Selfish Giving

SEPTEMBER 6, 2011

When I was a kid charity was for chumps. Despite the fact that my family, and most of our neighbors, got all types of government and public charity, we saw how carelessly and unevenly it was spread to the deserving and not so deserving. After church, where everyone put a buck or two in the basket, charity was sporadic and sometimes exploited. Every Labor Day weekend the neighborhood kids went door to door collecting money for the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon.

Governance 275

Governance Associations Marketing Marketing 275

Nonprofit Tech for Good

SEPTEMBER 26, 2011

Facebook has been making a flurry of changes to the functionality of Facebook Profiles, Facebook Pages, Facebook Community Pages, and Facebook Places Pages over the last two months. And though some individual users are upset over the changes, most of the them are good news for nonprofits. That said, technology is now constantly in flux. If the changes below leave you the least bit confused, then you may want to consider taking my upcoming Facebook and Facebook Apps webinars because you might not

Nonprofits 106

Nonprofits Universities Activism Education 106

Fundraising Coach

SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

Every other Tuesday, I send out my free email newsletter. I’m amazed that next year will be it’s tenth year in publication! I bet that makes it one of the oldest email newsletters in the industry. (10 years ago we called them “Ezines&# so this is still called The Extreme Fundraising Ezine !). Looking over this past year, I’ve sent out articles like: how to get donations through mobile phones. why fundraising is like a Waldorf salad. speaking tips for the theatrically timi

Fundraising 100

Fundraising Fundraising Public and Nonprofit Management Management 100

Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog

SEPTEMBER 29, 2011

Today at Shelter’s Edge , the blog by ASPCApro (for animal sheltering professionals and volunteers), they ask, “ Can we save more lives simply by taking better pictures? ” ASPCApro is considering whether or not to do formal research on this question, but the anecdotal evidence is pretty striking. Show us cute, in-focus photos of cats and dogs and they are more likely to get adopted than when we see out of focus, poorly posed photos of the very same animals.

Marketing 91

Marketing Marketing Nonprofits Communication 91

The Agitator

SEPTEMBER 5, 2011

I’m a BIG fan of Charity: Water. But then I saw this video, reporting on what they have accomplished to date and hope to achieve next. The 2011 September Campaign. Our 5-year-anniversary video from charity: water on Vimeo. The video itself is great. It tells an inspiring story about what average donors — raising money in every way from lemonade stands to birthday gifts to dance marathons — can help accomplish, and shows the concrete results in dramatic fashion.

Finance 88

Finance Governance Fundraising Fundraising 88

Fundraiser Ideas

SEPTEMBER 12, 2011

The goal of any college fundraiser should be to maximize both fun and profitability for your group. Because there are many stakeholders associated with any college fundraising event, when choosing among the many possible college fundraising ideas, simplicity is often the key to success; your group can achieve outstanding results with even the easiest, most basic ideas.

Fundraising 88

Fundraising Fundraising Food Activism 88

Selfish Giving

SEPTEMBER 12, 2011

You can use all the facts, figures and statistics you want, but unless you make an emotional connection with people they usually won’t give. If by chance they do, it will be go-away money. You’ll be as disappointed to receive it as they are reluctant to give it. Emotion is important to all types of fundraising, including cause marketing.

Disaster Relief 275

Disaster Relief Marketing Marketing Children 275

Fundraising Coach

SEPTEMBER 23, 2011

I am thrilled to announce that Blackbaud’s Frank Barry will be joining the 501 Mission Place hosts for September’s webinar. The webinar is about recent research that shows Social Media Increases Fundraising. And to celebrate our 501 Mission Place relaunch, we’re opening this webinar up to everyone! On Monday, September 26 at 1 p.m.

Fundraising 91

Fundraising Fundraising 91

Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog

SEPTEMBER 12, 2011

On Tuesday, September 13, I’m teaching a webinar called “ Making the Ask: Getting People to Give, Volunteer, and More &# where you’ll learn ways to avoid sabotaging your nonprofit’s communications with wimpy, confusing asks. Here are five frequent problems with the way nonprofits ask for support, whether it’s donating money or time or some other valuable. 1.

