Thread Journal
What’s New (or Not) in Foundation Fundraising
While the interrogation of the power dynamics in funder-grantee partnerships isn’t new, what is new since the COVID pandemic is the number of foundations actually changing their support models. In the May 2022 edition of the Chronicle of Philanthropy, the lead article explored the changes (and oftentimes,
Holly Richardson
October 3, 2022When Was Your Last Staff Retreat?
On Monday, September 12th, the Thread team will brave the current dysfunctional state of airline travel, take to the skies, and gather in Tampa, Florida for our first in-person staff retreat since October 2019.
We’re grateful for this opportunity to come together as a team.
Holly Richardson
September 7, 2022Work the Process: The 6 Essential Phases of EOY Campaign Planning
Each November and December, fundraisers at nonprofits large and small are consumed by the End-of-Year (EOY) giving season. In these two months alone, many organizations raise as much as 30% of their annual philanthropic income. With so much revenue at stake,
Holly Richardson
July 20, 2022Spotlight on our Spool: Christina Roberts
When I prioritize the things that give me joy, such as interior decorating, baking, or listening to music, I’m more inspired to think beyond traditional fundraising while still honoring best practices.
One of Thread’s core values is to be a Proactive Team for our partners.
Holly Richardson
July 20, 20229 CRM Essentials to Cook Up Success
While nonprofits everywhere would likely rejoice if there were, there is no one secret sauce to fundraising. Every organization uses a different recipe to achieve its fundraising goals. What comes out beautifully in one kitchen can be a disaster in another.
Holly Richardson
June 14, 2022Spotlight on Our Spool: NEW Thread Directors Mackay Gunn and Andrew Edwards
Thread supports many of our partners with hiring new team members; it’s some of our favorite work. It thus felt like coming full circle when in early 2022 we got to apply our hiring best practices to our own talent search!
Holly Richardson
April 20, 2022When Fundraising Best Practices and Experimentation Work Together: The 2021 Spool to Sphere Comparison
We are very excited to share with you the 2021 Spool to Sphere Comparison. We are especially excited because this year marks the third anniversary of this report, meaning we are now in place to see how our Spool is evolving over time.
Holly Richardson
April 20, 2022Who are Your Best Prospects to Become Recurring Donors?
If you’re working to build up a recurring giving program, one of your chief considerations is whom to ask. Recurring giving is attractive to lots of different people, but especially if you’re just starting out and building your recurring donor roster,
Holly Richardson
March 21, 2022Understanding Direct Mail Fundraising: 7 Pros and Cons
Many nonprofits have been wondering if direct mail fundraising is still an effective marketing option. With so much emphasis on digital fundraising channels, it’s easy to see why some nonprofits have begun to move away from direct mail. However, direct mail still has several benefits,
Holly Richardson
March 1, 2022Three Ideas for When and How to Ask for Recurring Gifts
“Whether you’re just hopping on the recurring giving train or your program has been cruising down the tracks for some time, an important reminder about recurring giving is that there are many different ways to ask your donors to join you on this journey.”
