Fundraising Archives - Spokes | Resources for Nonprofits

6 Considerations for Strengthening Your Nonprofit’s Year-End Appeal

October 30, 2026 by Jordan Jerkovich

As the year draws to a close, nonprofits everywhere are preparing their year-end appeals. With so many organizations reaching out to donors during the giving season, how can you make your message stand out and inspire generosity?

At this month’s Spokes Development Directors Roundtable, facilitator Debby Nicklas, Chief Consultant of Philanthropy at Change Collective Central Coast, thoughtfully shared several practical tips for strengthening year-end appeals. Drawing on her extensive fundraising experience, she offered some simple yet meaningful ways nonprofits can better connect with existing and potential donors.

Here are some of her ideas to consider as you prepare your year-end campaign.

1. Let Someone Else Tell Your Story

Instead of having your executive director deliver (and sign) every fundraising message, consider sharing a story from someone directly impacted by your organization’s work. A client, program participant or community member can offer a personal perspective that brings your mission to life.

Authentic stories help donors connect emotionally with your work and better understand the difference their contributions make. Be sure to obtain permission and respect the privacy and dignity of those sharing their experiences.

2. Don’t Forget Your Volunteers

Your volunteers already believe in your mission. They’re giving their time and energy because they care about the work you do. But are they included in your year-end appeal?

Don’t overlook this important group of supporters. Some volunteers may welcome the opportunity to contribute financially in addition to donating their time. Just be sure your message acknowledges and appreciates the valuable contributions they’re already making.

3. Expand Your Mailing List

Year-end appeals are also an opportunity to reach new potential supporters. Consider ways to expand your mailing list beyond your existing donor base.

Working with a mailing house, such as local company Boone Graphics, can help you explore options for reaching prospective donors who may be interested in supporting your cause. You can also look for opportunities to connect with past event attendees, community partners and others who have expressed interest in your organization.

4. Get Your Board Members Involved

Your board members can play a valuable role in strengthening donor relationships, especially during the year-end giving season.

Consider asking board members to personally call major donors to thank them for their contributions last year. These calls don’t need to include another fundraising request. A genuine expression of appreciation can go a long way toward making donors feel valued.

Board members can also add a personal touch to year-end appeals by writing brief, handwritten notes to longtime supporters or major donors. Even a simple message of thanks can help an appeal feel less like a mass mailing and more like a personal invitation to give.

5. Consider a Thanksgiving Message

Before asking donors to give again, take a moment to thank them.

A Thanksgiving card or personal message is a thoughtful way to express gratitude without making another request. Let supporters know how their generosity has helped advance your mission and why their partnership matters.

Sometimes the most meaningful donor communication is the one that doesn’t ask for anything at all.

6. Invite Donors to See Your Mission in Action

Consider scheduling a tour or site visit for donors shortly before your year-end appeal goes out.

Giving supporters an opportunity to see your programs, meet your team and better understand your impact can strengthen their connection to your organization. When your appeal arrives, they’ll have a firsthand understanding of the work their contributions help make possible.

More Year-End Fundraising Resources

For Spokes Members

Looking for more ideas? Spokes members can log in to access a recording of our recent workshop, Planning Effective Year-End Giving Campaigns, featuring Rob Grayson, Creative Director at Boone Graphics. The session offers practical guidance for planning and strengthening your year-end fundraising efforts.

Additional Reading

For more ideas and inspiration, explore these helpful resources:

Association of Fundraising Professionals: What to Do in October and November to Close Year-End Gifts — Practical advice on personalizing appeals, connecting with donors and making the most of the year-end giving season.
CauseVox: How to Write a Year-End Appeal That Moves People to Give — Tips and real-world examples to help you craft compelling appeals that inspire generosity.

Fundraisers and Tax Reporting

August 20, 2026 by Jordan Jerkovich

Fundraising events can be valuable opportunities to raise funds, engage supporters, and build community around your mission. But behind the scenes, these events can also create tax and reporting responsibilities that are important for nonprofits to understand.

We came across a recent article from Hood & Strong, which offers a helpful overview of some of the financial and tax issues organizations should keep on their radar when planning and reporting on fundraising events.

Many of these considerations are easier to address before an event takes place rather than when it’s time to prepare your Form 990. Establishing a process for collecting the right information can help your organization stay organized, communicate clearly with supporters, and make year-end reporting less complicated.

The article covers several key considerations, including:

Financial reporting vs. tax reporting: How fundraising event revenue and expenses may be treated differently for financial statement and tax purposes.
Form 990 and Schedule G: When fundraising activities may require additional reporting and more detailed tracking of event income and expenses.
In-kind donations: How donated services, facilities, volunteer time, and goods can receive different treatment under GAAP and IRS rules.
Donor deductions: Why the full cost of an event ticket may not be tax-deductible when attendees receive meals, entertainment, merchandise, or other benefits in return.
Donor disclosures: When nonprofits may need to provide participants with information about the fair market value of the benefits they receive.
Recordkeeping: The importance of tracking event revenue, expenses, donated goods, and attendee benefits so that information is readily available when it’s time to prepare tax filings.

Read the full article from Hood & Strong here.

What CRM Are Local Nonprofits Using?

