If your nonprofit or coalition makes the segue from issues advocacy to actual campaigning (most likely regarding a ballot measure), here are the questions you should ask before you hire a political consulting firm: ...

Less than 1/3 of nonprofits have a written social media strategy but almost all say it’s an effective tool (primarily Facebook) for brand awareness—over 70% say it’s effective for online fundraising, while 80% say it’s effective for recruiting volunteers: http://www.thenonprofittimes.com/news-articles/facebook-twitter-lead-npo-social-media-worldwide/

Trump’s budget is a mixed bag, so some nonprofits could see increases for the first time since the early Obama stimulus years, while others will see big cuts to their programs—but Congress has the final word (2 links): Federal Dysfunction Results in Surprise End to Austerity Era...

Southern and Red states have the highest ratios of adjusted gross income given to charity, as well as the highest participation in volunteer activities, according to this study:  http://www.rawhide.org/blog/infographics/charitable-giving-map/

Interesting piece that looks at the philanthropy of two titans of industry in America—about 100 years apart: https://www.geekwire.com/2018/andrew-carnegie-set-stage-bill-gates-give-away-fortune-changed-philanthropy-forever/

Until recently, it was unthinkable that newspapers would become major recipients of charitable subsidies. But as newsroom layoffs continue with no apparent end, increasingly they are seeking philanthropic support, and the nonprofit world is delivering: https://www.cjr.org/local_news/newspapers-philanthropy.php

But don’t think this only works for large national nonprofits and causes; your local community-based advocacy and social justice organization can do this, too, and I can show you how: http://www.vulture.com/2018/02/times-up-has-raised-usd20-million-helped-over-1-000-people.html

Philanthropy continues to play a larger role in American journalism—this time with a donation to boost the leadership, diversity, innovation and technology of local television news: http://www.niemanlab.org/2018/02/local-tv-news-gets-a-2-6-million-boost-from-the-knight-foundation/

Only 17 people on the Forbes 400 list of the wealthiest Americans appear on this year’s Philanthropy 50 list—what does that mean? https://www.philanthropy.com/article/forbes-400giving/242458?cid=pt&utm_source=pt&utm_medium=en&elqTrackId=9296912395c94fe5b2f7e0fd6fa84a74&elq=483395b461d7410dbafd373e330423a1&elqaid=17773&elqat=1&elqCampaignId=7845

If fundraising is going to succeed, it has to be one of the top priorities of your social justice & advocacy nonprofit, requiring the proper investment of time & money—above all, everyone in your organization must embrace it: https://purposefulfundraising.com/fundraising-really-priority-organization/

The challenge in the philanthropic sector is to amplify the impact of Rage Fundraising and support critical Resistance work in the months and years to come, and understand how it’s different from anything you’ve supported before—if you are a funder looking at how to do that, give me a call:  https://www.ncrp.org/publication/responsive-philanthropy-winter-2018/amplifying-impact-outrage-giving

A foundation is a major donor and needs to be cultivated and nurtured. The days of throwing a proposal over the transom like a cold call in the hopes that it will wow a program officer are over. You have to wow them in person:  https://mailchi.mp/61f9b9c870b8/foundations-are-your-major-donors-treat-them-that-way?e=4e2c209db9