Fundraising

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How to Promote Your Fundraising Event

FundraisingIP.com: Fundraising Ideas

FundraisingIP.com

26 Apr 2012 | 6:33 pm

Regardless if you’re holding one or several fundraisers each year, properly promoting each and every event will help you get the most out of your time and money invested in them. Even just a little bit of extra effort can result in much better results. Following some tips to get started with promoting your event: 1. Before you start promoting your fundraiser As with any larger event, the better you prepare for your fundraising event, including promoting it, the smoother it will run and the higher the chances that you’ll have a positive outcome. - Identify a budget for potential…
WANTED: Social media addict that likes free stuff

Stephen Thomas

Brock Warner

3 Apr 2012 | 6:50 am

UPDATE: Congrats to our winners, @indeedemma and @Jackie__Fox. If you’re coming to Digital Leap, be sure to say hello to them! There is no such thing as a local conference anymore. With social media, content is packaged and shipped from the podium to the planet within moments of it leaving the presenter’s mouth. Digital Leap has been built from the ground up to be a social conference. To spread the knowledge further, we’re giving away 2 free tickets to the best of the best at social media! You can be a Digital Dignitary at Digital Leap 2012 What’s in it for a Digital Dignitary?
Fundraising-palooza! Will GOP House Speaker John Boehner cross path with Obama on the Peninsula?

FUNDRAISING - Yahoo! News Search Results

15 May 2012 | 4:56 pm

It's getting crowded out there on the CA fundraising circuit: Republican House Speaker John Boehner may just cross paths with President Barack Obama on May 23 - as both hit the Peninsula for an opportunity to pick up...
Meet Our New Fundraising Coach!

GiveForward

Michael Powell

11 May 2012 | 4:40 pm

The best part of working at GiveForward is the one-on-one interactions that we have with our users, especially when it comes to fundraising coaching. Even though every employee at GiveForward is required to send out virtual hugs to a different user each day, we like to make sure that there are people here 100% committed to our users. So we are very happy to welcome Kristen Runvik to our team! And here’s a little bit of information that we’re sure you are itching to know… What are your favorite pizza toppings? Giardiniera, spinach, tomatoes, and garlic. It’s the best. Tell…
The Holy Grail of Development

Too Busy To Fundraise

janetlevineconsulting

10 Apr 2012 | 11:27 pm

According to Penelope Burk of Cygnus Applied Research the average amount of time a fundraiser stays at his or her job is 16 months. The direct and indirect costs of finding a replacement are $127,650, more than most development directors … Continue reading →

FUNDRAISING - Yahoo! News Search Results
Governor Patrick headed to West Coast on fundraising swing

16 May 2012 | 1:13 pm

Governor Deval Patrick, who has been leaving Massachusetts for more frequent political travel in his second term, is headed out of state again, this time to the West Coast for three days of fundraising and politicking. Patrick will fly to Los Angeles on Thursday for a fundraiser at a restaurant for his federal political action committee, Together PAC, an aide said. The next morning, will he ...
Media Alert: AudienceView to Showcase Industry-Leading Ticketing, Fundraising and Customer Relationship Management ...

16 May 2012 | 8:00 am

AudienceView will showcase its industry-leading ticketing, fundraising and customer relationship management solution as the title sponsor of the upcoming 2012 Europe Talks Tickets
Obama's April fundraising drops to $43.6 million

16 May 2012 | 7:10 am

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama's re-election campaign and Democratic groups affiliated with it raised $43.6 million in April, a decrease from the previous month despite the start of a robust general election campaign against Republican Mitt Romney. Ninety-eight percent of the donations were less than $250 in April and the average donation came in at $50.23, campaign manager ...
Fundraising Dinner: No Basis for Suspicions, Teresa Kok Tells MD

15 May 2012 | 10:10 pm

KUALA LUMPUR: Seputeh MP Teresa Kok reiterated that money collected from a fundraising dinner last weekend organized by her Kinrara Service Center was used entirely for the purposes of raising funds for DAP as resources for the upcoming general elections.
Fundraising-palooza! Will GOP House Speaker John Boehner cross path with Obama on the Peninsula?

15 May 2012 | 4:56 pm

It's getting crowded out there on the CA fundraising circuit: Republican House Speaker John Boehner may just cross paths with President Barack Obama on May 23 - as both hit the Peninsula for an opportunity to pick up...

FUNDRAISING - Bing News
IMPORTANT: Bing News RSS feed has moved!

16 May 2012 | 6:46 am

Go to the new RSS page and renew your subscription.
Obama's April drops to $43.6 million

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama's re-election campaign and Democratic groups affiliated with it raised $43.6 million in April, a decrease from the previous month despite the start of a robust general election campaign against Republican ...
-palooza! Will GOP House Speaker John Boehner cross path with Obama on the Peninsula?

It’s getting crowded out there on the CA circuit: Republican House Speaker John Boehner may just cross paths with President Barack Obama on May 23 — as both hit the Peninsula for an opportunity to pick up barrels of campaign cash.
Obama's, Democrats' efforts slump in April

President Obama's campaign and the Democratic party committee helping him get re-elected raised $43.6 million in April, down from the previous month's take, despite the beginning of the general election campaign, with Mitt Romney all but ...
Sacramento Philharmonic reaches goal, saves season

The Sacramento Philharmonic reached its goal of raising $150,000 by a self-imposed May 15 deadline, persuading the organization's board of directors to vote Tuesday evening to keep the orchestra operating through the 2012-13 season. "We're very ...

Beth’s Blog
Akilah Institute for Women: Social Media Workshop

Beth

16 May 2012 | 10:24 am

Akilah workshop View more presentations from Beth Kanter After the ACE leadership training, I had the opportunity to spend a day in Kigali. I volunteered to do a Social Media and Professional Networking workshop for second year students at the Akilah Institute for Women. The mission is to empower young women in East Africa to transform their lives by equipping them with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to find meaningful employment and launch ventures in the fastest growing sectors of the economy. The organization was founded by Elizabeth Dearborn Davis and Dave Hughes. I…
Social Media, Networking, and African Women’s Leadership Training in Rwanda

Beth

15 May 2012 | 10:00 am

For the past ten days, I’ve been in Rwanda, Africa. I was honored to be a trainer as part of the launch of the ACE Leaders Project, a program developed by the Institute of International Education Sub-Saharan Regional Office and supported by the Packard Foundation. The project is under the visionary leadership of Cheryl Francisconi who is the director of IIE’s office in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia and has vast expertise in developing, designing, and implementing transformative leadership programs for several decades. The project mobilizes leading women’s organizations and…
Need Answers: LinkedIn Has Them

Beth

14 May 2012 | 10:44 am

Note from Beth: I’m just finishing up an intensive training here in Rwanda. I was out in a rural area where Internet connectivity was a huge challenge, so was not able to blog, But now that I’m back in Kigali with a good Internet connection, expect to hear more about my experience teaching social media and the Networked NGO. Right before I left for this trip, Geri Stengel, shared a guest post about nonprofits and use of LinkedIn that was of interest to many folks. So, when Geri offered up this second post about nonprofits and LinkedIn, I couldn’t…
Are You Being Left Behind as Technology Ushers In a Whole New Approach to Philanthropy? #CoFLA

Beth

4 May 2012 | 9:25 am

Note From Beth: Just before I left for Rwanda, I caught some interesting discussion threads about organizational adoption of networked ways of working on Twitter coming from the #COFLA hashtag as a result of the Council on Foundations gathering in Los Angeles. I discovered that it was Larry Eason from DotOrgPower and his colleague, Shelley Wenk, offered to write this summary of the discussion as a guest post. When I landed, I was able to get the guest post from Shelley via email and publish it because Rwanda has one of the better Internet connectivity infrastructures for the countries…
Attention Data Nerds: Nonprofits Miss Out on the Power of LinkedIn: Learn How to Tap It

Beth

3 May 2012 | 10:02 am

Note from Beth: By the time you are reading, I’ll probably have been on a jet plane for far longer than I want to be and maybe have landed in Rwanda. Once I recover from the journey, expect read reports about the Networked NGO in Rwanda and use of social media to support Women’s Rights organizations. If you’re motivated to go deeper on LinkedIn after reading this summary, you will want to check out my curated list of nonprofit and LinkedIn resources here. Nonprofits Miss Out on the Power of LinkedIn: Learn How to Tap It – Guest Post by Geri Stengel …

Step By Step Fundraising
State’s junk food ban could take bite out of school fundraisers

Howard Gottlieb

7 May 2012 | 3:37 pm

We were a little stunned when we saw an article that was posted on the Drudge Report. The story comes from the Boston Herald and it talks about how state regulations would negatively impact school fundraising efforts .. especially cookie dough fundraisers and bake sales. The articles starts with: The Departments of Public Health and Education contend clearing tables of even whole milk and white bread is necessary to combat an obesity epidemic affecting a third of the state’s 1.5 million students. But parents argue crudites won’t cut it when the bills come due on athletic equipment and…
Cookie Dough Fundraisers to Try

Howard Gottlieb

2 May 2012 | 3:37 pm

We’ve meant to discuss the effectiveness of cookie dough fundraisers for a long time and now that the fundraising season is ending for schools and sports organizations we felt like this was as good a time as any. Cookie Dough fundraising has been around a long time. Historically larger groups chose this option because of the minimum order requirements and difficulties handling a frozen product. But as time progressed programs were designed that allowed smaller groups to chose this option as well. Companies started lowering minimum orders and they started marketing the fundraiser to…
Even Towns Look for Fundraising Ideas

Howard Gottlieb

16 Mar 2012 | 3:40 pm

Times are getting so bad that even towns are looking for fundraising ideas to raise money and other ways to reduce spending. Shawn Touhill, a Doylestown Township supervisor, got people together as part of a new town fundraising committee. They gathered Monday night to brainstorm ideas for saving and raising money. Most of the ideas came from township staff, who suggested everything from enforcing existing ordinances (to increase revenue from fines) to requiring inspections on homes before they’re sold (and charging the seller) to holding Bingo nights to hiring a grant writer. Doylestown has…
Activity Based Fundraisers Booming

Howard Gottlieb

7 Mar 2012 | 8:51 am

We ran across an article the other day that was encouraging. It talked about activity based fundraisers like walks and runs and how they had set new fundraising records in 2011. For the past few years there’s been lots of talk of the decline in product fundraising. The main reason given time after time has been childhood obesity. Schools and large organizations started to move away from food products that had been a staple in the fundraising industry for them and were seeing declines in the amount of money they raised. Is it possible these smaller groups could learn from these large…
Lessons from Presidential Fundraising

Howard Gottlieb

6 Mar 2012 | 9:36 am

If you think presidential fundraising is different than the way you raise money think again. There are lots of similarities. The one I’d like to discuss today is the need to bring star power to your fundraising event. Apparently former President Bill Clinton has agreed to make joint appearances with President Barack Obama at a series of campaign fundraisers. One would think having the current President present would be enough for any fundraiser. But the people in charge of raising money understand the need for even more star power. So the handlers have arranged for President Clinton to…

A Small Change
Campaign Volunteer Recruitment

Jason Dick

21 Apr 2012 | 2:21 pm

Is it better to commit a campaign commmittee member to giving and a job description or engage them slowly? The simple answer is yes. If you have volunteers that you can go to and ask to get heavily involved in campaign fundraising, it is always prefered to set high expectations from the start. However, most organizations do not have a large quantity of major gifts level volunteers who are willing to invite there friends to join them in giving. And, if your organization does have these people they are likely on your board. Practically you will seed your committee with a couple of solid board…
An Ask is An Ask

Jason Dick

7 Mar 2012 | 10:52 pm

You may have heard a guideline, “ask for three times what you’d like a donor to give.” This is a mantra that’s often used as a technique to get a stretch gift. That guideline is a very poor rule of thumb. A good ask is one the donor feels they could stretch to make but does not feel like is out of their ability. The magic of asking for a specific amount is that you can encourage a donor to think about a larger gift than they would traditionally do. If a donor has said yes to you soliciting them for a gift, then they have already indicated that they are…
It’s All Greek to Me

Jason Dick

6 Feb 2012 | 8:12 pm

I recently joined a committee that funds social services projects in the city in which I live. At one of our meetings the committee was discussing setting our funding guidelines. I’ve been a part of the grant writing process for many years and have seen the result of some of the stranger and more involved funding questions. Maybe it was just my revenge on the funders but I realised quickly that funders and nonprofits do not always speak the same language. The intention behind a funding guideline does not always translate into the intended results. Here are a couple of examples that came…
Fundraising is Not a Narcotic

Jason Dick

23 Jan 2012 | 11:48 pm

Over the last few months I have been secretly peddling drugs. My blog was hacked and, unknown to me, written into the metadata was advertising for a narcotic. I’m very sorry that I did not catch it sooner. I deleted my site and reposted everything and have solved the problem. I was thinking about what I want my website to be about and I reflected on what fundraising is about. There is not a lot in common between fundraising and drugs. Fundraising is about capacity building for good work in our communities. It is about providing people a chance they never had before. However some people…
Don’t Forget Your $1,000 Gifts

Jason Dick

17 Oct 2011 | 9:00 am

Every organization understands the value of their very top 20 donors. It is easy to see the importance of a $10,000 annual donor. Many organizations have a cut-off as to when the “major gift” starts; often times this is $1,000. Don’t forget the value of those donors that are right at and right before that cut off. This group knows they are not your top donors but are giving because your organization is an area of passion for them. They want you to keep in touch but don’t expect as much attention. (This group is a really great group to talk with about planned gifts. If a donor can give…

FirstGiving Blog
Back to Basics – How to set up a Facebook Fan Page for your nonprofit

Dan Fonseca

16 May 2012 | 2:00 am

Facebook Fan Pages are a great way to reach your supporters in a social community. Here’s why. Facebook Fan Pages are specific pages for a variety of users, including businesses, organizations, celebrities, or any other institution. It’s important to engage with your supporters in a social space, like many nonprofits have done already. Here’s a quick read on how you can set up a Facebook Fan Page for your organization and interact with you supporters through social media. First steps: Choose your page type Go to https://www.facebook.com/pages/create.php. If you’re logged in…
Addressing the digital divide when fundraising online

Dan Fonseca

15 May 2012 | 2:00 am

According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, the digital divide refers to any “inequalities between groups, broadly construed, in terms of access to, use of, or knowledge of information and communication technologies.” When we speak about the digital divide in peer-to-peer fundraising we are talking about how individuals and nonprofit organizations are hindered by the fact that other parties around them have not adopted or have access to the technology required to make online fundraising happen. Though it can refer to both the individual and nonprofit, the challenges usually…
Fundraising Idea – Donations in lieu of graduation gifts

Dan Fonseca

14 May 2012 | 2:00 am

Asking for donations to your favorite nonprofit in lieu of gifts is something we see very often for a number of different occasions. With graduation season in bloom, consider asking for donations at your graduation celebration. This could be a fantastic way to make this landmark event even more meaningful. When sending out your party invites, whether it be online or in print, include the url to your fundraising page to encourage invitees to make a donation to the cause you’ve chosen. Include some information about the nonprofit and why you have decided to for go gifts for this cause.
Donate Now Button series: Take donations in multiple locations

Dan Fonseca

11 May 2012 | 2:00 am

Streamlining your donation process and providing multiple avenues for your donors to contribute is the last piece of the donation puzzle. Not all of your supporters will come in contact with your organization directly through your website. Be sure you have donation options wherever a donor may connect with you. We provide you with a Facebook Donate tabs for taking donations on Facebook, and spreading the word virally. Similar donation widgets can be embedded on a blog as well. Keep the donation process simple It’s important to make the online donation process as seamless as possible. Limit…
Donate Now Button series: Communicate your ideal donation method

Dan Fonseca

10 May 2012 | 2:00 am

Your donors may be unaware of the number of choices they have to contribute to your organization. Let’s change that. Not all donation methods are created equal Some donation processes are preferred by some organizations over others; for example, perhaps processing checks is a pain for your volunteer-run organization. Be sure to clearly list your preferred donation methods, whether it be online or by check, making it clear that there are multiple options for your donors to contribute is important. Equate donations to physical impact Another great way to suggest a donation amount to your…

FundraisingIP.com: Fundraising Ideas
How to Promote Your Fundraising Event

FundraisingIP.com

26 Apr 2012 | 6:33 pm

Regardless if you’re holding one or several fundraisers each year, properly promoting each and every event will help you get the most out of your time and money invested in them. Even just a little bit of extra effort can result in much better results. Following some tips to get started with promoting your event: 1. Before you start promoting your fundraiser As with any larger event, the better you prepare for your fundraising event, including promoting it, the smoother it will run and the higher the chances that you’ll have a positive outcome. - Identify a budget for potential…
New Options for Mobile Donations

FundraisingIP.com

6 Mar 2012 | 3:19 pm

You can already collect mobile donations via an SMS text donation campaign through companies like mGive or MobileCause. However, these services are relatively expensive and aren’t suitable for smaller fundraising campaigns, or drives that need to be organized and executed quickly. It’s also hard to collect donor data and impossible to enable recurring gifts. If you’re interested in harnessing mobile donations for your future fundraising campaigns, without the disadvantages of text donations, keep an eye on the new mobile payment services springing up. (Maybe we will finally…
How To Ask For Donations From A Large Company