Nonprofits 81

Nonprofits Communication Marketing Marketing 81

The Agitator

SEPTEMBER 19, 2011

Our last two posts have talked about growing use of social nets amongst older cohorts. And while it’s great that nonprofits might be riding this wave to build ‘fan’ bases of one kind or another, the real challenge is to harness these fans, and the technology they’re getting comfortable with, to reach even more people. That is, converting fans into ambassadors.

Production 88

Production Technology Activism Marketing 88

Get Fully Funded

SEPTEMBER 28, 2011

Donor-based fundraising is a key to raising big money and it’s a critical factor in the Get Fully Funded system. Here’s a short video where I talk about donor-based fundraising.

Fundraising 77

Fundraising Fundraising 77

Selfish Giving

SEPTEMBER 26, 2011

Facebook made some interesting changes last week that may help evolve how nonprofits and businesses use Facebook “likes” for cause marketing. The change should shakeup how organizations weigh the meaning/worth of a Facebook “like.” All of us have seen Facebook cause marketing programs before. If you “like” the nonprofit’s (or sometimes the businesses’) page the company makes a donation to the nonprofit.

Marketing 267

Marketing Marketing Management Activism 267

Nonprofit Tech for Good

SEPTEMBER 6, 2011

Social Media for Social Good: A How-To Guide for Nonprofits is now fully released to the public in both print and digital format. You can now also “Look Inside!&# to preview the first 11 pages. For those new to e-books, it’s also worth noting that Amazon offers a suite of free Kindle Apps that allow you to download the book in digital format to most smartphones or tablets, or as a.PDF to a PC or Mac.

Education 102

Education Education Technology Nonprofits 102

Fundraising Coach

SEPTEMBER 18, 2011

Yesterday, I got an email from Red Box asking me to take a picture of myself hugging a Red Box. Hugging a huge DVD dispensing box. Why haven’t I done this with my nonprofit?! This is a simple tactic of creating buzz. And it’s really easy! If you’re Western Kentucky University , you could have a contest of alumni hugging red towels.

Universities 90

Universities Marketing Marketing Fundraising 90

Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog

SEPTEMBER 1, 2011

I originally wrote this article as a guest post on the Nonprofit Technology Network’s blog , but just realized I hadn’t shared it with you, so here it is! Your website is out there for all to see. You never know who’s going to end up visiting. So how can you create website content that all kinds of potential visitors will find interesting and engaging?

Food 80

Food Technology Marketing Marketing 80

The Agitator

SEPTEMBER 1, 2011

In what it spun as good news, the Association of Fundraising Professionals, in the latest report of its Fundraising Effectiveness Project, has released findings indicating that nonprofits lost fewer donors in 2010 than in 2009. Yeah, I guess that’s good news. But here’s the bottomline, as AFP reports it: For every $5.35 that organizations gained in gift dollars in 2010, $5.54 was lost through donor attrition, for an average net loss of -1.9 percent.

Retention 88

Retention Recruitment Associations Fundraising 88

Nonprofit Marketing Blog

SEPTEMBER 6, 2011

We usually say too much. It makes us less persuasive. We should not saddle people with the burden of becoming an expert on our topic before asking them to do something about it. A little information goes a long way, and too much can be counterproductive and unconvincing. The brilliant social psychologist Elliot Aronson has written about the dilution effect, which describes how neutral or irrelevant information can weaken people’s opinions or impressions.

76

76

Selfish Giving

SEPTEMBER 15, 2011

The gang over at For Momentum had a great post yesterday on a new cause marketing program that Better Homes and Gardens is launching on their website this fall. Of course, I’m a self-professed Halloween junkie (along with David Neff ) so I love stuff like this. Every fall, pumpkins and pumpkin stencils are the most popular content on BHG.com.

