Are You Thanking Your Donors?

Are You Treating Your Donors Right?  The Quiz.
By: Katya Andresen, Network for Good

With the Network for Good team, I just created a mini-course on thanking donors.  It’s a self-guided tour to writing great thank-yous and treating donors well all year - so they will give again!  (It’s not free, but I immodestly think this guide to stewardship is worth every penny.  Learn more here.)

So do you treat your donors well?  To figure it out, take this quiz.  (It’s free.)

And remember the rock bottom, bare minimums when it comes to donor stewardship!

1. ALWAYS THANK YOUR DONORS: Always.  No exceptions.

2. THANK THEM EARLY: You should thank your donors within a few days of their gift.

3. THANK THEM OFTEN:  Thank your donors several times, over time, and keep reporting back on the difference they have made.

4. THANK THEM ACCURATELY: Make sure you have correctly spelled the donor’s name, stated the amount and date of the donation, included appropriate language for taxes and carefully noted if the gift was made in honor of someone else.

If I had a dollar for every charity that didn’t do these four things when I gave…

Relationships

4 ways marketing is entering the relationship era My colleague, the avid reader Kate Olsen sent me a fascinating AdAge article by Doug Levy and Bob Garfield on the future of marketing, and I think it’s worth reflection. Here is my take on the ideas that grabbed me in the article, “The Dawn of the Relationship Era,” along with what I think they mean to nonprofits: 1. Manipulation backfires.  You shouldn’t be going for the quick sale (or donation) - you should be going for trusted, sustainable relationships.  Don’t send an appeal and skip the stewardship.  That will make you the Comcast of nonprofits. 2. The network effect is enormous.  The old funnel has been flipped, and it’s not about what we say but what consumers say about us to each other.  The people who love your cause are your greatest asset.  Think of them not as fawning fans but as powerful champions. 3. Core values can’t be faked.  You have to walk your talk.  Companies with a true purpose trump companies who use cause affiliations as a cosmetic ploy to cover up their lack of caring.  Keep that in mind when you choose your partners. 4. Everything you do is the new media department.  Social media isn’t about your tweets—the masses play out who you are online.  Remember that in all aspects of your operations.  How you treat others is how you will be portrayed in social media! 5. To do this all well, look inside and be honest.  As the article notes: “In the words of that Danish marketing guru, Polonius: ‘To thine own self be true.’ Counterintuitive as it may seem, a pillar of the Relationship Era is that it is better to look inward than define your business as the accumulation of your public’s often fickle, shortsighted tastes.”  For nonprofits, this is even more important.  Know why you matter, and make it matter to others.  That is the great, messy, thoroughly human essence of marketing. Post by: Katya Andresen, Katya's Non-Profit Marketing Blog

10 Strategic Must-Dos for Event Fundraisers in 2012

By: Meghan Dankovich
Vice President, Fundraising Strategy
Event360

I know, you've given up on making New Year's resolutions. (You're just going to end up breaking them anyway, right?) Well, I've compiled some New Year's resolutions that you can actually keep. And don't worry — none of them involve dieting.

These are 10 strategic ways to improve your event fundraising in 2012. Enjoy and Happy New Year!

1. Integrate your mission into the participant experience. Events are a prime opportunity to strengthen participants' connection with your mission. You can do this in a variety of ways, such as: Featuring impact statements on route signs and elsewhere Having people whom your organization has helped speak at the event Posting an honor wall where participants can write their thoughts

2. Highlight the mission in post-event communications. The new year is a great time to catch your breath and gauge the impact your organization has had over the past 12 months. How much progress have you made toward achieving your mission? Particularly for nonprofits that focus on research, progress can be difficult to quantify. In these cases, make sure you explain your mission-oriented accomplishments in language that participants and other supporters can understand.

3. Take part in your own events. The best way to inspire passion in yourself and your staff is to take part in or volunteer at your organization's events. Being a bystander isn't enough. By completing the walk or working a water stand, you'll gain a deeper understanding of what your organization is doing right — and where you can improve. So put the date(s) on your calendar now!

4. Extend your thank-yous. So many people are involved in your organization's success. Take a minute to thank them now. And I don't mean sending out another appeal under the guise of a thank-you. Call up that woman who organized a big team for this year's run. Drop a note to that loyal donor (bonus: you'll be in his head as tax season approaches). Explain to that sponsor how their logo was prominently featured and find out how you can make this a mutually beneficial partnership moving forward.

