Impact News and Fundraising Insights Blog

Your 2026 Nonprofit Strategy – Branding, Storytelling and Engagement Best Practices for Nonprofit Success

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 19:49:28 GMT

For many organizations, there is a lingering misconception that "branding" is a corporate luxury or that "storytelling" and “engagement” are merely marketing tactics. In reality, these are fundamental tools that transform a quiet local initiative into a resonant movement. To succeed in 2026’s crowded attention economy, a nonprofit must move beyond simply "doing good" and start "communicating well."

Branding: Building the Foundation of Trust

Nonprofit branding is often misunderstood as just a logo or a color palette. While visual identity is part of it, true branding is the distillation of your organization’s soul. It is the psychological "shortcut" that tells a donor, volunteer, or beneficiary exactly who you are and why you matter before they even read your mission statement.

The Power of Perception

In the nonprofit world, your "product" is often an intangible outcome—a cleaner ocean, a child educated, or a disease researched. Because donors cannot physically hold these outcomes, they are essentially "buying" trust .

Consistency Breeds Reliability: When your social media, website, and annual reports all share a unified voice and visual style, you signal professionalism. A fragmented brand suggests a fragmented operation.
The "Why" Behind the "What": A strong brand clarifies your unique value proposition. Why should someone donate to your hunger relief program instead of the one in the next town over? Your brand provides that answer.

Modern vs. Traditional Branding

Storytelling: The Bridge to Empathy

If branding is the skeleton, storytelling is the heartbeat. Humans are biologically wired to respond to narratives, not spreadsheets. While data and statistics provide the intellectual justification for a gift, stories provide the emotional catalyst .

The Psychology of the "Identifiable Victim"

Research shows that people are more likely to donate to help a specific, named individual than a vague group of thousands. This is known as the Identifiable Victim Effect. Storytelling allows nonprofits to put a face to the cause.

The Hero’s Journey: In nonprofit storytelling, the "Hero" should not be your organization. The Hero should be the beneficiary (overcoming an obstacle) or the donor (making the change possible). Your organization is the Mentor or the Guide (the Gandalf or Obi-Wan) providing the tools for success.
Conflict and Resolution: A story without conflict is just a report. You must be honest about the challenges your community faces. Highlighting the "before" and "after" creates a narrative arc that feels satisfying and urgent.

Moving Beyond the "Tragedy Narrative"

While high-stress imagery can trigger immediate donations, it often leads to donor fatigue and can strip beneficiaries of their dignity. Successful nonprofits are shifting toward Asset-Based Storytelling. This approach focuses on the strengths and potential of the people being served, rather than just their deficits. It invites donors to invest in a solution rather than just put a band-aid on a problem.

Engagement: Moving from Transactional to Relational

Many nonprofits fall into the trap of treating donors like ATMs—contacting them only when a bill is due. This is transactional engagement. To achieve long-term sustainability, you must move toward relational engagement.

The Ladder of Engagement

Engagement is the process of moving a person from a casual observer to a fierce advocate. This is often visualized as a "ladder":

Step 1: Awareness. They follow you on social media or visit your site.
Step 2: Participation. They sign a petition, attend a webinar, or share a post.
Step 3: Contribution. They make their first small donation.
Step 4: Commitment. They become a recurring monthly donor.
Step 5: Advocacy. They fundraise on your behalf or volunteer their professional skills.

The Two-Way Street

Engagement is not a broadcast; it is a conversation.

Active Listening: Use polls, surveys, and comment sections to ask your community what they care about.
Radical Transparency: Use engagement channels to show where the money goes. A short, "unpolished" video from a field worker can often generate more engagement than a high-production commercial because it feels real .

The Synergistic Loop: Putting it All Together

When branding, storytelling, and engagement work in harmony, they create a self-sustaining cycle of growth.

"A brand is what people say about you when you're not in the room. Storytelling is how you give them the words to say. Engagement is making sure they stay in the room long enough to listen."

Imagine an organization focused on reforestation.

Their Brand is "The Future-Builders," with a visual identity that is fresh, green, and optimistic.
Their Storytelling focuses on a single farmer whose land was restored, showing his family’s journey from struggle to stability.
Their Engagement strategy involves a mobile app where donors can see GPS coordinates of "their" trees and receive updates on the local ecosystem.

In this scenario, the donor isn't just giving $20; they are joining a community, witnessing a transformation, and reinforcing their own identity as a "Future-Builder."

Conclusion: The Cost of Silence

In the nonprofit world, the "best-kept secret" is a failing organization. You can have the most effective program in the world, but if your brand is confusing, your stories are dry, and your engagement is non-existent, your impact will remain limited.

Investing in these three pillars is not "overhead"—it is capacity building . It is the process of building a megaphone for your mission so that the people who want to help can finally find you.

Proper branding gives you authority.
Proper storytelling gives you empathy.
Proper engagement gives you longevity.

When you master all three, you stop chasing donors and start building a movement.

To succeed in 2026, move beyond simply "doing good" and start "communicating well."

A Partnership to Empower Your Mission

As a nonprofit serving nonprofits, Give Back Nation provides more than just support; we offer a partnership. We empower nonprofits with the essential tools and guidance to build a powerful digital presence, streamline operations, and ultimately, focus on what truly matters: serving their mission. By delivering cost-effective nonprofit support and solutions we are helping to create a robust and sustainable "fundraising ecosystem" for organizations dedicated to making a positive impact on the world.

Ready to TAKE CONTROL and succeed in 2026?

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How Nonprofit Leaders Negotiate Their Salary

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 21:47:24 GMT

A post by The Nonprofit Fixer - a vetted, national partner of Give Back Nation.

You CAN Negotiate Salary at a Nonprofit. Here’s How.

For many professionals in the mission-led nonprofit space, bringing up a conversation about higher pay can feel uncomfortable — even self-serving, or misaligned with the cause. Yet the truth is: nonprofit staff at all levels deserve not only fair compensation, but generous compensation. You should be able to support your household, pay for housing, cover groceries, and yes — even take a vacation now and then.

So let’s explore how you can negotiate salary in the nonprofit world.

1. Getting Ready: What to do before you ask

There are three common scenarios in which negotiation comes into play for nonprofit leaders:

You’re offered a new role with a nonprofit and you haven’t accepted yet.
You’re currently at a nonprofit, and you’re being promoted or offered a raise.
You believe the time has come in your current role to ask for more — even without a formal offer or promotion.

In every situation, the most important element is: knowing your worth . That means preparing your mindset, doing your research, and making sure your résumé and LinkedIn profile show your value. I help executive directors calculate their salary and compensation so they can better negotiate for what’s fair.

Mindset matters

Start by recognising your value: your career journey, the education you’ve pursued, the skills you’ve built, and what you’ve already achieved. If you undersell yourself, your employer will too.
It’s also useful to shake off the idea that asking for higher pay is somehow “against the mission.” You are the mission. A well-paid team often produces stronger results, lower turnover, and healthier organisational culture.

Research your market

To anchor your ask, you’ll need data. Think in terms of: geography (what’s typical pay in this region?), organization size/sector, job level (entry, mid, senior).

If published salary reports are unavailable in your space, you might survey peers or check organizations in your network for comparable roles and budgets. Once you find the data, set a realistic but aspirational salary range for yourself.

Sharpen your résumé and LinkedIn profile

Your résumé is your story. Resist the trap of listing only responsibilities. Instead, highlight what you solved , what changed , what you achieved .

Your LinkedIn profile is similarly important: it’s a free, searchable asset. Make sure it’s up to date, polished, and aligned with how you want your professional narrative told. Nonprofit leaders get to shine and brag more than others. Don’t hold back. You are doing purpose-driven work so don’t hold back.

2. Negotiation tactics that work

With your mindset primed, market research in hand, and brand polished, you’re ready to negotiate. Here are five tactics tailored for the nonprofit setting:

Tip 1: Be confident

Approach the conversation with clarity and purpose. You may not always get exactly what you ask for, but you give yourself zero chance if you don’t ask. Good preparation is the foundation of confidence.

Tip 2: Prepare your pitch

Don’t wing it. Draft a short, compelling argument:

“I’ve taken on these responsibilities, delivered on these results, and reviewed market data that suggests a salary in this range would be aligned with peers. I believe a raise of X % is appropriate, given my contributions and the region/sector context.”

Overwhelmingly you want your skills and accomplishments to link back to sustainability and financial security, or mission-attainment.

Tip 3: Anticipate responses

Think through possible reactions ahead of time:

A yes (possibly even higher than you asked)
A no (with or without explanation)
A “let’s revisit in three or six months”
Having clear responses ready helps you stay composed rather than reactive.
Tip 4: Use anchoring

If the employer suggests “we were thinking about 4–5 %,” you can reply: “5 % is a good start — but given my scope and results I was hoping for something closer to X %.” By anchoring above the baseline, you shape the negotiation around your target.

Tip 5: Remember — it’s not just salary

Especially in nonprofits, there are broader negotiables: flexible work arrangements, extra vacation days, tuition reimbursement, professional development, cell-phone/tech allowances, or maybe a title change. Don’t focus only on the salary number; expand the conversation to total compensation.

3. What doesn’t work (and what to avoid)

Just as important as knowing what does work is knowing what commonly fails:

Waiting and hoping — don’t expect a raise without asking; luck isn’t a strategy.
Threats & ultimatums — saying “If you don’t give me this, I’ll leave” rarely ends well and often triggers replacement searches.
Using another offer recklessly — leveraging a competing job offer can backfire, especially at smaller nonprofits. Use that tactic only if you’re fully ready for the consequences.

4. Sample script to adapt

Here’s a structure you can customise for your own discussion:

“It has been one of the highlights of my career to serve in this role, and I am fully committed to helping our organisation thrive in the years ahead. Over the past [X] months/years, we’ve achieved [list 2–3 key results]. My role has included [describe your key activities and responsibilities], and the scope has continued to grow. Given market data for similar roles in [region/sector] and my contributions here, I believe an adjustment in my compensation is justified. I’d like to discuss increasing my salary to [target amount or range], to reflect both my value to this organisation and what the marketplace supports.”

5. After the conversation — next steps

Whether you’re starting with a new employer or sitting in your current organisation, the salary negotiation conversation often brings nerves — but remember: you’re advocating for your value. Your value in a nonprofit is about problems you solve, money you raise, or results you get for your mission.

When done well, you not only raise your own compensation and set a higher baseline for your future earnings — you also help drive the sector toward fairer pay overall.

If the result isn’t exactly what you hoped for, don’t give up. Ask for a plan: “If I meet these benchmarks, can we revisit this in six months?” Many nonprofits delay raises due to budget timing, so showing how you’ll raise or save money can pave the way.

Ultimately, having the conversation itself builds your confidence, your track record, and your professional brand.

Final Note:

Your ability to negotiate fair pay isn’t just about you—it’s about helping your organisation retain talent, maintain morale, and pursue its mission without burnout or turnover. Too often nonprofits think they should be paid less to put the mission first, but you are the mission. The money you raise is to achieve the mission. That’s you!

Sean Kosofsky is the Nonprofit Fixer. He’s an executive coach, consultant and trainer who has worked in the nonprofits industry for over 34 years and served as an executive director 5 times around the US. www.NonprofitFixer.com

Guest Blog By

Sean Kosofsky - "The Nonprofit Fixer"

a vetted national partner of Give Back Nation

For more than 34 years, Sean has helped lead and transform various nonprofit organizations and political campaigns. With a diligent commitment to excellence in fundraising, management, and board development, he pushes organizations to be higher-functioning engines of impact.

