Why Asking Volunteers for Donations is Both Acceptable and Beneficial

How to Find the Perfect Board Members Every nonprofit organization thrives on the passion and expertise of its board members. These individuals play a crucial role in steering the mission, making strategic decisions, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the organization. Finding the right board members isn’t always easy, but there are strategies that can help. 1. Design a Compelling Board Recruitment Program A well-crafted campaign not only captures attention but also inspires action. Here’s how to do it: Define Your Needs : Outline the skills, expertise, and qualities you’re looking for in a board member. Are you seeking someone with financial acumen, legal expertise, or fundraising experience? Just like employees, ensure there are job descriptions for each board role, setting out clear expectations. Explain Expectations : Be transparent about the responsibilities, time commitment, and term length for board members. If there is a financial contribution required, communicate this openly and provide details on how it can be fulfilled, such as through a "Give or Get" approach. Share Your Mission : Clearly articulate your organization’s mission, vision, and values. Potential board members are more likely to join if they feel connected to your cause. Include images or videos that showcase your organization’s impact and culture. Showcase Current Board Members : Highlight testimonials or stories from existing board members to give potential candidates a sense of what it’s like to serve on your board. Highlight the Benefits : Describe the rewards that are part of being on the board, such as working with a dynamic group of people, making an impact on the community, improving the lives of children, and/or having fun! 2. Implement the Recruitment Program Use a variety of methods to reach audiences who may be interested in board positions: Notify Your Current Constituents : Share the opportunity with event attendees, volunteers, fundraisers, sponsors, vendors, and donors. These individuals are already invested in your mission and may be interested in taking on a larger role. Collaborate with Partners : Reach out to local businesses, community groups, or professional associations to promote your campaign. Promote the Opportunity on Volunteer Platforms: Use websites like VolunteerMatch.org to advertise the board position. These platforms are excellent for connecting with individuals actively seeking board roles or looking for meaningful volunteer opportunities. Offer Q&A Opportunities : Host virtual or in-person Q&A sessions to answer questions and share insights about your organization. Invite Potential Candidates to Events: Bring prospective board members to a fundraiser or an after-school program session to see the organization’s work in process. Also consider inviting them to a board meeting. Engage Current Board Members: Encourage current board members to actively tap into professional and personal networks to identify potential candidates. However, be mindful of the importance of diversity and inclusivity - avoid creating a homogenous board by focusing solely on connections within the same circles. A varied board brings fresh perspectives and strengthens the organization. 3. Set up an Application Process – use Pinwheel! Pinwheel’s recruitment campaign is an easy way to have potential board members apply: Leverage Pre-Built Templates - Need help getting started? Use Pinwheel’s Board Member Campaign template to streamline your process. Just email support@pinwheel.us to request a template and have it added to your campaign list. Decide on Application Accessibility - If you prefer a public application, post the link on your website, social media accounts, and any platforms where the position is advertised. If you'd rather vet applicants before they apply, provide a contact email address, and share the application link only with candidates who meet your initial criteria. Review and Manage Applications - As applications come in, review the data and assign a status to each applicant (e.g., Reviewed, Background Pending, Rejected, Withdrawn, or Accepted ). Capture Key Insights - Use the Notes tab to document additional information or observations during the review process. This ensures all relevant details are easily accessible for decision-making. Finalize the Selection - Once a final candidate is determined, accept the application. Pinwheel will prompt you to add the board role and term to the record and automatically list the person under the Account’s Board Member tab. If a candidate is not selected but you wish to stay in touch, you can make the person a Contact instead. 4. Nurture Long-Term Relationships Even after the recruitment campaign ends, it’s essential to stay connected with potential candidates who may not join your board immediately: Create a Pipeline : Keep a list of engaged candidates who can be considered for future opportunities. In Pinwheel, use Person Tags to identify and track potential candidates. Offer Other Ways to Get Involved : Encourage candidates to volunteer or join committees if they’re not ready for a board role. Keep Communication Open : Add candidates to email marketing lists, connect with them on social media, invite them to events, and periodically reach out directly to share updates with them about your organization and to maintain relationships. Happy board member recruiting!

