FRANKLIN — FRANKLIN - Due to a severe weather forecast, the Franklin United for Haitian Relief Fundraising Dinner, scheduled for Feb. 10 at Franklin High School, has been postponed. A new date and time has not yet been announced.
Fundraising
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Yahoo! News: Fundraising
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Franklin High School fundraising event for Haiti postponed (MyCentralJersey.com)
9 Feb 2010 | 8:47 am -
Trailer leads fundraising effort (The Daily Mercury)
9 Feb 2010 | 8:07 amWITH its operating costs expected to hit $4.9 million this year, fundraising is one of the most important missions faced by RACQ-CQ Rescue. -
Eau Claire camp halfway to fundraising goal (WQOW Eau Claire)
9 Feb 2010 | 7:47 amFundraising heats up to help save a popular summer youth program in Eau Claire. -
Fundraising Events for Charitable Causes (The News-Herald)
9 Feb 2010 | 6:01 amOrganizations, clubs or groups may submit area events to be included in The News-Herald's Web site listing of "Fundraising Events for Charitable Causes" by sending an e-mail including pertinent information to JBonchak@News-Herald.com. -
Republicans report fundraising totals in bid to succeed Dennis Moore (Lawrence Journal-World)
9 Feb 2010 | 12:02 amTwo Republicans lead in fundraising in a crowded field in Kansas’ 3rd Congressional District race.
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MSN: Fundraising
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Palin's Notes, Obama's Teleprompter, and the Increasingly Stupid Media - GOPUSA
9 Feb 2010 | 5:58 amWe've seen enough Obama speeches to realize that the calm, charismatic, clear-spoken, smooth, and articulate politician that left-wing activists and media members want to portray is nothing of the sort. Take Obama's teleprompter away, and out come ... -
Nothing wrong with a little Monkey business - ReporterHerald.com
9 Feb 2010 | 5:01 amLoveland resident Cheryl Aldridge originally planned to hold a Valentine’s Day party for her two children and their friends at an indoor playhouse. As she and her children Joey, 7, and Skylar, 13, began organizing the activities, Joey mentioned a ... -
Polis doles out plenty to fellow lawmakers, gains clout - Denver Post
9 Feb 2010 | 5:01 amDuring his first year in Congress, Boulder's Jared Polis showed he could raise money like a House veteran, writing checks for fellow freshmen representatives at a rate that rivals the fundraising clout of even Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Polis' political ... -
Don't put Illinois through another Feb. primary - Pantagraph
9 Feb 2010 | 4:54 amIllinois pulled off its Feb. 2 primary without any major problems from the weather — which was practically balmy compared to some early February days gone by. Imagine if had been today with winter weather advisories and winter storm warnings in ... -
Petition says Attorney General Mark Shurtleff violated state election ... - Deseret News
8 Feb 2010 | 1:09 pmSALT LAKE CITY — An ethics initiative sponsor says Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff has violated the state's election laws and is requesting that the lieutenant governor's office investigate his fundraising activities. Steve Maxfield says he ...
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Beth's Blog
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Opening Session at NASSCOM and Social Innovation Winners
9 Feb 2010 | 12:28 amLighting of the lamp is a traditional way to begin a conference here in India. I'm still very jet-lagged and adjusting to both the time zone and culture in Mumbai. I was lucky enough to have a front row seat in the reserved section with laptop and digital camera in hand to cover the opening ceremonies on Twitter. Following the #nilf was an excellent way to gain a better of understanding of what was happening on the stage. The opening session started with the lighting of a lamp and welcome from NASSCOM officials to the crowded ballroom fill with 1600 conference attendees from 27… -
The Universal Language of Technology Conferences: Schwag
8 Feb 2010 | 8:24 pmI arrived in Mumbai on Monday morning in the very early morning hours (3:00 am) after a trip that lasted nearly 24 hours and hopped across 12 time zones. I greeted at the airport with a sign that read "Nasscom Leadership India Forum - Miss Kanter." The driven took me to the Grand Hyatt Hotel saying that during the day the traffic is much different. The conference hotel one of the largest hotels in Mumbai with many rooms and a large convention area. After going through security to enter the hotel and registering, I got into my room and then I crashed. Although my body still thinks it… -
Win A HP Computer and Printer: What's Your Theory of Change for Social Media Use?
8 Feb 2010 | 4:51 amHP is giving away laptop and printer bundles as part of its HP’s Create Change program which is an example of "embedded giving." That's a buzz word coined by Lucy Bernholz to describe the common practice of building a philanthropic gift into another, unrelated, financial transaction. Embedded giving is easy for individuals to do, and probably gives them an added psychological boost to know that spending money on purchasing something is not just an act of commerce, it's an act of generosity. The idea here is that if you purchase an HP product, they'll donate 4% to one of seven… -
PepsiFresh Contest: Real Tracking and Social Impact Analysis
6 Feb 2010 | 11:01 amI've been following the PepsiFresh contest since the launch in December, the largest social media for social good cause marketing effort put forth to date. I recently posted a guest post by Bonin Bough from Pepsi that gives the insider view. This is a big bold effort. I'm most curious to see how Pepsi will demonstrate leadership in social marketing and of course the longer term result - social impact.Jeremiah Owyang has shared his initial analysis of Pepsi's Contest, summarizing the opportunity, risks, strengths, weaknesses, metrics, and impact. Strengths:Pepsi's campaign has a few… -
I'm Headed for Nasscom Foundation's Indian Leadership Forum in Mumbai
6 Feb 2010 | 9:54 amThe Nasscom Foundation in India is the epicenter of nonprofit technology and social innovation. They are hosting the Global CSR track at the Indian Leadership Forum in Mumbai Feb 9-11. I'll not only be speaking at the conference and CSR Track, but will be leading two workshops for NGO and CSR practitioners. Nasscom Foundation is a partner of TechSoup Global and has an impressive technology product donation program called "BIGTech"Here's how they describe their mission and impact.NASSCOM Foundation was set up to support the Indian IT industry’s role in nation building and to…
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Fundraiser Insight
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How to Pull Together a Quilt Fundraiser
1 Feb 2010 | 4:00 amFundraisers that offer participants the opportunity to get crafty, and maybe even learn a new skill are among the top successes. If you’re playing with the idea of a craft fundraiser for your next charity event, consider a community quilt raffle.Quilt making has quite a following in many communities, and what’s even better is that you will raffle off the chance to win something that can become a family heirloom and be passed down from generation to generation.Quilt fundraisers are the ideal charity raffle for local town fairs and other community fundraising drives because they… -
Host a Healthy Skating Fundraiser
1 Feb 2010 | 4:00 amHealthy fundraising events are possible. Even in the middle of winter, you can incorporate some good old fashioned physical activity into your fundraising plan.Every time your child comes home with a new school fundraising project selling candy or cookie dough, you’re probably more worried about the potential dental bills. Schools concerned with healthy eating habits and food allergies might want to avoid food fundraisers altogether. It’s a good lesson for kids that delicious, fattening treats, as tempting as they are, don’t necessarily equate to a good cause. Plus, most active… -
Spelling Bee—Getting the Word Out
1 Feb 2010 | 4:00 amS-P-E-L-L-I-N-G B-E-E! Doesn’t this childhood competition take you back? Anyone who participated in a spelling bee as a kid knows how thrilling a competition it can be. Well, there’s no reason why, as an adult, you can’t find yourself in the spelling bee spotlight once again. That’s right—an adult spelling bee. Plus, everyone loves a hearty competition, making a spelling bee the perfect theme for your next fundraising event!Spelling bees are a fun day of competition, and other than some marketing efforts, they are very href="http://www.fundraiserinsight.org/featured/">profitable… -
It's in the Stars: Astrology Fundraising Ideas
1 Feb 2010 | 4:00 amLooking into my crystal ball…I can see a fundraiser in your future! What better theme to add some fun and mystique to your next charity event than astrology?A zodiac-themed evening filled with all of your favorite mystical activities—tarot card, palm, and tea leaf readings, a fortune teller with a crystal ball, numerology, past life regression sessions, and astrological readings—is a great way to bring fun and excitement to your fundraising efforts.The key to a successful fundraiser with an astrology theme has everything to do with creating the perfect setting. Staging a… -
Be Aware and Raise Money Every Month of the Year