Sign up for ANY Nonprofit Fixer Coaching Package, mention Give Back Nation, and get a FREE 1 Hour Board Training! - A $500 VALUE

(must use within 12 months)

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What to Expect in a Nonprofit Coaching Engagement (and How to Find the Right Coach)

Mon, 25 Aug 2025 15:02:35 GMT

Part 3 of the 3-Part Nonprofit Executive Coaching Blog Series by The Nonprofit Fixer - a vetted, national partner of Give Back Nation.

So you've decided to explore coaching—now what? Understanding how coaching works and how to find the right coach is key to getting the most value from the experience.

What Happens During a Coaching Engagement?

Most coaching relationships follow a structured process:

Kickoff Session - Establishing expectations around confidentiality, goals, and logistics.
Assessment Phase - You may complete tools like 360° feedback, values exercises, or leadership self-assessments.
Ongoing Sessions - Typically every two to four weeks, sessions focus on reflection, problem-solving, and goal alignment.
Accountability & Tools - Coaches may provide templates, frameworks, or leadership strategies to support your growth.
Wrap-Up & Evaluation - Good coaching ends with clarity on what progress was made and how to sustain momentum.

How to Choose the Right Coach

Not every coach is a match for every leader. When searching, consider:

Experience in nonprofits - Ideally, they’ve walked in your shoes.
Coaching style - Do they ask powerful questions or lean toward offering advice?
Fit - Do you feel safe being honest with them?

Interview a few coaches and ask:

How do you typically work with nonprofit leaders?
What happens between sessions?
What success stories can you share?

Also, don’t overlook your network. Ask trusted peers, funders, or associations for referrals. Many great coaches build their business by word of mouth.

Final Thoughts

Executive coaching is not about fixing broken leaders. It’s about unlocking the next level for capable, mission-driven professionals who want to lead with confidence and clarity. With the right partner, coaching can transform not just your leadership—but your organization’s future.

Guest Blog By

Sean Kosofsky - "The Nonprofit Fixer"

a vetted national partner of Give Back Nation

Sign up for ANY Nonprofit Fixer Coaching Package, mention Give Back Nation, and get a FREE 1 Hour Board Training! - A $500 VALUE

(must use within 12 months)

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How Much Does Nonprofit Executive Coaching Cost—and What Are You Really Paying For?

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 13:46:54 GMT

Part 2 of the 3-Part Nonprofit Executive Coaching Blog Series by The Nonprofit Fixer - a vetted, national partner of Give Back Nation.

If you’re considering hiring an executive coach, one of your first questions will be: how much does this cost? The short answer: it varies. The better question is: what value does coaching bring to you and your organization?

Common Coaching Pricing Structures

Coaching for nonprofit leaders is typically structured as a package, not a one-off session. Most coaches offer 6- or 12-month engagements, which might include:

Biweekly or monthly sessions
Unlimited email support
Custom assessments or tools

Prices can range widely:

Entry-level coaching : $2,000–$5,000 for 6 months
Mid-tier coaching : $5,000–$15,000
High-end executive coaching : $20,000–$40,000+ per year

The biggest factors influencing pricing include:

The coach’s experience and credentials
Whether they’re solo or part of a firm
Your budget and organization size
The depth of support offered

Who Typically Pays?

Sometimes the nonprofit covers the cost using professional development funds. In other cases, a board member or foundation sponsor might cover the fee as part of a leadership initiative. A small percentage of executive directors choose to pay out of pocket.

Regardless of the source, coaching is an investment in a leader’s ability to scale impact, reduce costly turnover, and improve organizational performance.

Why Structured Packages Matter

Structured packages ensure both parties are committed. They give the relationship time to build trust, work through challenges, and produce real change. Many coaches also include accountability check-ins and post-engagement follow-ups.

Guest Blog By

Sean Kosofsky - "The Nonprofit Fixer"

a vetted national partner of Give Back Nation

Sign up for ANY Nonprofit Fixer Coaching Package, mention Give Back Nation, and get a FREE 1 Hour Board Training! - A $500 VALUE

(must use within 12 months)

Website frustrations?
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What Is Executive Coaching For Nonprofit Leaders—and Is It Right For You?

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 15:11:51 GMT

Part 1 of the 3-Part Nonprofit Executive Coaching Blog Series by The Nonprofit Fixer - a vetted, national partner of Give Back Nation.

Nonprofit executives often juggle major responsibilities with limited resources. Between board relationships, fundraising, staff dynamics, and mission-driven pressure, it can feel like you're on an island. That’s where executive coaching comes in—not as a luxury, but as a strategic investment in your leadership and organizational health.

What Is Executive Coaching?

Executive coaching is a one-on-one relationship between a nonprofit leader and a coach, designed to support the leader's personal and professional development. It’s not therapy, and it’s not training—it’s a thought partnership focused on navigating challenges, improving performance, and setting a course for success.

A great coach doesn’t need an official certification, though many have one. What truly matters is that they understand the nonprofit sector, ideally from firsthand experience. The best coaches bring empathy, real-world knowledge, and accountability.

What Coaching Can Help With

Coaching is especially valuable when:

You feel isolated in your role and need a sounding board.
You want to move from reactive to strategic leadership.
You're facing burnout or imposter syndrome.
You're navigating a transition—new to the role or scaling up.

It’s also a confidential space to process hard truths, think out loud, and make better decisions faster. Unlike generic professional development, coaching is entirely tailored to you.

Coaching Is Not for Everyone

If someone is struggling with performance basics or lacks self-awareness, coaching may not be the right fit. Coaching works best for leaders who are already functioning at a strong level but want to stretch further—whether that’s developing better time management, growing confidence, or leading through change.

Coaches vs. Mentors

A mentor gives advice from their own experience. A coach asks powerful questions to help you discover your own insights. Both are valuable—but coaching is more structured, personalized, and often time-bound. It's about getting results, not just sharing stories.

Guest Blog By

Sean Kosofsky - "The Nonprofit Fixer"

a vetted national partner of Give Back Nation

Sign up for ANY Nonprofit Fixer Coaching Package, mention Give Back Nation, and get a FREE 1 Hour Board Training! - A $500 VALUE

(must use within 12 months)

Website frustrations?
Cost-effectively and dynamically take control of your brand and impact storytelling.

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Cost-effectively receive unlimited Google Ad Grant management support to create 100,000+ impressions each year.

Your Website: The Unseen Barrier To Nonprofit Funding?

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 16:27:50 GMT

Hi Nonprofit Leader,

Take a look at Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway website today - www.berkshirehathaway.com .

It looks straight out of 1999, right? But, he's perfectly fine with that. Why? Because the back-end is rock-solid, and unlike your nonprofit, he doesn't need to impress anyone online with aesthetics because he's not fundraising, applying for grants, or trying to convince funders of his credibility.

Your nonprofit, however, absolutely is. And in today's competitive funding landscape, your website is often the silent gatekeeper of trust and opportunity.

As an organization who reviews dozens of nonprofit funding profiles and websites every month, helping organizations optimize their presentation to donors and grantmakers, we see a consistent, critical pattern:

Many incredible nonprofits lose serious credibility the moment a funder clicks the link to their website – even with a perfectly crafted funding profile.

Think about it: Funders Google You. What do they often find?

Outdated design that signals inactivity or irrelevance.
Weak backend issues hidden beneath a decent design.
Confusing navigation that frustrates engagement.
Non-mobile-responsive sites that alienate a huge percentage of potential supporters.
Lack of clear impact storytelling or transparent leadership information.
Broken pages or links, especially on mobile, screaming unprofessionalism.

These issues might seem minor to you, but to a donor or foundation program officer evaluating your profile, they are flashing warning signs : "This organization may not be well-managed."

Your funding profile or grant proposal can be flawless, but if your website doesn't meet basic digital standards, it instantly undoes the trust you worked so hard to build. Funders might reasonably conclude:

"If they don't invest in basic digital infrastructure, can I trust them with program funding?"
"An outdated website suggests their programs might be behind the times too."
"A broken mobile site signals a fundamental lack of professionalism."

Your programs might be incredibly strong, but if your online presence feels off, it's often game over for funding opportunities.

What To Do Now

With the giving season just around the corner (next quarter often brings up to 40% of annual donations), now is the critical time to address this. Funders are already researching. If your website is raising red flags instead of building trust, it could quietly cost you significant opportunities.

The good news is that Give Back Nation , a nonprofit itself, specializes in creating funder-approved nonprofit websites (and basically everything else needed to help maximize the fundraising ecosystem ). We focus on:

Professional design that instills confidence.
Seamless mobile optimization for all devices.
Clear, compelling impact storytelling.
Intuitive navigation that guides visitors effortlessly.

And we do all of this specifically tailored for nonprofits with limited budgets.

Book Your Free Website Brainstorming Call With Give Back Nation

Let's do a live audit of your current site, discuss your specific needs, and share honest recommendations. Whether that means working with us or simple fixes you can implement yourself, there's no pressure.

Cheers to your impact,

Kyle Gregory

Co-Founder + CEO

GiveBackNation.com

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Nonprofit Social Media Management Support vs. Training

Tue, 20 May 2025 14:27:28 GMT

The Give Back Nation Team helps nonprofits maximize social media opportunities with turnkey management support or complete training options. As a nonprofit serving nonprofits, we are here to help.

For nonprofits striving to amplify their impact and connect with their communities, social media has become an indispensable tool. However, navigating the ever-evolving digital landscape can be a significant challenge, especially with limited resources. When it comes to managing their online presence, nonprofits often face a crucial decision: should they seek external social media management support or invest in training their own team? While both approaches offer valuable assistance, they differ significantly in their long-term implications for control and sustainability.

Social Media Management Support

Opting for social media management support typically involves outsourcing the creation, scheduling, and engagement aspects of a nonprofit's social media strategy to an external agency or freelancer. This can provide immediate relief, freeing up staff to focus on core mission activities. Professionals bring expertise in platform algorithms, content creation best practices, and audience engagement techniques, often leading to a rapid improvement in online presence and reach. This can be particularly beneficial for organizations lacking internal marketing expertise or facing urgent campaign needs. The immediate benefits of streamlined content calendars, targeted advertising campaigns, and data-driven insights can be compelling.

However, relying solely on external support can create a dependency that limits a nonprofit's long-term control and understanding of its own online voice. While agencies may strive to align content with the organization's mission, the nuanced understanding and passion inherent within the internal team can sometimes be lost. Furthermore, the cost of ongoing external nonprofit social media management support can strain already tight budgets, potentially hindering the sustainability of digital engagement efforts. The nonprofit may also miss out on valuable learning opportunities, preventing the development of internal capacity for digital communication.

Social Media Management Training

In contrast, social media management training empowers a nonprofit's internal team to take the reins of their online presence. This approach involves investing in workshops, online courses, or one-on-one coaching to equip staff with the necessary skills and knowledge to develop and execute effective social media strategies. Training covers a wide range of topics, including content creation, platform best practices, audience engagement, data analysis, and crisis communication.

While the initial investment in nonprofit social media training requires time and resources, the long-term benefits for control and sustainability are substantial. By building internal capacity, nonprofits gain complete ownership of their online narrative, ensuring that their authentic voice and mission are consistently reflected in their social media communication. This fosters a deeper connection with their audience, as content resonates more genuinely with their values and goals. Moreover, as the internal team develops expertise, the ongoing costs associated with external support are significantly reduced, allowing for a more sustainable approach to digital engagement. The knowledge gained through training remains within the organization, creating a lasting asset that can adapt to future changes in the social media landscape.

