To students, school is more than just a source of education. School is a nurturing place for intellectual enrichment, socialization, emotional development, and much more. Technology can empower the way you provide these essential resources to students.

These days, software solutions for schools help teachers and staff manage their day-to-day tasks, from facilitating fee payments to organizing parent-teacher activities. A comprehensive school management system houses the numerous processes you may be juggling under one platform, helping you devote more time and resources to your students and staff.

What is a school management system?

A school management system refers to the technology designed to help schools conduct their operations, administrative duties, and activities in a streamlined and efficient manner. After all, much planning, paperwork, and tracking goes into a successful institution.

Whether you’re trying to figure out a payment solution to collect field trip dues or track student attendance, comprehensive school management software can alleviate much of that burden. Having tools to organize initiatives and communicate with everyone involved can be rewarding for much more than just student management and academic planning.

The right school management software can be easily incorporated into your school’s financial processes, communication strategies, and sports and club activities.

What are the benefits of a school management system?

One of the most obvious advantages of school management software is efficiency. By incorporating all school-related duties and tasks onto one platform, you can optimize the productivity of your administrative efforts. With an effective school management system, your teachers and staff can build a collection of valuable data such as student information, parents’ financial details, and email lists.

Your school can benefit from school management software in areas such as:

• Students and Academics. To streamline the process of managing student data, look for software that integrates with your current Student Information System. Track attendance for classes and programs all with the convenience provided by your management software.
• School Fundraising. This software can help boost your school’s marketing and fundraising efforts with tools for sending out personalized emails to specific groups in your system. By establishing a communication strategy that is tailored to your supporters’ needs and preferences, you can encourage greater donor participation and contributions.
• Payments and Registration. For school-related events and activities, simplify the dues collection process to be more convenient and navigable for organizers and participants. Online registration payment processing through your school management system ensures that students and parents can complete any required tasks in a timely manner.
• Parent-School Communication. Keeping parents informed about relevant updates is fundamental to fostering trust and cultivating productive parent-school relationships. School management software can make sending out quick announcements easy and organized. Parents can also opt in or out of communications and reach out with questions or concerns at any time.

Keeping a school running smoothly requires overseeing many moving parts and tracking all sorts of data. The right school management software can be both labor- and time-saving, helping you eliminate any unnecessary roadblocks and maximize the efficiency of your efforts.

What other school-related programs can this software help with?

The advantages of a school management system can extend beyond basic school operations to the summer, when students are out of class.

Consider applying digital afterschool management tools to aid you in operating afterschool activities, summer school, clubs, and camps. Sports and library management duties can also significantly benefit from an integrated platform.

What are important school management features to consider?

When deciding on a school management system, focus on those with comprehensive features. Take stock of your school’s priorities and activities to make informed decisions on which software would work best for you.

Some essential features to look out for are:

• Online Attendance Tracking. Having detailed and accurate information about student attendance is crucial for both their safety and involvement in school. A digital attendance tracker can make this process as easy and accurate as possible.
• Fees and Dues Processing. Save time and resources by implementing online and contactless payment options. This will give parents the flexibility to conveniently and securely pay fees through their preferred payment method.
• Communication Management. Find software that facilitates communication between your school, parents, and staff. You should be able to create email and text lists to keep everyone informed and updated online.
• Reporting Statistics and Tools. Reporting is just as essential to your operations as planning and carrying them out. A school management system that offers statistics and reporting tools can provide important insights for improving your school’s administrative processes.

A 100% SaaS solution can free up any complications that naturally come with managing and keeping track of student, staff, and parent paperwork. For any school looking to optimize its processes and program administration, a school management system can significantly advance your efforts.

Other Resources to Explore

Nonprofit Basics – Learn more nonprofit management essentials by exploring other expert resources.

Nonprofit Basics: Read-a-thon Fundraisers – Fundraising is vital to every school’s educational, sports, and club activities. Learn more about how to organize a read-a-thon for your next school fundraiser.

