Nonprofit Adviser

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Federal funding cuts have delivered an unprecedented blow to the finances of many nonprofits, so leaders are understandably looking to foundations and big donors to fill some of the gaps these cuts created.

However, my colleague Rasheeda Childress shines a light on the value of midlevel donors during times of economic uncertainty. As she notes, when nonprofits have healthy midlevel giving programs —often defined as donations between $1,000 to $10,000 — those donors can deliver 30 percent or more of annual fundraising totals.

“The idea of getting 30 to 50 percent of revenue from a sliver of the donor file that doesn’t even include your major donors sounds amazing,” Rasheeda writes.

Alia McKee, principal at Sea Change Strategies, told Rasheeda these donors are quite loyal, often giving to a cause for years. “They’re also strong prospects for planned giving and DAF giving,” McKee says.

Veteran fundraisers and consultants shared more about the benefits of focusing on midlevel donors and the steps to take to build a strong program. Dig into How a Midlevel Program Can Boost Giving in a Time of Uncertainty to get all the insights they shared.

Have a good week,

Margie Fleming Glennon
Chief Professional Program Officer

P.S.: Nonprofit Adviser is taking a short break, but we will return to your inbox on September 8.

A sabbatical is good practice for leaving your job or retirement, whether that’s just around the corner or a few decades away. “A lot of executive directors, many of us get into our roles because we just can’t handle it when things are not done our way,” says Jennifer Ching, executive director of the North Star Fund. A sabbatical “opens up those doors that things can be done a different way.” Plus, the CEO’s absence gives other senior team members a chance to shine, say other leaders who’ve stepped away. To learn more about the benefits of taking time away from leaders who’ve done it, and for tips on getting grant funding to support these efforts, read Sabbaticals Strengthen Leaders and Nonprofits: Here’s How to Recharge.

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Immigrant Communities: The Four Freedoms Fund, a project of NEO Philanthropy, builds the capacity of the immigrant-justice movement to ensure dignity, power, and self-determination for all immigrants. It invests in strengthening local advocacy, increasing immigrant civic participation, and reducing enforcement and criminalization. Its Immigration Frontlines Fund rapidly channels large-scale resources to protect immigrant communities through organizing, mobilization, and defense efforts.