5. Clearly define what constitutes success. Establish quantifiable goals for your events that you can measure against. What are your intentions with the event? Have you made changes to the experience, logistics or income model but haven't also implemented the metrics needed to evaluate the outcomes of those changes? Examples of metrics include dollars raised per individual, number of gifts per participant, number of emails sent by participants and overall costs. Once you have metrics in place, measure them consistently and follow them year over year, it's easier to know when you've succeeded — or where you have more work to do.

6. Nail down and communicate your strategic goals. Be sure to define the organization's strategic goals and how you expect your events to contribute to them. This helps articulate organizational direction and demonstrate how it will be achieved. For instance, "Let's increase overall development revenue by $250,000 — x% from fundraising events, x% from major gifts, x% from the annual direct mail campaign, etc." Then, communicate this goal to your key constituents while tying it in with your mission (i.e. how will the additional funds help your organization further achieve its mission?).

7. Cut costs where you can. Put on your accountant's hat and closely scrutinize your paid services for your events. Can you identify creative ways to reduce vendor costs? Could you offset some expenses with sponsorships?

8. Increase use of personal fundraising pages. Event participants who actively use their personal fundraising page tend to raise more money than those who communicate via offline channels. Offer incentives or challenges to encourage participants to use the email account associated with their personal fundraising page. Send email reminders of the valuable tools available through their personal fundraising page. In short, do whatever you can to get more participants on board.

9. Go to where your audience is. Are you incorporating a broader digital communications strategy to reach out to your participants? Think Twitter, Facebook, other social media and free advertising on websites they might visit. And if you are using those channels, do you have an integrated communications calendar to ensure the messages you send are consistent and timed appropriately?

10. Evaluate how you spend your own time. Your organization's events deserve the best you have to offer. Are you getting distracted by the little details that prevent you from focusing on the big picture? If so, start looking for ways to delegate those countless tasks to others. Calling to recruit past team captains, running training or informational meetings, overseeing grassroots recruiting events — these are all things that staff or even volunteers can probably take off your plate.

What's on your must-do list for the year? Share with us your goals and ideas for a successful 2012.

10 Recommendations for Improving Event Production in 2012

Those of us at Event 360 who focus on event production have one goal in mind: creating impactful experiences for participants. Here are 10 ways to do just that in the year ahead.

1. Leverage technology.
Event professionals can employ all kinds of technology to be more efficient and provide a better product. Use Google Earth to scout sites and lay out site plans to scale. Provide GPS for staff and volunteers to navigate routes more effectively. Incorporate barcode scanners for credentialing (e.g. you can scan in participants who have printed their credentials and brought them to the event).  

2. Plan surprises.

Introduce unexpected elements to create a "wow" factor at your events. This can involve something simple (offering popsicles on a hot day or hot chocolates at the end of a rainy day) or poignant (capping a multi-day event with a compelling ceremony highlighting survivors). It's all about exceeding your participants' expectations and making them feel like they experienced something special.

3. Plan for the unexpected.
Don't let unplanned surprises ruin the participant experience. As part of your standard operating procedures, have a contingency plan in place for everything from bad weather (heat, cold, rain, snow) to a participant losing her backpack. That way, staff and volunteers know how to respond before — or right after — something goes wrong.

4. Strengthen community ties.
Reach out to the communities where your event takes place. Let residents know your walk will be coming right through their towns. It's not only considerate but also a subtle way to encourage support (e.g. we've seen some communities line an entire block with balloons and cookies to welcome participants). Who knows? You might even convert a few locals to your cause.

5. Walk in your participants' shoes.
Anyone who is involved in planning and executing an event should experience it firsthand. Eat your own dog food. Sign up for your own event or find one that is similar in your area. Find out what it's like to ride that 50-mile cycling route, work as a volunteer on the check-in team or navigate a new event with 5,000 other people. The lessons you learn will only help you make next year's event even better.

6. Make a good first impression.
Traffic flow and parking: If you don't manage these well, participants will be irritated before the event has even begun.

7. Make a good second impression too.
Once participants have arrived, they should immediately know what to do next. Use clear, prominent signage that guides them through registration, credentialing and any other preliminary steps. Having sufficient staffing and good line management also helps. When you handle logistical items like these flawlessly, participants become fully immersed in the event experience.