FundraisingIP.com

9 Feb 2012 | 1:56 pm

Large companies support charities on a large scale, providing financial support through fundraising events and donations, in addition to providing publicity of their sponsored non-profits among their employees. But even large companies may have to lower their cash donations during tough economic times and will often resort to making up at least some of the difference through in-kind donations or giving their employees paid time off to volunteer. How you ask can make the difference between getting a donation or not. Following are a few points to consider when approaching a company for…
Food Truck Fundraiser

FundraisingIP.com

31 Jan 2012 | 2:12 pm

Maybe you’ve already seen them in your neighborhood, or heard about them in the news: a new generation of food trucks that serves everything from tri-tip and crepes to cupcakes or any ethnic cuisine you can imagine. Unlike a traditional ice cream truck, or the hot dog and taco wagons at a downtown street corner, these new gourmet food trucks are modern kitchens on wheels. Sure, you could raise funds with the old fashioned food trucks as well, but the diverse cuisines of the new gourmet food trucks will get people curious and surely attract a large crowd. Besides, who can resist a…
Make Money With a Valentine’s Day Fundraiser

FundraisingIP.com

25 Jan 2012 | 12:00 pm

Valentine’s Day is one of the best times of year to hold a fundraiser! A Valentine’s Day fundraiser offers the advantages of • Decreased competition from other fundraisers – as opposed to the busy times of year for fundraising like Christmas and Fall, when many local and nationwide groups launch major campaigns • Demand for novelty products and candy • Opportunity for entertaining event-based fundraisers Every type of Valentine’s Day fundraiser offers a variety of ways to make money. Some, event-based fundraisers especially, can bring in profits in more ways than…

Conor Byrne's Blog
The Colour Run

conorbyrne

16 May 2012 | 3:23 am

Saw this on the Goons + Loons blog, great, cheerful, uplifting idea. Would be great for a brand in the colour space to do this? Filed under: Brand, Consumers Tagged: Colour Run, Goons + Loons
Real-time Facebook ‘likes’ displayed on Brazilian fashion retailer’s clothes racks

conorbyrne

14 May 2012 | 2:58 am

(Source: theverge – via Goodbuzz) Fashion retailer C&A’s Brazilian arm is doing what it can to stay on the pulse of social media. A new initiative called Fashion Like allows people to ‘like’ certain items of clothing on the company’s Facebook page, and these clicks are collated and displayed on the relevant clothes rack in [...]
World’s Longest Lasting Click – Banner Ad

conorbyrne

11 May 2012 | 2:54 am

To drive people to The Stride League of Ridiculously Long-Lasting Records, we conceived of a banner ad that would test the limits of man’s ability to click a mouse and hold it. The results, a click-through rate that is currently at .9% (the industry standard is .07%) and one young gentleman who held a click [...]
Web 3.0

conorbyrne

10 May 2012 | 7:29 am

I read a great piece on Forbes that said Web 3.0 won’t happen because the new breed of companies aren’t thinking about launching on the web. They said in the piece: These companies – and Instagram is the most topical example at the moment – view the mobile smartphone as the primary (and oftentimes exclusive) [...]
We are in culture – not sales

conorbyrne

8 May 2012 | 4:23 am

Great presentation by the fantastic Helge Tennø Filed under: Advertising, Brand, Consumers, Digital Marketing Tagged: brands, Consumers, Culture, Helge Tenno, Sales

FundraisingCoach.com
2 phrases to use when asking for money

Marc A. Pitman

8 May 2012 | 7:10 am

I normally speak to large groups at conferences or to entire development teams, but I’ve been privileged to do a lot of one-on-one major gift fundraising training this year. One of the most common questions I am getting from nonprofit employees and board members alike is, “Ok, the ‘Get R.E.A.L.‘ formula is nice, but when it comes tom making the ask, what do I say?” It’s a great question. Fundraising isn’t a business transaction. Donors aren’t picking an item off the shelf and going to the cash register. If it were that simple, asking…
The 3 best times to ask for money

Marc A. Pitman

22 Apr 2012 | 9:28 am

Lots of us will be thinking about how to be more “green” since today is Earth Day. But how can we make our nonprofits more green? As in taking in more dollars? Ask! You knew that was coming, didn’t you? Asking for money is where the magic happens! The 3 Best Times to Ask There are 3 optimum times to ask for a major gift: Before you meant to ask When you meant to ask After you meant to ask Let’s look at these in depth. Asking before you meant to Successful fundraising involves cultivation, time getting to know the donor and letting the donor get to know you. Typically,…
3 Common Questions about 100 Donors in 90 Days

Marc A. Pitman

12 Apr 2012 | 10:04 am

Since launching “100 Donors in 90 Days” on Monday, we’ve had many folks email and ask us some questions about it. There have been three main questions asked about the system, I emailed the answers to those on my newsletter list earlier today. But I figured more of you might be wondering so I decided to share them here too. Question 1 – Will “100 Donors in 90 Days” work in a small organization or is it just for organizations with large development shops? Answer – The “100 Donors” system was actually created for the smaller shop nonprofits.
Don’t turn to the “dark side”

Marc A. Pitman

10 Apr 2012 | 7:01 am

We fundraisers are a fascinating group of talented individuals. But this year, I’m seeing many of us talk ourselves out of asking for money, even when the donors have told us they’ll give! I guess it should make sense: successful fundraisers need to be good storytellers. But as they say, your greatest strength can become your greatest weakness. Rather than using that storytelling imagination to imagine reasons why the donor might want to give, we often build stories about why this is a bad time to ask for money. And we can be quite convincing! The good news is that if we’re…
Could you use 100 new donors in the next 90 days?

Marc A. Pitman

9 Apr 2012 | 5:49 am

As the one-person development office at a rural hospital, my CEO kept asking me: “Why are we going back to the same people? When are you going to find new people?” He wasn’t impressed by all the statistical and logical answers about donor retention and most of the money coming from those who already love us. He glazed over like I was trying to trick him with smoke and mirrors. Honestly, it even sounded to me like I was making excuses. I wish I’d had 100 Donors in 90 Days back then! 100 Donors in 90 Days Last fall, I started brainstorming with the folks at 501 Videos…

SWEET Online Fundraising Blog
Current list of Payment Gateways compatible with SWEET Peer to Peer Fundraising Software.

blueskycollaborative

14 May 2012 | 2:41 pm

SWEET works with any of the following providers. We're adding more all time so ask if you're gateway is not here. Paypal http://www.paypal.com Google Checkout http://checkout.google.com Authorize.net www.authorize.net Sage Payments http://www.sagepayments.com/ IATS http://www.iatspayments.com/ Acceptiva http://www.acceptiva.com BluePay http://www.bluepay.com Cybersource http://www.cybersource.com VANCO...
Myra Biblowit discusses Leadership in the Nonprofit Sector

blueskycollaborative

4 Apr 2012 | 9:07 am

Myra Biblowit, President of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, discusses Leadership in the Nonprofit Sector There are so many challenges facing the sector today. Increased demand for services, steep cuts in government funding, fewer and fewer corporate funders, the list...
Online Giving Benchmark Study Confirms The Obvious but is Interesting Nonetheless

blueskycollaborative

3 Apr 2012 | 11:53 am

Here are some of the key findings in the study: 1. Online fundraising continues to grow robustly 2. Online represents a strong donor acquisition channel 3. Online giving continues to grow fastest for small organizations Some other info can be...
For Nonprofits Mobile Web is better than Apps

blueskycollaborative

11 Jan 2012 | 4:11 pm

Here's a short list of reasons why nonprofits should focus more on making making their websites mobile friendly and less on App development. Creating and Maintaining an App is expensive. Making your existing website mobile-friendly is easy and not so...
Mobile Version of SWEET Pledge Fundraising Website Shows Great Promise

blueskycollaborative

6 Jan 2012 | 2:05 pm

In the online fundraising world, "great promise" means donations. In the 1st week after we launched the mobile verison of http://hope.cupidsundierun.com, 60 donations came through from Iphones, Ipads, or Android devices. Most orgs don't see 60 donations from mobile users...

CharityFocus.org: Incubator of Compassionate Action
12-yr-old's Letter to the Editor

Ilonka Wloch

14 May 2012 | 2:00 am

In the spring edition of Positive News we have featured a story about a really remarkable woman - German Grandmother Lives without Money for 16 Years. The other day we got a letter to the editor from a 12-yr-old commenting with remarkable insights on that story. He wrote: "One day, my English teacher Don Jolly, asked us to pick an article in a newspaper on which we could write a persuasive letter to the editor. Immediately I thought of Positive News. This newspaper has lots of really cool ideas. I looked through the paper and found the article about how Heidemarine, a German grandmother…
Teens meditating

Manisha Pahwa

13 May 2012 | 2:00 am

Last weekend I had the great privilege and honour of being in the presence of teenagers on a one-day meditation course. On a sunny day when they could have been hanging out with their friends, playing sports, or going to the beach, 20 young girls and boys between the ages of 12 to 17 chose to spend a full day learning the art of stillness. Their reasons? "To find inner peace", "To improve my focus", "To find happiness", and other noble intentions. :) It was so inspiring to see a new generation of meditators work diligently as well as connect with each other in…
The Action of Light/new issue of works & conversations

Richard Whittaker

12 May 2012 | 2:00 am

1500 copies of the new issue of works & conversations [#24] should arrive at my house in a few days. This issue took me a little longer than expected, but it's worth the wait. I'm really looking forward to spreading it around. It opens with a quite unusual and inspiring story from which I took the theme for the issue: the action of light. This is an interview with Joan Di Stefano who just walked up to me out of the blue and asked if I'd do a story on her. I don't expect much from such encounters, but this one was different. Fortunately I asked her to sit down and tell me…
From Toni to KarmaTube to Deke.

Yoo-Mi Lee

12 May 2012 | 2:00 am

"Hi ... thought I would bring to your attention this little film...it is EXTRAORDINARY and made by an 18 yo guy.. still in school. It has not long been out and only had about 1,000 views...but you will love it. I am on a mission to get as many people to see it as possible (no i don't know him personally, i am in australia, he is in the usa)" This message came to us from Toni Powell, who, along with her daughter, Hailey Bartholomew, run the 365 Grateful project. We now have "Seeing" up on KarmaTube, and the young filmmaker is thrilled. "I can not tell you how…
Books and more Books

Ana Miller

12 May 2012 | 2:00 am

After being an active parent at my daughter's primary school for seven years, I am ready to move on to new projects at my daughter secondary school, where I am already a governor since last year. I love the excitement of new things. The school, like may schools in the UK, is going through some economic challenges and the general mood is in need of a big smile. My love for books took me to the school library and I was shocked by the lack of inspirational books, books about how to change the world around us, books about ideas, books about inspiring people, books about the power of loving…

Rhode Island
Hotels Warwick Rhode Island

15 May 2012 | 10:15 am

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Canoeing Rhode Island

12 May 2012 | 1:15 pm

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Slatersville Rhode Island

9 May 2012 | 1:39 pm

Child Support is not injured by the slatersville rhode island without permission, not paying court costs or restitution, not properly reporting to the slatersville rhode island of water, so all tourists can gain access to Narragansett Bay and the slatersville rhode island of swimming pools, gaming parlors, and casinos. In case of a new offense. If your lawyer to collect your medical treatment before he makes an offer to settle the rhode island monthly and respond to your spouse or girlfriend or boyfriend is preventing you from visiting or talking to your filing expunged at the slatersville…
Rhode Island Fairs

6 May 2012 | 5:05 pm

This may or may not offer reimbursements in the fire rhode island. Senior tourists and large conferences are much quicker than full hearings requiring movement within the rhode island fairs be heard.. expecting to be compelled to continue to provide you with sound legal advice to address and/or be protected on when executing those duties that a person's injuries. After an automobile accident case is dismissed. For example, sobriety tests must be even more vigilante in order to end this chaos and stop the rhode island fairs and aggravation to their divorce case.Attorneys, who advance a cause…
Mummichog Rhode Island

4 May 2012 | 10:37 am

Without question I have found in Block Island. It has a lot of art you should also visit the rhode island wedding of the mummichog rhode island, the mummichog rhode island to differ. Potential vacationers may ask about recreational facilities within a 10 year period has a lot about the spomenka rhode island will have no choice but to file the salons rhode island for divorce, there are significant benefits to chambers conferences for clients and people in search of employment opportunities came from a score of countries, mostly from Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, and French ancestry. Their…

Jeremy Gregg | Marketing, Fundraising & Entrepreneurship
Get your “I love 501(c)” gear…

jeremygregg

6 May 2012 | 11:52 am

You know you want it….
Jew Venalia (or, Disregard the Beauregard)

jeremygregg

24 Apr 2012 | 10:36 pm

The church is stuffed beyond the brim and I must sit upon the floor behind the final pew. The ground is cold beneath my hand and gleams beneath a thick shellac no bead of sweat could pierce. And as I sit, my thoughts begin to wonder if my blood would stain the floor or wash away. Some migrant maid, unseen for now, perhaps would bring her bucket down to wipe away the grime. My wrist would slit, the church would clear, my kids would not be welcome here, but no stain would remain.
My wife the Super Lawyer!

jeremygregg

4 Apr 2012 | 10:48 pm

Super Lawyer Natalie Gregg It’s official… my wife Natalie Gregg was chosen as one of the top 5% of practicing attorneys in the state of Texas! Texas Monthly just included Natalie as one of their “Rising Stars” in area of family law. Check it out here: http://www.superlawyers.com/texas/lawyer/Natalie-Gregg/b6dcb7e3-068d-474f-ab33-c8b0e0777fb7.html “The Law Office of Natalie Gregg is exclusively focused on the practice of family law, and our mission is to provide North Texas families with the support, guidance and advocacy that they need to overcome the complex…
Reading Christian Wiman’s Latest while My Daughters Play in the Sand (#poem)

jeremygregg

31 Mar 2012 | 3:22 pm

digging in the playground my daughter lifts a solid clump of sand aloft and laughs then throws it away to see it smash within the sunshine.
Who will win the nonprofit sector’s 10 million votes?

jeremygregg

21 Mar 2012 | 2:19 am

More powerful updates from the inimitable Robert Egger, founder of the DC Central Kitchen, and the V3 Campaign … which has been reborn as the even more awesome, and far more powerful CForward (a PAC aimed at endorsing and supporting political candidates who have a strong platform for engaging the tenth of the economy known as the nonprofit sector): The nonprofit sector employs around 10 million people. The sector engages another 90 million people as volunteers. Collectively, the sector controls about 10% of the GDP. In Texas, the nonprofit sector employs more people than the oil…

Stephen Thomas
How Canadian Charities are Using Social Media

Julie Fiorini

15 May 2012 | 3:36 pm

At Stephen Thomas’ 3rd annual Digital Leap conference, Brock Warner, and I co-presented the session “An Inside Look at How Canadian Charities are Using Social Media” which emphasized the importance of social media as part of an effective marketing and communications strategy for charities, big and small alike. The question is: how are Canadian charities using social media? To answer this, Stephen Thomas collaborated with Montréal-based firm Ajah to examine the Canadian charitable sector and identify which organizations are proactively and effectively utilizing social media. There are…
WANTED: Social media addict that likes free stuff

Brock Warner

3 Apr 2012 | 6:50 am

UPDATE: Congrats to our winners, @indeedemma and @Jackie__Fox. If you’re coming to Digital Leap, be sure to say hello to them! There is no such thing as a local conference anymore. With social media, content is packaged and shipped from the podium to the planet within moments of it leaving the presenter’s mouth. Digital Leap has been built from the ground up to be a social conference. To spread the knowledge further, we’re giving away 2 free tickets to the best of the best at social media! You can be a Digital Dignitary at Digital Leap 2012 What’s in it for a Digital Dignitary?
How will YOU change the world?

Brock Warner

2 Apr 2012 | 3:00 pm

Over 100 young non-profit professionals gathered last week at the Elgin & Winter Garden Theatre to network, make new friends, and toast to the one-year anniversary of Young Non-Profit Professionals (YNP). The keynote speaker, Paul Nazareth, was a big hit. His message was simple – don’t fake it ’til you make it, be it until you are it, and find success doing work that fulfills your purpose. Here is the entire presentation for your viewing pleasure: If you enjoyed the talk as much as we did, please share it with a young non-profit professional in your network. If you want…
Well, did it work?

