Online Fundraising & Social Media Terms for Beginners

Over the weekend I attended an event and met a nice older gentleman who worked at a nonprofit organization. While I was discussing some of what we do here at Fundly, a glazed look came over his eyes and he just stood there smiling. I realized that so many times we take for granted that people naturally understand, and are involved in, the world of technology these days. Since you may be new to the nonprofit world, social media, or online fundraising, I thought it would be nice to take a moment to briefly explain some commonly used terms.

Blog – an informational website that has a particular theme and consistent updates. It is an ongoing commentary on topics of interest that allows readers to interact via comments, likes, and shares.

Crowdfunding – enlisting individuals to network and pool resources via the internet to support a cause or organization. For example, in the fallout of a natural disaster, many people log on to a popular website and donate to an organization aiding those affected by the destruction, sharing with and encouraging their social networks to do the same.

Like – supporting or showing approval to a comment made on Facebook. A virtual thumbs up!

Microblogging – mini updates of what you are working on, sharing articles that you like, or attaching pictures that you would like others to see. What people “post” on Facebook or “Tweet” on Twitter.

Online Fundraising – raising money for a cause or organization using internet resources, such as social networking sites and e-mail.

Post  - status updates, comments, pictures, and shared content on Facebook.

Retweet – reposting what someone has already Tweeted for your followers to read.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) – the process of improving the visibility of a website in a search engine’s organic search results, such as Google or Bing. SEO incorporates keywords into a website that will result in a higher ranking in search results and, ultimately, more traffic to the website. Think about what words people will type into the search engine to find out more information about your organization or topic and highlight those terms on your site.

Share – reposting others’ content onto your own Facebook Page to share with your friends or followers.

Social Media Fundraising – using social media networks (such as Facebook, Twitter, and Google+) to raise money by sharing donors, updates, thank you’s, and supporters. This also entails encouraging donors and supporters to promote and share your cause.

Social Media Network – Facebook and Twitter are the two most popular social media networks. They allow people, businesses, and organizations to create a profile/account to connect with other people or organizations they know that are registered there. Once you approve of someone connecting to you on that site, you can read what they write and they can see what you write (also called a “post” on Facebook or “Tweet” on Twitter). Other popular Social Media Networks include: LinkedIn, Google+, Pinterest, and Instagram.

Tweet – comments that are made on Twitter.

Webpage – most websites have various links that are connected to the website. Picture the website as a book and each tab a separate chapter.

Website – the compilation of webpages that makes up a specific website.

Widget – “Widgets allow users to turn personal content into dynamic web apps that can be shared on websites where the code can be installed. For example, a “Weather Report Widget” could report today’s weather by accessing data from the Weather Channel, it could even be sponsored by the Weather Channel. Should you want to put that widget on your own Facebook profile, you could do this by copying and pasting the embed code into your profile on Facebook.” Wikipedia can say it better than I can!
If I’ve left any terms out that you would like to know more about, please leave a comment below. Also, if there is a relevant term that you would like to add, please post your idea in the comment section also.

Fundly News Roundup: Looking to the Future

In one newly launched campaign, a Seattle-based comic artist raised money to protect the legacy of a 19th-century inventor by tapping into the “electrifying” power of social media fundraising. However, this campaign was only one of many to see remarkable results as August began to wind down. Here’s a roundup of the week’s fundraising news.

Tesla museum fundraiser gets a jolt

Let’s Build a Goddamn Tesla Museum – Nikola Tesla was an inventor in the late 19th and early 20th century who was instrumental in bringing electricity to the world. But despite his enormous contributions to science and society, there is no museum honoring his work. Recently, artist Matthew Inman sought to change that, kicking off an online fundraising campaign to buy Tesla’s former laboratory in Long Island, New York, and turn it into a museum. After just a week, Inman had raised more than $1 million, far exceeding his $850,000 target.

Athletic supporters

Fans for Fruth – The Fond du Lac School District in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, has been raising money to revamp its Fruth Memorial Athletic Field, and is nearing its $800,000 goal, according to The Fond du Lac Reporter. The field has been home to Fond du Lac and St. Mary’s Springs’ football teams for more than 90 years, and is set to receive a new entranceway and pavilion, press box, concession stands, restrooms and increased handicap accessibility, the source said.

Final wishes

Michael Antcliffe – After being diagnosed with cancer in 2011, then-36-year-old Canadian Michael Antcliffe asked his friends and followers on Facebook to donate $10 to cancer research upon his death, according to the CBC. Last week, Antcliffe passed away, and so far his social media fundraising effort has raised more than $20,000 to help local cancer patients in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Glenn Craig, head of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation, told the source it “really shows … the power of social media.”

Before I Die Wall – Following the success of similar projects in cities around the world, Kimberly Gambucci recently turned to Fundly.com to raise money to create a Before I Die Wall in Phoenix. The concept,
originated by artist Candy Chang, encourages community members to share their hopes and dreams for the future in a public space. Gambucci is hoping to raise $2,000 by October to complete the project.

Organizational success

The Boys & Girls Club of Salem – In New Hampshire, the Boys & Girls Club of Salem recently implemented a new donor platform that takes advantage of social media fundraising to achieve its fiscal goals, according to Virtual-Strategy.com. Within a week of using the new online fundraising platform, the organization was able to raise $15,000 to replace a gym floor, the group’s executive director told the source.
Epilepsy Society – Across the pond in England, the Epilepsy Society was able to increase its donor contributions by 15 percent over the last year, despite having cut its overall fundraising budget by more than 15 percent, according to Civil Society Media. Epilepsy Society Fundraising and Marketing Director Bridget Gardiner told the source that the increase resulted largely from a significant investment in social media fundraising campaigns.

Schooled in the art of fundraising

Fundraising for Education – Non-profits aren’t the only ones to have tapped the power of social fundraising. A growing number of students are taking to the platform to raise money to cover the cost of education. RedOrbit.com recently highlighted the story of one young man from Central America who was able to finance his education at Cornell University and move his family to Ithaca, New York, after sharing the story of the gang-related murder of his childhood best friend, and his ambition to improve public policies in his home country.

Are You Appealing to the Right Audience?

For-profit companies spend billions of dollars determining who uses their products and hire ad agencies to create the perfect hook. From “hot chicks” to annoyingly perky jingles, it is often times easy to determine who the target audience is. As a nonprofit leader, do you know who your audience is? What are you doing to appeal to your spectrum of donors?

There are a lot of great things about online fundraising, but one of them has to be the ability to change your website’s appearance and the variety of ways that you can target different donors. While product marketing generally focuses on one demographic, nonprofit marketing needs to appeal to a vast amount of people. It’s important to analyze who the majority of your donor base is, how to attract a younger donor to instill future giving, and determine what past campaigns have worked and why.

Huffington Post writer Jessica Prois reported on a new study published by the Women’s Philanthropy Institute at Indiana University, which determined that baby boomers and older women give an incredible 89 percent more of their income to charity than men.

“Women of all demographics are influencing philanthropy in new ways through technology, family foundations and an insider ‘culture’ of giving that includes using groups to fundraise,” comments Prois.

Why is this study pertinent? I think it breaks down several misconceptions that we tend to have towards our donor demographics. Often times, the focus falls on the 35 and under crowd, with the assumption that they are the primary audience on social networking sites and are more skilled at using technology for social change. This study shows that the baby boomer generation is, in fact, just as active in fundraising through social media. Furthermore, while men continue to receive a higher paycheck then women, their female counterparts lead the pack in generosity.

Another important takeaway reveals that nonprofits need to take the time to analyze who is contributing the most to their cause, creating a strategy for future campaigns. While it is important to focus a large percentage of time and money on current donors, it is also important to incorporate opportunities for involvement for any gaps in the giving demographic you may have. Take your donor base into consideration when planning events and promotional graphics. These graphics can also be threaded throughout your campaign and website to draw potential supporters in visually. Check out some website examples that are using color schemes and images to grab attention, appealing to current and potential supporters.

