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Does this sound familiar? Your team bends over backward to bring new donors through the door. You host events. You post. You email. You charm. And then... crickets. A bunch of those first-time donors disappear without a trace.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re on a never-ending hamster wheel of donor acquisition, you’re not alone. But here’s the good news: some nonprofits have figured out how to stop chasing and start keeping. They’re not hunting down new donors every five minutes. Instead, they’re doubling down on loyalty. And guess what? It’s working.

Let’s talk about three surprisingly simple strategies you can put to work right now—no smoke, no mirrors, no magic wand required.

1. Make Giving So Easy It Feels Like Breathing

(Surprising? Only because we forget that convenience drives nearly everything else in our lives.)

Let’s get real for a second. You buy your latte on an app before you even leave the house. You tap your phone to pay for groceries. But when it’s time to make a donation? Suddenly we’re asking folks to fill out a form longer than a tax return.

Why are we making giving harder than it needs to be?

Here’s what the data says: nearly a quarter of donors prefer to give via things like PayPal, Venmo, or Apple Pay. But only 3% of nonprofits prioritize offering those options. That’s not just a gap—that’s a canyon.

Every step you remove from the donation process increases the chances a donor will actually complete their gift. Think of it like online shopping—the fewer clicks, the better.

Bonus tip: Offer monthly giving right at checkout. It’s simple, it’s intuitive, and it builds long-term donor loyalty on autopilot.

Bottom line: Your donors live in a frictionless world. If giving to you feels like work, they’ll move on. Make it easy, and they’ll stick around.

2. Ask What They Want. Then Actually Listen.

(Surprising? Only because we treat donor surveys like New Year’s resolutions—great in theory, but rarely done.)

Imagine buying your best friend a birthday gift without having any idea what they like. No hints. No list. Just vibes.

That’s how too many nonprofits approach their donor relationships.

Only 14% of organizations regularly survey their supporters. And yet, one of the top reasons donors stop giving? They don’t feel heard. Ouch. (For more cool and interesting facts about Nonprofit Fundraising Statistics check out this great blog post by Double The Donation here: https://doublethedonation.com/nonprofit-fundraising-statistics/ )

Let’s flip that script. Send a quick survey after a donation. Add a one-question poll to your next email. Ask: “What inspired your gift today?” Then—stay with me here—use what they tell you. That feedback is pure gold.

Bottom line: Listening is your superpower. Ask. Respond. Reflect. Build trust. That’s the stuff of real relationships—and real relationships keep donors coming back.

3. Reconnect With Donors Who’ve Drifted Away

(Surprising? Only because we act like lapsed donors are ghosts. Spoiler alert: they’re not.)

You know that friend you’ve been meaning to text for ages? The one you really do care about, even though it’s been a while?

Your nonprofit has those friends, too. They’re not gone. They’re just waiting for a good reason to come back.

We spend so much time and money finding new donors, and almost none on re-engaging the ones who already said yes. But did you know it can cost five times less to re-engage a former donor than to find a new one?

Start small. Use your CRM to find folks who gave a year ago but haven’t been back. Send a warm, personalized message. Remind them why they gave. Tell them what their support made possible. Make it about them, not just your next campaign.

Bottom line: Past donors aren’t lost—they’re just waiting to be remembered. A heartfelt, thoughtful message might be all it takes to bring them home.

Let’s Wrap This Up (with a Bow of Authenticity)

Keeping donors isn’t some complex algebra equation. It’s not about shiny tech or the perfect email subject line. It’s about building real, human relationships.

You know how to be a good friend. You show up. You make things easy. You listen. You remind people they matter.

Do the same with your donors.

Make giving simple. Ask thoughtful questions. Respond with heart. Stay in touch—even when it feels like they’ve drifted. Because when you treat donors like real people (spoiler: they are), they don’t just stick around. They become champions for your cause.

And that? That’s how you build a thriving, generous community—one loyal donor at a time.

