Selfish Giving

SEPTEMBER 20, 2010

One of the conclusions that can be drawn from the 2010 Cause Evolution Study is that at no point in the history of cause marketing has there been a better time than now for local causes and companies to work together on point-of-sale and cause-related products. Here are the reasons why. Americans want MORE cause marketing. 83%. That’s the number of Americans that wish more of the products, services and retailers they used would support causes.

Marketing 257

Marketing Marketing Retail Production 257

Fundraising Coach

SEPTEMBER 8, 2010

Frank recently came out with a report on nonprofits and social media. He definitely “gets&# social media and nonprofits! So I asked him to do a guest blog post for FundraisingCoach.com. Here it is! By Frank Barry , manager of professional services at Blackbaud and blogger at NetWits Think Tank. Frank helps nonprofits use the Internet for digital communication, social media, and fundraising so they can focus on making a true impact and achieving their mission.

Public and Nonprofit Management 101

Public and Nonprofit Management Foundations Collaborations Associations 101

Nonprofit Tech for Good

SEPTEMBER 20, 2010

Websites like Ustream.tv and Justin.tv allow individuals and brands to launch their own Web-based “TV&# channels. Currently, these channels can not easily be viewed on the digital TV sets in our living rooms, kitchens, and bedrooms, but it’s just a matter of time. Think about that for a second. Nonprofits will soon be broadcasting their own live TV programs to households around the world simply with a Ustream channel and a smartphone.

Technology 91

Technology Nonprofits Communication Management 91

The Agitator

SEPTEMBER 28, 2010

Target Analytics has just released its Index of National Fundraising Performance for the 12 months of activity through the 2 nd Quarter of 2010. With essentially flat revenue and donor growth from the first half of 2009 through the first half of 2010, there are still some rays of sunshine in an otherwise pretty dreary fundraising sky. Here’s a summary of Target Analytics report: Donor declines continued in the first half of 2010, but were smaller in magnitude than were in 2009, partly because of

Fundraising 89

Fundraising Fundraising Retention Healthcare 89

Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog

SEPTEMBER 1, 2010

This month at Nonprofit Marketing Guide, we presented a series of webinars aimed at helping you get more creative with your nonprofit communications, including using metaphors and humor. I heard from many people who want to guest blog for me, so you’ll see more creative ideas here in the coming months. For now, here is a roundup of some recent blog posts to get you thinking more creatively.

Non-Profits 75

Non-Profits Technology Culture Communication 75

Getting Attention

SEPTEMBER 28, 2010

Placido Domingo just resigned as the director of the Washington National Opera (WNO). That’s trouble for this cultural organization in flux and making it right has to go way beyond updating its logo. Understandably, the WNO has relied heavily on Domingo — a universal opera favorite with memorable voice, bearing and personality — to build its brand.

Culture 72

Culture Recruitment Universities Nonprofits 72

Selfish Giving

SEPTEMBER 9, 2010

The next Six Figure Cause Marketing program begins September 14th. Joanna and I are really excited for the next session! We got a lot of great feedback on the first session back in June and have crafted an even better program. If you’re still on the fence on whether to sign up or not, here are three reasons why you should get off it and join us on Tuesday.

Marketing 215

Marketing Marketing Advertising Leadership 215

Nonprofit Tech for Good

SEPTEMBER 14, 2010

The advent of the Mobile Web is slowly starting to permeate and transform nonprofit communications. Just like social media transformed the nonprofit sector and how it communicates with its supporters, so will the Mobile Web (even more so). The best new media managers, online community builders, bloggers, and activists will be connected and communicating with their supporters from anywhere, at any time when the need arises.

Management 88

Management Technology Nonprofits Food 88

The Agitator

SEPTEMBER 9, 2010

Fundraising giant Russ Reid has released an impressive bit of survey research on donor behavior and attitudes. Their findings square up exactly against our own DonorTrends research in many areas … The strong correlation between religion and giving (i.e., where religion appears more important in individual’s life, there’s a greater propensity to give, and to give more).

Retention 83

Retention Nonprofit Management Education Education 83

Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog

SEPTEMBER 10, 2010

I released a new free e-book this week called 25 Metaphors Nonprofits Can Use to Get Their Messages Across – and the Decrepit Dozen to Avoid. It’s the first in the new “Ideas for Nonprofit Writers&# series that I’m creating for you. This e-book will help you make complicated or foreign messages feel simple and familiar to your supporters by showing you how to use metaphors in your messaging.