4 Jan 2010 | 4:00 amEvery month of the year is designated as an awareness month for at least one cause. In some cases, certain dates or weeks are designated as awareness times. It may be a disease like cancer, an effort like quitting smoking, or a socially beneficial program like literacy. It could be that your group supports one of these causes directly, or the cause you support could coincide with one of these awareness campaigns. Either way, there are several ways to raise money for all the good causes that occur throughout the year. And in some cases, it's not about raising money, but about raising awareness…
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Step by Step Fundraising
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12 Ways to Use Social Media to Market Your Fundraiser
4 Feb 2010 | 6:23 amSocial media applications like blogs, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook can be useful tools to help you publicize, gain attendees and supporters for fundraisers such as benefit auctions. Not only are these tools free to use, but they enable you to relay short, constant reminders about your fundraiser. Creating “something to write” can be overwhelming for some people, so here are 12 auction-related ideas on what you (or your public relations volunteer) can post on Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, or other social networking sites to promote your benefit auction. 1. Announce donations: When an… -
2 Simple Ways to Increase Your Online Giving
1 Feb 2010 | 7:19 amSeveral weeks ago I decided to feature a local nonprofit organization I worked with years ago for Twitter’s #CharityTuesday, thinking that I might be able to drive a few extra dollars their way. So I paid a visit to their website to make a donation and copy the url. I searched and searched for a way to give. I knew that they had the capability because yours truly had set it up all those years ago. After searching through several pages, I finally came across this paragraph at the bottom of one page: If you would like to donate via the internet please go to www.JustGive.org or… -
Free Teleseminar: Tips for Creating a Fundraising Plan
27 Jan 2010 | 2:17 pmWant to hear some of my best ideas for creating a successful fundraising plan? Then join me for a f ree call next Thursday, February 4 at 3:00 pm eastern as I present my “Simple Success” Fundraising Plan. Register here for the call. Here’s some of what you’ll hear: Why you need a fundraising plan 7 questions your plan must answer The optimum number of goals you should set How to create goals that you can reach My proven tool to keep yourself on track each month Plus, you’ll hear about a virtual planning retreat I’m hosting in February. It’s unlike anything… -
Your Time and Effort Matter for Effective Fundraising
26 Jan 2010 | 6:05 amIn last week’s newsletter I featured Marc Pitman’s great ideas about The Pareto Principle: The 80/20 Rule for Fundraising. (If you’re not on our newsletter list you can sign up here.) Basically the rule says that 20% of your efforts produce 80% of results. This concept reminds us that effective fundraising is not just about the total amount of funds raised. It’s also not just about the age old debate about the costs to produce a fundraiser. Time, whether it’s paid staff or volunteer, is also really important. In this worksheet I include a column for you… -
The Pareto Principle: The 80/20 Rule for Fundraising
21 Jan 2010 | 5:00 amJanuary can be a great month to gain a new perspective on the things we do every day. One of those areas can be in the area of time management. There are so many time management techniques that it can be confusing. Often simplicity is the best! One of the simplest ways of organizing our time is using the Pareto Principle. The Pareto Principle Vilfredo Pareto was an economist in Italy around the turn of the century. One of his greatest legacies to us was his finding that 80% of the land in Italy was owned by 20% of the population. This became known as the Pareto Principle, also known as the…
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A Small Change
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Rochelle Zeidman: Featured Fundraiser
8 Feb 2010 | 7:00 amThis week’s Featured Fundraiser is Rochelle Zeidman.Thank you Katherine Wertheim for referring her to me. If you ever would like to nominate someone for Feature Fundraiser just send me an email. - Jason What kind of fundraising do you do and who do you do it for? Strategy, campaign, foundation, corporate, individual major and principal gifts, and board fundraising are the kinds of fundraising I do for local, national, and global non-profits. Also develop fundraising products. What keeps you going? Why do you keep working in development? Development is a means to an end. I work in… -
The Sun Will Be Out Tomorrow
3 Feb 2010 | 6:00 amA couple months ago, I wrote a post, Want to Versus Need to Hear. I had some great follow-up comments from that post, but I didn’t really give any practical advice about how to cope with receiving unwanted but needed advice. When I was heartbroken over some difficult issue at school, my father always had the same advice for me. My Dad would tell me, “no matter how bad it gets, it won’t feel as bad in the morning.” I’ve found that advice to be mostly true. Whenever I’m discouraged or frustrated, giving it a night’s rest has almost always worked in taming my emotions and giving me… -
A Donor List is More Than Past Giving
1 Feb 2010 | 6:00 amWhen I first started fundraising, I was always disappointed at how few names were on my prospect lists. It seemed that the majority of names I sent a letter or made phone calls to were the same names over and over again, and I consistently received a rather low response rate. So, I started looking in new places outside of just lapsed donors and donors from last year’s drive. Your local Book of Lists. Every community has those businesses that have become the popular ones to ask for money. Because these businesses get so much charitable attention, they can be the most difficult from which to… -
Who Talks to Your Donors
27 Jan 2010 | 6:00 amI have seen major gifts fundraising done in two significantly different ways. One involves an active fundraising board who participates in all the major gifts solicitations for the organization. The other involves staff cultivating and growing these relationships themselves. Each of these two models focus on a different component of the traditional linkage, ability, interest concept I mentioned earlier this week. Using your board to fundraise leans heavily on linkage as the major tool for fundraising. As community and business leaders, board members are a great connection to the community and… -
Linkage, Ability, Interest
25 Jan 2010 | 6:00 amLinkage, ability, interest are terms often used to describe a donor’s relationship to an organization; they do a pretty good job illustrating the key relationships donor’s have with an organization. Linkage- You have a connection, or link, through past giving or through a board member or volunteer. Finding this link is often your key to getting a meeting with a donor prospect and the key to closing the gift. Often, whoever you link is should be a part of the cultivation and solicitation process. Ability- A donor has the wealth or capacity to give a significant gift right now. Especially…
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Online Fundraising Blog
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Haiti disaster relief update: Patrick McCrann for Partners in Health
8 Feb 2010 | 5:00 amWe recently caught up with Patrick McCrann, leader of the “Run for Haiti” project. It’s a team of athletes working together to raise money online for Haiti disaster relief efforts, and they’ve raised over $29,000 in just 4 days. How did they do it? Not only did Patrick raise money online; he challenged his personal network [...] -
This week’s fundraising Best Practice: February 5 – Find fundraising opportunities from an existing event
5 Feb 2010 | 5:00 amOur friends at Teen Futures know how to mobilize grassroots support from their community. They’ve teamed up with the Pasadena Marathon to give their supporters the opportunity to run for a reason. What’s more, the folks at Teen Futures created this simple YouTube video to help their runners, walkers, and bikers start raising money online right [...] -
Free Webinar: Raise $1,000 a day for 30 days
4 Feb 2010 | 1:58 pmNonprofit organizations are seeking fresh ideas that will help lead to more donations and volunteer engagement. FirstGiving presents a FREE Webinar about online social fundraising while showing how one nonprofit raised $1,000 a day for 30 days online. You can easily design a similar fundraising program for your supporters as well. Join the Webinar to learn how. Please [...] -
This week’s nonprofit fundraising best practice: Jan 29 – Publicize event goals for your supporters
29 Jan 2010 | 5:00 amOur friends at the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center (BARCC) are getting the ball rolling early for their annual fundraising walk. Last year they exceeded their goals, thanks to their committed support community, and this year, they are setting the bar even higher. The folks at BARCC know that setting the right expectations and good communication [...] -
People on FirstGiving: Abe Clark is running across the USA
28 Jan 2010 | 5:00 amMany of us think of a marathon as a long way to run. And it’s true, 26.2 miles is a long way. But Abe Clark is planning on running 2862 miles – all the way across the USA – alone and unsupported. It is a monumental goal and one that has only [...]
