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
MAY 6, 2013
'I love nonprofits. And I love social media. But nonprofits don’t always “get” social media. While there are few truly firm rules about using Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, or any of the other myriad of platforms out there, there are some things that bug donors. So I emailed some of the top authors and social media experts from around the world and asked them to quickly answer this question: What is 1 thing you wish nonprofits “got” about social media?
The Agitator
JANUARY 7, 2013
In my first post of the New Year I want to give advance notice on some topics deserving of greater attention. The nonprofit sector is in big trouble. And although Tom and I realize that a lot of readers want to know whether green envelopes work better than orange envelopes, there are more serious issues that demand exploration and discussion. Of course we’ll occasionally deal with orange envelopes.
Getting Attention
APRIL 16, 2013
'Like you, my heart and head are heavy in the wake of yesterday’s bombings in Boston. Especially since I feel so helpless. I had a completely different post planned today, but wanted to respond a.s.a.p. to the questions, worries and just totally-wrong communications I’ve seen going out since the bombings yesterday afternoon. Most of this outreach was harmless, but simply a mismatch with what’s on our minds right now.
Nonprofit Marketing Blog
MARCH 22, 2013
Yesterday, the team here at Network for Good had a fantastic webinar with technology guru Guy Kawasaki. He provided his top ten social media tips for nonprofits. They are well worth sharing. If you want to listen to the whole webinar (recommended), simply register here. (It’s free.). In the meantime, here’s a quick summary of the wisdom he shared. 1.
Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog
JULY 8, 2013
'We''ve Moved! Update your Reader Now. This feed has moved to: [link] Update your reader now with this changed subscription address to get your latest updates from us. We''ve Moved! Update your Reader Now. This feed has moved to: [link] Update your reader now with this changed subscription address to get your latest updates from us.
Nonprofit Leadership Zone brings together the best content for advertising professionals from the widest variety of industry thought leaders.
Ken Goldstein
NOVEMBER 29, 2013
'You''ve likely heard or read about Common Core by now. The latest in educational "fixes," promoted by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the National Governors Association, and the Obama administration, the Common Core initiative was developed "to provide a clear and consistent framework to prepare our children for college and the workforce." And it will fail to improve our failing schools, wasting time, resources, and money in the process.
Selfish Giving
NOVEMBER 5, 2013
'McDonald’s has a public relations problem. In a new report, Clowning Around with Charity , McDonald’s is portrayed as cheap, deceptive and selfish. Here are the highlights. McDonald’s charitable giving is just.32 percent ($34 million) of its pre-tax profits. Compare that to the one percent of pre-tax profits that generous companies donate to good causes.
Selfish Giving
MARCH 20, 2013
It’s true: a lot of big, national companies won’t work with local nonprofits. They prefer to work with big national charities. But that shouldn’t stop you from asking because, well, you just never know until you ask! Just today I read how Jo-Ann Fabrics & Craft Stores allows each new Jo-Ann store the opportunity to make a $2,000 donation to a local school and each of the three Jo-Ann Distribution Centers the opportunity to donate $3,000 quarterly to the local non-profit or
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
Selfish Giving
JANUARY 2, 2013
I searched through all my posts and Pinterest boards from last year and came up with my 2012 picks for best cause marketing campaigns. Below are my top picks (although I have an expanded list here on Pinterest ). Each link will take you to either a post I wrote on the program or to a pin on Pinterest. Remember, when you click on the image on Pinterest you can get the backstory behind the program.
Selfish Giving
SEPTEMBER 4, 2013
'I’ve been reordering my Pinterest boards for cause marketing to make them more useful for you. You can read about these changes in my recent newsletter. If you’re not a subscriber, you can change that here. When you visit my boards you’ll see a bunch that begin with the hashtag #FWB. These are new boards for my next book Fundraising with Businesses: 40 New (and Improved!
Selfish Giving
NOVEMBER 25, 2013
'I’m finding more and more ways to use Pinterest every day. I’ve created a Pinography to share head shots, testimonials, news coverage, etc. I keep track of all the cause marketing campaigns I read about on three major boards: Register , Digital , Employee. My new book , which will be out next month, has a URL and QR Code at the end of each chapter that will link the reader to a Pinterest board with additional examples of the chapter topic.