LiveStrong.org is uses crisp graphics and a bold color scheme to appeal to a younger, athletic crowd.

SavetheChildren.org includes powerful close-up pictures of young children that would tug on any mother’s heart strings.


Finally, and most importantly, define and illustrate the personality and image of your organization. Take a look at your employees and leadership team, are they a proper representation for the people you are helping and the donors you are trying to attract? Does your website or giving page portray your organization properly? Knowing who you are attracting and then creating an outreach plan can help you work smarter, not harder with your fundraising efforts.

Feeling Burned Out? Stop, Drop, and Roll

I’ve worked with countless nonprofit leaders over the years and they all have a few things in common: an intense passion, extremely high expectations, and an incomparable work ethic. While these are all extraordinary qualities to possess, these traits can also cause a bad case of burn out. Since being exhausted is never fun (for you or your coworkers), here are some ways to prevent burn out and continue delivering for your cause:

Stop! One of the major causes of burn out is neglecting to take some time for yourself. A seemingly obvious remedy, the act of taking a little “me” time can be hard to accomplish with a long “to do” list weighing on your mind. This can be especially true in philanthropy, education, and child care, where there is a constant focus on meeting the needs of others. When there aren’t enough hours in the day, how in the world do you find time to take a breather from your impending tasks?

The best way to eliminate burn out is to prevent it. Try to set a consistent time of day when you take a walk around your building, synchronize your break time with a fellow coworker to chat, or just stand up and stretch. Do your best to also leave your workday at the office and focus on your family and friends. 95% of what we think is important can wait another day.

Drop! Get rid of what isn’t working. Take time to evaluate your projects, calendar, and events to measure input verses output during your work day. Sometimes our inner control freak comes out, clinging on for dear life – let go and delegate! While it may be easier said than done, trusting others allows you to focus on important aspects of your organization. Every task may feel important, but be sure to take the time to focus your efforts and avoid spreading yourself too thin.

Get rid of unrealistic expectations. As the leader your passion, dedication, and sacrifice will far exceed that of your staff. Though they are dedicated to your cause and organization, your employees may not be willing to put in 60 hours a week without overtime. Furthermore, not every supporter will attend every function, read every e-mail, or fund every project. It is a great feat to find qualified staff willing to work for and partner with your mission and monumental to have a donor show their support for your cause in any capacity.

Roll … with the punches. Some of the best leaders surround themselves with a trusted group of advisors who can handle problems when things don’t go as planned. Most of the time, supporters and volunteers won’t see a small hiccup in an otherwise flawless event or campaign. As cliché as the old saying is, “expect the best but plan for the worst.” Something is bound to go wrong when you are planning a major direct mail campaign, annual event, or important presentation. Do want you can to solve the problem and then let go. Holding on to a list of past problems or failures fuels burnout and distracts your focus.

Being flexible is also important as new fundraising trends spring up. Don’t stress about what you do or don’t know about online fundraising, social media, or phone apps. Build a strong support system of other nonprofit leaders that can provide encouragement and share valuable resources. Find out what works for them, what online resources they use, and what trends they tend to follow. Meeting with others who know what you are going through can be the best way to bring fresh ideas to the table and prevent you from spiraling out of control towards a sever case of burn out!

Fundly News Roundup: Viral Videos & International Aid

Non-profit organizations can put a lot of weight behind their social fundraising campaigns by adding video content, and one expert in the field recently offered some insight into the best ways to make an eye-catching fundraising video. Meanwhile, a Fundly.com campaign has captured the imagination of the fundraiser’s local community, spurring an incredible amount of donations in the last week. Here’s a roundup of these stories and some of the week’s other social fundraising news:

A video’s worth a thousand words

The DoGooder Non-profit Video Awards - Recently, Michael Hoffman, president of video agency See3 Communications, sat down with ReelSEO.com and offered some do’s and don’ts for non-profits that want to add video content to their fundraising campaigns. One of the points he stressed was that organizations should not focus on themselves, but rather the people they serve. Fundraising videos should also include a clear call to action, he said.

Social change and lemonade

Make a Stand - As we reported two weeks ago, 8-year-old Vivienne Harr recently embarked on a campaign to raise $125,000 to help end child slavery, and her cause appears to have caught on. Not only has the local media in her hometown of Fairfax, California, started reporting on her ambitious goal, media outlets around the world have picked up the story, leading to more than $20,000 donations in a single day. On her Fundly.com page, one supporter pointed out, “You made the news in Brazil.”

Local and international aid

Lisa King for Gaza, Mozambique - Habitat for Humanity helps build shelters for impoverished families all over the globe, and one woman has turned to Fundly.com to raise money for the cause. Lisa King is just shy of her $2,000 goal to fund her trip to Mozambique, where more than half the population lacks adequate shelter. King has nearly two months left to accomplish her goal.

The Center for Pranic Healing - One organization is hoping to relieve the suffering of humanity in a different way. The Center for Pranic Healing teaches people to use their energy to promote healing, health and happiness, which group leaders say will lead to a balanced life. The center has set a goal to raise $500,000 over the next three months on its Fundly.com campaign, to promote its teachings.

Fundraising for a song

Daniel’s Music Foundation - At age 12, Daniel Trush suffered a brain aneurysm and spent nearly three years in recovery. Today, at 27, he is fully recovered and has his own music foundation, which offers free music lessons to all individuals in the New York area who have disabilities, including children, veterans and the elderly. The $25,000 one avid supporter hopes to raise through Fundly.com will go toward establishing a space for the foundation in New York City.

Fundraising is for the dogs

The British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals - Across the border in British Columbia, Canada, local celebrities were recently locked away in kennels, relying on friends to raise money for the B.C. SPCA to get them out. One prominent prisoner, Erin Cebula of Entertainment Tonight Canada, told regional news source The Province that she had “been doing most of [her] fundraising by social media.”

Puh-puh-puh-poker face

Charitable poker runs - One popular fundraising activity appears to be banned in the state of Kansas, according to Nonprofit Quarterly. During a motorcycle poker run, bikers ride from location to location collecting playing cards and hoping for the best poker hand possible. According to the state of Kansas, however, this constitutes gambling and is illegal. But one Kansas official has come up with an interesting workaround: Bikers can throw darts to try and hit their desired card, making it a game of skill instead of chance.

What Do Shark Week and Fundraising Have in Common?

This week marks the 25^th anniversary of the Discovery Channel’s ever-popular Shark Week! Here at Fundly, we too fall victim to shark mania, the annual celebration highlighting some of nature’s most captivating predators. From the first time I saw the movie Jaws to the many times I’ve watched the movie Deep Blue Sea on television, I love the suspense and action that these thrillers bring. I still have second thoughts about entering into the ocean!

What in the world does Shark Week have to do with online fundraising? Keep reading for some takeaways from these fascinating sea creatures…

1)      Prevent  your donors from feeling like prey – The shark fin in the water from Jaws and eerie music (da-nuh, da-nuh), sets the tone for sharks in popular culture. It gives the viewer a sense of feeling like they are being hunted (I’m coming for you!).  How do your donors view you? Continually asking for donations, rather than truly connecting with people who are supporting your cause, can often times cause them to lose interest. Listening to comments and ideas goes a long way towards building trust between your organization and donors. Timely thank you’s, sharing of milestones and progress, and discussion about topics beyond your cause can also do wonders as you create lasting relationships with your supporters. Don’t be a fin and the water hunting for donations, show your face and tell your story to allow people to approach your cause in a positive way!

