Selfish Giving
SEPTEMBER 13, 2012
On today’s show, Megan and I talk to Jeff Freedman , Founder & CEO of Small Army & Small Army for a Cause. Jeff and his agency are behind Be Bold, Go Bald! , an effort that has supporters nationwide wearing bald caps to raise money for 25 local and national cancer organizations. Since its inception in 2009, participants have raised $500,000.
Fundraising Coach
SEPTEMBER 25, 2012
Studies continue to show that online giving is the fastest growing fundraising channel. But not every nonprofit is experiencing this stellar growth. The best way to grow online donations. So what’s the best way to grow online donations? A firm called Dunham+Company recently released a study that has counterintuitive results. The study says direct mail is a growing source for online gifts.
Nonprofit Tech for Good
SEPTEMBER 9, 2012
The 50 nonprofits listed below are tackling some of the most important economic, social and political issues of our time. They are active in our communities, in our schools, and have valuable knowledge and experience that our nation’s elected officials could learn from and be inspired by, and yet very few U.S. politicians follow any nonprofits on Twitter.
Get Fully Funded
SEPTEMBER 24, 2012
Did you know that most donors check out your website before they make a gift ?? And if your website doesn’t make a good first impression, you’ll lose the donor and the gift faster than you can say ‘goodbye online donation.’. Your website doesn’t have to be fancy. In fact, the simpler, the better. It just needs to look professional, clean, and inviting.
The Agitator
SEPTEMBER 23, 2012
All the great fundraising copywriters agree on one key piece of advice … construct a very clear archetypal image (demographically, psychographically, culturally) of the individual you are writing to, and then write as though you were speaking to that person face-to-face. Most fundraising copywriters these days probably have in their mind’s eye some version of a Baby Boomer (or older) as they contemplate their audience.
Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog
SEPTEMBER 13, 2012
Claire Meyerhoff. Last week Claire Meyerhoff shared her writing style icon with us and encouraged you to get your own. This week she is back with how to freshen up those boring old cliches. ~ Kivi. Guest Post by Claire Meyerhoff. Our nonprofit writing is filled with worn-out clichés like “make a difference,” “having an impact,” “building bridges,” and “critical programs.”.
Selfish Giving
SEPTEMBER 5, 2012
Massachusetts-based SCVNGR said last week that its mobile payment service, LevelUp , will allow users to donate their loyalty credits to one of five charities. Loyalty credits are what you earn when you use Levelup at a participating business. For example, if you spend $40 at a restaurant and use LevelUp to pay you could earn a $5 credit for your next visit.
Nonprofit Leadership Zone brings together the best content for advertising professionals from the widest variety of industry thought leaders.
Nonprofit Tech for Good
SEPTEMBER 16, 2012
@ NonprofitOrgs follows more than 120,000 nonprofits, nonprofit staff and nonprofit service providers. Now, of course it’s humanly impossible to follow the tweets of that many Twitter accounts, so to make the chaos manageable I organize my favorite nonprofits and those whose tweets consistently stand out from the rest into Twitter Lists. However, at least 10 times a day I go to my “Home” view and scan through hundreds of tweets hoping to find new nonprofits to retweet or list,
Nonprofit Marketing Blog
SEPTEMBER 12, 2012
Today I call your attention to a fantastic presentation by Google via SocialFish. It shows how consumers seamlessly shift among devices throughout the day - which is critical for those of us in nonprofit marketing and fundraising to understand. It is well worth your time and attention, so I’m including it in this post. Don’t have time to flip through the whole deck below?
The Agitator
SEPTEMBER 4, 2012
Each afternoon at around 2:30 the daily gem-filled missive from Jeff Brook’s Future Fundraising Now arrives in my e-mailbox. Part wit, part iconoclast, almost always spot on, Jeff is merciless on much of the foolishness – branding studies, focus groups, ‘creative’ advertising, laborious organization-centered copy – that destroys effective fundraising.
Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog
SEPTEMBER 18, 2012
On Friday, I taught a workshop called Social Media: Your On-Ramp to Future Fundraising at the annual conference of the North Carolina Center for Nonprofits. I’m sharing the deck with you here. Social Media: Your On-Ramp to Future Fundraising from Kivi Leroux Miller. While everyone wants to focus on peer-to-peer fundraising in social media, you can actually use social media to support your fundraising in many different ways, including the six ways we focused on.
Selfish Giving
SEPTEMBER 26, 2012
We have all these tools – computers, web sites, pinups, social networks, QR Codes, mobile technology – but we’re not sure how they work or what they’re for. Often times we expect them to do things they can’t do. A hammer doesn’t make a home. Its job is to pound in nail. It’s a tool. We need to set aside our tools and focus on what will truly build our success.