School Registration Management Software: 2022 Buyer’s Guide – Read about the most effective school registration management software according to your school’s needs in this guide.

Nonprofits require consistent funding to work toward their missions, making effective fundraising campaigns crucial for success. Just having robust fundraising software isn’t enough—you need a compelling reason for people to donate. A well-timed, well-written donation request provides this reason—it can connect passionate supporters to giving opportunities.

What is a donation request?

When a nonprofit organization asks its supporters to make a donation, that’s a donation request. The request can be made in different ways, such as in person or by phone call, and the type of donation can also vary. Having compelling and thoughtful donation requests is crucial for nonprofit organizations to get the funds they need.

5 steps of the donation request process

Let’s review the steps to making a donation request.

1. Research who to ask

Here are the different groups you can ask for donations:

• Current donors. These are individuals who have previously made gifts to your nonprofit. Consider pitching a recurring donation plan to previous donors—recurring donors give 42% more per year than one-time donors.
• Prospective donors. Prospective donors are interested in your organization and your cause, but haven’t donated yet. Implement an emotional appeal in your donation request to these individuals to convince them to make a gift.
• Businesses. Businesses sometimes offer corporate philanthropy programs, encouraging their employees to give to nonprofits. According to fundraising statistics gathered by 360MatchPro, 65% of Fortune 500 companies offer matching gift programs and 40% offer volunteer grant programs. Reach out to a company that already offers a corporate giving program for a better chance at securing donations.
• Foundations. Large charitable foundations are often able to donate large sums of money to nonprofits. However, the process is more complicated than picking up the phone and asking an individual for a donation. Foundations often require applications to be submitted before they will even consider donating.

Interacting with so many donor groups can be confusing, especially when you consider that there are smaller subgroups with different interests. Consider donor segmentation to keep track of your different donor groups. This will allow you to easily tailor your content to each donor group, making the content more likely to resonate with them.

2. Decide how to make the donation request

After deciding who your donation request is targeted towards, you should choose how you will make your request. You can make your ask through a variety of means, including:

• Phone. Phone call donation requests are best made to current or prospective individual donors. These requests are a good opportunity to strengthen your connection with your donors and share your passion for your nonprofit’s mission.
• Email. While you can automate these emails to send them to a large number of people, make sure to personalize them by addressing the donor by their first and last name. This will help you bond with your potential donors and show that you care about them.
• Text. People nowadays spend large amounts of time on their mobile devices. Sending a text is a quick and inoffensive way to get someone’s attention. Before making your donation request via text, confirm that your online donation pages are mobile-optimized for your donors’ convenience.
• Social media. Asking for donations on social media allows you to reach a wider audience. Consider using fun graphics or even videos to appeal to followers.
• In person. In-person donation requests often occur when interfacing with major donors, businesses, or foundations. Because these groups can often make large gifts, practice your pitch. Confidence will encourage them to make donations.

Depending on which donor group you’ve decided to ask, these request methods will have varying levels of efficacy. Consider which method would work best for the donor group you’re targeting, and then make your ask.

3. Make your ask

When it comes to making your ask, feel free to get creative. There are many different types of gifts you can ask for, from financial to in-kind to challenge gifts.

Here are a few best practices for when you sit down to create your donation request. Each request should be:

• Inspiring. 90% of millennial donors are motivated to give when they connect with a nonprofit’s mission. Inspire your donors by telling the story of your mission and giving them compelling reasons for why your cause is important. You can include inspiring content like direct quotes from people your organization has supported or images of volunteers during a volunteer workday.
• Specific. Most likely, you’re fundraising for a particular event or goal. Be specific about what your goal is to help donors understand why you’re looking for gifts. You can also include donation amount suggestions, such as $10 or $25.
• Direct. Don’t beat around the bush—make it clear what you’re asking for. If your potential donors are confused by your request, the chance that they will follow through is very low.
• Personalized. You can personalize your donation request by addressing the donor by their first and last name. If they have donated to your nonprofit before, you might consider mentioning the amount they previously donated.
• Urgent. You can add urgency by including imperatives in your calls to action (CTAs). For example, your CTA might be “donate now” or “help puppies find a home today!” You can also increase urgency by informing donors that they have a limited amount of time to donate to help you reach a time-based fundraising goal.
• Creative. Having a creative request will make potential donors more likely to interact with it. For example, you might choose a creative subject line for an email request. Or, if marketing on social media, you could post pictures of volunteers or even videos to draw the eyes of potential donors.