🎯 Want to Keep Donors Coming Back? Make It Ridiculously Easy to Say Yes.

You just read about the power of simplicity—how making things easy is the secret sauce to donor retention. Want a quick win? Start with your messaging.

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Your mission matters. Now make it easy for people to get it—and give because of it.

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Scroll down to explore this week's grants. Deadlines are always approaching, so take a look and see which ones might be the right fit for your nonprofit.

Happy grant writing!

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National Trust Preservation

The National Trust for Historic Preservation is accepting applications for its funding opportunity to encourage preservation at the local level by supporting on-going preservation work and by providing seed money for preservation projects.

Deadline: June 2, 2025

https://savingplaces.org/preservation-funds

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Water Research Foundation

The Foundation is seeking proposals for the Smart and Connected Energy Management project to develop a comprehensive understanding of the current state of smart and connected energy management in water and wastewater utilities and to recommend tools and guidance to improve energy efficiency.  

Deadline: May 7, 2025

https://www.waterrf.org/serve-file/RFP_5296.pdf

Foodservice Packaging Institute

The Institute’s Foam Recycling Coalition Grant Program is open to organizations who operate a material recovery facility, manage residential curbside recycling programs, or manage drop-off or convenience site recycling programs.

Deadline: April 15, 2025

https://www.recyclefoam.org/grants 

Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation

The Foundation is accepting applications for its grant program to support organizations and programs for which a relatively small amount of funding might make a large difference. The Foundation supports environmental and wildlife protection activities, arts, education, and other community-based organizations and programs. 

Deadline: May 12, 2025

https://www.mvdreyfusfoundation.org/

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Cisco

The Cisco Product Grant Program focuses on social investment areas, which include disaster relief, shelter, water, and food; education; economic empowerment; and climate impact and regeneration. Through this program, Cisco donates networking technology to nonprofits to help them realize significant gains in productivity, scalability, and cost efficiency.

 No Deadline

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/about/csr/community/nonprofits/product-grant-program.html#~overview

T-Mobile Hometown Grants Program

Grants support community projects in small towns (population less than 50,000 people) across the U.S. Projects can occur in all fields of interest, including the environment and animal welfare, and are open to nonprofits to lead projects.

Deadline: June 30, 2025

https://www.t-mobile.com/brand/hometown-grants

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You know that moment when you’re presenting at a board meeting and you look around the room (or the Zoom)? One board member’s answering emails, another looks genuinely surprised to learn your nonprofit runs on donations, and someone just asked if the gala theme could be “Casino Royale” again.

Yup. You’ve got board problems.

Let’s say it together: It’s not just you. Almost every nonprofit leader I know has had at least one sleepless night wondering if their board was more harm than help.

So let’s break down some of the most common nonprofit board struggles—so you can name them, claim them, and start doing something about them.

1. “We Didn’t Know We Were Supposed to Fundraise”

This one’s a doozy. You think it's clear. They think it's optional. Cue: confusion, resentment, and that one board member who swears their “network” is donation enough.

Why it happens: Board recruitment is often rushed or reactive. Expectations aren’t clearly laid out. The word “fundraising” makes people break out in hives.

What to do: Fix your onboarding. Spell out expectations—especially around fundraising—in writing. Give them the tools (and confidence) to do it well. Don’t assume they know how to ask for money. Teach them.

2. The Disappearing Board Member Act

They're full of enthusiasm at their first meeting—and then vanish into the nonprofit void. Emails go unanswered. Committee work? Forget it.

Why it happens: Life gets busy, yes. But more often? Lack of engagement. They don’t see how their presence actually matters.

What to do: Reignite the spark. Remind them why your mission matters. Ask for specific, time-limited help. Make board service feel less like a monthly obligation and more like a front-row seat to changing the world.

3. Too Much In the Weeds, Not Enough in the Strategy

You present a new program idea, and suddenly half the board is editing your budget line by line. Or debating the font on the brochure. Meanwhile, big-picture decisions sit untouched.

