
Skilled Volunteers Can Help Your Nonprofit with These Overlooked, but Crucial, Tasks
By Kimberly Swartz, Senior Director of Community Engagement, Taproot Foundation As a nonprofit professional, your to-do list may be longer than a CVS receipt, but we have some ways to shorten it. Taproot Plus, our free nonprofit-volunteer marketplace, has a community of over 150,000 volunteers skilled in HR, operations, business strategy, finance, marketing, tech, and more, who are waiting in...
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6 Tips to Improve Your Fundraising Writing
Which would you rather read – a page of facts and statistics or a story? Most of us would probably choose the story, and not only because it seems more interesting. Research has found that stories have a unique ability to capture our attention because narratives activate the brain's emotional processing centers. As fundraisers, we can use storytelling techniques to...
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National Volunteer Week is Around the Corner—Is Your Nonprofit Ready?
April 16-22 is National Volunteer Week, a time to celebrate the impact of volunteers in our communities. It’s also a time volunteers are ready to help nonprofits—like yours! This year, Taproot isn’t just celebrating volunteer service—we’re out to make even more of an impact. During National Volunteer Week, you’re invited to join us as Taproot connects over 200+ incredible social...
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6 Steps to Developing a Strategic Fundraising Plan for Your Nonprofit
Many nonprofits engage in strategic planning to help direct the future of their organization, but what about strategic fundraising planning? Using the framework of strategic planning to create longer-term fundraising goals and a guide to reaching them can help you level up your fundraising from year to year. This type of planning is different from budgeting – a strategic fundraising...
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5 Ways Skilled Volunteers Can Boost Your Nonprofit Startup
By Kimberly Swartz, Director of Community Engagement, Taproot Foundation Have you recently started a nonprofit? Congratulations! So, what’s next? Starting a nonprofit organization can be both a thrilling and challenging time. Your to-do list is growing by the minute, but support is just a few mouse clicks away. We recognize that once you’ve received your 501(c)(3) status, it can be...
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5 Tips to Creating Your Nonprofit’s Grant Strategy for Long-term Success
Whether your nonprofit is building out its grant programming from scratch or hoping to gain new funders, taking the time to plan is a key first step. Making a comprehensive grant strategy can help move your development team from responsive to proactive, setting your organization up for sustainability in the long term. How can your nonprofit plan its grant strategy...
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Why Diversity on a Nonprofit Board Matters
Board diversity is critical to the success of every nonprofit’s work. And while 2021’s Leading with Intent study shows progress toward greater board diversity, more is possible. This blog illustrates the many benefits of board diversification and the actionable steps nonprofits can take. By increasing board diversity, nonprofits strengthen their connection to the people and communities they serve, reach new...
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Launch a Successful Giving Tuesday Campaign with Skilled Volunteers
Since its founding in 2012 by the 92nd Street Y, Giving Tuesday has grown into a global movement. It’s a day fueled by activism, collaboration, and generosity that has emerged as a marquee fundraising opportunity for nonprofits around the world. On Giving Tuesday 2021 alone, nonprofits raised an estimated $2.7 billion! Take advantage of this day of giving The movement's...
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7 Ways to Make Your Grant Proposal Stand Out
You've found a potential grant opportunity and are ready to apply for it. The grants process can be complicated at times but investing a little extra time in a few key areas can often make a significant difference in the likelihood of receiving funding. Use this list to ensure that you write a strong grant application every time you submit...
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The Fastest Way to Connect Your Nonprofit with Volunteers
By Kimberly Swartz, Director of Community Engagement, Taproot Foundation Could your organization benefit from advice from a marketing, HR, IT, business strategy, finance, or data expert? Are you hungry for an opportunity to creatively brainstorm with someone who can bring a fresh perspective to your nonprofit’s work? Is your team preparing for a big initiative where careful project management will...
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