Anne Field

For small nonprofits with limited resources, fundraising is an especially tough task. And in the current climate, where budget slashing is the new normal, driving giving is an even more formidable challenge than ever. Here are nine strategies to help ensure success.

Over the past several decades, Seventh Generation has grown from a fledgling pioneer of eco-conscious home-cleaning products to a significant player in the market. At the same time, the Unilever brand takes highly vocal and visible stands on such issues as climate change and chemical ingredient disclosure.

Petfluencers spark an instant connection with consumers and attract the kind of audiences that should make most marketers jealous. A growing number of brands are giving it a whirl, building marketing campaigns around these unconventional social media stars.

“Our purpose is to eliminate the idea of waste,” says Michael Waas, global VP of brand partnerships at TerraCycle. To date, more than 202 million people have helped to collect and recycle waste through the company’s 75 recycling programs in the U.S. and 250 programs in 21 other countries.

Working for a nonprofit isn’t for everyone, but it can be a deeply rewarding experience. Nonprofit leaders from Ducks Unlimited, the Metropolitan Opera, United Farm Workers of America, and the Smithsonian Institution share what attracted them to the industry and keeps them inspired.

Working to eliminate childhood hunger in America, No Kid Hungry launched a successful summer campaign to raise broad awareness of free meal programs for kids in need. Learn how the campaign came about, the challenges, the actions, and the results.

Alphas may be little in size, but their influence on their parents’ purchasing behavior is growing by leaps and bounds.

A strong commitment to making the world healthier has led to a successful partnership between SmartyPants Vitamins and the nonprofit Vitamin Angels.

A focus on niche subjects and unique customer experiences is helping indie bookshops in the fight to survive in the age of Amazon.

An ethical yarn and clothing business, Darn Good Yarn has achieved a social-purpose trifecta: repurposing waste, improving the livelihoods of struggling families in developing nations, and making a profit.

Influencers, it turns out, come in all different sizes. Nano influencers — those with followings that range from 1,000 to 5,000 people — are proving they can help brands in ways the mega influencers can’t.