- The Revenue Workshop by digitalCORE
- Posts
- Growth for Non-Profits
Growth for Non-Profits
Expansion of Followers and Donations While Maintaining Purpose. Post #27
Mort Greenberg
December 07, 2025
In Partnership with Boostr: The Purpose-built platform by media pros to power the future of ad sales
Good morning,
As the holidays roll in, let’s all take a moment to recognize our favorite non-profits. And from this newsletter, share some ideas on growth.
Like any company, every non-profit requires a growing audience. But today, attention is fragmented, competition for donor dollars is fierce, and algorithms reward consistency and creativity as much as they reward cause.
Whether you’re leading a Veteran Service Organization or any other type of non-profit, growth isn’t just about reaching more people; it’s about deepening connection and turning one-time supporters into lifelong advocates.
For Grant Writers and Event Coordinators, it means converting interest into contributions. For Development Directors and Major Gifts Officers, it means building systems that sustain engagement year-round. And for Executive Directors and Board Members, it means aligning visibility with mission, ensuring that every dollar raised goes further in delivering real change.
At its core, this workshop is about scaling belief by leveraging growth tactics, storytelling, and data insights to expand relationships and financial stability.
Turn to Best View Tables Below
DEFINITIONS
Term / Concept | Definition |
VSO (Veteran Service Organization) | A non-profit that provides services, advocacy, or support to veterans and their families. |
Donor Funnel | The progression from awareness to interest to engagement to donation and then to advocacy. |
LTV (Lifetime Value) | The total amount a donor is expected to give over their relationship with the organization. |
Engagement Rate | The measure of how actively followers interact with your content (likes, shares, comments, opens, clicks). |
Conversion Rate | The percentage of people who take a desired action, like donating, subscribing, or attending an event. |
Cause Marketing | Collaboration between for-profit brands and non-profits to drive awareness and fundraising. |
Community Flywheel | The self-sustaining cycle where engaged followers attract new supporters and repeat donors. |
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE
Question | Format | Answer Key |
1. What’s the most effective way to grow long-term donations? | A) More social ads B) Consistent storytelling and donor engagement C) Frequent one-time fundraising pushes D) Random partnerships | B |
2. True or False: The number of followers you have is more important than their level of engagement. | True/False | False, engagement drives donations, not follower count alone. |
3. What is one way to measure if your community growth is translating into real impact? | Short Answer | “Tracking how many new followers become first-time donors within 90 days.” |
DO’S AND DON’TS
Do’s | Don’ts |
Do share consistent, human-centered stories that show real impact. | Don’t focus only on organizational updates or internal milestones. |
Do track data and use analytics to guide where you invest time and budget. | Don’t rely solely on “hope marketing” or vanity metrics. |
Do build partnerships with like-minded brands and media to amplify reach. | Don’t overextend, stay aligned with your mission and values. |
THE WORKSHOP > 3 MODULES
MODULE 1: BUILDING A DIGITAL FOUNDATION FOR GROWTH
OBJECTIVE: Learn how to establish a clear, scalable online presence that attracts, engages, and converts supporters.
EXERCISE: BUILD YOUR SOCIAL GROWTH SNAPSHOT
Platform | Followers (Start) | Followers (90 Days) | Engagement Rate | Key Driver |
5,000 | 7,800 | 6.2% | Story-driven reels | |
2,000 | 3,400 | 5.5% | Veteran-focused career content | |
Email List | 8,500 | 10,200 | 41% open rate | “Mission Monday” updates |
TIPS
Prioritize quality engagement over follower volume.
Post stories that show faces, not logos, emotion drives shares.
Repurpose content across platforms to maintain consistency.
CASE STUDY: A mid-sized Veteran Service Organization (VSO) revamped its digital storytelling strategy, posting 3x weekly using a “face-first” approach featuring veterans impacted by their programs. Engagement rose 47%, and monthly donations doubled in six months.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Question | Answer |
1. Why does consistency matter more than virality? | It builds trust and predictability for your audience. |
2. What’s the best way to humanize your content? | Feature real stories and outcomes from your community. |
3. How should you handle low engagement early on? | Treat it as data, test, learn, and adjust content strategy. |
MODULE 2: CONVERTING ENGAGEMENT INTO DONATIONS
OBJECTIVE: Learn to move followers from awareness to action using compelling storytelling, clear calls to action, and strategic timing.