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FundraisingIP
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‘Print-on-demand’ Calendars and Cookbooks For Your Next Fundraiser
3 Feb 2010 | 10:12 amWith the possibility of ‘print-on-demand’ and the ease of self publishing, products like calendars and cookbooks that were previously deemed too expensive or too time intensive to produce and sell for fundraising purposes have actually now become ‘quick to plan and sell’ additions to the collection of fundraising products. Calendars: In the old days you’d have to [...] Related posts:Make Money, Leave A Legacy – Have A Cookbook Fundraiser! Fundraising With Cheese Cake And Other Baked Foods Valentine’s Day Flower Fundraiser -
The Benefits Of Holding A Valentine’s Day Fundraiser
26 Jan 2010 | 9:51 amA Valentine’s Day fundraiser has several advantages to fundraisers held during other times of the year and has the potential to become one of your most profitable fundraisers. If you’re wondering whether a Valentine’s Day fundraiser is worth the effort it takes to plan and execute it, read on: Is Valentine’s Day A Good Time [...] Related posts:Make Money With a Valentine’s Day Fundraiser Valentine’s Day Flower Fundraiser Alternatives To Traditional Fundraising -
Valentine’s Day Flower Fundraiser
12 Jan 2010 | 1:08 pmEveryone knows that flowers and chocolate are the staples of Valentine’s Day. As a ‘no calorie’ fundraiser, a Valentine’s Day Flower Sale is a great way to capitalize on the expectations of the day! What Is A Valentine’s Day Flower Sale? In essence, a Valentine’s Day Flower Sale is a pre-order flower sale. Your group • Advertises the [...] Related posts:The Benefits Of Holding A Valentine’s Day Fundraiser Make Money With a Valentine’s Day Fundraiser Christmas Greenery Fundraiser -
Efficiency And Fundraising in 2010
6 Jan 2010 | 6:59 pmCommunity colleges are filled to the max, carpooling has become attractive again and low price leader Walmart has had one of its best years. All kinds of services are being more rationed than ever (health insurance, credit), and wasteful practices are uncovered and eliminated in just about every industry. The current recession has infiltrated many [...] Related posts:Recycle Ink Cartridges And Cell Phones – Tips For Success -
2009 Recap: New Challenges, New Ways To Raise Funds
23 Dec 2009 | 3:27 pmAs we’re wrapping up this year, we’d like to thank you, our readers, for your continued interest in FundraisingIP.com! We appreciate your comments and suggestions and will continue to provide useful fundraising information and new fundraising ideas. 2009 has been tough for many groups and organizations, but has also inspired some to try unusual approaches [...] Related posts:2008 Recap: Most Popular On FundraisingIP.com Raise Funds For Yourself? In The News: Record Profits, Mobile Donations – Using SMS To Raise Funds, New Online Fundraising Service
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Conor's Fundraising Blog
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It could be a little quiet…
14 Jan 2010 | 5:48 amI have some things coming up that may make it a little quiet around here for a while. I have some exams to do so all my spare time is going to be spent studying and then after that I will be out of action for 4 weeks as I am going on my (delayed) honeymoon…if you [...] -
Annual attrition survey now open to charities around the world
12 Jan 2010 | 6:52 amThis is a pretty interesting move by the PFRA in the UK. Their annual survey, now in its 3rd year, is for the first time being opened to charities across the world. They want to hear from you so they can measure attrition and retention of donors across the globe. This is the only survey of its type, [...] -
Pepsi Refresh Project
10 Jan 2010 | 12:36 pmPepsi have ditched their 33 million dollar super bowl advertising campaign in favour of a this new philanthropic effort, costing 20 million. A cycnic may say its a cost cutting measure but I think its a clever and more impactful move for Pepsi. Starting February 1, people can vote to give grants to a number of health, [...] -
Stillerstrong
7 Jan 2010 | 10:21 amA new charity set up by Ben Stiller called Stillerstrong…selling headbands! Brilliant….and the tag line for the charity is “STILLERSTRONG, STEALING GREAT IDEAS FROM OTHER CHARITIES TO BUILD A SCHOOL IN HAITI” came across this on UK Fundraising Posted in fundraising Tagged: Stillerstrong -
Great Ad – made me want to donate
6 Jan 2010 | 2:23 amBut its not for a charity. I think these ads for the CWDC Be the Difference campaign are fantastic. I think they make a really strong case. When I saw them first I thought they may have been for someone like Age UK or Barnardos. Posted in Fundraising Advertising Tagged: Be the Difference, CWDC [...]
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Fundraising Coach
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5 tips on choosing your nonprofit URL
2 Feb 2010 | 3:42 amQ: Marc, I’m embarrassed to admit that we don’t yet have a website. But do you have any advice about choosing a domain name? A: Great question! Getting a memorable domain name is a very important step in online fundraising. All fundraising, really. Donors often check out an organization’s website before making a gift. So putting thought into your domain name can help you raise more money. Generally, of course, you’ll want to choose the name of your nonprofit. But here are some things to think about as you decide. Keep it simple Try saying it aloud. Pretend you’re… -
5 tips for increasing traffic to your nonprofit’s website
19 Jan 2010 | 2:50 amQ: Do you know of the best way for my web site www.aidsadvantage.org to come up on search results when people type in the words “Aids, South Africa, Africa”? I wish to increase traffic to my web site and since this is unfamiliar territory I thought you could help me with this. A: Great question! I’m not an SEO expert, and I’ve never played one on TV. But here are some tips I’ve learning along the way. They’ll help raise your nonprofit website’s visibility with search engines so that people will find your site much more easily. Figure out what search terms… -
It’s Beth Kanter’s birthday
11 Jan 2010 | 1:32 amToday’s the birthday of the amazing Beth Kanter. I love her passion for nonprofits and social media. I’m particularly grateful for her helping us in the nonprofit world articulate metrics and ROI. Not only is she a really smart teacher, she’s also doing the actual fundraising herself. A great combination indeed! When I’m doing a fundraising training and get a question on social media ROI that I’m not able to answer, it’s a great relief to be able to encourage people to go to Beth’s blog! Beth’s birthday wish is to help Cambodian children get to… -
When is the best time to host a fundraising movie event?
5 Jan 2010 | 3:55 amWith the first blog post of 2010, I’m starting a series of posting questions I receive and my answers to them. Sort of a “Dear Abby” for fundraising. I’m calling it “Question Marc” — pun fully intended! It’d be great to have you take part. If you have a question about nonprofits or fundraising that you’d like considered for Question Marc? Send it to marc@fundraisingcoach.com. I won’t be able to answer every question, but I just might be able to answer yours! Q: I ran across your blog while researching a fundraising event I’m… -
Fundraising Secret #44: Up your giving this year
27 Dec 2009 | 4:17 amWondering how to increase your fundraising effectiveness in 2010? Here’s an idea: increasing your personal giving…to other organizations (not your own). Go check out Jeff Brook’s blog post “Fundraisers who don’t give don’t get it.” In it, he refers to a post by Seth Godin who says: … if you work for a non-profit and you don’t give money to charity, what exactly are you doing in this job? To the point, isn’t it? It’s really easy to get critical about other organization’s fundraising techniques. In fact, it can be easy to…
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Behind the Button
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A friend, cancer and a five year old post it note
21 Jan 2010 | 12:42 pmI've had an old post it note on my wall for five years, it simply says Call Dale -
Corey Dunn | An Adventure Well-Lived
8 Jan 2010 | 7:13 amI have come to know some remarkable people since I started Buttons of Hope. One of them Becky Giblin called me this week to share another tragic story of loss...and life -
Buttons of Hope Go Global
17 Dec 2009 | 7:17 pmYawn yet another global effort to honor and support a friend/colleague by wearing photo buttons. WAIT did you say Sydney?? as in Australia?...no my friends this effort by Text 100 to honor their friend Lisa was much more than a fundrasing idea - for heaven's sake she's dating Twilight's Rob Pattinson -
Who is on your button?...photo buttons are a powerful fundraising idea
12 Dec 2009 | 1:38 pmThe hardest part of fundraising is asking for a donation - even just starting that conversation can be uncomfortable for many people..and yet with a button pinned to her shirt or her purse or knapsack - people start the conversation, they ask Erin. A uniquely powerful fundraising idea. -
Everyone has a story...