2)      Don’t stay in one place, migrate! – Great white sharks travel thousands of miles to keep their bellies full, from the coastline to the deep waters of the ocean. As the weather changes and different species migrate, the shark explores different paths to avoid depleting one source of food and to find other means of surviving. Nonprofits can learn a valuable lesson from this: don’t spend the entire year feeding on the same limited resources. As a nonprofit leader, it is important to be mindful of your donors so they do not burn out and become extinct. Building a fundraising strategy that includes several types of donors and fundraising avenues will allow your nonprofit to sustain itself throughout the year. Look for new places to fish –  like social networks, community mixers, or public events.

3)      Getting “chummy” with your donors – We’ve all seen divers throw in buckets of fish parts into the water to attract sharks with the enticing scent of blood penetrating the water. To catch a larger shark with a fishing rod, the bigger pieces of bait need more hooks in them to hold heavier sharks.  The same is true when you are looking to attract higher end donors. What type of bait are you putting on the line? Consider advertising, press releases, public relations, tax write-offs, and volunteerism to build community as part of their benefits. You also may want to honor individuals at annual events, create a major donor plaque to display in your front office, or highlight levels of giving in your annual report or quarterly newsletter. Even the simplest of thank you on social media can go a long way to help keep them on the line.

Here a few more key lessons from Shark Week:

• Start a feeding frenzy.
• Keep moving.
• Sometimes it helps to hunt in packs.
• Trust your instincts to stay afloat.

5 More Top Nonprofit Leaders to Follow

In the last post, we highlighted five of our favorite nonprofit leaders that we find the most informative, innovative, and applicable for the nonprofit community. Here are five more useful blogs and nonprofit leaders to follow. (Please note that the list is in no particular order. Each expert brings something different to the table and they are all awesome!)

5)      Jeff Brooks: @JeffBrooks Seattle, WA; Blog: Future Fundraising Now
Brooks is great at finding current statistics, articles, and relevant blog posts, conveniently summing them up in one quaint package. His site is a treasure trove of information that varies from creating captivating content to syncing your online and offline fundraising strategies. When I read his posts, I want to print them and use them as checklists for future campaigns – they’re that good.

6)      Beth Kanter: @Kanter San Francisco, CA; Blog: Beth’s Blog
Heartfelt, real, and done right; these are the first words that come to mind when describing Kanter’s work. She has gorgeous pictures, compelling graphics, concise bullet points, and excellent content. From inspiring personal stories about her adopted children from Cambodia, to using social media to attract high level donors, you can’t help but walk away from her blog feeling refreshed and ready to make the world a better place.

7)      Pam Moore: @PamMktgNut Tampa, FL; Blog: Pam Marketing Nut

Scrolling down the list of Pam’s past posts, you can’t help but say to yourself “I could really use that info!”  Her posts are often times organized into lists, making them easy and quick to read, while providing useful information. She continually provides great ideas on how to maximize your nonprofit’s use of social media and content marketing  You don’t have to be a marketing expert, Moore’s fun and informative blog provides the tips and advice you need to develop and maintain a winning strategy. (And it’s always entertaining when social media guru “Granny” stops by for a guest blog post!)

     Heather Mansfield: @nonprofitorgs Springfield, MO; Blog: Nonprofit Tech 2.0

In the world of ever-changing technology, sometimes trying to keep up can result in my brain turning to mush. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all of the trends in the nonprofit world – a feeling that can easily get exacerbated when you add the the rapid growth of technology into the mix. It can be confusing attempting to apply the traditional ways of fundraising to the new platforms of social networking, but Mansfield easily incorporates online resources into any fundraising campaign. She uploads a plethora of samples, stories, and strategies that can benefit organizations regardless of their size or budget.

9)      Debra Askanase: @askdebra Boston, MA; Blog: Community Organizer 2.0

Askanase addresses social media, marketing, and fundraising with intelligence and practicality that is thought-provoking and clearly stated. Topics often times focus on content curation and social media strategizing, giving nonprofits tips on how to optimize their story and resources to make the most out of their online presence. She brings a fresh perspective and new resources to the table.

10)      Seth Godin: @ThisIsSethsBlog Hastings-on-Hudson, New York; Blog: Seth Godin’s Blog

Godin’s blog is completely random (in a good way) and is the equivalent of trekking up the hill to ask advice from a meditative monk. Some days he focuses on technology, other days fundraising, and yet many times he simply  provides a commentary on life. That’s probably why I like it – there are only so many articles you can read about content, what time of day to post on social media, and how to redesign your website. Sometimes you just need to take a step back. Godin balances thoughtfulness and pensive remarks with the business of philanthropy.

5 Top Nonprofit Leaders to Follow

Running a nonprofit is like being the captain of a ship. You’re leading a crew to a specific destination only to have unforeseen storms stir up the waters, you may come across other ships competing for your hearty catch, and sometimes you just feel completely lost at sea. Fear not! There are those who have mapped out the course ahead of you and are willing to share tips and lessons from their perilous journeys. Here are five nonprofit leaders that you should keep an eye on by following them on Twitter or subscribing to their blogs:

1)      Nancy Schwartz: @NancySchwartz from New York, NY; Blog: Getting Attention
Schwartz’s blog is a top pick, addressing issues that are in today’s headlines and applying them to the nonprofit world. From analyzing other nonprofit’s mistakes to cheering for Olympic gold, she clearly has her finger on the pulse of current events and boldly shares her opinions. Furthermore, she has great posts pertaining to topics that a majority of organizations struggle with, such as the entry on how to Make Your Nonprofit Messages Stick and her tips on training your staff to be great representatives for your organization.

2)      Sandy Rees: @SandyRees from East Tennessee; Blog: Get Fully Funded
Often times, the number one task that nonprofits focus on is getting the cash to carry out their mission. Rees has created an awesome blog that solely focuses on getting your hands on the much needed funding that seems to make the world go ‘round. Most nonprofits would agree that one complaint never uttered in this sector is “we have too much money”. With Rees’ suggestions, expertise, and a variety of resources, you can create a solid strategy to obtain your fundraising goals.

3)      Marnie Webb: @webb from San Francisco, CA; Blog: Caravan Studios
What I enjoy about Webb’s blog are her insights, examples, and out-of-the box way of thinking. Her prose is entertainingly quirky, while the information that she brings to the forefront is practical and applicable. Webb has researched the latest trends concerning the use of technology in fundraising while also emphasizing the building blocks for running a traditional nonprofit in an ever-changing world. Instead of scanning through hours of pages on the internet, her blog allows you to discover different schools of thought pertaining to the philanthropic world by highlighting the points of interest from different articles. Webb’s blog is seemingly like those yellow and black Cliff’s Notes pamphlets you deny using in college (without the bad rap)!

4)      John Haydon: @johnhaydon from Boston, MA; Blog: John Haydon
Technology can seem like a blessing and a curse. What was designed to make our lives simpler and more efficient, has made many of us confused and overwhelmed. Many nonprofits are left wondering what social networking sites they need to be on, how much attention should they devote to this medium, and where should they even begin in this whole process. Haydon’s blog does a great job at addressing these very issues, plus much more. He has also created an extremely helpful Facebook profile, The Nonprofit Facebook Guy, to keep nonprofits in the know about the latest features on the social network. Whether you’re a novice using the internet or a seasoned pro, you’ll find tips and valuable recommendations to stay abreast concerning online fundraising and social media.

5)      Katya Andresen: @katyaN4G from Washington, DC; Blog: Katya’s Nonprofit Marketing Blog
Marketing is much of the lifeblood of any nonprofit. You could run the most effective programs in the world, but it wouldn’t mean a thing if no one participated or donated. In a world where we are blasted with advertisements on TV, the internet, and in our favorite magazines, it’s hard to stand out. With so many images and slogans vying for our attention, developing an eye-catching story and marketing strategy can be a struggle for many organizations. This struggle sometimes appears unsurmountable when there are countless other charities asking for money to support their worthy cause. Andresen explains the ins and outs of marketing, traps to avoid, and presents good examples of what can be done to overcome these challenges. She also discusses ways to insert new life into your marketing plans and keep donors tied in to your organization.