EXAMPLE: BUILD YOUR DONOR FUNNEL METRICS
Stage | Metric | Conversion Rate | Improvement Tactic |
Awareness to Interest | Email opt-ins | 25% | Create mission-based lead magnets |
Interest to Engagement | Event signups | 40% | Use social proof (testimonials, videos) |
Engagement to Donation | First-time donor | 18% | Simplify checkout and recurring options |
TIPS
Use emotional storytelling followed by specific, actionable asks.
Highlight impact metrics, “$25 helps a veteran attend one therapy session.”
Use recurring giving options (monthly donors) to build predictable revenue.
CASE STUDY: A non-profit serving military families ran a campaign where each story focused on a single family’s housing journey. Donations rose 62%, and 30% of donors opted into recurring monthly gifts.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Question | Answer |
1. What’s the simplest way to improve donation conversion? | Reduce friction in the giving process, fewer clicks, clearer value. |
2. Why is storytelling critical to fundraising? | It connects emotion to action, people give when they feel impact. |
3. How can you increase recurring donations? | Build trust, provide updates, and celebrate contributors regularly. |
MODULE 3: BUILDING COMMUNITY AND PARTNERSHIPS FOR SCALE
OBJECTIVE: Learn how to turn supporters, partners, and local media into an ecosystem that continuously grows reach and funding.
Partner Type | Collaboration | Reach Increase | Donation Impact |
Local Radio Station | Veteran Day Story Series | +35% | +22% |
Corporate Sponsor | Matching campaign | +40% | +75% |
University ROTC | Campus events | +50% student follows | +10% new donors |
TIPS
Seek partners who share your mission and audience values
Offer co-branded campaigns that give partners visibility and purpose.
Create “ambassador programs” to activate your most passionate supporters.
Ask for free / no charge media, just by asking you will get this most of the time.
IDEA FOR A CASE STUDY: If you are a regional VSO think about partnering with a local gym chain for a “Reps for Vets” campaign, combining physical challenges with fundraising. Try to get your effort to draw 1000 participants, and 300 new donors. How would this impact your annual digital reach?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Question | Answer |
1. Why are partnerships more valuable than ads? | They combine credibility, shared audience, and mutual mission. |
2. How do you keep partners engaged after one campaign? | Measure results, share success, and plan next steps together. |
3. What’s one way to empower your community to recruit others? | Launch a simple referral or ambassador program with clear rewards. |
Master The Full Lifecycle of Selling, Leading, and Running the Business of Revenue
PATH TO FLUENCY
Timeframe | Focus Area | Fluency Indicators | Manager KPI |
30 Days | Awareness | Understands social, donor, and content metrics | Increased engagement rates and audience insights |
60 Days | Application | Launches consistent content and donation campaigns | Rise in follower growth and first-time donors |
90 Days | Mastery | Builds partnerships and recurring donor ecosystem | Stable recurring revenue, measurable community growth |
RECOMMENDED READING
Title | Author | Year | Publisher |
Chip Heath & Dan Heath | 2007 | Random House | |
The Generosity Network: New Transformational Tools for Successful Fund-Raising | Jennifer McCrea & Jeffrey Walker | 2013 | Crown Publishing |
Mort Greenberg | 2025 | digitalCORE Publishing |
==
The Revenue Workshop isn’t theory. It’s a field-tested system used by real leaders, in real markets, under real pressure.
Each newsletter is based on one of over 300 workshops and worksheets found in the eight books of the RevenueVsSales.com and TheFocusedSeller.com book series.
We’d love your help growing the list. Please share with one person you think would benefit from the newsletter and ask them to sign up. Thank you!
To suggest workshops you’d like to read next, email [email protected]
Thank you for your time!
Click The Pic to Visit Amazon and Check Out Our Books (Thank you!)
Reply