Blog

Fundraising Takeaways from the 2026 Bridge Conference

DAFs are no longer a major-donor niche, and email deliverability rewards restraint over volume. This guide covers 10 data-backed lessons from a 2026 nonprofit marketing conference, with practical next steps for your digital fundraising program.

By: Dan Reed, CFRE

How AI Can Help You Diagnose and Fix Email Deliverability Issues

Don’t let spam filters ruin your fundraising campaigns. Learn how to use AI to diagnose email deliverability issues this fall, and see when it’s time to call in experts before Giving Tuesday.

By: Holly Martinez

Nonprofit Marketing + Fundraising Trends for 2026 (Q4 Edition)

Political noise, a historic wealth transfer, and AI-driven search are reshaping nonprofit fundraising in Q4 2026. This guide covers eight data-backed trends, from DAF giving to donor retention, with clear next steps for your team.

By: Dan Reed, CFRE

How to Choose a Nonprofit Marketing Agency: 10 Things to Do Before Signing the Contract

Choosing the right nonprofit marketing agency takes more than comparing proposals. This guide shares 10 practical steps to help your organization evaluate expertise, transparency, team fit, and partnership potential before signing a contract.

By: Ellen Corrigan

The 2026 Guide to Email Deliverability for Nonprofit Fundraising

Protect your nonprofit’s fundraising emails in 2026 with practical deliverability guidance on SPF, DKIM, DMARC, spam rates, list hygiene, and one-click unsubscribe requirements.

By: Media Cause Team

Why Creator-Driven Content Is the #1 Nonprofit Social Trend for 2026

Creators have moved from a tactical add-on to core nonprofit infrastructure. Here’s what our 2025 client work taught us about creator strategy, paid usage, and lower-lift formats, and what nonprofits should carry into 2026.

By: Tiffany Rivers

Does Your Nonprofit Need Brand Architecture?

As nonprofits grow, their brands can become harder to understand. This guide explains nonprofit brand architecture, when it matters, and how the right structure can strengthen clarity, connection, and long-term impact across programs, audiences, and initiatives.

By: Teresa Liu

Patterns That Actually Predicted Fundraising Success in 2025

  The Patterns Behind Every High-Performing Campaign We Saw in 2025 1) Benchmarks describe gravity, not destiny. Industry benchmarks explain the market’s “pull,” but they do not predict outcomes. Benchmarks…

By: Dan Reed, CFRE

TikTok’s Trust Crisis: What U.S. Ownership and User Exodus Mean for Nonprofit Marketers

TikTok’s U.S. ownership shift sparked privacy concerns and creator uncertainty, but nonprofits do not need to panic. Learn how to protect performance with weekly benchmarks, trust-building storytelling, and a diversified social strategy across platforms today.

By: Tiffany Rivers

What It’s Like to Work with a Nonprofit Marketing Agency

Nonprofit-focused agencies blend marketing expertise with sector insight, helping organizations strengthen donor retention, navigate policy shifts, and integrate fundraising, advocacy, and awareness into sustainable growth strategies built for nonprofit realities.

By: Media Cause Team

The Year of the Pivot: What 2025 Taught Us About Bucking the Benchmarks

If there was one word to describe the 2025 End-of-Year fundraising season, it was “Pivot.”

In our internal debriefs, the season was described as a “mixed bag” defined by necessary adjustments to breaking news cycles and economic shifts. This mirrors the broader nonprofit landscape: The latest M+R Benchmarks (analyzing 2024 data) revealed that one-time online revenue was flat (0% growth) year-over-year, and email revenue specifically dropped by 11% (All-Sector Benchmark).

By: Dan Reed, CFRE

Year-End Fundraising Trends + Insights: What We Learned from 2025

In 2025, year-end giving concentrated around urgent moments like Giving Tuesday and December 31. Fewer donors gave more, and early planning, testing, and tailored strategies proved essential for campaign success across all sectors.

By: Media Cause Team