8. Survey participants.
Does your organization regularly collect comments from participants after the event? If not, make it a priority — this should be standard practice for every event professional. Find out what participants did or didn't like about the event, and then put that information to good use. Some of the best ideas we've implemented were inspired by participant feedback.

9. Master relationship-building 101.
Fire and police departments. Vendors. Sponsors. You should be nurturing your relationships with all these parties year round. Check in with them periodically — not just when you need something from them.

10. Kill a sacred cow (or two).
It's easy to get into a rut with an annual event. Maybe you've always held it at the same site or did things in a certain order. Well, don't be afraid to shake things up. We've flipped our start and ending sites, started at a new time of the day or year, and eliminated packet pick-up, all with great success.

How do you create impactful experiences for participants?

The Power of Social Media

Over the past five years peer-to-peer fundraising (aka social fundraising, event fundraising or friendraising) revenue has more than doubled online – reaching close to the billion-dollar mark.

It’s been amazing to watch.

With the continued growth of Internet usage, the rise of social media, and the smart phone revolution it’s likely that social fundraising will continue to play a significant roll for non-profit organizations (or start to play a growing roll for those organizations who don’t already participate in this type of fundraising).

Check out the below social fundraising INFOGRAPHIC. You’ll learn a bit about the industry’s growth, what drives the fundraising success and the power of Friends Asking Friends.

7 Event Participant Types and How to Effectively Communicate with Them

Peer-to-Peer Event Fundraising Tips

Posted: 26 Jan 2012 07:26 AM PST

Many summer peer-to-peer fundraising events will be opening registration in the upcoming months (hopefully, yours included).

To get the most from your event this year, it’s important to realize that your participants are a diverse group and you need to speak to each group differently.

Sending one-size-fits-all event update isn’t going to cut it anymore. You have to target each audience with a tailored message – one that speaks to them.

Why?

Your participants have different motivators, perspectives and needs. They also have varying levels of commitment to your event and organization.

First-time participants have separate needs from longtime participants. Superstar fundraisers respond differently than those who raise the minimum. Team captains have a different perspective than individual participants.

With so much money at stake, it’s important that your event communications resonate with participants and anticipate their needs. Strive to answer their questions before they even think of them.

Just like email appeals, crafting unique messages for different audiences is the best way to connect, inform and motivate participants.

In fact, by sending targeted communications to its different audiences, the Susan G. Komen Global Race for the Cure was able to increase their average amount raised per fundraiser and overall amount fundraising (despite fewer participants). Check out the results …

• With 2,500 fewer participants registered, the Global Race has brought in $150,000 more in donations to date
• Fundraisers raised an average of $32 more in 2010
• Power fundraisers brought in over $25,000 more than last year
• Overall average donations increased by $8 per registrant

So, how can you start segmenting your audiences, tailoring your communications and improving your fundraising results? Here’s seven ideas to get you started …

7 Event Participant Types and How to Effectively Communicate with Them

Your communications should tell all participants why donations are needed and how they’ve been previously used. Besides that, here’s what to say to your unique audiences:

Superstar fundraisers

Show them the love! Your communications should let them know how much they’re appreciated. Chances are they’re closely connected to your cause. More than other participants, share outcomes of past donations. Tell them “you did this!” Also monitor their fundraising progress and reach out by phone, if needed. Highlight statistics about how social media can help them raise even more. Provide ways to connect with other top fundraisers. List the top fundraisers and discuss high-level incentives.

Minimum/Non-fundraisers

Keep communications brief. This group will be tough to motivate, so focus on incentives, contests and convenience. Highlight the ease of fundraising by social media and email. Remember, 1 in 4 emails result in a donation. Those who use Twitter raise 10x morethan those who don’t. Tell them you know they’re busy. Make fundraising easy by including sample Facebook posts or emails they can forward to friends. Highlight stories of those who’ve raised money with minimal effort. At the end of the day you should be focused on turning these participants in to fundraising superstars!

Team captains

Show them the love, too! Captains are the lifeblood of your event. Send communications that help them manage their team. Include reminders about deadlines and contests. Tell them what they should communicate to their team at different stages of the event. Provide ideas to grow and inspire their team. Emphasize what resources they can access to help them manage their team.

New participants

Explain your mission and why donations are needed in a simple, concise way. Remember, they’ll have to retell it to potential supporters, many for the first time. If you can connect them to your cause, the rest will fall into place. Instead of overloading them, focus on the simple things they can do at each stage of the event. “You’ve registered! Here are 2 ways to get started” or “The event is a month away. Here are 2 things to do this week.” Highlight first-time participants who made a difference. Here are 44 more tips for engaging with new participants.