Additionally, your donation software should make it easy for donors to make gifts to your nonprofit. Effective donation software will make donating streamlined and convenient, and will offer integrations that simplify your team’s workflow. For example, if your donations software integrates with your donor management system, you can automatically personalize donation requests with donors’ names and past gift amounts.

4. Accept rejection gracefully or say thank you

Keep in mind that what you’re asking for is a big deal: you’re requesting that your potential donors part with some of their hard-earned money. Although many people will be happy to donate, many people will not want to. That’s okay! Accept the rejection gratefully and thank them for their time. Remember that just because an individual doesn’t want to make a gift now doesn’t mean they won’t be open to it in the future.

On the other hand, if you do secure a donation, make sure that you say thank you! Your gratitude should be appropriate for the size of the gift made. Consider sending a letter or an email showing your gratitude and letting donors know what exactly their money is going towards. For major donors, you could host a thank-you party or gala.

5. Stay in touch

You should be communicating with interested individuals even outside of making donation requests. If a potential donor perceives your organization as only reaching out for funds, they might feel as though they are being taken advantage of. It’s important to offer your donors a sense of community and to show that you’re grateful for their support outside of donations.

Remember that people will interact with your organization if they connect with your mission and are interested in what you’re doing. Those people may not be donors now, but they can still be donors in the future. It’s important to cultivate your relationships by fostering ongoing donor engagement.

The donation request process may seem daunting, but at the end of the day, your supporters want to help you out. As long as you show that you appreciate them, they will be willing to make gifts to your organization. If you’re still feeling unsure, take a look at the donation request email template below for some inspiration!

Donation request email template

Dear [donor’s name],

My name is [name here], and I’m the [role] at [nonprofit’s name]. We at [nonprofit’s name] are dedicated to [nonprofit’s mission]. Through [actions nonprofit has taken], we are taking steps toward a better future.

[Write an emotional anecdote here about your nonprofit, perhaps giving one specific example of someone/something you helped. For example, if you run an animal shelter, you could add an image of a dog you helped find a home, and write a brief description of the process.]

While we’re making progress towards positive change, [nonprofit’s name] still has a lot to do. We need your support to [new goal, project, or event you’re asking donations for].

Would you consider donating [monetary amount, items, volunteer time, services, etc.] to help us with our goal? Your donation will be used to [state a specific action/goal that the donation will be used for and what the impact of the donation will be]. We would greatly appreciate it!

If you wish to help, please fill out the attached form or call us at [phone number]. If you have any questions, I would be happy to answer them and give you more information about [nonprofit’s name].

Please join us! With your donation, we’ll be one step closer to [mission here]!

Sincerely,
[name]

[role]

[nonprofit website]

[email]

If you’re interested in other related resources, you can explore the ones below!

Other Resources to Explore

Nonprofit Basics – Learn more nonprofit management essentials by exploring other expert resources.

Corporate Giving Programs: The Ultimate Fundraising Guide – Interested in how businesses can help out nonprofits? Take a look at this guide to corporate giving programs.

215+ Amazing Fundraising Ideas for Your Organization – If you’re looking for inspiration for your next fundraising event, check out this article.

Fundraising campaigns are a nonprofit’s bread and butter when it comes to getting donations. Since these campaigns can last for days or weeks, donors and participants need to be able to track the progress made. Nonprofits use a variety of marketing tactics to promote their progress, including social media posts, email reminders, and other forms of outreach. A fundraising thermometer can be another effective tool to show your campaign’s progress and get supporters excited about helping to reach your goal.

What is a fundraising thermometer?

