Selfish Giving
SEPTEMBER 4, 2013
'I’ve been reordering my Pinterest boards for cause marketing to make them more useful for you. You can read about these changes in my recent newsletter. If you’re not a subscriber, you can change that here. When you visit my boards you’ll see a bunch that begin with the hashtag #FWB. These are new boards for my next book Fundraising with Businesses: 40 New (and Improved!
Nonprofit Tech for Good
SEPTEMBER 10, 2013
'Thanks to Microsoft Citizenship Asia Pacific , I’ve had the great honor to present a series of online fundraising and social media trainings to over three hundred non-governmental organizations (NGOs) throughout Asia Pacific over the last three years. The experience has made me acutely aware that access to information about trends in nonprofit technology, online fundraising, and social media often does not reach small NGOs – especially those in rural areas.
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Fundraising Coach
SEPTEMBER 10, 2013
'Fall is upon us and that means year-end giving is right around the corner. If you haven’t written your year end appeals over the summer , then now is the time to get those done! As a broad generalization, I recommend sending a mailing: now (late Aug/early Sept). in mid-November. in mid-December. How to write fundraising letters. Jeff Brooks wrote a great post on how not to write fundraising letters.
The Agitator
SEPTEMBER 10, 2013
'Attention all you introverted marketer/fundraisers out there. You’re vindicated. It’s not true that you don’t like people. Or you’re a bunch of aloof nerds. OK, well some of you might be! Here from Max Kalehoff at OnlineSpin is a list of ten common attributes of introverted people that he believes should actually make them (us?) better marketers and fundraisers.
Nonprofit Marketing Blog
SEPTEMBER 5, 2013
'It’s no secret that mobile is quickly becoming the platform of choice for many, but these stats really drive the point home. Nonprofit marketers should heed these trends and factor mobile into their communication and fundraising strategies to effectively attract and connect with donors in the coming years. 56% of all American adults are now smartphone adopters.
Mission Minded
SEPTEMBER 27, 2013
'When they need a name change, our clients partner with us to guide them through the process. Changing a nonprofit’s name is one of the most invigorating efforts an organization’s leaders can undertake. When a name no longer serves your organization—or worse, leads to confusion—a change absolutely must be made. We understand that a name […].
Selfish Giving
SEPTEMBER 11, 2013
'I will never forget 9/11. I will never forget the people we lost on 9/11. I will never forget the people who died after 9/11 because of 9/11. In the past 12 years there hasn’t been a lot of cause marketing connected with September 11th. Maybe that’s a good thing. But, according to Cone’s Craig Bida , there’s no reason why cause marketing can’t be done well on 9/11.
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Fundraising Coach
SEPTEMBER 24, 2013
'Last week, I was at a meeting and heard a board member say: “Ask a man for advice, and he’ll give you money. Ask a man for money, and he’ll give you advice. Isn’t that the truth? Think about the times you as a board member or nonprofit employee told someone you were asking for money. How often does that person think they’re helping by giving you ideas for raising money instead of making a donation?
The Agitator
SEPTEMBER 5, 2013
'The other day blogger Jeff Brooks headlined a post … How to kill your fundraising. And the answer he gave was: Investing in brand. Well, I thought that was one of the most annoying things I had ever heard from Jeff (who I regard very highly). So I read on and discovered he was passing along the admonition of Sean Triner, another smart blogger.
Nonprofit Marketing Blog
SEPTEMBER 26, 2013
'In The Generosity Network , authors Jennifer McCrea and Jeffrey C. Walker stress that “[t]rue generosity is rooted in relatedness”. To be a better fundraiser and to unleash generosity you have to connect with people and build authentic relationships. Build your Generosity Network by taking action in these 5 areas: 1. Know Yourself. Your personal attitude toward money and giving can impact your ask and how you relate to donors. 2.
Getting Attention
SEPTEMBER 4, 2013
'Diana Nyad’s epic 110-mile uncaged swim ( video here ) from Cuba to Key West was a tremendous achievement. But even more remarkable than setting this record was 64-year-old Nyad’s perseverance in reaching her goal (this was her fifth attempt in 35 years). There’s so much nonprofit communicators like us can learn from her. Here are 6 vital lessons we can take from her experience: 1) Set ambitious but doable goals —You’ll never get where you want to go if you don’t have a
Selfish Giving
SEPTEMBER 9, 2013
'This is a guest post from Sandra Morris of CafeGive , a leader in creating and executing Facebook contests for nonprofits and businesses. After Facebook recently changed its rules on contests, I asked Sandra what the changes meant and if organizations should continue to use third-party applications for contests. Understanding the New Terms for Facebook Contests.