New teams

In addition to what’s outlined above for new participants, communicate the rankings of top teams to motivate those with a competitive side. Send event and team-related details, so they’re not bombarding their team captain with questions. Highlight team-specific contests, like best theme or largest team. Feature stories of other teams.

Returning participants

Returning participants are like gold to any event fundraising organization so make sure you acknowledge they’re the reason for the success of past events. Outline how last year’s donations were used and tell them what you could do with more money this year. Be specific! Vague, high-level phrases do not inspire. Also, let them know what event details are the same this year and point out anything that’s new. Remember, it’s about their success in the current event and getting them to come back next year!

Returning teams

In addition to what’s outlined above for returning participants, include rankings of top teams and many team stories. Learning about other teams will give returning teams fresh ideas and motivation. Also feature team-related contests and incentives.
Basically, you need to create mini-communication plans for these unique audiences. While that does mean more work, it also means more engaged, inspired participants that are far more likely to raise more for your event and return next year.


What other participant audiences have you focused your communications on?
Reprinted from Blackbaud's NetWitsThinkTank.com: an online resource for nonprofit organizations working with social media, internet marketing, and online fundraising.

Become a Member

Another quality e-campaign from Operation Smile.  They are now asking individuals to join their team.  After making a gift of $20, $60, or whatever you are able to give, you will be emailed your very own certificate that you can download and print off.  Below it lists off two things they are hoping to do this year with your continued support.

Is being a member anything special?  No, not really.  In fact, is it really just a marketing ploy to get you to make a donation?  Yes.  But, they are continually finding unique ways to make people feel special... and apart of the team.  Very well done in my opinion - it grabs your attention and makes you want to be included.  It's got to be more effective than your everyday "Donate Now" email.  Props to Operation Smile for changing things up and trying new things.

Also, please notice their constant integration with social media and sharing.

Tell a friend

Katie, save children's lives.Join the Operation Smile Team today. Become an Operation Smile team member today and print out this personalized certificate. Please join the Operation Smile team today and help save lives and provide more smiles in the new year! So many boys and girls born with clefts are depending on us. They are lonely. Hurting. Some may even die from abandonment or malnourishment. All because their parents can't afford the surgery they need. Join the Operation Smile Team now with a gift of $20, $60 or whatever you can give. Commit to change a child's life this year. With your support, this is what you can help make possible in 2012. 160 medical missions. 20,000 surgeries. As a member of our team during 2012, you'll help provide 20,000 corrective facial surgeries for children in Brazil, China, Ethiopia, India and other countries worldwide. Join now. Life-saving care all year long. With your continued support we'll open more Comprehensive Care Centers this year. We'll also train hundreds of doctors and nurses in our partner countries so they can help children in their own communities all year long.

Please help now. A child is waiting.

Tell Their Story

Continuing on with the importance of telling a story...

Here is a story put together by ABC about a 14 year old girl named Carly.  It's incredibly powerful.  Why don't nonprofits share the stories of their constituents like this?

I think it is crucial for all nonprofits to "interview" their constituents and help them tell their stories.  It is not only beneficial for the constituent and their family, but it enables them to potentially help many more people going through the same struggles they are.

If a nonprofit can take a constituent like Carly and communicate how your nonprofit organization is helping her and others like her, I can't imagine there is a better way to A - get out the mission of your organization and B - gather up more support and donations.

So make sure you are getting out there and gathering up the individual stories of your and how you are making a difference in their lives.  I can't think of any better marketing material.

See Carly's story - 10 minutes long but definitely worth it!

Website Makeover

Katya Andresen is a popular nonprofit marketing blogger who has made multiple appearances on the Scoop of Nonprofit News. Today she is sharing an organization that is doing a great job turning their issues into stories in an effort to better relate to potential donors. She says, "it is so important to bring a human face to our organizations and our work. Without stories, we are simply abstract words and ideas. With stories, we become a part of our audience’s lives."

Today's nonprofit website makeover is the Crisis Control Ministry. They wrote Katya asking for input on their website, which they are about to revamp. They also sent along an example of some of their new materials. What an improvement! They are absolutely moving in the right direction.

