Software like a CRM (customer relationship management) allow charities to automate otherwise manual tasks so the organization can focus less on managing their nonprofit and more time giving back to their community. Because every nonprofits’ needs are different - there are numerous CRMs to choose from including Microsoft’s offering, Dynamics 365 (D365) which includes many different applications that integrate with D365 that nonprofits can utilize. 

In Use:

CRMs offer nonprofits a centralized view of their organization in terms of analytics, reporting, and donor interactions which allows them to make smart decisions for their organization and work towards achievable goals for the organization. D365 is no different. With their ability to automate their complete donor lifecycle - a nonprofit organization can “enable personalized interactions through a 360-degree view of donor and volunteer engagements.” 

Through D365, a nonprofit can manage their donor database, drive financial growth, automate processes, and report on analyzing data using Microsoft tools like Azure and PowerBI. 

While many CRMs offer similar features to solve for these problems- D365 takes it a step further. Through their offering, nonprofits can leverage Microsoft created tools and services (known as power apps) and integrations with business applications that are heavily discounted or free to further help a charity streamline and automate processes within the organization.

Finally, Microsoft D365 provides nonprofit organizations all of these features for a discounted price. According to their website, “eligible nonprofits can get Dynamics 365 Sales Enterprise free for up to 5 seats and discounted pricing of $23.80 (USD)* per user/month for additional users.” This is 75% off the commercial price. Adding on power apps come with additional costs - but Microsoft is dedicated to helping nonprofits access their software through grants and discounts. 

Technology Used:

As stated above - with Microsoft D365, nonprofits have access to utilize Microsoft Power Apps and Business Applications that help nonprofits streamline processes within the company through Microsoft’s App Store. According to Microsoft, Business Applications, “help nonprofits unlock new opportunities to drive digital transformation by breaking down data silos to connect beneficiaries, employees, donors, and volunteers with products, solutions, and operations.”

Among the Business Applications available to nonprofits in the United States are DonorSearch; Now IT Matters; and Wipfli.

Ease of Use:

While small and medium nonprofits can afford Microsoft D365 - a large nonprofit can benefit the most from a powerful CRM. Similar to Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud software, the learning curve for a product like D365 can be time consuming - it’s not a software where a nonprofit volunteer can login and master in an afternoon. There’s also the cost of integration of a nonprofit’s data into the platform that can be expensive and time consuming. 

That being said, once a nonprofit gets used to the software - the dashboard is clean and easy to navigate. Microsoft also provides different trainings and assets to get a nonprofit up to speed with the software quickly and efficiently. 

Recap: 

Microsoft Dynamic 365 is a CRM that enables nonprofits the opportunity to manage their organization with one software. With D365- charities can track donations, manage volunteers and report on metrics.

Microsoft offers nonprofits a 75% discount along with access to Business Applications and other Microsoft software like Azure or Power BI. 

Advantages 

• Nonprofits can access steep grants and discounts
• Charities can take advantage of other Microsoft apps available to them
• Trainings and customer support available to nonprofits 

Disadvantages 

• Even though nonprofits can apply for grants and discounts- it can still be expensive as there are additional costs associated with integration and Business Applications 
• Complex software that takes time to learn and navigate 

My Opinion

Microsoft D365 is a powerful CRM that can help nonprofits automate functions and processes within their organization - leaving them more time to help their community. In my opinion - a D365 would be ideal for a large nonprofit versus a smaller nonprofit with minimal employees. 

D365 is a beneficial yet complex tool that can be pricey even with the discounts Microsoft offers. If your organization is not going to utilize all of D365's tools and features- it might not be worth it. As a small to medium charity a better option would be a simpler CRM that will save an smaller charity both time and money. 

Nonprofits have many online fundraising platforms to choose from - most notably Gofundme. While relatively new, Zeffy has been making waves for being the only zero-free fundraising software - covering platform, credit card, and transaction fees. 

In Use: 

Zeffy, began six years ago by two college students, Thibaut Jaurou and François de Kerret in Quebec.  Originally called SimplyK, the software re-branded in April 2022. Named after the word zephyr or “gentle breeze” - Zeffy expanded their reach into the United States celebrating not only with a new name, but a contemporary logo, color palette and typography. “As Zeffy, we become the wind propelling nonprofits towards their missions. Our goal is to be a force that empowers nonprofits at no cost,” Jaurou who is not only a co-founder but the current CTO of the platform explained. Z

The platform serves over 5,000 charities and organizations today, raising north of $100 million dollars.  Because they only rely on voluntary contributions from donors - Zeffy is truly a free online fundraising solution for charities and nonprofits in North America. Because of this - Zeffy estimates they’ve saved nonprofits over $5 million dollars that they would have otherwise lost to fees. 