A fundraising thermometer is a graphic that represents the progress a nonprofit organization has made throughout a fundraising campaign. A fundraising thermometer can be a tangible visual, such as a poster or drawing on a whiteboard, that is updated as the fundraising campaign progresses. It can also be a virtual representation that is automatically updated as new donations come in.

Fundraising Thermometer FAQs

When can you use a fundraising thermometer?

Fundraising thermometers can be useful additions to your marketing strategy for almost any event. However, they can be particularly effective for events like:

• Auctions/galas. These events attract wealthy donors willing to make large donations to help your cause. Make the most of this and maximize auction fundraising by including a fundraising thermometer, incentivizing donors to make larger gifts. Or, incorporate a matching gift challenge to increase revenue for your nonprofit.
• Crowdfunding campaigns. In crowdfunding campaigns, nonprofit organizations create pages on crowdfunding platforms, and then share these pages on their website and through social media for greater visibility and outreach. Having a thermometer on your fundraising page will let potential donors see how close they are to reaching the next goal, which may prompt them to make a donation.
• Giving Tuesday campaigns. Giving Tuesday is an annual global giving movement that takes place the Tuesday after Thanksgiving in the U.S. Donations can be monetary or in-kind. Since these campaigns incentivize giving on one day, including a fundraising thermometer will allow people to see the impact they are making and encourage them to give more to fill up the thermometer.
• Matching gift drives. Corporate gift matching is a type of corporate philanthropy initiative where an employer matches the amount that their employee donates to a nonprofit organization. With a fundraising thermometer, employees can more easily understand your goals, and it will be easier for them to help you reach those goals when their employers are matching their donations.
• Peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns. To support your nonprofit, individual supporters can create personal campaign pages to collect donations from family members and peers. Because this type of fundraising relies on individuals, it can be difficult for them to know how much money everyone has raised for the campaign as a whole. With a fundraising thermometer, all supporters will be able to easily find the total amount raised.

Fundraising thermometers can be used as an engaging visual for nearly any event to encourage greater giving. Regardless of whether the event is in-person or online, you can always find a place for your thermometer that will provide maximum impact.

Where can you display a fundraising thermometer?

Depending on the type of fundraising campaign you’re hosting, you might choose to display your fundraising thermometer in person or online. Here are a few options for where to showcase a fundraising thermometer:

• Your website. You might show the thermometer on your homepage or event landing page. Potential donors will easily see that you currently have a campaign running, and participants will have no trouble figuring out how much money has been raised.
• Your social media pages. Depending on the duration of your event, you might consider posting to your social media pages daily or weekly with an updated version of your thermometer. Participants will be able to accurately tell how much money they raised the week prior, and how much more they need to raise to hit your next goal.
• Your email newsletter. When holding a fundraising campaign, it’s a good idea to send an email newsletter informing constituents how the campaign is going. You can include the thermometer near the top of the email as an engaging visual, with a link back to your campaign page so interested parties can easily learn more. As the event progresses, you can send updated versions of the thermometer in your following newsletters.
• Your event space (for in-person fundraising events). Place the thermometer in an easily visible location and update it frequently throughout your event. You can consider doing small shoutouts when goals are met, perhaps even to the donor who made it possible.
• Your organization’s headquarters. Having the thermometer in your organization’s headquarters will inspire your employees to continue their hard work towards meeting your goal. Make sure that it’s easily visible and regularly updated.

Aside from encouraging greater giving, fundraising thermometers are a great way for viewers to quickly grasp how close you are to your next goal. You can make your thermometer as simple or as complicated as you want, depending on the tools you use to create it.

How can you create a fundraising thermometer?

Fundraising thermometers can be in person or digital. You have a few options for creating your thermometer:

1. You can use a free tool like Bloomerang’s fundraising thermometer template. You can use this type of graphic in your email newsletters to earn more clicks to your campaign page.
2. You can use a graphic design tool like Adobe Illustrator or Canva to create a thermometer graphic and update it as needed. Consider making an animated version that donors will be able to see filling up after they make their donation.
3. You can print out the thermometer on a large poster board or sheet of paper and use markers or smaller pieces of paper to fill it in. This type of fundraising thermometer is less formal than the options above and would be a great fit for your organization’s headquarters.

