What Is Your Non-Profit’s Personality?

“What is your non-profit’s personality?” What kind of crazy question is that? Do organizations and charities have personalities? Why is it important for your donors to associate your cause with certain traits and characteristics? Who thinks of this stuff?

I came upon an article by Kivi Leroux Miller on Network for Good and she has some applicable points for non-profits to benefit from. She got me thinking that every major brand has a clearly defined personality to relate to its specific target group. The soda and fast food conglomerates have bright colors and flashy slogans to gain the attention of the younger generation. Pharmaceutical brands create commercials to appeal to their consumer base. Fashion lines direct their advertising with graphics and music to grab the attention of their market. Non-profits could truly benefit from the marketing savvy of the business world (which is happening more and more.)

So, let’s get back to the topic at hand: What is the personality of your non-profit? From my experience and observations, I must say that who your company is is defined by who is in charge. If your CEO is laid back and casual, that is the attitude of your office. If your president is organized, structured and no nonsense, that is the feeling that your donors will get at events, in e-mails and in your direct mail campaigns. The person in charge is the compass that directs the personality of your organization.

How do donors get a feel for your personality? Miller suggests to always write in the first person and to let the donors know who is doing the talking. Business meetings can have formal notes, but let your communication with supporters be more personal. Next, share your honest opinions. “Don’t be afraid to take a stand. Point out what and who is right, and what and who is wrong (or at least heading in the right or wrong direction, if you need to be more diplomatic about it). People look to nonprofits as trustworthy leaders, so show some leadership by pointing the way,” explains Miller.

Your supporters also want to know a piece of the reality that goes into your outreach programs. What are your up and downs? What are you struggling with? What specific stories tell the tale of how you are making a difference? Engage your readers with humor and honest mistakes. They want to know that there is a living, breathing human behind the keyboard.

Relatability and honestly are two strong characteristics that donors seek when looking for a cause and charity to support. Accessibility is another. Through social media, you can easily show your personality to a larger group of donors through e-mails, Facebook posts and blogging. Let Fundly partner with you to help your personality shine through as a way to further your fundraising goals.

5 Biggest Challenges for Non-Profits This Year

The New Year always seems to be a great time for reorganizing, reanalyzing and reprioritizing. It also seems like the best time for reflection to determine what worked, what needs tweaking and what completely flopped last year. With the ebb and flow of the trends in the philanthropic world, it’s also of great importance to determine what trends are impacting fundraising and to thoughtfully predict what challenges may lay ahead.

In an article written in the Chronicle of Philanthropy, Suzanne Perry, Caroline Preston, and Nicole Wallace have written an article predicting what challenges non-profits will face in 2012. When you know what battles are in front of you, you can be better equipped.

1)     Economic inequality raises tricky issues for donors – Many have complained that charitable tax deductions primarily benefit high-income donors. With an increasing gap between the rich and poor, the high end donors are being encouraged to give towards causes that help the impoverished rather than erecting buildings at their alma maters. “This year, the question of how to broaden opportunities for all Americans is likely to occupy much of the philanthropic agenda,” suggests Perry, Preston and Wallace.

2)     Shrinking government aid – With decreasing government funding, many charities are going to have to look elsewhere to keep their doors open. Perry, Preston and Wallace share this surprising statistic: “A new study found that households in the hardest-hit states would have to increase their giving by 60 percent in the 2012 fiscal year just to help nonprofits make up for projected cuts in state spending on social services, Medicaid, and education—an unprecedented (and unlikely) jump.”

3)     The generation gap – With an ailing economy, there are fewer jobs for graduates and Baby Boomers are less likely to retire due to dwindling savings, stocks, and mortgages. Not only are these donors able to give less, but Perry, Preston and Wallace suggest that these two groups are having friction in the workplace.

4)     Measuring results – The cost of administrative overhead versus the amount of dollars a charity brings in has long been the standard for success and donations wisely spent. Without a tool to truly evaluate a word as vague as “success,” non-profits will still have to show proof of their effectiveness as best they can.

5)     Social purpose versus profits – One of the biggest trends right now in the philanthropic world is applying a business model to charity organizations. “Several states, including California, created new corporate structures that allow companies to incorporate social purpose into their businesses and put social goals ahead of profits… Will hybrids give nonprofit groups a bold, new way to pursue their missions—or will the new entities siphon off financial support that had previously gone to traditional charities?” questions Perry, Preston and Wallace.

While there are always mountains and valleys for non-profits, the good thing is that more organizations are joining together to share their methods for success. It’s important to use the resources available to you to jump over these hurdles and not to get distracted from your mission statement. Social media is one way to bridge the generation gap, enlarge your donor base and keep in contact with your volunteers.
Let Fundly be one resource to aid in your fundraising success for the New Year.

Is a Mobile App Right for Your Non-Profit?

As mobile phones are getting more popular and user friendly, it seems like more apps are being created to include everything from music streaming to e-mail access to complex game playing. Cell phones are no longer just used as a form of verbal communication or a handy little answering machine, but now these miniature computers are continually making the world a smaller place. As technology advances, many non-profits are refusing to be left behind and are creating mobile apps to their organization’s advantage.

Jacob Payne and James Brown have explained some great tips for creating apps for charities in The Guardian.  In the UK, these two entrepreneurs help charities create apps for their donors to use based on the fact that, “Smartphones now make up 30% of the three billion mobile devices worldwide, and users spend over half the time on their phone apps.” With such a large audience attached to their phones, it would be a shame to neglect this tool that is rapidly gaining popularity.

