Nonprofit Tech for Good
SEPTEMBER 16, 2015
Google research has revealed a 30% uptick in searches from August to September related to charitable giving. Your donors are currently in the process of deciding which organizations will be receiving their year-end donations. Thus, in time for the year-end fundraising season, below are 20 stats about fundraising and social media that every nonprofit needs to know.
Fundraising Coach
SEPTEMBER 21, 2015
Today, I'm honored to introduce you to Vanessa Chase. Vanessa is a storytelling training powerhouse. Fundraising Coach blog readers may remember her from last year's Stewardship Tutoring Hour. I regularly share Vanessa's tips and blogs in my coaching with clients and I'll get to share the stage with her again in Seattle at Nonprofit Storytelling Conference.
The Agitator
SEPTEMBER 13, 2015
I love it when a nonprofit vigorously stands up for its friends and strikes back at its opponents. Not much room for wimpish go-along-to-get-along behavior in The Agitator’s world. And so it was with delight that I read the news release from The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) noting that attacks by its nemesis the Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF) against the fast-serve food chain Chipotle are backfiring.
Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog
SEPTEMBER 2, 2015
Your reaction when your Executive Director says, “This looks TOO nice.” via GIPHY. Heard this one before? The theory is that donors will think you wasted their money if any of your communications look like they cost you cash money to produce them. This theory holds that all of that money should be going to programs and services. (This is the same theory that keeps your salary so low, your software so old and your desk chair so rickety, but that’s another post.).
Mission Minded
SEPTEMBER 29, 2015
In today’s digital world you may be wondering if printing and mailing an annual report to your supporters is appropriate. And if your budget is tight you may have already decided to save the print and postage costs by emailing a report instead, or simply posting it somewhere on your website. We’ve written previously on […].
iMarketSmart
SEPTEMBER 23, 2015
You may already know that MarketSmart helps nonprofits engage with their supporters in a way that keeps them highly involved and committed— so they give more. . But what you might not know is that the personal challenges I faced building this business have been tremendous. So today, I thought I’d share my story with you. . I tried to bury what follows because it was so painful.
Getting Attention
SEPTEMBER 22, 2015
Read Part 1 first. Metric mania! It’s all around us. Unfortunately, when we try to measure too many marketing measures, all we get is frustrated. Even for nonprofit communicators in large, well-staffed organizations, there’s rarely enough bandwidth to capture, analyze, share and use many marketing insights. But there is a better way…I urge you to take these three steps to identify five or fewer insights that will make the MOST DIFFERENCE in boosting marketing impact: 1) GOALS—
Nonprofit Leadership Zone brings together the best content for advertising professionals from the widest variety of industry thought leaders.
The Agitator
SEPTEMBER 27, 2015
Last week, in The U.K.’s New Fundraising Sheriff , I noted the failure of UK fundraisers and The Institute of Fundraising at self-regulation. That failure has now led to proposals for greater government intervention and the as-yet-unknown imposition of new rules that may prove difficult and even unwise. One thing is certain. This is no time for the sector and its trade association to acquiesce or silently lick its wounds while new rules are proposed and then imposed.
Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog
SEPTEMBER 3, 2015
Gretchen Barry. We often talk about how your thank yous may be the most important communication you send. Below you’ll find some of the most common errors you make when thanking donors who gave online. ~Kristina. Guest Post by Gretchen Barry of NonprofitEasy. Online fundraising may no longer be the wild west of the nonprofit community, but it still carries with it the aura of an unsettled frontier.
Mission Minded
SEPTEMBER 29, 2015
In today’s digital world you may be wondering if printing and mailing an annual report to your supporters is appropriate. And if your budget is tight you may have already decided to save the print and postage costs by emailing a report instead, or simply posting it somewhere on your website. We’ve written previously on […].
iMarketSmart
SEPTEMBER 11, 2015
I once heard a story about a legacy gift that was about to be “closed” until the organization’s CFO fumbled the ball in the end zone. Here’s how it goes: The fundraiser did a great job. She’d been meeting with this particular supporter for years. She knew all about her goals and desires. Indeed, they had a very real and special relationship.
Getting Attention
SEPTEMBER 8, 2015
I’ve rarely seen a bigger message fail than this one. There’s clearly been some controversy on this nearby street about front lawn etiquette. Typically, there are lawn lovers, who water and fertilize their way through summer. Then there are the folks (my family among them) who focus on garden beds instead, and others who just cut the grass.
