Selfish Giving
OCTOBER 8, 2013
'I’m in Charleston, South Carolina this week teaching at the New Strategies Forum. That distinguished gentleman in the photo is Curt Weeden , the founder of the Forum and the former chief giving officer for Johnson & Johnson. Three times a year, Curt and I teach 25 to 35 nonprofits of all sizes how to raise money from companies. It’s a sobering endeavor when you listen to Curt talk about it.
Nonprofit Tech for Good
OCTOBER 26, 2013
'The National Retail Federation is projecting that the average American holiday shopper will spend on $738 this holiday season generating more than $602 billion in total sales. That’s a lot of consumer spending power that when spent consciously can help finance nonprofits and good causes worldwide. It may cost a bit more to purchase fair trade and from nonprofits, but the quality is often better, the gifts more unique and meaningful, and consequently much less likely to end up the landfill
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Fundraising Coach
OCTOBER 30, 2013
'I''m not a fan of "fundraising sales" like cookie dough, pizza kits, wrapping paper, raffle tickets, or popcorn. I think they do have a place in the realm of fundraising. But while I love asking for money, I don''t like doing this type of sale. So it''s probably no surprise that I''ve never been a fan of the shopping portals that are supposed to give donations to nonprofits.
The Agitator
OCTOBER 17, 2013
'Commenting on Tom’s Ingredients of Retention Success post, Mazarine Treyz of Wildwoman Fundraising poses the intriguing question of whether retention of donors may possibly be related to an organization’s ability to retain its professional fundraisers. Mazarine asks …. ” In other words, have we ever stopped to think, ‘Huh, how long do our fundraising professionals stay?
Getting Attention
OCTOBER 2, 2013
'Dramatic and quickly-implemented changes like the United States government shutdown—even when known in advance to be a strong possibility—are challenging to respond to promptly and well. OPPORTUNITY ALERT: I urge you to leverage the shutdown in right-now fundraising and advocacy campaigns if the shutdown has increased the demand for your services and/or threatened your budget and ability to continue providing services.
iMarketSmart
OCTOBER 25, 2013
'Many people don’t realize that fundraising is really just a subset of marketing. Therefore, fundraisers are marketers that raise funds. Fundraising isn’t necessarily special. It doesn’t stand on it’s own— separate from marketing. It just requires some different strategies and tactics. Having said that, it’s important to recognize that marketing experts don’t think in terms of pyramids.
Selfish Giving
OCTOBER 4, 2013
'That’s what Boston-based Cone has concluded in its most recent study: 2013 Cone Communications Social Impact Study. Here are some highlights from the study: Consumer demand for cause is at an all-time high. 54% of U.S. consumers bought a product associated with a cause over the last 12 months, increasing 170% since 1993. 89% is likely to switch brands to one associated with a cause, given comparable price and quality, jumping nearly 35% since 1993. 91% want even more of the products and
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Fundraising Coach
OCTOBER 6, 2013
'Nonprofits often mistake hiring professionals like fundraising coaches or consultants as buying the winning lottery ticket. No matter what they''ve been told, they think the professional will magically find them funding. Fortunately, that is actually great for nonprofits. Lottery winners typical have awful outcomes. They often live miserable lives.
The Agitator
OCTOBER 1, 2013
'Yesterday I asked you as a fundraiser to consider: Are you a valued guide to your donors, or simply a nuisance paparazzi? That question elicited a message from Tony Elischer at THINK Consulting. He forwarded a recent piece he’d written titled: How are you managing the Donor Journey? Tony suggests that fundraisers regard themselves as travel agents, or even executive travel assistants, helping donors identify and reach their giving destinations.
Mission Minded
OCTOBER 22, 2013
'This is Part 2 of a two-part post. Part 1 is here. Once you’ve thought deeply and analytically about your brand, your audience, and the results you want from your website, you’ll be ready to delve into details. Below, we’ve explained in further detail how to style your copy and images so that they serve your […].
iMarketSmart
OCTOBER 31, 2013
'I simply love inspirational quotes. Here’s one I recently came across from Thomas Edison. He once said, “The successful person has a habit of doing the things failures don’t like to do.” That led me to think about calling donors. Perhaps its not that we dislike calling donors. In fact, for many, it’s their favorite thing to do.
Selfish Giving
OCTOBER 21, 2013
'I like the tagline for the nonprofit Astronomers Without Borders : One People, One Sky. The sky really does unite us all. The lunar eclipse I saw in Boston over the weekend could be seen up and down the east coast by millions of people. When I point out the constellation Orion to my kids, a dad somewhere else in the world is doing the same thing with his kids.