Which To Choose

Ultimately, the optimal approach depends on a nonprofit's specific needs, resources, and long-term goals. For organizations needing immediate assistance with complex campaigns or lacking any internal marketing capacity, short-term external support can provide a valuable starting point. However, for nonprofits seeking to build a strong, sustainable, and authentic online presence while maintaining control over their messaging, investing in social media management training for their internal team offers a more empowering and cost-effective long-term solution. By equipping their staff with the necessary skills, nonprofits can become confident and capable navigators of the digital world, effectively amplifying their mission and fostering stronger connections with their communities.

We Can Help

The Give Back Nation Team helps nonprofits maximize social media opportunities with turnkey management support or complete training options. As a nonprofit serving nonprofits, we are here to help.

Have questions?

As a nonprofit serving nonprofits since 2006, Give Back Nation provides complimentary brainstorming calls for nonprofits to learn more, provide feedback and see what opportunities might exist to help maximize the fundraising ecosystem, increase success, expand impact and more!

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Getting Started With Google Ad Grant Management

Mon, 28 Apr 2025 14:01:14 GMT

Since 2011, the Give Back Nation Team has been helping nonprofits manage the $10,000/Mo Google Ad Grant . As we get started managing your ad grant account, there are many different things we zero-in on to help expedite and maximize success.

Below is a brief breakdown of core management elements:

1. Getting Started

To get started, our Ad Grant Manager Team will be in touch with you, seeking additional information depending on whether we’re starting the application from square one, or you already have an activated ad grant account. If you already have an ad grant account, our team will seek the ten digit customer ID number found at the top of ads.google.com or in your Google for Nonprofits product portal. If you do not yet have an ad grant, our team will help oversee the application for you; the necessary application material can be found here.

2. Building Your Account

The next stage in the ad grant management process is to build your ad content. Our Ad Grant Manager Team will be in touch with you to discuss strategy to ensure your focuses and priorities are accommodated in your account. From there, our general approach is to cast a wide net and build ads holistically for the many different landing pages throughout your website, including your home page, services, about page, etc. This allows us to utilize more ad spend from the get-go, generate more traffic, and gather more data that we’ll use to optimize your account later. Our initial goal for your account is to get it spending the full daily allotment as soon as possible.

3. Conversion Tracking

From here, our team will be in touch again regarding Google Analytics and Google Tag Manager. These products allow us to set up tracking tailored to the interactions users are taking on your website, and to monitor additional analytical data from users who click on your ads. This enables us to adopt a more favorable bidding strategy with your ads, which will result in better ad placement at the top of search results, and in turn, yield more desirable results. This tracking is known as conversions in Google Ads, and as soon as conversion data is generated, we are able to adopt a strategy that targets users who not only click on your ad but also interact with something on your website, such as a form submission or joining your newsletter.

4. Creating Ad Assets

Along with conversion tracking, we’ll also finalize your ad assets at this time. Ad assets are supporting elements of the ads that appear next to or underneath the ad we’ve built. This includes images, your logo, additional links like a ‘contact us’ page, and more. To learn more about ad assets and the different types that can be used, click here.

5. Website/Google Analytics Analysis

Given that the website shares a deep relationship with your ad grant account and can affect its performance, at this stage, we’ll analyze your website and the Google Analytics data we’ve collected for growth opportunities . Are we seeing low scores for desired keywords because they are not on a landing page? Is the engagement rate low, and what could be the cause? Is mobile traffic high, yet loading speed also high, causing mobile users to bounce? With this information, our team will provide guidance on ways you can improve your website to achieve more favorable ad results.

6. Account Optimizations

Optimizations, the act of changing an existing process to increase the occurrence of favorable outcomes and decrease the occurrence of undesirable outcomes, are conducted from here on out. Optimizations are both necessary for keeping your account compliant with Google and for fine-tuning in the hopes of directing traffic and spend to more favorable landing pages.

We’ll address flagged ads, policy violations, ad/keyword scoring improvements, keyword cleanup, and more. Additionally, for accounts approaching or that have met the full spend allotment, we’ll look to set spend caps in place or phase out unpreferred ad content entirely to better align with the focus information conveyed during onboarding.

We recognize that focuses are not always static and new initiatives come up every year, so if at any time you want us to adjust your account’s target or accommodate a new landing page for a new initiative, please keep our team in the loop so we can make these modifications on your behalf.

Have questions?

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Google Ad Grant Management - Key Points To Keep In Mind

Mon, 21 Apr 2025 14:03:27 GMT

Having access to the $10,000 every month from Google for search ads (and retargeting through Performance Max - brand new for 2025) is extremely exciting! The Google Ad Grant can significantly impact the awareness of your mission.

As the Give Back Nation Team starts to manage your Google Ad Grant to help maximize results, it's essential to keep a few key points in mind:

1. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.

We know that you want donations, and often need them to fund your growth. Keep in mind that the Google Grant will drive brand new people to your website and it will take time to nurture new visitors into donors over time and not expect them to give when they first land on your website.

2. Increasing your ad spend will come with time.

As people search for you, we will make sure you are found. You may notice that your monthly ad spend may be less than the total $10,000. Ad spending is influenced by search volume and targeting. Spending will increase with time and through continued optimizations.

3. The better your website is, the better your results will be.

The performance of your ads and your website quality and speed go hand in hand. Make sure that your website loads quickly, provides a user-friendly experience, and features compelling call-to-actions.

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5 Things To Help Maximize Nonprofit Website Success

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 00:00:48 GMT

Creating an impactful nonprofit website requires a strategic approach, focusing on key elements that foster engagement and drive support. Below is a breakdown of five crucial aspects.

1. Prioritize Clear and Compelling Messaging

A nonprofit's website must immediately and effectively communicate its mission. Visitors should instantly grasp the organization's purpose, the communities it serves, and the significance of their contributions. Employing concise, impactful language, coupled with high-quality visuals, is essential for conveying the organization's story. Emphasizing the human impact of the work through powerful testimonials and narratives creates an emotional connection. Ensure that the "About Us" section is readily accessible, providing comprehensive information that builds trust and understanding.

2. Ensure User-Friendly Navigation and Design

A seamless user experience is paramount. A clean, intuitive website design allows visitors to effortlessly locate desired information, whether it pertains to donations, volunteer opportunities, or program details. Implement clear navigation menus, a prominent search function, and a responsive design that adapts to various devices. Website loading speed is also very important. A slow website will cause people to leave.

3. Streamline the Donation Process

Facilitating easy donations is critical. Strategic placement of donation buttons, particularly on high-traffic pages, encourages contributions. Offering diverse donation options, such as one-time and recurring gifts, and integrating secure payment gateways enhances convenience. Simplify the donation form by minimizing required fields, and provide transparent information regarding how donations will be utilized.

4. Foster Engagement and Communication

Building strong relationships with supporters necessitates consistent engagement and communication. Maintaining an active blog or news section provides valuable updates on programs, events, and impact. Integrating social media channels expands reach and cultivates community. Implementing email sign-up forms enables the dissemination of newsletters and updates, while ensuring accessible contact information facilitates direct communication.

5. Implement Measurable Goals and Analytics

Defining clear website objectives, such as increasing donations or expanding email subscribers, is essential for success. Utilizing analytics tools, such as Google Analytics, allows for tracking website traffic, user behavior, and conversion rates. Regularly analyzing data enables the identification of areas for improvement and the optimization of website performance. A/B testing can further refine website elements, such as layouts and calls to action, to maximize effectiveness.

To us, branding and storytelling is the #1 pillar of the fundraising ecosystem and your website is the #1 tool to help attract and cultivate opportunities.

Is your website helping you thrive or just survive?

Have questions?

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Nonprofits Are Addressing Federal Funding Uncertainty with Fundraising Events and Campaigns

Mon, 31 Mar 2025 18:51:01 GMT

The landscape of nonprofit funding is undergoing a significant shift, driven by the increasing unpredictability of federal allocations. This instability has forced many organizations to reassess their revenue streams, leading to a pronounced surge in fundraising events. We are witnessing this trend firsthand, reflected in the substantial uptick in event and donation volume processed through our Event and Donation Software this year. This surge is not merely a statistical anomaly; it represents a fundamental change in how nonprofits are approaching sustainability in a challenging financial climate.

The reliance on traditional fundraising events, such as galas, golf tournaments, live and silent auctions, and raffles, is intensifying as organizations seek to bridge the gap left by fluctuating federal support. These events, when executed strategically, offer a powerful platform for community engagement, donor cultivation, and revenue generation. However, maximizing their potential requires a nuanced understanding of event planning, donor psychology, and the effective utilization of technology.

Give Back Nation is uniquely positioned to assist nonprofits in navigating this evolving landscape. We provide dynamic support and a vetted, comprehensive suite of tools designed to streamline event management, optimize auction processes, and enhance donor engagement. From online ticketing and registration to real-time bidding and automated donation processing, our tools and support empower organizations to create seamless and impactful fundraising experiences.

We recognize that each nonprofit faces unique challenges and opportunities. Therefore, we are committed to providing tailored support and guidance to help organizations optimize their fundraising strategies. Our team of experts possesses deep experience in event planning, donor relations, and fundraising best practices. We offer workshops, webinars, and personalized consultations to equip nonprofits with the knowledge and skills necessary to achieve their fundraising goals.

The increasing reliance on fundraising events presents both challenges and opportunities. While the need to generate revenue is paramount, it is equally crucial to cultivate meaningful connections with donors and build long-term relationships. Effective event management can transform a one-time donation into a sustained partnership, fostering a community of supporters who are invested in the organization's mission.

Moreover, the digital transformation of fundraising is accelerating. Online platforms and mobile technologies are playing an increasingly vital role in event promotion, donor engagement, and payment processing. Embracing these technologies can significantly expand an organization's reach and streamline its fundraising operations. Our software solutions integrate seamlessly with various online platforms, enabling nonprofits to leverage the power of digital tools to enhance their fundraising efforts.

In this climate of uncertainty, proactive adaptation is essential for nonprofit sustainability. We are dedicated to empowering organizations to navigate the complexities of fundraising and achieve their mission-critical objectives. If your organization seeks to explore innovative strategies to boost revenue from online campaigns, galas, golf tournaments, auctions, raffles, and other events, we encourage you to schedule a complimentary brainstorming call below.

As a nonprofit serving nonprofits, we are here to help you thrive, not just survive.

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Your Website's Impact On The Google Ad Grant

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 17:32:16 GMT

Give Back Nation Nonprofit Programs & Services

Branding & Storytelling - Nonprofit Websites - Online Fundraising - Nonprofit CRM

Removing Barriers To Give - Engagement - Unlimited Coaching & Support Membership

Google Ad Grant Management - Social Media Management - Brand Activation

Grant Writing - Auctions - Peer To Peer Fundraising - Events

Since 2011, the Give Back Nation Ad Grant Manager Team has been helping thousands of nonprofits maximize the Google Ad Grant opportunity.

Your Website's Impact On The Google Ad Grant

General Overview

The quality of your Google Ad Grant is primarily determined by the quality of your website and keywords on each page. In order for your Google Ads to be successful, having high search volume keywords on each page of your website is crucial. If people get to your website right now and don’t get involved or give, new traffic won’t either. If people love engaging your content now, the new people we help send you through the Ad Grant will probably also love your content as well. You can learn more about how people engage your website through Google Analytics, which is completely free.

