The Blackbaud Giving Fund

08/19/2026

🚀 Giving season starts long before the first donation arrives.

The nonprofits that finish the year strong are building momentum now.

Our newest blog shares 7 strategic moves you can make today to strengthen donor relationships, improve stewardship, and prepare for year-end fundraising.

Here are 3 to get started:

🎯Reconnect with last year's donors before your next campaign.
🎯Review your donor experience from start to finish.
🎯Start planning impact updates now, not in December.

We've only scratched the surface...so read the full blog for winning strategies: https://blackbaudgivingfund.org/blog/7-strategic-moves-to-build-a-stronger-fundraising-pipeline-before-giving-season/

08/12/2026

🌎 Happy International Youth Day! Today's young supporters are shaping the future of generosity.

Organizations that invest in those relationships today are building the next generation of lifelong advocates.

Our blog shares five practical ways nonprofits can better engage younger donors.

🔗 Read more: https://blackbaudgivingfund.org/blog/5-reasons-why-connecting-with-gen-z-will-drive-donations-and-build-long-term-support/

08/05/2026

The latest YourCause CSR Industry Report found that employees who made multiple donations gave more than 3x the annual median of employees who made just one donation.

For nonprofits, that's a reminder that ongoing engagement matters. Creating year-round opportunities to give and volunteer can help build stronger corporate partnerships.

What's working for your organization?

📖 Read the full report: https://www.yourcause.com/resources/industry-reports/csr-industry-report

07/30/2026

⚠️ Risk is universal. Readiness isn't ⚠️

According to Blackbaud Institute's Risk Readiness Report, only 29% of social impact organizations are considered "proactive" when it comes to managing risk, while nearly a quarter remain reactive. Organizations that are most prepared aren't necessarily the largest. They are the ones that prioritize planning, innovation, technology, and talent.

The report's message is clear: confidence comes from preparation, not prediction.

For nonprofit leaders, that means regularly evaluating everything from revenue diversification and cybersecurity to staffing, governance, and donor engagement.

What's one area of risk your organization is prioritizing this year?

📖 Explore the full report: https://institute.blackbaud.com/resources/risk-readiness

07/29/2026

👀 We're still thinking about our Giving Season Readiness Score. Have you calculated yours?

➡️

Nonprofits going into October with a healthy pipeline, strong donor relationships, and clear fundraising strategies are better positioned to stand out, retain supporters, and maximize revenue.

07/16/2026

Giving Season is just around the corner... are you ready? 🎯

How prepared is your fundraising strategy? What's your Giving Season Readiness Score? 📈

Discover where you stand and the 7 strategic moves you can make now to build a stronger fundraising pipeline before Giving Season begins!

Check out the blog:

Nonprofits going into October with a healthy pipeline, strong donor relationships, and clear fundraising strategies are better positioned to stand out, retain supporters, and maximize revenue.

07/15/2026

Small may want to pay attention to this trend. 📊

According to Blackbaud Institute's *2025 Trends in Giving Report*, major gifts accounted for roughly 65% to 70% of giving for small organizations from 2020 to 2023. Over the last two years, that figure has dropped to approximately 51%.

At the same time, charitable giving has remained resilient despite slower consumer spending, driven increasingly by major donors.

💡The takeaway? Diversification matters. Organizations that invest in a mix of major gifts, recurring donors, workplace giving, and corporate partnerships may be better positioned for long-term stability.

Read more here: https://institute.blackbaud.com/resources/2025-trends-in-giving

How is your organization balancing major donor fundraising with broader donor acquisition and retention efforts?

07/10/2026

💡 What if your next volunteer event became your next major donor relationship?

Too often, volunteer events are treated as one-time activities. But when designed intentionally, they can become a powerful pathway to stronger corporate partnerships, new donors, and long-term support for your mission.

Every volunteer event is an opportunity to:
✨ Build relationships with corporate decision-makers
✨ Demonstrate your organization's impact and professionalism
✨ Strengthen trust through transparency and impact reporting
✨ Turn one-time volunteers into ongoing advocates and donors

In our latest blog, we explore how nonprofits can create volunteer experiences that are simple, scalable, and designed to drive long-term value for both their organization and their supporters.

📖 Read more: https://blackbaudgivingfund.org/blog/how-nonprofits-can-turn-volunteer-events-into-long-term-donor-relationships/

How does your organization stay connected with volunteers after an event ends?

07/08/2026

👏 Please join us in welcoming Jerry Needel to The Blackbaud Giving Fund Board of Directors!

As chief of product innovation at Blackbaud, Jerry leads fintech solutions, donation experiences, peer-to-peer fundraising innovation, and programs designed to accelerate social impact.

His experience building technology that helps connect donors, companies, and nonprofits will be invaluable as we continue advancing our mission of helping generosity reach nonprofits efficiently, securely, and transparently.

Learn more about our Board of Directors: https://blackbaudgivingfund.org/about/leadership/

Help us welcome Jerry in the comments! 👋

07/06/2026

💬 In case you missed it live, you can now watch Catherine LaCour's conversation on The Nonprofit Show on demand!

One of Catherine's biggest takeaways for nonprofits looking to improve their AI visibility was this:

"AI has the potential to unlock the human side of fundraising"

As more donors turn to AI-powered search tools to discover and evaluate nonprofits, clear, consistent messaging is becoming just as important as strong donor stewardship.

In this conversation, Catherine shares practical strategies to help nonprofits:

📌Improve their AI visibility by strengthening their online presence
📌Clearly communicate their mission and impact across digital channels
📌Keep organizational information accurate and up to date
📌 Use AI to reduce administrative work while preserving meaningful donor relationships
📌Use AI to streamline administrative tasks while personalizing donor outreach

🎥 Watch the full conversation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRmIpobzw20