Nonprofit Tech for Good

FEBRUARY 13, 2016

The following is an excerpt from Mobile for Good: A How-To Fundraising Guide for Nonprofits. The act of writing a comprehensive social media fundraising strategy is an essential first step in being successful on social media. The process of defining your goals and priorities will focus and unite communications and fundraising staff and help motivate executive staff to make a long-term investment.

Fundraising 74

Fundraising Fundraising Nonprofits Associations 74

Fundraising Coach

FEBRUARY 22, 2016

Last week, I was invited to give a full day Ask Without Fear!® training in Kansas City. We had a blast. One of the exercises involved overcoming objections…even before they come up. The process was: The participants pictured someone on their “chicken list” - a person they were afraid to ask for a gift. They then wrote down the scariest objections - one objection per post-it note Next, they put all of their post-it notes on the wall.

Fundraising 74

Fundraising Fundraising Children Marketing 74

Ann Green

FEBRUARY 22, 2016

Do you find yourself saying this? That’s the norm at most nonprofits, especially small ones. But be careful. What are you saying you don’t have time to do? Are you spending too much time on what’s urgent and not what’s important? It’s possible to stay on top of things, even if you feel you’re so busy you want to tear your hair out. One big key is planning. .

Recruitment 69

Recruitment Communication Fundraising Fundraising 69

The Agitator

FEBRUARY 29, 2016

In Part 1 I indicated why measuring specific donor experiences represents such a fundamental shift in mindset for most organizations. However, it’s a shift well worth making because measuring the donor experience at various interaction points — and of course acting on what you learn — is one of the ways a nonprofit can grow. Good donor experiences bring greater donor commitment, higher retention rates, higher lifetime value.

Retention 66

Retention Values Nonprofits Nonprofit Management 66

iMarketSmart

FEBRUARY 22, 2016

According to an article in the Journal of Economic Psychology saying thank you can actually have a negative effect on your relationship with a supporter. The researcher notes that gifts, in particular, “reduce feelings of altruism ” causing your expression of gratitude to backfire in your face. Instead, he suggests you make sure to reframe the gift so your supporter feels that their acceptance of it ensures that they are remaining consistent with their values and altruistic motivatio

Altruism and Helping 58

Altruism and Helping Participation and motivation Psychology Values 58

Lets Talk Nonprofit

FEBRUARY 3, 2016

You know those conference name badges with the colorful ribbons that say "Speaker," "Sponsor" and the like? I attended a conference recently where some attendees were wearing strips that said "Bored Member." (They were tchotchkes from the exhibitor's hall, and they were the hottest item there.). Silly as it seems, it does make you think. Does your nonprofit have "bored members?

Energy 52

Energy Production Nonprofits 52

Nonprofit Tech for Good

FEBRUARY 7, 2016

Launched on February 4, the new BRIDGE Registry is a database of more than three million nonprofits, NGOs, and charities worldwide and each one of them has been assigned a new BRIDGE Number. This new numbering system is a huge leap forward for global philanthropy and may one day enable individuals to donate online to any nonprofit with a BRIDGE Number – not through the BRIDGE Registry itself, but rather through an online or mobile giving service that uses the BRIDGE numbering system.

Nonprofit governance and management 57

Nonprofit governance and management Public and Nonprofit Management Technology Foundations 57

Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog

FEBRUARY 17, 2016

Feel like you’d be more productive if you could just manage your own attention better and limit distractions? I’ve got a challenge for you. pick one of the four tactics below and use it every day for a week. Do not (repeat) do not try them all! Pick just one and see if using it every day for a week helps you feel more focused at work. Option 1: Adopt the Pomodoro Technique and Use It Daily.

Production 56

Production Culture Management Activism 56

The Agitator

FEBRUARY 28, 2016

Old-fashioned, traditional organizations measure the efficiency of the organization’s own internal actions rather than the effectiveness of how the organization’s actions directed toward the donor actually affect donors’ attitudes. A surprising number of fundraisers fail to understand a basic axiom of the organization-donor relationship: It is the actions an organization takes toward its donors (donor experience) that determines the attitude positively or negatively of the donor.