Lke other fundraising solutions - Zeffy offers a variety of fundraising tools that charities can utilize. A nonprofit can create unique fundraising pages and personalized forms that they can brand with their logos and colors. These landing pages and forms can then be embedded on the nonprofit’s website or on their social media platforms - automatically sending tax receipts to those who donate.

Zeffy’s dashboard allows nonprofit organizations to see who has donated, their donation history, and upload both donor information and offline donations. 

Finally, charities can advertise, fundraise and sell tickets to fundraisers right on the website - creating registration forms and landing pages. Because it’s free - they do not have to factor in transaction fees when choosing their ticket prices. 

Technology Used:

Zeffy allows donors to pay using different methods such as credit cards, apple pay, and direct deposit - giving donors the power to pay however they’d like. By using Zeffy’s app - nonprofits can also accept payments by using their app - available on Apple Store. 

Ease of Use:

Many users find Zeffy easy to use and intuitive. Nonprofits have found that Zeffy’s customer service representatives are helpful and easy to access. 

Recap: 

Zeffy - is the only zero-fee fundraising platform enabling nonprofits to keep 100% of the money that they fundraise. The software believes that charities should keep all of the money they raise and therefore do not charge them any fees whether it’s a transaction, platform, or credit card fee. Instead, they rely on donations from donors themselves - as opposed to charging nonprofits.

The software comes with numerous solutions from custom landing pages and forms, donor management, and peer-to-peer campaigns. Nonprofits can sell tickets to events, and take multiple methods of payments including direct deposits, apple pay, and credit cards either online or using their app, available on the Apple Store. 

Advantages:

• 100% free for users
• Multiple payment methods for donors
• Easy to set up and comes with many different tools and features like donor management, registration pages, and customizable forms 

Disadvantages: 

• Zeffy’s app is only available in the US - and while coming soon is not available for android users.
• Not as robust as other competitors 

My Opinion:

Never underestimate the importance of “free” to a nonprofit. Unless you’re a huge nonprofit like Red Cross, YMCA, or Feeding America - chances are money and resources are tight and any size donation goes a long way. A Zeffy user sums it up perfectly on Capterra when she wrote, “Just hoping it won't disappear, because it's funded only by voluntary donations.”

Fundraising is essential to the survival of nonprofits, regardless of whether they are run by volunteers or employ a large workforce. Therefore, it’s important that their fundraising platform they employ is efficient and inexpensive so the funds they raise can reach their constituents. Funraise, is a digital fundraising platform that helps charities raise funds easier.

In Use:

Funraise is a “collection of nonprofit fundraising tools designed to make raising…more effortless.” Using tools such as donation pages, automation, and reporting they have helped nonprofits such as Action Against Hunger, Invisible Children, and The American Lung Association with just a click. 

Understanding that every charity has unique needs, they offer both a free option and an Enterprise subscription that starts at $2,500 per year. While the hefty fee may work for some larger nonprofit organizations - many nonprofits can benefit from the free version. Features in the free version include recurring donations, donation pages and forms, automated emails, and both the donor portal app and the Funraise app. A charity can manage their donations and supporters, while also managing ticketing and events. For $2,500 - nonprofits can add peer-to-peer fundraising, robust reporting, text engagement, and multiple integrations that aren’t available through the free version.

Technology Used:

Funraise leverages technology to build the tools within their software. Included in both the free and Enterprise versions - Funraise offers the Funraise mobile app where charities can collect payments as well as the Donor Portal App where donors can access their donor information and their giving history. If a nonprofit opts for the Enterprise subscription they also get access to Funraise’s API and all of their integrations such as, Salesforce, Hubspot, Mailchimp, Paypal and Zapier.

Ease of Use:

Many nonprofits agree that they like Funraise mainly in part to their easy-to-use dashboard and user experience. Many nonprofits take advantage of the widget button that allows them to collect donations right on their website. 

Recap:

A digital fundraising platform - Funraise has a variety of tools and features that can help charities raise funds. The platform connects such features as donation pages, email automation, and reporting to allow a nonprofit to seamlessly manage donor giving from one platform. 