Selfish Giving
JUNE 11, 2013
'I get calls every week from people that want to start a cause business. Good, intelligent, well-intentioned people who really want to change the world. They call. We talk. I never hear from them again. They never call me again because their business goes nowhere or fails. Here’s why: they put the cause before the business, and violate the number one rule of running one: the best way to help a cause is to be a great business, first.
Selfish Giving
NOVEMBER 13, 2013
'This Mediapost article has some good news for brick-and-mortar businesses: the skyrocketing rise of mobile may actually be good for business. As mobile grows, these businesses have trembled at the prospect of smartphone carrying customers showrooming their stores for better selection and prices online. While true in some cases, the author contends that mobile is helping to bring customers closer to physical businesses.
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.
Selfish Giving
SEPTEMBER 11, 2013
'I will never forget 9/11. I will never forget the people we lost on 9/11. I will never forget the people who died after 9/11 because of 9/11. In the past 12 years there hasn’t been a lot of cause marketing connected with September 11th. Maybe that’s a good thing. But, according to Cone’s Craig Bida , there’s no reason why cause marketing can’t be done well on 9/11.
Selfish Giving
SEPTEMBER 9, 2013
'This is a guest post from Sandra Morris of CafeGive , a leader in creating and executing Facebook contests for nonprofits and businesses. After Facebook recently changed its rules on contests, I asked Sandra what the changes meant and if organizations should continue to use third-party applications for contests. Understanding the New Terms for Facebook Contests.
Selfish Giving
APRIL 10, 2013
'This post has a companion post at Razoo’s Inspiring Generosity blog: Dollars for Doers: The Money Nonprofits Don’t Want? To learn more about Dollars for Doers - company grants that reward employee volunteering with cash for nonprofits – I knew I had to speak to a nonprofit that worked with a lot of volunteers. If it’s really true that only 7 out of 100 employees apply for this money, I needed an organization that had so many volunteers that they’d be sure to have exper
Selfish Giving
FEBRUARY 5, 2013
On Sunday night I was busy pinning cause-related Superbowl ads on this Pinterest board. There were three cause-related ads in particular that got my attention and sent shivers down my spine (like a good commercial should!). Jeep & USO Team Up for “Whole Again” The best ad of Superbowl night was Whole Again in support of our troops. While the ad didn’t specifically mention the USO, a nonprofit organization that provides programs, services and live entertainment to the troops and t
Selfish Giving
APRIL 18, 2013
'I’ve started a board on Pinterest to keep track of some of the giving opportunities to support the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing. Please check the board out and give generously! Also, please let me know if you seen any other events, products or services that are supporting the victims. This t-shirt created by students at Boston’s Emerson College has already raised $40,000!
Selfish Giving
JANUARY 23, 2013
There’s isn’t a more endangered business than independent bookstores. Margins are low and competition from Amazon – never mind everyone else – is fierce. Still, some bookstores are doing more than just surviving. They’re thriving, thanks to marketing smarts and a lot of hard work. Take Green Apple Books , which has been a fixture of San Francisco’s Richmond neighborhood for over forty years.
Selfish Giving
JANUARY 11, 2013
We’re seeing more cause-branded products flood the market each year. Many of them will never celebrate a birthday because they lack a solid business strategy. In 2011, I wrote critically about cause products, and focused my ire on one brand in particular: Project 7. I may need to rethink my position. [GASP!]. On this episode of Cause Talk Radio , Megan and I talk to Project 7′s Tyler Merrick about how this plucky cause entrepreneur has scratched and clawed his way onto the shelves of
Selfish Giving
SEPTEMBER 30, 2013
'Today on the For Momentum Blog , I have a new post : Apple’s 5S, iOS 7 Has Plenty of Goodies for Cause Marketing. I think the most interesting feature of iOS 7 is iBeacon. iBeacon is “micro-location” because it’s designed to work in a physical location (like a store) with your phone – specifically your retail apps. With an iBeacon transmitter businesses can better interact with smartphone -toting consumers in and near their stores.
