How to build relationships for fundraising success

Legacy planning isn’t just about what you leave behind--it’s about the change you set in motion. According to Trust & Will’s 2025 Estate Planning Study, these are the top causes people choose to support through their legacy: 🐾 Animal Welfare – 27% 🥕 Food Security – 25% 🧬 Healthcare & Medical Research – 22% Your estate plan can be a powerful tool for impact. Learn how you can include charitable giving in your plan and support the causes that matter most to you. 👉 Learn more about planned giving: https://lnkd.in/egExc7xK #EstatePlanning #LegacyGiving #Philanthropy #TrustAndWill #GivingBack #PlannedGiving #Nonprofits

I’m thrilled to announce the launch of Epcon Communities CARES Foundation, a new company-wide initiative built around the voices, values and hearts of our associates. It will combine organization-wide investments with regional partnerships and locally led initiatives, giving our associates the resources to make meaningful change where they live and work. The Foundation truly reflects the values and priorities of our associates. We surveyed them to find out what causes are most important to them, and we chose six areas of impact based on their responses: cancer care and research, pediatric care, military and first responders, animal welfare, disaster relief, and hunger and homelessness. I’ve been with Epcon Communities for more than 25 years, and I couldn’t be more proud to be part of an organization with such a strong commitment to philanthropy.

💙 Care South Donates £900 to Purbeck Animal Assisted Learning Services (PAALS) 💙 We are delighted to share that Care South, a not-for-profit provider of residential and care at home services across the South of England, has donated £900 to Purbeck Animal Assisted Learning Services (PAALS) through our Community Fund. The Community Fund supports local organisations, groups and services that make a direct difference to the lives of our residents, clients and colleagues. Purbeck Animal Assisted Learning Services provides a nurturing and inclusive environment where people of all ages can benefit from the healing power of nature and animals. The farm offers hands-on experiences with a range of animals including horses, goats, sheep and pigs. Residents from Dorset House in Hamworthy and other Care South homes have already enjoyed visits to PAALS, where they were able to meet and care for the animals. These experiences have proved incredibly popular, helping residents connect with nature and enjoy meaningful moments of calm and joy. The donation was presented to Cheryl Dennett, who runs PAALS, by Simon Bird, CEO of Care South, and Charlotte Mitchell, Lifestyle and Activities Lead at Care South, alongside residents and team members from Dorset House. Cheryl said: “We are so grateful to Care South for this generous donation. Our work is all about improving wellbeing through meaningful connections with animals and nature. It is wonderful to see the way residents’ faces light up as soon as they see the animals and how relaxed they feel as they interact with them.” Simon Bird added: “We are delighted to support Cheryl and the team at Purbeck Animal Assisted Learning Services through our Community Fund. Our residents have had wonderful experiences at the farm, and it is clear to see the joy and comfort that interaction with animals brings them.” This partnership is a great example of how our Community Fund helps connect residents with the wider community, supporting opportunities for food, fun and friendship in every sense. Read More: https://lnkd.in/gp5HNesv #CareSouth #CommunityFund #PAALS #AnimalTherapy #SocialCare #CommunitySupport #FoodFunFriendship #DorsetCare #CareHomes

At HelpShelter, we believe that transparency builds trust — and trust saves lives. Every shelter added to our platform goes through careful research and verification, ensuring that our community supports only real, active, and trustworthy organizations that truly care for animals. Here’s what we look at when reviewing shelters: 🔹 Active social media presence: regular updates, real photos, stories, and interactions with followers. A consistent, authentic online activity shows genuine work and commitment. 🔹 Official website and contact information: phone numbers, email, postal address, and a physical location. 🔹 Shelter history and team: information about founders, staff, volunteers, and leadership — with real names, faces, and stories. 🔹 Additional sources: media publications, news articles, interviews, videos, and reports that confirm the shelter’s activity and credibility. 🔹 Financial transparency: visible bank details, verified nonprofit registration numbers, and information that can be cross-checked through official databases. In many countries, nonprofits are registered publicly and can receive 1–2% of citizens’ tax donations. 🔹 Public reports: monthly or annual financial statements published on official websites or in other sources. 🔹 Reviews and reputation: feedback and mentions across Google, social platforms, and other public listings. Not every organization meets all these points, but together, they help paint a realistic picture of a shelter’s activity. The longer the history, the broader the visibility, and the more open the communication — the higher the credibility. At #HelpShelter, this approach makes our platform more than just a directory — it becomes a trusted global space for discovering, supporting, and connecting with real #animalshelters that make a difference every day 💛 💫 https://help-shelter.com/ #SupportAnimalRescue #AnimalWelfare #AdoptDontShop #Nonprofit #RescueAnimals #GlobalShelterNetwork #VolunteerForAnimals