Fundly News Roundup: Social Media & Peer Support

A recent roundtable discussion with the leaders of some of the most powerful social networking sites in the world revealed some of the many ways non-profits can use social media in their fundraising efforts, and gave clues to the future of philanthropy. Meanwhile, individuals and organizations across the country have been taking action to support their friends and communities – sometimes quite literally. Here’s a roundup of the week’s fundraising news:

Social support

The Fast Company - Recently, business media magazine Fast Company gathered some of the top brass at websites like YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Zynga to discuss the impact social media has had on non-profit fundraising and philanthropy. Speaking to reporter Farhad Manjoo, Hunter Walk, director of product management at YouTube, said successful social fundraising campaigns have to have three components: “content, community, and a call to action.”

Extra support

BraLaPalooza - A Chicago-based non-profit is using social media to get the word out about an upcoming event. Support1000 is an organization that collects new and gently-used bras to give to social services organizations that help women. The group recently took to Twitter and Fundly.com to spread information about BraLaPalooza, a one-day event on August 25 during which volunteers will sort and ship more than 15,000 bras to organizations around the world.

Support the troops

8-6-11 - Just over a year ago, 31 U.S. soldiers were shot down and killed in Afghanistan. Many of those soldiers were Navy SEALs. Recently, a Fundly.com campaign was started to raise money to help their surviving family members, and to honor their memory.

Honor Flights - On August 7, the Lafayette, Indiana, chapter of the Gold Star Moms held a charity event to raise money for a chartered flight to Washington, D.C., for local World War II veterans. These trips, called Honor Flights, allow these ex-soldiers to visit the nation’s capital and view the recently erected WWII monument. A flight scheduled for September already has 84 veterans signed up, and an October flight is more than half full, according to The Journal & Courier.

Child support

Zumbathon - A recent tragedy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, left three children orphaned. To help raise money to support them, their grandmother held a charity event on August 4 during which more than 200 attendees worked out to the popular dance-based exercise, Zumba.

Robert’s Frozen Custard - Another trio of orphans from Germantown, Wisconsin, were the beneficiaries of a supportive community recently when local merchant Darren Stamm announced he would give 100 percent of the profits from his Robert’s Frozen Custard Shop on July 31 to the youngsters. Hundreds of people lined up for this event, according to local Fox affiliate WITI. It was the first of three planned for the kids. The second took place August 11 at Fat Charlie’s Restaurant in Richfield, Wisconsin.

Life support

The Fleisher Foundation - An organization dedicated to heart health recently completed its fundraising goal through Fundly.com. The Fleisher Foundation announced this week it has raised more than its $10,000 goal in a campaign to promote CPR training and combat sudden cardiac arrest. The money was raised as part of the foundation’s annual 10k Mud Run, during which participants take to the Marine obstacle course at Camp Pendleton.

Healing Hands - A fundraiser was held recently in Bristol, Virginia, to benefit the Healing Hands Health Clinic, which provides healthcare to low-income members of the community who can’t afford insurance. Donors shared their personal experiences with the organization during the Cirque de Soleil-themed party and helped raise $100,000 to support the healthcare provider, according to the Bristol Herald Courier.

5 Fundraising Lessons Learned from the 2012 Olympics

Like many people across the world, at one time or another over the past two weeks my television has displayed visions of uneven bars, Speedos, and track shoes. From pride to disappointment to empathy, my emotions have soared and ached with those competing and the stories attached to each athlete. There are some great lessons to take away from those representing the nations of the world in the London 2012 Olympic Games:

1)      Success doesn’t come overnight. The majority of athletes competing have been training since they were around ten years old and will spend a minimum of $50,000 to get to the Olympics. While many are born with natural talent, they still need to be honed, refined, and strengthened to reach the global arena.

Nonprofits may not necessarily be training to compete, but they still should not expect instant success in the fundraising world. Other than causes helping natural disasters, rarely does a charity have money to pour into the initial stages of planning. It takes time to find people with a similar passion and to build trust with donors willing to contribute.

2)      Stories foster connections. The 2012 Summer Olympic Games seem to be chock full of touching stories of athletes overcoming stacked odds. From South African runner Oscar Pistorius and his triumph of qualifying to participate in the games as a double amputee, to Gabrielle Douglas becoming the first African-American to win an individual women’s gymnastics gold medal. This is truly a year that inspires everyone to overcome whatever hurdles they may come up against.

The use of athletes’ stories to entice viewers is an extremely valuable lesson for nonprofits: it’s the biographies and story lines that touch hearts. I’m not a big fan of track and field, but I was riveted to my screen to watch Pistorius compete and I cheered him on with the rest of the world. The stories that you tell about your organization are the best ways to recruit people to your cause and allow them to become an invested supporter in the long run.

3)      We’re all on the same team. Before the games began, a majority of Olympians that marched across the field at the opening ceremonies had yet to become household names. However, it really didn’t matter. The audience inevitably becomes attached to athletes that relate to their interests, whether it be because of interest in a particular sport or an attachment of pride in fellow countrymen.

As a nonprofit looking to get more donors, how are you relating to your donors? Educational and environmental issues draw in parents because the future of children is at stake. Cancer foundations tend to touch millions because so many have seen loved ones fight this common enemy. What common thread can you find that ties in your cause to individuals?

4)      Strike while the iron is hot. It has been said that, as the Olympian with the most medals in history, Michael Phelps has the potential to earn $100 million in endorsements. From Head & Shoulders shampoo to Subway sandwiches, we haven’t seen the last of this stellar swimmer.

While the Olympics lasts only two short weeks, Phelps knows that now is the time to rake in the cash before it all becomes a memory. Nonprofits should do the same. If there is a news story pertaining to your cause, emphasize why your services are needed. If you just had a successful banquet, keep the momentum going by thanking your guests and scheduling meetings with larger donors. Resting on past accomplishments will delay future ones.

5)      It’s not always a 400 meter dash. Running an organization is often a marathon, not a race. Conserve your energy, get knowledgeable people to coach you, and refuel when needed. It’s like the old cliché says: play smarter, not harder. When you have the right skills and tools at your disposal, you can accomplish more in less time. For example, using social media networks to share your cause and fundraising efforts will help you reach out to thousands of potential donors unlike any other platform.

Twitter’s Political Index: The Newest Frontier in Democracy

Gone are the days of soapbox politics, trucks equipped with megaphones, and cardboard signs littering every intersection. Now the best way for a candidate to get their name out and reach voters is through mobile technology. From assessing voter sentiment to online political fundraising, the internet continues to become a staple in the modern day electoral process.