Nonprofit Tech for Good
OCTOBER 24, 2013
'The Mobile Web is often discussed as a future trend that nonprofits have time to prepare for, but the reality is that by the end of 2014, the majority of your supporters and donors will be viewing your website, email communications, blogs, and social media content on smartphones and tablets. In truth, the Mobile Web is already here. Going mobile will not be free and for many small nonprofits a costly upgrade, but to successfully communicate your mission and programs and fundraise online in
Fundraising Coach
OCTOBER 18, 2013
'Today I''m pleased to introduce you to Lori Jacobwith. Lori and I have interacted over the last few years and finally got to meet in Minneapolis earlier this year. I''ve asked her to share her top tips on storytelling. You can check out her step-by-step storytelling system and you can follow her on Twitter @ljacobwith. Seven tips for sharing stories about your work.
The Agitator
OCTOBER 2, 2013
'In the run-up to last year’s winter holidays I posted Don’t Eat the Poinsettia as an appropriate reminder that in fundraising — as in life — there are many myths we take for gospel. Some false or untrue myths like “Don’t swallow your gum; it stays in your stomach for seven years”, or “Don’t sit too close to the TV, you’ll hurt your eyes”, or “Don’t crack your knuckles, you’ll get arthritis” are harmless, even if adhered to religiously.
Mission Minded
OCTOBER 24, 2013
'This fall, Mission Minded helped three of our clients—Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, Global Glimpse, and NNOHA—launch brand new websites. More than ever before, these organizations’ websites convey who they are with intuitive design and precise copy. Each new site will help them attract new audiences, convey their value, and inspire support.
Nonprofit Marketing Blog
OCTOBER 16, 2013
'Recently MarketingProfs reported that Q2 email open rates decreased 8.3% from Q1 levels. Click through rates also dropped slightly. While the referenced study from Epsilon looked at e-commerce email performance, it’s no secret that it’s getting tougher to break through the noise and ensure readers are opening and acting on your emails. Fortunately, there are things you can do to build a stronger email relationship with your supporters now so that you will have better success when yo
Selfish Giving
OCTOBER 10, 2013
'Tuesday on the Razoo blog Inspiring Generosity I wrote about the death of Alyssa O’Neill and how it sparked a pay it forward movement in Starbucks and other stores around the world with the hashtag #AJO. This morning when I opened my Starbucks app to pay for my latte I had this message from the coffee giant. This is a big step forward for the pay it forward movement.
Nonprofit Tech for Good
OCTOBER 31, 2013
'Since the launch of the iPhone on June 29, 2007 many mobile fundraising apps have been released, but few have been successful. Some apps were based on good ideas, but ahead of their time and others simply weren’t good enough to keep users interested. Six years later the design and functionality of fundraising apps has improved significantly. Still in their infancy, it’s assured that mobile apps will play a dominant fundraising role in the future and nonprofits would be wise to downl
Fundraising Coach
OCTOBER 22, 2013
'A few weeks back, I shared with my Fundraising Kick members a conversation I had with a friend asking me for a donation. In short, he asked me to consider "supporting" his nonprofit. I''m thrilled he asked. That is a huge start. But I couldn''t resist the opportunity to coach him into asking more effectively. If he''s going to reach his goal, he can''t simply trust that each person he asks will mystically "get it".whatever "it" is.
The Agitator
OCTOBER 10, 2013
'There’s little doubt in my mind that, when it comes to ‘retention’, the powers-that-be in most organizations will view any serious efforts to improve donor loyalty and commitment (retention) as disruptive. In turn, they will either deliberately or subconsciously move to subvert any efforts at improvement. All organisms contain antibodies — cells in their immune systems that identify, attack and neutralize foreign objects.
Mission Minded
OCTOBER 21, 2013
'If you’re like most nonprofit professionals, your website probably contains some surprising facts and figures about the field in which you work. Maybe you have a detailed explanation of your mission and program areas right on the homepage. Your website might even have a collection of downloadable resources, like white papers or presentations. But beware: […].
Getting Attention
OCTOBER 23, 2013
'Nearly a decade after Facebook premiered, it’s become a juggernaut with more than a billion registered users. It’s changed dramatically, along with the balance of the social media landscape as one-time favorites shift form and new channels burst onto the scene. There’s little doubt that social media should be a part of your communications mix, but what should you be using it for, and how?
Selfish Giving
OCTOBER 23, 2013
'A lot of what I write about on this blog and other sites [ You can get a full update of ALL my posts by subscribing to my email newsletter ] is about nonprofits acting to help themselves, as opposed to waiting on bended knee with cupped hands for someone to help them. I’ve written before about my disinterest in charity. I’m much more interested in people and nonprofits helping themselves in whatever way possible.
Nonprofit Tech for Good
OCTOBER 19, 2013
'Via Zoo Atlanta: Polar Bear Cubs (Endangered). Looking at cute images, particularly those of baby animals, has been proven to increase our brain’s concentration levels for a short time afterwards. The Power of Kawaii (a Japanese word meaning “cute”) can help nonprofit social media managers be more productive and also help counterbalance the flood of negative images that we are exposed to as a by-product of emerging ourselves into the 24/7 news cycle.