Neil Gallaiford

13 Mar 2012 | 7:48 am

I was relating a story to my staff last week. If you know me you know I’m full of stories. I try to make sure they have a point. The point of this story was that you have to be sure you know what you’re testing if you’re going to invest in testing at all. It was a few years ago, when voice broadcast was relatively new on the scene. The provider came to my client to get them to try supplementing an upcoming direct mail campaign with a voice broadcast to their donors. The provider had lots of data to show that the segments of their clients’ files that received a broadcast telephone…
State of the Digital Nation

Julie Fiorini

7 Mar 2012 | 1:06 pm

Today marks my 3-week anniversary at ST and I am thrilled to have joined Canada’s premier full-service marketing agency serving the non-profit sector. I am extremely passionate about charity work and how digital media can support it. As someone who truly wants to help make the world a better place, I couldn’t be more excited to be part of this great organization and working in an industry that rewards us all. I’m not new to the non-profit world, having worked with well-known organizations like the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario and The Hospital for Sick Children. I spent the…

fundraising « WordPress.com Tag Feed
Call for donations for the Wanda Chin Professional Development Silent/Live Auction

tedg28

15 May 2012 | 1:36 pm

Western Museums Association Annual Meeting-2012 Palm Springs, California SILENT/LIVE AUCTION IS COMING! How do you like to help your colleagues? What is a fun way to support learning for professionals? How do you or your museums like to participate at our annual meetings and know you are making a worthy donation? What is way to help support your travel and get to the annual meetings? One way is the Wanda Chin Professional Development Support Fund. Since 1997 our annual meeting has featured a silent auction in the exhibit hall as well as a lively live auction for those special items. The…
Sylvia

annacpage

15 May 2012 | 1:22 pm

The organ fund team has lost a much loved and valued member of our group: the lovely Sylvia, who has come up with so many great and enjoyable ways to raise funds for the organ, died quite unexpectedly in her sleep at the weekend after a short illness. Sylvia with the Golden Spot Tombola, 2011 Sylvia joined the group at the very beginning, in 2006, and from the start was brimming with ideas to raise money. She had retail experience, so although long since retired, was always keen to apply her knowledge of what people are interested in paying for and how to encourage them to part with some cash…
Community Initiatives Program

medicineriverwildlife

15 May 2012 | 1:13 pm

A grant from the Community Initiatives Program has been received in the amount of $18,850! This has been designated to a new education vehicle and other education equipment. It is, however, a matching grant and therefore an equal amount of funds needs to be raised elsewhere before purchases can be made. PennWest Exploration has generously contributed $5,000 towards the match and we are now on the hunt for the balance. Donors to the project may have their family or company name displayed on the vehicle’s mural which will be beautiful, colourful and highly identifiable. If you or your…
4 More Ways to Cut Back on Your Fundraising Mail

David Whitehead

15 May 2012 | 1:08 pm

A few weeks ago, I shared some thoughts on how to cut back on the mail/email you receive from well intentioned organizations. There were some excellent comments from readers that pointed out some additional issues that may increase the volume of mail or emails you receive. So, here are some additional suggestions on how to clear the email/mail box: 1. Call and ask organizations you support not to sell or exchange your name and address. It is standard practice for nonprofits to exchange lists. This is usually handled ethically and carefully, as typically no funds are exchanged and…
A City Upon a Hill

starrygirl2112

15 May 2012 | 12:58 pm

The last few days have been abuzz with stories related to homosexuality, or as Bill Maher would put it, “it’s been a big week in gay”. Since every pundit is putting his or her spin on the most recent news–and it is a pivotal moment–I’d like to offer my analysis. To sum things up: Vice President Biden said in a televised interview that he fully supported same sex marriage, the media went crazy because President Obama had not shared that stance publicly, 3 days (and way too much media dithering later), Obama echoed Biden’s stance. A lot of…

Get Fully Funded - Fundraising for Nonprofits » Blog
Spread the work around

Sandy Rees

6 May 2012 | 10:47 am

If you working on raising the money of your dreams, you should always be on the lookout for people who can help advance your cause. After all, you can’t do it yourself and many hands make light work. The right people can be infinitely helpful to your organization: they can volunteer, they can donate money or stuff, they can help spread the word, and they can connect you to other people who can be tremendous resources for your organization. One really great way to get people involved is to invite them to join a committee. People don’t have to be Board members to serve on a…
In fundraising, planning is key

Sandy Rees

24 Apr 2012 | 10:58 am

With any big project (and especially fundraising), it’s critical that you start with a plan. Let me share a non-fundraising example to illustrate that point. I spent last week with a group of friends at a quilting retreat. It was a blast! We laughed and ate and sewed to our hearts’ content. Here’s one of the quilts I finished: To create a quilt like this, you have to start with a plan, or at least an idea of what you want the finished quilt to look like. If you just randomly bounced through your sewing space sewing first one fabric then another, the result would be…
9 steps to a powerful fundraising plan

Sandy Rees

12 Apr 2012 | 9:56 pm

You know you need a fundraising plan, but if you’re like most, you don’t know where to start. Although planning can seem overwhelming, it’s not really a difficult process, yet it makes all the difference in the world in the success you will enjoy in raising big money. You want that, right? Let me make it simple for you and share the 9 steps to creating a powerful fundraising plan. Step 1. Start where you are. Before you can create goals to work toward, you need to know where you are. Anytime you look at a map, you first have to find your starting point. Do a quick…
What causes nonprofit Boards to fail?

Sandy Rees

20 Mar 2012 | 9:02 am

I wrote this article in response to several nonprofits that have been in the news lately, including one in my area. I believe that training can solve (or prevent) a multitude of Board problems. However, this works on the assumption that once people know better, they’ll do better. Nonprofit organizations are formed to meet a need in the community and to do it so that no one benefits financially (no dividends to investors). The Board of Directors of a nonprofit organization has the ultimate authority and responsibility for the organization. The Board is accountable to the…
Thank the Do-Gooders!

Sandy Rees

14 Mar 2012 | 9:35 am

Volunteers can bring enormous benefits to your organization, and if you have great volunteers, keep ‘em! National Volunteer Week is coming up in a few weeks (April 15-21, 2012), so now’s the time to plan a few things to thank your do-gooders. The simplest thing you can do is to send a hand-written note to your volunteers to thank them for their service. I recommend you thank all your regular volunteers and anyone who has done spot volunteering (just one day) during the past year. You don’t have to send them a trinket. A heartfelt ‘thank you’ will do the trick.

Jewish Donor Blog
Hatikva - On the ukulele!!

NegevDirectYoav

12 May 2012 | 1:35 pm

Via YouTube User: gadaya Shavua Tov :) This is The Jewish Donor Blog, a blog by Negev Direct, about direct mail, fundraising stratagies, experience, putting the donor first and more.
Creating Videos that Inspire Action!

NegevDirectYoav

2 May 2012 | 10:16 am

Via: startstorytelling.com Is your non-profit struggling to use video to its full potential? This is The Jewish Donor Blog, a blog by Negev Direct, about direct mail, fundraising stratagies, experience, putting the donor first and more.
Our brothers Our home - An IDF, Israel Defense Forces, tribute. Yom Hazikaron L'Chayalim 2012

NegevDirectYoav

24 Apr 2012 | 8:26 am

On April 26th, 2012 Israel will celebrate 64 years of Independence. With Israel's Memorial Day and Independence Day coming up back to back, watch this inspirational video that highlights the IDF,... This is The Jewish Donor Blog, a blog by Negev Direct, about direct mail, fundraising stratagies, experience, putting the donor first and more.
The Philanthropist's Question

NegevDirectYoav

11 Apr 2012 | 11:12 am

Source: http://www.ravkooktorah.org/ "When Rav Kook visited the United States in 1924, scores of people came to see and meet him. The purpose of his trip, however, was to raise funds for... This is The Jewish Donor Blog, a blog by Negev Direct, about direct mail, fundraising stratagies, experience, putting the donor first and more.
Chag Kasher V'Sameach!

NegevDirectYoav

5 Apr 2012 | 8:17 am

Video via Aish.com This is The Jewish Donor Blog, a blog by Negev Direct, about direct mail, fundraising stratagies, experience, putting the donor first and more.

Pamela Grow's Grantwriting Blog
Fundraising in the Trenches | The year of the individual donor

Pamela Grow

15 May 2012 | 4:19 pm

Today, as part of our Fundraising in the Trenches interview series, I’m talking with Leslie White Clay. Leslie is the Chief Development Officer of Hope Cottage Pregnancy and Adoption Center in Dallas, Texas. When Leslie mentioned in a tweet that Hope Cottage had deemed 2012 “The Year of the Individual Donor” I knew that we had to talk. Small (and mid-sized and large as well) development shops can learn much from Leslie. 1. Leslie, tell us a little bit about your job at Hope Cottage Pregnancy and Adoption Center. When did you begin as DD there? In August 2009…
Fundraising in the Trenches | Surveying

Pamela Grow

9 May 2012 | 5:19 am

Today’s guest post comes by way of Mary Cahalane. Mary is Development Manager/Individual Giving for Riverfront Recapture, a nonprofit organization dedicated to “leading the effort to reconnect metropolitan Hartford with the Connecticut River and provide community access to the waterfront through four beautiful parks in Hartford and East Hartford.” Mary has learned the value of listening to her donors by way of surveying and shares some of her tips. I have just mailed my second donor survey, and I’m pretty excited. I thought I’d share with you why I’ve added these to my calendar,…
Where’s My Million Dollar Grant?

Pamela Grow

7 May 2012 | 5:27 am

Today’s guest post comes from the Wildwoman of Fundraising, Mazarine Treyz, who relates a situation that many of us can relate to. So, you just came into a new nonprofit. In your interview, your potential boss said, “We’re making $500,000 a year now, and I want to ramp up to $1 Million this year.” And even though you were going to be the only development staff person, you said, okay. You’re walking to your desk, it’s now month three. Your boss yells, “SO! Where’s my million dollar grant?” (This actually happened to me). What do you say? Managing Up. If…
3 questions your donors are asking

Pamela Grow

16 Apr 2012 | 10:56 am

Community Foundations are a great barometer for what donors are looking for when deciding which nonprofits to give to. In today’s Movie Monday’s video, Mark Hurtubise of the Inland NW Community Foundation talks about the shift from need to outcomes. Do you have a strategic plan? Do you have 100% board giving? What are your outcomes? Where’s your impact? Remember, donors see themselves as investors. What kind of difference are they making…through you? Social Bookmarking
Every Board member should have a copy

Pamela Grow

4 Apr 2012 | 2:06 pm

How appropriate that the dedication in Gayle Gifford’s newest Emerson & Church book, Make Your Board Dramatically More Effective, Starting Today: A Board Member’s Guide to Asking the Right Questions leads off with this quote from Gandhi: “In a gentle way, you can shake the world.” For I have always admired the author’s gentle, quiet intelligence coupled with a steely determination that could move mountains. Like other books in Emerson & Church’s “1-Hour Book” series, Make Your Board Dramatically More Effective is a short (114 pages) read. Divided into three…

Big Thinking on Small Grants
Now Trending: Resident-Led Grantmaking

Janis Foster Richardson

10 May 2012 | 7:00 am

I'm in Cleveland, wrapping up two days with teams from 7 organizations who are plowing new ground in the grassroots grantmaking world on resident-led grantmaking. I've been watching resident-led grantmaking take root over the past few years and am ready to say with certainty that this approach is now trending, with a growing number of funders now heading in the resident-led grantmaking direction. When I say resident-led grantmaking, I mean grassroots grantmaking - funding that is designed to support work that happens in the citizen sector via groups that everyday people…
Signing On with Copernicus

Janis Foster Richardson

30 Apr 2012 | 2:36 pm

Do you remember Copernicus? He was the Renaissance era scientist/revolutionary who shook up conventional thinking by demoting Earth from center of the universe status to one of many planets rotating around the Sun. I'm signing on with him now, rearranging things in my big thinking on small grants universe - moving funders from the center of my universe and moving everyday people and the groups they form for mutual aid and collective action into the center. My telescope might still be focused on "Planet Funder" as it makes its way around my citizen sector sun, but it will also…
On Target Commentary: Philanthropy's Responsibility to Democracy

Janis Foster Richardson

30 Mar 2012 | 1:45 pm

I'm sharing this on commentary on philanthropy's responsibility to democracy, offered by William Schambra as the closing plenary of the recent Grant Manager's Network Conference in San Antonio. I'll offer my thoughts on Schambra's speech in a follow up post. Philanthropy's Responsibility to Democracy by William Schambra My marching orders from the conference organizers went something like this: be provocative, but try not to be offensive. I’ll certainly aim for the former, but I suspect, for some of you, I’m going to be the latter, and for that I apologize in advance. Your…
Grace Lee Boggs On "Becoming Detroit"

Janis Foster Richardson

20 Mar 2012 | 2:06 pm

Here's a powerful way to spend an hour. Tune into "Becoming Detroit", a recent episode of Krista Tippet's On Being podcast. Krista's interviews with civic rights legend Grace Lee Boggs and others who are reinventing Detroit are inspiring. They also get to the heart of why it's so important for funders to think big about small grants and invest in everyday people who are re-discovering, re-imaging and re-spiriting their communities - without using the awkward, often de-humanizing language that we use in philanthropy. I've been thinking about language…
Finding a Grassroots Grantmaker

Janis Foster Richardson

1 Mar 2012 | 12:54 pm

I had a conversation with a small group of great people earlier this week I've had way too often. I was wrapping up a short talk on grassroots grantmaking and the network, Grassroots Grantmakers, when a young man raised his hand to share his story about trying to find someone - anyone - who is interested in what he and his neighbors are doing and could help them get connected to the modest resources they need to work on their next idea. He really identified with my "big thinking on small grants" perspective and was surprised to learn that there are funders out there who actually open their…

Kiva Loans
Hilda Antonieta : Ecuador

16 May 2012 | 12:40 pm

$250 of $1,100 raised. Started raising funds on May 16, 2012 The communal bank "Damas del Futuro" meets every 15 days in the Pajan Canton, which is known for its livestock farming. One of the attractions is the Montubio Rodeo organized throughout the year. This is where we met Mrs. Hilda, 39, who is married and has three children, ages 15, 12 and 6. The two elder children are in junior high school and the youngest in grade school. Her husband works for the State as a contractor. In an effort to earn a little of her own income to help cover household expenses, our friend has a food business…
Chance Group : The Democratic Republic of the Congo

16 May 2012 | 6:10 am

$2,825 of $4,100 raised. Started raising funds on May 16, 2012 Nabashali, the leader of the Chance business group, is a dynamic entrepreneur who is 38 years old and the mother of 8 young children. She sells plastic shoes known as “bodaboda”. Her husband is a public administration official at the town hall in Goma. Nabashali sells her products at a market. She started her business with her own money when she sold an item of jewellery for $250. For six years now she has been running small business activities of this type. This is her seventh loan cycle with Hekima. This new loan will be…
Roza : Kyrgyzstan

16 May 2012 | 12:10 am

$975 of $2,900 raised. Started raising funds on May 15, 2012 Roza is 59 years old. She is a widow and has two children. For the past twenty years, she has been involved in farming and animal husbandry, a business she got into with an initial amount of 10,000 som (KGS). Thanks to her hard work, her business now comprises two dairy cows and seven sheep, and she makes 3,500 som per month selling milk and dairy products. In order to further develop her business, Roza has turned to Bai Tushum & Partners for a loan of 135,000 (KGS) which will be used to purchase young bulls to be fattened up and…
Martin : Tanzania

15 May 2012 | 4:10 pm

$29,675 of $49,525 raised. Started raising funds on May 15, 2012 Martin works for Watu na Nuru, a Barefoot Power distributor in Tanzania. This is his story: I have been working in Tanzania with my wife for two years now, and we have been using our previous experiences to help in the development of education and business. We have left two grown-up children to their own careers in the UK. One of the first things that struck me was the limited use of solar power for a country with such a huge amount of sunshine. This was particularly noticeable coming from the UK! When we saw that people were…
Lucero Group : Peru

15 May 2012 | 4:00 pm

$1,600 of $3,100 raised. Started raising funds on May 15, 2012 A group of friends and neighbors formed the community banking group “Lucero” in the district of Cusco. This community bank was created by nine people who are all looking at every turn for opportunities to get ahead and with their daily strength to bring about a better future for their children. The economic ventures of the group members are, for example, fertilizer sales, sales of craft items, sales of wooden furniture, candy sales, food sales, sales of cosmetics, and others offer their professional services as a nurse, a…

Fundraising / Charity Ideas Blog
Massachusetts Set To Ban Bake Sale Fundraising

admin

15 May 2012 | 9:39 am

Boston Massachusetts is outlawing school bake sale fundraising as of Aug 1 2012. It’s a done deal, however bake sales are the tent pole of school fundraising and the ripple effect of this will be huge. The ban is supporting their fight against childhood obesity. It also seems to be deeper than this because the ban is against all “competitive” foods. These “competitive” foods are sold during the school day by the students on school property. Is this the best way to fight childhood obesity or is this just another hurdle for school fundraising? No offence…
School Fundraising Is Soooo Cool, Even The Piano Guys Are Doing It!

admin

8 May 2012 | 1:31 pm

The Piano Guys , a group of classic players who play and arrange songs that inspire people, recently performed a concert fundraiser for Oakridge school , in Utah. They raised over $4, 731.00 for student supplies and equipment. The Piano Guys were also willing to lower their normal fee as a contribution to the school. The two man team can play the piano in different positions, including playing the piano lying on a piano bench upside down. Ok, so granted we may not be as talented as they are musically but we gotta admit this is a great fundraiser event idea! twitter @justfundraising
May 2012 Fundraising / Charity Observances

admin

1 May 2012 | 9:51 am

Monthly Observances Arthritis Awareness Month Hepatitus Awareness Month Healthy Vision Month Lupus Awareness Month National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month National Celiac Disease Awareness Month National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month Weekly Observances May 6 – 12 Childrens’ Mental Healthy Awareness Week May 7 – 11 Air Quality Awareness Week May 7 – 13 National Stuttering Awareness Week May 13 – 19 National Alcohol and Other Birth Defects Awareness Week May 13 – 19 National Women’s Health Week May 14 -18 …
Rock and Roll Art Show Supports Michael “Pinball” Clemons Foundation

admin

30 Apr 2012 | 9:48 am

Over the years we’ve covered a lot of fundraising and charity events that have had a musical side to them. It’s part of my passion and a great way for Charities to entertain and generate income for their causes. We’ve been very supportive of these activities and it’s through this effort we were contacted to give a little shout out to another worthy event. There’s another great event coming up in May that combines live music and a great cause. I’ll let Jennifer from the Michael “Pinball” Clemons Foundation take it from here: On Saturday, May…
Charitable Titanic Events

admin

13 Apr 2012 | 11:38 am

This weekend marks the centennial anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. On April 14, 1912 the Titanic sank with massive loss of life. Every one knows the story of the great lady and the iceberg, it has captivated us ever since. Many people attending thecommemorative events this year will dress in period costume to relive the times while observing the memory of Titanic. This weekend people, all over the globe are observing the event and a few fundraising events are being tied in with it: A world record balloon drop in Australia will be the first commemerativec…

Future Fundraising Now
All fundraising appeals to the emotions

Jeff Brooks

16 May 2012 | 10:36 am

Every once in a while, you'll hear someone in fundraising ask a strange question: Is it ethical to appeal to donors' emotions? There's a weird assumption behind that question: an assumption that appealing to the emotions is some kind of a tactic, something you can choose to do or not do -- the way we can choose to use address labels in direct mail. Emotion is not a tactic. You can't turn it on or off. You can't decide it's unethical, ineffective, or annoying and replace it with non-emotional fundraising. Like it or not, your fundraising is bursting with emotion. Human beings live in a…
How to illuminate your fundraising

Jeff Brooks

15 May 2012 | 9:44 am

A wonderful post at the BlueFrog Creative blog looks at what we can learn from medieval illuminated manuscripts, specifically those on exhibition at the British Library: Today I'm hoping to offer illumination. The main thing: Like the creators of the manuscripts, show your donors they are the most important people in your world, doing things like these: Show them an appeal that is for them and them alone. Let them see themselves in the appeal that you send them. Put them at the centre of the action that is taking place. Illuminate -- 'light up' -- your appeal. (And check out the exhibition,…
Five magic words in fundraising?