On the cusp of social media trends is the ever-increasing presence of Twitter. With the introduction of Twitter’s Political Index, up to the minute sentiments and public opinions are only a mouse click away. “Twitter teamed with data analysis firm Topsy and polling companies The Mellman Group and North Star Opinion Research in order to evaluate and weigh the sentiment of each day’s tweets regarding Barack Obama or Mitt Romney as compared to the 400 million tweets sent on other topics,” explains PCMag.com writer Stephanie Mlot. “Twitter doesn’t intend for the Index to replace traditional polling, but instead reinforce it, providing a better-rounded picture of the general public’s feelings toward the election.”
Adam Sharp, Twitter’s head of government, news, and social innovation commented on Twitter’s blog, “Just as new technologies like radar and satellite joined the thermometer and barometer to give forecasters a more complete picture of the weather, so too can the Index join traditional methods like surveys and focus groups to tell a fuller story of political forecasts.”
But really, how reliable is the information that is being posted concerning voter opinions on this new electoral resource? The first concern that comes to mind is that users of social media are probably in a younger demographic therefore skewing an accurate slice of what the voter demographic looks like. However, pingdom.com reports that the largest age bracket of Twitter users fall into the 35-44 year old category making up 25% of their audience and 64% of Twitter users are over the age of 35. (Just in case you’re interested, 61% of Facebook users are 35 and older.) Another question regarding reliability concerns whether or not the opinions voiced provide an accurate view of a slice of public opinion. Techland.Time.com shares that “the average Twitter user is a female, age 18-24, with a split between people making less than $30,000 and people making $50,000 – $74,999 a year. Most have a college degree or higher and live in an urban setting. The survey asked a random sample of 2,257 adults. Hispanic (18 percent) and African Americans (13 percent) are twice as likely to use Twitter than Whites (5 percent).”
So how does this political index actually work? BuzzFeed staff reporter Matt Buchanan has a great summary: “Topsy pores through every single tweet in real time, determines which ones are about Obama or Romney, and then assigns a sentiment score to each tweet based on its content. That is, whether it’s positive or negative toward Obama or Romney, and just how positive or negative it is. Add all the data up together and you have something like a real-time approval score for Obama and Romney, determined by what tens of millions of people are saying, which Twitter is going to release daily at election.twitter.com.”
Can you truly put your finger on the pulse of the nation just by logging on to Twitter’s Political Index? Sharp replies that the social media view often mirrors worldwide feelings regarding a candidate and that the last two years’ Political Index scores for President Obama often parallel his Gallup approval ratings, sometimes even foreshadowing future polling numbers.
The advantages to this new resource can be integral for future elections. Damage control, online fundraising, voter communication, streamlining hot topics, and political strategizing can enter into a whole new level with such a vast audience with information accessible in real time. The potential for this frontier is incredible and I am excited to see what happens next!

You Ask, We Answer: Overcoming Common Barriers

 Check out the highlights and expanded answers from last week’s live Q&A.

Q: If an NPO is just starting & isn’t reputable yet, what are some fundraising tips or ways to gain trust over social media?

A: Share your story in a way that connects with people emotionally and allows the passion for the cause to shine. It’s the human touch and common ground that causes people to relate to an organization and come along side to partner with them. Parents are particularly drawn to causes concerning children because of the strong bond they have with their own. People with a shared passion for the outdoors have a sense of camaraderie about environmental issues. Who is your target audience? In answering this question, it is important to consider the best avenues through which to reach out to that audience.

Sharing your impact is also important if the organization has been able to show some positive results thus far. Take pictures of your events and gather quotes from the attendees to post on your website and social media profiles. Share the progress you’ve made over the past year concerning people that you’ve aided, acres of rainforest that you helped to protect, or show pictures of the progression of a building project. Donors want to be a part of something life changing and great, don’t be afraid to tell them how great you are!

Finally, social media is just that… social! Here are the best ways to earn a great reputation: follow through on promises and get the backing of someone reputable to endorse you. Share success stories and use social media to promote the impact of your organization. Next, rally supporters around your cause. It could be as big as finding a company or local personality to state their support, or as simple as encouraging your friends on Facebook to “Like” your page. The best way to gain someone’s trust is to find someone they trust to recommend your nonprofit. Your Fundly page provides an avenue for donors and supporters to share each time someone contributes to a cause, encouraging others to join them.

Q: We’re in our mid campaign slump. Best way to crawl out?

A: Are you sharing those important milestones with existing supporters and others using email, Twitter, and Facebook? With this momentum, now seems like a perfect time to contact blogs, websites, and local media – ask them to share! Milestones are a great way to rally supporters to help you reach your goal!

If the tide is low for your organization, why not create some waves for yourself? Organize a free meet and greet with donors, potential supporters, city officials, local business people, or fellow nonprofit leaders – remind them of how great your organization and its impact are! Arrange a special brainstorming session with your board or staff to generate new ways to encourage others to give or reach an untargeted group of supporters. In the meantime, this is also a great opportunity to “clean house”. Consider renovating your website, testing what times of day get the best responses for your Tweets, or taking polls on Facebook to see what interests your donors. Now is the perfect time to do the things that you’re too busy to do the rest of the year.

Fear not,  you’re not alone! Summertime tends to be the slow season for many nonprofits as their donors are on vacation and when kids are not at school so more money is spent on entertaining them. Hang in there!

Do you have a question about online fundraising for one of our Fundly professionals? Follow #fundraisingtips on Twitter every Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. Pacific time. We look forward to helping you create successful online fundraising campaigns to promote your cause. If you won’t be able to attend the Q&A, leave your question in the comment section below and look for it in the recap next week!

Fundly News Roundup: Individuals, Organizations, & Social Justice

In the wake of a tragic shooting, survivors and supporters are banding together to raise money to help victims and their families. Meanwhile, individuals and organizations around the world have been kicking off campaigns to bring social justice, spirituality and strength to those in need. Here’s a roundup of the week’s fundraising news.

Fundraisers for Aurora

Aurora, Colorado – On July 20, a shooting took place in a crowded movie theater in the Denver suburb of Aurora, leaving 13 dead and dozens more injured. In response, the families of victims, along with members of the local community, have initiated several fundraising efforts to help cover the cost of treating those who were wounded. Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper has been working together with one charitable organization to organize a text message-driven fundraiser in support of the Aurora Victim Relief Fund. So far, they have raised more

… And justice for all

Make-A-Stand – After learning about child slavery on a trip to California with her family, 8-year-old Vivienne Harr decided to help put a stop to it. To achieve her goal, Vivienne has built a lemonade stand and intends to use it to raise $150,000. She has also started a Fundly.com fundraising page so anyone can support her campaign by buying a virtual cup of lemonade. The pre-adolescent abolitionist is also enlisting the support of her fellow kids in starting their own lemonade stands for charity.

Badass Brooklyn – Another dedicated group of individuals has started a Fundly.com campaign to liberate a group of oppressed prisoners – but these captives are of the canine variety. Badass Brooklyn Animal Rescue finds dogs in high-kill animal shelters in the South, buys them, vaccinates, spays or neuters them, and finds them a home with a caring family in the New York borough of Brooklyn. Every “Badass Friday,” the group asks followers to donate $5 – roughly the cost of a beer or coffee.

A higher calling

Shoreline Church – On September 16, the Shoreline Church in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, will open its doors and give its first service. Until then, the church organizers are attempting to raise $30,000 during the month of August through Fundly.com. The “30.30″ campaign – $30,000 in 30 days – is raising money to help cover the cost of everything from a sound system to the toys in the children’s area.

Healthy initiatives

Golf to Conquer Cancer – Across the border in Canada, thousands of golfers are gearing up for what is being billed as the “world’s largest golf fundraising event ever.” During the one-day, nationwide Canadian event, slated for next summer, golfers will band together in teams of four and swing their clubs for charity. Proceeds will go to a variety of cancer research centers in each province.

A World Without Cancer – Back home, socialites in California’s Silicon Valley will gather together at the Third Annual World Without Cancer gala on August 24. Hosted by the American Cancer Society, the black-and-white ball will feature silent auctions, live music and gourmet dining for $175 per ticket.

Old-school social fundraising

Henderson County Education Foundation – An old-school form of social fundraising is alive and well in Henderson County, North Carolina. The HCEF on August 5 hosted an ice cream social fundraiser and membership drive. Membership fees support the education foundation’s operation costs and help fund other events, including a Fall Golf Classic and a barbecue expo, according to The Times-News.

Donation and Hiring Numbers are Looking Up for Nonprofits

Is it just me, or does it feel like we’ve always been in this recession? I vaguely remember a time when the housing market was strong, the stock market was steady, and pennies weren’t so tightly pinched. There just may finally be light at the end of the tunnel! According to a new study from Idealist.org on MarketWatch.com, things are looking up for the nonprofit world.