Nonprofit Tech for Good
SEPTEMBER 13, 2013
'Facebook now also recommends pages in the news feed, but only if your nonprofit has opted-in to have your page recommended. Until today page recommendations only occurred when individuals liked a page, but now recommendations are also given when individuals like a status update in the news feed. Facebook has not officially announced the new functionality, so it may only be a temporary upgrade and not for all users, but for however long the functionality exists ensuring that your page is optimiz
Care2
SEPTEMBER 21, 2013
'When Facebook launched hashtags many people questioned how useful this feature was going to be. Facebook assumed by rolling out hashtags, that organizational and brand pages using hashtags would receive increased exposure from other brands and organizations who were using the same hashtags. However, according to a new study by EdgeRank Checker posts with hashtags on Facebook don’t have as good reach as posts than those without.
The Agitator
SEPTEMBER 17, 2013
'An excellent review of the donor landscape in Canada has just been released by fundraising agency hjc and Blackbaud. The study profiles giving behavior across four generations — Civics, Boomers, Generation X and Generation Y — looking at giving amounts and future intentions, preferred channels, focus of giving, the works. Plus, here and there, some interesting comparisons with US and UK donors (who were similarly investigated in parallel research.
Nonprofit Marketing Blog
SEPTEMBER 18, 2013
'Pumpkin spice lattes are back and we’ve been experiencing cool, fall-like mornings here in DC, two signs that year-end fundraising season is almost here. It’s tempting to put off your planning for a few more weeks, but don’t give in to procrastination. Proper planning now is like insurance for a strong fundraising finish in 2013. Take a moment this week to assess your progress toward your year-end campaign plans.
Getting Attention
SEPTEMBER 17, 2013
'Post by Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. The crises of recent days—both person-made (the D.C. naval yard massacre) and natural disasters (flooding in Colorado)— highlight the delicacy of communicating effectively in the shadow of disaster. Crises like these emphasize the fragility of human life and daily life as we know it, so naturally send many of us into a personal tailspin, even if we’re not personally affected.
Selfish Giving
SEPTEMBER 30, 2013
'Today on the For Momentum Blog , I have a new post : Apple’s 5S, iOS 7 Has Plenty of Goodies for Cause Marketing. I think the most interesting feature of iOS 7 is iBeacon. iBeacon is “micro-location” because it’s designed to work in a physical location (like a store) with your phone – specifically your retail apps. With an iBeacon transmitter businesses can better interact with smartphone -toting consumers in and near their stores.
Nonprofit Tech for Good
SEPTEMBER 29, 2013
'The African Wildlife Foundation’s Annual Safari Sweepstakes promotion is as close as it gets to perfect. The design and branding is modern and mobile-optimized , visuals and call-to-action graphics are prioritized over text, and social media is integrated throughout the entire process of entering the sweepstakes. Not only by entering the contest may you win a trip of a lifetime, but by entering you can also study how the contest promotion and entry process can be applied to your own nonpr
Care2
SEPTEMBER 21, 2013
'Last week Blackbaud along with partners HJC, Sea Change Strategies, and Edge Research released findings from the 2013 Next Generation of Canadian Giving study. The study looked at the following: What are the preferred giving channels for Generation Y (18-32); Generation X (33-48); Baby Boomers (49-67); and Civics (68+) ? What are the preferred communications and engagement channels?
The Agitator
SEPTEMBER 26, 2013
'Mark Phillips of Bluefrog in the UK is one of the most insightful bloggers I read. He recently posted This is not a strategy. The title got my attention. I clicked and was delighted to see that his original source was Dilbert (actually Dogbert), a true fount of organizational knowledge. As Mark notes, here’s an approach not to follow … Here’s how Mark describes great fundraising, and I can’t improve upon his words: “It’s about.
Nonprofit Marketing Blog
SEPTEMBER 19, 2013
'We often talk about the way stories bring your mission to life for supporters and inspire donors to give. Storytelling champion Andy Goodman reminds us that stories can also work within our organizations to inspire and build stronger teams. In a recent Q&A with The Bridgespan Group, Goodman shares Why Nonprofits Need to Be Storytellers and offers three types of stories that can strengthen your cause from the inside.
Getting Attention
SEPTEMBER 25, 2013
'I had a real treat this past Monday, when I guided 400 smart and focused fundraisers to build their marketing skills at the Practical Planned Giving Conference (PPGC). Whenever I speak, on whatever topic in whatever format, I get one question more frequently than any other—What is the marketing magic bullet ? That may take the form of asking me what specific combination of emails, social, letters and face-to-face meetings works best, or what messages to feature in which campaigns, or how to get
Selfish Giving
SEPTEMBER 16, 2013
'My testimonial on the back of Bruce Burtch’s new book, Win-Win for the Greater Good , says it all: “America had Christopher Columbus, cause marketing has Bruce Burtch. A man of firsts like the great explorer, Bruce has been designing innovative, highly-successful cross-sector partnerships since 1975, Win-Win for the Greater Good will help you chart a course for success for your organization and for a better world.” That may say it all, but here are a few more reasons to pick
Nonprofit Tech for Good
SEPTEMBER 16, 2013
'Nonprofit Tech for Good offers a series of social and mobile media webinars ideal for training social and mobile media managers, communications and fundraising staff, and volunteers and interns. Each webinar has an individual price of $50, but through December 21, 2013 they will be offered at the following discounted rates: Buy 2 Webinars, Get 1 Free :: $100.