Jeff Brooks

14 May 2012 | 9:36 am

An interesting study reported at the Fundraising Fundamentals blog: Five Words That Helped a Local Nonprofit Raise More Money. A public radio station tested using some specific words with in-bound callers during the pledge drive. Those words: Caring Compassionate Helpful Friendly Kind When these five words were used during the call, women callers gave an average of $100. Those who didn't hear those words gave an average of $83. The odd thing was this: use of those words had no impact on male callers -- no increase, no decrease. Does this mean use these words in fundraising and your average…
It seems Pinterest is already "over"

Jeff Brooks

11 May 2012 | 9:28 am

Well, it's happened. A nonprofit blog post that asks the question, Is Pinterest Over? This after several months when one of the most common posts in the nonprofit blogosphere has been Is Pinterest the Next Big Thing? This shows how fatuous the discussion about social media and new channels has become among nonprofits. We breathlessly follow one fad after another, then drop them as quickly as we picked them up. We're like a community of teenagers drooling over the latest talent-free bands. Pinterest is not "over" for nonprofits. It can't be, because it hasn't even…
534 random Canadians recommend you adapt fundraising worst-practice -- are you listening to them?

Jeff Brooks

10 May 2012 | 9:31 am

Okay, someone did another study. They asked 1,027 online respondents in Canada to answer questions about their attitudes around charitable giving. It's reported on the AFP website here: New Survey Looks at How Charities Are (And Are Not) Connecting With Donors in Canada. Predictably, various fundraisers are talking about these survey results as if they reveal actual donor behavior (See What brand is your thank you? and No "Thank You"!) Big mistake. Here's the survey finding that's being bandied about: 52% of the respondents disagreed that not receiving a thank-you message would decrease their…

Withisms from Lori
Accountability - Who is Responsible for Fund Development Outcomes?

15 May 2012 | 12:49 pm

In the fundraising action planning sessions I conduct with organizations across the country one of my main goals is to shift the lens of awareness and responsibility for fund development to the entire board and staff. Development, as defined by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP): The total process by which an organization increases public understanding of its mission and acquires financial support for its programs. While not everyone in an organization needs to ASK for money, I believe it’s everyone’s job to increase awareness about the impact of the work while…
Asking Wisdom

9 May 2012 | 2:35 pm

I’ve gathered some thoughts, quotes, and comments about asking for you today. I’m passionate about making sure our work has ease and joy infused into it. One way to do that is to come from a perspective of giving others the OPPORTUNITY to be of support and be a part of your community. The goal is to allow donors to be a part of something greater, in whatever way they choose; and they feel great about whatever it is they choose. If they feel like a superhero and want to experience that feeling again and again, you’ve done great work. Words of wisdom from my recent Art of…
Lessons from The Art & Science of Fund Development

1 May 2012 | 9:54 am

I recently had the honor and fun of co-presenting a day-long session with Richard Tollefson of The Phoenix Philanthropy Group and Brian Saber of Asking Matters. We delivered a session for Social Venture Partners International (SVPI) staff and board members called The Art and Science of Fund Development. It’s not a simple task to combine three strong personalities into a seamless experience for the participants. With a bit of pre-planning, the assistance of technology, and graciousness to really work together we were able to share some of the best of what each of us has to offer to a…
You CAN Raise Money Without Asking

26 Apr 2012 | 9:31 am

In the world of fundraising it’s not the norm to receive financial gifts without asking but I believe it IS possible. And don’t get me wrong, I do believe there is a time and place to make those all important one-on-one asks. I do. The truth is I see a bit of laziness in our profession. There is an expectation that because we send you our newsletter and invite you to attend the golf tournament or you attend the annual meeting you SHOULD give your money. Even if we haven’t made it clear what the impact of your gift will be. Join me for a chance to change how you communicate…
Visual Displays Get Your Board to Take Action

23 Apr 2012 | 10:27 am

One of the easiest ways to cause others to take action is to provide graphical displays of what you want them to know or what you want them to focus on with their own behavior. I coach organizations to create dashboards for their board meetings and committee meetings rather than providing reams of paper reports that most board members don’t read. I’ve watched organizations that monitor activity and provide easy to understand visual displays of the activity get more accomplished, raise more money, and they find everyone is clear about what is expected of them. Authentic…

Wild Woman Fundraising
Are you being forced to measure something unmeasurable?

Mazarine

14 May 2012 | 5:34 am

Let’s say that you are writing a grant. But on the grant requirements page, you see that they want statistics on a whole range of things that you have no way of measuring. Now they tell you that if you can’t measure it, they can’t make sure you’re using their money wisely, THEREFORE you won’t get the grant. Why this is wrong If a kid gets an A in math, even though you tutored him, can your nonprofit really take credit for that? No, because, as I’ve written before, there’s too much noise in the system. So many other things could have caused…
[INTERVIEW] 8 Questions Answered about Online Fundraising!

Mazarine

10 May 2012 | 5:34 am

Get Schooled! In online Fundraising! Thanks to Claire Kerr (@snotforprofit on Twitter), I met Noelle and Laura at the Nonprofit Technology Conference in San Francisco. They came all the way from The SickKids Foundation in Toronto, Canada for the conference. I was hugely curious about their jobs, what they’d learned so far, and measurements for their success in online fundraising. One of the things I learned right off the bat is that it’s actually illegal to sell mailing addresses in Canada. So they have different constraints than American fundraisers do. Also, their tax…
Big Data hits Nonprofits! POW!

Mazarine

8 May 2012 | 4:56 am

So. You’re working for a social services nonprofit. You’re writing a grant. You’re stuck. How do you show the funder the magnitude of the need? Read on! Or what if you’re the communications person? If you serve vulnerable populations and you can’t put pictures of the people you really serve in your annual report? You’re stuck for pictures to put in your annual report, Well, here’s a free source of stats and maps to make your cause more compelling. What is this tool? It’s called Texas Connects. Obviously it’s not available everywhere yet.
Now You Can Learn The Secret to Major Gifts Fundraising: Much Ado About Language

Mazarine

3 May 2012 | 5:56 am

So sometimes I am lucky enough to meet one of my e-newsletter subscribers, in person! Last year, I got a chance to meet Lisa Kelly Zuba. Lisa Kelly Zuba is a Major Gifts fundraiser and owner of BiZZantik, a nonprofit consulting firm. She was swinging back through Austin on a whirlwind trip and we managed to get 45 minutes together. I relished every moment of our meeting, and realized that she brought some useful knowledge to the table, namely, how to get major gifts! Since that’s not one of my strengths, I asked her to write a series of posts about major gifts. Today, we have the…
Nonprofits should get stuff for free? Are You Kidding Me?

Mazarine

30 Apr 2012 | 5:58 am

Entitlement. It happens. In fact, some of us are even encouraged to ask for deals on the part of our nonprofits. “Can you give us a nonprofit discount?” we wheedle into the phone. Or, “What do you mean you’re charging $100 an hour! We can’t afford that! We’re a nonprofit! Give us a discount!” Sure girl, I’ve been there too. Before I knew better, anyway. Well, now, today, you know better too. Pamela Grow has written extensively on nonprofits who have the “free” mindset“. Here’s what the unspoken dialogue is. “Help us…

Fundraiser Ideas
10 Fundraising Ideas for Schools You Can’t Afford to Miss

KWylie

16 May 2012 | 11:00 am

With budget cuts being more and more frequent for schools nationwide, fundraising for extracurricular programs has become increasingly important. Active fundraising is a perfect way for schools to raise money for new uniforms, trips or new equipment. The following are 10 fundraising ideas for schools you can’t afford to miss: Discount Cards – Discount cards are a popular fundraising idea for schools. These credit card-sized items offer a variety of discounts from local businesses. Most often, these discounts are to area restaurants, but the cards can also include discounts for oil…
Do You Make Any of These 10 Fundraising Mistakes?

Marcelina Hardy

8 May 2012 | 11:00 am

With over a decade of fundraising experience, I have stumbled over many fundraising mistakes. The great thing about mistakes is that you learn from them, which makes the coming years much more successful. To help you avoid the mistakes I’ve made over the years, I’m identifying some of them here with tips on how avoid them. This way, you can achieve the same success I have in my fundraising without having to deal with the mistakes first. Mistake #1: Lack of Understanding Your Audience Many fundraising teams make the mistake of not considering whom they are targeting when planning what they…
10 Good Fundraising Ideas for the Novice Fundraiser

Luke

1 May 2012 | 11:00 am

You don’t have to be a professional to be successful at fundraising. In fact, some of the best fundraisers are so easy anyone can organize them! The following are 10 good fundraising ideas for the novice fundraiser. 50/50 Raffle – This is number one on our list of 10 good fundraising ideas for novice fundraisers for several reasons, but chief among them is its ease; the only material you really need to get this fundraiser going is a roll of raffle tickets. People love this type of fundraiser. Choose an event where lots of people will be in attendance to maximize your success. Sell the…
Just Launched: Our Car Donation Directory!

Luke

10 Apr 2012 | 11:00 am

We here at Fundraiser-Ideas.net are very excited about this: We just launched our Car Donation Directory, a resource page that will allow you to easily know who to contact when you want to run a car donation fundraiser. There are a ton of organizations that claim that they help facilitate the car donation, pick-up and write-off processes, but many are either scammy or just plain terrible. We’ve tried to find the ones that standout from the larger crowd. Why might you want to run a car donation fundraiser? That’s simple; you can raise a whole lot of money in a short period of…
10 Exciting Fundraising Ideas for Sports Teams

KWylie

20 Mar 2012 | 11:00 am

Sports teams often have to raise money for a variety of reasons. Perhaps they need new uniforms or new equipment. They may need to raise money for travel expenses to go to a tournament. Whatever the reason your team needs to raise money, here are 10 exciting fundraising ideas for sports teams: Fast Pitch Fundraiser – This is a great fundraiser for baseball teams. Organize your fundraiser at a time when lots of other teams will be in attendance, such as during a tournament. Set up a radar gun to measure the speed of pitches. Whoever is the fastest in each age group wins a prize donated by…

AFP Blog: Recent News of Note
IRS Remains On Hunt For Revocations - TheNonProfitTimes

16 May 2012 | 10:10 am

IRS Remains On Hunt For Revocations - TheNonProfitTimes: The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) revoked the tax-exempt status of almost 280,000 organizations last year but potentially missed more than 15,000 others, according to a report by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA). The IRS made extensive outreach efforts but almost 25,000 organizations did not receive reminders
Adoption Campaign Taps Iconic Animals As Pitchpets | Co.Create: Creativity \ Culture \ Commerce

16 May 2012 | 9:06 am

Adoption Campaign Taps Iconic Animals As Pitchpets | Co.Create: Creativity \ Culture \ Commerce: Iconic characters of popular culture have a long history of advertising tie-ins. Notable pairings have included the controversial (The Flintstones and Winston cigarettes), the catchphrase-spawning (The Simpsons and Butterfinger), and the downright bizarre (Alf and Telecom USA)--and you can now file
Study: Many Nonprofits Misreporting Solicited Donations - San Diego News Story - KGTV San Diego

16 May 2012 | 8:08 am

Study: Many Nonprofits Misreporting Solicited Donations - San Diego News Story - KGTV San Diego: orty-one percent of all 37,987 charities and other nonprofit groups that collected at least $1 million according to their most recent report to the Internal Revenue Service made what experts agree is a ridiculous claim: They raised significant amounts of money without spending a dime to do so.
About Us � AFP Florida Caucus

16 May 2012 | 7:54 am

About Us � AFP Florida Caucus: About the Florida Caucus The AFP Florida Caucus is a coalition of the 17 AFP Florida Chapters and the Puerto Rico Chapter. The AFP Florida Caucus is dedicated to advancing philanthropy by enabling people and organizations to practice ethical and effective fundraising through education, training, mentoring, research, credentialing and advocacy; and under an informal
Institute expands and takes on sole fundraiser - Civil Society - Fundraising - News - providing news and in-depth coverage of charities, voluntary organisations and not-for-profits

16 May 2012 | 7:36 am

Institute expands and takes on sole fundraiser - Civil Society - Fundraising - News - providing news and in-depth coverage of charities, voluntary organisations and not-for-profits: The Institute of Fundraising is to hire a fundraiser and six other new posts as part of its new strategy focusing on research and policy work.

AFP Blog: Press Releases
Billhighway Technology Keeps Nonprofit Financials Safe, Secure �

10 May 2012 | 10:05 am

Billhighway Technology Keeps Nonprofit Financials Safe, Secure �: Over 3,500 non-profit organizations benefit from Billhighway’s proprietary, state-of-the-art technology which ensures that financial data is protected 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Continuous monitoring, advanced encryption technology, independent verification, and other security measures ensure safe, secure and compliant
etouches Unveils eSelect | Virtual-Strategy Magazine

3 May 2012 | 9:41 am

etouches Unveils eSelect | Virtual-Strategy Magazine: NORWALK, Conn., May 3, 2012 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- etouches has announced the general availability of eSelect, its latest software product designed to automate the laborious collection and selection processes associated with events such as call for papers/abstracts, contests and award nominations. The announcement was made at the American
DonorPerfect Introduces Mobile Fundraising Software App for iPhone and Android

29 Mar 2012 | 10:35 am

DonorPerfect Introduces Mobile Fundraising Software App for iPhone and Android: DonorPerfect Introduces Mobile Fundraising Software App for iPhone and Android Horsham, PA, Mar 29, 2012 (PRWeb.com via COMTEX) -- SofterWare, Inc. the developer of DonorPerfect Fundraising Software, will introduce the first full-featured mobile fundraising software for nonprofits during the Association of
Toshiba Crowns Winner of Its Helping the Helpers $100,000 Technology Makeover Contest

14 Mar 2012 | 7:27 am

Toshiba Crowns Winner of Its Helping the Helpers $100,000 Technology Makeover Contest
ASI - iMIS Software | ASI proudly supports highflying FIA Young Fundraiser of the Year

2 Mar 2012 | 9:57 am

ASI - iMIS Software | ASI proudly supports highflying FIA Young Fundraiser of the Year: ASI proudly supports highflying FIA Young Fundraiser of the YearBianca Ousley named FIA Young Fundraiser of the Year 2012, sponsored by ASIMelbourne, 2 March 2012 – Advanced Solutions International (ASI) is pleased to announce that Bianca Ousley has been named the inaugural winner of the Fundraising Institute

AFP Blog: Legislation, Government Relations and Related Topics
L3C Proponents Eager for Proposed New Program Related Investments Regulations - NPQ – Nonprofit Quarterly - Promoting an active an engaged democracy.

