That’s probably not a big revelation for anyone living in more northern states, but it happens maybe once per year in Dallas. And it’s a big deal here.
People go into survival mode. The grocery stores get stripped bare of essentials like eggs, bread, bottled water, canned soups and more.
Everyone suddenly drops everything to focus on the immediate needs of “right now.”
Sound familiar?
How many times do our client contacts have to put on an extra hat and deal with the latest “crisis” at their organization? How many times do they hear, “We have to get this done immediately”?
These interruptions distract from long-term goals and planning. But the current state of fundraising demands that we think about the bigger picture.
That’s why we at RKD Group published two important guides this month to help our clients on their path to growth this year:
The 2025 Nonprofit Marketer’s Compass
The GivingPulse Field Guide
I’ll unpack a little more about each in just a bit. Here’s what else you can expect in this loaded January newsletter:
A conversation with Kishshana Palmer
What happens when a disaster impacts your campaign?
Social media is the perfect tool for brand awareness
News and trends around the nonprofit sector
Ready to grab your sneakers and get in the game?
Before we dive in, consider the dynamic environment in which we find ourselves:
People’s giving behaviors are shifting
New tools and tactics continue to emerge
The digital landscape is rapidly changing
Put it all together, and it’s clear that nonprofit leaders need to focus on and plan for what’s ahead. We need to be proactive, not reactive.
That’s why we publish The Nonprofit Marketer’s Compass each year to guide you through this ever-changing landscape. Our 2025 edition has a fun basketball theme and features four pillars tied to both the sport and fundraising:
Put on Your Socks
Perfect Your Fundamentals
Run the Offense
Stretch the Floor
Each of these pillars will help nonprofit fundraisers and marketers hone their craft and block out unnecessary distractions. Unlock these insights in the Compass from Jarred, T, Matt and Jenn to understand how we’re helping our clients accelerate their growth this year.
Strategic tips for an audience-first focus
RKD Group is teaming up with GivingTuesday to provide a companion to their quarterly GivingPulse Report, which publishes a wealth of data on donor sentiment.
We call it the Field Guide.
Our goal is to give nonprofit organizations actionable insights based on that data.
For the latest edition of the Field Guide, our strategy experts are looking at building long-term strategies that shift from channel-first to audience-first communications. Here are three areas that we examine:
Where your constituents live
What your supporters believe
How donors respond to a crisis
Read the Field Guide for a closer look at each area, the data that corresponds to it and the strategic recommendations that you can take from it.
Navigating life's challenges with Kishshana Palmer
Those topics above? Those are big tasks, and they might seem a bit overwhelming.
If you’re looking for a little pick-me-up after reading that, look no further.
In the latest episode of the RKD Group: Thinkers podcast, Justin McCord and I talked to Kishshana Palmer, CEO of ManageMint Inc. and author of “Busy Is a Four-Letter Word.” Kishshana has a wonderful perspective on navigating challenges as a solopreneur and solo mom, including:
The importance of authenticity in everything you do
Her journey of overcoming the struggle of asking for help
How the concept of being your only competition is a recurring theme in her upbringing
Her belief that professional development is intertwined with personal development
Don’t miss this conversation that is sure to entertain and inspire: Apple | Spotify | YouTube
Partnering and adapting during disasters
The Los Angeles wildfires remind us once again of the incredible work that nonprofits do. Several RKD clients have been impacted directly by this devastation, and they’re serving their communities while enduring their own personal hardships.
At times like these, asking donors for gifts can feel like the last priority, but doing so is essential to continuing their mission in a time of incredible need.
RKD’s Tonie Howard and Genevieve Duddy sat down to chat with Jessica Dominguez, CFRE, CNP, Annual Giving Manager with Houston Food Bank, to discuss how to handle fundraising when a disaster strikes. Jessica shared her story about changing their day-of-giving campaign after Hurricane Beryl made landfall on July 8, 2024.
Watch and listen for the amazing results and power of partnership in times of critical need.
Branding and social media: A perfect match for nonprofits
What does your brand say about you? And can people hear that message on your social media channels?
Those are two important questions that nonprofit organizations should be asking themselves because branding is more than just a logo or some colors.
Julia Patterson, RKD’s social media expert, says that social media plays a huge role in branding today for nonprofits: “Aligning branding and social media can strengthen the public perception of your organization and build trust between you and your target audience.”
In this blog post, Julia shares several ways your organization can align your branding and organic social efforts, including:
Finding your brand voice
Building your brand messaging
Utilizing branded hashtags
Creating branded visuals
By integrating branding into your organic social media strategy, you’re not just promoting your cause, you’re inviting your audience to become a part of it.
Rossi's Roundup: Fresh perspectives to kick off 2025
Lisa Rossi began writing monthly touchpoints for her clients back in January of 2019. She’s still doing so six year later, but now she also shares those insights in a monthly blog post we call Rossi’s Roundup.
Why does she do it?
“I remember how challenging it was, as a development professional, to stay on top of articles, case studies and industry insights. Time always felt too scarce, and I often found myself backtracking to gather ‘proof points’ for my board,” Lisa writes.
You’d be hard-pressed to find a better source of what’s happening in and around the nonprofit sector than Rossi’s Roundup. Check out this month’s edition, which is jam-packed with insights.
Thanks for taking the time to read this month’s issue. See you next month!
Sincerely,
Ronnie Richard Director, Marketing & Communications RKD Group
RKD Group, 2701 North Dallas Parkway, Suite 650, Plano, TX 75093, 800-222-6070