6 Dec 2009 | 8:23 am....and they want to share IT! Everyone participating in a charity fundraiser has a story to share (often more than one) whether it be; Susan Komen Race for the Cure, Relay for Life, Memory Walk, March for Babies or Walk...
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Donor Power Blog
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Darwinism and Fundraising – an Observation.
3 Feb 2010 | 7:59 am“In the long history of humankind (and animal kind, too) those who learned to collaborate and improvise most effectively have prevailed.” – Charles Darwin Most industries, whether it be financial services, telecommunication carriers, sportswear brands, or whatever other commercial entity you can think of, go through a general business cycle as they evolve. A period of initial expansion, where many new “players” enter into an industry to capitalize on an opportunity, is then followed by a period of contraction or consolidation, where the strongest “players” acquire,… -
An Equal Opportunity Stimulus
22 Jan 2010 | 7:09 amOn Wednesday, the House of Representatives unanimously approved a bill allowing taxpayers who make a donation to victims of the Haitian earthquake to claim a charitable donation when filing their 2009 taxes this spring. Nonprofits who have the most to gain from this legislation, such as the American Red Cross and other disaster relief organizations, “wholeheartedly” favor this move because it encourages people to continue supporting their relief efforts. My initial thought that this was a good thing. Anything done to motivate more people to support earthquake… -
What can we learn from TV’s most popular curmudgeon?
23 Dec 2009 | 8:36 amI am referring to Gregory House, the brilliant medical diagnostician who is the poster-child for unconventional thinking. Season 4 introduced a group of Fellowship candidates that had to compete to make the final team of three. In Guardian Angels (episode 404 if you are interested), House axes the oldest candidate because the candidate thinks too much like House (ignore the fake doctor part). House needs alternatives. His professional relationship with his colleague Wilson is similar. He often says that Wilson’s thinking is nonlinear and sloppy, but it takes House… -
What can we learn from TV’s most popular curmudgeon?
23 Dec 2009 | 8:33 amI am referring to Gregory House, the brilliant medical diagnostician who is the poster-child for unconventional thinking. Season 4 introduced a group of Fellowship candidates that had to compete to make the final team of three. In Guardian Angels (episode 404 if you are interested), House axes the oldest candidate because the candidate thinks too much like House (ignore the fake doctor part). House needs alternatives. His professional relationship with his colleague Wilson is similar. He often says that Wilson’s thinking is nonlinear and sloppy, but it… -
Compete or Cooperate?
11 Dec 2009 | 11:30 amUSA Today recently published an article about several animal welfare charities cooperating with each other in dogfighting and disaster rescues; they included HSUS, ASPCA, American Humane, UAN and Best Friends. Kudos to those organizations for working together, because like many same-cause non-profits that compete for money from the same funding sources, those in the animal sphere vigorously protect their own individual projects and successes. The groups' differing approaches, scope and reach, plus, some ego issues, often block the notion of cooperation, except in…
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Blue Sky Collaborative
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More Evidence That Facebook is Not a Great Fundraising Tool for Nonprofits
25 Jan 2010 | 8:33 amAccording to post in Mediate,http://www.mediaite.com/online/facebook-takes-on-haiti-relief/, $400,000 has been raised through Global Disaster Relief fan page on Facebook. This is a fraction of what has been raised through txt donations. That's not to say that the page is a complete waste.... -
Good News On 'Haiti' Campaign Fees
15 Jan 2010 | 11:12 amLooks like the big cell phone carriers will be waiving their fees for the Haiti texts. It's unclear what those fees actually are. Is it the fee for the text or a fee for processing the transaction or both? http://con.st/10001074... -
Text Message Donations Should Embarrass MGive and Red Cross
14 Jan 2010 | 6:55 amAccording to a NY times article,the Red Cross has raised $2M in donations for Haiti disaster relief through text messages. http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/13/1-million-in-donations-for-haiti-via-text-message/?src=tptw The article also states that the funds take 90 days. 90 days. 90 days to get to the Red... -
Facebook, Twitter and YouTube Are Tools For Diplomacy
11 Jan 2010 | 4:17 pmsocial media is a perfect fit for the social sector. nonprofits and other orgs working toward the greater good can leverage these "free" tools. of course its takes time and resources to come up with an effective strategy but atleast... -
Charmin Raises $50,000 For Charity Via Celeb-Designed Toilet Seats
6 Jan 2010 | 8:01 amYet another example of a new age in Corporate Social Responsibility. Companies are incorporating their giving into their marketing and simultaneously generating "Buzz" The handout days are over so nonprofits should take note when they approach companies. Propose something creative...
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Fundraising Breakthroughs
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Who's Zooming Who?
28 Jan 2010 | 6:27 amInternational library, civil society, philanthropy pro Carol Erickson writes a thoughtful piece on the long-standing, under-acknowledged problem in philanthropy she calls the "donor deception dance." This same problem happens here, among U.S. funders and U.S. grantees. Just last night, I had dinner with an long-time friend in town for "strategic planning" at a national organization to come up with a plan and evidence of having done "something" in the last year under an enormous grant from a Big Name Foundation. In preparation for a site visit from the program officer. In two days. I doubt… -
What We Write About Now
22 Jan 2010 | 3:38 pmHere's the new www.wordle.com that shows what we write about on this blog.Here's the link to what we wrote about as of December 2008. -
Community Supported Theater
21 Jan 2010 | 3:23 pmI really love this idea, which producing artistic director Jon Stancato presents as a new business strategy for nonprofit theaters, but I don't see it as a new business model. It's more of a really brilliant frame or metaphor for much better fan-building/engaged donor-generating fundraising than most arts organizations do. Envious kudos to the NYC-based Stolen Chair folks for getting important funders to see it as a big innovation, and for getting some money to test it. But nonprofit arts organizations, are community-supported organizations. Or should be. Already. It's innovation, alright,… -
Social Innovation Fund
15 Jan 2010 | 3:42 pmLast Friday, at a few minutes to 5pm, I submitted these comments to the staff responsible for the Social Innovation Fund. Thanks to Sean Stannard-Stockton at Tactical Philanthropy for the e-mail address and the reminder to write. [Because nonprofit groups often cannot expand ideas that work because the nonprofit marketplace is 180 degrees from how the private-investment marketplace works because they don't have early access to capital for experimentation and expansion, testing innovation is tough.] Yes, and this gets at the challenge of how problematic it can be for successful and nationally… -
Make Your Next Meeting Laptop-Free
15 Jan 2010 | 6:31 amIt seemed almost radical, shocking even. I was facilitating a four-day planning meeting in Warsaw, Poland, and the client had declared the event to be “laptop free.”This was a rare chance for three different country teams to come together, and they wanted to make the absolute most of that time. It worked.I had almost forgotten what it was like to have a room full of faces turned toward me while I was speaking, instead of seeing them squinting down at their screens.Now, there was an official note taker for the meeting who was allowed a laptop. And, yes, I occasionally caught someone taking…
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Too Busy to Fundraise
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New Blog Location - Please Subscribe
21 Jan 2010 | 9:22 amMany of you have been following me on BLOGGER. I have just moved my blog to WordPress. Please go to the Blog link at http://www.toobusytofundraise.com On the TOP RIGHT there is a link "Subscribe by email" -- this will enable you to continue to receive notice whenever a new post is added to the blog.The new blog contains all the previous postings from this blog - but it will be the blog that I am updating in the future.I value your subscription and encourage you to subscribe again.SincerelyJanet Levine -
A New Year, a New Look
12 Jan 2010 | 5:42 pmJanuary 14, 2010 – if you are viewing this blog on BLOGGER / Blogspot.com please note that this has postings prior to January 14, 2010. The new blog on WordPress has both the old and newer postings. Please visit www.toobusytofundraise.comDear Readers, I am in the process of upgrading and redesigning Too Busy To Fundraise. It will have a new look. While I'm pretty sure this is not strictly necessary, it would be great if you could re-subscribe (or subscribe for the first time). I'd hate to lose any of you. As always, if you have any questions, contact me at janet@janetlevineconsulting.com. -
Business? As usual....