The software has two different subscriptions. One is free and comes with commendable features such as donation management, subscription management and donation pages. The free version also comes with modest reporting and integration features to get a nonprofit started. The Enterprise subscription which starts at $2,500 per year adds more robust integrations and reporting along with migration services, premium support and text engagement. 

Advantages: 

• Free version with an arsenal of features 
• Donation widget that nonprofits can put on their website to collect donations with just a click 
• Recurring donations 

Disadvantages:

• Minimal reporting capabilities for the free subscription 
• Minimal integrations for the free version 
• Enterprise subscription is too expensive for the average nonprofit

My Opinion:

I’m always supportive of nonprofits that have a free version - and Funraise’s version comes with a lot of different features that can help the average charity get the most out of the fundraising platform. I think it’s unique that they offer both an internal app and an app for their donors to see their giving history within the free version. 

While it would be nice to have more integrations and reporting in the free version - I think the capabilities are robust enough that the average charity can get the most out of the features. I don’t think that a small to medium nonprofit needs to integrate Salesforce into their fundraising platform or needs extensive reporting ability.

Donately, a fundraising software was created to help nonprofits get the most out of their donation pages. By combining the ability to create unique donation pages and customize donation forms – Donately is enabling thousands of nonprofit organizations to “spend less time managing donations” and more time helping their constituents.

In Use:
Donately is simple. It’s a platform that allows charities to “Custom Build the Perfect Donation Experience” by either creating a website from scratch or embedding a donation form on their own website. The webpages and forms are fully customizable and are mobile responsive – meaning the interface looks great whether viewed on a laptop or mobile device. Using the form builder – a charity can pick and choose what information they want to collect. Donately comes with the ability to set up recurring donations and offers different payment methods such as credit card payments, ACH payments or donations through PayPal. Donors can even opt to pay the processing fees – allowing the charity to collect 100% of the donation.

While Donately is mainly known for their form builder and fundraising pages – they also have other options that charities can take advantage of. Charities can optimize the text message tool to directly text their donors; peer-to-peer fundraising to spread awareness about their campaign; and a dashboard that the nonprofit can use to track donations and run reports and analytics.

When it comes to pricing, Donately has a “Free” version (plus a 4% platform fee). Among the features of the “Free” version are; customizable forms and donation pages, recurring donations, and live chat support. If a nonprofit organization wants to take advantage of more advantaged customizations and integrations, they will have to opt for either the Starter or Team version which starts at $19 per month (and 3.5% processing fees).

Ease of Use:
Each version of Donately offers customer support. Watch videos to get started on your first donation form or take advantage of the live chat support for any immediate questions. Charities who purchase the “Teams” version are assigned a dedicated account representative.

Many customers have noted how easy it was to get started with Donately - as well as the ease of tracking and reporting on donations.

Technology Needed:
Donately is a cloud-based fundraising platform with numerous integrations available thanks to their partnership with Zapier, a platform that automates the integration of web applications. With Zapier, a nonprofit can integrate data collected through Donately with many other applications -eliminating the need for manual uploads. Some of the apps included in Donately’s Integration Marketplace are - Salesforce, Google Analytics, Hubspot, QuickBooks and Wordpress. While Zapier is not free, it does offer over 1,000 integrations with platforms like Donately.

Recap:
A fundraising platform – Donately offers nonprofits the ability to create fundraising pages and customize donation forms. Charities can choose what information to collect from donors while giving donors the ability to set up recurring payments and/or pay for the processing fees. Payments can be made by credit card, ACH payments or through PayPal.

Besides custom forms and webpages – nonprofit organizations can take advantage of peer-to-peer fundraising and reporting. On top of that – Donately partners with Zapier – allowing their customers to integrate with over 1,000 different applications.

Advantages:
• Customizable forms with the option to embed the form into a charity’s own website
• Ability to set up recurring payments and have donors cover processing fees
• Free version of the platform
• Integrations with over 1,000 applications through Zapier

Disadvantages:
• Reporting is not robust
• Customers have noted that customer support could be more attentive
• Customers would like more customizable templates for both the forms and fundraising pages

My Opinion:
Donately is a great option for nonprofit organizations who are looking to create a fundraising page or donation form. With all of the integrations that comes with a subscription to Zapier – a nonprofit shouldn’t have any issues integrating Donately with their CRM, email automation tool, or accounting platform.

