The P2P Soapbox

Not too long ago, peer-to-peer fundraisers relied on letter-writing, phone calls, and pledge envelopes to raise money for their favorite causes. Now, we we have email, countless social media channels and mobile apps literally at our fingertips, making it even easier to fundraise. In theory, right? However, the latest technology alone isn't enough for successful peer-to-peer fundraising.  The most...

Have you ever stopped to question if your fundraising messaging is ethical? Despite our best intentions as professional fundraisers, it is crucial for us to recognize that certain traditional fundraising methods no longer hold up under scrutiny in 2023.  In our efforts to showcase the serious need for donations with often sad, evocative imagery, we run the risk of contributing to a negative stereo...

In 2014, every professional fundraiser was asked the same question - “What’s the next Ice Bucket Challenge?”  In the short term, this remarkably successful and straightforward viral campaign, which benefitted The ALS Association, sparked a surge of poorly conceived and unsustainable copycat campaigns, but in the long term, forced the industry into a state of evolution.  Innovation has consistently...

Despite raising over $1 billion in 2022, peer-to-peer fundraising often fails to receive the recognition it deserves in the world of development and even from the top leadership within nonprofit organizations. There is an ever-present notion that "Walks are dead," but these misguided voices fail to comprehend the true power of peer-to-peer fundraising.  In fact, peer-to-peer fundraising is the mos...

As peer-to-peer fundraising professionals, we are inherently passionate people. Passionate about our missions, our fundraisers, our events, our campaigns. We barely shy away from sharing our opinions. Whether it's the debate between back-to-basics, or searching for the next big idea, the battle of retention versus recruitment, or even our very strong feelings about T-shirts and registration fees....