Making a fundraising thermometer doesn’t have to be difficult, and including one in your fundraising activities helps you garner more engagement and donations. It’s worth taking the time and effort to make one!

Other Resources to Explore

Nonprofit Basics – Learn more nonprofit management essentials by exploring other expert resources.

8+ Quick Fundraising Ideas that Work [Updated 2022] – Looking for a fundraising idea that might offer a good opportunity to make a fundraising thermometer? Check out this list.

4 DIY Fundraising Ideas to Boost Participation & Donations – Read more about DIY campaigns, one of the fastest-growing types of peer-to-peer fundraising.

The nonprofit world is full of talented individuals working to further charitable missions. From executive directors to grant coordinators to volunteers, there are a variety of roles that need to be filled for a nonprofit organization to run smoothly.

What are examples of nonprofit jobs?

There are many different types of nonprofit jobs, such as the following:

• Executive director. Similar to a CEO, executive directors lead nonprofit organizations. They deal with overall strategies, fundraising and programming policy, and driving growth.
• Finance director. Similar to a CFO, the finance director tracks all funds and financial reports. They keep general ledgers and oversee the financial health of the nonprofit.
• Development director. Development directors oversee all fundraising activity. They maintain relationships with major donors, build current constituent relationships, and identify new fundraising prospects.
• Major gifts officer. These staff members deal with a nonprofit’s most significant donations and strategize how to raise large amounts of funds from wealthy donors.
• Grant coordinator. A research-heavy role, grant coordinators find available grants from federal departments or private foundations. They write grant proposals and make sure that grant funds are used in the way they outlined in the proposal.
• Volunteer manager. This job involves coordinating volunteer shifts, assigning volunteer roles, and managing every aspect of the volunteer stewardship process.
• Planned giving director. According to Freewill, planned gifts are charitable contributions that are typically given to nonprofits when the donor passes away. A planned giving director researches, identifies, engages, and solicits donors to secure these planned gifts.
• Event planner. Event planners organize nonprofit events and make sure that they go smoothly. In the nonprofit industry, events can include major undertakings like auctions and galas, or more casual occasions like walk-a-thons or bake sales.
• Marketing/communications director. Marketing for nonprofit organizations can be different from marketing for for-profit organizations. The marketing and communications director plans and oversees communication strategies, encouraging constituents to donate and otherwise engage with their nonprofit.

There are plenty of jobs available underneath these umbrellas as well. For example, a marketing department for a large nonprofit might include a marketing director, a social media manager, and a public relations specialist.

How to prepare for a nonprofit job

Jobs in the nonprofit industry are not significantly different from jobs in other industries. However, if you’re specifically interested in nonprofit jobs, here are some ways you can prepare for them:

• Become a regular volunteer at a nonprofit. The first step to understanding nonprofit work is to try it out. Volunteering will give you a grounded understanding of what the nonprofit is trying to accomplish and the good that they are trying to bring to the world. You can seek local volunteer opportunities, and if there aren’t any near you, consider online volunteering.
• Seek out a fundraising degree or complete fundraising courses. An advanced degree in nonprofit management isn’t required for nonprofit work. But you might be interested in seeking out a relevant degree if you know that you’d like to work for a nonprofit full-time. You can also consider taking fundraising training courses to get more experience.
• Pursue ongoing education opportunities. This might include earning certifications or attending conferences. This will give you a better understanding of the nonprofit industry and help you learn the skills necessary for you to succeed.

You don’t necessarily have to specialize in nonprofit topics to be employed in the nonprofit sector. There are many skills from a variety of jobs that are applicable in nonprofits as well. However, it may be worth it to do more research and get some experience in the industry if you know you want to work in it.