4 Jan 2010 | 4:16 pmAs we start on a new year, still smarting from scary economics and shaky financial futures, the old argument about why so many nonprofits are so poorly run is getting a lot of play. “We need to be run more like businesses,” one camp asserts. “Like Enron, GM, (fill in the blank)?” another group scoffs . We are—are not—businesses, which are—are not—a good (or bad) model. We are getting too hung up, I think, on nomenclature. The question that is too often asked is: Why is it so hard for organizations to understand that they must be run as a business? Rather, I think, we should… -
Taking Stock
23 Dec 2009 | 9:31 amSchool was not a high point in my life. I was, so my teachers always told me, smart, but I didn’t apply myself. Not in the classroom, not in after school activities, certainly not in the homework I was supposed to but never quite get to.It wasn’t that I was lazy, or even that I didn’t want to do it. Mainly it was that I didn’t know how. Studying was a complete enigma to me. I’d read the material, think I understood it, and then do poorly on the tests. I did pay attention in class—sort of—but I was painfully shy and so unless I was called on, didn’t participate. My shyness (and… -
Communicate, Evaluate, and Keep Everyone in the Loop
16 Dec 2009 | 11:40 amEvery so often I send an email to my sister with the subject line: The Whine Report. Then I proceed to bitch and moan about all that is rotten in my life and the world. One thing that would definitely get a headline in The Whine Report is the lack of ability many people seem to have with the word no.As a friend once told a prospective employer, you won’t have to put me on a suicide watch if the answer is no. I just need closure so I can move forward. I know that feeling well. It’s more than just saying no, of course. It’s the lack of communication about what is going on, what needs to…
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Nolo's Fundraising Tips
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Give Your E.D. a Break! Sabbatical Grants
8 Feb 2010 | 3:49 pmDuring a recession may seem like the last time your nonprofit would want to go without the services of its executive director or other key managers -- but such thinking just means you haven't read the report, Creative Disruption: Sabbaticals for Capacity Building and Leadership Development in the Nonprofit Sector, published by Third Sector New England and CompassPoint. Based on surveys of nonprofit executives who received grants to go on sabbatical, the report shows how their absence (of about three months) can help them recharge their batteries and return with new ideas and energy around… -
Twitter Followers Can Now Hear From Bill Gates
1 Feb 2010 | 10:08 amIf you're feeling the Twitter void from Miley Cyrus having deleted her account, here's something new to keep you busy: tweets from Bill Gates!Which raises the question, is someone at your nonprofit keeping the world up on your activities via Twitter yet? It's one of the fastest and easiest methods of reaching out to people.Of course, one has to wonder whether Gates writes his own entries or delegates this to his PR team -- he is, after all, reputed to be a pretty busy guy. But if you don't have your own PR team to handle such things, just bear in mind that there's something to be said for the… -
Unusual Foundation Funding: Who Knew That Playboy Funds Bunny Research?
13 Jan 2010 | 9:06 amFoundations can be narrow in their funding scope, it's true, but I recently came across a happy reminder that funding niches can be found in the most unexpected of places.Audubon magazine's January/February 2010 issue reported on the discovery of a new subspecies of rabbit by researchers who'd been funded by a grant from Playboy Enterprises. They named it, appropriately enough, Sylvilagus palustris hefneri. Before you start adding bunny projects to your slate of activities, take note that the grant has since run out, and the Playboy Foundation has turned its focus to supporting civil and… -
Fundraising Successes Over the Holiday Season
8 Jan 2010 | 10:25 amLest we think the news is all grim these days, here are reports of some nonprofits that have launched successful fundraising efforts despite the poor economy. For example, the Salvation Army of Livingston County, Michigan reportedly brought in more than $180,000 in Red Kettle Campaign contributions over the holiday season, surpassing its 2008 total of $158,000. It took 900 volunteers working more than 1,150 hours, including bell ringers who stood out in the cold and snow for hours at a time, but they ended up overtaking even their own money-raising… -
Stop the Obession With Percentage of Money Spent on Fundraising!
28 Dec 2009 | 10:41 amHere's an alarmist headline for you, from the Consumer Reports Money Blog: "What's a donor to do when a charity watchdog lowers its standards?"The article expresses concern (if less outrage than the title would imply) over the BBB Wise Giving Alliance's recent announcement that, in considering whether to accredit a nonprofit, it will look at whether at least 55% of its expenses were used for charitable programs, as opposed to fundraising and administration. That's a reduction from the former 65% standard. Their reasoning was that the economy is making it difficult for nonprofits to fundraise.
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UK Fundraising
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Corporates want their pound of flesh
8 Feb 2010 | 8:50 amAt a recent CSR presentation by a UK bank, I was struck by the highly commercial attitude this company is taking to its community involvement. read more » -
Fundraising is not for wimps
8 Feb 2010 | 1:46 amAt first, I felt dreadfully sorry for the fundraiser (as reported in Third Sector a few days ago) who was so upset by abusive phone calls from members of the public that she quit not just her job but left the whole charity sector. It’s not the first time that I’ve heard about a member of the public being so obnoxious that they’ve reduced a fundraiser to tears. In fact, it happened to someone I know just a couple of days ago. read more » -
Free (basic) information on newly registered grantmaking trusts
8 Feb 2010 | 1:29 amI was researching grantmaking trusts last week and when I checked up on some newly registered trusts, I came across the website of Dorset Community Action (www.dorsetcommunityaction.org.uk). read more » -
Getting people to talk....
7 Feb 2010 | 9:19 amIts amazing what the right few questions can get people to talk. And its amazing what they tell us when we ask.. read more » -
You missed a great First Friday yesterday – never mind there is one every first Friday of the month…
6 Feb 2010 | 11:01 amIt is said that a problem shared is a problem halved, and if you add tea, cake and some expert advice all for free it is probably quartered! read more »
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Who Really gives a Toss?
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Right. Who wants a job?
9 Feb 2010 | 6:39 amWe're going to need some more people. So we thought we should start sooner rather than later. We've even done a Facebook ad – so hello if that's how you got here.Our regular readers will know that we're the UK's fastest growing charity marketing agency. For those of you not in this line of business already, that means we raise money and awareness for good causes – on and off-line.We currently work with Action for Children, British Heart Foundation, Breast Cancer Campaign, British Lung Foundation, British Red Cross, CRUK, Oxfam, St John Ambulance & WWF – and we're talking to several… -
Knock Knock...
20 Jan 2010 | 12:43 amA very, very interesting blog post at Harvard Business Review about the effects of opt-out opportunities on subsequent giving and what this says about donor motivation.It's only about 200 words so read it now.Subscribe By Email to Ignore at Your Convenience! -
Record Breakers
19 Jan 2010 | 1:54 amAt Christmas, we worked with WWF on their most successful appeal ever – to help save the tiger. As part of the appeal, we asked donors to write messages of support to the rangers who work in the field. And here are a few of the many thousands that came back.Our Paypal/Oxfam Haiti appeal, meanwhile, looks like hitting seven figures. And we hit the streets yesterday with an appeal for British Red Cross. Fingers crossed.Terrible yet exciting times.Subscribe By Email to Ignore at Your Convenience! -
Quite pleased with this one
15 Jan 2010 | 6:54 amOpen was set up to bring the right people together to change the world. So it seemed pretty obvious to hook up a company that makes it easy for over ten million of of us to transfer money with an organisation that needs a load of money in Haiti right now.If you haven't had one of these rather functional but highly effective emails from PayPal already then we're a bit surprised. But you can give here anyway.Subscribe By Email to Ignore at Your Convenience! -
Listen...
