📣 This month in our employee spotlight we’re featuring Adam, the person behind so much of our creative designs! Beyond his talent for transforming our partners’ copy into stunning visual packages, Adam is fueled by a sense of adventure, with a goal to explore every National Park. Get to know more about Adam and how he brings creativity to everything he does >>

I just got back from Bridge, and if you were there, you heard it too: "audience-led fundraising" was the phrase of the week. It was in nearly every session I attended and in many hallway conversations.   

But somewhere between the main stage and podiums and the "how'd your program actually do" conversations, I noticed the same gap I always notice at these things: we talk like we've moved on, and then we measure like we always have. 

Most nonprofits treat "Ways to Give" like a year-end campaign. But donors’ giving decisions show up in tax deadlines, advisor meetings, estate plans  life moments, not our communications calendar. We make the case for treating DAFs, IRA giving, matching gifts, and more as built into our communications, not added on.

We just celebrated Ryan’s Fuse anniversary last week and now we’re highlighting him to share even more on one of our favorite copywriters! While he already is an expert in telling compelling stories that bring our partners’ missions to life, that isn’t stopping him from expanding his horizons even further – including reading history and learning Spanish. Learn more about Ryan and his creative journey in the wonderful world of copywriting! 

A study analyzed 14,000+ fundraising campaigns to better understand what messaging drives donor action. We dug into the findings, highlighted the takeaways that matter most for fundraisers, and explored how nonprofits can put them into practice.

📣 This quarter, we’re highlighting another one of our amazing executive team members: Maria Harmer, SVP of Creative Operations & Strategy!  With more than 20 years of experience in fundraising creative, Maria knows the power of combining big ideas with thoughtful strategy. Learn more about Maria, her creative journey, and what inspires her both inside and outside of the fundraising world. 

A powerful platform alone won’t solve operational complexity. Whether you’re migrating to a new eCRM or trying to clean up years of messy workflows inside your current system, the foundation matters. We broke down practical best practices for setting up an eCRM to scale sustainably: from data structure and segmentation to automation and reporting. 

With Google and Apple actively summarizing emails for users, your first few sentences are no longer just an introduction. They are your entire chance to grab a donor's attention before an AI assistant condenses your message into a single bullet point. 

If the AI summary misses your impact or your call to action, your donor will too. Read on for our top tips to still reaching donors in their inbox.

Google has made the switch from search engine to action-and-answer engine through new AI features. If you’re wondering how to keep your brand visible when Google is answering queries directly, we’ve got you covered.  

More revenue. Fewer donors. Benchmark data confirmed a trend many nonprofits are already feeling: revenue growth is increasingly concentrated among smaller groups of higher-value donors. We explore what that means for retention, recurring giving, acquisition, and long-term file health in 2026. 

Most fundraising is one-directional. But the strongest programs make space to listen. Donor surveys, when done right, can deepen relationships, improve retention, and inform smarter strategy. 

Before investing more in acquisition or conversion, it’s worth asking: is your current program designed to retain and grow donors over time?  The biggest opportunities aren’t always about doing more, but strengthening what’s already in place. If you’re thinking about expanding your sustainer program this year, start by understanding and building the foundation.