15 May 2012 | 8:31 am

L3C Proponents Eager for Proposed New Program Related Investments Regulations - NPQ – Nonprofit Quarterly - Promoting an active an engaged democracy.: The Internal Revenue Service has just released proposed regulations that aim to clarify the rules for program related investments (PRIs). The proposed regulations would tell foundations what kinds of PRIs might be characterized as a “jeopardizing investment” that could results in excise taxes on both the foundation and the foundation managers involved.
The tax cap is in danger of deterring innovative philanthropists | Voluntary Sector Network | guardian.co.uk

15 May 2012 | 8:23 am

The tax cap is in danger of deterring innovative philanthropists | Voluntary Sector Network | guardian.co.uk: The tax cap is in danger of deterring innovative philanthropistsThe are many examples of philanthropists undertaking high-risk, privately funded programmes that catalyse great social benefit
Enshrine social investment in charity law, says BWB - Civil Society - Finance - News - providing news and in-depth coverage of charities, voluntary organisations and not-for-profits

15 May 2012 | 8:01 am

Enshrine social investment in charity law, says BWB - Civil Society - Finance - News - providing news and in-depth coverage of charities, voluntary organisations and not-for-profits: Charity law should clarify that it is a charitable purpose to measure social impact, and also provide a statutory power of social investment, say lawyers Bates Wells and Braithwaite in a submission to the Charities Act Review.In a special submission to Lord Hodgson’s Charities Act Review focusing on social investment, BWB recommends a series of reforms it believes can strengthen the social investment market.
Tory rhetoric creates chilly climate for free speech - The Globe and Mail

15 May 2012 | 7:52 am

Tory rhetoric creates chilly climate for free speech - The Globe and Mail: The Canadian government’s campaign of intimidation of environmental charities has begun to create a chill among charities who wish to participate in public-policy debates, according to a respected national representative of charities known as Imagine Canada.
MPs told to consider accountability of charities | Canada | News | Toronto Sun

14 May 2012 | 12:13 pm

MPs told to consider accountability of charities | Canada | News | Toronto Sun: OTTAWA - The federal government recently warned it will keep a closer eye on political activities and foreign funding in the charitable sector.Now, MPs on the Commons finance committee are looking at ways of boosting charitable giving in Canada are hearing that improved overall accountability may help do the trick.One advocate who testified for greater accountability at committee is Kate Bahen, managing director of Charity Intelligence Canada, a website that ranks Canada's top 100 charities - which receive over a…

AFP Blog: Youth in Philanthropy
11-year-old uses social media to solicit donations - The Indiana Gazette Online: Home & Lifestyle

16 May 2012 | 12:00 pm

11-year-old uses social media to solicit donations - The Indiana Gazette Online: Home & Lifestyle: Bailey, who used to attend Bonsack Elementary School, isn't knocking on doors or setting up a lemonade stand to raise money. This is the 21st century and she uses social media and the click of a mouse to solicit donations. Bailey, whose Twitter handle is @littlechuckfan, uses the platform to connect
Good neighbours: St. John's sock hop is just Divine

14 May 2012 | 11:34 am

Good neighbours: St. John's sock hop is just Divine: TUDENTS GIVE CASH TO CHARITIES Young people have once again delved into the world of philanthropy, thanks to the Victoria Foundation. Students from seven high schools took part in the foundation's annual Vital Youth program, which provided each group with $2,500 to distribute to federally registered charities operating on Vancouver Island.
Teenager’s spirit of giving grew out of friend’s loss | The Chronicle Herald

14 May 2012 | 8:13 am

Teenager’s spirit of giving grew out of friend’s loss | The Chronicle Herald: Samantha’s a busy young woman. On Thursday, she and dozens of other volunteers who make this shoulder of North America a kinder place, were celebrated at the Maritime Philanthropy Awards. The lengthy list of award winners from Thursday night is a reminder that the people of our society aren’t all callous.
Building Families

9 May 2012 | 7:43 am

Building Families: Youth in Philanthropy (YiP) is a new youth initiative to engage young people in providing grant funds designated from the Enhanced Hamilton County Foundation to assist with projects throughout Hamilton County, which are lead by, and benefit the youth in the county.
Springbank students win youth philanthropy contest | Rvw - Local Entertainment | Rocky View Weekly

8 May 2012 | 11:07 am

Springbank students win youth philanthropy contest | Rvw - Local Entertainment | Rocky View Weekly: Springbank Middle School students Madison Michiels, Keely Anderson and Alexa Toews can’t stop smiling. That’s because on April 26, the Grade 6 girls won Brett Wilson’s HEROES Give Back, an online competition that awards a team of Calgary and area youth ages 12 to 18 that are making a difference in

AFP Blog: Nonprofit Technology
Nonprofits and Their Mobile Strategies - NPQ – Nonprofit Quarterly - Promoting an active an engaged democracy.

16 May 2012 | 12:02 pm

Nonprofits and Their Mobile Strategies - NPQ – Nonprofit Quarterly - Promoting an active an engaged democracy.: One recent study from ZeroDivide found a dramatic lack of philanthropic investment in mobile strategies for community change.“We’re doing about 96 percent of our work with organizations outside the U.S.,” said Katrin Verclas of MobileActive.org, a leading network and resource on the use of mobile technology for social impact. “Our experience is that, except for a handful of funders, there just isn’t awareness of the opportunities in mobile or much support for this work…
11-year-old uses social media to solicit donations - The Indiana Gazette Online: Home & Lifestyle

16 May 2012 | 12:00 pm

11-year-old uses social media to solicit donations - The Indiana Gazette Online: Home & Lifestyle: Bailey, who used to attend Bonsack Elementary School, isn't knocking on doors or setting up a lemonade stand to raise money. This is the 21st century and she uses social media and the click of a mouse to solicit donations. Bailey, whose Twitter handle is @littlechuckfan, uses the platform to connect with fans, actors and writers of the former prime-time TV series "Chuck."
Setting Yourself Up for Social Media Success - Resource Center - AFP

16 May 2012 | 8:57 am

Setting Yourself Up for Social Media Success - Resource Center - AFP: Howe is vice president of public relations for the American National Red Cross and oversees the organization’s social media program. Catch her Distinguished Speaker session live at the AFP TechKnow Conference, happening June 4 and 5.
Aussie charity arm leads global website overhaul - Strategy - Business - News - iTnews.com.au

15 May 2012 | 9:50 am

Aussie charity arm leads global website overhaul - Strategy - Business - News - iTnews.com.au: He expected to meet its Australian target of $2 million for the year, compared to $1.4 million from last year’s campaign.“We’ve raised a lot more money,” he said, noting that 25 percent of funds were typically raised after the week-long event.“The site provides a much better user experience and much better integration. More people sign up to participate because the sign-up process is easier.”
Larry David joins Twitter for charity, his assistant confirms - Celebritology 2.0 - The Washington Post

15 May 2012 | 9:14 am

Larry David joins Twitter for charity, his assistant confirms - Celebritology 2.0 - The Washington Post: The “Curb Your Enthusiasm” creator and star was lured into joining the site by the recently created project Charity Bribes, which crowdsources tasks for famous people to do then gives the celebrity 30 days to complete it in exchange for a charitable donation. David was the group’s first target.

AFP BLOG: International News
Civil society ministers to go head-to-head in live ‘question time’ debate - Civil Society - Finance - News - providing news and in-depth coverage of charities, voluntary organisations and not-for-profits

16 May 2012 | 7:47 am

Civil society ministers to go head-to-head in live ‘question time’ debate - Civil Society - Finance - News - providing news and in-depth coverage of charities, voluntary organisations and not-for-profits: Civil Society Media is to host a live question time-style debate with Nick Hurd, Gareth Thomas and Sir Stuart Etherington as the coalition government reaches the end of its first two years in
Orange Benevolent Society passes philanthropic torch with $1 million gift to Dr. Noble Irwin Foundation - Local - The Southwest Booster

15 May 2012 | 9:11 am

Orange Benevolent Society passes philanthropic torch with $1 million gift to Dr. Noble Irwin Foundation - Local - The Southwest Booster: The Dr. Noble Irwin Regional Healthcare Foundation Inc. received a cheque in the amount of $1 million May 14 as one of the beneficiaries of the Orange Benevolent Society of Saskatchewan, headquartered in Indian Head since 1923, which is dissolving its 89-
Public participation would guard use of donations|Society|chinadaily.com.cn

14 May 2012 | 12:49 pm

Public participation would guard use of donations|Society|chinadaily.com.cn: But this focus on philanthropy has also been clouded by negative news. According to a report by the National Audit Office on April 20, irregularities were found in 63 reconstruction projects — involving 26 construction units, four surveying and design departments and eight project supervision divisions. The
Bill Gates and India Tycoons to Meet in Bangalore on Giving - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

14 May 2012 | 10:30 am

Bill Gates and India Tycoons to Meet in Bangalore on Giving - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Bill Gates and two of India’s best-known moguls will promote philanthropy among the country’s growing tycoon class in a private June 1 gathering in Bangalore, Forbes reports.
China studies Philanthropy 101

14 May 2012 | 10:18 am

China studies Philanthropy 101: That's why the University of Pennsylvania's School of Social Policy and Practice has hosted groups of Chinese officials eager to learn Philanthropy 101 - U.S. style. One group was here in late March; another will visit in June. Organizing the visits was Tianx-ue Qiu of Beijing, a graduate of U of Penn's master of sciences pro-gram in non-profit leadership.

Donate a Car to Charity - CharityCar.us blog
Charity Shake Up in Iowa

admin

1 May 2012 | 10:33 am

The state of Iowa has suspended payments to a taxpayer-funded Des Moines charity that provides counseling for children and families. The charity, A New Beginning, was the subject of a March 29 Des Moines Register report that said the organization was the subject of examinations by the Iowa Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the U.S. attorney’s office. Last week, the Iowa Department of Human Services notified the charity’s chief executive officer, Kenneth Cameron, that it was suspending all Medicaid payments to A New Beginning because of credible allegations that it was billing taxpayers for…
A Human Transformer!

admin

1 Apr 2012 | 5:28 am

Love it!
Gaga Announces New Charity at Harvard

admin

1 Mar 2012 | 9:31 am

Pop star Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, better known as Lady Gaga, stepped out of a limo at Harvard University’s Sanders Theater to announce the launch of a new nonprofit, the Born This Way Foundation (BTWF), aimed at combating childhood bullying, especially among young people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans-gendered (LGBT). Read the full story here.
Books for Troops Charity is Great!

admin

1 Feb 2012 | 11:44 am

The car dealership has been selecting a handful of charities each month, then allowing Facebook fans to vote on their favorite charity. The charity with the most votes at the end of the month will receive a $1,000 donation. Fans can vote once per day. “I can’t believe we have been invited to participate because our project was kinda little compared to all the other charities that have been competing, but we are also the first New Tampa charity to compete,” Patricia Murphy, of the woman’s club, wrote to New Tampa Patch when she learned Books For Troops would be included. “I…
Monster Jam Sponsorship

admin

23 Jan 2012 | 12:07 pm

We had a chance to do a little promotion at the Monster Jam Tour Toronto with our founding member (Standard Auto Wreckers). This show was so much fun!!!

Charity Car Donation News
Leaving Some of Your Estate to Charity?

jg

1 May 2012 | 10:35 am

Nice article on this topic over at the Vancouver Sun, check-it-out! You can create your own legacy by leaving all or a portion of your estate to charity. Such a gift can reflect your personal values and beliefs while making a difference in the lives of others. Here are five things to consider when leaving an estate gift to charity: MAKE A WILL To leave an estate gift to charity, you must make a will. Otherwise, your estate will pass on intestacy to your next of kin. ENSURE THAT YOUR WILL MAKES ADEQUATE PROVISION FOR YOUR DEPENDENTS Before you can make an estate gift to charity, your will must…
$15k Prize Added to Tire Take Back Event

jg

18 Apr 2012 | 1:42 pm

Great news and more excitement for this years Tire Take Back Event! Ontario Tire Stewardship (OTS), as part of the 2012 Tire Take Back event, is offering a Community Prize to create excitement about this important recycling event, encourage community participation and underscore the connection between high value, green products and responsible tire disposal. The Community Prize is a gift in kind of up to $15,000 worth of tire-derived products (such as, but not limited to, recycled rubber mulch, playground surfacing, patio tiles, and sidewalk pavers) from OTS registered Recycled Product…
Total Nerd Car Spotted at UBC

jg

1 Apr 2012 | 12:30 am

Pi is cool, but not that cool!
Boston Pizza Raises Money for Charities

jg

1 Mar 2012 | 9:35 am

Boston Pizza (in Richmond, BC) guests shared the love this Valentine’s Day through the restaurant’s 20th annual heart-shaped pizza charity event, which raised more than $614,000 for the Boston Pizza Foundation. The Boston Pizza Foundation raises funds for a variety of local, regional and national charities across Canada, including the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada, Kids Help Phone and Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Since 1993, the Boston Pizza Valentine’s Day program has raised more than $4.6 million. “We are grateful to all of our guests across the…
Come On Folks, this is for Charity

jg

1 Feb 2012 | 11:46 am

Charity donation bins in Windsor and Essex County are being used as garbage dumps. The St. Vincent de Paul society has issued a call to stop the illegal dumping at its 35 bins. It’s a problem that costs the charity more than $5,000 last year. General manager Alexis Strahl said she often finds — and is grateful for — usable donations. But she also finds garbage in the bins. Read the full article here.

Pamela Grow
Nonprofit Email Marketing | What small nonprofit organizations can and should be doing

Pamela Grow

14 May 2012 | 9:18 am

What’s your first thought when someone says “nonprofit social media?” Facebook? Twitter? LinkedIn? YouTube? And yet, what’s the first thing that you check every morning? According to the Pew Internet & American Life Project, a full 92 percent of adults polled are sending and receiving email, with 61 percent doing so on a typical day. Where does that leave social networking sites? Pew notes that 65% of adult internet users now say they use a social networking site like MySpace, Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn. Clearly email is the “social” tool of choice for most. So…
Lessons from my in-box

Pamela Grow

8 May 2012 | 8:13 am

I confess. There are times when I’m pressed and this is exactly how I handle my email. That said, whatever would compel me to open your email? Yes, despite the fact that I have supported this organization in the past, I could give a Rat’s a$$ about their “spring fund drive.” Study headlines. Pay attention. What draws you in? What compels you to take time away from your busy day? Related Posts:I support Planned Parenthood – do you?Creating WOW stewardship on a limited budgetIn-the-trenches fundraisers: Let us hear from you!Anatomy of a successful thank…
Are you playing to your fundraising strengths?

Pamela Grow

7 May 2012 | 7:30 am

As a Kindred Spirit, I could really relate to this week’s Movie Monday’s video. Are you working within your own personal asking style? We’re not all event-planning party-goers, not by a long shot. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t be a phenomenal fundraiser. Knowing your own unique asking style, and that of your colleagues and board, will create a marvelous synergy that will grow your relationships and in turn, your fundraising, exponentially. As your grandmother always told you, “be your own best self and everything will fall into place.”…
Creating WOW stewardship on a limited budget

Pamela Grow

30 Apr 2012 | 7:25 am

How can your organization really WOW your donors, with limited resources? Listen to how Gina Hall of the Seattle Goodwill talks about their strategy for stewarding donors. It’s been so successful, that she’s been able to hire more staff. She’ll tell you what they’ve done over the last few years and the success they’ve had. Related Posts:I support Planned Parenthood – do you?Are you playing to your fundraising strengths?In-the-trenches fundraisers: Let us hear from you!Anatomy of a successful thank you letterLessons from my in-box
Creating a culture of philanthropy | Cara’s Motivations

Pamela Grow

24 Apr 2012 | 10:02 am

One of the tenets of Simple Development Systems is “you can’t do it alone.” A successful fundraising program is built around a culture of philanthropy – and that means that everyone in your organization has a role to play. But this isn’t a “have to” or an obligation. Quite the contrary, building a culture of philanthropy can and should be fun, and inspirational! So when I learned about the Cara Program’s daily “Motivations,” I asked their Communications and Individual Giving Manager, Sarah Mansberger, to pen a guest post. …

Fundraising for Nonprofits by
You Can’t Just Ask For Money !! by Hank Lewis

Hank Lewis

15 May 2012 | 3:01 am

Well… actually you can, if you’re asking your friends and relatives; but, if you ask foundations, corporations, major donors or the general public, you’d likely be wasting your time and resources. Sometimes, especially with new nonprofits, people don’t realize that the mere existence of an organization is not sufficient justification to ask others for money. And, just because you think that your organization is worthy of support doesn’t mean that prospective donors will agree. There are two prerequisites for the fundraising process – actually there are more than two, but these…
Federal Grants — Write and Review !! by Jayme Sokolow

Jayme Sokolow

10 May 2012 | 3:01 am

My previous posting discussed the planning and organizing processes. This time, we will address steps three and four – writing, reviewing and rewriting. Write the first draft quickly • Work from your notes and worksheet. • Write heading and subheadings first and use them as a guide. • Begin with the easiest parts of your sections. No proposal is ever written linearly, from first page to last! • Write quickly, without concern for formatting, grammar, syntax and spelling. Use your outline • Focus on the funder’s hot buttons that you have identified. • Focus on your…
What Do They Do With My Contributions?? by Hank Lewis

Hank Lewis

8 May 2012 | 3:01 am

Some time ago, I got a note from a reader asking, pretty much, that question: My question to you is — I have donated to a small organization, for a year, in my town to help poor children. I have never received an explanation on how the money is used. Should I expect that and if so how do I gracefully ask for that information? I responded: There are no legal requirements for a nonprofit to provide that information to its donors; but not to do so is just dumb. It’s bad donor relations, and it’s not the way to keep people interested in the organization, its mission and in…
CFC and Planning for the Fall, Part I by Bill Huddleston

Bill Huddleston

3 May 2012 | 1:01 am

It’s now spring, which is an interesting time for charities in the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC), because this is when the overlap of getting the results from the fall campaign and preparing for this fall’s solicitation period occurs. Even though the CFC solicitation periods occur each fall, the books on one year’s campaign don’t close until March 31st of the following year; and, since the CFC takes place everywhere in the world where there is a Federal installation (including all military installations and embassies), it takes a while to compile all the information. Anonymous…
How Fertile Is The Fundraising Hiring “Field” For You? by Tony Poderis

Tony Poderis

1 May 2012 | 1:01 am

I once was not even remotely considered as a candidate for a fundraising development job with a hospital. I came from another non-profit background, and no matter my credentials, I did not even get an interview. The hospital’s “call for resumes” had an explicit condition that anyone applying for the job, “Must have at least five years experience in the medical sector.” Subsequently, when I was hired by The Cleveland Orchestra as its Development Director, I did not know one note of music from another. I had only been in the concert hall twice in my life. Twenty years later —…

Blog
Tired of School Fundraising Prize Programs?

