It is said that people are “creatures of habit” who tend to do the same things over and over. That’s certainly the case in fundraising. Donors tend to repeat previous behaviors, including responding to the types of appeals they previously found compelling. Getting donors to repeat their previous actions is critical to donor retention and revenue.

If you’re a nonprofit, chances are you are sending an email fundraising appeal this month. And maybe next month. And definitely the next month. Email, for most nonprofits, is the single largest source of online fundraising revenue. And technology advances have allowed marketers and fundraisers to send emails to hundreds of people at once for extremely low cost.

Branding is more than just signature colors, a slogan, and a logo. It’s an idea—a collection of thoughts and feelings people associate with your organization. And when this idea is well executed, it powers your fundraising.

A cultivation event is a great opportunity to highlight your organization’s mission and needs in a creative way, without coming right out and asking for donations.

Let’s talk about how to make your donors feel truly appreciated. With a loyal, lifelong donor as the goal, here are a few ways to provide an additional personalized touch.

Before you send off a formal donor thank you letter, check in with the Internal Revenue Service. The IRS has a few requirements for acknowledging contributions of $250 or more to nonprofits. Follow their guidelines, and your donors are all set to claim their tax benefits.

Finding major gift donors without prospect research is like searching for a needle in a haystack. You can’t dedicate excessive effort to every prospect, so you don’t want to waste your finite resources pitching to donors who either don’t care or don’t have the capacity to give. With prospect research, you can pinpoint the best prospects and allocate your time accordingly.

Classy recently hosted a webinar on growth strategies for small nonprofits. Our presenters were Stina Rubin and Adria Orr, Account Managers who work to help our partners succeed. They brought their insights to the table to show how even a small organization can prepare for and spur growth.

Here’s a quick recap of five important lessons from the webinar. You can watch the full recording below!