Nonprofit Tech for Good

JANUARY 5, 2015

'After the holiday break new media managers return to work energized to update and implement their list of priorities for the upcoming year. The goals suggested below are fairly easy to achieve, yet transformative to a nonprofit’s new media strategy. Most do not require a financial investment, but preliminary results on the 2014 fundraising season are strong and if your nonprofit did well in 2014, investing in staff development in 2015 is a wise decision.

Management 109

Management Public and Nonprofit Management Technology Nonprofits 109

EveryAction

JANUARY 27, 2015

'It''s almost hard to imagine what life at a nonprofit was like before we could blast out fundraising emails, share stories over Facebook, or issue a call-to-action via Twitter. ( Remember those days? ). Now, thanks to innovators + technologists committed to doing more good, technology has helped broaden the reach of nonprofits further than ever before.

Technology 103

Technology Nonprofits Fundraising Fundraising 103

Fundraising Coach

JANUARY 13, 2015

'In a recent study , 75% of nonprofit executives said their board members weren''t sufficiently engaged. 3 out of 4! With numbers that high, you know there has to be a systemic issue. Nonprofits are doing amazing things around the world. People work and volunteer at them to add meaning and value to their lives. So there''s no way tens of thousands of people are waking up each morning saying, "I wonder how sufficiently un-engaged I can be with a cause I value today.".

Nonprofits 101

Nonprofits Law Values Culture 101

Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog

JANUARY 20, 2015

'Some fundraising bloggers/consultants have discovered a terrifying new boogeyman – the work of nonprofit marketing directors! Hurry, get the pitchforks and the lighter fluid. We got us some branding hocus pocus witches to burn! Oh, haven’t you heard the hysteria? Yep, nonprofit marketing and branding are apparently killing fundraising. Killing it, they say!

Marketing 100

Marketing Marketing Fundraising Fundraising 100

Speaker: Tim Sarrantonio, Director of Corporate Brand

This session will dive into how to create rich generosity experiences that foster long-lasting relationships. You’ll walk away with actionable insights to redefine how you engage with your supporters—emphasizing trust, engagement, and community over transactional giving models. 🤝 Industry expert Tim Sarrantonio will explore data-backed strategies to engage supporters as active participants in a community that values their contributions and shared ideals.

Values

Nonprofit Marketing Blog

JANUARY 8, 2015

'Year-end is over! Now what? First, take a deep breath and give yourself a few moments of calm. Second, start showing those donors some love with a thank you. A basic thank you letter is a perfectly acceptable way to show a donor some gratitude. But if you want to go above and beyond and add some creative flair to wow your donors, go for it! To help get the creative juices flowing, I collected some favorite thank yous that I’ve personally received and some submissions that our nonprofit friends

Nonprofits 94

Nonprofits 94

The Agitator

JANUARY 7, 2015

'I figure there’s no time like the start of the New Year to begin dishing out some heresy. There’s an assumption among most fundraisers that the best charitable giving season is October, November and December — the so-called Year-End period. The assumption is based on the belief that donors are in a giving mood and they engage in all types of holiday gifting.

Nonprofit Management 92

Nonprofit Management Management Marketing Marketing 92

Mission Minded

JANUARY 14, 2015

'There are best practices of branding and communications that any nonprofit can put into place without a lot of hullaballoo. Like the new year’s resolutions so many of us make this time of year, employing best practices sometimes just comes down to reminding ourselves of the common sense good habits we already know we should […].

Communication 84

Communication Nonprofits 84

Fundraising Coach

JANUARY 30, 2015

'Photo courtesy of Chris Gorski used under Creative Commons licence It is my pleasure to be hosting the February Nonprofit Blog Carnival! With Valentine''s Day in February, the last three years have focused on "loving": loving nonprofit staff. loving donors and keeping them coming back. and loving nonprofit leaders. Breaking out of the rut. This year, let''s shake it up.