Values 64

Values Fundraising Fundraising Nonprofit Management 64

Ann Green

FEBRUARY 15, 2016

Newsletters can and should be a great way to stay in touch with your donors and keep them updated on how they are helping you make a difference. Unfortunately, most donor newsletters can be used as a cure for insomnia. They’re too long and filled with articles that brag about how wonderful the organization is. If you’re going to put the time and effort into creating a newsletter, make sure it’s something your donors will want to read.

Non-Profits 56

Non-Profits Communication Fundraising Fundraising 56

Mission Minded

FEBRUARY 16, 2016

A pitch-perfect tagline can be the foundation for all messages you create about your organization or program. A tagline is a punchy phrase consistently linked with your organization. It enhances your name by clarifying your work and making it relevant to your audience. It’s a powerful way to signify the brand promise your organization makes […].

Foundations 53

Foundations Nonprofits Communication 53

iMarketSmart

FEBRUARY 8, 2016

There’s a ton of information out there about how to ask for a donation. Here’s a 52-page report from AFP on the subject that talks about a lot of stuff. But, sadly, only a few sentences in the entire report actually focus on the moment of truth— when you ask for the money. So I thought I’d help with what I believe is the simplest way to prep for your next big ask.

Law 53

Law Philanthropy Nonprofits Fundraising 53

Fundraising Coach

FEBRUARY 2, 2016

I've been impressed with the number of nonprofits actively educating about matching gifts. I'm seeing it on thank you pages and hearing about it from coaching clients. This is relatively easy money that many are missing out on. So I invited Double the Donation president Adam Weinger to share his top tips with us. You're going to love this! You can learn more about Double the Donation at https://doublethedonation.com.

Nonprofit governance and management 56

Nonprofit governance and management Governance Education Education 56

Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog

FEBRUARY 2, 2016

Carson Tate. Next Thursday, February 11th at 1:00 p.m. Eastern (10:00 a.m. Pacific) Carson Tate , author of Work Simply, will join us for a FREE webinar – Work Simply: Embracing the Power of Your Personal Productivity Style. During the webinar, Carson will discuss how to prioritize your work based on the way you think and process information.

Production 49

Production Energy Management Collaborations 49

The Agitator

FEBRUARY 11, 2016

Here is one of the most fantastic letters you’ll ever read. I’m so happy that Hilborn Charity eNews has shared it. It’s written by 10-year-old Betty Humphries (but soon to be 11 as she points out in her letter), who was inspired to apply for the job of chief executive of Greenpeace. The outgoing chief, Kumi Naidoo, replied, and you should read that as well.

Communication 61

Communication Fundraising Fundraising 61

Ann Green

FEBRUARY 5, 2016

When was the last time you thanked your donors? If it’s been at least a month then you need to show some donor love. Valentine’s Day is a perfect opportunity to thank your donors and show how much you appreciate their support. Maybe you’d rather not acknowledge Valentine’s Day, but you should still do something fun and creative to show appreciation in February.

Culture 49

Culture Communication Fundraising Fundraising 49

Mission Minded

FEBRUARY 12, 2016

It’s been said that the best romances start as friendships: You know each other, you know the way the other thinks, know which way he or she takes his coffee, and then—bam!—one day you fall in love. It’s like that with a new brand strategy, too. You have to get to know it. You have […].

Marketing 53

Marketing Marketing Nonprofits 53

iMarketSmart

FEBRUARY 15, 2016

I was tired of waiting. When I was just a donor, I was frustrated with the letters, newsletters, and emails I received from my beloved charities. They were insulting. Off-putting. And downright offensive. They broke my heart. So I turned my ship in another direction. I used my marketing expertise to invent new ways of doing things. I had no idea what they were saying in the echo-chambers of the fundraising industry.

Technology 49

Technology Retention Foundations Activism 49

Care2

FEBRUARY 20, 2016

I don't have to tell you that advocates and donors are the heart of your organization. You would not survive without them. What are you doing to recruit younger demographics such as those who are 18-22, the people who will be funding your organization in the future? Unfortunately, most nonprofits don't spend enough time or resources cultivating young people, despite the fact that Generation Z will comprise 40% of consumers by 2020.

Recruitment 52

Recruitment Nonprofits Fundraising Fundraising 52

Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog

FEBRUARY 25, 2016

John Killoran. We’ve had some questions about mobile fundraising so here’s John Killoran, CEO of @Pay , to get us started. He’ll be back soon with more details on how to raise money with mobile so stay tuned. ~Kristina. Guest Post by John Killoran. Deep down, all forms of communication (email, letters, phone calls, etc.) have similar goals to meet.

Fundraising 46

Fundraising Fundraising Technology Associations 46

The Agitator

FEBRUARY 25, 2016

You, and consumers, and by extension donors, can’t get enough mobile these days. The hours used are going up. The preference over desktops is solid and rising. Even simultaneous use of digital devices is becoming common. The addiction to smartphones and their apps is astonishing to an old fart like me. For example, according to eMarketer , by 2017 the smartphone will replace the tablet as the driver of mobile commerce in the US.

Marketing 60

Marketing Marketing Communication Fundraising 60

NonProfit Hub

FEBRUARY 24, 2016

The decision to rebrand is a big step for many organizations. It can help your brand get with the times, help your team communicate more efficiently and help you engage with an appropriate audience. Whatever your reasons are for a rebrand, you should have a clear idea of your goal and how you plan to go about achieving it. Take a look at our five steps for getting on the right track to a successful rebrand.

Nonprofits 51

Nonprofits Values Retention Communication 51

Mission Minded

FEBRUARY 29, 2016

If you’ve been tasked with improving the impact of your organization’s messages, one of the best teachers you can follow is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. His intentional use of rhetorical devices adds power to his ideas and strength to his words. There’s no question that King was one of the most influential leaders of […].

Communication 49

Communication Nonprofits 49

iMarketSmart

FEBRUARY 10, 2016

Give until it hurts? Like so many other things I dislike about traditional fundraising axioms, this one has always rubbed me the wrong way. Remember, I got into this because I was fed up. As a donor, the planned giving newsletters I received were complex, overly-sophisticated, and offensive. I felt like the organization sending them to me was wasting my donations on newsletters that talked down to me and confused me with legalese.

Fundraising 49

Fundraising Fundraising Philanthropy Marketing 49

Ann Green

FEBRUARY 29, 2016

Fundraiser Maeve Strathy recently wrote this great post – Explaining a Capital Campaign to a 3-year-old Maeve is riding a streetcar in Toronto when they go past a hospital that’s undergoing massive renovations. A little boy nearby asks his mom what’s going on and she replies “ They’re fixing the hospital. They’re making it better… and bigger.

Medical 45

Medical Food Culture Fundraising 45

Care2

FEBRUARY 5, 2016

More and more nonprofit donations take place in today’s digital landscape, but how can nonprofits ensure their online storefront is not only open for business, but optimized for donations? And what are some basic fundraising tips to integrate if your nonprofit is just starting out on its online fundraising journey? As I explored this critical issue in my new book, Nonprofit Fundraising 101 , I interviewed Roderick Campbell, the CEO of nonprofit fundraising platform CommitChange.

Homelessness 49

Homelessness Fundraising Fundraising Nonprofits 49

The Agitator

FEBRUARY 9, 2016

Nonprofit communications guru Tom Ahern has just published a fascinating post in his e-newsletter asking and answering the question: How long does the average donor give? Eventually I expect the article will be available to slowpokes on his website. Before I report the answers to his question (he asked a whole flotilla of consultants and practitioners), I ask YOU to answer the question from your own experience … 1 year?