Idealist.org surveyed 1,000 nonprofit organizations this summer and came up with some interesting findings:

• 36% received increased funding this year, up from 19% a year ago
• 48% are hiring this year, a 6% hike from 2011
• 54% say they will offer salary increases in 2012, up from 47% last year
• 46% of organizations recently reported feeling more optimistic about the year ahead than the year past

I can’t help but speculate why more dollars are flowing through the nonprofit sector. Is it because people have more expendable income to give? Are people feeling greater emotional ties to increasing necessity? Or is it simply easier to give and connect with an organization than ever before? Most likely, it is a combination of all three.

Regardless of the reason, increases in funding and salaries have caused more organizations to be on the lookout for new hires. The survey found that 32% of job seekers are interested in fundraising, and 36% of organizations need fundraisers. So while approximately one third of organizations are posting to fill these positions, here are things to consider as an executive interviewing candidates or a job-seeker creating a resume:

1)      What online fundraising experience does the candidate have? According to nptrends.com, online fundraising in the United States surpassed $22 billion which was an increase of over 34% from 2009. The Chronicle of Philanthropy states that the nonprofits that raise the most online come from the social service, international, and health sectors.

2)      What social networking skills does the candidate possess? A large portion of public relations, advertising, and volunteer recruitment is done online. While these three categories may not traditionally come under the fundraising umbrella, it still greatly overlaps in development planning. As an applicant, be sure to list your experience with social media networks and keep any online profiles you maintain professional. Interviewers and companies are increasingly turning to social media to further their knowledge of applicants – that keg stand profile picture might not be as appealing as it once was. As a job seeker, what image are you putting out there? As an interviewer, what type of person are you looking for to join your team?

3)      What ideas does the candidate have to merge offline and online giving? Rarely is fundraising restricted to one medium or another. Look for innovative ideas to balance the two methods and make fundraising available to donors regardless of what avenue they are using.

With funding and hiring levels increasing, it seems obvious that now is the time to brush up on those online fundraising skills. As more dollars enter the philanthropy pool, it’s time to polish your fundraising strategies to ensure that you get your portion and that you find the right fundraisers to partner alongside you.

Fundly Spotlight: Donors Get On Board to Support BioBus

The best part of science class has always been the hands-on activities and experimentation – learning how and why things explode or creating your very own volcano. What kid doesn’t like to explore  and discover the world around them? Unfortunately, not every kid has the opportunity to experiment with hands-on science education

Enter the BioBus! Based in New York City, this Cell Motion BioBus is a science lab on wheels that runs on vegetable oil, with several donated microscopes onboard can be powered entirely by solar and wind energy. Retrofitted with four solar panels, a wind turbine, and a green roof, the BioBus’ goal is to make science accessible to all. This mobile lab reaches over 10,000 students a year, traveling to public schools across New York City and the country.

Li Murphy is a summer intern for this incredible nonprofit mobile laboratory. With the summer coming to a close, Li’s passion for the BioBus, and how it’s driving science education to communities that lack hands-on resources, stimulated her interest in joining the Mobile Lab Coalition conference in Seattle, WA – the only meeting of this kind in the country. There was only one problem: money. “I needed to fund my own flight and seize an invitation to join in representing the BioBus at the Mobile Lab Coalition. Without Fundly, I wouldn’t have had the guts to ask for the money I needed.”

Li decided the best way to raise the funds to make her trip a reality would be creating an online fundraising page with Fundly. In just five days, Li was able to raise $1,005 ($5 over the goal) in gifts from friends, family, and others.

What tips would Li give to other Fundly users?

• Paint a clear picture. “I made sure to convey that givers would be contributing to something concrete. I needed money for a flight. Why did I need to fly? To be the best intern I could be for my nonprofit organization. How did I intend to be the best intern I could be? Use my training as a videographer to take footage of the incredible things that my coworkers contributed at the Mobile Lab Coalition Conference. I included some informational Youtube videos about the nonprofit organization and made sure to put a picture of my face with the BioBus in the background.”
• Cast a large net. “I sent a total of fifteen individual emails, posted the link three times to my Facebook wall, and I sent emails to three different mailing lists from my University student organizations. I got incredible returns and had twenty donors in the span of three days. My largest donation was secured via Facebook in the final hours before I had to purchase a plane ticket, all thanks to the flood of likes from high school friends and random acquaintances alike. I believe my page got forty-three likes in forty-eight hours. This drove my post up in the newsfeed and brought it to the attention of the person, my athletic trainer, who ended up carrying me over the edge to my goal. My campaign was over in five days.”
• Just because they gave once doesn’t mean they won’t give again. “The most important point is to send and connect to people who have backed you in the past, even just folks who gave you money for graduation. It’s a myth that the individuals who fund you once are done giving to you. In fact, it’s just the opposite, as Andrea Kihlstedt, the founder of askingmatters.com, would say. If you connect with your donors and get them excited about what you do, they’ll be your donors for life.”
• Say thanks ASAP. “Reach out immediately after the gifts are given using the great donor contact sheet that Fundly generates for you to thank and inform your donors about progress. This will spark uplifting correspondences with individuals who care enough about you to believe in your cause, and these positive messages will keep you trucking towards your goal. This type of fundraising with Fundly facilitates a wonderful opportunity to not only connect but to reconnect.”

I just met you, and this is crazy, but I’m here to fundraise, so donate maybe?

While Carly Rae Jepsen’s catchy pop song has given hope that “Call Me Maybe” is enough to jump-start any relationship, we all know that meaningful relationships require a bit more effort. The relationship between fundraiser and donor is no different.

We’ve all been there before: walking down the street or out of the grocery store, when we come across someone hovering with a clipboard or sitting at a card table. We lower our head for fear of making eye contact, fake checking our watch for the time, or busily grab our phone to seem distracted and uninterested. However, we can feel the eyes of the solicitor stalking us like a lion to a zebra on the Serengeti.

“Hey! Let’s save the whales today! Get over here and talk to me!” they call out. We know that they are addressing us, but we pretend to be bewildered and “assume” that they are talking to the non-existent person behind us.

“Oh, you’re too good to talk to me! Whatever man!!” they taunt using guilt, the oldest manipulative trick in the book. A battle wars in our psyche that makes us want to shout back: ”Seriously?!! That is how you reflect your organization? That’s not going to get me to open my wallet for you, Buster!”

Here’s the bottom line: this type of fundraising rarely works and is generally going to come off as more annoying than a sincere call to action. The 5 minutes of attempting to coerce shoppers into a relationship with your organization is hardly enough to give them information about your cause, let alone convince them to donate. Unless you’re standing by a red Salvation Army bucket ringing a bell during Christmas time, you’re not going to get more than a few dollars. The Salvation Army has established a long history and reputation in holiday giving, a random organization asking for donations the other 11 months out of the year in this manner will rarely be effective.

For less time, effort, rejection, and manpower, online fundraising can give you much better results. A busy storefront may have 50 passersby an hour, but the average Facebook account has 130 friends. Though not all Facebook users check their accounts daily, you still can reach 50 people with just a minute’s worth of time. Furthermore, you can add a link to your website, add a fundraising page, and have your donors share their donation with their social networks. It gives your organization credibility and makes the donor feel more secure about donating, while encouraging them to develop a continued and invested relationship with your cause.

Investing in and following up with donor relationships is extremely important. While you may get a dollar thrown your way through face-to-face solicitations, online fundraising allows you to retrieve information about your donor including their region and e-mail address, and encourages them to take part in promotion on social networking sites. This allows you to give a proper thank you, they can write their contribution off as a tax deductible donation, and you have the ability to send out future requests for upcoming campaigns. What started off as “donate, maybe”  has the potential to become an ongoing relationship.

One argument for making an ask on the street is that people can actually meet members of your charity in person. However, how many people actually stop and talk to the people manning the clipboard? They are few and far between. A better way could be to post a video interview or tour on your website or fundraising page for potential supporters to take in the heart of your vision, while giving a face to your cause.
So the next time you exit the grocery store and someone tries to ask you for a dollar simply smile, compliment their efforts, and offer them a little insight into the world of online fundraising.