7 Jan 2010 | 11:35 amWhat is this life so full of care we have no time to play in the snow, laugh and download rather wonderful mixtapes by Four Tet? Much Love To The Plastic People (DJ mix December 2009) by Four Tet
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WordPress Tag: Fundraising
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Pennine Way Taster - Video Aerial View
9 Feb 2010 | 8:54 amA quick taster video of what will be around Day 11 / 12 of my walk. The likelihood is that the video captures scenes which I will walk across both days dependent on where I make overnight stops. The video covers from Middleton-In-Teesdale to the stunning High Cup which I have to say is one of the (many) highlights I am looking forward to seeing. This incorporates a stretch of Teesdale with it’s Low Force and High Force waterfalls, Cauldron Snout, Cronkley Scar and Falcon Clints – enjoy! -
An Open Letter to Our Director of Development
9 Feb 2010 | 7:55 amDear Director of Development, We were really excited when we hired you. Mostly because we knew you w -
My Pennine Way Challenge Facebook Group Now Online!
9 Feb 2010 | 6:35 amI have created a Facebook Group for Facebook users to easily follow My Pennine Way Challenge. To join the group just go to: All are welcome, I look forward to seeing you there! -
Why I am proud that BHT Enterprises Ltd has bought a PR company
9 Feb 2010 | 6:18 amToday BHT, or at least its social enterprise subsidiary, BHT Enterprises Ltd., has bought local PR agency Blue Rocket and its sister agency, Green Rocket. The purpose of the setting up BHT Enterprises Ltd. (it was incorporated just before Christmas) was to allow us to undertake activities not permitted under our charitable objects, but designed to make some money. The profits of BHT Enterprises Ltd. are to be gift aided to BHT to support our charitable work, such as running First Base Day Centre that runs at a loss of over £100k each year. I am proud that BHT has had the vision to set up… -
Do Nonprofits Deserve a Second Chance?
9 Feb 2010 | 6:15 amTo the best of my knowledge, Judaism, Christianity and even plain-old, agnostic ethics advocates giving someone a second chance. But is this true with nonprofit organizations? Does a charity that has made mistakes and lost our trust deserve our donations in the future? This question was inspired by an article in CNN Money by Allan Chernoff entitled, “Is the American Cross Worthy of our Donations?” Haiti’s catastrophe has triggered an outpouring of support for the American Red Cross, which has raised more than $203 million for its Haiti Relief and Development fund in just three…
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Featured Blog Posts - My Social Actions
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The Cost of Changing Everything
A successful businessman said, "It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power." Inspiring. But in a down-spiraling economy, what is the cost of change? For most of us, change is not something we welcome with open arms. It can be expensive and exhausting. Some of us are so resistant to change that we have decided no matter what better comes along, we are sticking to our… -
The Overhead Question: (More) opportunity to reflect on the future of nonprofit assessment and reporting
This evening, I needed to do some thinking out loud about the ideas I wanted to carry to tomorrow's teleconference, "The Overhead Question: The Future of Nonprofit Assessment and Reporting." (Catch my first post with more info about the event and participants here). A summary of the twitter stream, slightly edited for formatting, follows. No, this isn't a proper substitute for a thoughtful blog post on the subject, but at least gets some of my ideas "out in public" in advance of tomorrow's call :) Many thanks to @HildyGottlieb for helping me think through these questions & goals, and to… -
Social Enterprise and Intellectual Property
Originally published on AshokaTech. One of the many sessions in Hyderabad that I'm really excited about is a discussion on intellectual property with Richard Jefferson of Cambia, John Wilbanks of Science Commons, Phil Weilerstein of the National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance, and Ashoka fellow Bright Simons of mPedigree. Here's a great interview with Richard Jefferson that ABC TV Australia ran a few months ago. Jefferson explains how Cambia is enabling biotech innovation by rethinking how scientists deal with IP issues. He makes the alluring point that open source - something… -
2010 Tech Award Nominations
Applied Materials Presents: The Tech Awards Nominations for 2010 The Tech Awards, a signature program of The Tech Museum, honors innovators from around the world who are applying technology to address humanity’s most urgent challenges. In partnership with Santa Clara University’s Center for Science, Technology, and Society, 15 Laureates are selected annually and $50,000 is awarded to one Laureate in each category: Environment, Economic Development, Education, Equality, and Health. Individuals as well as nonprofit and commercial organizations are eligible. Anyone may submit a nomination. -
Anyone in Tokyo?
Hi Concerned People! I am trying to get in touch with people in Japan, interested in working on an ambitious project named iKifu, which means in Japanese iDonate. I often think: "The world will never be perfect, but we can always improve it." Non Profit Organizations are existing, because they want a better world for the present and the future generations. The problem is that they all face common challenges: Lack of visibility, lack of financial support, lack of promotional budget, lack of staff, etc… At the end, it all comes to one point. In order to achieve their goals, they need…
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Get Fully Funded Blog
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Are you planning to get major gifts?
8 Feb 2010 | 6:02 pmAre you planning to get major gifts? Or are you waiting for a major donor to just pop up with a large gift? If you really want to get the most ‘bang for the buck’, plan to spend some time cultivating your top 10 donors this year. It can be intimidating to get major gifts when you’re just starting out in fundraising. But here’s the scoop: it’s all about building relationships. Think about your best friend and how your relationship started. You probably weren’t best friends from the first moment you met. It took time for it to develop. It’s a lot like… -
Nonprofit Fundraising Resource Roundup
7 Feb 2010 | 8:59 amSome interesting nonprofit fundraising resources from around the web. John Haydon has a great post on “How to get our nonprofit’s supporters to retweet content” http://johnhaydon.com/2010/02/nonprofits-supporters-retweet-content/ Katya Andreson has a great post showing a website makeover. Check it out at http://www.nonprofitmarketingblog.com/site/extreme_website_makeover_from_ick_to_slick/ Nancy Schwartz has a great post on How to Communicate in the Shadow of a Disaster. In other words, how do you keep telling your story when the world is focused on Haiti? Read it at… -
7 Questions your Fundraising Plan MUST Answer
5 Feb 2010 | 5:35 amYesterday, I led a webinar to teach people my “Simple Success” Fundraising Plan. One of the things I shared was the 7 questions your fundraising plan MUST answer. I thought you might enjoy them too, so here they are. 1. How much money do we need to raise? You need a specific goal for your plan. If you just want to “raise more money” you’re setting yourself up for failure. After all, how much is more money? $1 more? $100 more? 2. Where will the money come from? You need a mix of revenue streams to ensure the health of your organization. Will you… -
The Top 10 Reasons NOT to Plan
4 Feb 2010 | 6:12 amI thought I’d have a little fun here and list for you the Top 10 Reasons NOT to create a fundraising plan (David Letterman style). Here they are: 10. You like working in crisis mode. It makes the day more interesting. 9. You think flying-by-the-seat-of-your-pants is somewhere between “coach” and “first class.” 8. If you have a plan, you might lose your membership in “Underachievers Anonymous.” 7. You think “crisis du jour” means soup of the day and you’re hoping it’s broccoli cheese. 6. Being reactive actually forces… -
Are you planning to thank your volunteers?
