Most people start the new year refreshed. Fundraisers don’t. There’s no real break between Christmas and January in the nonprofit world. Burnout that showed up in April is still here in December, and January doesn’t magically fix it. Yet the expectation stays the same! That’s hard to do when you’re running on empty. We created…
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As we begin a new year in the nonprofit sector, many leaders are sitting with mixed emotions. There is uncertainty. Federal funding continues to shift. Political pressure and increased scrutiny are creating real strain across the sector. Burnout feels close for teams that have been doing more with less for far too long.. At the…
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Case Study: Washington School for Girls Fueling Fundraising Momentum Through Strategic Grant Support
The Challenge Before partnering with Spark Point, Washington School for Girls (WSFG) was in a fundraising holding pattern. While long-standing funders remained consistent, growth had plateaued. The school’s development team knew it was time to expand their funding base, but without added capacity or strategic grant infrastructure, they couldn’t get ahead. Adding urgency, WSG had…
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This December, we’re skipping the pear tree and celebrating something far better: real fundraising wins. Welcome to our 12 Days of Fundraising Wins — a quick look at the moments, milestones, and mission-moving successes that defined this year for our clients (and the sector). Think of it as a year-end highlight reel, sung slightly off-key but delivered with…
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Newsletter | November 2025Subject: Before You Plan 2026… Read This New Blog Alert: Do I really need a fundraising coach? A fundraising coach isn’t a luxury — it’s a strategic investment in your team’s clarity, confidence, and effectiveness. With fundraising changing every year, a coach helps you refine your approach, stay agile, and avoid the…
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Fundraising isn’t for the faint of heart. You’re balancing donor meetings, grant deadlines, event planning, and everything else that comes with running a nonprofit. Somewhere in the whirlwind, you’ve probably thought: “A fundraising coach sounds nice, but… isn’t this what I’m supposed to already know how to do?” That’s a common (and fair!) thought. But…
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The 2025 fundraising landscape is crowded, competitive, and moving fast. Donors are receiving more appeals than ever, and generic messages or last-minute scrambles are not cutting it anymore. If your annual giving plan still looks like “mid-year appeal, Giving Tuesday, December push,” you are already behind. The game has changed, and your strategy needs to…
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You know what’s truly scary this season? The ghosts in your donor database. Yes, the ones who used to give, engage, and reply… until your organization went silent after the last campaign. Here’s the truth: if you only reach out when you need money, you’re not building relationships, you’re building a haunted house of missed…
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Joining a nonprofit board is more than attending meetings or lending your name. You are a key part of the organization’s success. Your network, influence, and engagement directly impact its ability to grow and serve its mission. The good news? You don’t need to become a professional fundraiser. But you do need to be an…
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A strong relationship with a foundation can mean the difference between a one-time grant and sustained, transformational funding. Cultivating these relationships doesn’t just increase the likelihood of renewed support, it also opens the door to larger gifts, multi-year funding, and valuable introductions to other funders in their network. Hey foundations: strong relationships with grantees are…
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