Pinwheel’s Store Tool integrates merchandise sales directly into event registrations and recruitment campaigns. Whether you're selling branded t-shirts, water bottles, or raffle tickets, the tool ensures everything is available in one place – right when participants are engaged and have a payment method handy, increasing the likelihood of purchases. And it’s not just about generating revenue—branded merchandise strengthens participants' and volunteers' connection to your cause. Every t-shirt worn or water bottle used serves as a lasting reminder of your mission, encouraging future involvement. Sell Products with Ease Merchandise sales can benefit from the flexible options offered in the Pinwheel Store Tool. You can: Offer products with multiple attributes like size, color, and/or gender. Restrict certain products to specific event categories; for example, sell "26.2 Mile Warrior" t-shirts only to marathon participants, while keeping them unavailable to the 5K registrants. Allow customization, such as adding names to race bibs, jerseys, or yard signs. Require a merchandise purchase with event registration, for instance, bundling gala tickets with dinner packages. Offer upgrades, such as premium materials for t-shirts (cotton vs. technical fabric). Sell items at either the participant or transaction level - participant-level sales enable personalized selections like T-shirt sizes or meal choices for each registrant, while transaction-level sales allow quick and easy purchases of any item. Manage Limited Quantities Do you have a limited number of items, such as 50 exclusive tote bags or 10 signed posters? No problem. The Store Inventory Tool lets you set quantity limits, so you can: Avoid overselling. Automatically track remaining inventory. Create urgency for buyers to act quickly. Clear Out Leftover Inventory Left with extra items from previous events? Turn them into revenue by listing them in the current event or campaign’s store, using the inventory tool to manage available quantities. Not only does this help clear inventory and generate sales, but it also provides additional opportunities for participants and volunteers to support your cause. If you have questions about how to set up the tool, contact our team to get started, or visit the Pinwheel Help Center.  Happy selling!

Fundraising success is not just about raising money—it’s about cultivating relationships, tracking impact, and building a sustainable donor base. At Pinwheel, we know that behind every dollar is a story, a connection, and an opportunity to make a difference. That’s why we built our donor dashboards to be a game-changer for nonprofits of all sizes. A Comprehensive View of Donation Activity Pinwheel’s donor dashboards provide a holistic view of fundraising activities, eliminating the need to juggle spreadsheets or switching between disjointed systems. With 30+ interactive graphs and grids, our dashboards consolidate donor data in one place, offering insights that empower your organization to grow. Here’s what you can do: Track Donation Activity : Instantly analyze donations by source, type, and time period. Uncover trends in donation amounts and transactions across weeks, months, or years. Monitor Donor Behavior : Understand donor engagement through adjustable time frame snapshots, retention rates, and geographic trends. Focus on Priority Donors : Identify top contributors, recurring and repeat givers, first-time supporters, and volunteers who also donate. Optimize Peer-to-Peer Fundraising : Evaluate the performance of fundraising ambassadors by tracking who’s raising the most money, attracting the most donors, and achieving the highest average gift sizes. Measure Year-to-Date Performance : Assess progress against calendar or fiscal year goals. Compare metrics such as donor count, total donations, and average gift size year-over-year or over custom timeframes. With this data at your fingertips, you can make data-driven decisions about how to grow your donations and donor base. Individual and Organization Donor Dashboards Understanding donor commitment is key to building lasting relationships. Pinwheel’s dashboards for individual and organizational donors give you access to essential data points, including: Most recent, average, first, and largest donations Total amounts and number of donations over time Recurring donation activity and matching gift details Individualized donor profile reports “Thank you” tracking tools to ensure donors feel appreciated This level of insight helps you personalize outreach and build deeper connections with your supporters. Powerful