Another free tool is Google’s keyword planner which can help you find highly searched words that you may want to add on your website. Adding these keywords as plain text to relevant pages will allow your Google Ads Grant to better rank for them. The speed and quality of your website is also important for engaging new people who are unfamiliar with your organization. Your website is the first point of contact for most Google Ads users, so first impressions are key and could make or break whether a user immediately bounces or becomes a more permanent supporter. Included below are some common tips towards creating a customer friendly website.

1. Start with a clear navigation bar.

a. Include your logo in the navigation bar with a link to your homepage.

b. Include your most important call to action in the top right of your nav bar.

2. Use casual language with quality keywords.

3. Speak in a way that new people who may not be as familiar with who you are and what you do can understand it.

4. Provide relevant information quickly and towards the top of your page.

5. Create unique pages for specific topics/services.

a. If you provide more than one service, you may want a landing page which highlights all the services, but it’s important each service has its own page so we can uniquely target users to those individual service pages.

6. Use high-quality pictures/videos to help tell your story. a. You don’t want blurry images telling your story. Use images that capture attention and help people navigate through your website more clearly.

7. Get the most out of your video content. a. Wherever you have videos, you may want to consider adding transcription text under the videos so that we can use the keywords in the video to help target more users to your website.

8. Make it easy for visitors to convert.

a. Have easy to find forms for things like your newsletter or contact us page. Also make sure that all of your forms point to unique thank you pages, so that you can also set up goal tracking in analytics.

b. Use a simple and straightforward web layout.

9. Don’t leave dead ends.

a. When you have content on a page, make sure there are call-to-actions and don’t leave someone wondering how they should engage you or your content. This might include buttons, links to redirect users to, a completable form, video, etc.

b. Give users a clear path to engage your content and let them know where you want them to go

Loading Speed

Loading speed is immensely important in providing users the best site experience. With attention spans significantly low in the current climate, it can only take a few seconds of loading to lose a user.

Alternatively, sites and landing pages that load quickly will typically receive more traffic and have better conversion rates. Consider utilizing PageSpeed Insights to test your website loading speeds, and aim for 2-3 seconds of loading ideally.

Layout & Content

Google Ads is an excellent resource to help get new users to your website, but for the best results, it is important to have a website designed to encourage these users to engage with you. Here are a number of tips and tricks that can be incorporated to create a high-performing website, guiding new users to desirable actions starting from Google Ads.

There are a plethora of website layout options available. Your website should be uniquely customized to cater to your organization, its needs, and the impact you make, with quality in mind. Included below are examples of a few quality websites for reference.

Approved Domains for Advertising

As long as we are adhering to Google’s compliance guidelines and website policies , ads can be built for any page within an approved domain of your grant account. Included below are a number of examples of what qualifies as an approved domain and what does not. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you are in need of clarity on the pages that can and cannot be used for advertising.

Have questions? We are here to help!

Website frustrations?
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Looking to maximize the $10k/Mo Google Ad Grant?
Cost-effectively receive unlimited Google Ad Grant management support to create 100,000+ impressions each year.

The Importance Of Year-End Fundraising

Thu, 24 Oct 2024 18:58:15 GMT

Year-end fundraising is one of the most important fundraising opportunities for nonprofit organizations. Approximately 50% or more of annual giving occurs in the last 3 months of the year (30% in December alone). Giving Tuesday, year-end appeals, events, recurring giving campaigns, and other fundraising and outreach initiatives are leveraged by successful nonprofits to help maximize this once-a-year opportunity .

Here are several reasons why year-end fundraising is so important for nonprofits:

People are more likely to give at the end of the year - According to Giving USA, an annual report on charitable giving in the United States, 31% of all annual giving occurs in December.
Donors are looking to make a difference in the world - The holidays are a time when people are reflecting on their lives and what they are grateful for. This can lead to a desire to give back to others and make a difference in the world. Nonprofits can tap into this desire by highlighting the impact of their work and how donors can help.
Nonprofits have a chance to close out the year strong - The end of the year is a time for nonprofits to take stock of their accomplishments and set goals for the coming year. A successful year-end fundraising campaign can help nonprofits meet their goals and start the new year off on the right foot.
Year-end fundraising can help nonprofits reach their goals - Many nonprofits set annual fundraising goals. A successful year-end fundraising campaign can help nonprofits reach or exceed their goals, which can then be used to support their programs and services.
Tax benefits - Donors often make charitable donations at the end of the year in order to claim them on their taxes. Approximately 11% of annual giving occurs during the last 3 days of the year.
Settlement of finances - Donors may have a better idea of their remaining budget toward the end of the year, after they have made their big purchases and planned for holiday expenses.
Opportunity to connect with donors - Year-end fundraising is a great opportunity to connect with donors and thank them for their support. It can also be a time to introduce new donors to your organization through year-end outreach and engagement initiatives.

In order to be successful with year-end fundraising, nonprofits need to be proactive and strategically think-through and plan for the opportunity.

Some quick tips for year-end fundraising:

Start planning early - Don't wait until December to start planning your year-end fundraising campaign. Begin at the end of summer or early fall to provide enough time to strategically think-through and implement a plan.
Be sure your brand is on point - Does your website, outreach emails and overall branding look dated or incomplete? First impressions matter and you don’t want to waste time and money exposing your fundraising initiatives if potential supporters lose respect instantly.
Set a clear fundraising goal - What do you hope to achieve with your year-end campaign?
Create a compelling message - Your message should be clear, concise, and persuasive.
Use a variety of fundraising channels - Don't rely on just one fundraising channel. Use a variety of channels, such as direct mail, email, text messages, phone calls, social media, and events.
Personalize your appeals - Make your appeals as personal as possible. Address donors by name and use stories and examples that will resonate with them.
Thank your donors - Be sure to thank your donors for their support. A personal thank-you note is always appreciated.

Year-end fundraising can be a great way to raise much-needed funds for your nonprofit organization. Don’t waste the opportunity!

Is your nonprofit organization ready for year-end fundraising?

Not sure? Looking for some outside perspective?

As a nonprofit serving nonprofits since 2006, Give Back Nation provides complimentary brainstorming calls for nonprofits to learn more, provide feedback and see what opportunities might exist.

Website frustrations?
Cost-effectively and dynamically take control of your brand and impact storytelling in days.

Looking to maximize the $10k/Mo Google Ad Grant?
Cost-effectively receive unlimited Google Ad Grant management support to create 100,000+ impressions each year.

The Impact Of GivingTuesday: A Global Movement For Generosity

Tue, 15 Oct 2024 15:21:45 GMT

In a world often characterized by division and conflict, GivingTuesday (this year falling on December 3, 2024) stands as a beacon of hope, a global movement that harnesses the power of collective generosity to create a more just and equitable world. Initiated in 2012 by the 92nd Street Y in New York City, GivingTuesday has evolved into a massive phenomenon, inspiring millions of individuals, businesses, and nonprofit organizations to come together on the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving to support causes that matter most to them.

The impact of GivingTuesday extends far beyond a single day of giving. It has become a catalyst for positive social change, fostering a culture of generosity and compassion that ripples through communities worldwide. Here, we explore the profound impact of GivingTuesday, examining its transformative effects on individuals, communities, and the world at large.

Unlocking the Power of Individual Generosity

At its core, GivingTuesday empowers individuals to make a difference. By providing a platform for people to easily connect with and support the causes they care about, GivingTuesday has democratized philanthropy, making it accessible to anyone, regardless of their financial means.

The movement encourages even small acts of generosity, reminding us that every contribution, no matter how modest, has the potential to create positive change. This inclusive approach has led to a surge in individual giving, with millions of people participating in GivingTuesday campaigns each year.

Strengthening Communities and Addressing Social Challenges

GivingTuesday has a profound impact on communities, providing much-needed resources and support to organizations tackling critical social issues. From providing food and shelter to the most vulnerable to advocating for human rights and environmental protection, GivingTuesday empowers nonprofits to amplify their impact and make a real difference in people's lives.

In 2023 alone, GivingTuesday generated over $3.12 billion in online donations globally, with local communities benefiting significantly from these funds. Nonprofits across all sectors have experienced increased donations and volunteerism during GivingTuesday, enabling them to expand their services and reach a wider range of people in need.

Fostering a Culture of Generosity and Compassion

GivingTuesday goes beyond raising funds; it cultivates a culture of generosity and compassion that extends far beyond the designated day. By promoting acts of kindness and encouraging individuals to give back to their communities, GivingTuesday inspires a more connected and empathetic society.

The movement's emphasis on shared responsibility and collective action has the power to transform our world. It reminds us that we are all interconnected and that our actions have the potential to create a ripple effect of positive change.

Building a More Just and Equitable World

The impact of GivingTuesday extends beyond national borders, fostering global collaboration and addressing issues that transcend geographical boundaries. The movement has played a crucial role in mobilizing resources to support international disaster relief, promote sustainable development, and advocate for human rights worldwide.

GivingTuesday has also helped to bridge cultural divides, promoting understanding and tolerance among diverse communities. By connecting people from different backgrounds around shared causes, GivingTuesday fosters a sense of global citizenship and encourages cooperation for a more just and equitable world.

GivingTuesday's Legacy: A Movement for the Future

As GivingTuesday continues to grow and evolve, its impact is only expected to expand. The movement has the potential to revolutionize philanthropy, transforming the way we approach social issues and fostering a more generous and compassionate world.

GivingTuesday's legacy lies in its power to inspire and empower individuals, communities, and organizations to make a positive impact on the world. By harnessing the collective power of generosity, GivingTuesday is creating a more just, equitable, and sustainable future for all.

Conclusion

GivingTuesday is more than just a day of giving; it is a movement that has the power to change the world. By inspiring acts of generosity, fostering community spirit, and promoting global collaboration, GivingTuesday is creating a more just, equitable, and compassionate society. As the movement continues to grow and evolve, its impact is only expected to expand, leaving a lasting legacy of positive change.

Have additional questions?

As a nonprofit serving nonprofits since 2006, Give Back Nation provides complimentary brainstorming calls for nonprofits to learn more, provide feedback and see what opportunities might exist to help maximize Giving Tuesday, increase fundraising success, expand impact and more!

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How We Manage & Setup Your Google Ad Grant Account

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 19:01:49 GMT

Give Back Nation Nonprofit Programs & Services

Branding & Storytelling - Nonprofit Websites - Online Fundraising - Nonprofit CRM

Removing Barriers To Give - Engagement - Unlimited Coaching & Support Membership

Google Ad Grant Management - Social Media Management - Brand Activation

Grant Writing - Auctions - Peer To Peer Fundraising - Events

Since 2011, the Give Back Nation Ad Grant Manager Team has been helping thousands of nonprofits maximize the Google Ad Grant opportunity.

How We Manage & Setup Your Google Ad Grant Account

Account Direction

Making sure your account is set up the right way is the first big step. After we have structured the account around your website, we start gathering analytics and learn where there is future opportunity to grow the account.

After about 30 days of collecting data, we can make customized changes to your account in order to continue to start maximizing conversions long-term.

Why Build Ads For The Entire Website?

Many people first think they just want to target one word, popular keywords or just send traffic to their home, get involved, or donate pages. After working with thousands of nonprofits, a better approach is to target people to a variety of specific landing pages on your site based on what users are specifically searching.

This is one of the many reasons we build ads around your entire website, to capture anyone and everyone who is interested in your mission. This also helps with allowing your account to utilize more of the grant money faster, and drive more traffic to your website.

Our Goals With Management

Our main goal with managing your Google Ad Grant is targeted traffic to your website, ultimately resulting in new fans of your great work.