May 29, 2026 by Jordan Jerkovich

Choosing a donor database or constituent relationship management (CRM) system can feel overwhelming. With dozens of options available, nonprofits often rely on peer recommendations and real-world experiences to help guide their decisions.

To learn more about what local organizations are using, Spokes recently surveyed nonprofit professionals throughout SLO County. Respondents represented organizations of varying sizes and missions. While the sample size was small, the responses offer a useful snapshot of the systems organizations are using, what they value most, and what they wish they had known before making a decision.

CRM Platforms in Use

CRM Platforms Reported by Respondents

DonorPerfect (4)
Bloomerang (3)
Salesforce (3)
Neon CRM (2)
Blackbaud (2)
Network for Good (2)
Little Green Light (1)
Wild Apricot (1)
Givebutter (1)
Other Systems (4)

Some organizations reported using more than one platform, so totals exceed the number of survey respondents.

Survey respondents reported using a wide variety of platforms, with no single CRM dominating the field. Several organizations indicated they use multiple systems to support fundraising, membership management, events, and donor engagement.

The diversity of responses highlights an important reality: the best CRM depends on your organization’s size, fundraising model, staffing capacity, reporting needs, and budget.

Are Organizations Happy with Their CRM?

😊 Satisfied or Very Satisfied: 62%
😐 Neutral: 31%
☹️ Dissatisfied: 8%

While no system was universally praised, most organizations indicated that their CRM meets their core needs for donor management, fundraising, and constituent tracking.

What Nonprofits Value Most

Donor Management

Online Giving Integration

Membership & Event Management

Ease of Use

Reporting & Data Access

When asked what they appreciate most about their CRM, respondents frequently cited the ability to manage donor relationships, process online gifts, track memberships and events, access fundraising data, and streamline day-to-day operations.

Common Challenges

Cost

Reporting Limitations

Learning Curve

Integrations

Even satisfied users noted challenges. Affordability, reporting functionality, staff training, and connecting CRM systems with other software tools were among the most common concerns.

Advice from Your Peers

Start with strategy before evaluating software.

Clearly define your goals, workflows, reporting needs, and staff capacity before comparing platforms.

Talk to other nonprofits before making a decision.

Peer recommendations and firsthand experiences can provide valuable insight that vendor demonstrations may not reveal.

Don’t pay for features you won’t use.

Several respondents cautioned against selecting the most robust or expensive system without first assessing what functionality is truly necessary.

Consider your organization’s unique needs.

A CRM that works well for one nonprofit may not work for another. Membership organizations, performing arts groups, social service agencies, and foundations often have very different requirements.

Takeaway

Whether you’re evaluating a new CRM or making the most of your current one, local nonprofits agree: take time to understand your needs, seek peer input, and choose a solution that fits your organization rather than chasing the latest features.

Interested in learning more? Spokes has access to the full survey responses and would be happy to share additional insights with member organizations. If you’re exploring a particular CRM platform and would like to connect with a fellow nonprofit that has firsthand experience using it, we’re also happy to help facilitate those conversations.

Effectively Communicating Impact

March 19, 2026 by Jordan Jerkovich

In an increasingly competitive grants landscape, we’ve been thinking a lot about how nonprofits can effectively communicate their impact. In fact, we’re excited to collaborate with Carsel Consulting Group to offer an upcoming workshop, Using Data to Strengthen Your Story for Funders, on May 20—save the date!

We’ve also been following Blue Avocado, where they recently polled readers on how they communicate impact. Responses ranged from data dashboards and formal reports to storytelling that centers real experiences.

Nonprofit Storytelling

February 7, 2025 by Jordan Jerkovich

In our recent Board Academy session focused on Fundraising and Resource Development, we discussed the importance of storytelling. To create a lasting emotional connection with the general public, media and donors, your board of directors––and actually every member of your organization––should be prepared to tell their own impactful story as it relates to your organization’s mission.

Given recent executive actions affecting nonprofits, storytelling to donors, media and Congress is increasingly critical. You need to be able to effectively communicate why your organization is important, and what would happen if it wasn’t here?

Here are some components of effective nonprofit storytelling from ChatGPT:

1. A Relatable Protagonist

Focus on a real person, group, or community that has benefited from your work.
The protagonist should be someone your audience can empathize with.

2. A Compelling Challenge

Highlight the struggle or problem the protagonist faced before your nonprofit stepped in.
Make the challenge specific, urgent, and emotionally resonant.

3. A Clear Resolution (Impact of Your Work)

Show how your nonprofit’s intervention made a difference.
Use concrete details, data, and personal testimonials to illustrate success.

4. Emotional Connection

Use emotions like hope, joy, or perseverance to engage your audience.
Show, don’t just tell—use vivid descriptions, quotes, and imagery.

5. A Call to Action (CTA)

Inspire your audience to take action (donate, volunteer, share the story, etc.).
Make the CTA clear, direct, and easy to follow.

6. Authenticity and Transparency

Stay true to the story and avoid exaggeration or manipulation.
If using real individuals, obtain permission and respect their privacy.

7. Multi-Channel Delivery

Use visuals, videos, and testimonials to enhance engagement.
Adapt your story for different platforms (social media, website, email, video, etc.).

Check out this Forbes article for more storytelling tips and tools. If you’re looking to invest in your storytelling abilities, the annual Nonprofit Storytelling Conference is a great resource.