While the fee for the “Teams” version can be expensive for a smaller charity – the “Free” version comes with enough features that allows a nonprofit to set up a website and start collecting donations with just a 4% processing fee.

The most common feedback from customers have been the lack of robust reporting and the customer support. If a charity is OK with the minimal support and reporting capabilities –Donately is a great option for small-to-medium nonprofits who want to start fundraising with just a few clicks.

In today’s crowded market, building brand awareness is essential to success. It’s not enough to simply have a great product or service – you need to make sure people know about it. In this blog post, we’ll share some effective strategies for building brand awareness that you can start implementing today. Whether you’re a startup or an established business, these tips will help you get your brand noticed. 

1. Local Partnerships

Local Partnerships are essential to building brand awareness, particularly for businesses that target a specific community or region. By partnering with other local businesses, you can reach a wider audience and establish your brand as an integral part of the community. Along with demonstrating a commitment to the local area and its residents, these partnerships can also benefit from shared resources, knowledge and networks. Local collaborations allow for cross-promotion and joint campaigns, which can be particularly effective in reaching new audiences. When combined with other strategies such as 'do-good' campaigns, organic social media presence, consistent brand image, and online engagement, Local Partnerships can significantly impact brand awareness, consumer perception, and ultimately revenue.

2. 'Do-Good' Campaigns

In addition to local partnerships and a consistent brand image, 'Do-Good' campaigns can be an effective strategy for building brand awareness. By creating ongoing campaigns that align with your brand values and beliefs, you can create a positive image for your brand and establish a deeper connection with your audience. For example, a company may choose to partner with a charitable organization and donate a portion of their profits to the cause. This type of campaign not only raises awareness for the charity but also for the company's brand. By showcasing their commitment to social responsibility, the company can build a positive reputation and differentiate themselves from competitors. Combined with an organic social media presence and online engagement, 'Do-Good' campaigns can help businesses build a strong brand that resonates with their target audience.

3. Organic Social Media Presence

When it comes to building brand awareness, having an organic presence on social media is crucial. By optimizing social media profiles and delivering quality content, brands can engage with their audience and increase their reach. It's important to know which social media platforms work best for your brand and to make it easy for your audience to share your content. Additionally, influencers and micro-influencers can greatly increase brand exposure. However, it's important to keep the audience front and center and ensure that consistency is maintained with the brand image. Overall, a well-rounded approach that includes both online and offline strategies can help build strong brand awareness.

4. Consistent Brand Image

Consistency is key when it comes to building a strong brand image. By maintaining a consistent look and feel across all marketing materials and channels, companies can establish trust and recognition with their audience. This means using the same logo, font, and color scheme in everything from product packaging to social media posts. Additionally, businesses should ensure that their messaging aligns with their brand values and mission statement. It's important to remember that building a consistent brand image takes time and effort, but the payoff is worth it in the long run. Pairing a consistent brand image with the other effective strategies for building brand awareness, such as local partnerships, 'do-good' campaigns, organic social media presence, and online engagement can create a powerful and memorable brand presence that will resonate with customers.

5. Online Engagement

The final key strategy for building brand awareness is online engagement. This includes monitoring your social media pages for audience engagement, such as likes and shares, and partnering with influencers who have an established following with your target audience. But it also involves creating authentic, high-quality content that connects with your audience on a deeper level. By building a consistent brand image and storytelling through your content, you can boost your online presence and positively impact your marketing efforts, consumer perception, and revenue. Implementing all of these effective strategies for building brand awareness can help you create a strong, memorable brand that resonates with your audience and sets you apart from competitors.

Looking for money from donors is never an easy task. It sometimes involves writing proposals and fundraising letters, which can be daunting. However, with the right approach, a well-written letter can inspire generosity and make a real difference for your cause. Here are some tips on writing a compelling fundraising letter that will engage your readers and encourage them to donate.

1. Start with a powerful opening

The opening of your letter should immediately capture the reader’s attention. It should make them want to keep reading. You can begin by providing a surprising statistic, a personal anecdote, or a bold statement that highlights the urgency of your cause. Whatever approach you choose among these, make sure it is relevant to your message and sets the tone for the rest of the letter.

2. Tell a story

People love reading stories. In fact, they respond to them more than they do to dry statistics or impersonal requests for donations. Therefore, tell a story in your letter that illustrates the impact of your cause on a particular group of people or communities. Share a personal story about why you are passionate about the cause and why it matters to you. While at it, keep your story focused and concise, and ensure it ties back to your appeal for support.

