Archive

Your Nonprofit Is Sitting on Untapped Relationships

By Hopkins Fundraising Consulting | May 29, 2026

When nonprofits think about fundraising relationships, they usually focus on donors, board members, and foundations. But many organizations are overlooking one of the most underutilized sources of connection and support sitting right in front of them: vendors, business partners, and…

Donor Advised Funds Are Changing Fundraising — Is Your Organization Ready?

By pwsbuilder | May 27, 2026

Donor Advised Funds (DAFs) are no longer a niche giving tool used by a small segment of wealthy donors. They have become one of the fastest-growing vehicles in philanthropy, holding hundreds of billions of dollars earmarked for charitable giving. More…

Fundraising is a Relationship Business—AI Won’t Change That

By Hopkins Fundraising Consulting | May 12, 2026

There’s a lot in the news these days right now about how artificial intelligence is going to transform fundraising. And it will in some ways. It will make us faster. It will help us analyze data more efficiently. It will…

Belonging Before Revenue: How to Build Stronger Donor Relationships

By Hopkins Fundraising Consulting | May 7, 2026

In our work with campaign clients, we often see donor retention problems blamed on economics or donor fatigue. More often, the issue is inconsistent follow-up and lack of meaningful connection after the first gift.  Most organizations chase revenue metrics—campaign totals…

A New Golden Age of Philanthropy?

By Hopkins Fundraising Consulting | May 4, 2026

We may be entering the most significant era of charitable opportunity since the days of Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller. Over the next two decades, an estimated $84 trillion in wealth will transfer from older generations to heirs and…

What a Feasibility Study Actually Tells You (and What It Doesn’t)

By Hopkins Fundraising Consulting | April 13, 2026

Most organizations treat a feasibility study like a green light. It’s not. It’s a tool to reduce risk and sharpen your strategy. That’s it. What It Does Tell You 1. If Your Top Donors Will Lead Campaigns are driven by…

The Billion-Dollar Lesson: What the Largest Gifts in America Reveal About Successful Fundraising

By Hopkins Fundraising Consulting | March 17, 2026

Each year The Chronicle of Philanthropy publishes its “Philanthropy 50,” a list of the donors who gave the most to charity.  The latest report shows the top 50 donors collectively gave $22.4 billion, with a median gift of $105 million.…

Before You Launch a Campaign

By Hopkins Fundraising Consulting | February 2, 2026

Launching a capital or comprehensive campaign is one of the most consequential decisions a nonprofit can make. When done well, a campaign can transform an organization’s future. When rushed, it can strain relationships, exhaust leadership, and stall momentum for years.…

The Future of Nonprofit Fundraising: What’s Ahead—and How to Prepare

By Hopkins Fundraising Consulting | January 21, 2026

Nonprofit fundraising is entering a period of rapid change, and organizations across Michigan are feeling it firsthand. Donors are more selective, expectations are higher, and economic uncertainty is forcing nonprofits to be more strategic than ever. While the core of…

Keep More of Your Money: How to Maximize Your Tax Savings with Year End Giving Based on the New Tax Law

By Hopkins Fundraising Consulting | November 17, 2025

Many people make year-end donations to their favorite charities before December 31. But with recent tax changes, you might want to rethink your giving strategy for 2025. This year, the new law could mean that some taxpayers benefit from giving…