Clay Boggess

10 May 2012 | 12:47 pm

Are there any innovative prize programs out there that both parents and students can really get excited about when it comes to school fundraising? Unfortunately parents far too often roll their eyes when they look at the prize brochure that comes home inside their child’s fundraising packet.Related Content: 3 Compelling Reasons to Use our Magic Show Prize ProgramBlog Type: Selecting a Fundraiser
Commit to More Than One School Fundraiser?

Clay Boggess

3 May 2012 | 3:05 pm

Should you sign up for two fundraising programs with the same company? Some companies offer special incentives if school fundraiser groups agree to commit to them for more than one sale like:Related Content: 3 Things a School Fundraiser Company Should DoBlog Type: Selecting a Fundraiser
Is Reaching Your School Fundraising Goal Enough?

Clay Boggess

26 Apr 2012 | 3:35 pm

Most people would probably measure school fundraiser success by whether or not they raise enough money to carry out their intended goals and objectives. Were they able to cover the expenses for their end of the school year trip? Can they now purchase new uniforms without having to tap into other sources? However, there are more ways to define fundraising success than just financial achievement.Related Content: How To Choose the Right School FundraiserBlog Type: Selecting a Fundraiser
What About School Fundraiser Profit Guarantees?

Clay Boggess

19 Apr 2012 | 5:02 pm

In order to compete for elementary school fundraisers, many companies attempt to entice groups to sign on with offers that seem hard to pass up. They have been known to offer things like additional prizes, invoice reductions, higher percent profits and even cold hard cash.Related Content: The School Fundraising Signup Bonus EnticementBlog Type: Planning a Fundraiser
How to Get Teachers Involved with School Fundraising

Clay Boggess

12 Apr 2012 | 4:24 pm

Your teachers can be an important ally when it comes to helping you bring in elementary school fundraising sales; however their plates are already full and they probably have limited spare time as it is. So what simple steps can you implement into your fundraiser to encourage them to become more involved?Related Content: How to Conquer Low School Fundraiser ParticipationBlog Type: Increasing Fundraising Sales

DonationTo Blog | Donate Online
Avoid the Perils of Online Fundraising- Part 2: Advice for Donors and Backers

admin

15 May 2012 | 4:00 am

For more fundraising tips Follow @donationto or like us at Facebook There are several worthy online fundraising campaigns that are seeking donations, but how do you decide which ones to make a donation to? It has become quite normal for charities, artists and several other groups to attempt to raise money online by using services such as DonationTo.com. Each of these online fundraising campaigns has the potential to become successful, but this can only happen if people such as yourself join in on their cause. In order to feel truly good about your donation, and not like you are simply…
Avoid the Perils of Online Fundraising- Part 1: Advice for People Raising Money

admin

12 May 2012 | 4:00 am

For more fundraising tips Follow @donationto or like us at Facebook Online fundraising is one of the easiest ways for people to raise money online for a project, but there are risks involved. Donors expect to support a project that will come to fruition. If, for example, you host an online fundraising campaign to cover the cost of producing a new CD, then your donors are going to expect that CD to be released within a reasonable amount of time. If you don’t put the proper forethought into your project, you might end up with a fully funded campaign that is still not enough to move…
Online Fundraising – Donationto.com Helps Hope for Hailey

admin

9 May 2012 | 4:00 am

For more fundraising tips Follow @donationto or like us at Facebook Online fundraising is a fantastic way to procure funding for any type of project, including charity and medical causes, and there are many positive benefits to choosing DonationTo.com as the host of your next fundraiser. Not only is the website designed in a manner that requires no technical skills, but you will also be able to keep 100 percent of the funding that you raise. It is usually much easier to raise money online because people prefer to use their credit or debit cards, and DonationTo.com will provide you with a safe…
Take the Financial Strain out of a Funeral with DonationTo.com

admin

3 May 2012 | 4:00 am

For more fundraising tips Follow @donationto or like us at Facebook The death of a loved one is one of the most emotional and traumatic experiences that an individual will ever have to endure. Unfortunately, funerals are also extremely expensive, and this can add a huge amount of stress to an already difficult situation. Many people have turned to DonationTo.com to raise money online for countless reasons, including to support an online charity or to gather startup funding for a movie project. Another way that DontationTo.com can help is by providing people with an online fundraising…
Keep 100% of all Donations with DonationTo.com

admin

30 Apr 2012 | 4:00 am

For more fundraising tips Follow @donationto or like us at Facebook Online fundraising allows organizers to reach out to a wider audience of potential donors, but the one downside of most websites which allow you to raise money online is that they keep a portion of your donations. The typical rate charged by most online fundraising websites is five to 10 percent of your total donations; in some instances, you’ll also need to host a fully funded campaign in order to receive any of the money that was pledged by donors. DonationTo.com is different from most similar websites because they…

Event Fundraising Blog
“Talk Amongst Yourselves” – The Lever Point of Social Media

16 May 2012 | 12:21 pm

Getting people to see your message. Getting people to act on your message. Getting the right message created. There is no shortage of things to get done in social media. But how do we go about doing this in a way that is effective and impactful?One of the most impactful ways of doing this is to make sure that your supporters are the ones doing the talking about your event. It’s not enough for your organization to simply have a Facebook page through which you try to acquire fans and “Likes.” Your organization needs to put social media tools in the hands of your supporters…
Generation Y: Youth Stepping Up to Change the World

14 May 2012 | 6:00 pm

I’ve seen it all at fundraising event orientation meetings: the take-charge confident walkers, the quiet learn-by-listening timid, the large buzzing-like-bees chatty groups, and the detail-focused women with serious questions. I see these and many other personalities on a weekly basis and I am constantly amazed at the growing number of confident youth — a.k.a. “Generation Y” or “Millennials”— that have swept into the role of supporting charitable events. They walk into my meetings with the “I can do this” attitude, and sign…
Communicating with Participants Before, During and After the Event

11 May 2012 | 9:00 am

Running a great fundraising event requires effective communication with your participants. We’ve put together some best practices to help you out.A good rule of thumb for communicating before, during and after the event: Put yourself in your participants’ shoes and ask, “What kinds of things would I like to know?”Before the EventPre-event communication is all about setting up participants to have the best event experience possible. Explain how to get there, where to park, where to check in, etc. For first-time participants, this will help reduce the stress of the…
Brand Connection: Your Story Can Inspire the Perfect Sponsorship

9 May 2012 | 11:55 am

We’re always talking about mission-focused storytelling as a way to get participants, donors, volunteers, and sponsors engaged in an organization’s mission or cause. Here’s a great example of just that. This post originally appeared last month in the Media Post blog Marketing: Causes.For much of his life, Patrick Downey was the perfect personification of the Converse brand. He was an artist who had developed his own unique, personal style—the crown jewel of which was his uniform of dark pants, flannel tops and Chuck Taylors. He wore it every day. And this is…
Inspired Discussion and Idea Sharing at the Boston Roundtable

7 May 2012 | 1:00 pm

Well, it was a bit overcast in Beantown but the ideas were brighter than ever at our first Event Fundraising Roundtable in Boston last week. We met some terrific world changers – professionals working in charitable and nonprofit fields from hospitals to disease awareness groups to educational institutions to the performing arts and more! Boston proved to be an inspiring hub of people and organizations working to make an impact.A big round of applause for our panelists who addressed issues and encouraged discussions surrounding participant retention, sponsor engagement, and how to get…

Too Busy To Fundraise
Targeted Fundraising

janetlevineconsulting

10 May 2012 | 9:50 am

It was one of those “Duh!” moments. We were talking about creating a fundraising plan, so the organization would stop lurching from one (not very well thought out) idea to another; each one more or less disappointing. The word “plan” … Continue reading →
Can’t Fundraise–I’m Buried Alive

janetlevineconsulting

2 May 2012 | 11:35 am

“I need to reschedule,” the email read. “I am buried.” All right. I understand that. I know what it’s like to have too much on your plate and the sense that you’ll never get it all done. Except. Except that … Continue reading →
It’s Not About You

janetlevineconsulting

24 Apr 2012 | 11:56 pm

It was an exercise in communications and my partner and I were not doing well. It was obvious, we used language differently and those differences created an atmosphere of irritation and distrust. At a distance, I realize I should have … Continue reading →
The Big Question

janetlevineconsulting

19 Apr 2012 | 8:25 pm

Once you’ve passed the age of 11 or 12, it becomes difficult to ask someone for a gift. And yet, for non-profits to be strong and well positioned for growth, getting charitable gifts is vitally important. Asking the question is … Continue reading →
The Holy Grail of Development

janetlevineconsulting

10 Apr 2012 | 11:27 pm

According to Penelope Burk of Cygnus Applied Research the average amount of time a fundraiser stays at his or her job is 16 months. The direct and indirect costs of finding a replacement are $127,650, more than most development directors … Continue reading →

GiveForward
Meet Our New Fundraising Coach!

Michael Powell

11 May 2012 | 4:40 pm

The best part of working at GiveForward is the one-on-one interactions that we have with our users, especially when it comes to fundraising coaching. Even though every employee at GiveForward is required to send out virtual hugs to a different user each day, we like to make sure that there are people here 100% committed to our users. So we are very happy to welcome Kristen Runvik to our team! And here’s a little bit of information that we’re sure you are itching to know… What are your favorite pizza toppings? Giardiniera, spinach, tomatoes, and garlic. It’s the best. Tell…
Fundraising for Mom in Honor of Mother’s Day

Erica Trzeciak

10 May 2012 | 11:37 am

There is only one day a year dedicated to the loving mothers that care for us so selflessly, when in reality, they spend much more time being caregivers than we give them credit for. Estimates of the percentage of family or informal caregivers who are women range from 59% to 75%, and the average caregiver is age 46, female, married and working outside the home earning an annual income of $35,000, according to the Family Caregiver Alliance. Because moms are known to put the needs of others in front of their own, it is understandable that they have trouble asking for help when they are the…
Marathon Fundraising: Running 759.8 Miles And Helping 29 Families

Cate

9 May 2012 | 1:33 pm

Fundraising and marathons – they go hand in hand. But one marathoner and philanthropist is taking it to the next level by promising $145,000 to families dealing with out-of-pocket medical expenses. Rather than running one marathon, Brad Feld is running 29 (if you are keeping track – that’s 759.8 miles), and in the process, raising money for 29 GiveForward families. Brad Feld, investor, entrepreneur and philanthropist has set a challenge – he has promised to run 29 marathons, and donate $5,000 per marathon to 29 families on GiveForward. But he is also challenging…
Superhero Boy (and Justice League) Vanquish Villains after Car Crash

april

30 Apr 2012 | 1:15 pm

Superheros are not as uncommon as you would believe. At GiveForward, we actually come across them every now and then. This week’s staff pick fundraiser is about one the youngest and most courageous supers we have every seen. At only three years old, Draek Warner is one brave little boy. He, his younger brother, and mom were in a terrible car crash. They were able to escape through a broken window, but Draek was trapped in his car seat in the crushed side of the car. Thanks to the valiant effort of three strong men, he was rescued. His fight had barely begun, however because his…
Affording Baby May Take a Village

april

30 Apr 2012 | 10:42 am

They say it takes a village to raise a child, but with the myriads of out-of-pocket expenses for aspiring parents it may take a village to afford one! Whether you are welcoming your new family member the old fashioned way or adopting, there are many financial concerns to take into consideration. Fertility Treatments Average out-of-pocket costs of treatment can range from $1,000-20,000 depending on your insurance coverage, but the cumulative cost increases significantly with repeated procedures and use of medications. Parents trying to conceive will face unexpected out-of-pocket expenses…

The Fundraising Authority
Neglecting Your Fundraising = Neglecting Your Mission

Joe Garecht

16 May 2012 | 9:29 am

I can’t tell you how many non-profit executive directors and board members I talk with that say things like: “We really need to raise more money, but we just don’t have the time or people to do it.” Or “Our organization needs to hire a development director to grow, but we just can’t afford it.” When I ask these non-profit leaders why they need to raise more money, their answer universally boils down to the fact that they want to serve more people with higher quality services, and need money to do it. My answer to them is always the same: If you need more money to serve more…
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About The Fundraising Accelerator

Joe Garecht

14 May 2012 | 10:32 pm

As you’ve probably seen from our newsletter, this week we’ve opened up registration for our new Fundraising Accelerator Consulting program. Today, I want to take the opportunity to answer some of the most common questions I have received about the class. If you have other questions that aren’t answered below, please send me an e-mail. What Is Fundraising Accelerator Consulting? Fundraising Accelerator Consulting is a consulting program targeted specifically at small and medium-sized non-profits. My goal for this program is to offer professional fundraising strategy and counsel to…
3 Tips for Successfully Working with Fundraising Consultants

Joe Garecht

14 May 2012 | 2:35 pm

I often get asked about best practices for non-profits that are interested in working with fundraising consultants. As a fundraising consultant, I definitely see the value in consulting for organizations both small and large. Yet, far too many non-profits aren’t sure about how to get the most from a consulting relationship. If you’re using a fundraising consultant, or are thinking about it, here are three tips for maximizing the value of the consultant to your organization: 1. Figure out What You Want If your organization isn’t sure what type of help it needs, a consultant…
Accelerating Your Fundraising at Small and Mid-Sized Non-Profits

Joe Garecht

10 May 2012 | 11:36 pm

Let’s face it… small and mid-sized non-profits have different fundraising needs than major organizations. At large non-profits, there are dozens of professional fundraisers utilizing outside consultants as needed. At smaller non-profits, there are one, two, or maybe three staff members responsible for fundraising, and affording consultants is just a dream… At large non-profits, you’ve already got a five-year fundraising plan in place, cultivation strategies laid out, and can afford to attend national development training seminars. At smaller non-profits,…
Fundraising Authority Podcast #6: How to Motivate Board Members to Help You Fundraise

Joe Garecht

9 May 2012 | 1:26 pm

Having the support of your board of directors is crucial for your organization’s fundraising success. Ideally, your board would serve as a key resource, helping you make connections, opening up their rolodexes, and constantly networking on your behalf. For many non-profits though, this simply doesn’t happen. In today’s podcast, we talk about the five key reasons why board members are reluctant to help with fundraising, and what your non-profit can do to overcome those objections and motivate them to help: Also, please note that The Fundraising Authority Podcast is now…

goodness.biddingforgood.com
'Tis the Season for Fundraising Walks

Valeria Amato

16 May 2012 | 9:57 am

'Tis the season…to start walking (or running or biking) for charity! Fundraising walk season is in full force and I’m sure you’ve already noticed an uptick in advertisements, posters, along with friends and family asking for donations for an upcoming event. In fact, just a couple of Sundays ago, on May 6th, my fiancé and I were just two out of the 41,000 people who participated in the Walk for Hunger in Boston. The Walk for Hunger is a 20 mile walk to help raise funds for Project Bread. This walk alone raised a much needed $3.6 million dollars…
Last Minute Mother's Day Shopping on BiddingForGood

Eric Reddy

11 May 2012 | 7:50 am

“What do you do hot shot? What do you do?” Dennis Hopper’s voice as the villain in the epically amazing 90’s movie SPEED is the only thing I can think about as I compose this blog post. When this piece is posted it will be less than 48 hours until Mother’s Day is upon us and once again I have no plan or gifts to celebrate some of the most important women in my life. There are only two people in my life that I happily recognize on this special holiday; my mother, who had a major role in me begin alive right now, and my fiancée, the “mother” of…
Overcome Fundraising Auction Obstacles to Achieve Success

Wendy Cullan-Jepson

7 May 2012 | 10:40 am

Every fundraising auction starts with Day 1. This day marks 90 days before your auction open date when you have that first auction committee meeting to divvy up tasks, strategize about the types of items you want, and get out there and start asking. Everyone leaves that meeting thinking “This will be the best auction yet!” and hopes are high. Fast forward to day 10…day 37….day 62….do you still feel the same way? Or have you run across an auction (stumbling) block? Here are three common problems and what you can do in…
Tips on Reserve Prices in Online Fundraising Auctions

Alice Curley

27 Apr 2012 | 8:44 am

On every item listed on BiddingForGood, there is an option to add a reserve price. Oftentimes, clients will ask what that means and how should it be used. I’d like to clarify starting with a definition and a few examples.If you have a reserve price on an item, the bidder can place a bid below the reserve price, but they can't win the item unless they bid at least the Reserve amount. For example, an item could have a reserve price of $2,000 but an opening bid of $1,600. If a bidder bid $1,700, their bid would be accepted, but they would get a message that they had not met the Reserve yet…
Auctioneers and Event Planners - Take Note!

