The Kindful Blog

A nonprofit advertising benchmark study of 7,171 U.S. nonprofits reveals that 60% spend on advertising, with a median annual spend of $12,067. Performing Arts Companies spend the most at $53,416 per year, while grantmaking organizations spend $0 — relying instead on event fundraising. The key takeaway: your revenue source should drive your advertising budget decisions.

Identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, steward — and repeat. A clear breakdown of the five-step donor cultivation cycle, with practical guidance on what each stage means and how to move donors through it toward a second gift.

With end-of-year fundraising deadlines approaching, this guide offers five actionable tips to close more gifts: make personal phone calls using a sample script, convert your homepage into a donation page with a lightbox, test the donor journey on desktop and mobile, send more emails to account for low open rates, and recycle high-performing past campaigns to save time.

Legacy giving — also known as planned giving — can be one of the most impactful ways donors support your nonprofit's long-term mission. This post outlines five practical steps to launch or grow a legacy giving program, from identifying prospects and making the ask to stewarding planned gift donors effectively.

When it comes to donor acquisition, metrics matter — but knowing which insights to act on can be the difference between a successful campaign and a missed opportunity. This post walks through the key data points hidden in your acquisition results and how to use them to sharpen your strategy and improve future campaign performance.

Volunteers give their time and energy to advance your mission, and recognizing them during the giving season strengthens loyalty and retention. This post offers nine meaningful ways to thank your volunteers — from personalized outreach to public recognition — that show genuine appreciation and keep them engaged long-term.

With crowded inboxes during year-end giving season, making your appeal stand out is critical. This post shares practical strategies for crafting compelling year-end appeals that cut through the noise, connect emotionally with donors, and drive more donations before December 31.

Thanking donors during the giving season is one of the most powerful ways to build lasting relationships and increase retention. This post offers nine creative and heartfelt ways to express genuine gratitude to your donors, from personalized notes to impact-focused updates that make supporters feel valued.

Setting acquisition goals doesn't have to be stressful or guesswork. This post breaks down a straightforward process for establishing realistic, data-driven acquisition targets that align with your nonprofit's capacity, budget, and growth objectives — making goal setting simpler and more strategic.