Donor Segmentation Our Donor Segmentation feature is one of the most impactful tools in Pinwheel’s Donor Module. It allows you to filter donor lists using numerous combinations, such as: Donation amounts and volume Event participation Person and volunteer roles Custom tags and donor types Once you’ve segmented an audience, you can export the list to an Email Marketing Group for targeted communication. Whether you’re reaching out to major donors, re-engaging lapsed supporters, or inviting volunteers who also donate to a fundraising event, segmentation allows you to create specific messages that target each audience. Reporting Reporting doesn’t have to be a chore. With Pinwheel, you can generate polished, professional reports in just one click. Share key metrics with your board and team members to highlight progress and identify opportunities for growth. Why Nonprofits Love Pinwheel’s Donor Dashboards Organizations using Pinwheel report significant time savings and improved donor engagement. Here’s what sets us apart: Ease of use: Our intuitive interface means you don’t need to be a data expert to get the insights you need. Integration: Pinwheel’s dashboards combine data from fundraisers, events, and recruitment campaigns, creating a unified system for managing your fundraising goals. Targeted Communication : Use the built-in Email Marketing tools to reach specific donor segments with personalized messages. Ready to See the Difference? At Pinwheel, we believe technology should make your job easier, not harder. Our donor dashboards are designed to empower nonprofits to focus on what truly matters: making an impact. If you have not already signed up for the Donor Module and would like to learn more, schedule a demo today . Let’s build stronger relationships, achieve bigger goals, and create lasting change together! Happy fundraising!

At Pinwheel.us, we are committed to keeping our users informed about important legislation that can affect operations. One such piece of legislation is California Senate Bill 478 (SB 478) , which has introduced significant changes to the way event registrations are handled in the state. What is California SB 478? California SB 478, also known as the Honest Pricing Law, took effect on July 1, 2024. This law aims to enhance transparency and accountability in pricing by requiring organizations to disclose all processing fees associated with event registrations upfront. This ensures participants have a clear understanding of the total costs before they commit. Specifically, organizations must clearly display any fees wherever pricing information is referenced. How Pinwheel Supports Compliance To help our users comply with SB 478, Pinwheel has implemented a feature that supports fee transparency. If your account is based in California, the display of processing fees is automatically enabled. For users outside California who market to participants in the state, compliance is also necessary and just a few clicks away: Open Account Settings . Navigate to Registration Settings . Turn on the “Automatically show processing fees in all price displays” toggle. Once enabled, processing fees will be added to all pricing displayed in the following areas of the event registration process: Information Page Information Panel Participant Summary Page Store Page Donation Page Organizations Can Cover the Fees Without Displaying Them Events can still opt to have processing fees absorbed by the organization, eliminating the need to disclose these fees as part of the registration cost. Comprehensive Marketing Compliance Beyond registration forms, organizations must ensure that all references to pricing—including those on websites, social media campaigns, blog posts, email marketing campaigns, and other promotional materials—reflect the processing fees. This requirement helps maintain consistency and transparency across all consumer-facing materials. Potential Nationwide Impact Although SB 478 is currently a California-specific law, a similar federal law has already passed the House with bipartisan support and is now awaiting Senate approval. If enacted, this could establish nationwide requirements for processing fee disclosures, further emphasizing the importance of transparent pricing. Conclusion California SB 478 brings important changes to event registration, prioritizing transparency and accountability. Pinwheel.us is here to help you stay compliant with these updates while building trust with your participants. If you have questions, our team is ready to assist. Let’s ensure your events succeed in this evolving regulatory landscape!