Perry Allison

23 Apr 2012 | 9:16 am

Get Rich Quick! How's that for an opener? Ok, perhaps I exaggerate but there is a business opportunity that we want you to know about. If you are someone who makes a living supporting the world of charity auctions or if you are someone who does event planning of any kind, there may be a way to help BiddingForGood and build some new business for you in your market. As we have now moved beyond just the realm of the online auction and are mobile-enabling charity auctions "in the room," we are looking for partners to help us deliver our service and provide top notch customer support on the ground…

Association of Grumpy Old Fundraisers who know stuff
More on giving motivations or "why I hate chuggers"

peter maple

15 May 2012 | 10:42 am

I spend some time on TV and radio defending street canvassing, because if done properly and sensitively it is another very appropriate fundraising practice that helps charities reach younger potential supporters. Many people however talk about how guilty they feel saying no. When Ian MacQuillan sent me this article, by Julian Baggini I knew I had to comment on his verbalisation of what I think a lot of people will recognise when they encounter a canvasser. The full article is in a magazine called Heaver and whilst I don't agree with everything he says I think the sentiment is spot on. That's…
Giving Motivations

peter maple

14 May 2012 | 12:53 pm

As I blogged last week, it is extraordinary that 80,000 have given more than £1.1m (including gift aid) to Samaritans (no indefinite article I'm told). The article in the Guardian comments on the importance of who makes the ask as opposed to the case for support, the cause or other such factors. There will be a strong "giving in memoriam" element as a trigger. In my experience giving, in memory of a loved one, parent, partner or child, is one of the most powerful triggers for a gift. It is why some people start charities and why tribute giving is such an important area that, if charities…
Claire Squires - what an extraordinary effect

peter maple

26 Apr 2012 | 6:42 am

In the wake of Claire Squires' sad and untimely death on Sunday is is extraordinary that 65,000 people have given £3/4 million to the Samaritans in memory of someone who the vast majority had never heard of before the marathon. It's not unusual for the public to respond generously to a tragedy (witness the tsunami response) or when someone in the public eye dies (witness the Princess Dianna effect) but for a young women, doing the marathon for a great, but not huge charity (£10m turnover last year) is, in my view, extraordinary. So what is going on? In my view the Spectrum of Philanthropy…
George Osborne just doesn't get it

peter maple

17 Apr 2012 | 11:08 am

It is extraordinary that so many people (especially George Osborne and one suspects the rest of the cabinet) don't get it! Whether a high rate taxpayer is giving £1000 or £1,000,000 they do so out of taxed income (even if they are only paying 10%). Thus the high rate relief they get back only reduces the cost of the gift by 20% or enables them to give 20% more. It's arrant nonsense to suggest that people give to charities (even the Royal Opera House) to reduce their tax bill.That said, there may not be many who would give more than 25% of their £200,000 income but I can think of quite a…
Why oh why is Sport Relief giving the Evening Standard £1m?

peter maple

28 Mar 2012 | 5:41 am

I don't believe it! Are they mad or am I losing it?I applaud the fundraising efforts of the Evening Standard to raise money for London's homeless and dispossessed (now £8.3m). Equally I applaud All of Sport Relief's work in raising £52m for a huge range of good causes. However, what is the logic of one grant provider giving to another?The Evening Standard are actively fundraising using the oxygen of free publicity via the daily paper and having those funds managed and distributed by CAN (Community Action Network). Nothing wrong in that. Similary Sport Relief fundraises using the oxygen of…

Charity Walks Blog
How I Managed To Find Charity Work I Love

GuestAuthor

12 May 2012 | 10:11 am

There are two main pursuits to which I have dedicated my life: the act of helping other people and the equally sacred art of shopping. Once I graduate from college, it’s my ambition to get a charity job in a non-for-profit organisation and to make sure I stand the best chance of achieving gainful employment, I was told that I had to volunteer for charitable work as much as I could. The trouble was I didn’t know where to start. I gave it some thought and, as I was passing by an Oxfam shop window populated by embarrassed-looking paisley-clad mannequins, I suddenly knew I had found…
Planning And Remembering Events

GuestAuthor

3 Apr 2012 | 6:15 am

Planning and remembering events is a very difficult process and something that is harder and harder in this day and age. The problem is that these days we simply have too much going on for many of us to keep track of. There are the hundreds of events that most of us attend for instance which include corporate events, family events, weddings and others. Then there are the day to day tasks we need to take care of which might include going to work, bringing home work with us, commuting, taking children to school, walking dogs and washing and tidying around the house. Then there are the…
Who Sets Your Charity Walk Goals?

Roger Carr

22 Dec 2011 | 5:25 am

Nonprofit organizations typically set fundraising goals for each of their special events, even before the planning committees are formed. These goals are needed so that budgets and plans for the future can be set. A significant amount of research and predictions can go into setting these goals to ensure they are challenging but achievable. But I don’t believe these goals should be used to manage the charity walk event. I believe there are problems with giving the charity walk committee the fundraising goals. You want the committee members to own the goals. They will be more motivated to…
Ice Breaker for Your First Charity Walk Planning Meeting

Roger Carr

18 Dec 2011 | 1:38 pm

Have you ever been to a meeting that you didn’t know anyone in attendance? It can be very scary and awkward. For some, it can seem just as scary as going to the dentist! The first charity walk committee meeting can be just as scary for new members. It is important that there is a way for each member to quickly participate, have fun, and start building relationships with the other team members. There are many ice breakers that can be used to get everyone having a great time and to encourage talking with each other. One simple one is to have each member tell why he or she chose to be…
How To Make Your Grant Proposal Stand Out

GuestAuthor

11 Nov 2011 | 7:40 am

Submit grant proposals for charity walks Non profits across the country send out grant proposals everyday seeking funding for their program services. They compete with thousands of other organizations for the scarce grant dollars that are available. Development offices are always looking for tools to make their proposals stand far and above their competition. Sadly, there are no special tricks. There are no magic attachments that you can submit with your proposal that will magically reward your organization with those coveted grant dollars. The sad reality is that a perfectly written…

queer ideas
Why donors don't want to hear from you

mark phillips

27 Apr 2012 | 4:46 am

A report has just been published that adds to the growing body of evidence that shows many charities are still getting something wrong when it comes to donor communications. The study, commissioned by the REaD Group, asked 1,500 UK adults about their attitudes to charity communications. They found that most people – that's 55% of respondents – don't want charities to communicate with them at all. Shocked? Well, it gets worse. Thirty per cent of respondents stated that they would rather not hear from the organisations that they give to. When it comes to the factors that influence…
Charity ads from the archives

mark phillips

18 Apr 2012 | 10:21 am

I recently signed up to Pinterest and soon realised that it was a great way to put my archive of charity advertisements online. It goes back to the beginning of the last century and features ads from Save The Children (UK and USA), Oxfam, The RSPCA, Salvation Army, Scope, ActionAid, The Sierra Club, Christian Aid, NSPCC, The Red Cross and The YMCA (along with those of many other organisations). Hopefully you'll find it interesting to see how creative approaches have developed over the years. There are some great examples of technique on show (check out the YMCA ad from 1916).
Five idea killers and how you beat them

mark phillips

17 Apr 2012 | 11:36 am

Tom Fishburne, The Marketoonist, has just released a video presentation that looks at some of the problems you might face when trying to turn a great idea into a finished product. At just over half an hour, the video is a little long, but half of this is a recording of a workshop. The first 30 minutes features the best stuff. Tom is a great presenter and he includes loads of examples to illustrate his ideas so it's well worth watching. But knowing how busy you are, you'll find the key take aways summarised below. Watch live streaming video from deutschla at livestream.com The main…
What's wrong with charity advertising?

mark phillips

10 Apr 2012 | 9:31 am

Howard Gossage is my favourite Mad Man. If I have an advertising hero, it's probably him. Howard didn't particularly enjoy coming up with ways to sell more cars and airline tickets, he was just rather good at it. What interested him most was making the world a better place. So when David Brower of the Sierra Club asked him to help prevent the Grand Canyon being flooded through the building of the Glen Canyon dam, you'd have thought Howard's response would be an automatic yes. But it wasn't. David asked Howard's agency, Wiener and Gossage, to lay out an open…
Reinventing the collection box

mark phillips

4 Apr 2012 | 7:50 am

I've always thought that we have a great deal to learn from the humble collection box. Even with something as simple as a container with a hole in the top, testing shows that design, copy, and positioning will have a major influence over how much income will be generated. But few people have given any real thought to how we can use the collection box to do much else than simply receive small gifts. That was until Misereor, a German relief agency launched their Mit 2€ Viel Bewegen campaign – which translates to something like getting things moving with 2€. They developed a box that…

Fired-Up Fundraising | Gail Perry Associates
Avoid 5 Key Mistakes That Will Undermine Your Next Auction

Gail

11 May 2012 | 12:20 am

"You are invited . . . " How’s your auction doing? Bet it could do better, for sure! When it comes to auctions: you gotta love ‘em and work with them because they are here to stay. And they can raise good, important, unrestricted money – IF you are smart and strategic with them. Now, here’s a caveat: I’m not a wild fan of auctions to raise money. They just take too much work compared to the net revenue they bring in. (See my rant which was THE most popular blog post of 2011. And also see my love song to parties.) Sherry Truhlar, of Red Apple Auctions, is a stellar…
8 Tips for Getting High Dollar Sponsorships for your Big Event

Gail

4 May 2012 | 10:14 am

May is Party Month here at Fired-Up Fundraising. This month we are tackling fundraising events. Love 'em or hate 'em, special events are important to many organizations. Love ‘em or hate ‘em, they are a fact of life for most nonprofits. In the month of May we are going to drill down into HOW to maximize your dollar return from special events. I’m doing a series of webinars this month to help my INSIDERS subscribers wring the most $$ out of their events: 5/7 Getting High Dollar Sponsorships for Your Big Event, with Aimee Dunsmore. 5/15 How to Raise More Than Ever at…
An Easier Way to Ask For A Gift

Gail

27 Apr 2012 | 9:39 am

Does this happen to you when you ASK for a gift? Asking for a gift is the moment of truth in fundraising. Here is a simple, painless strategy that can take tons of pressure off the situation, pave the way for a positive response, and make it easier for everybody involved. And it’s such a very simple strategy: The easier way: send a letter outlining WHY you want to come visit. I know, you are asking WHY you need to do make the visit at all. Can’t you do it over the phone? Should you ask over the phone or face-to-face? After all these years in fundraising, I have a personal rule:…
How to Overcome the Intimidation Factor

Gail

19 Apr 2012 | 8:50 pm

I still get flutters Let’s face it. Asking someone for a contribution can be scary. You are going out on a limb, putting yourself out there. Whew. Sometimes I can just feel my stomach start to tighten just thinking about it. But asking doesn’t always have to be scary! Here are 5 tips that will help you get over yourself, and your asking anxiety. 1. Focus completely on the cause you are serving. It’s just not about you. I know that’s hard to swallow, but it’s true. You just CAN’T take it personally. Just focus on the children who will be served, the sick…
Don’t Be a Fundraising Dinosaur: 5 Big Ideas to Adopt Right Now

Gail

13 Apr 2012 | 12:22 pm

Here are more provocative nuggets from the recent AFP International Conference in Vancouver. I just couldn’t resist sharing these “status-quo” challenges! MLK never said, "I have an organization!" Here’s my challenge: Take this list to your next board meeting. Ask your board members: “What are your impressions of these ideas?” Big Idea #1. Stop talking about yourself. I’m hearing this over and over. And I bet you are too. But are you really, really following this new rule of fundraising? Guess what: It’s not about YOU or your…

Online Fundraising Today
Fundraising Ideas for Mother’s Day

Maureen

9 May 2012 | 12:40 pm

Mother’s Day is a great time for moms to think about ways that they can have a positive impact on their children. One of the most important jobs of a mother is that of a role model. As mothers teach and model the fine points of fundraising, their children will develop a charitable spirit which has the power to change the world. Mom & Daughter create a fundraising website Teaching children to have a giving outlook in the face of those who are in need is an important aspect of a mother’s job. Mothers and their children may want to work together by participating in a fundraising campaign…
Fundraising Golf Marathons

Kari

3 May 2012 | 12:20 pm

Golf marathons are a new fundraising concept that extends beyond “just” hosting a charity golf tournament.Golf marathons allow organizations to increase fundraising dollars raised by having Golf participants commit to raising a certain amount of money through pledges, rather than charging a set registration fee. Ask your golfers to contact friends, colleagues, and family members to solicit donations for their participation in your charity golf tournament. Each golfer can easily raise $500 (or much more) by tapping into their friends and family. Often, the golfer is not charged to play in…
Special Donation to Nonprofit with an Environmental Cause!

Kari

27 Apr 2012 | 2:46 pm

Every year Earth Day falls on April 22nd as a reminder to each of us that we have a job to do in order to conserve our planet. Whether it’s recycling, biking to work, driving more energy-efficient cars, off-setting your carbon emissions, installing solar panels, or donating to an environmental cause, each of our small contributions help make a difference. In honor of Mother Earth, DoJiggy would like say “Thanks” to those who “give back” to our planet. This month DoJiggy will make a $250 donation to a non-profit organization with an environmental mission. In order to be…
Environmental Club Fundraising Ideas in Celebration of Earth Day

Maureen

16 Apr 2012 | 11:03 am

Increasing awareness and appreciation of the Earth’s natural resources is the core mission of celebrating Earth Day on April 22, and environmental club fundraising ideas are brought to the forefront at this special time of year. Environmental clubs, just like many nonprofit & community organizations, host fundraising events to raise money in support of various initiatives that “give-back” to Mother Earth. While it is true that any fundraising campaign may bring in dollars to support your cause, educating your potential donors and sponsors regarding the planet which we share will…
Golf Tournament Planners Help Charities Get In On The Green

Julie

12 Apr 2012 | 5:41 pm

So you want to organize a charity golf tournament and don’t know where to start? You are not alone! Golf tournaments are a long standing tradition in charity fundraising and have proven to be a successful option, however, planning takes time and knowledge. Whether you are a development director or a volunteer, the task of organizing a charity golf tournament may loom as a daunting fear; especially if you are unfamiliar with golf as a sport. Using a Golf Tournament Planner for your charity event can save you time and money, as you allow an expert in the field to set up the infrastructure and…

Fundraising Detective
How to make things happen (or what to do when you've a million and one things to do!)

Fundraising Detective

16 May 2012 | 8:18 am

I feel like i'm spinning a dozen plates while juggling knives on a space hopper at the minute! It's all good and I love being busy, but I've been struggling to keep on top of my priorities and letting my day being taken up with non-urgent, non-important work. That's why this post from Scott Berkun came at the perfect time. It is all about prioritising and making things happen. There's lots of great advice in the post, but the two key takeaways that I've implemented with immediate success are: Defining my number one priority and managing my workload…
The right offer, at the right time: the importance of relevance

Fundraising Detective

4 May 2012 | 8:03 am

I've spotted these posters up in a number of pubs around London in the last few weeks and thought it was a beautifully simple and very clever fundraising campaign. Run by the British Forces Foundation it asks people to buy returning soldiers a drink by texting to donate £3.00. Here are five reasons why I think it will do really well. It is a simple, but strong offer that many people will relate to. Few of us would begrudge buying a returning soldier a drink. It is made in the pub when you are buying a pint. So the offer is being made at a relevant time. It is very simple and…
Fundraising Reading Round-Up

Fundraising Detective

28 Apr 2012 | 8:22 am

Here's another list of fundraising articles for you to digest and enjoy. Thanks for reading! Mark explains why donors don't want to hear from you. Some good advice for young and experienced fundraisers from Passionate Giving. Margaux's third big lesson in fundraising copy. Simon on donor recognition. Jonathon on making great charity websites. Alison on finding the 18th camel. Paul explains why we should all encourage slactivism. 101 Fundraising with 6 things you get with fundraising. The three best times to ask for money. How personal opinions destroy fundraising…
Fundraising Mastery: Don't forget the innovation!