Fundraising Coach
SEPTEMBER 28, 2015
Used with permission of ken_mayer on Flickr I love that we live in a time of actual research of fundraising. We're finally moving beyond anecdotes to verified research by groups like the Centre for Sustainable Philanthropy. (In the interest of full disclosure: I am on the Advisory Panel for the think tank associated with the Centre.). The newest findings presented this month by the Centre for Sustainable Fundraising show a surprising way to increased planned gifts: tell people what others have n
The Agitator
SEPTEMBER 21, 2015
Yep, we all know there’s a heap of money to be raised via email appeals. And our sector will send out billions of emails (I don’t think that’s an exaggeration) in the remaining months of this year to prove the point! So today, when I noticed a spiffy new infographic from Salsa Labs extolling email fundraising, I couldn’t resist browsing the factoids on offer … like 97% of emails are marked as junk or trash, the average person receives 76 emails a day, and yet email
Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog
SEPTEMBER 30, 2015
When I talk to community-based nonprofits that serve local or regional areas about content marketing or thought leadership, I often hear excuses like, “We aren’t the experts. The national groups are. Why would anyone listen to us about this issue, when we just serve this little corner of the world?” While national groups may have easier access to national data or trends, it doesn’t mean that people trust them more, or what to hear from them rather than you.
Ann Green
SEPTEMBER 23, 2015
Did you know that approximately 70% of first-time donors don’t make a second gift? This has to stop. We can do better a better job of keeping our donors. Here’s how. Do something special for your current first-time donors. Before your next big appeal, make a point to send your first-time donors a short thank you email, postcard, or note card in which you shower them with appreciation and give a specific example of how their support is helping you make difference.
iMarketSmart
SEPTEMBER 30, 2015
1. 3% of U.S. Households are responsible for 67% (2/3) of all household charity (This is according to the 2011 Bank of America Study of High Net Worth Philanthropy). 2. People earning $10 million or more each year gave the most non-cash donations totaling 1/3 of all non-cash donations (This is according to the 2011 IRS Statistics Income Bulletin). 3.
Getting Attention
SEPTEMBER 30, 2015
You have a priceless, DOABLE opportunity to position your organization, programs, services, campaigns, and events in audiences’ hearts, minds, schedules, and wallets: Relevant messages ! Your tagline is the heart of your message platform. If crafted right, these eight words (or less) will complement your organization’s name to convey its unique impact or value with personality, passion, and commitment.
Fundraising Coach
SEPTEMBER 4, 2015
Are you in Orlando, Salt Lake City, Austin, Seattle, or Kansas City? I'll be coming to each and would love to get together. Most of my work is private, with individuals and nonprofits. But I also love giving leadership and fundraising trainings at conferences. Here are some events I'll be presenting at: WALT DISNEY WORLD: 9/11-16 NCDC Annual Conference (September 12-15).
The Agitator
SEPTEMBER 20, 2015
Jeff Brooks at Future Fundraising Now wrote an interesting post last week about second-guessing donors. He was warning fundraisers not to make up stories about donors … what he referred to as “wild guesses about their behaviors that wander far away from what donors really do” And he gave the example of worrying about how donors might react to a carrier with a big red URGENT stamped on the outside — would donors be more motivated to give, or dismiss the claim as silly gimm
Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog
SEPTEMBER 10, 2015
Are you getting ready for Giving Tuesday ? A little lost on where to start? . The good news is, so many organizations want to help you succeed (and, let’s face it, use their product, too), that there’s no shortage of help for beginners. From case studies to campaign planners, webinars to checklists, there’s a lot of free help out there to get you started.
Care2
SEPTEMBER 20, 2015
As I was writing today’s post on how to support the next generation of leaders based on great advice from The Emerging Leaders Playbook , co-authored by Beth Kanter, I can’t but help but reflect on the leadership, passion, and out of the box thinker that Jake Brewer was in the nonprofit and civic democracy space. Jake passed away yesterday and will be forever missed.
NonProfit Hub
SEPTEMBER 8, 2015
Buried in the 74,608 pages of the United States Tax Codes are options. Separated by just a few lines, which route you go to classify your nonprofit will have a big difference on what type of actions are legal and how you manage your finances. In fact, there are 29 different types of 501(c) organizations including cemetery companies , Teachers’ Retirement Fund Associations and Black Lung Benefit Trusts.
iMarketSmart
SEPTEMBER 16, 2015
I know… I am always telling my clients to stop bragging about themselves. It’s about the donors. They make you great. They give you the money you need to accomplish your mission. So, this might sound like bragging. But stay with me. First, MarketSmart (me) is being honored in Washington, DC on Thursday night, September 17th, along with some others including a Congressman and a Senator.
Fundraising Coach
SEPTEMBER 1, 2015
We've all heard that science proves stories are more powerful than statistics. Kendall Haven's book Story Proof: The Science Behind the Startling Power of Story goes into great detail about hundreds and hundreds of studies. We've seen storytelling seminars for nonprofits and read the blog posts extolling the virtues of stories for fundraising. But how do we actually tell powerful stories?