3 Feb 2010 | 11:02 amThere are so many little things that get overlooked when we as Fundraisers get busy. One of them is thanking volunteers. I was coaching a busy Executive Director lately and she mentioned that she has a lot of people who are volunteering with her organiazation and doing sweet things. I asked her if she had thanked them recently. “Thanked them? Uh, no.” So here’s the idea I gave her. Go pick up a box of valentine’s and write a personal note on them, then mail them to your volunteers. It’s simple, it’s affordable, it’s quick, and it works! …
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Jewish Donor Blog
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The Remarkably Generous American Jews of 2009
8 Feb 2010 | 11:28 amSlate's annual top 60 list of the "largest American charitable contributions of the year" has been published and you can view the full 2009 list by clicking here. Ok, so none of the known Jewish... This is The Jewish Donor Blog, a blog by Negev Direct, about direct mail, fundraising stratagies, experience, putting the donor first and more. -
Jobs in Jewish Philanthropy 02.04.10
4 Feb 2010 | 12:05 pmSource: Philanthropy.com Senior Development OfficerCenter for Jewish HistoryPosted: 02/03/2010Category:Special eventsLocation:New YorkDirector of Leadership Giving, Capital CampaignJewish Home... This is The Jewish Donor Blog, a blog by Negev Direct, about direct mail, fundraising stratagies, experience, putting the donor first and more. -
Fundraising "Quote"
4 Feb 2010 | 11:56 am"2010 is not going to be the year of social media. 2010 is going to be the year of relationships. Yes, it will be the social media toolset that invigorates relationships. There is a subtle mindset... This is The Jewish Donor Blog, a blog by Negev Direct, about direct mail, fundraising stratagies, experience, putting the donor first and more. -
Email Marketing Tip of the Day
4 Feb 2010 | 11:28 am"Put a date in the subject line. Having a date or specific time period in the subject line generates increases in open rates of 39 percent, Schwedelson said. "By adding a sense of urgency, such as... This is The Jewish Donor Blog, a blog by Negev Direct, about direct mail, fundraising stratagies, experience, putting the donor first and more. -
Former Young Judaea head launches rival gap year program
2 Feb 2010 | 2:23 am$22,000 per person for one year of Young Judaea's Year Course??!! When I went in 1992 it was more like 5k. Wow. Anyway, here's a nice article from todays JPost.com about former Young Judaea... This is The Jewish Donor Blog, a blog by Negev Direct, about direct mail, fundraising stratagies, experience, putting the donor first and more.
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Pamela's Grantwriting Blog
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Social Media for Nonprofit – Re-thinking the Rules of Engagement
7 Feb 2010 | 11:15 amThis blog post came out of an impromptu phone conversation with marketing consultant, Rob Olic. The content was too good not to share. If you like it, let me know and I’ll get him to contribute again! Pam: Did you read my latest blog entry on engagement? Rob: Yes. Pam: What did you think? Rob: ((silence)) Pam: You didn’t like it. Rob: No, I really did like it. I found Aerin’s writing to be truly engaging and I think that’s what’s bothering me. Pam: Explain. Rob: Well, I was completely involved in reading her post…you might even say ‘engrossed’ and yet when I finished, it… -
Let’s Get Engaged, Honey
1 Feb 2010 | 7:26 pmLet’s just say it: engagement is a buzzword. I spent a few years in the educational publishing business, and it was a word I saw trotted out again and again, to describe every latest and every greatest. Engaging resources. Engage your students with this product. It’s all about engagement. After a while, a word loses it’s efficacy, particularly in a market where extremely similar products are being hawked to the same customer base, over and over again. And the unfortunate effect is that the problem these products tried to solve – lack of student engagement (or boredom), which is a… -
Don’t Give Me Gobbledegook …
29 Jan 2010 | 3:15 pmWith thanks to Hildy Gotlieb, I’d like to share this wonderful video. A good reminder to everyone who writes in the nonprofit arena. Social Bookmarking -
8 Biggest Grant Proposal Mistakes
26 Jan 2010 | 3:23 am1. Have you followed the grant application guidelines? When I worked for a grant-making foundation, you wouldn’t believe how many times my colleagues and I would look at each other with dropped jaws: “Did they even BOTHER to read the guidelines?” we would wonder. It’s truly astonishing how many organizations fail on this basic. They omit to include their 501c3 letter. Project budgets are left out. The audited financial report is missing. Here’s a tip: Take note of what is to be included and state it directly within the cover letter: In addition to our… -
My Theme for 2010 … Three Words?
15 Jan 2010 | 7:32 pmEvery year, I evaluate the year just passed. Did I meet my career goals? My health and fitness goals? Did I stick to my resolutions of the previous year? While, yes, I stuck to my fitness plan (for me that’s a no brainer. Exercise has been an integral part of my life for 20something years), I realized that I’d fallen off the diet wagon. No, I’m not talking about the latest fad diet – don’t believe in ‘em. But, I’m not twenty anymore and my days of eating pizza, cookies and burgers on a regular basis and counting on exercise to burn it off…
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Big Thinking on Small Grants
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Why Grassroots Grantmakers?
8 Feb 2010 | 4:30 pmOne thing that I don't say very often about small grants is that they are easy to make. Truth is, they are or can be.Put together a simple application, set a deadline, announce that you have money to give and work with what comes through the transom on deadline day. Read theproposals, select the best ones, write the award letters, cut the checks, mail the letters, put a tickler on your calendar to look for the final reports, skim and file final reports.There may be some tweaks that you need to make to your foundation's normal grant process and documents to make everything work better with… -
Another Example of Why "Volunteer" Doesn't Work for Me
31 Jan 2010 | 4:30 pmI know I'm venturing into dangerous territory - talking about the word "volunteer" again. I've been thinking about the front page story in yesterday's Houston Chronicle - especially what it suggests about how we regard and reward volunteerism, and what assumptions we make about the roles we play in making our communities work. I'm diving in with some thoughts and an open invitation to others to help me with a question that I believe warrants more exploration.Yesterday morning I read Mike Tolson's story about Maggie Allen (pictured here) - a woman who had worked 40 hears as barber, supporting… -
The Suburbanization of Poverty
20 Jan 2010 | 6:15 pmFor anyone who is thinking that investing in suburbia is a dilettante's way to think big about small grants, see this recent report from the Brookings Institute, summarized here.....January 20, 2010 — An analysis of the location of poverty in America, particularly in the nation’s 95 largest metro areas in 2000, 2007, and 2008 reveals that:By 2008, suburbs were home to the largest and fastest-growing poor population in the country. Between 2000 and 2008, suburbs in the country’s largest metro areas saw their poor population grow by 25 percent—almost five times faster than primary… -
The Most Powerful Thing You Can Do Today
19 Jan 2010 | 7:30 pmHey, Program Officer. Are you covered up with "to-do's" and wondering if any of the pressing items on your to-do list will actually make a difference?Here's one simple thing that you can do to powerfully supplement the small grants that you are making - and I bet it's not on your list.Make triangles. Make a connection between two people in your network. And make one of those people someone who is working on their block, in their neighborhood - one of those resident leaders you know through your grassroots grantmaking work. And the other? Anyone else in that extensive network you have as… -
High Cholesterol Grassroots Grantmaking?