Fundraising Detective

25 Apr 2012 | 7:49 am

My last post on fundraising mastery attracted some interesting comments and tweets and made the point that you also need to make sure you are mastering the right things and don't forget the importance of innovation. With that in mind here a couple of innovation related items that I hope will be of interest... I wish I thought of that I'm delighted to be one of the speakers at 'I wish I thought of that' (or as the cool kids say, 'I WI TOT') an event organised by SOFII. The concept is beautifully simple: 22 fundraisers will each have five minutes to talk about…
In Search of Fundraising Mastery: Lessons from a Sushi Chef

Fundraising Detective

17 Apr 2012 | 8:36 am

The excellent Gaping Void blog recently featured the story of Jiro Ono, a Japanese sushi chef who has dedicated his life to become a master of his profession. He does this from a tiny, 10 seater sushi restaurant in Tokyo. As Hugh comments: "Why did he do it that way? Because he wasn’t interested in money, he was interested in the MASTERY of his chosen craft. The bigger he made his restaurant business, the less time he would have to spend on his TRUE calling, making sushi... "He wasn’t in it for the money, he was in it because it allowed him to strive for…

CoolData blog
Emerson’s big data

kevinmacdonell

8 May 2012 | 10:35 am

On day in late March I got on a plane from Toronto (where I attended Annual Fund benchmarking meetings hosted by Target Analytics) to Las Vegas (for the Sungard Higher Education Summit), and picked up the Toronto Globe & Mail. I scanned a section that offered some ephemera, including the startling news that my fellow countryman [...]
For agile data mining, start with the basics

kevinmacdonell

26 Apr 2012 | 7:56 am

Lately I’ve been telling people that one of the big hurdles to implementing predictive analytics in higher education advancement is the “project mentality.” We too often think of each data mining initiative as a project, something with a beginning and end. We’d be far better off to think in terms of “process” — something iterative, [...]
Data I want to play with

kevinmacdonell

24 Apr 2012 | 4:23 am

Guest post by Marianne M. Pelletier, Director of Advancement Research and Data Support, Cornell University In my present job, I deal with a whole lot of data – over 2,000 fields of data on gifts, names, addresses, relationships, segmenting codes, dates, attributes, interests, contacts, you name it. Yet getting to play in this playground as a [...]
Stepwise, model-foolish?

kevinmacdonell

18 Apr 2012 | 7:00 am

My approach to building predictive models using multiple linear regression might seem plodding to some. I add predictor variables to the regression one by one, instead of using stepwise methods. Even though the number of predictor variables I use has greatly increased, and the time needed to build a model has lengthened, I am even less [...]
Are we missing too many alumni with web surveys?

kevinmacdonell

28 Mar 2012 | 7:04 am

Guest post by Peter B. Wylie and John Sammis (Download a printer-friendly PDF version here: Web Surveys Wylie-Sammis) With the advent of the internet and its exponential growth over the last decade and a half, web surveys have gained a strong foothold in society in general, and in higher education advancement in particular. We’re not experts [...]

The Nth Factor
Quiz: How Integrated is Your Organization’s Direct Response Fundraising?

Moira Kavanagh Crosby

7 May 2012 | 8:06 am

Tweet Integrated direct response fundraising has long been the pursuit of forward-thinking membership and development directors. But integration remains an ongoing challenge for most organizations – almost always for the same two reasons regardless of an organization’s size, funding, or mission. The channels like to change and organizations … don’t. Still, some organizations are much further down the path than others when it comes to un-siloing their programs. What is it about them? What arethey doing differently? And are you one of them? Consider these five questions – and…
How To Write Bad Direct Response Fundraising Copy

Moira Kavanagh Crosby

13 Mar 2012 | 9:22 pm

TweetAs predictive analysts and veteran direct marketers will tell you, there’s no crystal ball for really knowing whether your next direct response effort will be stellar or just so-so. But there is a remarkably accurate trick for telling whether your copy is any good before you hit send and, in turn, predicting where you might land on the marvelous-to-mediocre scale. It’s pretty simple. After you’ve written your copy, ask yourself three questions: Does the copy thoroughly explain who your organization is? Has it been carefully reviewed and edited by a minimum of four people in your…
Multichannel Reigns at 2012 #DCNonprofit

Moira Kavanagh Crosby

6 Mar 2012 | 1:12 pm

TweetThe DMA Nonprofit Federation’s annual DC Nonprofit Conference wrapped up last week sending 600+ npdm’ers home with ideas and inspiration for their 2012 campaigns. The conference covered a variety of issues and strategic considerations in nonprofit direct marketing, but a few themes dominated this year’s conference both at the podium and in the hallways. 1. Breaking down silos. Nonprofits have been talking about this a LOT at conferences for the past few years. Though the lines between marketing, communications and fundraising have become blurred lately, the walls between those…
Komen’s Antisocial Media

Moira Kavanagh Crosby

1 Feb 2012 | 11:15 pm

TweetOn Tuesday night Susan G. Komen for the Cure announced to the public that it was pulling about $700,000 in annual funding to Planned Parenthood for breast cancer screening services. The next morning, amid bad press and widespread disapproval of the decision, they gave us what could very well be the ultimate case study in nonprofit antisocial media Komen says … it pulled the funding because of a policy change prohibiting the organization from funding groups under investigation by local, state or federal authorities. Because Planned Parenthood is the subject of an investigation by…
When Great Board Members Have Not-So-Great Fundraising Ideas

Moira Kavanagh Crosby

9 Jan 2012 | 3:23 pm

TweetBoard members are integral to nonprofits. Legally, of course, but more importantly, because of the incredible role they play in enabling nonprofits to run well and make an impact. They bring expertise, ideas, connections, funding and so much more to the organizations they serve. They are awesome. But sometimes, between you and me, they have less-than-stellar fundraising ideas. They get direct mail and email, they’re on Facebook, they text, and so they think they understand direct response and online fundraising. The problem is, being a consumer of media doesn’t make one an expert in…

The Agitator
Deadly Silence

tbelford

16 May 2012 | 12:00 am

The mobile phone has become the ultimate response device. Donors can respond instantly to stimulus from any other medium – a TV commercial to a billboard to your fundraising letter or email appeal. Considering the ascendancy of mobile devices, David Berkowitz writing in Social Media Insider proposes “Death to Internet Week” (which I gather is this week). Maybe that’s a bit premature. Much of his article won’t interest fundraisers, but he is making a fundamental point about the movement of digital traffic – especially in the social media space – to mobile devices. He cites stats…
Of Course … The Landing Page

tbelford

15 May 2012 | 12:30 am

Yesterday we talked about what to test in terms of making email campaigns more effective. And I asked … What did we miss? Reader Dawn Stoner could have said … DUH! Landing pages. But she was more polite, recommending as follows: “Email landing pages! Since goal completion (donation, action) takes place not in the email but on the landing page, if you focus only on optimizing email content and driving more traffic to a landing page that’s not been extensively tested, you’re missing a major opportunity to maximize conversions. Similar to emails, there are numerous…
Test To Impress

tbelford

14 May 2012 | 12:00 am

There’s heaps of advice floating around, especially in the commercial space, for how to improve response to email marketing messages. But it always comes back to … you’ve got to test for your own organization and circumstances. With so much in email marketing that could be tested, where do you begin? Here’s a useful approach proposed by Kara Trivunovic of Strongmail, writing in email Insider. Roughly, from easy to hard, she suggests … Subject lines Sending time (Personally, I think this is becoming a non-factor, but as they say … test!) Audience…
America’s New Mobile Majority

tbelford

11 May 2012 | 12:00 am

Thanks to the Agitator readers who got back to us regarding their mobile reading of our blog. Sounds like plenty of subscribers read via mobile, mostly on their way to work. On all makes of smartphones … with no hassles. Whew! We’ll close out the week with two final bits of mobile news. Nielsen refers to “America’s New Mobile Majority” reporting that 50.4% of US mobile subscribers now own smartphones. With some interesting skews by ethnicity … And Pew Research tells…
How Are Your Email Appeals Accessed?

tbelford

10 May 2012 | 12:00 am

Sorry, no advice today! A question instead. I’ve just been reading a variety of articles (examples here and here) about improving email performance in the commercial space. Apart from the usual advice about subject lines, timing, length, testing etc, the real rising issue involves the steadily increasing likelihood that your email message is being read on a mobile device … with a variety of drawbacks (from small screen, unless it’s a pad, to the distracted environment the reader is probably in). I’m wondering what this means for The Agitator’s email feed. How…

Vivanista
Nickel and Diming Event Attendees

Layne Gray

11 May 2012 | 6:13 pm

Often donors close to a particular cause buy a table at the fundraising Gala and invite their friends to join them. It’s a great way to spend time with friends and to introduce a charity that is near to the donor’s heart. That is why it is important that guests don’t feel nickel and dimed to death at the event itself. Take for example, a Fund In Need. Trust me, I am the biggest proponent of Funds In Need – huge upside potential with virtually no work. But often people who have no affiliation with the charity feel pushed into raising their paddle. I don’t propose and…
Tales From The Chair: Schuyler Hudak, JLSF Fashion Show

Layne Gray

17 Mar 2012 | 7:51 pm

2012 JLSF Fashion Show Chair, Schuyler Hudak Event: The Junior League of San Francisco, Inc.’s 86th Annual Fashion Show Date: Friday, April 13, 2012 Chair: Schuyler Hudak Location: San Francisco Fairmont Purchase Tickets: Click here Beneficiary(ies): Community Programs: International Rescue Committee, San Francisco Child Abuse Prevention Center, Support for Families with Disabilities and the Janet Pomeroy Center. Additionally, The Junior League of San Francisco Enabling Funds Committee provides emergency and bridge funding grants to San Francisco Bay Area non-profit organizations…
Infographic: Who Donates to Charity?

Layne Gray

10 Mar 2012 | 3:29 pm

This infographic from LifeScience outlines how charitable organizations are sustained. Source:LiveScience
Who We Are

Layne Gray

10 Mar 2012 | 3:22 pm

Found this super fun application called Wordle that let’s you create a tag cloud out of words that are compelling. So this is how we would communicate who Vivanista is! How would you describe yourself in Wordle? Post your comment below!
PARCA Luncheon 2012

Layne Gray

10 Mar 2012 | 2:07 pm

The annual Luncheon & Fashion Show will take place in the elegant garden of a beautiful Hillsborough estate on May 16th. While lunching on gourmet fare, attendees will enjoy a fashion show featuring various designer looks from Wilkes Bashford. The luncheon also includes an exciting live auction, a fabulous silent auction and raffle prizes. Last year, this sold-out event raised $135,000 for Parca with approximately 400 guests in attendance. Since the Auxiliary was created in 1985, it has raised over $1 Million for the organization. Theme: Luncheon in the Serengeti Co-Chairs: Liat Bishko…

DonorDriven
Can social fundraising save your non-profit? Part 3.

Kevin Wolfe

9 May 2012 | 3:38 pm

This is the third of our four-part series of frank talks on social fundraising and its effect on the future of your non-profit with Managing Partners Todd Levy and Paul Ghiz of Global Cloud, the makers of DonorDrive Social Fundraising … Continue reading →
Can social fundraising save your non-profit? Part 2.

Kevin Wolfe

4 May 2012 | 10:29 am

This is the second of our four-part series of frank talks on social fundraising and its effect on the future of your non-profit with Managing Partners Todd Levy and Paul Ghiz of Global Cloud, the makers of DonorDrive Social Fundraising … Continue reading →
Can social fundraising save your non-profit? Part 1.

Kevin Wolfe

30 Apr 2012 | 8:05 am

This is the first of a four-part series of frank talks on social fundraising and its effect on the future of your non-profit with Managing Partners Todd Levy and Paul Ghiz of Global Cloud, the makers of DonorDrive Social Fundraising … Continue reading →
Post series “Can Social Fundraising Save Your Non-Profit” starts next week.

Kevin Wolfe

27 Apr 2012 | 9:20 am

Staring Monday, we’ll be bringing you a sobering series of posts that examines some core issues facing non-profits today. This series of frank interviews with Todd Levy and Paul Ghiz (Managing Partners of Global Cloud makers of DonorDrive Social Fundraising … Continue reading →
11 Twitter tips to make your fundraising event/campaign fly.

Kevin Wolfe

20 Apr 2012 | 10:32 am

Many non-profits are not really using Twitter to its full potential. Social Fundraising software like DonorDrive has built-in Twitter functions to help your constituents generate donations and get the word out about your event or campaign. But there are many … Continue reading →

Association of Grumpy Old Fundraisers who know stuff
More on giving motivations or "why I hate chuggers"

15 May 2012 | 10:42 am

I spend some time on TV and radio defending street canvassing, because if done properly and sensitively it is another very appropriate fundraising practice that helps charities reach younger potential supporters. Many people however talk about how guilty they feel saying no. When Ian MacQuillan sent me this article, by Julian Baggini I knew I had to comment on his verbalisation of what I think a lot of people will recognise when they encounter a canvasser. The full article is in a magazine called Heaver and whilst I don't agree with everything he says I think the sentiment is spot on. That's…
Giving Motivations

14 May 2012 | 12:53 pm

As I blogged last week, it is extraordinary that 80,000 have given more than £1.1m (including gift aid) to Samaritans (no indefinite article I'm told). The article in the Guardian comments on the importance of who makes the ask as opposed to the case for support, the cause or other such factors. There will be a strong "giving in memoriam" element as a trigger. In my experience giving, in memory of a loved one, parent, partner or child, is one of the most powerful triggers for a gift. It is why some people start charities and why tribute giving is such an important area that, if charities…
Claire Squires - what an extraordinary effect

26 Apr 2012 | 6:42 am

In the wake of Claire Squires' sad and untimely death on Sunday is is extraordinary that 65,000 people have given £3/4 million to the Samaritans in memory of someone who the vast majority had never heard of before the marathon. It's not unusual for the public to respond generously to a tragedy (witness the tsunami response) or when someone in the public eye dies (witness the Princess Dianna effect) but for a young women, doing the marathon for a great, but not huge charity (£10m turnover last year) is, in my view, extraordinary. So what is going on? In my view the Spectrum of Philanthropy…
George Osborne just doesn't get it

17 Apr 2012 | 11:08 am

It is extraordinary that so many people (especially George Osborne and one suspects the rest of the cabinet) don't get it! Whether a high rate taxpayer is giving £1000 or £1,000,000 they do so out of taxed income (even if they are only paying 10%). Thus the high rate relief they get back only reduces the cost of the gift by 20% or enables them to give 20% more. It's arrant nonsense to suggest that people give to charities (even the Royal Opera House) to reduce their tax bill.That said, there may not be many who would give more than 25% of their £200,000 income but I can think of quite a…
Why oh why is Sport Relief giving the Evening Standard £1m?

28 Mar 2012 | 5:41 am

I don't believe it! Are they mad or am I losing it?I applaud the fundraising efforts of the Evening Standard to raise money for London's homeless and dispossessed (now £8.3m). Equally I applaud All of Sport Relief's work in raising £52m for a huge range of good causes. However, what is the logic of one grant provider giving to another?The Evening Standard are actively fundraising using the oxygen of free publicity via the daily paper and having those funds managed and distributed by CAN (Community Action Network). Nothing wrong in that. Similary Sport Relief fundraises using the oxygen of…

Raffle Tickets Fundraising News | Resource Hub
Raffle Tickets News – May 16, 2012

Raffle Tickets

16 May 2012 | 8:38 am

Raffle Tickets News – May 16, 2012A raffle to win a trip into outer space? (Tang not included) That’s just on of the awesome raffles to buy a raffle ticket for! Startup’s $10 raffle promises to send winner to space – Fox News news.google.com Startup’s $10 raffle promises to send winner to spaceFox NewsThe startup says on its website that it has not locked in an official partnership with one of those private companies yet, but claims it has spoken to spaceship operators who say they will … Raffle this: $150 for a $3-million dream home – 9NEWS.com…
Raffle Tickets News – May 14, 2012

Raffle Tickets

14 May 2012 | 9:49 am

Raffle Tickets News – May 14, 2012Here are some the latest fundraising raffles happening from coast-to-coast. Get a raffle ticket and help a worthy cause! There’s also a cool new video to check out on how to print your raffle tickets. Enjoy! Peopleplace Cooperative Preschool » Raffle Fundraiser- Win 2 … www.peopleplacecoop.org5/10/12 Raffle Fundraiser- Win 2 tickets to a PHISH show! May 10, 2012. Yes, you have a chance to see PHISH! PEOPLEPLACE COOPERATIVE PRESCHOOL has 2 tickets to see PHISH! These could be yours just by purchasing raffle tickets! Caye Caulker Chronicles…
Raffle Tickets News – May 9, 2012

Raffle Tickets

9 May 2012 | 9:23 am

Raffle Tickets News – May 9, 2012Here are some raffles to check out and news from raffles past. Have you purchased your raffle ticket? Alaska Air Travel Raffle Tickets Still Available Through Burien Arts … b-townblog.com4/5/12 Burien Arts has announced that there are only 50 tickets left for their fundraising Travel Raffle, with the winner receiving two tickets to anywhere Alaska. Southern Little League: Announcing the 2012 Raffle southernll.blogspot.com5/9/12 It's important that we sell all these tickets to make the raffle a success. If you coach/team parent has not handed…
Printing Raffle Tickets How To Guide

Raffle Tickets

4 May 2012 | 10:46 pm

Printing Raffle Tickets How To GuideHave a look at this fun video produced by one of the fine sponsors of our blog, www.raffleticket.com. The moral of the story is why try to print your own raffle tickets when a pro can do it quickly and inexpensively. Raffle Tickets Fundraising News | Resource Hub - Bite Size Fundraising News Tips & Fun
Raffle Tickets News – April 1, 2012

Raffle Tickets

1 May 2012 | 9:14 am

Raffle Tickets News – April 1, 2012It’s May Day and here are a slew of fundraising raffles worth getting a raffle ticket for. March of Dimes Bloggers for Babies raffle!Harpers Happenings … www.harpershappenings.com4/30/12 March of Dimes Bloggers for Babies raffle! Posted on | April 30, 2012 | No Comments. holy cow – there are less than two weeks left until my teams March of Dimes walk! time is flying by. but, here we are and it's time for a last push to get … Chabad of Queens College Raffle secure.chabad.edu4/28/12 Chabad of Queens College endeavors to be the…

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