As you have access to such a significant amount of money from Google, another one of our primary goals is to spend as much of the $10k/month as possible.

Identity Verification And Disapproved Ads

As we conduct work in your grant account, keeping your account compliant with Google’s Ad Grant requirements will always be a top priority. Our team will handle all of the necessary account actions for compliance, including fixing ads anytime ads are disapproved as well as helping you with Identity Verification.

If anything is required from your organization, such as a 501c3 determination letter or form, we’ll reach out as needed to keep your grant live and in good standings with Google.

Have questions?

Website frustrations?
Cost-effectively and dynamically take control of your brand and impact storytelling in days.

Looking to maximize the $10k/Mo Google Ad Grant?
Cost-effectively receive unlimited Google Ad Grant management support to create 100,000+ impressions each year.

Google Ad Grant Management Support

Thu, 06 Jun 2024 20:49:35 GMT

Give Back Nation Nonprofit Programs & Services

Branding & Storytelling - Nonprofit Websites - Online Fundraising - Nonprofit CRM

Removing Barriers To Give - Engagement - Unlimited Coaching & Support Membership

Google Ad Grant Management - Social Media Management - Brand Activation

Grant Writing - Auctions - Peer To Peer Fundraising - Events

Since 2011, the Give Back Nation Ad Grant Manager Team has been helping thousands of nonprofits maximize the Google Ad Grant opportunity.

What Is Included In Give Back Nation's Google Ad Grant Management Support?

Grant Acquisition Assistance

We can handle the grant application for you. We’ll simply need temporary admin access to your Google for Nonprofits to submit the application on your behalf. Once your grant is approved, we’ll jump right in to building out your ad account structure. If you do not have a Google for Nonprofits account, please provide a copy of your 501c3 determination letter or TechSoup validation token. State-level documents, documents found online (IRS or GuideStar) and copies cannot be submitted.

Real Time Reporting

We will ensure access to the ad grant account is provided to your team, to serve as a channel to monitor the data. In addition, we will provide a custom Looker Studio reporting template. This will serve as an additional, more simplified data channel that can also be monitored.

Communication

Once your account is set up, we make the process on your end as hands-off as possible. We will make sure to spend the time necessary to help you maximize the grant, and reach out if we see opportunities for growth your organization can assist us with. Please do keep us in the loop of content changes or new landing pages that launch on your website, so we can leverage them in your account.

Meetings With A Certified Ad Grant Expert (optional)

All management plans include call and email support with your Dedicated Growth Manager, but some management plans accommodate built-in Zoom meetings with a Certified Ad Grant Expert to answer questions, strategize and more.

What To Expect Of Users

Majority of Google Ads are seen by new users who are unfamiliar with your organization and website. These users may take a number of different actions once on your website, such as watching a video, exploring multiple pages, contacting your organization, purchasing a product/service, and more. Because these are new users though, it’s important to note that there are certain actions a new user is more likely to take than others.

Marketing Rule Of 7 & Paid Actions

The largest benefit of the Google Ad Grant is driving traffic and generating new leads. We recognize that donations, product sales, and other user actions are a possibility and strong desire from the ads, but like all forms of advertising, the marketing rule of 7 needs to be considered. The rule of 7 quite simply states that it takes an average of seven interactions with your brand before a purchase or a higher intent action will take place. This makes it immensely difficult to obtain a donation, purchase, etc. in the first instance a user makes their way to your website via the ads.

“It takes an average of seven interactions with your brand before a purchase or a higher intent action will take place.”

Funnel

Knowing the difficulties surrounding the marketing rule of 7, we’d still like to best set you up to obtain permanent and longer lasting supporters that are more likely to take a larger investment in your organization in due time. While it starts with Google Ads and a click on your ad, once a user is brought to your website, it’s up to the landing page’s allure, content, and carefully guiding users to a means to an end.

You can learn more about your website’s impact further below, but this is what is known as a funnel. Here is an example of what a funnel may look like for a desired result:

A user searches for a relative term, and your organization’s ad appears in front of the user on Google.
The user clicks on your ad and is brought to the landing page the ad correlates to.
This user is likely to look at numerous pages to familiarize themselves with your organization.
If the user is receptive to what they see and the great work you do, the user is more likely to fulfill an easy, low-ask action such as joining your newsletter.
Through newsletter updates of your impact and initiatives, this user will be more likely to make a larger investment in your organization such as volunteering, donating, purchasing, etc. after establishing a deeper familiarity.

What We Expect From You

Our end goal is to require as little time and effort from your organization as possible. As your organization is the owner of the affiliated ad grant accounts (Google for Nonprofits, Google Ads, and/or Google Analytics), the largest time investment will come during the setup portion of our process and access to these different accounts. Thereafter, apart from keeping our team in the loop of website changes and additions, nothing further should be required of your organization.

We will make account related changes for you as we are up to date on the best practices and compliances that must be followed. If you have any specific changes you’d like to be made in your account, please let us know and we’d be happy to adjust the account if possible. If not, we will do our best to provide an explanation of why a change may not be in your account’s best interest and/or offer alternatives.

Have questions?

Website frustrations?
Cost-effectively and dynamically take control of your brand and impact storytelling in days.

Looking to maximize the $10k/Mo Google Ad Grant?
Cost-effectively receive unlimited Google Ad Grant management support to create 100,000+ impressions each year.

Google Ad Grant Education

Thu, 23 May 2024 15:34:25 GMT

Since 2011, the Give Back Nation Ad Grant Manager Team has been helping thousands of nonprofits maximize the Google Ad Grant opportunity.

Google Ad Grant Intro

Google offers eligible nonprofits access to $10,000/mo in digital advertising with Google Search Ads. This money can go a long way towards promoting your mission, initiatives, and the rest of the awesome work you do to make the world a better place.

Google Ad Grant Benefits

Leverage up to $10,000 in advertising from Google.
Reach new users, prospective supporters and leads for products, services, those in need of assistance, and your organizational goals.
Appear more prominently on Google’s search bar with an expanded reach.

Getting Started

The Google Ad Grant application starts with a Google for Nonprofits account . This account is required to apply for the grant, and can be set up before hand or during the application process. If you do not yet have an active Google for Nonprofits account and would like our help setting it up, we would just need a copy of your 501c3 determination letter to apply.

How Does Spending The Money Work?

When Google gives $10,000/mo, the money doesn’t end up in your bank account. It works more like a gift card that is refilled in your Google Ads account that will equate to $10,000/mo for you to use. This money is used to drive people to your website who might not be familiar with your organization and the great work you do, but are searching for broader themes your organization and the user have in common. Google Ads work similar to an auction. Many organizations are bidding on similar keywords, and those that spend the smartest , drive the most traffic at the lowest cost in order to grow their organization.

There is no direct allocation of spend with the Google Ad Grant. The actual spend of the grant money can be determined by a number of factors:

A) The keywords (terms people are searching on Google) in use

B) The “cost” or “competitiveness” associated with different keywords

C) The search volume (number of people searching) for those keywords

D) Ultimately, a user ‘clicks’ on an ad.

The best part about this is that you only "pay" if someone clicks on your ads. So you may have millions of people see your ads, which in effect gives you free advertising like a billboard, but the money is only spent when someone chooses to engage your ad. When we help to manage ad grants for nonprofits, our end goal is to utilize as much of if not the full $10,000 you are allotted. We believe this is best achieved through a holistic approach, regular optimizations, and time. While this is our end goal, it’s important to note that not all grant accounts will utilize all $10k/month.

Most ad accounts we see that are self-run (vs managed by a Google Certified team like GBN Ad Grant Manager ) only spend between $500-$1,000/month of the available $10,000/month; missing out on fully leveraging the opportunity and maximizing outcomes.

Have questions?

As a nonprofit serving nonprofits since 2006, Give Back Nation provides complimentary brainstorming calls for nonprofits to learn more, provide feedback and see what opportunities might exist to help maximize Giving Tuesday, increase fundraising success, expand impact and more!

Website frustrations?
Cost-effectively and dynamically take control of your brand and impact storytelling in days.

Looking to maximize the $10k/Mo Google Ad Grant?
Cost-effectively receive unlimited Google Ad Grant management support to create 100,000+ impressions each year.

The 4 Main Pillars Of The Fundraising Ecosystem

Tue, 19 Dec 2023 16:20:36 GMT

To thrive, not just survive, nonprofits must maximize their fundraising ecosystem . Over 15+ years supporting thousands of nonprofits, Give Back Nation has zeroed-in on 4 main pillars of the fundraising ecosystem that successful organizations maximize.

1. Branding and Storytelling

When a potential supporter is looking to learn more about an organization, a nonprofit's website should be the #1 tool to provide them with a comprehensive understanding of the organization's mission, impact, and opportunities for engagement. Websites with dated and inconsistent branding, difficult navigation, and a lack of impactful storytelling can create confusion and a loss of respect, ultimately hindering nonprofits from reaching their full fundraising potential. Additionally, the use of difficult-to-manage website builders like WordPress, Wix, Squarespace, and others can burden staff and result in increased third-party costs, further impeding the organization's ability to effectively communicate its message and engage with supporters. Therefore, the importance of a dynamic, but easy-to-manage website cannot be overstated, as it is essential for nonprofits to stay in control and expedite their path to success in achieving their goals.

2. Removing Barriers To Give

When someone is in the mood to give, there should not be any barriers in their way. The right processes and the right, vetted technology, implemented in the right way, should make donating to a cause easy and seamless. And, in many cases, data collection is more important than the actual donation, as it helps organizations understand and connect with their donors on a deeper level.

Give Back Nation dedicates hundreds of hours each year vetting technology to ensure that organizations have access to the best tools for their fundraising efforts. Embedded, multi-step donation forms are key to success, as they provide a user-friendly and secure platform for donors to contribute to their chosen causes. The right technology provider should be cost-effective, able to integrate with other solutions, and offer a complete suite of available online fundraising tools and capabilities, including peer-to-peer fundraising, auctions, text fundraising, and more, to leverage as needed.

By prioritizing the selection of the right technology and processes, organizations can empower donors to make a meaningful impact while also streamlining their fundraising efforts for maximum effectiveness.

3. Data Management

The data collected from donations, interactions, and outreach is a valuable asset that should be carefully organized and managed to facilitate the growth of nonprofit organizations. While Excel spreadsheets can be useful in the initial stages of a nonprofit, it's important to recognize that leveraging a dedicated nonprofit CRM (constituent relationship management) system is essential to fuel sustained engagement and ensure long-term success. By utilizing a robust CRM, nonprofit organizations can effectively track and analyze donor and supporter interactions, identify trends, and tailor outreach efforts to maximize impact and further their missions. This strategic approach enables nonprofits to build stronger, more meaningful relationships with its community, ultimately driving sustained growth and impact.

4. Engagement

For successful nonprofit organizations, staying top-of-mind with supporters is absolutely essential. The right strategic engagement, fueled by quality, organized data, not only keeps donors and contacts educated on news, upcoming events, and impact, but also helps cultivate and maintain strong relationships with them. Utilizing a variety of communication channels such as emails, text messages, the $10,000/Mo Google Ad Grant , phone calls, social media, and more can help maximize opportunities for engagement and support. By leveraging these tools effectively, nonprofit organizations can build a stronger and more sustainable connection with their supporters, ultimately leading to greater impact and success in achieving their mission.

In Conclusion

There are many things in the fundraising ecosystem that can directly affect the success of a nonprofit, but these 4 main pillars are a great place to start when looking to maximize opportunities, increase fundraising and expand impact.