You Ask, We Answer: The Future of Crowdfunding

Last Wednesday we had another interesting Twitter Q&A and would like to give more in depth answers to your questions. Here we go!

Q: What do you expect to see in crowdfunding trends? Will crowdfunding startups drop off due to saturation?

A: We’re just getting started! Saturation means high demand for the new model of raising funds for good.Saturation drives competition, resulting in companies striving to create a better, more efficient ,and easy to use product at a lower cost. Just as with any new idea or trend, many companies jump into the market and only the strong survive. Think back to the mid 1990’s and the emersion of Starbucks. What started out as a few shops in the northwest soon blossomed into an every corner affair throughout the world. Many other chains jumped onto the java train and created a saturated market. While hundreds of Starbucks franchises closed and only the premium competition survived the winnowing process, the caffeine addiction clearly staked its claim into the fabric of our culture. It may not be the frenzy it once was, but the taste for high quality coffee at the drive through has even made its way onto McDonald’s menus.

Just as Starbucks altered our view of the simple beverage, so crowdfunding has incorporated its way into the psyche of nonprofit fundraising. Obviously natural disasters are never good, but from the American Red Cross efforts surrounding Hurricane Katrina to the tsunami in Japan, crowdfunding has become the new norm of joining the masses together for social good. Fundly is proud to be one of the first companies to unite social media with social good, and our statistics show that this avenue of fundraising is only getting stronger as donors gain trust and experience with online resources. The access to the multitudes and the convenience of the internet are incomparable to traditional methods of reaching potential supporters.

Q: If the industry is over saturated, will we see new crowdfunding sites dropping off because of not gaining favorability?

A: It’s safe to say some will be successful and some won’t. The exciting part is competition drives donations and an ever-improving product. The crowdfunding sites that will continue to go strong and gain favorability are the ones that listen to their customers, evolve with the ever changing use of the internet, and provide ease of use to customers. Every online company seems to ebb and flow (even the giants such as Apple and Yahoo!), but innovation seems to be at the core of its stability and longevity.  At Fundly we are continually testing our product, partnering with our clients to gauge their successes (check out our weekly Fundly Spotlight), and analyzing market and fundraising trends.

Q: I’ve just started researching using your site. Can I add donations made in our office manually to a campaign?

A: Yes! You can add offline donations to the total and allow donors to receive updates on the campaign. The purpose of a Fundly fundraising page is to show your progress, celebrate those who donated, and share your cause with potential supporters. The Fundly dashboard allows you to easily add offline donations: from the dashboard, select “Enter Offline Donations” in the left-hand colomn and input the donor’s name, email, and amount donated. These donations will be reflected on your fundraising total and thermometer and will also appear in the export of donor data.

Do you have a question about online fundraising for one of our Fundly professionals? Follow #fundraisingtips on Twitter every Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. Pacific time. We look forward to helping you create successful online fundraising campaigns to promote your cause. If you won’t be able to attend the Q&A, leave your question in the comment section below and look for it in the recap next week!

Fundly News Roundup: Global Giving

This week, a social fundraising campaign that captured the attention of the world came to its conclusion, while other initiatives around the country have only just begun. New technological developments could fundamentally change the way people donate to charities and events, and one philanthropic billionaire used his social connections to bring unprecedented levels of charitable giving to global outreach organizations. Here’s a roundup of the week’s events:

Bus monitor campaign just the start

Karen Klein campaign closes – An online fundraising initiative to benefit bullied bus monitor Karen Kline came to a close this week, netting a grand total of $703,833. A video of Kline being taunted by some of the children she was hired to protect went viral, eliciting an outpouring of support from people in 84 countries and all 50 states, according to the Christian Science Monitor. The fundraiser’s organizers are planning to launch a new social fundraising project that aims to raise $7 million to support anti-bullying campaigns.

Fundraising not child’s play, but benefits sick kids

Jack’s FUNraising Page – A social fundraising campaign benefiting children with rare diseases is inching closer to its $20,000 goal. Nine-year-old Jack Pullman from Worcester, Massachusetts, who was diagnosed with a number of interstitial lung diseases, started a fundraiser on Fundly.com to raise money to buy video games, board games, and other toys for the kids at the UMass Pediatric Infusion Unit. With $16,623, he’s more than three-fourths of the way toward his goal.

SeriousFun Children’s Network – Halfway across the country in Michigan, the SeriousFun Children’s Network is also hard at work raising money to benefit sick youngsters. This week, the organization hosted its “Night of Serious Fun” fundraising event, with the proceeds going toward opening a new camp that will serve hundreds of sick children in the state. The site, North Star Reach, will be open year round and feature a state-of-the-art medical center, according to the Observer & Eccentric.

Food and funds

An Lac Mission – A group of Buddhist monks in Ventura, California, will be hosting a fundraising party featuring a wide variety of vegetarian Vietnamese and Sri Lankan food. The event is designed to raise money to repair and renovate the monks’ temple, according to the Ventura County Star.

Taste of Camarillo – The monks aren’t the only Southern California group using food to raise funds, according to the Star. The Meadowlark Service League on July 29 hosted its 25th annual Taste of Camarillo fundraiser to help raise $150,000 for local charities. The event featured food from local vendors in Camarillo, California, as well as music from local groups.

Fundraising to stem the tide

Hamburg, Iowa – Residents of the small farming community of Hamburg, Iowa, recently banded together in an online fundraising effort to bring in $5.6 million to fix the town’s levees in preparation for flood season. According to The Wall Street Journal, last year’s heavy snows led to record-breaking floods, which overran the town’s levees, causing serious damage to farms and businesses. Residents are reaching out to potential supporters through social media channels like Facebook and Twitter.

Raising money on the move

Twentyseven Global – Recently, mobile application development firm Twentyseven Global announced that it had created an app to help facilitate social fundraising efforts. As social fundraising gains popularity, non-profit groups may start utilizing mobile technology to help bring in funds. Fundly.com offers a Facebook-based app to help users recruit supporters, post messages and process contributions within Facebook.

Buffet’s buddies demonstrate power of social fundraising

The Giving Pledge – Billionaire philanthropist Warren Buffet has used his social connections to enlist the support of 81 of his billionaire friends to donate about half their wealth to charity, according to Forbes. The source pointed to statistics that show people are 200 times more likely to give to a cause if asked by a friend.

Fundly Spotlight: The Ultimate Recycling Project

We’ve all been on camping trips or visited state parks where nature seems to call and we really don’t want to pick up the phone. Unfortunately, there is no voicemail for these situations so we muster up the courage to march up to a fly infested outhouse, take one last breath of fresh air, quickly take care of business, and bathe in Purell afterwards.

While this is an occasional inconvenience for most of us, it is a way of life for much of the world. Now imagine taking this necessary function and converting it into a sustainable way to create fertilizer to improve farming practices in countries that are impoverished. That’s exactly what Fundly customer Ecofinder Kenya is doing with the money they have raised through online fundraising.

Mike Skuja, founder of the Center for Rural Empowerment and the Environment (CREE), realized that by supplying families with an Eco-San toilet the long term benefits to the community can be monumental. At a cost of only $950, “these toilets provide an easy and low-maintenance way to convert human waste to fertilizer through a chemical process of mixing the waste with ash, which, after several months can be safely used on cropland” explains Skuja. “These toilets are more sanitary than the existing pit latrines since they prevent the waste from seeping into the ground and contaminating the water table. Additionally, when combined with environmental education, these toilets help prevent human-wildlife conflict since more productive lands reduce the need for farmers to encroach on fertile wetlands territory, home to hippos and rare birds.”

When Skuja decided to create a Fundly page his goal was to raise $950 for the Otieno family who live on the shores of Lake Victoriain Kenya. Currently he has raised $956 with the help of 20 supporters and 21 donors. Skuja comments, “We have now raised the full amount, and are in the process of transferring the funds to Kenya to get the construction started. We will keep our donors and supporters updated as the construction of the toilet continues.”