Marketing 260

Marketing Marketing Nonprofits 260

Nonprofit Tech for Good

SEPTEMBER 20, 2011

For all the buzz about new media in the nonprofit sector, it is somewhat surprising how few nonprofits have integrated their new media campaigns into one of the most important pages on their website – the “Thank You for Your Donation!” landing page. That is, the page your donors land on after making a donation. Donors pay a lot of attention to this page because it confirms their donation has been processed, so as we enter 2011 fundraising season, strategically adding some fresh conte

Fundraising 85

Fundraising Fundraising Nonprofits 85

Fundraising Coach

SEPTEMBER 15, 2011

Today, Joe Meehan pointed me toward’s the article in the Chronicle of Philanthropy about President Obama’s new bill limiting charitable deductions. As expected the outcry was fast and strong. At the risk of being a bit controversial: Who cares if deductions are limited? I mean, really. Are nonprofits just another special interest, complaining about government debt but crying foul when attempts at fiscal management impact us?

Nonprofit governance and management 90

Nonprofit governance and management Governance Philanthropy Management 90

Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog

SEPTEMBER 20, 2011

Kristina Leroux. I get this question so often, that I asked Kristina if she would re-post this tip she shared on her blog last week. She’s tailored this version to nonprofits for us. ~Kivi. Guest Post by Kristina Leroux. Before I get started, let’s establish a few definitions as I know Facebook terminology can be a little confusing. Your Facebook page is that thing on Facebook you set up for your nonprofit.

Health 79

Health Nonprofits Marketing Marketing 79

The Agitator

SEPTEMBER 6, 2011

OK wise guy … yes, it’s ‘writing wrongly’ But that doesn’t make for as intriguing a headline. Or so I thought. Last week, writing in Fundraising Success , Pamela Barden offered three wonderfully simple cautions regarding fundraising copy. I thought they deserved further airing now that we’re all back at our post-summer desks.

Communication 87

Communication Fundraising Fundraising Nonprofits 87

Getting Attention

SEPTEMBER 19, 2011

Thanks to guest blogger, Kimberlee Roth, one of our team’s valued writers. Kim has written for the Chicago Tribune and The Chronicle of Philanthropy among other publications, and provides writing and editing services to universities, health systems and other nonprofits. I harbor no ill will toward opening messages. In fact, I believe they can be an important component of a nonprofit’s annual report.

Universities 76

Universities Philanthropy Health Values 76

Selfish Giving

SEPTEMBER 20, 2011

Real success in cause marketing happens when you become a trusted advisor , a person who is sought out for his advice and support. This happened for me when companies started calling me between cause marketing programs for all sorts of cause marketing, social media and giving advice. I was happy to help them. Being a trusted advisor solidified and grew my relationship with these companies and led to new cause marketing opportunities.

Marketing 234

Marketing Marketing Communication 234

Nonprofit Tech for Good

SEPTEMBER 7, 2011

One in four Americans now access the Mobile Web daily, yet only a tiny fraction of nonprofits have a mobile website. I have been watching this trend for almost two years now and there’s seemingly been almost no progress in the use of mobile websites by the nonprofit sector in that time which at this point leaves me mostly baffled. The rise of QR Codes has helped some nonprofits understand the need for at least mobile-optimized web pages.

Technology 83

Technology Healthcare Children Medical 83

Fundraising Coach

SEPTEMBER 27, 2011

Let me say it for the record: board term limits are for a reason ! But they can feel hard to enforce, can’t they? There are two very real risks with board terms: The leaving board member will feel left out. Nobody likes it when people they care about feel left out. But here, this is probably inevitable. Anytime someone goes from “trusted inner circle” to treasured emeritus, they automatically leave regular communication channels.

Governance 84

Governance Communication Nonprofit Organizations Nonprofit Organizations 84

Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog

SEPTEMBER 14, 2011

I highly recommend that you subscribe to the Nonprofit Technology Network’s quarterly online journal, NTEN: Change. I’m on the editorial board, and it’s free. It’s written in plain English (i.e. for non-techies) to help nonprofit leaders make sound decisions about how they use and invest in technology. I’m reposting here a short article I wrote for the current edition on using technology to manage your editorial calendar.