Old website home page:

Here is the advice she gave them on their old website:
-Choose a picture and tagline that tells a story - the photo of the boy looking down and the generic language could represent any nonprofit

-Remove the mission statement and replace it with a great quote from a fan or beneficiary instead - mission statements belong on About Us pages

-Make a clear case for giving

What I like about the current site is the big Donate button, the email signup and the endorsement by Charity Navigator. You always want a prominent way to give, a way to get in touch and a third-party endorsement. However, the Donate button has dollars on it - bad idea. Images of money typically prime people to be selfish. If you use imagery, use a picture of a person being helped or other generous image. Also, the email signup could be stronger - “sign up for updates” is not extremely compelling, though it’s better than “join our mailing list!”

Here is their first attempt at new collateral -

Here is Katya's feedback:
I love the look and feel of the new collateral - I imagine this is a flyer - and can’t wait to see that take shape on the website. That photo and tagline instantly engage me and inspire me to help. Lutricia will take the new home page by storm. So will the vastly improved tagline: Strengthening Our Community … One Neighbor at a time.

I found this really helpful to see a before and after snapshot of a website makeover.  I think the Crisis Control Ministry is moving in a great direction and I can't wait to see their final website design.  I bet it will be well worth it, hopefully Katya will update us to see if the makeover increases their online donations.  I will be sure to post any results I am able to find.  Good luck to this hard working nonprofit and thanks to Katya for sharing her expertise.

Turn Snow Days into Service Days

4 Ways to Turn Snow Days into Service Days by chicagocares

It's that time again, when Chicagoans crank the heat, pull up the covers and begin their hibernation until the temperatures rise above 20 degrees. Snowy days are a fun chance to slow life down a bit but they're also great times to give back and get to know your neighbors! Here are 4 ways that you can give back this winter:

1) Cook dinner for an elderly neighbor.It's a great way to check in on a senior without seeming abrasive. Plus, your neighbor will enjoy a warm meal without having to worry about getting out of the house to do grocery shopping. This is a great option for families because everyone can help, kids too young to cook can make handmade cards to include with delivery.

2) Shovel snow. Help dig out a random car on your street, clear your block’s sidewalks of snow or offer to shovel a neighbor's walkway free of charge. No one is as beloved as the neighbor who helps with snow removal and you might just score yourself a warm cup of cocoa if you're lucky!

3) Help someone get their vehicle unstuck. You don't have to walk far to find someone revving their car’s engine but not moving anywhere. Tips: 1) Make sure you remain in the driver’s vision at all times. 2) Place a piece of cardboard under the spinning tire to give the car enough traction to get unstuck.

4) Donate your old winter clothes. With windchill temperatures under 20 degrees, many are in need of warm clothes. Drop off your donation of  winter clothes at a local nonprofit organization, church, or Goodwill.

4 Marketing Facts for 2012

4 marketing facts for 2012

ClickZ has some excellent marketing trends to share.  The whole story is here, but if you don’t have time to read it, I offer these highlights:

1. Email is still the best way to reach most people, so focus on building your lists in 2012.

2. Consumers are “device indifferent,” meaning they are using many forms of technology.  You need to think about how to reach them wherever they are - and that means coordinated outreach across different types of technology, including mobile (phones and tablets).



3. Social media has come of age and it requires the same approach - integrated with other forms of outreach.



4. Content remains king.  If you want people to care, give them great information, stories and pictures. Outreach in any form is ineffective if it’s not engaging!

Four Marketing Facts for 2012
By: Katya Andresen, Katya's Non-Profit Marketing Blog

Excellent Week of Event Checklist

I am volunteering for Chicago Cares this weekend in honor of MLK Day.  I recently got this check list that they sent to all the volunteers in preparation for the big Day of Service.  It is a tad bit long, but I feel like they addressed absolutely everything that volunteers would need to know in prep for the big day.  Love that they mentioned how to get involved with social media as well.

Well done Chicago Cares, many nonprofits should follow your lead.  The better you can prep your volunteer leaders for the DOE, the more smooth your event will go.

Your Celebration of Service Checklist by chicagocares Hopefully, you're all registered and ready to join us this Saturday at Celebration of Service! This is going to be an inspiring day as we take time to reflect on the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr and then go out into the city to help keep his dream alive through our service. Below is a quick checklist to help you get your day of service off to a great start: Dress well. This doesn't mean wear your finest, it means dress well for the work you'll be doing! There's a very good chance that you'll end your day with some paint, glitter, glue or scrambled eggs on your shirt; so dress comfortably in clothes that you don't mind getting dirty. Plan your route. Self-pay parking near Union Station is available in numerous public parking lots. However, we recommend taking public transportation to Union Station. Call 836.7000 from all area codes for CTA, Pace and Metra routes/schedules or visit www.transitchicago.com. Get some sleep. It's going to be an exciting and full day, so make sure you hit the hay a little early on Friday night so that you have plenty of energy to enjoy all of the experiences the Celebration of Service has to offer. Eat breakfast. We do not serve breakfast at the Celebration of Service Opening Ceremony. There will be coffee (thanks to our wonderful friends at Metropolis Coffee) but you'll need more than caffeine to keep you going until lunch, so eat up! Pack your lunch. If you pre-ordered your box lunch from Subway, you will be able to pick that up after you check-in. If not, please remember to pack a lunch and bring it with you to your site. No lunches will be delivered to project sites, so don't forget that little brown bag. Be Kind. Almost everyone serving you on Saturday is a volunteer, just like you. Our Production Assistants are volunteers who get up extra early to make sure that you can check-in, pick up your goodie bag, have your questions answered and find your bus. Our Volunteer Leaders have donated many hours to learn the specific needs of your site and get specialized training to lead you well. So please be patient when the inevitable bump-in-the-road has you stalled for a moment. We know they'll do their best to help you have a great day of service. Know the hashtag. We'll be live blogging throughout the entire day and we want to know what you're up to! Use #chicares for your tweet to show up in our live blog feed, or you can mention us @chicagocares. Give details of your project, share an inspiring quote from the ceremony or take a picture with some new friends; your participation will help make our blog extra great! To follow the blog or read through it when you get home, visit www.chicagocares.org beginning Saturday morning. Have an open mind. Whether you're serving a new population of clients, getting to know volunteers who seem different from you or finding someone to sit next to on the bus; you may find yourself in a situation that makes you a bit uncomfortable. Remember, you have well-trained leaders ready to help you at your project site and you're surrounded by fellow volunteers who, just like you, want to make a difference in Chicago. Tell us what you think. At the end of the day you'll be given a short survey, please take the time to fill this out and return it to your Bus Ambassador. We at Chicago Cares look through each and every one of these surveys, taking all of your feedback under careful consideration. We want to provide you with the most meaningful volunteer experience possible, so need to hear from YOU! Plan your next project. We hope that participating in the Celebration of Service is just the beginning of a year filled with community service. You can find more than 215 volunteer opportunities each month on our opportunity calendar. We can't wait to see you on Saturday. If you have any other questions, feel free to check out our Celebration of Service FAQs.

Happy New Year!

Thought this was a great Happy New Year email from the Alzheimer's Association.  I like that there is not  a solicitation or ask attached to it.  They used good colors, great photos, and straightforward short text, which I bet increases the amount of people who will read it.  Nice work, Alz!

Having trouble reading this email? View it on your browser   The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer care, support and research. Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer’s disease.

Social Contagion

Four ways to inject social contagion into your outreach in 2012

A recent review of more than 20 academic papers on social contagion, published in the book Consumer Insights: Findings From Behavioral Research, shows that consumers are heavily influenced not only by word of mouth - which we all know by now—but also by merely observing the behaviors of others, even if no communication takes place.

In your outreach in 2012, make sure that you keep this in mind.  Here are some ideas on how to apply these findings:
1. Include social sharing links in all of your outreach to encourage word of mouth
2. Include a quote from a donor about why they support you on your home page
3. Have beneficiaries write your acknowledgements to encourage work of mouth
4. Have donors or volunteers write your next appeal, with details on why they support you

Remember, you are rarely as effective a messenger as your supporters are.

Post by: Katya Andresen, Network for Good

Where and Why People Donate

Such great data to share with your fellow fundraisers!  I can't get enough of these infographics.  Thanks to YourCause for putting this one together on the Top 5 of Where and Why People Donate their Time and Money.

