team.

Here’s why investing in your people is one of the most transformational fundraising strategies you’ll ever make.

https://afpglobal.org/affinity-group-communities-meetingsby H. Aldervan Daly, CFRE
Executive Vice President Development and Communications, HousingPlus

If you work for a health or human services organization, the term “trauma-informed” is not foreign to you. The interesting thing is that we rarely think of our jobs as fundraisers in terms of trauma. Trauma-informed fundraising is an emerging strengths-based relational approach that promotes direct communication, connection, and resilience throughout the fundraising process.  Raising contributed income can be a heavy load to bear. It can be a very lonely journey for some fundraisers, even if they are part of a team. Fundraisers ensure that nonprofit organizations have stable financial resources. Yet, who supports the fundraiser?

by Margaret M. Holman
President, Holman Consulting

Hope is the lifeblood of philanthropy. In the nonprofit world, where missions often seek to change the course of lives and communities, hope fuels the passion of fundraisers who must continually inspire generosity. Since 1976, I have been raising money across all sectors of the nonprofit world, from education and healthcare to the arts, animal welfare, and humanitarian causes. My work has spanned continents, including organizations in Europe, and I have witnessed firsthand how hope sustains fundraisers through economic downturns and crises.

by Ashley Brannan
Marketing Manager, Community Boost

In times of disruption and unpredictability, nonprofit professionals are often asked to do more with less. The landscape is shifting: federal funding is in flux, public trust in institutions continues to decline, and audiences are fatigued by constant asks. In this climate, traditional digital marketing strategies are falling short.

But amid this uncertainty, there’s one enduring truth: people support nonprofits because they believe in something bigger than themselves.

by Susan Madon, CFRE
CEO, Minerva Non-Profit Management Consulting

During this Christian season of Lent, I am reminded of my parochial school days.  Each Lenten season we were given a cardboard “rice bowl” and asked to fill the bowl with our coins and change. The object was to eat a modest meal once a week and offer the cost difference to feed the poor overseas. Other faith tenets conduct similar practices, and I thought it would be interesting to explore the similarities across traditions in kindness, philanthropy, and generosity.

by Sunil Oommen
President, Oommen Consulting, LLC

We are now one quarter of the way into 2025, and before we know it, we will be neck-deep in intense end-of year preparation and execution mode. The most organized shops already have our direct marketing calendars set for the year, and our major gifts teams are doing the priming work necessary with our portfolios in time for making our year-end goals.

But what about our board members and their fundraising efforts?

by Melanie Buhrmaster & Gregory Boroff
Co-Chairs, AFP-NYC Event

In today’s world, where the challenges facing our communities are increasingly complex and interconnected, collaboration in the nonprofit sector is no longer optional—it’s essential. As fundraisers, we know that the scale of issues like food insecurity, homelessness, and poverty requires more than just the efforts of individual organizations. It demands strategic partnerships that leverage strengths, share resources, and create innovative solutions that drive measurable impact.

by Emily Groccia
Vice President, Customer Success / Director, Version2

Fundraisers know that lapsed donors represent one of the biggest untapped opportunities in fundraising. These are people who have given before, believe in the mission, and may be willing to give again—but only if engaged in the right way.

The challenge? Most nonprofits struggle to bring them back.

by Anne Rehkopf Townsend
Principal, ART + Strategy

Our work right now has never been more critical. Nonprofits provide hope, reminding people that brighter days are ahead. But hope alone isn’t enough. To sustain our missions, we need strategy and plans.

As Eleanor Roosevelt said: "It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan." This sentiment resonates deeply in the world of fundraising. While inspiration and passion drive our work, successful fundraising doesn’t happen by accident. It requires a thoughtful, strategic approach—one that is guided by a well-structured plan that is both dynamic and flexible.

by Rasheeda Childress
Senior Editor for Fundraising, Chronicle of Philanthropy

When you talk to both experienced and new fundraisers about their career trajectories, almost all mention the important role mentoring played.

“I credit everything I’ve learned to people I’ve met with and formed relationships with,” says fundraiser Sean McCarthy. "It’s not something I did on my own. It is definitely something that I achieved by meeting with others, by seeking their advice, by benefiting from their mentorship.”