Fundraising Coach
SEPTEMBER 11, 2012
Yesterday, I sent my Fundraising Kick members 3 contrarian tips on writing successful fundraising letters. Here are three more tips that seem to go against what we’d expect. These tips come from an amazing new book by Jeff Brooks called The Fundraiser’s Guide to Irresistible Communications. I’ve been a fan of Jeff’s for almost ten years.
Nonprofit Tech for Good
SEPTEMBER 11, 2012
I wanted to give some encouragement to all the small and medium-sized nonprofits out there on the Social Web that tweet, share and post regularly with the hope of growing their communities and inspiring social good – some feedback I received last week from Line Storgaard-Conley, Director of Digital and Social Media Strategy at Safe Kids Worldwide : Remember back when you came to present at our conference in 2008 and told everyone that 5,000 fans was the magic number – that once we go
Nonprofit Marketing Blog
SEPTEMBER 4, 2012
Trying to save the world is tough work. You’re going to have low days, and you’re going to get cranky. At least I do. Plenty. So what do you do when you’re at your most drained? You give a little more. It sounds paradoxical, but that extra little generous bit sometimes fills you up - and recharges your batteries (to mix metaphors) - more than anything else can.
The Agitator
SEPTEMBER 4, 2012
Each afternoon at around 2:30 the daily gem-filled missive from Jeff Brook’s Future Fundraising Now arrives in my e-mailbox. Part wit, part iconoclast, almost always spot on, Jeff is merciless on much of the foolishness – branding studies, focus groups, ‘creative’ advertising, laborious organization-centered copy – that destroys effective fundraising.
Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog
SEPTEMBER 26, 2012
We often talk about nonprofit personality or brand, and how it’s more than just your logo and color palette. It’s also the style or voice or tone of your communications. But what does that mean exactly? If you were to look it up, you’d find some conflict among writers about the differences, but I like to think of it this way: Your Voice.
Selfish Giving
SEPTEMBER 28, 2012
This was a fun segment I did with HuffPost Live last night. It was great to join Beth Kanter and Jack Ucciferri in discussing Chase Communtiy Giving and corporate giving in general.… Keep reading.
Fundraising Coach
SEPTEMBER 21, 2012
If you’re like many nonprofits, you’ve sent a fall fundraising appeal this month and you plan on sending one towards the end of the year. You might want to reconsider that plan. NPR did a great piece on political direct mail. It’s definitely worth listening to, but here are two take-a-ways: It’s going to be noisy in the mail box.
Nonprofit Tech for Good
SEPTEMBER 17, 2012
Launched today, LinkedIn Board Connect for Nonprofit Organizations is a new board member recruiting program that enables nonprofits to easily tap into LinkedIn’s 175+ million strong network of professionals. With nonprofits needing to fill approximately two million empty board seats annually, LinkedIn Board Connect could be the missing link in helping nonprofits make board member recruitment a much easier and more rewrding process.
Nonprofit Marketing Blog
SEPTEMBER 25, 2012
Today, I want to pass on two really fun resources for your mission. 1. My hero Tiffany Shlain has created an amazing new two-minute film with free customized versions for nonprofits all over the world. Over the course of six months, she asked people from all over the world to send videos of themselves feeling their heartbeat and thinking about what it means.
The Agitator
SEPTEMBER 5, 2012
Stacy Guidice at Grizzard sent us these interesting stats on the extent to which first-time online gifts are driven by direct mail. Analysts at Grizzard matched first-time online gifts against mailing lists used in parallel for one of their clients, Rescue Missions. A median of 35% of first-time online gifts could be matched back to direct mail appeals — with highs of 62% and 60% in two cases.
Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog
SEPTEMBER 17, 2012
Last Tuesday, I presented a workshop on social media crisis communications for the Virginia Association of Fund Raising Executives and I’m sharing the deck with you here. Crisis Communications in Social Media for Nonprofits from Kivi Leroux Miller. We reviewed three different case studies from the American Red Cross, the Humane Society of the United States, and Komen for the Cure, pulling out dos and don’ts as we went along.
Selfish Giving
SEPTEMBER 12, 2012
Phillip Haid , founder and CEO of Public Inc. , knows how to run a successful pinup program. Case in point: he just raised nearly a million dollars with a pinup program at Canada’s Winners and HomeSense stores for the Sunshine Foundation. That’s $300,000 more than they raised the year before without his help. I asked Phillip what made this campaign so successful. 1. ”We tried to take some of the pressure off of the sales associate by prompting the opportunity to Spread a Litt
Fundraising Coach
SEPTEMBER 7, 2012
A few months ago, my colleague Pamela Grow released a new book specifically for nonprofits with a “one person” fundraising shop. This isn’t just theory for her, she actually has been successful as a one person shop. So, since I love small shops-and even contributed a chapter to this book-I interviewed her about her approach. Here is some of the transcript of some that interview.
