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The Ember Blog
Nonprofit tech, in plain language.
Honest, practical guidance on the tools nonprofits actually use, AI, software, and keeping your data safe. No hype, no jargon, and we'll tell you when the best answer isn't us.
Kindling: practical ideas on AI and digital strategy for nonprofits
Ember studies: what we found in public data
- October 6, 2026Volunteers not showing up? Seven fixes to try, in orderVolunteers not showing up? Seven fixes for no-shows and last-minute cancellations, in the order to try them, from the first reminder to the thank-you.
- September 29, 2026Nonprofit startup fees in 2026: what the 50-state data showsNonprofit startup fees in 2026 run $283 to $500 with Form 1023-EZ, and the IRS fee is most of it. See the fees due right after you file, and what changed.
- September 23, 2026Chasing the moneyWhen money is tight, it's tempting to reshape programs around whatever is funded. How mission drift creeps in, and how to fund the work and stay yourself.
- September 21, 2026The missed form that can cost your tax-exempt statusMiss one short IRS filing three years running and your nonprofit loses tax-exempt status automatically. The rule, the cost, and how to avoid it.
- September 18, 2026The board that doesn'tOn paper you have a board. In practice it may be friends who say yes to everything. How a real board provides oversight, raises money and outlasts you.
- September 16, 2026Running on emptyRunning out of money can end a nonprofit, but you can see it coming. How to build a financial runway and the fundraising habits behind it.
- September 14, 2026When the org is just youWhen one tired founder carries everything, the whole nonprofit is at risk. How to see it coming, and how to share the load.
- September 11, 20262026 charitable deduction: what to tell your donorsFrom 2026, donors who take the standard deduction can deduct up to $1,000 in cash gifts, or $2,000 jointly. What changed, and the line to add to your appeal.
- September 9, 2026GivingTuesday with a team of twoGivingTuesday 2026 is December 1. Here is a four-week plan a two-person nonprofit can run, with no agency and no matching gift.
- September 8, 2026The year-end giving calendar for nonprofitsOctober to January, week by week, for a nonprofit with no fundraising team. What to do, when, and what to leave out.
- September 4, 2026Volunteers on a spreadsheet: when it starts costing youA spreadsheet is a fine way to run a few volunteers, until it isn't. The signs you have outgrown it, and what to do next.
- September 2, 2026Nearly every nonprofit uses AI. Few see big gains.In a 2026 report, 92% of nonprofits surveyed used AI, but only 7% saw major gains. Where a small, busy team can get time back, and what to keep AI away from.
- August 31, 2026Free and cheap AI tools worth a nonprofit's timeFree and low-cost AI tools a nonprofit can use now: what each one does well, what to skip, and how to keep donor data safe.
- August 28, 2026Your nonprofit needs an AI policy: here's a simple oneA plain AI use policy template for nonprofits. Copy it, fill in the blanks, and bring it to your board this week.
- August 26, 2026Grant funding in 2026, and what to do about itA third of nonprofits had government funding disrupted in early 2025, and foundation grants got harder to win. What the research says, and what to do now.
- August 24, 2026Too many nonprofit tools: how to stop drowningToo many apps, and none of them talk to each other? Here's how to audit your nonprofit's tools, cut what you don't need, and get some calm back.
- August 21, 2026Spreadsheets vs software: when should a nonprofit switch?Spreadsheets are cheap and flexible, until they aren't. Here's how to tell when your nonprofit has outgrown them, and what to do next.
- August 19, 2026How to choose nonprofit software with no regretsHow to choose nonprofit tools you won't regret: seven checks before you buy, twelve questions to ask every vendor, and the contract terms to read first.
- August 17, 2026The lean tech stack for a nonprofit team of oneThe short list of tools a one-person or all-volunteer nonprofit actually needs, the categories that matter, and how to keep it cheap.
- August 14, 2026Keeping donor data safe when you don't have an IT departmentA donor data security checklist for nonprofits: five habits that close the easy ways in, and a simple plan. No IT team required.
- August 12, 2026Free software for nonprofits, and the discounts worth claimingFree software for nonprofits from Google, Microsoft, Canva and TechSoup, plus free tools that need no 501(c)(3). Who qualifies, and how to apply.
- August 10, 2026When a grant is not renewedWhat to do in the first two weeks after a funder does not renew your grant, while you keep serving the people who count on you.
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