Nonprofits 72

Nonprofits Marketing Marketing Communication 72

Care2

SEPTEMBER 12, 2010

No matter where you look, social media is on everyone’s radar. The big question nonprofits ask is, how useful is social media? In an attempt to help nonprofits answer that question, Idealware , in partnership with NOI , recently released " The Nonprofit Social Media Decision Guide.". According to Idealware’s survey of over 750 nonprofit staffers: Almost 80% "think" that they reach new supporters using Facebook, Twitter, video sharing sites like YouTube, and blogging.

Nonprofits 76

Nonprofits Communication Fundraising Fundraising 76

Selfish Giving

SEPTEMBER 23, 2010

Dating from 1634, the Boston Common is one of the oldest city parks in the country. And like our national parks it’s literally being loved to death and in desperate need of improvements and repairs. Boston’s ABC affiliate reported last week that there’s a movement afoot to allow corporate sponsorships on the Common. Boston Parks and Recreation supports the idea as does the neighborhood group that supports the Boston Common and nearby Public Gardens. “We have to find new w

Marketing 207

Marketing Marketing 207

Fundraising Coach

SEPTEMBER 3, 2010

What would you do if your nonprofit’s only web presence and online fundraising were in Facebook? I recently loaded Facebook but got this page. Apparently, Facebook was experiencing instability. While it still happens frequently with Twitter, this is rare in my experience of Facebook. But it serves as a good warning. Don’t limit your fundraising to Facebook.

Fundraising 75

Fundraising Fundraising Marketing Marketing 75

Nonprofit Tech for Good

SEPTEMBER 30, 2010

Using SwebApps.com , I quickly threw together and launched an iPhone App for Nonprofit Tech 2.0 in the fall of 2009. Once it was available in iTunes , I quickly moved on to other tasks and quite honesty, paid no attention to it for almost a year. Then when searching for “nonprofit&# Apps in iTunes last month, I was surprised to see that the Nonprofit Tech 2.0 App had been downloaded almost 1,000 times and came up rather high in iTunes “nonprofit&# search results.

Technology 68

Technology Nonprofits Marketing Marketing 68

The Agitator

SEPTEMBER 27, 2010

Every now and then we like to remind readers that email, not social media, is still the “top dog&# when it comes to nonprofit communications, especially fundraising. Here are some useful email tips from commercial online marketer Max Kalehoff. Define Goal & Strategy. Electrify Your Subject Line. Avoid Spammy Language (hopefully not a lot of nonprofits are using the word ‘Viagra’).

Activism 78

Activism Communication Marketing Marketing 78

Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog

SEPTEMBER 30, 2010

Yesterday I presented part of NTEN’s “ We are Media &# workshop at the annual conference of the North Carolina Center for Nonprofits , along with Holly Ross , Jordan Viator , and Ruby Sinreich. Here’s the slideshow, which gives you some quick tips on how to deal with the six most common concerns nonprofits have about using social media.

Culture 69

Culture Communication Marketing Marketing 69

Care2

SEPTEMBER 28, 2010

While nonprofit campaigners like to debate the merits of cause related marketing, according to the 2010 Cone Cause Evolution Study , American consumers are huge supporters of cause marketing campaigns. In fact, these types of campaigns even inspire a new group of supporters. According to the study, high-touch engagement, such as volunteerism is up 11%, advocacy is up 8% and philanthropy is up 9% since Cone’s last study in 2008.

Volunteerism 76

Volunteerism Volunteerism Retail Ethics 76

Selfish Giving

SEPTEMBER 15, 2010

Recently I spoke to a group of federal workers who are on loan to the Combined Federal Campaign , which was created by President Kennedy in 1961 and just last year raised close to $300 million. The main role of these loan execs is to visit federal offices to motivate employees to signup for CFC payroll deduction. I’ve been teaching this group public speaking skills for at least a decade.

Foundations 205

Foundations 205

Fundraising Coach

SEPTEMBER 28, 2010

When we start our nonprofit, we seem obsessed with is buying stationary and business cards. I think we feel these somehow show that we’re a legitimate organization. Good quality stationary is nice and can be a benefit. You definitely should look professional, but don’t waste your time and money by getting distracted by this at first. You’re usually most cash strapped when you’re starting out.