11 Jan 2010 | 1:00 pmI follow Alison Fine's blog, A. Fine Blog, on social media and social change, and was fascinated with one of her recent posts, Associations as Networks Not Organizations. She was talking about the relationship between national organizations and their local chapters - and the demands that national organizations often place on local chapters in order to protect their national brand:Organizational complexity, particularly the rules that govern what chapters can and can’t do, is to social networks what cholesterol is to arteries and hair is to drains; it’s the gummy stuff that clogs…
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Kiva Loans
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Genoveva : Peru
9 Feb 2010 | 8:40 am$25 of $350 raised. Started raising funds on Feb 9, 2010 Genoveva is an associate of the Sonrisa (smile) Communal Bank. Genoveva is a single woman. She is 50 years old and has 3 children. Genoveva has a restaurant called Miski Mikuy, which means Rich Food in Quechua. She runs her restaurant every day and relies on 2 people that work with her. Genoveva needs a loan of 1000 soles, money that will be invested in the purchase of an oven. The dream of Genoveva is to finish building her house. Translated from Spanish by Barbara (B) Brown, Kiva Volunteer -
Esi : Ghana
9 Feb 2010 | 8:40 am$50 of $500 raised. Started raising funds on Feb 9, 2010 Esi is fifty-two years old. She is married and has given birth to six children, and three of them are pursuing education at the primary and junior high school levels. She is a petty trader. She sells smoked fish in the local market square. She obtains her supply from big-time fishmongers and retails the fish to her customers. She has been in business for about eight years. She distributes her fish to food vendors and households. She is requesting a loan to buy fish in bulk so that she can cut down on cost, as in frequent trips to… -
Comfort : Ghana
9 Feb 2010 | 8:40 am$0 of $700 raised. Started raising funds on Feb 9, 2010 On top of being an entrepreneur, Comfort, 32, takes care of her four kids. Currently, she has three of them attending school at primary and junior high school level. Comfort is hard-working and resourceful. She wants to make sure that she is financially able to support all of her children to the highest degree of education possible. She lives with her husband, a driver, and her children in a family house. She runs a grocery shop to help her husband provide for the family. She sells products like evaporated milk, candies, toiletries,… -
Vida : Ghana
9 Feb 2010 | 8:40 am$25 of $575 raised. Started raising funds on Feb 9, 2010 Vida is forty-seven years old. She is married and has given birth to three children. Her children are currently studying in primary and junior high school levels. She lives with her family in a family house. Vida works hard to help her husband to provide for the family. She wants to make sure she is financially able to support all her children through quality education. Vida sells foodstuffs. She sells plantains, cassava, yams, etc., on a tabletop by the roadside. She buys her goods from the farmers in the surrounding villages. She has… -
Luisa : Peru
9 Feb 2010 | 8:30 am$425 of $525 raised. Started raising funds on Feb 9, 2010 Luisa is 36 years old. She is married and the mother of a small son, who is her great motivation. Thanks to the work of her husband and herself, they managed to earn the money necessary to have their own house, where they live today. But at present, Luisa is having a bad time, due to the abandonment of her husband and perhaps that has caused the defiance of her son. In spite of this, she knows that she has to confront this situation with a lot of patience and knowledge, since she is now the only pillar of the home. For 16 years she has…
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Fundraising / Charity Ideas Blog
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2010 Fundraising Trends
5 Feb 2010 | 8:19 amHow do you prepare for your fundraising this year? Will the tentative recovery lighten the mood with donors? Regardless of what may come organizations and charities still have to raise money. No choice about the matter but what’s the correct route to take? Take a Little from a Lot of People I recently saw an ad for a Charity in Detroit (can’t remember the name) that is sending out envelopes and asking you for $1 for children with medical needs. This is a brilliant idea! How many times have you thought you would give to a couldn’t seem to part with the money. Everyone can… -
University & School Fundraising
3 Feb 2010 | 9:49 amDid I mention that justfundraising.com works with schools and their sports and music groups to help raise money for their funding? We help raise money for new equipment, uniforms, transportation, training and other expenses. If your university or school needs a hand raising money this year we might be able to help you out. In the meantime check out some great drumming from the Hampton University Drumline! See … again I’ve worked music into the blog. My powers are uncanny! -
The Pepsi Refresh Project
2 Feb 2010 | 7:02 amDo you think you’ve got a good idea for Charity? Do you have something in mind that has potential that you would like to get in front of somebody with money. What if it wasn’t even one person or company that judged you, but an honest assesment from an audience? I came across this site yesterday and wanted to share this with you. Before we go much further this is only open to the US and to implement for the benfit of US citizens. I’m mentioning this to our audience that the idea can be copied and used in other countries. The Pepsi Refresh Project takes 1,000 submissions for… -
Haiti Fundraising Update
1 Feb 2010 | 10:05 amWe’ve given 250 cards away, so we’re up to $28,750 for Haiti. Not bad huh. You guys are doing a good job, but we still have 250 more cards that we are giving away. If you want to help fundraise for Haiti please contact us at: 1-888-440-4114 www.justfundraising.com -
February Observances
1 Feb 2010 | 8:13 amFebruary is: American Heart Month National Children’s Dental Health Month Spunky Old Broads Month. (Somebody must make this stuff up) Freelanace Writers Appreciation Week 8 -13 International Flirting Week 8-14 (looking forward to that week!) Random act of Kidness week 12 -15 Feb 1 – National Freedom Day Feb 2- Groundhog Day Feb 10 -Chinese New Year Feb 14 – Valentine’s Day Feb 15 – Presidents Day Feb 16 – Fat Tuesday Feb 17 -Ash Wednesday
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Walkathon Guide
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Poll: When is your Walkathon?
30 Jan 2010 | 8:10 amThis is an anonymous poll, just because I am curious… Thank you for your help. Filed under: advanced preparation Tagged: polls -
Does Your Walkathon Need a Cause?
28 Jan 2010 | 2:42 pmI know it sounds backwards, but now and then I hear of a group who wants to do a walkathon, and needs to choose a cause that they can rally around. If you fit into that category, here is one great idea, called Clean Water for Ethiopia. Chris Guillebeau, author of The Art of Nonconformity, has [...] -
One Kid, One Bike, Big Success
26 Jan 2010 | 10:54 amCheck this out from today’s ABC News: “A young British schoolboy has raised more than 100,000 pounds ($160,000) Monday for Haiti’s relief effort by cycling round his local park.” Two thoughts for even the smallest walkathons (or bikeathons): Yes, you can do this! He took donations via a web page. Go online to maximize your fundraising and also so [...] -
Walkathon Volunteers
31 Dec 2009 | 1:21 pmHere’s a quick tip on how to get volunteers for your biggest walkathon planner and organizer jobs. Create a list of the walkathon jobs you need to fill. Then for each job, create a list of at least three candidates. Then just get on the phone (or email or Facebook) and start asking. [...] -
Welcome to Walkathon Guide
30 Dec 2009 | 4:24 pmWhat you can do on Walkathon Guide.
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Future Fundraising Now
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Brand standards vs. what works in online fundraising
8 Feb 2010 | 7:37 amGreat story in the Innovative Email blog: Change your calls to action & see your click-through rates soar. Through testing, they discovered that green call-to-action buttons got more clicks than other colors. (Interestingly, they've also found that the effective call-to-action color varies from one industry to the next.) Unfortunately, the company's website color-scheme demanded that the buttons should be red. Green buttons violated brand standards. (The happy end of the story is that they were allowed to test the effective color against the brand-compliant color, and the difference was… -
When nonprofits deny their mission
8 Feb 2010 | 6:19 amI have a strange collection. Over the years, I've been earwitness to several nonprofit organizations when they directly denied that they do what their name, mission statement, or marketing says they do. I've collected those denials. I'm not going to share any of my collection of nonprofit self-denials with you, because most of them are fine organizations that have since recovered from their folly. But the scope and audacity of their self-denials are breathtaking. It's as if an organization called Save the Trees had said We don't save trees. Or if a charity called People United to Love People… -
Why donors respond to stories
5 Feb 2010 | 4:15 amFundraising is a form of "elder marketing." Get your mind around that fact, and you'll do well. One of the things worth remembering about older people is that they think a little differently. Their brains are different from the brains of younger folks in a number of important ways. One of those differences is the way they process emotional and rational information. Here's how the Engage:Boomers blog put it at Make It Experiential: Resistance to emotionally neutral information (mainly processed in the left hemisphere of the brain) increases in midlife. Receptivity to emotionally enriched… -
Irrelevant images kill fundraising
4 Feb 2010 | 4:57 amCompare these two web ads for Haiti relief: The first one, for World Vision makes a clear connection between the words and the image. The second one, for United States Fund for UNICEF is startlingly incongruous. We see a mother and child. We assume they're Haitian, but they could be Canadian, for all we know. There's no hint that these two need help, are in danger, hungry, sick, or anything in particular. Kind of odd, given that a major city lies in ruins, something like 250,000 people are crushed, more than a million are homeless, and many more are struggling with hunger and disease. Now why… -
Why fundraising doesn't work when it should
3 Feb 2010 | 4:06 amSuperb article in the Washington Post about the puzzling way the human mind approaches human need: Beyond Comprehension: We know that genocide and famine are greater tragedies than a lost dog. At least, we think we do. Here's the key point for fundraisers: The reason human beings seem to care so little about mass suffering and death is precisely because the suffering is happening on a mass scale. The brain is simply not very good at grasping the implications of mass suffering. Americans would be far more likely to step forward if only a few people were suffering or a single person were in…
