When we build community, we’re building resilience. It’s important for so many reasons, but it’s the a key way we can claw our way out of burnout.

You can stop for five minutes, right? Just five minutes can help you in a lot of unexpected ways.

Burnout isn’t a personal failing. It’s a systems failing.

Let’s talk about how nonprofit professionals can better understand burnout and what they can do to combat it for themselves and their organizations.

P2P fundraising is a method where your supporters raise funds on your behalf by reaching out to their own networks. Instead of your organization making direct asks, your community members become the fundraisers, leveraging their personal relationships to bring in new donors and deepen engagement. It’s about more than money. It’s about letting your community come in and become your champion and letting them be a part of your impact.

Nonprofit fundraising is no easy feat. Between managing donor relationships, planning events, and ensuring day-to-day operations run smoothly, fundraisers often find themselves stretched too thin. If you feel like there just aren’t enough hours in the day, it’s time to streamline your workflows. By automating, delegating, and eliminating unnecessary tasks, you can focus on what truly matters—advancing your mission.

When the going gets tough, the tough turn to their community. Let’s talk about how we can leverage community for fundraising so that everyone gets more.

Many of our organizations were founded because there was an urgent need in our community…and we’ve never stopped living in the “urgent” zone. But productivity happens when you’re living in the “important, not urgent” zone. 

I’m so excited about all the ways we’ll be connecting, learning, and growing together in 2025. Whether through a workshop, a coaching program, or a simple Instagram reel, I can’t wait to help you make this your most impactful fundraising year yet.

It’s hard starting a new year. You worked hard to fundraise in 2024, and then you come in on January 2 to a big, fat $0 on the fundraising thermometer. It can feel like staring at an empty mixing bowl. The ingredients got all used up last year, and it’s easy to wonder how you’ll whip up the magic again this year. Let’s talk about how to use last year’s numbers and set goals so SMART they’d make any fundraiser proud.

Dropped the ball and don’t have a year end campaign? Here’s an email series I recommend.

I’ve been challenged by our team here to reflect on the past year. It’s been a wild ride at From Scratch Fundraising, and I know many of you have had similarly transformative years. As a lifelong learner, I offer these reflections in the spirit of growth - some observations may have applications for your nonprofit, and some may not - so take what you need and let’s see where we go…

You know how when you don’t know any differently, your experience seems normal? 

Let me tell you about my first fundraising job.

Nonprofit fundraisers are the unsung heroes of the nonprofit world. Whether full-time development directors or founders who’ve had to don the cape, those of us working to develop resources for our mission-driven work are the foundation of our sector–a sector that literally saves lives every single day. 

If you’re feeling the crunch of Giving Tuesday but haven’t yet finalized your plan (or started your plan), don’t stress! Giving Tuesday can be a valuable opportunity to rally support and kick off year-end giving, but it’s not the end of the world if it’s too late to join in. Giving Tuesday is a day with a lot of noise, and I’ve seen a lot of clients leverage it to raise lots of money. I’ve also seen clients work really hard and get lack-luster results.

Bottom line, just because you’re a nonprofit, doesn’t mean you HAVE to participate in Giving Tuesday.

You’ve got your year-end fundraising strategy mixed, prepped, baked and ready to go. But before you take that delicious treat to your donors, take a moment to check those little details that can make or break your efforts. These final touches might seem small, but they’re the difference between a perfect batch and a flop. Here are 10 detail-oriented tips that are easily overlooked.

Here are five tips to help you whip up excitement around including professional development support in your budget with your leadership to get the support you need in 2025.

You might not be afraid of no ghosts, but what about board members? Here’s how to deal with the spooks that might be haunting your nonprofit board.

Here are some tricks that I learned over the years to stand out in the mailbox or the inbox. While it won’t make up for a sloppily written appeal, a decent appeal paired with these tricks will get you more attention and lift your response rates.