Recent Posts

May 25, 2022
How To Dress For Your Family Portraits

What should you wear for a family portrait? Answering that question is, hands down, the most challenging part of having family photos taken.  It’s enough that you have to coordinate a whole family of outfits. But you also have to think about which colors look best on everyone and how each piece of clothing will […]

May 11, 2022
Proven Fundraising Ideas for Small Nonprofits — and How to Make Them Succeed

When you work for a small nonprofit, you don’t have time or money for a failed fundraiser. But sooner or later, most fundraising professionals experience that pain. Tireless hours spent crafting the perfect event or campaign only to barely break even — or worse. So today, we’re going to talk about some of the best […]

April 27, 2022
9 Adorable Ideas for Sibling Portraits

The sibling bond is like no other. Our siblings celebrate our victories and mourn our losses. They love us at our most vulnerable. And in our old age, they’ll be the only people in the world who can reminisce with us about our earliest years.  That’s why we love to take sibling portraits. They make […]

April 20, 2022
The People You Need on Your Fundraising Team

If you look at successful fundraisers, most have something key in common. They aren’t put on by one frazzled person, trying to do everything alone. They usually have a main coordinator and a team of other volunteers working together. Our teammates help us overcome fundraising fears. They help us think through the logistics. And ultimately, […]

March 23, 2022
How to Turn Your Easter Photoshoot into a Family Keepsake

Easter is coming, and with it, so are some of the sweetest photos of the year. Sadly, most of these photos will be forgotten shortly after they’re posted on social media. But with a few key tips, you can turn your Easter photos into family keepsakes. Here’s how to do it! 1. Dress Timelessly Most […]

March 7, 2022
How to Pitch a Knickerbockers Fundraiser to Your Group

If you’ve ever had to pick the fundraiser project for a group, you know it’s not just about finding the best program. You also have to convince your fellow group members that it’s the best.  Some will have anxieties from other fundraisers gone wrong. Some will have strong opinions about “the way we’ve always done […]

February 17, 2022
How a Knickerbockers Fundraiser Works, From Beginning to End

At Knickerbockers, we try to pack a ton of value into every fundraiser.  You sell certificates that entitle buyers to a studio portrait session and a package of prints. You keep 100% of certificate sales. Then, our photographers spend a weekend taking portraits of all your certificate holders. You and your helpers will receive free […]

February 14, 2022
6 Benefits to Indoor Family Portraits

When it comes to family photos, you might think your only option is to head outdoors. But an outdoor portrait comes with a host of challenges — lighting, weather, keeping the kids clean. And as beautiful as a sun-drenched wheat-field can be, it’s not as unique a setting as it was 10 years ago. An indoor […]

January 26, 2022
5 Fundraisers That Won’t Cost You a Dime

Is it possible to hold a fundraiser without fees? And if so, do these no-cost fundraisers actually raise any money? The answer is yes — and we’re going to share some of our favorites. But before you jump into one of these fundraisers, there are a couple of things you should keep in mind.First, any […]

January 24, 2022
Why Your Next Fundraiser Shouldn’t Intimidate You

What is it that makes running a fundraiser so intimidating?  Most of us have done them. Most of us have given to them. And yet, when it’s time to put on a fundraiser for your school, church or sports team, you might still feel a rush of anxiety.  I don’t want to be pushy, you […]

October 17, 2019
How to Expand your Reach on Limited Funds or Fewer Resources

Marketing is tough, and when you’re already trying to raise money, the last thing you want to do is spend more money for reach and access to new eyeballs. But you can’t always go back to the same well for more water, and if you’ve already tapped out your current followers and community and still […]

October 11, 2019
What Is Social Fundraising and Why You Should Take Advantage of It?