Kickstart the Year with Impactful Text Messaging As the year kicks off and new events and recruitment campaigns are getting set up, it’s important to include clear questions asking participants and volunteers for consent to receive text messages from your organization. In a previous blog post, we discussed how Pinwheel’s Bulk Text Messaging feature helps organizations connect with audiences quickly and effectively. Now, we’re excited to share specific text message examples tailored for sites, volunteers, caregivers, event participants, and donors, to help you discover new and impactful ways to use the Texting tool. Examples of Effective Text Messaging For Afterschool Program Sites: The new Run To Give Back season is almost here! Don't forget to renew your site for the 2025 program. Register here: www.yourwebsite.org. For Volunteers: Hi from Run To Give Back! Are you planning to volunteer this season? Reply "Yes" to receive the sign-up link. Reply "No" to be contacted for a future season. Don’t forget – volunteer training is tomorrow night at 6:00 PM at 600 K Street. Dinner will be provided. See you then! Team supply pickup is next week at 500 J Street. Tues 10 to 5, Weds 11 to 6. See you then! Golf Tournament volunteers – thank you for helping us tomorrow! Please arrive at the course at 8:00 AM with your volunteer shirt on. Check your email for details. For Caregivers: Stoneridge Elementary practice is CANCELLED for today! Please check your email for more info. We apologize for any inconvenience! Summer Camp registration closes tomorrow! Sign up today! www.yourwebsite.org For Event Participants: Reminder! Don’t forget The Giving Gala is next Saturday at 6:00 PM. We can’t wait to see you there! Visit www.yourwebsite.org to get tickets! URGENT - the 5K has been cancelled because of severe weather in the area. Check our website for details and a rescheduled date! Thank you for making our event fun and special! Tag us in photos at #runtogiveback & please consider helping refill our scholarship fund: www.yourwebsite.org We’d love your feedback! Please take a moment to complete a survey about our season. [INSERT LINK] Thank you! For Donors: DOUBLE your impact for Run To Give Back! Donations up to $10,000 are matched on Giving Tuesday to support our mission. Donate here: www.yourwebsite.org Exciting news! Our annual fundraising campaign starts now! Join us in making a difference. Visit www.yourwebsite.org to donate! Real-World Insights from a Pinwheel User Jacqueline Weber, Development Director at Girls on the Run Northwest Indiana, shares her firsthand experience with the Pinwheel text messaging tool, highlighting its ability to be used for various audiences: "Texting is a great tool. Everyone checks and most importantly, reads their text messages. Emails have a much lower open and read rate. People can easily and quickly delete their emails without even glancing at it. Texting works for board members, volunteers, 5K participants, coaches, GOTR Grown-ups and more! We use it to send out reminders for 5K day, share our sponsor's coupon, reminders to sign up for the BAND app, complete a survey, lost & found items from the 5K, share 5K information in Spanish, recruit volunteers, and more!" Best Practices for Bulk Text Messaging Be clear and concise - text messages have a character limit, so make sure the message is clear and to the point. Include a call to action - encourage recipients to take action, whether it’s visiting a website, signing up for an event, or responding to a survey. Respect privacy - always ensure you have consent to contact recipients via text and provide an option to opt-out. Use short URLs - take advantage of Pinwheel's shortened URLS for events, campaigns and fundraisers (available on dashboards) to save characters, keep messages concise, and ensure links are easy to click. Monitor engagement - track response rates and engagement metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of your messaging strategy and make improvements as needed. If you have any questions about how to set up permission questions in events or campaigns, or how to use the Text Messaging Tool, please contact us at support@pinwheel.us. Happy texting!