Why it happens: Many board members come from business or operations backgrounds and feel most comfortable in the details.

What to do: Set clear roles. Staff manages the day-to-day. The board looks at the horizon. Reinforce this gently—and often. Use dashboards and summaries to steer them toward strategic thinking.

4. The Boardroom Power Struggle

Ah yes—the board chair who thinks they’re the ED. Or the board member with big ideas and zero filter. Meetings feel like political warfare. You leave exhausted.

Why it happens: Power imbalances, unclear roles, and sometimes... just plain ego.

What to do: Go back to your bylaws. Clarify roles in your board manual. Build a strong relationship with your board chair—they should be your thought partner, not your micromanager.

5. Lack of Diversity—and We’re Not Just Talking About Race

Many boards are made up of the “usual suspects.” You know who I mean—same professions, same zip codes, same age range.

Why it happens: Board recruitment often happens through personal networks, and let’s be honest—people tend to recruit folks who look and think like them.

What to do: Get strategic about recruitment. Think about who you need to reflect your community and why their voices matter. Create a matrix. Fill in the gaps. And don’t just invite them to the table—make sure they feel heard once they’re there.

Final Thought: Progress, Not Perfection

Here’s the truth: No board is perfect. The goal isn’t perfection. It’s progress.

Start where you are. Name the problem out loud. And take one step at a time to make your board stronger, more engaged, and more aligned with your mission.

Your board isn’t just another task on your to-do list. With the right guidance and a clear path forward, they can become one of your greatest assets—energized, aligned, and ready to lead alongside you.

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Need more help turning your board from meh to mighty? Check out our toolkit of resources in our Etsy Shop. EBecause when your board works, your whole mission gets stronger.

Visit our shop here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/SuccessForNonprofits

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Scroll down to explore this week's grants. Deadlines are always approaching, so take a look and see which ones might be the right fit for your nonprofit.

Happy grant writing!

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UVA Health

UVA Community Health, part of UVA Health, is offering two different types of grants:  Healthy Spark Grants are for organizations that focus on the needs outlined in the community health needs assessment, as well as on social determinants of health; Community Strong Grants are larger grants offered to organizations that UVA Community Health partnered with for more than two years. Must serve communities of UVA Health.

Deadline: April 10, 2025

https://newsroom.uvahealth.com/2025/03/11/uva-community-health-uva-health-grant-applications-2025/

South Asian Bar Association Foundation of North America

The Foundation is offering a Community Grants Program to support access to justice for South Asian communities in the U.S. and to advance causes important to the communities they serve.  

Deadline: April 11, 2025

https://www.sabalegalfdn.org/apply-for-a-grant

Weyerhaeuser Family Foundation

The Foundation’s Youth Initiative supports direct service programs to U.S. nonprofits that promote resilience, stability, and pyscho-social health for youth ages 14-21 who have experienced trauma by adverse childhood experiences, including mental illness in the household, emotional, sexual, or physical abuse, and others.

Deadline: June 15, 2025 (Letters of inquiry accepted beginning May 1)

https://wfamilyfoundation.org/what-we-fund/youth-initiative/

Caplan Foundation for Early Childhood

The Foundation is providing seed money to implement imaginative proposals that exhibit the greatest chance of improving the lives of young children, from infancy to 7 years, on a national scale. Areas of support include parenting education, early childhood welfare, and early childhood education and play. Submit Letter of Inquiry online.

Deadline: May 31, 2025

https://earlychildhoodfoundation.org/#application-process

Scherman Foundation

Applications are now open for its Reproductive Rights and Justice Program in the reproductive health and rights fields. The Foundation maintains its commitment to general operating support, especially for state-based and local organizations. 

Deadline: No deadline

https://www.scherman.org/reproductive-justice

Nathan Cummings Foundation

The Foundation supports U.S. nonprofits working to address inequality, particularly for women and people of color. Apply online through one of several focus areas. 

Deadline: No deadline

https://nathancummings.org

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