3. Be specific about the impact of the donation

Like any other person, potential donors are more likely to donate if they know how you will use their contributions to make a difference. Therefore, when writing a fundraising letter, be specific about the impact of the donation and explain how you will use their funds. Do not just say, “your donation will help us make a difference.” Rather, give specific examples of how the donation will be used. For example, “your donation of $50 will provide one child with a school uniform and school supplies for a year.”

4. Show the impact of donors’ contribution

Instead of simply saying you need help from a donor, show the impact of their contribution because donors are always interested in knowing how their money will make a difference. In your letter, illustrate the impact of donations. Mention whether it will help feed hungry families, provide medical care, or support a local shelter. Be specific about how the money or other donations will be used and what it will accomplish. Provide real-life examples of the difference their support can make.

5. Use a conversational tone

People love to feel that a person and not a faceless organization wrote a fundraising letter. As such, try using a conversational tone and write as if you are talking to a friend. Use simple, straightforward, easily understood language, and avoid technical jargon or overly formal language. This will make your letter more relatable and help readers connect with your cause.

6. Be grateful

Thanking your donors for their support, no matter how simple it may appear, is priceless. Therefore, never forget to thank your readers in your letter for considering your request for support, even if they do not end up donating. Being grateful shows you value your donors’ time and attention, which can help build relationships with potential donors for future asks.

7. Make donating easy

While writing your letter, include a clear call to action at the end of it to direct readers to your website, a donation page, or a phone number where they can contribute. Ensure the donation process is straightforward. You can also include a FAQ page to ensure donors’ critical questions are answered conclusively.

8. Be humble and respectful

Regardless of how informal your letter is, always remain humble and respectful. This will help you attract potential supporters and retain the existing ones. Doing so can also make them feel valued and important.

Generally, writing a good fundraising letter requires you to tell your story loudly enough for your potential supporters to see. With the proper letter and considerations above, you can make a difference and reach as many people as possible.

Nonprofit organizations have, over the years, proven important to society. They play different critical roles, from providing services to those in need to promoting social change. However, with this importance and privilege comes responsibility. Like any other organization, nonprofits must adhere to various regulations and compliance issues to maintain their status as tax-exempt organizations. As a nonprofit leader, here are some key regulations and compliance issues your nonprofit organizations must address.

1. Filing an Annual Form 990

Filing an annual Form 990 with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is one of a nonprofit's most important requirements and regulations. This form provides information regarding the organization's activities, financial status, and governance.

As a nonprofit, failing to file a Form 990 for three consecutive years may result in a loss of your tax-exempt status. Therefore, nonprofits must keep accurate records and ensure their Form 990 is filed on time.

2. Compliance issues for Nonprofit Organizations

Compliance is one of the things that lead to the closure of some nonprofits. Therefore, all nonprofits must comply with federal, state, and local regulations. These may include employment laws, environmental regulations, and health and safety standards.

Nonprofits must comply with those related to their tax-exempt status, such as restrictions on political activity and personal benefits. This is often a challenge to nonprofits who fail to understand the regulations they must comply with.

3. Maintaining a License to Fundraise

Licensing is important to nonprofits as it is to for-profits. As such, charities may need to obtain a license to fundraise in some states. These licenses protect the public by ensuring that nonprofit fundraising activities are conducted legally and ethically in a specific state. The challenge is that the requirements for obtaining a fundraising license vary by state. However, they may include registration, fees, and disclosure requirements. Each Nonprofit must comply with these regulations to avoid fines and other penalties.

4. Keeping Records Updated

Every Nonprofit should always keep accurate and up-to-date records of their activities and finances. This includes maintaining records of all donations and expenditures and minutes of all meetings and other governance documents. Furthermore, they must keep accurate financial planning and fundraising records. Donors want to know that their contributions are being used effectively, and accurate records can help nonprofits demonstrate their impact and accountability. While this appears simple, some nonprofits fail to observe them, leading to distrust from potential donors.

5. Following IRS Auction Regulations

Nonprofits may hold auctions or other fundraising events to raise money for their programs. However, these events must be conducted in compliance with IRS regulations. The IRS requires that all nonprofits provide written acknowledgments to donors contributing items worth more than $5,000 to an auction. Furthermore, these organizations must report the fair market value of donated items on their Form 990.

6. Maintaining State-Level Tax Exemption

Nonprofit organizations may be exempt from state-level taxes like sales and property taxes. However, these exemptions must be maintained by complying with the regulations set up by the state, which are state-specific. In some states, nonprofits must file annual reports to maintain their tax-exempt status. Nonprofits must also be aware of changes in state tax laws and ensure that they comply.

In conclusion, nonprofit organizations play a critical essential role in society. However, they must also fulfill their responsibilities as tax-exempt organizations. Compliance with regulations and keeping accurate records are essential for maintaining tax-exempt status and building trust with donors and the public. By staying up-to-date with the latest regulations, complying with them and navigating issues arising, nonprofit organizations can continue to serve their communities and positively impact the world.

For any nonprofit organization, the success of its mission and programs depends on the support of donors. While securing donations is important, it is only half the battle. Retaining them is equally, if not more, important. Here are some reasons why retaining donors is key to the success of your nonprofit:

1. Cost-Effectiveness

Retaining donors reduce the cost of operations. Considering the high cost and time consumption it takes to acquire a new donor than it is to retain an existing one, retention is a better way to minimize costs. By a nonprofit investing in donor retention strategies, they can reduce their overall fundraising costs and allocate resources more efficiently towards their programs and services.

2. Increased Lifetime Value

Retaining your donors has the potential to increase their lifetime value significantly. It is good to understand that a retained donor is highly likely to make multiple donations over a longer period and possibly even become a major donor over time. Therefore, building long-term relationships with donors allows nonprofits to maximize the impact of their fundraising efforts.

3. Stability and Predictability

Donor retention provides stability and predictability to a nonprofit’s revenue stream. When donors feel connected to an organization and its mission, they are more likely to continue giving, which provides a reliable source of funding. This stability can help nonprofits weather financial challenges and continue to provide vital services to their communities.

4. Build stronger Relationships

Successful donor retention may allow your charity to build stronger relationships with supporters. By developing personalized communication, engaging donors in the organization’s activities and being grateful for their support, you can establish a deeper connection with your donors. This, in turn, can lead to increased trust, loyalty, and a sense of belonging to the organization.

5. Focus on advocacy and outreach

Donors are the first individuals you can use to advocate for your cause. They can become powerful advocates for your charity, helping to spread the word about your mission and programs. They can share their positive experiences with potential donors, encourage their friends and family to get involved, and even recruit new donors who find themselves interested in your cause. This kind of advocacy and outreach is invaluable for nonprofits because it can help increase awareness and support for their cause.

So, how can your nonprofit effectively retain its donors? Here are some important tips:

1. Personalize Communication

Donors want to feel valued and appreciated. As such, it is important to have a personalized method to communicate with them. You can achieve this by using methods that include sending customized thank-you notes, newsletters, or updates on how their donations are making an impact. The goal is to make donors feel connected to the organization and its mission.

2. Engagement Opportunities

Giving donors opportunities to engage with the organization can help you improve their sense of community and belonging. You can attain this by inviting them to events, asking for feedback or opinions, or involving them in volunteer activities. You can establish a deeper connection and build long-term relationships by engaging the donors in your organization’s activities.

3. Donor Recognition

Recognition of donors is an essential part of retention. As a nonprofit leader, you should consider expressing gratitude for the support of donors. You can do this through various actions like a public recognition program, a donor wall, or a special event. The goal is to make donors feel appreciated and recognized for their contributions.

4. Feedback and Transparency

Every donor wants to know how their donations are being used and their impact on a cause or society. Therefore, nonprofits must always be transparent about their finances and programs. Provide regular updates and feedback to donors because doing so helps build trust and establish the organization’s credibility.

You can now say “Alexa make a donation to_____” and have Alexa use your Amazon pay account to make a donation up to $5,000.  Currently, this program is only available to select charities that have been invited by Amazon. However, it is likely that this program will be a hit with both donors and nonprofits, so it is something that you should have on your radar for the upcoming year. 

Another high tech trend to watch for 2020 is the rise in giving via a blockchain platform. A blockchain platform is  a public ledger relying on globally distributed historical transactions to prevent tampering and fraud. 

Blockchain was designed to offer a higher level of transparency for transactions. Many donors wish to know that their donations are going directly to the charity that they have selected for the express purpose of funding a certain project. A blockchain giving platform can give them that piece of mind. 

