Skip to main content
Tag

Fundraising and development best practices

Giving Tuesday FAQ

By Steier Tips

The concept of GivingTuesday may be new to you and your constituents. Please use this GivingTuesday FAQ to answer any questions your supporters might have. What is GivingTuesday? GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement and day of giving on Dec. 1, 2020. The day is designed to drive support for communities and nonprofits around the world. What does it cost to participate in GivingTuesday? There are no costs to participate in GivingTuesday. This is a free and open movement to unleash generosity across the world. If you are currently using a digital fundraising platform, there may be costs associated with…

Read More

Giving Tuesday Communication Plan

By Steier Tips

Prepare your Giving Tuesday communication plan in advance to allow for easier implementation. The Steier Group has composed a suggested GivingTuesday communication plan to use in the run up to the day of giving on Dec. 1, 2020. Make sure to use the free graphics created by GivingTuesday to inform your supporters. Although it may seem tricky to ask for help during a pandemic year, the Steier Group has found that donors are willing to help as they can. Remember, you are inviting them to support an organization they care about. If they are willing and able to support, they…

Read More

Live forum: Asking in April

By Steier Tips

We’ve heard from so many nonprofit leaders that are struggling financially but are unsure if they can ask for support during such a challenging time. With that in mind, our next live forum will be addressing this important question: Asking in April – Can you fundraise during the COVID crisis? Perhaps Francis Doyle said it best: “All we can do is invite people” to give. Only prospective donors can decide whether now is a good time to be asked – and to give, suggested Doyle, who is director of development for the Diocese of Hamilton. “Generosity keeps happening.” During the…

Read More

Can you fundraise during the COVID-19 crisis?

By Steier Tips

“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself” President Franklin Roosevelt’s 1933 inaugural address Nearly 90 years later, these words should again serve to comfort and inspire Americans. Just as the Great Depression caused distress for our nation, so too has the deadly COVID-19 virus. The economic effects of the pandemic have some nonprofits questioning their fundraising efforts, including capital campaigns. How should we proceed? Is this the right time to ask for support? Should we wait for a return to normalcy? As nonprofit leaders wrestle with those questions, they may draw inspiration from a pair of Steier Group…

Read More

How to celebrate Holy Week from Home

By Steier Tips

How can churches celebrate Holy Week while being physically distant? That was the main topic of the Steier Group’s Stewardship, Development and Fundraising Live Forum on March 31. During the current COVID-19 crisis, the Steier Group will be hosting these live forums to discuss issues pertinent to our partners during this critical time. We’ve also created a Holy Week from Home Resource Guide that can be shared with parishioners to enrich their celebration at home. If you have topics or questions you would like to see discussed during a live forum, please contact Sean McMahon at [email protected]. View the Holy…

Read More

CARES Act: How it will impact nonprofits and charitable giving

By Steier Tips

On Friday, the U.S. government passed the The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), which will provide much needed assistance to families and businesses across America. Below is a summary of items in the CARES Act that could provide value for your nonprofit: Charitable Giving Incentive The CARES Act establishes a new, above-the-line deduction (universal or non-itemized deduction that applies to all taxpayers) for total charitable contributions of up to $300. The incentive applies to contributions made in 2020 and would be claimed on tax forms next year. Section 2204. The bill also lifts the existing cap on…

Read More

Stewardship, development and fundraising live forum

By Steier Tips

During the current COVID-19 crisis, the Steier Group will be hosting live forums to discuss issues pertinent to our partners during this critical time. Join us on Tuesday, March 31 at 1:30 p.m. for our next live forum. We will be discussing how best to engage parishioners remotely during Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter. If you have topics or questions you would like to see discussed during a live forum, please contact Sean McMahon at [email protected]. Below is a recap of our first live forum. Staying connected takes creativity. This message served as the foundation for discussion during a…

Read More

Fundraising and development during the coronavirus pandemic

By Steier Tips

These are unprecedented times. While there is understandably a lot of anxiety and uncertainty about what a nonprofit organization should do as the economy struggles and much of society shuts down, certain truths are unchanged. Your organization remains committed to achieving its mission, your needs are real, and your mission relies upon timely and effective fundraising. The Steier Group is no stranger to advancing our clients’ mission in times of crisis. We’ve faced the uncertainties following the tragedy of 9/11, the economic instability of the great recession, many regional natural disasters (hurricanes, flooding, earthquakes, etc.) and, for our Catholic clients,…

Read More

Four traits of a successful feasibility study

By Steier Tips

What if you could predict the success of your capital campaign in just a few short weeks? Good news – you can. A well-managed, successful feasibility study can help you test interest in your proposed plans, identify volunteers, hear from your key donors, and, most importantly, forecast the funds you’ll raise in your capital campaign. However, not all planning studies are created equal. Here are a few key characteristics of a fruitful study: A strong response rate: A well-managed planning study gathers a wide response across all groups of constituents. A good mantra to follow is: if you are going to…

Read More

Nonprofits active on social media see higher donations

By Steier Tips

For nonprofits, social media presents a major opportunity. Nonprofits can share their stories, interact with supporters and donors, and have an impact on the daily life of their communities. As of 2019, Pew Research Center found that 72 percent of American adults are on social media. Facebook was most popular with 69 percent of adults using it. From that group, 74 percent said they use Facebook daily. Looking at those statistics, it should come as no surprise that social media can have an impact on the fundraising of a nonprofit. CatholicSocial.Media, a Steier Group partner, found that churches that post daily on Facebook…

Read More