FundRaiser Blog

The FundRaiser Software Blog is an excellent resource for nonprofit organizations looking to learn more about fundraising, donor management, membership management, and much more.

Lessons Learned from Crowdfunding to Save a Horse

CrowdfundingHorseRescue2

Facebook has been a remarkable tool for those involved in saving horses from the kill buyers. For those lots that want to see a horse in a good home rather than shipped to Canada or Mexico for slaughter, there are pages and Facebook Groups devoted to getting these horses visibility, donations, and even a good home. Which brings me to Thanksgiving weekend, when a very pregnant mare, skinny and in dire need of a good home, came across my Facebook newsfeed. I knew I had enough money to pay the deposit required to ensure she wouldn’t suddenly be shipped off...but for the rest of the money, and the cost to ship her from Kansas to Missouri? I wasn’t sure how to raise it. I decided to try crowdfunding.

I hear about crowdfunding successes all the time, but could I do it? Could I raise the money necessary to save this horse and bring her to my place? Her story reminded me so much of my own mare (now 19), whom I rescued as a 3 month old colt, a “surprise” for the mare had been through so many auctions that no one knew or disclosed that she was pregnant. I had to try.

Continue reading
3359 Hits

Case Study: Parkesburg Point Surges to Success with #GivingTuesday Crowdfunding Campaign

POINT-Campaign-Photo

Parkesburg Point is going for it this year for #GivingTuesday. Although it isn’t even Tuesday yet, they have already succeeded at reaching their goal. Now they are moving with confidence into their total year-end fundraising. “We were involved with GivingTuesday last year, but didn’t have an effective strategy in place,” says Debbie Shupp, development director for The POINT. “We really wanted a strategic approach this year and Sarah has successfully done that. Sarah created a full strategy and social media campaign.” Parkesburg Point offers extensive services to youth in the area with the help of volunteers, many drawn from local churches. They are FundRaiser Select users. 

Sarah Daniels, the new grants and communications manager who joined The POINT in May, says that the most important aspects of this success were:

Continue reading
4030 Hits

Fundraising Project as a Resilient Recovery Response to Local Disaster

Fundraising Project as a Resilient Recovery Response to Local Disaster

Helping with Disaster Recovery in the Southern Ozarks, part 3

Since experiencing the massive flooding in Southern Missouri, I've run into the concept of 'resilience' linked to disaster recovery. It's a great concept. It easily applies to good recovery on the part of  any individual or organization that experiences stress, especially stress that is game-changing. I'd guess that many if not most of the organizations that FundRaiser works with can relate directly to the concept of resilience at this time of great change in our society.In the case of Autumn Shirley, CEO of FundRaiser, fundraising has been a part of her resilient response to the extraordinary experience she and her husband Joshua Shirley, who is CFO of FundRaiser, and other members of the Shirley family went through. Their dramatic story was publicized widely when they survived the flood that unexpectedly forced them to the roof of their river house. 

Continue reading
3839 Hits
Wait a minute, while we are rendering the calendar
membersip benefits endowment campaign donor relations word processor budget legacy giving planned giving correspondence upgrade donor attrition rate importing csv membership programs Snow Birds monthly giving motivation code upgrading donors holiday letters giving history lapsed donor New Year the Ask volunteers features ROI new donors donor recognition memorial giving office donor source add ons donor targeting accounting software Company culture increasing giving amounts updates Network for Good security FundRaiser Hosted technical support spare fields major donors how to handle auction gifts charity golf tournaments annual maintenance plan general moves management Constant Contact reports PayPal Reminders National Change of Address Thank You holiday giving donor preferences GivingTuesday gift acceptance policy user spotlights SYBUNTS training tip mission driven Congratulations donor slip new version #GivingTuesday happiness fundraising Donor Portal data analysis adding personal notes to letters donor engagement relationship tracking letter banquet auction email tax summary letters Groupings Facebook texting donors In-Kind gifts Thanksgiving merge fields gift entry data conversion welcome packet Personalizing community arts nonprofits merge notes backing up data passwords End of Year Letters donor loyalty publicity materials direct mail vacation correspondance FundRaiser Spark customer portal fundraising letters foundations large donations pictures support solicitors donor advised funds data entry arts donor profile Facebook campaign tech tip new leadership motivation nonprofit fundraising entering auction gifts in honor of donations overview training user interface follow up salutation small donations targeted mailings donor building donor relationships personalizing letters look and feel customer service raffle alumni mailing phoning donors thank you letters how-to videos community broadcasting board members community supported gardens mode code campaign social media grants flash sales operational costs donor prospects spreadsheets new features annual campaign anonymous donors disaster relief communications NCOA processing Cloud animal rescue event management online donations donor retention rate Alternative Addresses letter templates donor retention password protection donor contact information product news premiums Tickles repeat donors on site training LYBUNTS Codes gift notes field Importing Data appeal letters prospects donation history announcements brick campaign holiday appeal ticket sales segmenting donors online donations tribute gifts custom page Volunteer module recurring gifts case study giving levels GoFundMe project change of address updating planning role of nonprofits advanced tab volunteering Crowdfunding Campaign membership benefits FundRaiser Basic understanding giving trends government grants operating systems corporate sponsors campaign management transparency pledges Excel Reporting to IRS ticketsales capital campaign donor attrition grassroots campaign major gift prospects new nonprofit Task List Resiliency development director

Connect With Us

  800-880-3454 ext 3
  Email Us
  Request More Information
  Monday-Friday
      8:30AM-5:30PM CST

Customer Portal Login Form

User Name:
Password:

If you are not sure about your Customer User Name, please call 800-543-4131 and we will be able to help you.

Or you have lost your password, Request Password