Nonprofit Tech for Good
SEPTEMBER 24, 2012
When nonprofits launch or consider launching a smartphone app, an iPhone app is usually their first choice with an Android app a distant second. Launching a third version of a smartphone app is extremely rare, but with the release of Windows 8 Pro on October 26 for desktop and tablets compatible with the design and functionality of the Windows Phone , nonprofits could very soon be adding a third option to their suite of smartphone apps.
Nonprofit Marketing Blog
SEPTEMBER 26, 2012
Are you feeding the hungry? Your nonprofit could win $6,000 this week. From September 24-29, SixDegrees.org —a charitable initiative of Kevin Bacon with Network for Good—is hosting 6 Days of Good for Hunger. This is a unique opportunity to raise money for your nonprofit and be eligible to win a $6,000 challenge grant from Kevin Bacon himself. Here’s how it works. 1.
The Agitator
SEPTEMBER 5, 2012
Stacy Guidice at Grizzard sent us these interesting stats on the extent to which first-time online gifts are driven by direct mail. Analysts at Grizzard matched first-time online gifts against mailing lists used in parallel for one of their clients, Rescue Missions. A median of 35% of first-time online gifts could be matched back to direct mail appeals — with highs of 62% and 60% in two cases.
Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog
SEPTEMBER 10, 2012
“Content is King,” they say. While that may be true, “they” don’t mention how hard it is trying to come up with fresh ideas that resonate with your readers. Inspiration can be hard to come by some days, but that’s where our Monthly Nonprofit Writing Prompts come in. Every month we send out an e-newsletter designed specifically to help you come up with ideas for your newsletter articles, blog posts and social network updates.
Selfish Giving
SEPTEMBER 4, 2012
Since I started writing Selfishgiving.com in December 2004, my site has undergone three redesigns. This latest is my fourth and the work of Kansas-based Mikhaela Craig and Boston’s Caitlin DiMare Oliver. The Kansas-Boston connection was a powerful one as these two gals have worked a lot together. I highly recommend both of them. I also recommend Headway Themes , the framework on which my WordPress blog is built.
Getting Attention
SEPTEMBER 11, 2012
Nothing is more important than communicating the right message to your network at the right place and time! And leveraging a news item or special day by connecting your organization’s issues to it (when relevant!) is a tried-and-true nonprofit marketing strategy with a strong ROI (return on investment). Take a look at these campaigns that piggyback on Valentine’s Day and Earth Day , powerful examples of organizations that link their work to their audiences’ open-minded moments.
Nonprofit Tech for Good
SEPTEMBER 5, 2012
The nine reports listed below are just a small sampling of the research available to nonprofits about online communications and fundraising, social media, and mobile technology. These reports are, however, some of the most valuable in terms of insight, useful and practical data, and how-to advice. Many of these reports are published on an annual basis, so please be sure to bookmark this post and I’ll keep the the list updated as new reports are released.
Nonprofit Marketing Blog
SEPTEMBER 27, 2012
I was very fortunate to hear the brand guru Allen Olivo speak at PayPal’s Insight event last week. Allen has led brand marketing at Apple, Amazon and Yahoo!, and he now heads the team tending to PayPal’s brand. For me, this was a bit like the local cello teacher (me) getting a lesson from Yo-Yo Ma (him). It was an experience to remember. I want to share his wisdom here, because I believe building great brands is one of our sector’s greatest weaknesses.
The Agitator
SEPTEMBER 20, 2012
Here via Ad Age are some tips from the neuroscientists at Nielsen Neurofocus on communicating to Boomers … you know, the people with 70% of the net worth in America. According to Neurofocus … Color Within the Lines: Boomers can have trouble processing visual presentations that are too complex, and fail to see stuff around the borders. Try Sound: Boomers are more likely to struggle retrieving words on the ‘tip of the tongue’, so brands should use mnemonic devices to aid me
Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog
SEPTEMBER 25, 2012
It’s time for another free webinar, and this time it’s our ever-popular “Three Stories Every Nonprofit Should Be Telling” on Wednesday, October 24. Space is limited, to reserve your spot now. This webinar will be our annual Nonprofit Marketing Guide community fundraiser for Positive Wellness Alliance (PWA), an organization that helps low-income people with HIV/AIDS in the rural part of North Carolina where I live.
Selfish Giving
SEPTEMBER 6, 2012
Today, Megan and I interview researcher Stefanie Robinson of North Carolina State University on a recent series of studies about consumer choice in cause marketing campaigns. We learn that giving consumers a choice is often (but not always) a good idea in cause campaigns, particularly when the consumers are collectivists (Don’t know what a collectivist is?
Sea Change Strategies
SEPTEMBER 24, 2012
Wait for it. Wait for it. Wait for it…. December fundraising planning has begun. And while this Virgo is all in favor for early and exhaustive planning (particularly for year-end when most organizations raise 50-60% of their online revenue), I’m concerned about a trend I’m seeing amongst my clients — premature solicitations. In the past week, four organizations I work with have independently suggested going out extraordinarily early with both offline and online end of year appeals arguing
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