Nonprofits 91

Nonprofits 91

Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog

JANUARY 6, 2015

'For more tips and examples, join me next Thursday, January 15th at 1:00 p.m. Eastern (10:00 a.m. Pacific), for my brand new webinar Where Are My People? How to Find Your Audience on Social Networks. (Recording available if you can’t attend live.). Let’s face it – not all followers on social networks are the same. Some are more influential than others, on social and in real life.

Public and Nonprofit Management 86

Public and Nonprofit Management Management Communication Nonprofits 86

Nonprofit Marketing Blog

JANUARY 21, 2015

'The folks at the Pew Research Center recently published updates to their Social Media Report. Here are a few highlights: Facebook still reigns supreme. It comes as no surprise that 71% of all online adults are on Facebook, which also sees 70% of users engaging with the site at least daily. More older adults adopting social networks. But they’re mostly on Facebook. 56% of all online adults 65 and older now use Facebook, which equals 31% of all seniors.

Activism 90

Activism Marketing Marketing Nonprofits 90

Speaker: Tim Sarrantonio

The average nonprofit uses five or more different software platforms to create their donor’s journey, making the experience clunky and disjointed. If you want to design a magical online giving experience for donors, making their journey as seamless as possible is key. In this webinar with expert Tim Sarrantonio, you’ll learn the fundamental steps to create an immersive and personalized online giving experience for your donors.

Nonprofits

The Agitator

JANUARY 27, 2015

'At the start of the year Steve MacLaughlin, Blackbaud’s Director of Analytics, in his post 5 Things That Won’t Happen in 2015 hit on what I consider the biggest risk facing nonprofits these days — doing nothing. Sure, not so long ago maintaining the status quo — repeating the same activities year after year — was considered less risky than innovation.

Retention 92

Retention Nonprofit Management Activism Management 92

EveryAction

JANUARY 13, 2015

'This week kicks off the American Society of Association Executives ’ (ASAE) semiannual Association Management Week and it''s got us thinking: professional associations are hugely essential resources to the individuals that belong to them and the industries they serve. That said, how can you make sure you''re getting the most out of your association membership?

Associations 80

Associations Management 80

Mission Minded

JANUARY 12, 2015

'Who needs to be educated about your brand? Your stakeholders? Of course. Your board members? Definitely. But what about your funders? It may seem tricky, but it’s really a no-brainer. Recently, I had the privilege of attending several presentations made by a nonprofit’s Executive Director and Development Director to its key funders. This orgainzation had […].

Education 79

Education Education Communication Fundraising 79

Ann Green

JANUARY 7, 2015

'Happy New Year! I hope you had a nice holiday. I had a great two-week vacation in Florida with my family. I also hope you had a successful year-end fundraising campaign. Did you get a bunch of new donors and renewals, or did you lose some people? One of the biggest reasons donors flee is because they believe the organization doesn’t do a good job of staying in touch and keeping them engaged.

Retention 75

Retention Communication Fundraising Fundraising 75

Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog

JANUARY 7, 2015

'Laurel Dykema. Guest blogger extraordinaire Laurel Dykema is back with us to share how you can change up your storytelling technique. ~Kivi. Guest Post by Laurel Dykema of Mission India. As nonprofit writers, we share stories about real people … their struggles, victories, and joys. But if you’re like me, sometimes the words you use to tell an amazing story can feel a little flat.

Communication 77

Communication Nonprofits 77

Nonprofit Marketing Blog

JANUARY 20, 2015

'Editor’s note: This post was written by Vanessa Chase , founder of The Storytelling Non-Profit. You can check out more thoughts on storytelling on her blog. Or, if you’re in the mood to watch a webinar on storytelling, you can download the archived version of her Nonprofit911 webinar. Storytelling is quickly becoming part of the everyday fabric of nonprofit fundraising and communications.

Non-Profits 82

Non-Profits Nonprofits Communication Fundraising 82

The Agitator

JANUARY 19, 2015

'Harvard Business Review calls it a strategic tool with “irresistible power”. To Entrepreneur magazine it’s the “major business lesson of 2014”. Companies and nonprofits like American Express, Random House and PBS are paying up to $3,500 for a workshops on it. What is this exciting phenomenon that’s become a new buzzword? It’s the ancient art of storytelling — that fundamental human activity which has been around since the advent of fire.