Fundraising 71

Fundraising Fundraising Nonprofits 71

Getting Attention

SEPTEMBER 21, 2010

A Cause Marketing Coup. If you’re a Target shopper and/or a Ben & Jerry’s (B&J) fan you probably know about Volunteer Match ‘s (VM) cause marketing coup. Back in June, B&J launched its Berry Voluntary and Brownie Chew Gooder flavors at Target (a long-time VM supporter), aiming to encourage local volunteering via VM’s Scoop it Forward program.

Marketing 65

Marketing Marketing Activism Fundraising 65

The Agitator

SEPTEMBER 21, 2010

Thanks to Joanne Fritz at About.com for alerting us to the latest report on cause marketing from Cone. Cause marketing is Cone’s specialty … they know their stuff. The 2010 Cone Cause Evolution Study notes that moms and Millenials (age 18-24) are the biggest believers in cause marketing. What I found interesting is that respondents would prefer that companies stake out their own long term commitments to particular causes or issues, rather than going through “you decide&# by vot

Marketing 75

Marketing Marketing Nonprofit Management Management 75

Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog

SEPTEMBER 13, 2010

I’m hearing some great stories from readers of The Nonprofit Marketing Guide: High-Impact, Low-Cost Ways to Build Support for Your Good Cause (Amazon link) and I want you to be able to hear and share them too. So, Claire Meyerhoff, our resident media relations pro, and I are turning our Magic Keys Radio and Podcast into a virtual book club meeting on the third Fridays for the rest of this year, starting this Friday.

Marketing 67

Marketing Marketing Public and Nonprofit Management Nonprofits 67

Sea Change Strategies

SEPTEMBER 8, 2010

I was privileged to help choose the finalists in the 2010 Getting Attention Nonprofit Tagline Awards. Now, you get to pick the winners! Place your vote today. The 70 tagline finalists have been culled from over 2,700 entries in 13 vertical sectors. These organizations have done a fantastic job in putting well-selected words to build their brands. Through voting, you’ll get a stronger sense of what makes messaging work and learn to assess how your organization’s taglines measure up.

Nonprofits 63

Nonprofits 63

Selfish Giving

SEPTEMBER 28, 2010

???? Sometimes it comes in dark navy twill with red stitching, red pocketing and a “Detroit 874″ logo. While I’m always in pursuit of gold, the dollars cause marketing can raise, cause marketing can also be in-kind. Work apparel maker Dickies new program for the Salvation Army of Metro Detroit is a great example of product cause marketing.

Marketing 201

Marketing Marketing Production Food 201

Fundraising Coach

SEPTEMBER 21, 2010

I asked Sandy Rees from GetFullyFunded.com to do this guest blog post. She wrote a great book on fundraising letters. If you haven’t thought of your year end appeal, read this post of her ideas & then create your strategy! And be sure to let us know in the comments what you’re doing to prepare for this! Just like the weather, fundraising has seasons.

Fundraising 65

Fundraising Fundraising Communication 65

Care2

SEPTEMBER 10, 2010

Happiness is a better indicator of philanthropy than wealth is. And we shouldn't be surprised. The Charity Aid Foundation , based in the UK, reported this finding in their first-ever study, called the World Giving Index. Released two days ago, they looked at 153 countries; the largest ever study of global charitable behavior, relying on data largely from Gallup's Worldview World Poll.

Philanthropy 68

Philanthropy Foundations Communication Fundraising 68

The Agitator

SEPTEMBER 13, 2010

Here from eMarketer is a fascinating discussion of what actually motivates individuals to “like&# a brand in social nets like Facebook. #1 for consumer brands, not surprisingly, is an interest in getting information about “deals.&#. But the #2 driver is simply self-expression … people simply want to express their support of a company or brand (or nonprofit) to other people.

Activism 75

Activism Values Communication Marketing 75

Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog

SEPTEMBER 28, 2010

Nancy Schwartz and I talked this morning about how nonprofits need to stop trying to reach out to the mythical “general public&# and instead focus on the specific groups of people who matter most to your success. We recorded our conversation for you. Nancy and I will be spending lots of time working closely with the organizations that attend our Total Focus Nonprofit Marketing Plan Workshops on this exact dilemma.

