1. Retention 🤗 is the name of the game.

We all want to increase our retention rates—but the big question is how? Enter: donor cultivation. The way you communicate with your community all year long matters, and there are easy things you can do to improve your strategies right now.

An insider’s guide to donor cultivation. [via NextAfter]

2. Something new for your 🎧 headphones.

Hey podcast fans, this ones for you! If you find listening to content easier than reading it, check out Audiblogs—a new tool that can turn any web article into an audio file in your podcast app. And bonus: it’s free.

Check out Audiblogs. [via Audiblogs]

3. Copywriting 101 ✍️ with Aristotle.

Want to be a more powerful writer? Start with Aristotle. Sure, his world was thousands of years away from emails and direct mail, but ethos, logos, and pathos are as effective today as they were back then. And they are the building blocks of effective fundraising communications.

An ancient guide to compelling copy. [via Copyblogger]

4. Getting started with Google and Facebook ads. 🖥️

If you want to connect with donors, spend time where they are already hanging out. These days, that means online—and it probably means Google and Facebook. Luckily, both platforms have made it easy for nonprofits to take advantage of their advertising tools (sometimes for free!), helping you reach more people with your message.

Learn how to advertise online. [via Classy]

5. Keep your evergreen 🌱 content alive.

We are plant people. Our homes are overflowing with succulents and snake plants and monsteras…and somehow the collection keeps growing. One thing we’ve learned from our plant babies is that they need attention—and the same thing is true for your evergreen content. You need to do some work to keep it alive. The thing (whether it’s your new cactus or that blog from 8 months ago) will only stay green if its needs are met.

How to care for your evergreen content. [via Amazon]