Selfish Giving
NOVEMBER 20, 2013
'I couldn’t make up this stuff if I tried. I found these two examples of bad cause marketing on the same day! That’s a first. As first reported in Nonprofit Quarterly , a New Mexico company sponsored a Coyote Kill Contest this weekend, saying that half the proceeds will go to the Children’s Outdoor Adventure Association. According to the contest organizers, the nonprofit takes kids with cancer, disabilities, etc. on outdoor adventures.
Selfish Giving
JUNE 5, 2013
'358 million. That’s how many dollars were collected with checkout programs in 2012. Checkout programs are what I call point-of-sale programs, but I kind of like David Hessekiel’s term better. As founder and president of Cause Marketing Forum , he’s the one who released a study on these programs at last week’s Cause Marketing Forum’s conference in Chicago.
Selfish Giving
MAY 20, 2013
'I’m away this week speaking at the New Strategies Conference in Charleston, S.C. But like everyone else I heard the sad news about the tornados in Oklahoma and the terrible loss of life and property. I know businesses are going to want to help. And after seeing how businesses responded after the tragedy in my hometown of Boston, I have a few suggestions. 1.
Selfish Giving
DECEMBER 4, 2013
'Gosh, I’ve been waiting to use that title since I read about Amazon’s new Prime Air drone service. I’m breathless at the possibilities. Drones can take my kids to soccer and lacrosse practices. A drone can fetch my coffee from Starbucks. Out of sugar for that coffee? How about a drone delivery of a packet of Splenda from my neighbor down the street.
Selfish Giving
MARCH 25, 2013
Give.mobi’s Bob Jones sent me these three attractive QR Codes to prove just how easy it is to make a donation on your mobile device. Try it for yourself. Regardless of your mobile device, you can find a QR Code reader in your app store. . Open the app and hold your device over the QR Code. The code will link you to a mobile page with the nonprofit’s logo.
Selfish Giving
JULY 31, 2013
'This is a guest post from Jenifer Snyder , Executive Director of the mGive Foundation. Reading through the results of the study I couldn’t help but think that donors seem more in love with texting than nonprofits are. Is texting and nonprofits a story of unrequited love? Should nonprofits put more of an emphasis on text messaging and donations?
Selfish Giving
NOVEMBER 19, 2013
'I’ve worked for and with nonprofits for twenty years, but it isn’t always easy to describe to people what it’s really like. The challenges, the the rewards…the stupidity. Thanks to Jennifer Maher I don’t have to! I can just give people her book: Nonprofit Nonsense: How to Survive and Thrive in the Crazy World of Nonprofit Business.
Selfish Giving
JULY 11, 2013
'On Tuesday I wrote a post for Razoo.com on summer reading for fundraisers. But then I remembered that reading was just one of the things fundraisers – and cause marketers – should be doing this summer. Here are five more ideas for the dog days of summer. Watch the Keynote Presentations from the CMF Conference. What a deal! Give Dave and Megan three minutes of your time by answering a brief survey then you can watch all the keynote presentations at this year’s Cause Marketing F
Selfish Giving
JUNE 19, 2013
'I got a tweet the other day that made me think of a scene from The Godfather when Vito Corleone calls in a favor from the undertaker. With his dead son, Sonny, on a stretcher beside him, The Godfather makes his request: “I want you to use all your powers — and all your skills. I don’t want his mother to see him this way…” Last week, I too was asked to help “The Godfather.” You see, Phil McCarty is The Godfather of Cause Marketing.
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.
Selfish Giving
AUGUST 23, 2013
'This is a guest post from my Toronto-based cause marketing buddy Phil Haid. He runs a great company called Public Inc. You should check them out. Anyway, because professional baseball in Toronto is sooooooo bad, Phil came out with this great cause promotion for Yankee and Sox fans that ends Monday. And, as I like to say: “Go Sox!” Hey, New York Yankee and Boston Red Sox fans!
Nonprofit Tech for Good
DECEMBER 4, 2013
'For nonprofit admins that do not have the time to regularly research social media trends, it can be a battle to stay ahead of the learning curve. In addition to the time required to create content for social media and manage social networks, new media managers need at least two hours weekly to research social media trends and best practices. For those nonprofits that allocate staff time, embracing early adoption is key to social media success.
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