Happy holidays from all of us at Pinwheel! As the year comes to a close, we want to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to our incredible customers. Your trust and partnership have made 2024 a year to remember, and we’re so thankful for the opportunity to support your events, fundraising, and volunteer efforts. Together, we’ve made a meaningful impact in our communities, and that’s something worth celebrating! The holiday season is a time for reflection, connection, and a little well-deserved rest. In that spirit, our team will be taking a brief pause to recharge and spend time with loved ones. Pinwheel will be closed from December 25, 2024, through January 1, 2025 . Our Help Desk will not be staffed during this period; however, our platform will remain fully operational, and we will be monitoring our support@pinwheel.us inbox for any issues that may require attention. We’ll return on January 2, 2025, refreshed and ready to help you achieve your goals in the new year. If you have any questions or need assistance before the break, don’t hesitate to reach out to our support team . We’re here to help you wrap up the year successfully! Thank you for being a part of the Pinwheel community. We wish you a joyful holiday season filled with warmth, happiness, and time spent with those who matter most. Here’s to an exciting and impactful 2025—together! Happy Holidays, The Pinwheel Team

In today's fast-paced world, effective communication is key to the success of any organization, especially when it comes to fundraising and event management. At Pinwheel.us, we understand the importance of reaching your audience quickly and efficiently, which is why we offer the powerful Bulk Text Messaging feature. What is Bulk Text Messaging? Bulk text messaging allows you to send a single message to multiple recipients simultaneously. This feature is invaluable for organizations looking to communicate important information, reminders, invitations, or updates to a large audience without the hassle of sending individual messages or relying on email. Benefits of Using Bulk Text Messaging Immediate Engagement : Text messages have a higher open rate than emails, meaning your audience is more likely to see communications in real-time. Cost-Effective : Compared to traditional marketing methods, bulk text messaging is a budget-friendly option for reaching supporters and stakeholders. Personalization : You can segment audiences based on specific criteria, ensuring messages are relevant and targeted. Ways to Use Bulk Text Messaging in Pinwheel.us Event Reminders and Updates – Keep attendees informed and engaged by sending reminders about upcoming events, including dates, times, and locations. Use bulk text messaging to notify participants of any last-minute changes or important updates, ensuring everyone stays in the loop. Fundraising Campaign Launches - When launching a new fundraising campaign, use bulk text messaging to generate excitement and encourage participation. Share links to your fundraising page and provide details on how supporters can get involved, making it easy for them to take action. Acknowledgment and Appreciation - Show gratitude by sending thank-you messages to event attendees. Bulk text messaging allows you to recognize their involvement and encourage ongoing support, fostering a sense of community and connection. Volunteer Coordination - Support volunteers by sending out messages about upcoming opportunities, shifts, or training sessions. This ensures that volunteers are well-informed and prepared, making your events run more smoothly. Emergency Notifications - In the event of an emergency or unforeseen circumstances affecting an event, bulk text messaging allows you to communicate critical information swiftly and efficiently. This allowed attendees to receive timely updates, helping to manage any potential disruptions. Conclusion Bulk text messaging is a powerful tool that can significantly enhance an organization’s communication efforts. With Pinwheel.us, you can easily reach your audience, keep them informed, and foster stronger connections with your supporters. Ready to start using bulk text messaging to boost your outreach? Click here to sign up. As always, we love hearing from you! Share your experiences and success stories with bulk text messaging and let us know how it has impacted your fundraising and event management efforts. In an upcoming blog post, we will share specific examples of text messages that your organization can send – stay tuned! Happy texting!

When it comes to event/program registrations, affordability can often be a significant barrier for participants. Whether it's for an after-school program, summer camp, or a sports tournament, the upfront cost might deter potential attendees. By offering flexible payment plans, you not only make events more accessible but also unlock a host of benefits for both participants and organizers. With after-school programs getting ready for new sessions at the beginning of the year, now is the time to consider adding payment plans to the registration. Here’s why incorporating payment plans into Pinwheel events is a game-changer: 1. Increased accessibility = higher participation: Payment plans reduce the financial burden of large, one-time payments. By allowing participants to pay in smaller, manageable installments, you open the doors to more people. Families, students, and individuals on tight budgets are more likely to commit when they have the option to spread out costs. For example, a participant who hesitated at a $200 fee may feel comfortable signing up for four $50 payments. This approach helps your program/event become more inclusive while ensuring no one misses out due to financial constraints. 