Have questions?

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5 Strategies To Help Maximize Year-End Fundraising Opportunities

Mon, 04 Dec 2023 19:36:39 GMT

Unleash the Giving Tide: Maximize Year-End Fundraising Opportunities

As the year draws to a close, the air crackles with the promise of new beginnings and the warmth of holiday cheer. This, however, isn't just a season for festive lights and peppermint mochas; it's a time when hearts open and wallets loosen, presenting a unique opportunity for nonprofits to maximize their fundraising potential. But amidst the flurry of holiday appeals, how can your organization truly stand out and make the most of this giving season?

With 30% of annual giving occurring in December, and 11% happening in the last 3 days of the year alone , here are five strategies to set your year-end campaign ablaze:

1. Ignite the Spark: Reconnect with Your Mission's Fire

Before diving into campaign tactics, reignite the passion within your team. Remind yourselves why you started, the faces you've helped, the lives you've transformed. This isn't just about raising money; it's about amplifying the impact of your mission. Share stories, data, and visuals that showcase the ripple effect of your work. Let your team feel the emotional pull of these narratives, the way their efforts become the threads that weave a brighter future.

2. Craft Compelling Narratives: Paint a Vivid Picture of Change

Numbers are important, but they're just the skeleton of a story. Be sure to, flesh out your narrative. Don't simply talk about statistics; show the faces behind the numbers. Tell the story of the child overcoming adversity with your educational program, the family finding safe haven after a disaster, or the community rebuilding itself thanks to your support. Weave these stories into your fundraising appeals, social media posts, and donor communications. Make your mission tangible, relatable, and emotionally resonant.

3. Leverage the Matching Gift Wave: Double the Impact, Double the Joy

Don't underestimate the power of matching gifts. Partner with companies and individuals who offer to match donations, amplifying the impact of every contribution. Highlight these opportunities in your appeals and provide clear instructions on how to claim them. Remember, a little effort can double your fundraising potential and spark a chain reaction of generosity.

4. Personalize and Segment: Every Donor is a Unique Story

Don't treat your donors as a homogenous mass. Segment your audience based on interests, demographics, and past giving history. Tailor your communication to resonate with each group. Send personalized emails, offer donation options that align with their values, and share stories that speak to their specific needs. This targeted approach fosters engagement and increases the likelihood of conversions.

5: Embrace the Multichannel Approach

Don't rely on a single platform to reach your audience. Utilize a multi-channel strategy, including email marketing, social media, paid advertising, and even traditional media outreach. This ensures your message reaches a wider audience and increases your visibility during this competitive season.

Remember, year-end giving is more than just a fundraising campaign; it's a chance to ignite a wave of generosity that ripples throughout the community. By focusing on your mission, crafting compelling narratives, leveraging strategic partnerships, and personalizing your approach, you can maximize your impact and make this season a true testament to the power of collective giving. So, go forth, champions of change, and unleash the giving tide!

Together, let's make this year-end not just a fundraising season, but a launchpad for a brighter future for all.

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5 Tips To Increase Online Donations

Fri, 10 Nov 2023 22:22:44 GMT

Online donations are a crucial aspect of modern fundraising. Online fundraising grows every year as technology advances, and it’s important your strategy grows with it. Increasing your online donations creates more opportunities to engage with your donors through the internet. You can use these tips to maximize your online fundraising strategy.

5 tips to increase online donations

1. Optimize your website

One of the first ways you can increase your online donations is by optimizing your organization's website . Your supporters will be more enticed to donate to your cause if your website is appealing and easy to navigate. To reach your donors no matter where they are, ensure your website is mobile-friendly. Around 54 percent of nonprofit website traffic comes from mobile users.

You can reach a wider audience with your website by creating a blog with a planned SEO strategy, which will rank your nonprofit's website higher in Google search results. If your website ranks higher on Google, whenever people look up your cause, they’ll be led to your organization’s site and donation form. Google also offers Google Ad Grants for nonprofits, which provide $10,000 a month to qualifying organizations for search ads that promote your website on Google .

To guide your website visitors to your donation form, include a highly visible donation button on your page that links to your form. You can also add a fundraising thermometer to your website for specific campaigns to keep your supporters’ minds on fundraising. Fundraising thermometers provide a visible representation of how much your donors have given to your organization, as well as how much more you need to complete certain projects.

2. Enhance your donation forms

Your fundraising software provides you with tools to enhance your donation forms to motivate your donors to give. There are a few key features you should look for in your fundraising software. The first is the ability to embed your donation form directly on your website. With an embedded donation form, your donors don’t have to leave your website to give. Your software should also allow you to customize your donation forms to match your organization's branding.

Another key feature you can use to increase your online donations is creating separate donation forms for specific campaigns your nonprofit hosts so your donors can choose which projects they want to support. To keep your donors from getting overwhelmed by the number of fields they need to fill in, use multi-step donation forms to chunk up the information!

It’s also important for your fundraising software to provide ways to make the donation process faster for your donors. People are more likely to give if the process is quick and easy. Offering your donors the ability to give via a digital wallet saves them time by decreasing the amount of information they need to fill in.

3. Provide donation options

While you want to prevent your donors from getting decision fatigue when filling out your donation form, it’s also best to offer them a few donation options to make their giving experience more fulfilling. You can add impact images and statements to your donation amounts to tell your donors what their money can accomplish.

Recurring giving prompts are also a great feature to add to your donation forms. Give your most passionate donors the opportunity to support your organization on an ongoing basis, automating their giving so they don't have to worry about coming back to your donation form in the future to make another gift.

Another great option to provide for your donors is gift matching. Many of your donors may have matching gift programs with their employers that give them the power to double their donations. You can embed gift-matching software into your donation form to make it easy for donors to automatically find their employers and see if their gift meets the program's matching requirements, increasing the chances they utilize the program.

GiftAssist allows your donors to cover the cost of processing fees to ensure the entirety of their donations goes to the projects they are passionate about. Offering GiftAssist on your donation form gives your donors the choice of where their money goes.

4. Engage donors with multiple fundraising tools

Donor engagement is one of the best ways to encourage people to donate to your organization, but you don’t have to rely on online engagement for online donations. With online fundraising, your donors can give anywhere they have access to the internet, including at your events! Utilize different fundraising tools, such as peer-to-peer fundraising, events, and text fundraising, to keep your donors engaged.

For peer-to-peer fundraising , take advantage of your donors’ networks by having them share your donation form on their social media platforms. You can further engage your participants by gamifying their fundraising experience with leadership boards and fundraiser badges.

Whether your event is live, hybrid, or virtual, you can allow your attendees to donate online through your event registration form when they’re purchasing tickets. You can also link to your donation form in your event promotion and during the event itself.

With text fundraising , you can send out messages to your supporters’ phones asking for donations. Or you can provide a keyword for your donors to text whenever they want to give to your nonprofit. Using multiple tools to interact with your donors gives them more opportunities to donate.

5. Link to donation forms with multi-channel marketing

Besides your fundraising tools, you also want to take advantage of your different marketing channels to link to your donation form so as many people as possible see it. But don’t just ask for donations! Use storytelling methods to show your supporters how their gifts could help change the world. How you tell your story will depend on the channel you’re using.

With all of the distinct social media platforms , each one has best practices to keep in mind when crafting your story. Trends and giving days are a good place to start when planning what to post. Your link and call for donations should be easy for your donors to find. Create a sense of urgency to encourage your donors to answer your appeal.

Emails allow you to expand on your story more than social media does, but the concept is the same. Use your story to invoke an emotional response from your supporters and provide a direct link to your donation form.

While emails can be longer than social posts, text messages are usually shorter, with limited space to tell a story. Similarly, you can include QR codes to lead to your donation form, either in emails or on a screen at live events.

Final thoughts

Increasing your online donations can drastically help your fundraising efforts. Maximize your fundraising software to optimize your donation forms and motivate your donors to give to your nonprofit. By raising more money, your organization can grow and further your mission’s work.

About the Author:

Megan Allison

Megan is a writer at Qgiv who takes pride in helping nonprofits. In her free time, she enjoys reading, music, and playing with her two cats.

About Qgiv:

Qgiv is an online fundraising platform empowering over 20,000 nonprofit fundraisers to raise money for their causes. Through online giving and event registration forms, text fundraising, peer-to-peer fundraisers, and auction events, fundraisers can provide a more personalized giving experience for donors while keeping costs low. To learn more, visit www.qgiv.com .

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7 Reasons Why Nonprofits Should Leverage The Google Ad Grant

Thu, 14 Sep 2023 17:59:01 GMT

Here are 7 reasons why nonprofits should leverage the Google Ad Grant:

It's free. The Google Ad Grant provides up to $10,000 per month in free ad spend. This is a huge benefit for nonprofits looking to increase their awareness and exposure.
It's effective. The Google Ad Grant can help nonprofits reach more people who are searching for information about their cause. This can lead to increased awareness, newsletter sign-ups, volunteer recruitment, donations and more.
It's trackable. The Google Ad Grant provides detailed reports that show how many people have seen the ads, clicked on the ads, and visited the nonprofit's website. This information can be used to track the effectiveness of the ads and make necessary adjustments.
It can help you reach more people by increasing website traffic and improving online visibility. The key benefit of the Google Ad Grant is that it puts your nonprofit in front of new people who are searching for information about your cause using Google Search. Increased website traffic and visibility helps raise awareness and attracts new potential supporters to learn more about your impact.
It can help you raise more money (over the long-term). All nonprofits would like the Google Ad Grant to help increase fundraising immediately, but since clicks and website traffic are coming from new visitors, they are less likely to give or donate during their first interaction with your website and organization. The ad grant can help raise more money over the long-term by driving more traffic to your website with the strategic goal of converting visitors into followers via low barrier newsletter sign-ups and other calls-to-action. This allows you to engage with a new network of people and educate them on the impact your organization is providing through impact storytelling and information to motivate donations and support over time.
It can help you recruit more volunteers. The Google Ad Grant can help educate people in your community about volunteer opportunities and how they can get involved. Detailed information and “Learn More” sign-up forms help convert visitors into volunteers. After learning more about your organization and becoming invested in its impact and growth, volunteers may ultimately become donors.
It's a great way to test your marketing campaigns. The Google Ad Grant is a great way to test your marketing campaigns and see what works best for your nonprofit. You can experiment with different keywords, ad copy, and targeting options to see what gets the best results.

If you are a nonprofit that's looking to reach more people online to expand your reach and impact, we highly recommend applying for the Google Ad Grant.

Have additional questions?

As a nonprofit serving nonprofits since 2006, Give Back Nation provides complimentary brainstorming calls for nonprofits to learn more, provide feedback and see what opportunities might exist.

Since 2011, the Give Back Nation Ad Grant Manager Team has helped nonprofits maximize the Google Ad Grant program.

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The Importance Of Nonprofit Websites

Tue, 11 Jul 2023 19:52:43 GMT

At Give Back Nation , a nonprofit serving 1,000+ nonprofits each year, we talk a lot about maximizing the fundraising ecosystem. To us, branding and impact storytelling is the number one pillar of a successful ecosystem and a quality website is at its core.

A well-designed, easy-to-manage nonprofit website is a crucial tool for any organization that wants to reach a wider audience and raise more money.