Activism 89

Activism Communication Fundraising Fundraising 89

EveryAction

JANUARY 8, 2015

'A brand new year is here, and everyone is resolved to make improvements to the way they live, work, and even their nonprofit website ! What''s more, folks are seizing the opportunity to get organized + do business better. For nonprofit pros, that means streamlining your processes, integrating your systems, and doing a better job communicating with your donors.

Technology 76

Technology Nonprofits Communication 76

Getting Attention

JANUARY 7, 2015

'This practical, doable marketing plan template takes you from goals to benchmarks, work plan, action and impact! Those New Year’s resolutions—including the ones we set for marketing and fundraising work—are so hard to keep. That’s because most resolutions are action items, rather than goals (the real “what we want to get to”).

Marketing 72

Marketing Marketing Fundraising Fundraising 72

Ann Green

JANUARY 21, 2015

'I’ve been to several memorial services over the last few years. I guess that’s what happens as you get older. In most cases, the families designated charities to donate to, often in lieu of flowers. I’ve always liked this. You get to honor someone and support a charity, as well. I gave five memorial gifts over the last two years.

Charitable Contribution 73

Charitable Contribution Homelessness Fundraising Fundraising 73

Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog

JANUARY 13, 2015

'Allison Fine. Today Allison Fine joins us to talk about what she call “matterness” – making other people matter more in your work. For more on this, check out her latest book, Matterness: Fearless Leadership for a Social World. ~Kristina. Guest Post by Allison Fine. Keeping up your New Year’s resolutions to lose weight and exercise more may begin to slide as January soon becomes February, but there is something you can be fantastically successful at this year – leading fearles

Leadership 77

Leadership Energy Activism Values 77

Nonprofit Marketing Blog

JANUARY 15, 2015

'It’s no secret that year-end giving is an important source of donation dollars for most nonprofits. Last year was no exception and we saw a lot of “generous procrastinators” giving big online in December 2014. When we looked at organizations who received donations on the Network for Good platform in both December 2013 and December 2014, we saw an 18% increase in total donation volume year over year.

Nonprofits 78

Nonprofits Fundraising Fundraising 78

The Agitator

JANUARY 15, 2015

'I’m teasing out the first month of the year for all it’s worth in terms of recommendations for my 2015 ‘To do’ list. Frankly, I’m doing a lot of stealing from the advice I see others giving, massaged against what I deem most important to fundraising success. Here’s an example: Recommendation #4 on my 2015 ‘To do’ list: Become unforgettable to your donors.

Retention 87

Retention Communication Fundraising Fundraising 87

EveryAction

JANUARY 5, 2015

'The new year is a perfect time to make some changes. Besides going to the gym more and eating less sugar (which you’re totally going to succeed at. right?), why not make some resolutions around your website? At EveryAction, we believe in setting goals that are achievable. Here are some new year’s resolutions that anyone can accomplish. Repeat them slowly, print them out, put them on your office wall, and check back with us throughout the year to let us know how you’re doing.

Nonprofits 75

Nonprofits 75

Getting Attention

JANUARY 13, 2015

'How one organizations shows, rather than tells, its unique value and impact (a.k.a. brand)… Bittersweet news from the Upwell team. I opened this email tentatively this morning, a little afraid of what I’d be getting. I’ve followed Upwell with great excitement since its founding four years ago—learning so much from its fresh, collaborative and completely open approach to ocean conservation.

Collaborations 72

Collaborations Nonprofits Values Communication 72

Ann Green

JANUARY 14, 2015

'We hear the term donor-centered a lot, and it’s pretty self-explanatory. You want to focus on your donors’ needs and interests and take into account that not all donors are the same. Is your organization donor-centered? Find out by taking this test. Fundraising Appeals. Are your fundraising appeals focused too much on your organization – rambling on about how great you are?

