A closeup photo of donation forms sitting untouched on a table while people socialize nearby.

The Fundraising Opportunities Nonprofits Sometimes Miss

May 16, 2026•2 min read

Earlier this week, I attended a nonprofit grants event for an organization I was involved with for many years. It was a wonderful evening celebrating the impact of grants being awarded to nonprofits serving women and girls in our community.

But as I drove home afterward with a friend, we found ourselves talking about something else entirely:

Missed fundraising opportunities.

Not major disasters. Just small moments where an organization could have:

made a clearer ask,
explained giving options better,
invited attendees to get involved,
or helped supporters understand how they could make a long-term impact.

It got me thinking about how often nonprofits unintentionally make giving harder than it needs to be.

Sometimes it happens at events. Sometimes in mailings, websites, social media posts, or donor outreach. Sometimes organizations are so worried about sounding “pushy” that they forget to actually ask.

And to be fair, fundraising is hard. Most nonprofit leaders and board members are trying to balance mission, budgets, programs, volunteers, and about 47 other responsibilities at the same time.

Still, I suspect many of us who have served on boards, attended events, donated, volunteered, or worked in the nonprofit world have witnessed moments where we quietly thought:

“Ooooh… they missed an opportunity there.”

So now I’m curious.

I’m gathering stories and observations for a possible future project about fundraising opportunities nonprofits often overlook.

Have you ever seen:

a missed opportunity at an event?
confusing donation messaging?
a nonprofit fail to follow up with donors?
a great idea they should have implemented?
an awkward fundraising moment?
a simple change that dramatically improved giving?

If so, I’d love to hear about it.

You can email me at [email protected] or send me a message privately. I may share general themes or anonymized examples later, but I would never publicly identify an organization or individual without permission.

Sometimes the best learning comes not just from successes, but from the moments that make us think:
“We could have done that better.”

Until next time, keep leading with passion and purpose. 💌 Have a question or want to share your thoughts? Email me at [email protected]. I’d love to hear from you.

Earlier blog posts available at https://501guide.com/blogpage

Michele Whetzel

Michele Whetzel has worked in the nonprofit arena for more than 20 years, also leveraging insights from the more than 60 nonprofit experts she interviewed to create her award-winning book So, You Want to Start a Nonprofit, Now What? She channels this collective knowledge to help startup and small nonprofits launch and continue on a successful path. Michele has founded multiple charitable organizations from the ground up and shares real-world lessons learned through that process in her bestselling follow-up book Nonprofit Setup Simplified, a practical guide to getting a 501(c)(3) set up and running efficiently and with confidence. She has served on more than a dozen boards in roles ranging from treasurer to board chair, and has led key committees including social, event, annual campaign, grant, and governance committees. Through her company Your 501 Guide Nonprofit Services (www.501Guide.com), Michele provides expert support to emerging and existing nonprofits. Her mission is to empower nonprofit founders and leaders with the tools, transparency, and ethical practices needed to build a lasting impact. In addition to her nonprofit work, Michele brings a background in editing and career services, where she has reviewed countless resumes and advised professionals at all stages of their careers. She often shares practical insights on professional communication, resume strategy, and career positioning – helping both nonprofit leaders and professionals present their experience with clarity and confidence.

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