It can and should be used to:

Tell Your Story : Your website is a great place to share your organization's mission, vision, and impact. This will help potential donors and volunteers understand why your work is important and how they can get involved.
Provide Information : Your website should be a comprehensive resource for information about your organization, its programs, and how to get involved. This includes contact information, hours of operation, upcoming events, and more.
Create A Strong Impression : Your website should help increase respect for your organization, not decrease it. Dated looking websites, difficult site navigation, links not working, or even poor color and font choices can increase bounce rates, become barriers for support and diminish the overall perception of a nonprofit.
Raise Money : Your website can be a powerful tool for fundraising. You can use it to accept donations, gain sponsors, sell merchandise, and promote peer-to-peer fundraising or crowdfunding campaigns.
Build Relationships : Your website is a great way to connect with potential donors, volunteers, and supporters. You can use it to share news and updates, host forums and discussions, and encourage people to get involved.

A well-designed and well-maintained nonprofit website can make a big difference in your organization's success. If you don't have a website yet, or if your current website is outdated, unclear or difficult to manage, now is a good time to learn more about your website opportunities. When designed and implemented correctly, it's an investment that will pay off for years to come.

Here are some additional benefits of having a quality, well laid out nonprofit website:

Increased Visibility : A website gives your organization a presence online, which can help you reach a wider audience.
Improved Credibility : A professional website can help your organization appear more credible to potential donors and volunteers.
Enhanced Branding : A well-designed website can help you create a strong brand identity for your organization.
Increased Efficiency : A website can help you streamline your operations by making it easier to share information and communicate with supporters.
Improved Fundraising : A website can make it easier for people to donate to your organization. Embedding the right fundraising software also matters.

For nonprofits, a well-designed, easy-to-manage website is an essential tool for success . It's a way to tell your story, connect with supporters, and raise more money.

Are you maximizing this opportunity? Ask yourself a few questions:

Are you proud of what your website visitors see?
Does your website showcase your impact effectively?
Is your website easy to navigate on desktop and mobile phones?
Is your website difficult and expensive (paying third-parties) to manage and control?

GiveBackWebsites.com was developed specifically for nonprofits to help nonprofits to efficiently and cost-effectively stay in control of their branding and impact storytelling with a dynamic website they can manage.

If you’re looking for feedback, suggestions and best practices, Give Back Nation provides complimentary brainstorming calls for nonprofits to learn more and see what opportunities might exist.

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5 Ways Nonprofits Can Use Bard AI

Tue, 06 Jun 2023 18:22:08 GMT

From Google For Nonprofits - How-To Guides

You’ve probably been hearing a lot about generative AI recently and might be wondering what it is and how you can use it. As access to these tools rolls out to more countries and languages, we’re sharing some tips to help your organization get the most out of Bard, an early AI experiment by Google.

Bard is an experimental conversational AI service trained on a massive dataset of text and code. Nonprofits can use Bard in a variety of ways to increase productivity and reach your goals faster — freeing up time to focus on your nonprofit’s mission. By using Bard, nonprofits can save time and money and make better decisions. Bard even helped us write this article!

If you or your organization are interested in trying it out, you can check to see if it's available in your country and can sign up at bard.google.com . As shared in the Bard announcement blog , remember that Bard is an experiment and doesn’t always get it right, but we value the testing and feedback from all users, including nonprofits.

A few ideas to get started with Bard...

Let’s use the example of a local animal adoption nonprofit planning a fundraising event. You can use Bard to help your organization plan, promote, manage, and analyze it all.

1. Manage Events

Bard can be a great tool to kickstart event planning. You can use it to brainstorm event ideas, suggest ways to successfully run the day, or help you think through a plan for what needs to get done.

Example Bard prompt: "I'm planning a fundraiser for 200 people supporting my nonprofit that rescues dogs and cats. Can you suggest ideas for the event?"

2. Increase Awareness

Marketing and content creation can take lots of time and resources, and generative AI tools, like Bard, can help reduce this load so organizations can focus on other tasks. Bard can draft blog posts, newsletter articles, social media posts, or press releases and provide suggestions on how to best reach a larger audience.

Example Bard prompt: Let's say Bard suggests an idea that you liked, you can continue the conversation - "Great! Can you suggest a social media strategy for the pet costume contest?"

3. Fundraise

Nonprofits can use Bard to help write grants, create donor appeals and write personalized emails to each recipient to increase engagement.

Example Bard prompt: "Draft an email template to send to event attendees encouraging donations"

4. Manage Volunteers

Organizations can use Bard to help manage volunteer programs right from the start. It can help match volunteers’ skills and interests to potential opportunities. It can help you track hours, survey volunteers and report on the program. It can do this while also helping you create personalized emails to each volunteer to keep them engaged and excited about your nonprofit’s mission.

Example Bard prompt: "Things to consider before setting up a volunteer management system for the pet costume contest?"

5. Communicate Impact

Bard can be a big help in telling your story, whether through helping your team figure out what to measure, organizing your results, or summarizing outcomes in simple terms for your stakeholders.

Example Bard prompt: "Tips for writing a post-event report to send to attendees, donors and volunteers"

Is your organization using Bard and generative AI to better operations and free up time for more impact? Google would love to hear your story .

Resources: What is generative AI? ⼁ Try Bard and share your feedback

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The Importance Of Impact Storytelling For Nonprofits

Thu, 04 May 2023 18:49:02 GMT

Impact storytelling is the practice of sharing stories about the real-world impact of a nonprofit's work. It can be a powerful way to connect with potential donors, volunteers, and supporters, and to raise awareness of the issues your organization is working to address.

There are many benefits to impact storytelling:

First, it can help to humanize your organization and its work. When people hear stories about real people who have been helped by your organization, they are more likely to connect with your mission and want to support your work.

Second, impact storytelling can help to build trust and credibility. When people see that your organization is making a real difference in the world, they are more likely to believe in your work and want to support it.

Third, impact storytelling can help to inspire action. When people hear stories about the positive impact your organization is having, they are more likely to get involved in some way, whether it's donating money, volunteering their time, or spreading the word about your work.

There are many different ways to tell impact stories . You can use blog posts, videos, social media posts, case studies, and more. The most important thing is to find a format that works for you and your organization, and to tell stories that are authentic and engaging.

If you're looking for tips on how to tell impact stories, here are a few things to keep in mind:

Focus on the people you've helped. The most powerful impact stories are those that focus on the people who have been helped by your organization. Tell stories about their lives before and after they received your services, and show how your organization has made a difference in their lives.
Be specific. Don't just say that you've helped people. Share specific examples of how you've helped people, and use numbers and data to quantify your impact.
Be personal. Impact stories are most effective when they are personal and relatable. Share stories about real people who have been helped by your organization, and let people get to know them as individuals.
Be authentic. Don't try to be someone you're not. Be honest and genuine in your storytelling, and let your passion for your work shine through.

Impact storytelling is a powerful tool that can help you to connect with your audience, raise awareness of your work, and inspire action. If you're not already telling impact stories, now is the time to start .

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Google Ad Grants for Nonprofits 102

Wed, 12 Apr 2023 16:30:04 GMT

Google Ad Grants for nonprofits can be a powerful FREE solution for any eligible charitable organization, but proper management is key to maximizing the opportunity.

Since 2011, Give Back Nation’s Google Certified Ad Grant Manager team has helped over 5,400 nonprofits manage their Ad Grants. In this “ beyond 101 ” Google Ad Grants guide, we will touch on things to know to help optimize and increase success.

The Ad Grant Opportunity:
Each month, for every $1,000 in FREE ad spend leveraged, nonprofits can receive approximately 500-1,000 new website visitors .

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Selecting The Right Technology For Your Nonprofit's Long-Term Success

Mon, 10 Apr 2023 14:04:24 GMT

Nonprofit technology is an evolving solution for organizations searching for a more efficient management system. When selecting nonprofit technology, there are different types of platforms for your organization to consider. Whether your nonprofit is looking to update your donations form, host an event, or increase communication with your donors, there are platforms ready to help any organization.

Nonprofit technology has quite a few benefits for both you and your donors. Technology can be a huge time saver by increasing automation while increasing your donor reach. These platforms also minimize the amount of paperwork your staff has to do for your organization. However, nonprofit technology should be phased in slowly. You don’t want to overwhelm your organization with sudden changes in processes. Take the time to slowly introduce your staff to new technology and train them how to use the new platform.

Determine what your nonprofit needs from nonprofit technology.

The first step you need to take when you’re selecting nonprofit technology is to determine why your organization needs the technology to begin with. Different platforms may be more helpful than others depending on what your organization does and how you connect with your donors. Ask what your nonprofit requires help with that technology can fix. Are you looking to increase your efficiency in communicating with donors? Check out platforms that automate your email correspondence. Or test a platform that has easily brandable donation forms.

If your nonprofit requires better organization, invest in a platform that tracks donations and integrates with management and accounting software to keep everything orderly. Or, if you’re looking to expand your communication efforts, research platforms that seamlessly connect with your nonprofit’s social media and help you engage with your supporters. Finding the right nonprofit technology for your organization can make a huge difference in success.

Prepare a budget.

Not all nonprofits can afford the same technology, and many platforms offer multiple tiers with set features to meet as many organizations’ budgets as possible. Before selecting nonprofit technology, you’ll need to prepare a budget that encompasses both the current price of the platform and any future needs regarding the platform. There are a lot of costs to consider when preparing your budget. The first and most obvious question is how much can your organization immediately afford for the initial platform purchase.

Once you’ve prepared for the initial cost, your nonprofit should budget for how much you’ll be able to spend to keep the platform for long-term use. Nonprofit technology is rarely a one-time purchase. Many platforms offer monthly or yearly subscription prices for continuous use that you will need to include in your budget. You’ll also need to consider how much any updates or maintenance for the platform will cost you. Assess whether your nonprofit will need to upgrade your subscription for certain campaigns. If the platform needs to raise prices, will your organization still be able to afford it? You also need to plan for any training costs for people to use. Learning new software takes time. Be meticulous when preparing your budget for nonprofit technology.

Research the options available to you.

Technology is constantly growing nowadays, so you can imagine the amount of options offered when selecting nonprofit technology. The nonprofit sector is progressing rapidly, and no matter what your budget is, you’ll have quite a bit of research to do on your platform choices. There is quite a bit for your organization to examine when it comes to picking a new platform to use. One of the biggest components you’ll have to account for is what features each platform can offer your nonprofit. Do the features within your budget meet your organization’s needs? Does the platform offer features you’ll need as your nonprofit grows?

Outside of features, is the nonprofit technology easy to use? Many organizations do not have a lot of time to dedicate to training for overly complicated software. You want a platform that your staff can quickly teach to volunteers that may need to use it. The platform you choose should also be easy for your donors to use. When researching platforms, look at other organization’s reviews on the platform. Look up articles on what field experts are saying about the platform.

Test multiple nonprofit technology options.

Before making a final choice in selecting nonprofit technology, take the opportunity to test multiple options. Many platforms offer organizations free trials or demos of their platform’s features and abilities. These trials can get your nonprofit a level of familiarity with each platform before making a choice. During a demo, you’ll learn how difficult it is to use a platform and how the different features could work for your organization. Many of these trials will also let you test how donors will experience the platform.

If a demo isn’t available, online how-to videos can be a great resource to see how the nonprofit technology works behind the scenes. These videos will also show your organization any pain points the platform may have that you may not experience within a free trial. If your organization can’t find a demo or enough videos to get a feel for the platform before purchasing, try reaching out to the company for resources. They may have training materials to help you become more familiar with the platform before making your final decision.

Look for integration technology.