Management 76

Management Communication Technology Marketing 76

The Agitator

SEPTEMBER 14, 2011

Pew Research is reporting strong usage of social networking sites by US online adults. Says Pew in its latest study : “Fully 65% of adult internet users now say they use a social networking site like MySpace, Facebook or LinkedIn, up from 61% one year ago. This marks the first time in Pew Internet surveys that 50% of all adults use social networking sites.&#.

Fundraising 86

Fundraising Fundraising Activism Communication 86

Mission Minded

SEPTEMBER 29, 2011

Nonprofit brands, like people, are only interesting if they talk about something besides themselves.

Nonprofits 98

Nonprofits Communication 98

Selfish Giving

SEPTEMBER 28, 2011

This is a guest post from my friend and fellow cause marketer Geri Stengel. Visit her website Ventureneer. LinkedIn is rising to the top of the social media heap when it comes to finding people, partners or causes. LinkedIn is basically a huge database with all sorts of information about people and organizations as well as who they know and what they care about.

Associations 203

Associations Education Education Values 203

Nonprofit Tech for Good

SEPTEMBER 8, 2011

Thanks to MobileCause , I have a new group text messaging service to explore and experiment with. I am not comfortable blogging about social media and mobile technology tools that I don’t have hands on experience with, and until now I have had to use free, ad-supported group texting services that frankly just weren’t good enough to advocate for.

Technology 81

Technology Nonprofits Communication Nonprofit Organizations 81

Fundraising Coach

SEPTEMBER 1, 2011

Cause Marketing For Dummies by Joe Waters & Joanna MacDonald As a development director and long time major gifts guy, cause marketing has always seemed to dilute philanthropic giving. Moreover, it always seemed reserved for the “big boys&# in cancer like the Jimmy Fund shorts that were played before the feature film at the theater I worked at in high school.

Marketing 73

Marketing Marketing Philanthropy Children 73

Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog

SEPTEMBER 26, 2011

I’m teaching a workshop in Toledo on Wednesday for the Center for Nonprofit Resources (a program of the Toledo Community Foundation) called 7 Steps to Better Email Fundraising and Communications. I’m looking forward to meeting the 50+ nonprofits signed up for the workshop. Here are the seven steps: 1. Acknowledge Trends in the Way People Consume Information Today.

Communication 76

Communication Fundraising Fundraising Education 76

The Agitator

SEPTEMBER 22, 2011

Given how much fundraising and communications fodder I try to collect in my online browsing, I don’t know how I managed to miss this list of ‘Top 12′ online fundraising platforms , as so appraised by Mashable.com. The list includes a brief description of benefits of each site for donors and nonprofits, with a representative screen shot.

Fundraising 81

Fundraising Fundraising Management Communication 81

Getting Attention

SEPTEMBER 14, 2011

Eureka! The sharp folks at Marketing Experiments have shared this crystal-clear matrix to help you determine how long your fundraising or marketing copy should be for greatest impact. As with all marketing “formulas,&# there’s a lot of “it depends&# here. But these are the three main elements that should guide the length of your copy, says researcher Bob Kemper: What’s motivating your reader.

Participation and motivation 73

Participation and motivation Associations Production Marketing 73

Selfish Giving

SEPTEMBER 19, 2011

The Six Figure Cause Marketing webinar – the most comprehensive and successful cause marketing training program on the market – begins October 4th from 1pm to 2pm EST. It’s a three-part program with sessions on October 6 and 11 at the same time. All the information you need about the program can be found here. This program will be hands-on, practical and each hour will be jam-packed with advice (All delivered with a bonafide Boston accent that will have you giggling for days.

Marketing 199

Marketing Marketing Retail Nonprofits 199

Nonprofit Tech for Good

SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

In the weeks after Google+ launched I saw a number of blog posts and articles about how brands should drop Facebook and Twitter, and migrate their communities over to Google+. My guess is that many of those bloggers and journalists have reconsidered now that the initial buzz and euphoria about Google+ has subsided (especially considering that the Google+ brand profiles haven’t even launched yet).

Nonprofits 77

Nonprofits Technology Education Education 77