If you are looking to do any kind of fundraising for a non-profit organization, community group, or important cause you support this year, you are likely going to be reaching out to friends and family for their support. But how do you reach beyond your own network of contacts to spread something the viral way?  […]

September 18, 2019
How Fundraising Gets People Involved

Working in nonprofits and fundraising can sometimes feel isolating - especially because you feel like you are constantly fundraising and asking others for money. It can lead to a lot of doors shut in your face and otherwise good people hanging up on you mid-sentence. Without fundraising, though, your organization wouldn’t be able to put […]

September 10, 2019
5 Elements of a Successful Fundraiser

Successful fundraising is an art and a science, and just like in a lot of art, the science doesn’t always add up. In that regard, we can say definitively that fundraising is not math, though it does involve plenty of numbers.  All that is to say, fundraising is hard, and exponentially so without preparation. But […]

February 25, 2019
How to Make an Awesome Facebook Event Page for Your Portrait Fundraiser

When it comes to coordinating your portrait fundraiser, there are so many options for getting word out about it. While you should use the method(s) you feel most comfortable with, we highly recommend that a portion of your marketing efforts be devoted to social media! Why make an event page in the first place? Posting […]

January 28, 2019
5 Tips for Entertaining Kids at a Portrait Fundraiser

Whether you’re a Knickerbockers portrait fundraising coordinator or one of our awesome participants, there’s a lot to keep track of when it comes to the day of your fundraiser. From logistics and scheduling to keeping the photographers happy and making sure your family is camera-ready, things aren’t always smooth-sailing on portrait day! The reality is […]

January 14, 2019
The Full Lowdown on Who Can Host a Knickerbockers Portrait Fundraiser

You’ve landed here on this blog post and that tells us two things. One, you’re probably considering hosting a portrait fundraiser, and more importantly, two, you’re wondering if a portrait fundraiser is the best fit for you and your fundraising needs. It may seem obvious, but one of the most common questions we receive on […]

November 13, 2018
6 Tried & True Tips For Selling Your Portrait Certificates

Have you set big and exciting revenue goals for your portrait fundraiser? Can you envision yourself earning those large bonuses? Well, we certainly can and we want to ensure your dream becomes a reality. Below we’ve put together our most helpful tips for selling your certificates with ease! 1. Take Advantage of Local Advertising When […]

November 7, 2018
Promoting Your Fundraiser on Facebook: 4 Essentials

So, you’re in charge of planning a Knickerbockers fundraiser. Whether it’s your first or your fifth, selling tickets and “marketing” your event can sometimes feel like a scary task that you’d rather just put off while you hide under your covers and come up with a list of very “important” tasks to add to your […]

September 27, 2018
7 Tips to Successfully Spearhead Your First Fundraiser

One minute, you’re at a PTO meeting, the next, you’re volunteering to lead the group’s fall fundraiser. It happened so suddenly, you’re not sure whether you’re excited or overwhelmed. No matter how you feel about the project ahead of you, Knickerbockers has your back. Our experience helping group organizers like you makes us perfectly equipped […]

September 22, 2018
Why Storytelling is Central to Fundraising

TV series, books, films, newspapers, old family tales, conversations with our closest friends and strangers--our daily lives are filled with stories. In ancient times, people shared their stories orally and painted pictures on cave walls. Today, we dictate a story into our phone, the text magically appearing before our eyes. We can even video-call a […]

September 20, 2018
Crafting Your Donor Strategy: 4 Key Elements

No matter the size of your organization, there’s a treasure trove of wisdom to gain from understanding why people choose to give to a cause. Being passionate about your group’s message is a fantastic place to begin when attracting donors—which is just another word for anyone who contributes to your fundraiser—however, what most folks don’t […]

September 18, 2018
Top 5 Reasons To Host A Portrait Fundraiser

Are you and your organization tired of hosting the same old fundraiser year after year? Have you had enough of selling wrapping paper and buckets of cookie dough? Ready to throw that coupon book at the wall? Maybe you’re itching to try something new, but unsure if it’s worth the risk. Look no further; Knickerbockers […]

October 9, 2015
3 Examples Of Great Nonprofit Storytelling

If we asked you right now what your favorite movie is—don’t pause—what comes to mind? Did you feel that rush of excitement; the one that’s got you ready to defend your choice to the death?! That passion and joy is what happens when a great story sticks with you. It’s true for TV series, books, […]

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