2. Potential reduction in need for financial assistance: Offering payment plans can significantly reduce the demand for scholarships or financial assistance by providing a more manageable way to afford registration fees. Instead of requiring full upfront support, participants can spread costs over time, making the expense less overwhelming, and allowing organizations to allocate scholarship funds to those in greater need. 3. Improved cash flow for the organization: Offering payment plans doesn’t mean delaying revenue—it means stabilizing it. With multiple participants enrolled in staggered payment schedules, your organization enjoys a steady stream of funds leading up to the event or through the course of the program. 4. Lower dropout rates: When people commit to a payment plan, they’re more likely to follow through with attending the program or event. The psychological investment of paying in installments creates a sense of accountability. Participants feel more tied to the event, reducing the risk of cancellations or no-shows. 5. Streamlined administration with Pinwheel: Managing payment plans might seem daunting, but Pinwheel makes it easy. With our platform, you can: Set up flexible payment options directly in the registration process. Process payments in bulk based on due date, payment number, or event category. Easily track who has paid, when, and how much. This simplicity eliminates manual tracking and follow-ups, saving your team valuable time and effort. 6. Enhanced participant experience: A positive registration experience can lead to long-term loyalty. When attendees feel supported by flexible payment options, they’re more likely to associate your event—and organization—with trustworthiness and care. This goodwill can translate into repeat participants, word-of-mouth referrals, and a stronger sense of community. A success story: payment plans in action: Liz Mergenthaler, Operations Director with Girls on the Run St. Louis says, “Girls on the Run St. Louis has been using the Pinwheel Payment Plan processing tool for many years now. The payment plan tool gives us the flexibility to meet families where they are at, by offering multiple payment options and the ability to change payment dates as needed. Every season we have hundreds of participants register and use a payment plan, so the ability to process multiple payments at once with the updated bulk processing tool has increased our organizational efficiency greatly.” Summary By integrating payment plans into the registration process, you can remove barriers, engage more participants, and create a better financial and logistical experience for everyone involved. If you have questions about how to set up the tool, contact our team to get started, or visit the Pinwheel Help Center.

At Pinwheel.us, we’re committed to helping organizations maintain strong relationships with constituents. One of the ways we do this is through our Person Tag feature , a powerful tool designed to help you label, sort, and manage contacts efficiently. What Are Person Tags? Person Tags are customizable identifiers that allow you to group individuals based on specific attributes. Whether it’s categorizing donors by giving levels, segmenting volunteers by skills, or organizing event participants, Person Tags help create a more organized and targeted approach to stewardship and communication. How to Set Up Person Tags: Build Tags in Account Settings : Click the Gear icon in the upper right-hand corner of Pinwheel. In Person Tags, create tags that reflect the unique characteristics of your contacts, such as “10+ Year Volunteer,” “VIP,” or “2024 Gala.” Apply Tags to Individual Records: Once tags are set up, assign them to person records in the People Grid. This can be done either by clicking in the Tag column in the grid or by opening a person record and adding tags in the first tab. Multiple tags can be assigned to one person. Benefits of This Feature: Improved Organization: By categorizing contacts with tags, you can easily sort and analyze them. Use the Filter by Tags tool at the top of the People grid to filter the list. In addition, in Donors on the green menu, click Donor List and in the Donor Segementation tool, use the Person Tag filter. Targeted Communications: After filtering t he People Grid or Donor List. use Export to Mail Group to create an Email Marketing list. This not only saves time but also ensures you’re reaching the right people with the right messages. Want to send a tailored email to all “VIPs” who also donated to last year's Giving Tuesday fundraiser? No problem! This targeted approach leads to more effective communication and engagement. Enhanced Reporting and Insights: With the ability to group contacts using tags, you can gain deeper insights into donor behaviors and volunteer participation. Analyzing these patterns can inform future strategies and improve outreach efforts. Summary The Person Tags feature in Pinwheel is a game-changer for organizations looking to optimize outreach efforts. By leveraging this tool, you can enhance your communication strategy, foster deeper connections with your supporters, and ultimately drive greater impact. Ready to start using Person Tags? Log in to your Pinwheel account today and take your contact management to the next level! Interested in signing up for the Email Marketing Module? Click here. Need the Donor Management Module? Contact us at support@pinwheel.us for a demo. Stay tuned for more tips and insights on maximizing your use of Pinwheel, and feel free to share your success stories with us. We’d love to hear how Person Tags have helped your organization! Happy tagging!