--- title: "Fundraising Innovation: It's 2017. Time to Try Something New." description: "The time to try something new is here - as outlined in the Chronicle of Philanthropy's article: Why Innovation Matters." image: https://blog.swellfundraising.com/hubfs/ognameplate.jpg --- [Client Login](http://manage.swellgives.com) - [![Twittee](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/hubfs/Swellfundraising-Mar2017-Theme/Images/twitter_secondnav.svg)](https://twitter.com/swellfunds) - [![Facebook](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/hubfs/Swellfundraising-Mar2017-Theme/Images/facebook_secondnav.svg)](https://www.facebook.com/swellfundraising) - [![LinkedIn](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/hubfs/Swellfundraising-Mar2017-Theme/Images/linkedin_secondnav.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/3605977?trk=tyah&trkInfo=clickedVertical%3Acompany%2CclickedEntityId%3A3605977%2Cidx%3A2-1-2%2CtarId%3A1459363657085%2Ctas%3Aswell%20fund) [![Swell logo](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/hs-fs/hubfs/swell_just_website.png?width=144&name=swell_just_website.png "swell_just_website.png")](https://www.swellfundraising.com) # Blog ### Categories - [Fundraising (53)](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/topic/fundraising) - [Event Tips (52)](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/topic/event-tips) - [Event Tech (20)](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/topic/event-tech) - [Peer to Peer (7)](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/topic/peer-to-peer) - [Online Fundraising (6)](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/topic/online-fundraising) - [technology (5)](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/topic/technology) - [Junior Board (4)](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/topic/junior-board) - [Social Media (4)](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/topic/social-media) - [Event Ideas (3)](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/topic/event-ideas) - [Management (1)](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/topic/management) [See all](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/its-2017.-time-to-try-something-new#) # Fundraising Innovation: It's 2017. Time to Try Something New. Written by : ### [Maria Davis](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/author/maria-davis) Categories: [Fundraising](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/topic/fundraising) At Swell, a common phrase we hear when talking to nonprofits about fundraising software is “we’re not sure if our donors are ready for this”, and, as people who come from the nonprofit world, we get it. But as [this article from the Chronicle of Philanthropy](https://www.philanthropy.com/article/A-Survival-Guide-for/238784?cid=FEATUREDNAV) points out – the time to innovate in fundraising is here and instead of making excuses for donors, it’s your job as the nonprofit to get your donors there. [![ICYMI: How to Get Your Board on Board](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2276003/43841a4b-9608-4321-8dbf-6c3d3489ae37.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2276003/43841a4b-9608-4321-8dbf-6c3d3489ae37) Nicole Wallace, the author of the article in Chronicle of Philanthropy, sums up her point in one sentence:*“Growth for nonprofits, and even survival, will depend on experiments in fundraising.” *While we know that the word "experiment" can come with immediate limitations of time and money, we also recognize that with the explosion of technology and the rise of millennial donors, your fundraising execution should be just as current and relevant as your mission. Yes, it’s important to continue stewarding your major gift and planned giving donors, but it’s more critical to the longevity of your organization for you to try new ways to reach and steward younger donors. ***It may seem like you can’t afford to but, in truth, you can no longer afford not to.*** We’ve said this before but millennials are poised to gain the largest transfer of wealth in history. They are your future donors, and they’re not going to write you a check. How are you engaging them throughout the year? Later in the article, Sarah DiJulio, a principal at M+R asks, “Even if you run a Kickstarter or you do a little Giving Tuesday campaign…what are you offering people the rest of the year?” Millennials love to be a part of a group and to feel like they’re doing something good with their friends.Does your fundraising reflect that? You can make fundraising fun. We know it’s possible, because our clients do it (we even wrote about it).  [![ICYMI: The Future of Fundraising is Here](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2276003/62e99fd4-d725-4855-b2b5-483f812b9104.