If you're having trouble selecting nonprofit technology, look at what integrations each platform offers. Being able to integrate different technologies your organization uses can be a great way for your nonprofit to save time. One of the most helpful integrations your nonprofit can use with a platform is a CRM integration. If your organization already uses a CRM, you’ll want to ensure that the platform you choose can connect with it. This connection would automatically upload your donor data from the platform to your CRM, saving you time from having to manually input the information.

Integrations with communications channels is another helpful tool you should consider. If the platform you choose can connect with your organization’s social media or email systems, communicating with your donors will be seamless. Your email system will automatically pull your donors' emails from the platform. Platforms that can integrate with your nonprofit’s social media makes it easier to share your posts to your supporters. Integration with your Facebook can include Facebook Fundraiser donations into your website’s campaign thermometer, which gives you another place to promote your campaign. Analytics and accounting integrations can also be helpful to your marketing and administration teams, making it easy to track how well a fundraiser does and automatically put your funds into your accounting books.

Final Thoughts

Selecting nonprofit technology demands a lot of research to find a long-term solution for your organization. Review your nonprofit’s needs and budget to pinpoint where to start your research. Test out a few platforms to figure out the best one for your organization!

About the Author:

Megan Allison - Content Marketing Specialist

Megan is a writer at Qgiv who takes pride in helping nonprofits. In her free time, she enjoys reading, music, and playing with her two cats.

About Qgiv:

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Inside Google Ad Grants - Webinar Recording

Fri, 24 Mar 2023 13:37:07 GMT

Since 2003, the Google Ad Grant for Nonprofits Program has given over $9 billion in free advertising to over 115,000 nonprofits in more than 50 countries. Currently, eligible nonprofits can leverage up to $10,000 in free ad spend each month.

Since 2011, the Give Back Nation Ad Grant Manager team has provided Google Certified Ad Grant management support to over 5,400+ nonprofits.

Give Back Nation CEO Kyle Gregory recently joined The Nonprofit Show to share insights and discuss ways to maximize the Google Ad Grant for Nonprofits Program.

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Fundraising Knowledge: Google Ad Grants For Nonprofits

Fri, 24 Feb 2023 15:02:57 GMT

Fundraising Knowledge: Google Ad Grants For Nonprofits

Since 2003, the Google Ad Grants Program has given over $9 billion in free advertising to over 115,000 nonprofits in more than 50 countries.

It provides eligible organizations with up to $10,000 per month in in-kind advertising on Google Ads, which can help drive thousands of new website visitors monthly . This program is a great way for nonprofit organizations to increase visibility to potential supporters and reach more people in need of their services.

One of the biggest benefits of the Google Ad Grant is that it allows nonprofit organizations to reach a new, wider audience . With the grant, organizations can create and run online advertising campaigns on Google, reaching people who are searching for the services and support they offer. This can help organizations increase awareness of their mission, services and overall impact.

Organizations can create and manage their own campaigns, and Google provides resources and support to help them get started, but successful management can take time to learn. Since Google tracks each account for successes and provides more available ad spend over time, results and actual ad spend leveraged can vary. Without proper management, most nonprofits use less than $500 per month of the available $10,000 per month in ad spend.

To help expedite and maximize the opportunity, Google Certified ad grant management is available. Since 2011, the Give Back Nation Ad Grant Manager team has helped over 5,000 organizations cost-effectively manage and optimize their Google Ad Grants.

In summary, the Google Ad Grant is a powerful, cost-effective way for nonprofit organizations to increase their visibility. Traditional advertising can be very expensive, but the available $10,000 per month in in-kind advertising can be used to reach a new, wider audience to help increase support for the organization and expand impact.

To learn more about the Google Ad Grant, check eligibility, read FAQs, see success stories and learn how to maximize the opportunity with unlimited , cost-effective Google Certified management support, visit www.AdGrantManager.com .

Questions? Inte rested in learning more?
Schedule a complime ntary brainstorming and strategy call today:

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Looking to maximize the $10k/Mo Google Ad Grant?
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A Life & Career Dedicated To Expanding Impact

Wed, 01 Jun 2022 20:15:06 GMT

#EverydayPhilanthropist Blog Series

Everyday people. Making an impact.

Sharing stories. Inspiring others.

A Life & Career Dedicated To Expanding Impact

Jule Colvin

From the time I was a young girl, I had a heightened awareness of injustice in the world and I was always rooting for the underdog. It came as no surprise then when after graduating from college, instead of following my plan to attend law school and become a judge, I stepped into work in the nonprofit world. Now, over 30 years later, I wouldn’t have done it any differently. While working for nonprofits is certainly not as financially rewarding as working as a lawyer, the rewards I have received in seeing lives saved and changed has been of far greater value to me.

My career has been a wonderful, humbling adventure. I have been blessed to work with many nonprofits who help feed the hungry, save babies, mentor young people, find people jobs, house the homeless, educate low-income preschool children, teach immigrants and refugees English and lead them to become citizens, enable low-income people to purchase their first home, serve special needs children and adults, provide people with critical housing repairs, help people rebuild from disasters, assist pregnant teens, help single mothers rebuild their lives, help foster children and much more. I have served within nonprofits as an Executive Director, Director of Development, Program Manager, Grant Manager, and Board Member and I have helped raise millions of dollars for nonprofits through my grant writing skills. I have been privileged to develop relationships with people in need that led me to places like standing beside the bed of a young person I had taught after he had been burned over 90% of his body or helping a teen mother deliver her baby. What an honor, privilege and adventure all of this has been!

When I moved to Tampa, I decided to start my own consulting company to continue my charitable work. Now, 14 years later, my idea to start a business to help nonprofits has grown into a successful far-reaching endeavor. My company, Pathways to Growth, has raised millions of dollars for charities and helped many clients develop the business side of their nonprofit, build stronger leaders and boards, and move their organizations to higher levels of success. I am thrilled to have been of service to every client with whom we have worked. I am also honored to be leading our company’s highly-qualified group of writers and consultants. They are all compassionate and dedicated to producing excellent results for our clients.

One of my favorite quotes from leadership guru John Maxwell is “a person must empty himself into others to discover a fuller self, he must lose himself to find himself. Forget yourself into greatness. Empty yourself into adventure.” I do not consider myself great by any means, but my prayer is that everyday I will think less of myself and more of others. I believe a career devoted to charity and giving back is what I was born to do. And, most importantly, I pray that my work will have significance not only here on earth, but in eternity!

Jule Colvin, Everyday Philanthropist and Founder of Pathways To Growth , Tampa, Florida

www.pathwaystogrowth.us

The Everyday Philanthropist Blog Series highlights everyday people making an impact to motivate and inspire others.

Know someone who inspires you with their impact?

Please let us know by sending an email to info@givebacknation.com with Subject: Everyday Philanthropist.

Do Nothing, Raise Nothing

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 21:01:55 GMT

Serving Nonprofits, Socially Responsible Businesses & Giving Americans

*As a nonprofit serving 540+ other nonprofits, Give Back Nation is constantly vetting and researching technology, solutions and best practices; investing hundreds of hours annually to help educate and expedite success for nonprofits.

Do Nothing, Raise Nothing

People are in the mood to give. Ask.

2022 is almost over, but Giving Season is in full swing.

Organizations, large and small, are touching and engaging with their networks and contacts, reminding them how impactful a donation would be for their cause.

If you haven't already, do something.

Approximately 30% of annual giving occurs in December, with 11% happening in the last three days of the year alone.

Reach out to your crowd. Send an email. Make a phone call. Schedule a bulk text with 97% open rates.

If you do nothing, you raise nothing.

Educate your supporters (and potential supporters). Remind them of your story. Let them know how they can help. Share how their support will directly impact your cause.

In a few days, this once-a-year opportunity will be over .

Maximize the opportunity and start 2022 the right way.

People are in the mood to give. Ask .

Here to help.

The Give Back Nation Team
www.GiveBackNation.com

To learn more about ways to help maximize your fundraising ecosystem, schedule a complimentary brainstorming call with Give Back Nation today.

Website frustrations?
Take control of your brand and impact storytelling.

Tips For 2021 Year-End Giving Campaigns

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 19:37:47 GMT

2021 has been another unique year, but Year End Fundraising is still a huge opportunity to raise funds for impactful causes.

Even though there are only a couple months left to maximize opportunities, there is still time to implement a year-end campaign. With over 30% of annual giving happening in December alone, don't miss out!

Below are tips:

1. Be Specific

Your supporters will respond best to a specific, tangible initiative or opportunity. Help them 'see' how their specific support will make an impact with descriptions and images.

2. Be Clear

When explaining your year-end appeal, make sure it's easy to understand for the general public; leaving out 'insider language'. Put yourself in the minds of your supporters and clearly communicate what their support will do for your organization.

3. Your Title Helps Tell The Story

Your campaign title can help explain what your supporters are supporting. Keep it short, but don't be too generic, like '2021 Year-End Campaign'. Use your campaign title to help connect the campaign with its specific impact.

4. Set A Clear Goal

Your campaign goal should be realistic, but also ambitious. Showcase progress with thermometers to help create urgency. Keep your supporters informed and updated through multiple touches.

5. Email & Social Media Frequency

Engaging with your supporters and followers is important, but you don't want to overwhelm them. Use 'launch' communication in the beginning and then simple 'updates' to keep them informed of progress.

Weekly emails, then 2-3 the last week of December is recommended. Social posts can be 3-5 per week. Appeals pared with an impact story help remind supporters why they are giving.

6. Make The Ask

Emails and social posts help, but they are passive touches. With the pandemic slowing down in-person events and meetings, phone calls, personal emails and text messages are another level of personal interaction that can dramatically increase success.

Be bold, be brave and it's amazing what can happen.

As always, the Give Back Nation team is here to help. Don't hesitate to reach out regarding quickly implementing a year-end campaign or anything else to help maximize your fundraising ecosystem.

Learn More: 888-894-7261 info@givebacknation.com

Give Back Nation
a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
Creating Bigger Waves of Impact

Maximizing Year-End Opportunities With Website Design And Enhancement

Wed, 18 Aug 2021 19:33:40 GMT

With approximately 50% of annual giving happening the last three months of the year, being prepared to maximize opportunities is key.

Give Back Nation's website design support solution, Give Back Websites , was developed for organizations looking to cost-effectively enhance their brand and overall storytelling to improve marketing exposure, increase fundraising and expand impact.

Responsively beautiful on any device.

Your website is the epicenter of your brand . With Year-End Fundraising and Giving Season opportunities quickly approaching...

Are you proud of what potential supporters see?
Does it showcase your impact and share your story efficiently and effectively?
Is it easy for you and your staff to stay in control and manage your website without outsourcing to third parties with increased costs?

Dynamic, quicker to learn and easier to edit and manage than WordPress, Squarespace, Wix, GoDaddy or Weebly.

From cost-effective analysis, feedback and coaching to full design, redesign, training and management support, receive the right support you need, the first time, to grow your opportunities and maximize your fundraising ecosystem.

the fundraising ecosystem : everything needed, working in harmony, to efficiently and effectively raise funds to thrive, not just survive (branding, storytelling, tools, engagement, strategy, events, staffing, board alignment, data management, etc.)

To learn more and brainstorm opportunities,

schedule a complimentary call today:

Podcast: The Story, Passion & Impact Of Give Back Nation

Wed, 13 Jan 2021 20:41:06 GMT

Our CEO and Co-Founder, Kyle Gregory, had the pleasure of joining the Connect Kindness Podcast to share the story, passion and impact of Give Back Nation.

Thank you to Krystal Aziz and Tim Evans, Founders of Connect Kindness , for the opportunity.