When it comes to fundraising, too many nonprofits fall into one of two traps. They either hesitate to ask or ask too soon. In this practical piece, Logan Mastrianna (Digital Tabby) introduces the Nonprofit Advocacy Ladder, a clear framework that helps organizations match their asks to supporter readiness. It is not about guessing or pushing. It is about timing, trust, and connection. With over a decade in animal welfare and digital marketing, Logan knows how small shifts in approach can turn hesitation into confidence and interest into action. If you have ever wondered when to ask or how to move supporters from awareness to giving, this one is for you. ✨ Smart fundraising is not about asking more. It is about asking right. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gByp2rJM #nonprofitleadership #fundraising #socialimpact #philanthropy #thenonprofithive

Why the supporter who responds twice to an acquisition appeal may leave your charity a gift in their Will. I love spotting a pattern in legacy supporter behaviours, and asking, why did that happen? Here’s one from when I headed a legacy fundraising department at an animal welfare charity. Lapsed and active supporters who responded again to a cash acquisition appeal for e.g. a cold insert, mailer or DRTV ad were more likely to go on to enquire about leaving a gift in their Will. Why? One hypothesis is that these “repeat acquisition” supporters were people who deeply identified with the cause. By responding again to an acquisition appeal - something that didn't acknowledge their support - they were saying: “This is my cause, and I want to keep showing that.” Each repeat action reinforced their self-concept as a loyal and values-driven supporter. And of course, legacy giving is the ultimate expression of that identity. If you’re curious, do a quick query in your supporter base. Select supporters who’ve responded more than once to an acquisition appeal and suppress that list against your enquirer, intender or pledger lists. If there's a significant proportion in both lists, work closely with your cash giving team to drip legacy messages as part of their journey. Alternatively, if the proportion is not significant, consider selecting them separately as a list (subject to volume) and use copy to reinforce that sense of identity and belonging. It's a small insight but one that could possibly generate a stream of pledgers. #legacies #giftsinwills #legacyfundraising #legacyinsights #cashacquisition

30% sellout: Portion of sales donated to Best Friends Animal Society with one of its missions to help shelters achieve no-kill status by 2025. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3JWf8t2 #NFTCommunity #frens #NFTartist #nfttrends #NFTdrop #NFTProject #NFTGiveaways #nftcollector

30% sellout: Portion of sales donated to Best Friends Animal Society with one of its missions to help shelters achieve no-kill status by 2025. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3JWf8t2 #NFTCommunity #frens #NFTartist #nfttrends #NFTdrop #NFTProject #NFTGiveaways #nftcollector

🎙️ New Episode of The Charity Charge Show In this conversation, Richard Glover, Jr., CEO of the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens, joins us to share how the zoo blends conservation, education, and community engagement. Whether you lead a nonprofit team or simply love wildlife and mission-driven work, this episode offers incredible insights into leadership, resilience, and impact. 🎧 Listen now to the full episode: https://lnkd.in/gNjvC3Vs #NonprofitLeadership #CharityChargeShow #CommunityEngagement #Conservation #CentralFloridaZoo #LeadershipDevelopment #NonprofitPodcast #WildlifeConservation

Over $100,000 from the Cherish Wisconsin Outdoors Fund will be distributed to six high-priority habitat projects across the state! These projects focus on removing invasive vegetation, protecting habitat for endangered species, and boosting volunteer infrastructure across the following counties:  - Columbia - Dane - Fond Du Lac - Jefferson - Ozaukee - Walworth - Waukesha - Wood The Cherish Fund is built through voluntary contributions made when people purchase their hunting and fishing licenses, or make a donation directly. Thank you for investing in the special places in Wisconsin you cherish most. 💚 Learn more about the 2025 Cherish projects at WisConservation.org/News 📸: Courtesy of USFWS #CherishWisconsinFund #WisconsinWildlife #HabitatRestoration #Conservation Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR)