The LinkedIn for Nonprofits Weekly Digest

Welcome to the first LinkedIn for Nonprofits Weekly Digest of September! This week, we’ve compiled three stories of nonprofits finding success to inspire your own efforts, including examples of winning virtual volunteering programs, next-level non-cash gift strategies, and more.

You’ll also discover the latest data into diverse philanthropy, and a fascinating read on the impact of funders’ fears around “mission creep.” There’s plenty of great insights ahead, so let’s dive in! 

Here are five must-read articles and reports for nonprofits this week:

1. Everyday Donors of Color: Diverse Philanthropy During Times of Change (Lilly Family School of Philanthropy)

New research from the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy shows that individual giving to racial and social justice nonprofits increased in 2020, a shift largely led by donors of color. The report also explores how these donors are influencing trends in non-traditional forms of giving, and how grassroots leaders within communities of color are increasingly shaping how philanthropy is organized. 

2. How Virtual Volunteering Keeps Businesses Engaged with Nonprofits During the Pandemic (TriplePundit)

When social distancing guidelines and stay-at-home orders came into effect in the midst of the pandemic, many nonprofits had to hit pause on their volunteering programs—or take them online. TriplePundit discusses how one organization, My Block, My Hood, My City (M3), pivoted to virtual volunteering, and how programs like this can benefit corporate partners and their employees, as well as the communities the nonprofit serves. 

3. How a Community of Long-Term Monthly Donors Make a Long-Term Difference (Nonprofit Tech for Good)

To convince people to make recurring donations, nonprofits need to be able to demonstrate how their support creates long-term impact. Mor­ée Lambeth, Lead Content Creator and Writer at Water.org, breaks down why monthly giving empowers the organization to reach more people faster and drive momentum. 

4. Shifting to Noncash Gifts of Assets: One Nonprofit’s Success Story (The Stelter Company)

Non-cash gifts like stocks, bonds, and mutual funds present a major opportunity for nonprofits. In this article, The Stelter Group highlights three key points about non-cash gifts from its recent webinar discussion with Jackie Franey, Director of Gift Planning Fundraising at The Nature Conservancy.

5. We need to rethink the concept of “mission creep” (Nonprofit AF)

“Mission creep” can hurt organizations, but the term is sometimes misapplied. Nonprofit thought leader Vu Le explains why the common interpretation of mission creep often fails to account for the interconnectedness of constituents’ needs, especially for organizations led by marginalized communities, and why this needs to change. 

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