The Agitator
SEPTEMBER 24, 2015
I’ve been on a bit of an infographic binge this week, but I’ve saved my best for last — The Ultimate Guide to Infographics for Nonprofits. First, however, I can’t resist passing along a few more infographics Agitator readers have brought to my attention … From Grizzard … The Digital Space and Its Relevance for Fundraising From Mobile Cause … Giving On the Go From Mobile Cause … Get Planning for Giving Tuesday 2015 From Mobile Cause … Facebook
Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog
SEPTEMBER 14, 2015
“Sharing Your Progress” season is coming up fast. That’s when you talk about the highlights and victories of your year, and thank donors for helping you make it happen. We usually see these communications start in mid-November, peaking around Thanksgiving, and then leading into year-end appeals. To help you create some of these communications, including short annual reports, progress and thank-you videos, and dashboards, we are running a 6-week Nonprofit Marketing Accelerator
Care2
SEPTEMBER 25, 2015
It’s almost October, and it’s time to begin figuring out your end of year fundraising plan if you haven’t already. Prep now for #GivingTuesday! Giving Tuesday launches on December 1, and they’re already prepping with webinars and events to get you prepared to raise the most amount of money. While Black Friday has been dropping in sales year over year, #GivingTuesday has been raising more money each year.
NonProfit Hub
SEPTEMBER 2, 2015
Vanessa Chase is a guest contributor for Nonprofit Hub. She is the President of The Storytelling Non-Profit and co-founder of Stewardship School. Vanessa works with nonprofit organizations to help them develop stories for donor communications and fundraising appeals. You can follow her on Twitter @VanessaEChase and find more storytelling resources on The Storytelling Non-Profit Blog.
iMarketSmart
SEPTEMBER 18, 2015
Recently I made some new friends at The Fundraising Effectiveness Project and they shared some awesome research findings with me. You can see the first one below proving that high-dollar donors are actually more loyal (stickier) than low-dollar supporters. I think what this chart implies is this: The fundraising pyramid is dead. The idea that nonprofits should first seek to gain low dollar donors and move them up the pyramid is just not a wise strategy.
Lets Talk Nonprofit
SEPTEMBER 2, 2015
So, you want to raise money. A lot of money. But you don't know where to start. Well, you're not alone. Here's the good news. You can raise more money. But first, you need a plan. Ben Franklin famously said, "If you fail to plan, then you are planning to fail." This definitely applies to fundraising. Sandy Rees, CFRE and creator of the. Get Fully Funded system agrees.
The Agitator
SEPTEMBER 30, 2015
Faithful Agitator readers know I’m a big fan of online video as a call-to-action and fundraising tool. One of my favorite posts I write each year is about the nonprofit video awards given by NTEN, See3 and YouTube. Here are the 2015 winners , as I discussed back in March. If you haven’t experimented with video yet, get on it! To help you along the path, take a look at Joe Boland’s very helpful recent article in NonProfitPro , titled Mastering Nonprofit Video.
Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog
SEPTEMBER 9, 2015
Laurel Dykema. I always love getting an email from Laurel Dykema of Mission India. It means we are going to get another great guest blog post on being a nonprofit writer. Today Laurel shares what NOT to do as a nonprofit writer. ~Kristina. Guest Post by Laurel Dykema of Mission India. Don’t write all day every day. Spending every hour of every working day producing written content might seem like the best use of your time.
Care2
SEPTEMBER 30, 2015
Drumroll, please… Facebook recently rolled out their Donate button for nonprofit pages. Previously the donate button was in beta and only a few selected nonprofits had access to it The Donate button links to your website’s donation page, and all gifts will be processed through your processing system. While your nonrprofit should not expect to raise millions of dollars with this new feature, it's definitely something nonprofits should be taking advantage of.
NonProfit Hub
SEPTEMBER 15, 2015
Derrick Feldmann is a guest contributor for Nonprofit Hub. He is a sought-after speaker, author and researcher. He serves as president of Achieve , a research and design agency for causes. In addition, he leads The Millennial Impact Project , which is an ongoing study of millennials and how they engage with causes. Derrick is the founder of MCON, the nation’s premier event on millennials and social good.
iMarketSmart
SEPTEMBER 25, 2015
It can’t only be about death and taxes. Stop offering your supporters calculators they can’t understand. Stop offering them a so-called opportunity to be in your Legacy Society. (Ho-hum… Yawn…) Instead, tell them why. What will they get? What’s in it for them? How will they benefit? Stop offering ways to save on taxes. That no longer applies to most of your prospects.
Ann Green
SEPTEMBER 2, 2015
Wow, September is already here. Can you believe how fast the summer went? If you’re doing a year-end appeal, it’s time to start getting ready for it. One of the most important components is your letter. You want to create a letter that captures your donors’ attention right away and convinces them to donate. Sounds simple, but it’s not. Here are some ways to ensure an A+ appeal letter.
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