goodmakerU

Yesterday was the exciting kickoff of the NWA Gives Masterclass with goodmakerU! ?? I've already gained so much valuable insight and can't wait to dive even deeper over the next several weeks. With NWA Gives coming up on April 3rd, I’m looking forward to learning, growing, and making an even bigger impact in our community! ?? Havenwood #NWAGives #GoodmakerU #Havenwood

We believe in celebrating wins with nonprofit leaders. And yes, our goodmakers sometimes receive GOAT status and have confetti rained down on them when they share their wins. ?? ??

What a day! We officially kicked off year 2 of our partnership with Walmart.org and The Jones Center by launching a brand-new goodmakerU “Raise NWA” cohort—and wow, what a celebration it was! Our office was packed with local goodmakers, and we LOVED every moment! ?? Nonprofit leaders from across our community came together to celebrate their acceptance into this transformational 14-month training program. We’re thrilled to support them as they grow in storytelling and fundraising, increasing the health and resources of their incredible organizations. KNWA-TV and Fox 24 News even joined us to share the excitement. Check out their coverage here: https://lnkd.in/grV5cgJB A huge thank-you to Angela Oxford, Emily Ironside, and their teams for making this program possible. Your leadership is helping transform #NorthwestArkansas ! Here are the amazing organizations selected for this year’s cohort: Sharing & Caring of Benton County Canopy NWA Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Arkansas Mount Sequoyah Center Young Life NWA ARKANSAS COALITION OF MARSHALLESE INC AUTISM SUPPORT GROUP OF NWA Potter's House NWA Cancer Challenge The Jones Center Join us in celebrating these goodmakers and cheering them on as they collaborate, grow, and make an even bigger impact in our community! ?? Jesse Lane Ben Richards Branches Mission Lab

13 of 13 Year-End Fundraising Fumbles: New Year’s Remorse ?? We made it! Wrapping up our series on year-end fundraising fumbles with the final mistake: New Year’s Remorse. This is that January feeling of “I wish we’d done things differently…” It’s already December, but don’t worry—there’s still time to make an impact! Take a moment now to review what’s working (and what’s not) in your campaign so you can maximize these last few weeks. A few strategic tweaks now mean you’ll be celebrating success in January—not looking back with regrets. Thanks for joining us on this journey to dodge the top year-end fundraising fumbles. Let’s make this December count! ?? #FundraisingTips #YearEndGiving #NonprofitSuccess #NoRegrets #FinishStrong

13 Year-End Fundraising Fumbles: Don’t Let Silent Night Syndrome Sneak In! ?? Your year-end campaign is in full swing, but if your donors aren’t hearing from you, they might be wondering… “What’s happening?” ?? Silent Night Syndrome happens when communication fades during the campaign, leaving donors in the dark about your progress and impact. Don’t let a quiet spell dampen your campaign results—let your donors feel like they’re part of the journey! ?? Keep them in the loop with updates on campaign goals. ?? Share real stories showing how their gifts are making a difference. ?? Celebrate every milestone with them to build excitement. Even small updates make a big impact! Stay tuned as we cover all 13 fumbles to help you finish strong and keep donors engaged. ?? #FundraisingTips #YearEndGiving #NonprofitSuccess #DonorEngagement #FinishStrong

We are now accepting applications for Raise NWA Year 2! Check out this feature of our founder Jesse Lane and local goodmaker Kyra Moss on KNWA-TV and Fox 24 News (NBC and Fox affiliate) talking all things fundraising and Raise NWA results! Apply today at www.goodmakerU.com/nwa

13 Year-End Fundraising Fumbles: Don’t Fall into the Microwave Mindset! ?? Building strong donor relationships is NOT a quick-fix process. If you’re expecting instant results from your year-end campaign, you may have a Microwave Mindset. The best donor relationships are like slow-cooked meals—they take time, care, and attention to develop. ??? Even if it’s too late to change your approach this year, take these lessons into next year: ?? Focus on nurturing donors throughout the year with stories of impact. ?? Build trust through consistent communication, not just during year-end appeals. ?? Think long-term—small, steady actions lead to big results over time. Don’t just push for quick wins—invest in relationships that last. Stay tuned as we unpack all 13 fumbles and share tips to grow stronger every year! ?? #FundraisingTips #YearEndGiving #NonprofitSuccess #BuildRelationships #ThinkLongTerm

Raise NWA is back for Year 2 — and it’s bigger than ever! In partnership with the Walmart Foundation and The Jones Center, goodmakerU is offering TWO cohorts in 2025, starting in January and August. This 14-month, no-cost program equips nonprofit leaders in Washington and Benton Counties to: ?? Sharpen their mission ?? Boost marketing and fundraising ?? Transform their impact Past participants have seen donations grow up to 8x during campaigns! Applications close Dec. 15, 2024 — don’t miss out! ?? Apply now: www.goodmakeru.com/nwa #RaiseNWA #NonprofitLeadership #NorthwestArkansas

13 Year-End Fundraising Fumbles: Let’s Talk Campaign Conga Line???? Ever felt like fundraising campaigns just keep coming, one after the other? That’s what we call the Campaign Conga Line—back-to-back or overlapping appeals that leave donors feeling overwhelmed and confused. If this sounds familiar, don’t stress! While it may be too late to adjust this year’s lineup, now is the perfect time to take notes for next year: ?? Build in breathing room between campaigns to keep donors engaged, not fatigued. ?? Use donor-focused engagement emails (like impact stories or gratitude updates) between appeals. ?? Plan your campaign calendar early to avoid overlap and create a steady rhythm. Your donors will thank you—and you’ll see better results when your messaging feels intentional and clear. Stay tuned for more lessons to carry into next year as we tackle all 13 fundraising fumbles! ?? #FundraisingTips #YearEndGiving #NonprofitSuccess #PlanAhead #FinishStrong

13 Year-End Fundraising Fumbles: Don’t Be a Gratitude Ghoster! ?? Picture this: You haven’t reached out to your donors all year, and now—just as year-end giving ramps up—you pop up asking for more. ?? That’s the classic Gratitude Ghoster move, and trust us, it’s not a great look. Donors want to feel appreciated, not forgotten. Even if you’ve been busy, there’s still time to turn it around: ?? Send a heartfelt thank-you email ?? Share a quick update on the impact of their past gifts in the middle of all of your year-end emails ?? Record a short video expressing gratitude—it’s personal and powerful! Gratitude builds trust, and trust inspires generosity. Stay tuned as we uncover more fundraising fumbles (and fixes) to help you finish strong this year! ? #FundraisingTips #YearEndGiving #NonprofitSuccess #GratitudeMatters #FinishStrong