Care2
SEPTEMBER 12, 2013
'Dealing with tragedy is not just difficult for people on a personal level, but it’s also hard for nonprofits and brands that want to show their support without appearing opportunistic. Many organizations and brands wrestle with this every year when it comes to the anniversary of 9/11. Yesterday many organizations chose to post images and messages about 9/11 to their website, social media channels like Facebook and Twitter.
The Agitator
SEPTEMBER 15, 2013
'Think about it … we’d all rather hang around positive — versus negative — people. So why wouldn’t that apply to a nonprofit that’s looking to establish a donor relationship with you or me? Why would you expect a continuing barrage of negative, downer messages to make a donor look forward to your ‘visits’?!
Nonprofit Marketing Blog
SEPTEMBER 26, 2013
'Smart cookie Alia McKee of Sea Change Strategies shared some brilliant ideas on “breaking the fourth wall” for your donors. Here are her suggestions for sharing more personality and giving supporters a new perspective: —Create a candid “making of” video for a campaign you are launching. —Take a tip from Wikipedia and live broadcast the results of your campaigns and decisions you are making based on those results. —Develop a “Why I Do This Work” video series that sh
Getting Attention
SEPTEMBER 27, 2013
'Connect First. Hold your horses on channels. That’s what I urged the fundraisers at this week’s Practical Planned Giving Conference (PPGC) to do, even though the conference was all about multichannel marketing. Like you, I’m often pressured by bosses and boards of the our client orgs to go multichannel. I hear: How do we use all marketing channels best?
Selfish Giving
SEPTEMBER 25, 2013
'I’ve been a fan of the Rainforest Alliance since their famous “Follow the Frog” video in 2012. This year they’re back with another video. It’s not as good as last year’s, but it’s still fun and spot-on. The best thing about this campaign is that it’s super-easy. Just follow the frog. “The Rainforest Alliance’s little green frog is recognized by consumers worldwide as a symbol of sustainability and is an assurance that goods come from well-managed
iMarketSmart
SEPTEMBER 5, 2013
'If you aren’t truly involving your donors in what your organization does, you are missing out on the best way to build seriously deep connections. L.M. Montgomery was a famous author in the early 1900′s. Her novels were internationally renowned. She once said, “Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” This is so true.
Care2
SEPTEMBER 4, 2013
'I just voted for this SXSW session about B Corporations. If approved, one of its panelists will be Care2 founder Randy Paynter, who is a champion and pioneer of the B Corp movement. If anyone has a minute to go cast a vote, I''d appreciate it! The deadline is Friday.
The Agitator
SEPTEMBER 11, 2013
'Mastering ‘retention’ requires hard work: research, organization-wide involvement across departments, and a willingness to swim against the conventional currents in the Sea of Sameness that is drowning our sector. Unlike ‘acquisition’, fundraisers can’t just sign a purchase order for lists, printing, copywriters and consultants then hope for the best.
Nonprofit Marketing Blog
SEPTEMBER 16, 2013
'In the latest Fundraising is Beautiful podcast , fundraising veterans Jeff Brooks and Steven Screen answer the question, “How many appeals should you send?” They highlight the importance of not only the number of appeals you send, but what those appeals contain. Here are the two key elements: 1) Frequency: Nonprofits are often afraid to send too many appeals, but the more you send, the more you raise.
Getting Attention
SEPTEMBER 3, 2013
'Please post your nonprofit marketing position here for full-time or part-time staff, consulting or internship opportunities. New Opportunities. Assistant Vice President of Communications, National Academy Foundation (New York, NY). Associate Communications Manager , The Brady Campaign & Center to Prevent Gun Violence (Washington DC). Communications & Development Coordinator , CALICO.
Selfish Giving
SEPTEMBER 27, 2013
'Today’s my birthday! Nothing like being a day closer to 50! (Ok, I ‘m a few years from that, but I think about it a lot for some reason). Fortunately, I have my twin brother, Jeff, to keep me company for the ride. If you’re an email subscriber, I had some great gifts in my newsletter yesterday. I hope you took advantage of them. I’ll be sending out books in the next week or so, and notifying others about free consultations, webinars and gift cards.
iMarketSmart
SEPTEMBER 25, 2013
'I must be crazy to criticize Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon. After all, he built a multi-billion dollar company from scratch and I’m just a teeny-tiny entrepreneur trying to fundamentally change how major gifts (including planned gifts) get marketed. Here’s my critique and why I think it’s important enough to write about: Recently Jeff visited the Washington Post’s staff to explain why he bought their newspaper.
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