Swaim Strategies

Not all events require honorees. The point of your event is to tell your story, galvanize your supporters and raise support for your work. But if honoring longtime supporters and advocates helps [...]

This October was the 5th annual Nonprofit Storytelling Conference, and in our 5 years of attending and participating in this event, we always walk away with big ideas and best practices to pass [...]

Donor data drives fundraising. It lets you know who your supporters are and how they’re engaging with your work, which helps you retain donors and grow your relationships. Data is also the [...]

Designing an event for your audience is the key strategy to taking your fundraising event to a new level. Major donor events and engagement events are often your best chance to do this because [...]

Every event should be designed for your most-engaged supporters. They’re the people showing up to give, cheering you on and championing your cause. If your donors like a party, give them a theme [...]

You’re doing the work that keeps communities together and changes the world. We believe in you, and in the power of our partnership. In our 15 years of fundraising galas, lunches, auctions and [...]

Your organization may want to use an event to commemorate a special occasion. Maybe it’s even a watershed anniversary like celebrating 50 or 100 years. With this opportunity you have a great [...]

Donors are crucial to your success as an organization. Financial support gives you security and stability, which means you can maybe take off one or two hats and do more to further your mission. [...]

When you’re building your event budget, there’s always room to trim. However, there’s one line item that we always recommend leaving in, and that’s graphic design. Not only does strong creative [...]

THE POTENTIAL WITH VIDEO Videos are a great way to tell stories. Stories of change. Stories of real people—the people behind your organization and the people you serve. Stories that show decades [...]

Musician and entrepreneur Derek Sivers gave a TED talk that illustrates a great principal of human dynamics you can use to inspire giving at events: people follow the leader. Here’s how you [...]

Having a good partner is as subjective as it is intangible. It’s one of those things you know when you feel it. And yet considering, exploring and optimizing why and how you partner with many [...]

How much should you use your executive director’s speech to provide a powerful, focused, current vision of your organization’s work in relation to the politics of today? Turns out, a [...]