Food 72

Food Communication Fundraising Fundraising 72

Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog

JANUARY 28, 2015

'Sean Horrigan. We try to cover just about everything a nonprofit communications director has to do here at Nonprofit Marketing Guide, but one big whole in that coverage has been PR. That’s why we are excited to bring on a few new guest bloggers — including Sean Horrigan. Let us know what PR and media relations questions you have and we’ll get you answers.

Public and Nonprofit Management 75

Public and Nonprofit Management Health Communication Foundations 75

NonProfit Hub

JANUARY 29, 2015

'We’re all searching for that special someone. You know, the one who will stick with you through thick and thin. That person who understands you and who just gets it. Wait, I was talking about donors—weren’t you? It’s time to stop looking for a one-night stand (er, I mean one-time donors). Because have you seen your organization lately? You deserve those donors that aren’t the giving and leaving type.

Retention 78

Retention Communication Fundraising Fundraising 78

The Agitator

JANUARY 13, 2015

'I was browsing through my email, as one is wont to do, and noticed a praising mention of an unfamiliar nonprofit called Possible Health. And, as donors are wont to do, I went to their website to check them out. [You’ll recall that #2 on my recommended 2015 ‘To do’ list yesterday was getting your nonprofit’s website in top shape for attracting and converting leads.

Health 79

Health Communication Marketing Marketing 79

Nonprofit Marketing Blog

JANUARY 30, 2015

'Clicks. Likes. Shares. Image: Cone Communications. It’s easy to write off the small online actions of “slacktivists” as passive behavior that won’t make much of a difference, but digital activists can turn into donors, advocates, and major supporters over time. Late last year, Cone Communications released their Digital Activism Study which reveals insights on digital consumer behavior when it comes to supporting causes online.

Activism 71

Activism Communication 71

Getting Attention

JANUARY 12, 2015

'Please post your nonprofit marketing jobs here. Advocacy/Editorial Officer AJC/Jacob Blaustein (New York, NY). Community Engagement & Communications Manager America SCORES (Boston, MA). Development & Communications Associate Lillian’s List of North Carolina (Raleigh, NC). Director of Communication Thrive Foundation for Youth (Menlo Park, CA).

Communication 72

Communication Public and Nonprofit Management Associations Foundations 72

Care2

JANUARY 7, 2015

'For the past few years, nonprofits have spent a lot of resources on building their Facebook page presence. Many social media strategists and the media told nonprofits and businesses that email was dying and that FREE social networks like Facebook would be king of communications. So it''s now 2015 and guess what? Email is definitely not dead and in fact it raises a heck of a lot more money than any social media platform.

Advertising 77

Advertising Production Communication Marketing 77

Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog

JANUARY 14, 2015

'We’ve been producing the Nonprofit Communications Trends Report for five years for lots of different reasons. You ask us questions all the time, especially about things like communications frequency and whether you really have to “do” a certain communications channel. We wanted data for you, to supplement our own so-called “expert” opinions.

Communication 74

Communication Fundraising Fundraising Nonprofits 74

iMarketSmart

JANUARY 14, 2015

'We know that it’s not always easy to determine where you should be focusing your efforts (and your dollars). So we developed this nifty little menu of Engagement Fundraising marketing channels to help you sort it out and prioritize where you should invest your time and money to get the best bang for your buck. Please feel free to print it out and share it.

Marketing 58

Marketing Marketing Fundraising Fundraising 58

The Agitator

JANUARY 12, 2015

'Over the coming year, you can expect to hear plenty from Roger and me about care and retention of your current donors. As Roger’s book, Retention Fundraising , makes abundantly clear, why waste time and resources pouring fresh water into a leaky bucket? Plugging the leaks is the first priority. That said, at this time of year understandably you might be thinking ‘ new ‘ Where will those new donors come from who will offset your attrition (which you are fixing, right?!

Retention 78

Retention Marketing Marketing Fundraising 78