How to find nonprofit job opportunities

After learning more about nonprofit job responsibilities, perhaps you’ve decided that you are very interested in working in the industry. But you’re not sure where you should look for nonprofit jobs. Here are a few places that you can search:

• LinkedIn. This large online social media platform can help you find jobs of all kinds, including nonprofit ones.
• Online job boards like Work for Good or Idealist. These job boards are focused in the mission-driven space, helping nonprofit organizations find employees. You can also find internships, volunteer opportunities, and graduate programs.
• Volunteer positions. If you regularly volunteer with a nonprofit, you may be one of the first to know when a new paid position becomes available.

Having a nonprofit career can be very rewarding, as you will be working with like-minded individuals dedicated to improving society. Just with making any other career move, make sure you take the time to research and learn more about the industry and the specific organizations you’re interested in.

Other Resources to Explore

Nonprofit Basics – Learn more nonprofit management essentials by exploring other expert resources.

Nonprofit Fundraising Training: FAQs and 8 Top Resources – Curious about fundraising training? You can find answers to commonly asked questions here.

Nonprofit Conferences That You Won’t Want to Miss in 2022 & 2023 – Nonprofit conferences are an opportunity to meet and discuss the state of the nonprofit world. Check out this list of top conferences in 2022 and 2023.

Your nonprofit completes various activities throughout the year, such as hosting fundraising events, launching community outreach initiatives, and taking on new projects to make an impact in the area you serve. With so much notable work to remember each year, it’s important to track and share what your nonprofit has accomplished. 

Most nonprofits create an annual report to highlight successes, thank supporters, and increase transparency with stakeholders. The best reports not only review the high points of the past year but also encourage continued support in the next year.

What is a nonprofit annual report?

A nonprofit annual report is a document compiling all of an organization’s activities, projects, and initiatives for a year. These documents are made publicly available for transparency reasons, allowing all stakeholders and supporters to understand what your organization has done throughout the year. 

While the completion of an annual report is not legally required to maintain your nonprofit’s 501(c)(3) status, most organizations write one to be transparent with their communities. More than that, annual reports serve as an essential element of many nonprofits’ annual fundraising appeals. By highlighting the work that your organization has done and thanking supporters, donors feel appreciated and see the direct impact of their donations, inspiring them to make another donation to further your nonprofit’s work in the next calendar year. 

Tips for an Effective Nonprofit Annual Report

There is no singular formula for a perfect nonprofit annual report—you know your nonprofit and its activities best. But there are some best practices that can ensure that your annual report will see the best results possible. These tips include:

• Brand your report:  Your supporters appreciate your nonprofit for what you do and who you are. Incorporate your organization’s branding within your annual report to increase credibility and visibility. This includes your nonprofit’s name, logo, slogan, color scheme, and any other recognizable features of your nonprofit’s brand.
• Incorporate storytelling: In both textual elements and visuals, ensure that your annual report is telling the story of your nonprofit and the work you’ve done throughout the year. Include pictures from events and initiatives, and make sure that you’re highlighting your work through specific stories of how you impacted your community.
• Use data: Don’t forget to back up the claims you make in your storytelling with concrete data. Donors want to hear not only about the people your nonprofit served but also the quantifiable impact you made through metrics such as event attendance, total annual revenue, volunteer hours, and program expenses.
• Make it a downloadable resource: For full transparency, ensure that your annual report is available for download on your nonprofit website. That way, your report is accessible to all supporters and can serve as a resource to both current and potential donors. 

Your nonprofit annual report should be a resource to your nonprofit itself as well as your supporters. Take the opportunity each year to highlight all of your nonprofit’s successes, taking pride in the great work that you’ve done and sharing with your supporters how you’ve continued to further your mission.

Other Resources to Explore

Nonprofit Basics – Learn more nonprofit management essentials by exploring other expert resources.

Nonprofit Branding: Our Complete Guide and Best Examples – Explore the connection between branding and credibility, especially as it relates to your nonprofit annual report.

Top Nonprofit Website Builders to Promote Your Mission – Make it easy to upload and share your annual report with a well-built website.