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2276003/62e99fd4-d725-4855-b2b5-483f812b9104) In this New Year, we challenge you to try something new. Take a risk on a new fundraising strategy. Implement a new piece of technology. Sure, it may take time to plan and accomplish, but the reward could be high. No matter what you decide to do – do something. ### [Maria Davis](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/author/maria-davis) [![Share on facebook](https://7528309.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/7528309/hubfs/raw_assets/public/mV0_d-web-default-modules_hubspot/img/facebook-color.png?width=24&name=facebook-color.png) ](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.swellfundraising.com%2Fits-2017.-time-to-try-something-new%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on linkedin](https://7528302.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/7528302/hubfs/raw_assets/public/mV0_d-web-default-modules_hubspot/img/linkedin-color.png?width=24&name=linkedin-color.png) ](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.swellfundraising.com%2Fits-2017.-time-to-try-something-new%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dlinkedin) [![Share on twitter](https://7528304.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/7528304/hubfs/raw_assets/public/mV0_d-web-default-modules_hubspot/img/twitter-color.png?width=24&name=twitter-color.png) ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.swellfundraising.com%2Fits-2017.-time-to-try-something-new%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.swellfundraising.com%2Fits-2017.-time-to-try-something-new%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=) [![Share on pinterest](https://7528311.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/7528311/hubfs/raw_assets/public/mV0_d-web-default-modules_hubspot/img/pinterest-color.png?width=24&name=pinterest-color.png) ](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.swellfundraising.com%2Fits-2017.-time-to-try-something-new%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dpinterest&media=) Brooke Battle Creating Personalized Donor Experiences at Your Events ## Why? A Personalized Donor Experience The difference between a forgettable gala and one that leads... [Read More ![Read More](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/hubfs/Swell_Fundraising_May_2016_Images/tile_arrow.svg) ![Read More](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/hubfs/Swell_Fundraising_May_2016_Images/tile_arrow_hovered.svg) ](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/creating-personalized-donor-experiences-at-your-events) Brooke Battle Why We Canceled the Auction at Our Nonprofit Fundraising Event *“Join us on November 2nd for our annual gala. Guests will enjoy cocktails, dinner, a silent...* [Read More ![Read More](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/hubfs/Swell_Fundraising_May_2016_Images/tile_arrow.svg) ![Read More](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/hubfs/Swell_Fundraising_May_2016_Images/tile_arrow_hovered.svg) ](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/why-we-canceled-the-auction-at-our-nonprofit-fundraising-event) Brooke Battle Peer to Peer Fundraising: A Nonprofit Guide to Fundraiser Communication Effective communication is the cornerstone of successful peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns. This... [Read More ![Read More](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/hubfs/Swell_Fundraising_May_2016_Images/tile_arrow.svg) ![Read More](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/hubfs/Swell_Fundraising_May_2016_Images/tile_arrow_hovered.svg) ](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/peer-to-peer-fundraising-a-nonprofit-guide-to-fundraiser-communication) - [**](http://www.facebook.com/swellfundraising) - [**](https://instagram.com/swellfundraising) - [**](https://www.linkedin.com/company/swellfundraising) Newsletter sign up form it’s fast and easy ```   ``` [About Us](https://www.swellfundraising.com/about) [Affiliate Program](https://go.swellfundraising.com/referral-program-channel-partners) [Bloomerang Integration ](https://go.swellfundraising.com/en/bloomerang-integration-1)         info@swellfundraising.com ### Recent Blog Posts   Copyright Swell Fundraising 2026 [Terms of use](https://www.swellfundraising.com/terms-and-conditions) | [Privacy policy](https://www.swellfundraising.com/policy) ** ![](https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/viewthroughconversion/877713489/?guid=ON&script=0) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Maria Davis", "url" : "https://blog.swellfundraising.com/author/maria-davis" }, "datePublished" : "2017-01-06T15:28:11.000Z", "headline" : "Fundraising Innovation: It's 2017. Time to Try Something New.", "image" : [ "https://blog.swellfundraising.com/hubfs/ognameplate.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.swellfundraising.com/its-2017.-time-to-try-something-new", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.swellfundraising.com/hubfs/SwellBrand/Swell%20Logos/Swell_SOLO_blue.png" }, "name" : "Swell Fundraising" } } ```