How to engage your co-workers in volunteering

Engaging Your Disengaged Corporate Volunteers Posted by: Katie Sisum, Event360, December 2011 We’ve all seen it time and time again: the loose change collection jar or the dollar treats in the break room with a “support our charity walk team” sign. We feel good by giving back, and we also feel like we are doing something for our workplace. But donating a dollar only goes so far – how do you make the leap and ask your employees to volunteer an afternoon or even a whole day? Corporate volunteerism takes a lot of time, effort and several resources, there’s no doubt about it. But what could be better PR than a group of 10 of your employees sporting their red “Bank of America” t-shirts and volunteering at a pit stop5K race where 10,000 people will see them? Sounds like a no-brainer to me. Here are a few tips in engaging your co-workers and asking them for their commitment. Ask your corporation to sponsor a group to attend, perhaps this is corporate shirts, or a free day off, utilize what your business does best in your ask for support. Make your ask personal and widespread. Instead of just asking a handful of co-workers in your department for their support, expand your circle. Reach out to other colleagues who work in other offices or departments and tell them why they should care about this cause.   Ask for their support at least a month out so people can get it on their calendar. Schedules fill up quickly, and you want your event to take priority. Make it easy in terms of logistics. Talk to HR about how to take the day off, and plan transportation and food ahead of time. You want to make the experience as simple as possible for the people who are supporting your cause. Engage your co-workers in a heartfelt info blast before the event. Whether it’s a video in the break room or a personal email telling the story of someone you know affected where your cause helped, reassure your colleagues that they are doing the right thing by supporting this cause. You want them to feel the power of their commitment. Engaging your co-workers can be a challenge. Expect some of their commitments to change, and realize that some of your team might back out before your event. Don’t be discouraged by this shift. Move on and focus on finding and engaging more people. Lastly, have fun with your colleagues and enjoy the event that is supporting the cause that you feel passionate about!

Evolution of the Online Donor

Why online giving is important:

Click here to see a larger image.

Merry Christmas Email

I recently got a Merry Christmas email from my Catholic high school.  It was very simple - just a nice image with warm wishes this holiday season.  However, one addition really caught my eye.  They attached a YouTube video of the high school's choir singing a Christmas song at a recent concert.  How cool is that?  And fairly easy too!  Next email campaign (whether it is a thank you or a solicitation) you send out, consider attaching a video clip of the beneficiaries of your nonprofit.  This visual treat really demonstrates where your donations are going.

Enjoy the gift of song (Sing Me Noel) that Dowling Catholic choral students shared recently at their Christmas concert.

December 31 Online Giving by Hour

12 Gifts to Give Your Website

Some really great tips for your website here.  Click here to see a larger graphic.

Redbox Company Gets It

Redbox (you know, the company with the red automated boxes filled with movies and video games at your local grocery stores, McDonalds, and drug stores) gets it.  They get how to make a difference in the lives of Chicago children.

Recently, the Redbox employees volunteered their time to organize a day the students of John Barry Elementary will never forget.  They rented out a theater, welcomed the students with high-fives and cheers, played ice-breakers, showed the movie Polar Express, and gave out snacks at the concession stand.  Pretty neat, huh?

But wait there is more.  During intermission, they set up the lobby with holiday themed games and fun prizes.  At the end of the day, they sent the kids home with goody bags.  All day, the employees hung out and got to know the students.

Wow, what great role models for not only the students, but all of us.  What a cleaver and creative volunteer event.  What an amazing company.  Blockbuster and Netflix: take notice.

Please support those who make a difference in our community - Redbox.

Catching the Polar Express with Redbox and Barry Students by chicagocares

On December 14, 48 volunteers from Redbox joined Chicago Cares to give students at John Barry Elementary school a very special holiday afternoon at the movies!

John Barry Elementary is one of the neighborhood schools located in the Hermosa community. The school facility serves 796 students Pre-K through 6th grade. 95% of the student body is Hispanic and 3.2% is African American, and 92% come from low-income households. Recently Barry was appointed a new Principal, Estuardo Mazin, who has stepped into a position that was held by an interim Principal for four years. With a permanent Principal, the school will have more stability and can develop its long-term goals. The dedicated staff truly believes “great things are always happening at Barry” and would like to see the school continue to grow.

After renting out the nearby Portage Theater, the energetic employees from Redbox began filling the lobby with games, snacks and goody bags. As students arrived, the team from Redbox welcomed them with cheers and high-fives, getting  everyone excited for what was about to happen.

After getting to know one another with a quick ice-breaker game, the students, teachers and staff picked up some popcorn at the concessions stand and settled into their seats next to the Redbox team, ready to enjoy a screening of The Polar Express.

