If your donor database is more “it’s complicated” than “true love,” you’re not alone.  

Many organizations struggle with poorly configured systems that prevent them from accessing the valuable insights hidden within. 

But here’s the good news: you can improve your relationship with your data. With a little attention and the right strategy, you can ensure your database is serving you in the best way possible.  

Here are five ways to get back on track and build a stronger connection with your...

 Written by Erin Boyce: Data and Digital Director

Canadian charities often store sensitive donor information in databases, and many of these databases are cloud-based. But not all cloud systems store this data on Canadian servers. So, do you know where your donor data is being stored? 

What Is the Cloud? 

The “cloud” means storing data on remote servers that can be accessed through the internet. Cloud computing helps Canadian charities by making it easier and cheaper to store and access d...

Now that the visions of sugarplums have subsided your thoughts have likely turned to this new leaf of 2025. And if you are an Ontario based charity your thoughts are likely drifting to the OTF Capital Grant and assessing if you can pull an award-worthy application together.  

Before we look at best practices for a capital funds application it might be a good idea to define 'capital funding'. A capital campaign, capital grant, or capital funding is a way for organizations, typically nonpr...

The most valuable asset any fund development operation has is the accuracy of its data and the ability to analyze it. A well-configured database can be used to help analyze past fundraising campaigns, calculate benchmarks and metrics, track comprehensive donor history and issue financial reports (including reports to reconcile with your financial system) and issue charitable tax receipts.  

It can also be used to help streamline stewardship, such as tracking who must be thanked and who should...

Last week, we talked about the budget. Oh, those numbers can be tricky but they’re such a big piece of getting your fundraising plan solidified.  

What’s next?  

You pitch to the board to get their buy-in.   

• You’ve prepped everything  
• You created line charts to show revenue, expenses and projected growth 
• You know your numbers  
• You prepared a script 

And the day comes for your pitch... 

>>>>>>And they tear it up. 

Well, not literally but they ask question after question and they ...

Before we launch into why you need a budget, I want to touch on the fundraising plan (cause why have a budget without a plan?). 

Last week, we talked about the value of a fundraising plan. The week before, we talked about why it’s important to plan at all. 

Here’s a bit of a recap... 

The plan is where it all happens. So, when you carve out time to start writing your plan, you start by asking some questions - this list is not exhaustive. 

• What fundraising initiatives are you currently usi...

So, last week we talked about why we need to plan.  

To refresh, we need to plan because it’s the best way you can meet that year-end financial target.  

But it’s not just planning – it's formalizing a fundraising plan.  

And there’s great value in developing a plan because you have all of your initiatives mapped out under one big umbrella. 

Don't ya love beach umbrellas!

Whether you do direct mail, special events (in person or virtual!), foundation grants...the list goes on...it’s all in...

You work a small- to mid-sized charity. You're the sole fundraiser or you have a small team. You're wearing multiple hats and fundraising is just one of them or fundraising is your only focus. 

Whatever the case may be – what we know is this:  

It’s your job to meet your fundraising target each year.  

And how do you do that?  

You plan.  

And by plan, we mean plan your fundraising plan.  

Let’s face it.  

>>Some of us wing it and can meet that target at the end of the year but it’s pure ...