It’s time for reflection as the year swiftly approaches its end. Did you meet your goals? Was it a standout year or one you’re ready to forget?
Our blog has been on its own retrospective journey, digging into last year’s data to see if we were successful in what we set out to do here: helping make you better at planned giving.
And…we’re feeling pretty good. You, amazing reader, were one of the 35,750 visitors to the site, clocking in over 56,000 views so far in 2023. You got to learn from some new voices this year. Kasi taught you how to talk about death, Jana made you cry, Kit dug into research on boomers (so you didn’t have to), Jen helped you plan, and Renee shared a naming challenge that resulted in record-high results.
Curious about the hot topics that got everyone reading? If you missed a post, here’s your chance to catch up on what captivated your fellow professionals.
Winning Blog Posts of 2023
It’s no surprise that 5 of the top-6-most-read blogs this year are of a technical nature, authored by Lynn M. Gaumer, JD. Lynn is the trusted go-to resource when it comes to news from Washington, CGA rate changes, charitable giving news, and any technical aspect of planned giving (which is why she’s our senior gift planning consultant).
If you missed them (unlikely), here they are:
- Giving USA 2023: Inside the Numbers and A Look Ahead
- And The Winner is: The Award For Best Planned Gift of 2023 Goes To…
- Special Update: Gift Annuity Rates Are Going Up After All
- Charitable Gift Annuities: Which Funding Option Is Best for Your Donor?
- Special Update: Final Regulations for New Mortality Tables Are Here
Rounding out the top-10-most-read blogs are ones that helped you keep on top of trends, plan your outreach for Estate Planning Awareness Week and other important days, and engage your donors in a way that inspires them to act.
- The Future of Fundraising: 3 Trends That Will Impact Nonprofits in 2023
- Don’t Miss This: Estate Planning Awareness Week Is October 16-22
- Start Planning Now: 6 Days For Nonprofits to Connect With Supporters on Social Media
- Inspire Donors to Leave Planned Gifts With This Powerful Tool
- 4 Strategies for Creating Emails Your Donors Will Read and Act On
What About the…Ahem…Losers?
It’s natural to point out the blogs that did the best—but what about the others—the ones that fell closer to the bottom of the readership list? Are they just clunkers? We don’t think so. Perhaps they came out at a particularly busy time of year, or the title didn’t grab you.
Here are 4 we think you should give another chance:
- The Art of Listening and Probing: Building Stronger Donor Relationships (Part 3, Plus A Free Download!)
- Join the Club: Taking the DEI Journey Together
- Mental Health at Work: 5 Ways to Support Your Employees’ Wellness
- Reigniting Donor Confidence: Does Higher Ed Need a PR Boost?
Help Us Help You
We’ve just got one more blog left in 2023 and then it’s time to start all over again in 2024. I’d love your help! What topics do you want to learn more about? Who do you want to hear from? What should we stop wasting our time on? Let us know in the comments below. This blog is for YOU, so help us make sure it’s worth your time.