During intermission, students were invited to the lobby, where the volunteers had set up holiday themed games with enough prizes for everyone. Students enjoyed playing Snowman Beanbags, Pin the Tail on Rudolph and an interactive game where teams used wrapping paper and ribbons trying to disguise one another as sparkling holiday gifts. After a few more snacks, intermission was over and everyone was excited to find out what stop was next on The Polar Express!

In a matter of hours, friendships had formed between Barry students and Redbox employees. The students were loaded up with goody bags, a few more high-fives and then sent on their way. An afternoon at the movies is something that many of us take for granted.

For young kids whose families are struggling with employment and financial burdens, an afternoon of fun, games and a movie theater all to themselves serves to remind Barry students that they are still on Santa's nice list. We're so glad that our 'Volunteer Elves' from Redbox were there to make it all happen!

8 Brilliant Nonprofit Newsletter Ideas

Some great ideas below to help spice up your 2012 newsletters.  They might seem like no-brainers, but I think we sometimes over think our newsletters.  Keep it simple, report on outcomes, include photos/video, develop a wish list, and include a volunteer's perspective.

8 Brilliant Non-profit Newsletter Ideas from the Experts

Sumac Research. December, 2011

Are you struggling with your newsletter? Need some fresh ideas to help make sure it gets read and has an impact? Well, we spoke with some noted non-profit consultants, writers and marketing experts to bring you 8 unique ideas that will help you revive your newsletter and get donors interested again. Here they are:

#1 Something artsy

What about including some kind of art. Maybe a poem, a drawing or painting by someone associated with the organization. Non-profit consultant, Vikki Walton, suggests asking your clients to name one word that they would like to see happen and then incorporating those words into word art. The art could then tie into a story about the clients you help and their dreams.

#2 Report on Outcomes

Numbers impress, my friends! How about using them to tell a story about the success of your latest event, the people helped by your latest project, or about your mission in general? According to John Haydon, popular non-profit social media strategist and founder of consulting firm Inbound Zombie, a report on outcomes is a great addition to any newsletter. After all, “research shows it has a direct impact on the lifetime value of a donor.”

#3 A keepsake

This one from Jeremy Gregg, executive director of The PLAN Fund, and self-proclaimed Nonprofiteer. He suggests featuring a famous quote in a format that the reader might be able to cut out and put on their fridge/bulletin board/cubicle wall. Maybe the quote is something that ties in to the cause and reminds the donor why they support you.

#4 Tips and advice

How about some helpful advice or tips for the reader? A vegetarian non-profit, for example, might put a vegetarian recipes in their newsletter each month. This is great value added for the reader and something they’ll appreciate. Julie Rodriguez, a freelance writer who used to work at an educational non-profit, says that she used to include informational articles on school advocacy, different learning styles, and learning disabilities in their newsletter. These kinds of messages, she says, are the most likely to get forwarded, because they teach the reader something new or interesting.

#5 Pictures, pictures, pictures

Susan McLean, grant writer and development professional, suggests trading in the lengthy articles for descriptive pictures which can tell your story faster. The fact is, many people just don’t read all that content, so she says concentrate “the most compelling written content in headlines and captions.”Gayle L. Gifford, nonprofit consultant and strategist, also thinks pictures are the way to go. To make the most of them, however, she says to use “pictures with big faces, not big checks” and use “captions that tell a compelling story of need or results.”

#6 A video

A video is also a great alternative to long, wordy articles. According to Elaine Fogel, writer, consultant, and marketer, getting your clients, donors and volunteers on camera to share their enthusiasm for your cause can go much farther than words alone. And you can make one quite easily, without the need for expensive equipment. Handheld minicams, she says, take excellent HD video and post easily in most email service provider (ESP) software.

#7 Wish box

Since people and businesses often have items or services they’d be willing to donate if they only knew who could use them, says nonprofit consultant and freelance writer, Patricia O’Malley, why not include a wish box in your next newsletter. List items or services that you would like to have, such as office furnishings, supplies, or advertising space and give your readers a chance to help. The New York City schools have one, says Patricia. One teacher asked for a used piano and got it!?

#8 Ambassador’s corner

Another idea to solicit help from your supporters comes from Marketing and Communications Consultant, Karen Luttrell. She suggests creating an “Ambassador's Corner” and she writes about this idea in her blog. Many supporters, she says, want to do more than donate. “They also want to be involved and feel like part of a community working together to promote your cause.” So in each issue of your newsletter share a new, and relatively simple way to get involved with the organization and help spread the word.