Fundraising Coach
OCTOBER 8, 2013
'Crowdfunding has opened up funding for some wonderful projects. But according to their own stats, the majority of Kickstarter projects fail. And a full 10% never raise any money. How to stay out of the majority of crowdfunding campaigns. I''m going to show you three strategic tips that will help keep your crowdfunding campaign out of the majority that fail.
The Agitator
OCTOBER 23, 2013
'I always know it’s autumn because the most sensitive of the copywriters begin to whine louder than usual. Caught in the pressure cooker of working on year-end appeals and acquisition packages for the New Year, there’s only so much client and agency idiocy a copywriter can take. Fortunately, I won my copywriter manumission some years ago — long before the horrors of today’s practices — a day when most fundraisers could read, but hardly any made the foolish claim they could write.
Care2
OCTOBER 30, 2013
'Does senior leadership at your organization ask “why can’t we raise money on social media? Look at the Obama campaign. They raised millions of dollars. First of all, let’s get real. Comparing your nonprofit to a Presidential campaign is ridiculous. Your organization is not running for the President of the United States. You don''t have access to every news outlet, generating millions of dollars worth of earned media, or the funds to spend millions of dollars on advertising and
Getting Attention
OCTOBER 1, 2013
'It’s rare to see an organization change its name and that’s a good thing. Name changes are a delicate matter. Assuming you’ve done a good job of building relationships with supporters, partners and others, your org’s name has equity. Members of your network—donors in particular—have established ways in which they relate to your organization, and your name is the most memorable trigger you have.
Selfish Giving
OCTOBER 3, 2013
'Today on CauseTalk Radio , Megan and I talk to Bill Horne , Chairman, President and CEO of Truist , a leader in web-based corporate philanthropy platforms for employee giving and volunteerism. Bill introduces InstaGive , his company’s new platform for small organizations (check out the screenshots below). Truist’s InstaGive is the first online giving tool designed specifically for small businesses, startups, and nonprofit organizations.
Nonprofit Tech for Good
OCTOBER 1, 2013
'Date: Wednesday, October 23, 2013. Time: 1pm-1:45pm EDT. Cost: Free. How to Register: Sign up ! Presented by: Heather Mansfield. View: Complete Webinar Schedule. Webinar Description System Requirements. The Mobile Web is often discussed as a future trend that nonprofits have time to prepare for, but the reality is that by the end of 2014, the majority of your supporters and donors will be viewing your website and social media content on smartphones and tablets.
Fundraising Coach
OCTOBER 24, 2013
'I''m a huge fan of Google. I''ve written about Google Calendar , Google Trends , Google+ for nonprofits , and do most of my work in Gmail and Google Drive. So tools like Bing fly under my radar. Don''t miss out on Bing. Google is still the biggest search engine on the planet. So paying attention to SEO that matters to Google is critical. But Facebook is the biggest social media site on the planet.
The Agitator
OCTOBER 22, 2013
'Do you really know what good donor service looks like? I sure hope so, because as we’ve reported before , nearly 20% of all donors who drop out quit because of lousy donor service. Consequently, any organization serious about improving its retention rates had better be deadly serious about the quality of donor services it provides. Sadly, this essential ingredient in the retention recipe gets short shrift in most organizations.
Care2
OCTOBER 15, 2013
'If you manage social media for your organization, you probably face incredible pressure to show growth and success. You may use free or paid tools to show numbers such as growth in followers, Likes and shares, RT’s, and sentiment based on secret algorithms by computer programs. But are these stats meaningful? Do they really give you the full picture of how your organization is connecting with your constituents and moving them up the engagement ladder?
Getting Attention
OCTOBER 1, 2013
'Nonprofit communicators! 1) Is the Federal government shutdown affecting your nonprofit? 2) Are you addressing that impact in your content? If yes, what, where and how? 3) Have you decided to hold on any planning or posting? Please share here a.s.a.p.! I hope to blog on how-tos first thing tomorrow morning. Thank you! P.S. Take a look how D.C.’s Sixth & I Synagogue , which doubles as a vibrant Jewish community center, opened its doors to provide community (what else?
Selfish Giving
OCTOBER 1, 2013
'I’m on the lookout for cause marketing connected to Hurricane Sandy , which struck the east coast a year ago this week. The need is still great. One brand that hasn’t forgotten the vicitms is the natural foods company KIND. Check out my post on the Razoo blog today. And let me know if you see any examples of cause marketing focused on the one year anniversary.… Keep reading.
Nonprofit Marketing Blog
OCTOBER 28, 2013
'If you’re planning to wait until December to reach out to your donors, you may be too late. Setting the stage for your year-end fundraising push is as important as the ask itself. This is true for a few reasons. First, no one wants to be ignored all year, only to be asked for money when they finally do hear from you. That’s not much of a relationship.
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