Marketing 62

Marketing Marketing Communication Nonprofits 62

Getting Attention

SEPTEMBER 23, 2010

I was honored to be among the folks that Network for Good asked to contribute innovative fundraising ideas to this inspiring new e-book, How to Make More Money Now. You know what the tried-and-trues are, and I’m sure you’re working them as hard as possible. But swallow this free guide (it’s a great, quick read) for ideas beyond the norm — ideas that you can use to wake up donors and prospects now.

Fundraising 61

Fundraising Fundraising Communication Nonprofits 61

Selfish Giving

SEPTEMBER 13, 2010

It took a fellow cause marketer, Clark Sweat , more than halfway across the country to call my attention to this story in my hometown newspaper on where Tom Brady got that Audi that was involved in a car crash last week. The buzz here in Boston was that Tom might have been a closet New York Jet s fan (the car had New Jersey plates). Fortunately, his loyalty to New England is still intact.

Marketing 200

Marketing Marketing Insurance Fundraising 200

Fundraising Coach

SEPTEMBER 30, 2010

How to use Wordle and LinkedIn to help your job searchTonight, Chris Brogan led a webinar on how to enhance your job search with social presence. He shared a ton of great info! You can see the tweets by searching the #hbwjobs. One of the ideas was using Wordle to see if your LinkedIn profile has the right keywords for the position you’re looking for.

Education 63

Education Education Leadership Fundraising 63

Get Fully Funded

SEPTEMBER 2, 2010

Many nonprofit staff and volunteers dream of the day when a donor will walk into their office and hand them a large check. But it’s only a dream because they don’t know how to find those donors, much less encourage them to give big money. So here’s the thing: it’s not rocket science. Identifying and cultivating major donors is actually fairly easy, once you know what to do.

Nonprofits 60

Nonprofits Fundraising Fundraising 60

The Agitator

SEPTEMBER 30, 2010

I was asked the other day which I thought was the most compelling fundraising website. My answer — and I respect we all have our idiosyncrasies — is Charity:Water. Why? 1. Very appealing graphically, clean as a whistle, one of the simplest nonprofit homepages (and design throughout) I’ve ever seen. 2. Very compelling use of images — especially video (and I’m talking vivid exceptional video you can’t stop watching) — and music to tell their story …

Fundraising 74

Fundraising Fundraising Construction Activism 74

Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog

SEPTEMBER 14, 2010

Think about your nonprofit’s newsletter. Does this sound familiar? You send it out 4-6 times a year. If it’s in print, it’s more than 4 pages long. If it’s an email, you have to scroll through more than three screens to see it all. It’s all about the work your staff is doing. It’s written in the third person (“The Center invites community members. “).

Public and Nonprofit Management 62

Public and Nonprofit Management Management Communication Nonprofits 62

Getting Attention

SEPTEMBER 7, 2010

Great Words Promoting Good Causes. Vote now for the winners of the 2010 Taggies — the 3rd Annual Getting Attention Nonprofit Tagline Awards. Seventy tagline finalists have been carefully culled from the more than 2,700 taglines entries from 1,700 nonprofit organizations in 13 vertical sectors from health to civic benefit. This year, for the first time, voters will select program, fundraising and special event tagline award winners, in addition to the strongest organizational taglines.

Nonprofits 61

Nonprofits Universities Health Values 61

Selfish Giving

SEPTEMBER 21, 2010

How do you say “Thank You&# ? John from Peapod , who sometimes delivers my groceries sent me this handwritten thank-you, a short note summarizing his Pan-Mass Challenge ride and a picture he snapped at the finish line. All this for a $25 donation that I made on a whim when he and I shared our mutual longing for summer on a cold night in February.

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Care2

SEPTEMBER 5, 2010

Are you stuck in a fundraising rut and looking to try some creative fundraising tactics to engage your supporters? Check out Network for Good’s “How to Raise A lot More Money Now&# which lists 50 fundraising strategies by some of the best fundraising experts including Jocelyn Harmon of Care2 , Mark Rovner of Sea Change Strategies and Sarah Durham of Big Duck.

Fundraising 65

Fundraising Fundraising Marketing Marketing 65