BitGive’s GiveTrack is an example of one such platform. BitGive shares detailed real time information about the financial and project status of the charities that they work with that are accepting donations via GiveTrack.

Global Giving is a crowdfunding platform designed to help small nonprofits raise awareness and money. Global Giving is also a nonprofit, which means it understands what nonprofits need to run a successful fundraising campaign. 

Global Giving also understands that small nonprofits don’t have a large budget, so there is no application fee to join the  Global Giving platform. There is no monthly subscription fee, however Global Givings has a 3% transaction fee along with a sliding scale support fee of 5-12% of collected donations. 

The site offers a host of training and support options for nonprofits that join the platform. There are webinars, training libraries, workshops, one on one phone consultations or site visits.  The platform has tools like gamification and incentives to increase donations. 

The platform offers all the standard fundraising campaign tools, including metrics, donor engagement, social media integration. What it also offers is opportunities to partner with large companies for matching grants, or specific giving programs with the company.

know your audience in order to determine if live streaming is right for your nonprofit. The people you want to engage through a live stream have to be savvy enough to access your video feed so that they aren’t overwhelmed or frustrated by the experience. Beyond this point, your decision should come down to value—both to the viewer and to your organization.

If your organization is exploring adding a livestream to your next event there are a few things that you should consider. First, is your event the type of event that makes for a good livestream. 

The purpose of the livestream is to generate enthusiasm and excitement from those who are unable to attend in person. The event you are live streaming has to be visually interesting enough to keep your online viewer engaged. The most successful live streams are based on events that have an element of excitement to them. Is your event a fashion show? Will there be cute animals?--you can never go wrong livestreaming cute animals.  Also, if your event includes a celebrity guest that you know people who were unable to attend in person would love to see, 

After determining if your event is right for a livestream, it’s time to consider if your intended audience is right for a livestream. If your audience is comfortable using Twitch, YouTube or social media, if you chose to livestream via Facebook than live streaming is a good idea. If your audience is not comfortable with those platforms it doesn’t mean that you can’t do a livestream it just means that you may not get a huge return from the event. 

Next, it’s time to plan your livestream events content. Think of your live stream as the modern equivalent to a charity telethon-except instead of broadcasting on TV your using the internet. A telethon doesn’t consist of a single still shot of the action and neither should your livestream. 

Create a content script. If your are doing a fashion show consider doing interviews with the models or designers (or stores that donated the fashion). Have a host roving the audience,anything to spice up the broadcast. Remember you want to keep the excitement going. 

Many livestream apps allow your organization to collect donations directly from the livestream platform, so make sure your call to action is clear. 

EveryAction wants to be everything to every nonprofit. This cloud based platform offers fundraising, advocacy, organizing and digital all in one package. 

For fundraising, you can use the platform to create a simple donation page for your website. You can also use the platform to track major gifts, pledges and other donations. And, you can run an online auction with it as well. 

Get all your advocacy done with social matching and listening which lets you monitor and track influential supporters and it has an advocacy module that makes it easy for you to turn your advocates into donors. 

Organize your supporters with the built in tools to manage your volunteers and coordinate your canvassing or phone bank events. 

The digital portion lets you build multi channel ad campaigns. The platform includes data visualization tools so you can make use of all the various data sets that your organization accumulates. 

Nonprofits can make the most out the remaining giving days in the year, reports The Nonprofit Times. 

You’ve survived Giving Tuesday – and hopefully come out of it with a nice boost of donation revenue for your nonprofit.

Read article on The Nonprofit Times

New Story, a nonprofit that focuses on using tech to build affordable housing, plans on having 50 new homes erected a Mexico community by the end of 2020. 

A giant 3D printer built two houses in an impoverished, rural part of Mexico last week, breaking ground on what will be the first 3D-printed neighborhood in the world.

Read article on Fox 2 Now

According to the Biz Tech Magazine, integrated giving is one of several technology trends that will impact nonprofits in 2020. 

Nonprofits have a lot on their plates. Charitable giving took a hit last year, declining for the first time since the Great Recession, forcing organizations to do more with less.

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Mobile friendly devices help contribute to the success of #GivingTuesday, reports Biz Tech Magazine.  

Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday are all behind us, but the long Thanksgiving weekend isn’t over yet. Many will be digging deep into their pockets again today, but not for themselves—this time, it’s for Giving Tuesday. 

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