Communication 60

Communication Nonprofits Retention 60

Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog

FEBRUARY 24, 2016

How many of your donors came back last year? Do you know? If your nonprofit is anything like the 8,000+ organizations that participated in the 2015 Fundraising Effectiveness Project Survey , the answer is….not enough. Retention rates are pretty abysmal in the nonprofit sector, hovering at 43 percent for the past two years. So, how can nonprofits improve retention?

Participation and motivation 43

Participation and motivation Retention Recruitment Fundraising 43

Getting Attention

FEBRUARY 23, 2016

Guest blogger Karla Capers specializes in using the internet to raise visibility for progressive issues and engage people more deeply in campaigns. She has worked for advocacy organizations since 1996. . The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), where I’m Director of Engagement, faced a daunting challenge a couple of years ago: How to re-engage the many folks who were not reading or acting on our emails.

Activism 43

Activism Marketing Marketing Nonprofit Organizations 43

iMarketSmart

FEBRUARY 29, 2016

If you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you know that I coined the phrase “ engagement fundraising ” in 2013. Here’s my first rant on the subject. But if you haven’t done a demo with us recently you probably haven’t heard these new phrases/concepts. That’s why I’m sharing them with you today. These phrases/concepts are important to know and understand if you want to succeed in today’s demanding fundraising environment. 1 Feedback loo

Fundraising 45

Fundraising Fundraising Technology Communication 45

EveryAction

FEBRUARY 1, 2016

January’s Fireside Chat was all about being “data-driven” in your nonprofit endeavors. It’s a topic especially close to our hearts as admitted data nerds, but more so, it’s the future of how nonprofits will strive toward and achieve greater goals.

Nonprofits 43

Nonprofits Marketing Marketing 43

BDO

FEBRUARY 29, 2016

Earlier this month, we held our first session in the 2016 BDO KNOWLEDGE Nonprofit and Education Webinar Series, “State and Local Tax Considerations for Nonprofits.” If you weren’t able to listen in, you can access the archived webinar recording here.

Education 40

Education Education Nonprofits 40

The Agitator

FEBRUARY 7, 2016

There’s a quick test to determine whether a fundraising organization is truly donor-centered or not. Sadly, most groups fail the test … miserably. The test is simple: who in the fundraising/communications department has the most power? If, as is so often claimed (“we’re donor-centric”), the donor is truly the king or queen, then power will reside with those charged with interacting the most with current donors.

Communication 58

Communication Fundraising Fundraising Marketing 58

Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog

FEBRUARY 18, 2016

Your nonprofit faces long odds whenever it sends a press release to a reporter or editor. Even under the best of circumstances, your release is competing with dozens of other releases and story ideas to earn that journalist’s attention. And even if that journalist opens and reads your announcement, you still must sell her on the idea that yours is a story worth covering.

Public and Nonprofit Management 42

Public and Nonprofit Management Philanthropy Management Production 42

Getting Attention

FEBRUARY 17, 2016

We’re so focused on “urgent” to-dos and right-now campaigns that it’s easy to overlook a valuable engagement opportunity: Your website’s “page not found” page (a.k.a. 404 error page). Error pages alert visitors that the page they were seeking no longer exists, or they typed in or clicked on a broken link, and redirects them to the content they want.

Marketing 42

Marketing Marketing Nonprofits Communication 42

iMarketSmart

FEBRUARY 19, 2016

You may have heard that the reason why people give is because they were asked. For many years, this saying has motivated fundraisers to get out there and “make the ask”. And, to a certain extent, they are right. Calls to action are essential for marketing effectiveness. After all, if you don’t ask, you won’t get. But this is NOT REALLY the reason why people give.

Associations 45

Associations Technology Activism Marketing 45

EveryAction

FEBRUARY 23, 2016

If you're like us, you can't wait to ditch those winter layers and welcome the springtime bloom. Why not celebrate the start of spring with some terrific nonprofit events? We narrowed down our full list of conferences to some of our very favorites coming up between March and May. This selection includes events from across the U.S. on a variety of topics, including association leadership, fundraising, technology, foundations, and more.

Associations 42

Associations Collaborations Nonprofits Technology 42