Nonprofit News

During this unprecedented time, it’s never been more important to have strong leaders at the helm of nonprofits across the country. The COVID-19 outbreak has created many questions for both organizations and nonprofit job seekers navigating the hiring process.

Over the past days and weeks, our Executive Search team has fielded many questions about recruitment in this time of social distancing. To help the nonprofit sector with hiring and job seeking during the coronavirus pandemic, we answered your frequently asked questions and shared them below.

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As we monitor the news from national and public health authorities about coronavirus and follow guidelines to help slow its spread, Campbell & Company is also committed to helping our clients and the sector at large navigate financial challenges posed by the pandemic.

While the depth of COVID-19’s economic impact is hard to predict at this point, we’re encouraged to see so many organizations leveraging digital resources and technology to continue their work. Colleges and universities are moving to remote learning, conferences are going virtual, and corporations are equipping employees to work from home.

But what about fundraising? How can nonprofits remain connected to their constituents and raise the revenue their programs require in these days of social distancing? Here are four ways we recommend using digital engagement to maintain fundraising momentum—even if it means flipping the script.

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Major gift work is demanding. As a frontline fundraiser, you need to stay laser-focused on donors to build relationships, meet goals, and fund vital programs. It’s difficult to take a step back and look at the big picture—but that context can make you a better fundraiser.

How is the sector changing? What developments are impacting who gives and how they show their generosity? Do we need to change the way we raise money in response?

We distilled five of the most important trends shaping the fundraising landscape into a quick overview for our busy audience. Read on for our roundup, plus one strategy per trend to help you adapt. 

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Major giving is built on relationships. The process of developing trust and rapport between a major gift officer and a donor takes time—cultivating a major gift is typically an 18 to 24-month process. But it’s not uncommon for fundraisers to leave their job before they reach the two-year mark.^[1] Why are fundraisers so quick to jump ship, and what can nonprofits do to recruit and retain top talent?

This article explores the issue of high fundraiser turnover and lays out a framework for hiring and keeping high-performing fundraisers.

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At the start of each year, we sit down with our Executive Search team to talk trends in nonprofit hiring and talent management. What’s in store for 2020? Our team members Kris McFeely, Marian DeBerry, and Dan Nevez weighed in.

Keep reading to explore what developments they’re watching, from in-demand skills to recession concerns, high fundraiser turnover to a focus on equity.

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After closing out one decade and moving into the next, the Campbell & Company executive team came together to discuss fundraising trends facing the nonprofit sector moving forward.

From recession worries to fundraising ethics to broad-based giving, Peter, Julia, and Kate commented on the challenges, opportunities, and new developments that have their attention. Read on for their insights and recommendations.

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Baubles. Trinkets. Knick knacks. Tchotchkes. These novelty items go by many names and often find their way into the hands of campaign donors once a major fundraising initiative is complete.

Most development professionals would agree: selecting a meaningful gift for campaign supporters is difficult—and at times, can feel impossible.

How do you walk the line between substantial and showy? How do you select something that donors truly want, especially seasoned philanthropists who seem to have received it all? And what can you gift to your broader base of supporters that doesn’t feel like a throwaway item?

There are no one-size-fits-all answers here, but you can turn what may feel like a perfunctory act into a meaningful stewardship opportunity. Read on for time-tested strategies to guide your selection, plus some examples to get you brainstorming.

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As philanthropy becomes an increasingly important revenue source for nonprofits and more frequent campaigns become a consistent element of the environment, organizations face a big challenge: how do you bring in more fundraising revenue while combating donor fatigue?

A strong pipeline fueled by qualification can help you balance these competing priorities.

Download our how-to guide on major gift qualification.

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How do I build relationships with alumni? Every higher education institution is grappling with this question, from the largest public universities to the smallest liberal arts colleges.

Campbell & Company addressed this challenge in the 2018 study, “Alumni Engagement: Best Practices for Building Long-Term Relationships,” and our team continues to focus on creative solutions to the alumni engagement question. While there are no silver bullets, applying best practices from online fundraising to your alumni engagement efforts can help move the needle.

Download our strategy sheet to engage alumni online.

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This is a guest post by Ash Salleh from Campaign Monitor. 

How often do you check your email, and where? Ask anyone this question and you may realize that most people respond with, “anytime, anywhere.” With wider access to internet connections and the ubiquity of mobile phones across demographics, checking one’s email is most likely a daily habit.

In fact, the average professional spends 2.5 hours per day checking personal emails at work. This means that even in the midst of handling work-related emails, many opt to check upon communications delivered directly to them, regardless of time. People fit it in and around their schedules. That’s encouraging for marketers who depend on email as one of their primary digital channels—you can potentially reach your audience at any given moment.

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