5 Resources for Fundraising Inspiration in 2023
The year is well underway, and (hopefully) so is your annual fundraising program. Whether you’re looking for transformative ideas or opportunities for incremental improvements, there’s a resource out there for you.
Here are five (in no particular order) that we love. If your favourite isn’t on the list, share it on Twitter and be sure to tag us @getsomebroccoli.
What is it: A comprehensive annual benchmarking project out of the US which in 2022 encompassed 5,875,566,206 email messages, over $119 million in digital ad spending, millions of social media interactions, and nearly 27 million donations totalling over $1 billion (all figures USD).
What we like: Incredible detail, and M+R consistently provide sound insights and recommendations based on the data.
You should know: Measure first, then compare. Before getting swept up in comparisons with other orgs, focus first on getting your own house in order.
What is it: A massive (free) hub for research related to international research on generosity, volunteerism, behavioural science, movement building, and trends in giving.
What we like: Search and sort by keyword, date of publication, theme, and region.
You should know: Because there is so much packed in here, it can be tricky to find exactly what you’re looking for. GivingLab won’t answer all your questions, but it can set you off in the right direction.
What is it: The Showcase of Fundraising Innovation and Inspiration (SOFII) is a charity for fundraisers, by fundraisers.
What we like: It’s full of inspiration for your next project, including actual sample images of the fundraising package or campaign materials with commentary from the clever people who brought them to life.
You should know: There’s so much packed into the site that navigating it at first might be a bit overwhelming. Our advice is to dive in and embrace the chaos.
What is it: A library of digital fundraising guides, templates, and research findings developed and hosted by NextAfter.
What we like: The A/B optimization findings are our favourites. Flashy, big budget campaigns get a lot of fanfare, but it’s optimization work like this that really drives a digital marketing program forward.
You should know: Many of the studies and eBooks will require a free signup for the report to be delivered via email. The content is top notch, so don’t let that stop you!
What is it: A UK-based, globally-focused institute for education and resources related to giving behaviours, with an emphasis on the science of philanthropic psychology.
What we like: The track records of co-founders Dr. Jen Shang and Dr. Adrian Sargeant are impeccable, and we appreciate knowing that all of their published findings meet a high level of academic rigour.
You should know: Incorporating elements of philanthropic psychology into your practice is not a quick fix for a struggling program. Take the time to deeply understand what their research is saying, or better yet, sign up for one of their online courses.
BONUS!
Your local public library. If there’s a fundraising book in your Amazon wish list, check your local library first to see if they have a copy or two. If not, ask them to add it to their collection. Chances are if you’ll find it valuable, so will other fundraisers and nonprofits in your community.
Hacksheet.org is a simple, free resource for tools that nonprofits can use, especially those just getting started with little or no budget. You can upvote your favourites, add new tools, and subscribe for alerts when new tools are added.
What are you waiting for?! Go get ‘em!
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