What tips would Skuja give to other Fundly users?

• Add a Video to Tell Your Story - “We think that a compelling video is very useful. We felt that it was important for potential donors to be able to see the Lake Victoria area, and hear from a member of the Otieno Family herself.”
• Make it Simple – “It is important to give clear, non-technical explanations of what the campaign is about, and why it is worthy of support.”
• Vary Your Giving Levels – “It is important to have a wide range of giving levels. Our donations for this campaign ranged from $.50 to $200, but we were glad to have the support of our donors at all levels.”
• Use Your Inner Circle – “Value your inner circle. In our experience, it was these people who really understood the mission of the organization, and the potential of the project. While we were able to draw in others – including some funders who had never heard of CREE – it was this inner circle that donated early and actively publicized this campaign through their own networks.”
• It’s All About Marketing – “We utilized three primary marketing channels: direct outreach, Facebook, and Twitter. We sent personalized emails to existing supporters of CREE and of the Dunga Wetlands Project… We posted on the CREE Facebook page 11 times from June 10 to July 18. In this way, we were able to galvanize a few supporters who had, up until that time, been more passive, as well as to give the CREE supporter-base updates about a current initiative in Kenya.We used Twitter as a way to attract potential supporters who might not already know about CREE’s work. We used very intentional use of hashtags and other Twitter mechanisms to try to land on the radar of people who were interested in sanitation or human-wildlife conflict, but were not yet aware of the work of CREE. Over the course of this short campaign, we tweeted a total of nine times.”

A big thank you to Mike and Ecofinder Kenya for sharing their tips!

What Nonprofits Can Learn from Entrepreneurs

While the definition of entrepreneur is “an enterprising individual who builds capital through risk and/or initiative,” I consider many nonprofit leaders to be a type of entrepreneur who sacrifices the known to reap a harvest of the betterment of humanity. Risk and initiative are certainly characteristics of every philanthropic leader that I know, and the investment that they commit to a cause surpasses any dollar amount a checkbook can hold. However, there are a few things that nonprofit leaders can learn from successful entrepreneurs; after all, business acumen is the crux upon which social good can be performed.

Is There a Market for Your Product?

While most nonprofits aren’t selling a product in the traditional sense, they are selling their ideals, their burden for a cause, and methods for solving a problem. First of all, does the community you are seeking to help in fact want your help? As a nonprofit, focus on who your clientele is and who is willing to support your vision both financially and with manpower. What demographic are you appealing to? Consider what methods you can pursue to get more donors on board. Check the water before you dive into new projects or change the direction of your course. If you’re passionate about keeping the ocean clean, Arkansas might not be the best place to locate your charity. If you want to keep the tradition of folk music alive, Brooklyn may not provide an audience for your concerts.

Don’t Be Too Specific

I have a friend who has tried for three years to start a business with a product in a saturated market, he can’t make it as cheaply as the competitors, he has no experience in that field, and it is so specific appeals to maybe 2% of the population. Look around you: how many other causes in a 100 mile radius are addressing the same issue you are? Do you have a pool of potential donors to financially support a new project? Review the resumes of your board. Do you have a variety of expertise and advisors to create a successful outcome? Do you have a broad and relatable cause that people will want to be a part of? You may want to save the endangered four-spotted gerbil found on the eastern border of the Sudan, but it may be hard to get the masses to rally around you. Instead consider promoting the preservation of endangered animals in the Sudan emphasizing the cause and effect of the loss of these animals. How will this devastation impact your donors directly?

On the flip side, are you standing out from the crowd with a specific enough goal? Of course we all want a great education for our kids, but consider addressing an issue that others aren’t such as providing updated computer labs for inner city youth or making sure every school in your district has an after school tutoring program. Specify a reason why your nonprofit is different from the others and how you are catering to a need that others aren’t.

Do Your Homework

Count the cost before you invest your time, money, heart, and future into your nonprofit or a future project that you want to pursue. Find a mentor or advisor that can critically look at what you are trying to achieve, someone who can give you the honest truth about whether it is attainable, how to survive long term, and what you need to have in place before you get going. The most important part: take their advice! Learn from their mistakes so you won’t have to make your own and study their successes to map out yours.

Part of doing your homework should also include getting your website and online fundraising site up and running smoothly. Before asking people for donations, ensure that information on your organization’s website and social media profiles is up to date. If they are inspired to give, you want to make it as easy as possible and strike while the iron is hot. Once the moment has passed, it may not come back! Use cold hard facts and numbers to explain the need, detail how you plan on chiseling the problem down, and share how supporters can partner with you. For larger supporters, create a packet including the previously mentioned information plus a budget, business plan, and your credentials. The foundation you build upon today will greatly impact the results you have for tomorrow.

Fundraising News Roundup: Online Fundraising & the Ripple Effect

Non-profit organizations aren’t the only groups taking advantage of the benefits of social fundraising. Individuals and communities have been finding success with this kind of fundraising as well.

This week, news emerged about a campaign to benefit kids in New York, and campaigns undertaken by children in Massachusetts and Washington. Across the pond, a new study came out showing the powerful ripple effect of big-dollar donations. Here’s a roundup of the most recent events in fundraising.

Cyril van der Haegen – The friends and colleagues of Rhode Island-based illustrator and conceptual artist Cyril van der Haegen have launched a fundraising campaign on Fundly.com to raise money to pay for his cancer treatments. In addition to soliciting online donations from friends and family across a variety of social media outlets, Haegen’s many artist friends donated original works to an auction that was held at Comic Con in San Diego from July 11 to 15.

The Commune Cares – After his insurance company rejected payments for end-of-life treatments, the friends of Wash Pratt-King banded together to raise money to help him and his wife, Tashi, through their difficult time. At just 23 years old, Wash was diagnosed with a deadly brain tumor. Now 25, the money raised through his friends’ Fundly campaign is going to defray the cost of his medical bills and day-to-day living expenses. Friends were so successful in their efforts, they have doubled the goal from $10,000 to $20,000.

Stepping Stones Learning Center – This organization provides care and education for children both with and without special needs in Rochester, New York, and set an ambitious fundraising goal of $350,000 to purchase a new facility and expand its space. The group has so far raised $155,000, and Stepping Stone leaders are optimistic that a Monte Carlo night and an annual 5k run/1k walk in August will bring in even more money.

The Pathway Home – Another group with an ambitious goal is well on its way to reaching it. The Pathway Home has so far raised more than $256,000 of its $600,000 target on Fundly.com, and with a deadline of September 30, it appears well positioned to achieve its goal. The non-profit residential treatment group is dedicated to serving veterans who received traumatic injuries, including amputations, PTSD and brain injuries.

Driving Mrs. M – Amputations aren’t limited to veterans, however. Recently, a third-grade teacher in Massachusetts, Anne Mekalian, lost both arms and legs to a blood infection contracted while in the hospital. Her students, moved by the plight of their teacher, embarked on a crowdsourcing fundraising campaign to help with her treatment and recovery. In addition to the online campaign, students set up lemonade stands across the town to raise money.

Good Cheer Food Bank – A food bank on Whidbey Island in Washington is getting a boost from a young local, according to reports from the Whidbey Examiner. JaNoah Spratt, 12, has been collecting money for the Good Cheer Food Bank in the town of Langley since the age of 7, and has so far raised more than $20,000 by soliciting matching donations from local businesses, enlisting his friends to help raise money and, in his latest venture, writing a book about community involvement.

Peer Effect Research – A new study from researchers at the University of Bristol in England has illustrated the “peer effect” of social fundraising. The researchers found that large donations tend to increase the size of subsequent donations. In their example, researchers said that a single “donation of £100 typically shifts average donations from £20 to £30,” and the effect lasts for roughly 20 subsequent donations, according to phys.org.