Here are the five mistakes that non-profits make according to Payne and Brown when creating apps for their organization:

1)     Forgetting your website – Non-profits need to optimize their website for mobile users. “Information-provision and awareness are often top charity goals, and unless you hit PR gold with a truly exceptional app, then your main website is still the best place to reach supporters,” comments Payne and Brown.

2)     Missing out on exclusive features – “Is your app location-aware? Are you considering the touch interface? What can it do offline, or in the background while it’s sitting quietly in a pocket? Can you make use of the device’s orientation?”

3)     Ignoring your users – Talk to people who are using your app to see if it works well and suits what information they are looking for. “Your users can help you sense-check ideas, decide on the little details, test at every stage, and share the message after launch. If you involve them closely, and listen carefully, then they can become your biggest advocates.”

4)     Hiring the wrong people – You’ll need an iPhone developer and a web master to collaborate to make sure everything syncs together.

5)     Taking a short-term view – “Just over a quarter of all apps are only used once, so it’s important to think about ways your app can encourage repeat use. Just as with your other services and marketing campaigns, this ought to be a long-term exercise that fits in with your broader strategic goals. Regularly examine your analytics, app store reviews and user feedback.”

Now, I’m not saying that every non-profit needs to jump on the app bandwagon, I just wanted to share with you yet another piece of technology that is becoming available to non-profits in the realm of fundraising. Of course what method you use depends on the demographics of the majority of your donor base, but with technology the possibilities for donor connection seems endless. The staff at Fundly would love to partner with you to see how technology can help you reach your fundraising potential.

Promoting your cause in the Social Media Age

AYT M Market Research just released an infographic about branding in the Social Media Age. Though non-profits rarely use the terms “branding” and “consumers,” much of the research can and should inform non-profits’ approach to promoting their causes and bringing in donors.

The team asked 2,000 Internet users about their online behaviors and interactions with brands.
Here’s some of what the research found:

• More people (85%) use Facebook than Twitter (49%)
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• 74% engage daily with Facebook, 35% with Twitter
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• Facebook users (57% with 100+ friends) have the larger networks than Twitter users (25% with 100+ followers).
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• People are talking about brands online, and most discussion is positive.
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• 58% of Facebook users have liked a brand, 42% have mentioned a brand in a status.
• 39% of Twitter users have tweeted about a brand.
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• Users prefer to get updates from the favorite brands via social media over anything else (e-mail, commercials, flyers, etc.)
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This research should only be giving non-profits more resolve to beef up their social media game. With huge networks at your finger tips, it’s important to play your cards well. Be an active social media user, and if you keep them in the loop and make them feel important, they just might mention you in a status update or tweet.

To further tap the power of these thriving social networks, consider “going social” with your fundraising.
Fundly’s super-easy fundraising platform allows donors to share support for their favorite causes with their friends. Organizations using this platform are rapidly finding new donors every day, and the benefits of social fundraising are exponential.

Create a Fundly account for your organization in 2012 and kick off the new year with an increase in fundraising success.

The Purpose of the Philanthropic Leader

I came across this quote from George Bernard Shaw from his book, Man and Superman; a Comedy and a Philosophy, over the past weekend and it has haunted me ever since. It seems quite apropos for non-profit leaders and the start of a New Year.

“This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap; the being a force of Nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.”

Every time I read it

, I can’t help but chuckle over the poignancy and boldness of such a brash statement. It also makes me feel extremely proud to be working with exceptional people in the non-profit and political worlds which are working towards a “mighty” purpose and who are such amazing “force[s] of Nature.”

As the New Year begins and resolutions are being made, I am also humbled by the caliber of people who I am able to partner with to aid in their selfless work to help those in need. While many are creating self-focused goals based on pipe dreams of exercise and diet, those in the philanthropic world are focusing outside of themselves to create goals of improving the quality of life for the less fortunate, creating laws and policies for a stronger America and building bright futures for our children.

The world of philanthropy is based on unique individuals whose goal is not fame and fortune but a life well spent making the world a better place. With this sense of pride and optimism, I gladly enter into the year 2012. On behalf of myself and the staff at Fundly, we would love to come alongside your organization to help make your philanthropy and fundraising goals for the New Year a reality. The best is yet to come!

Social Media is Changing How Candidates Garner Support

The days before the Internet are about as inconceivable as the time before TV remote controls were used and Henry Ford’s invention of the car. When something becomes such an integral part of our everyday life, it somehow seems that it was always there. The same feels true concerning the upcoming 2012 presidential election and the use of social media and the internet. How in the world did candidates share their opinions, platforms and garner funds without this vital piece of technology?

There is one Republican presidential candidate who is truly using this resource to its potential. In fact, the Internet is probably the main factor contributing to the fact that he is still in the running to be the next president. Buddy Roemer, former Governor of Louisiana, is putting all of his eggs into this digital basket. Alex Fitzpatrick writes on Mashable that “The first move the campaign made was hire a social media firm to create its website. Roemer’s team has been actively building an online team of supporters called ‘Free to Lead,’ which Sierra calls the campaign’s ‘online army.’”

“Online is the most important part of our campaign,” Campaign Manager Carlos Sierra says. This certainly seems to be the case since “the Governor’s campaign is unlike that of any other Republican presidential hopefuls. As a staunch supporter of campaign finance reform, he’s refusing donations from Super PACs and he has limited contributions to $100 per individual. A whopping 98% of Roemer’s donations were made online.

“Roemer’s team has spent virtually all its advertising budget on digital ads, eschewing traditional media with the exception of radio (Roemer is using Fundly, an online donation tool, to raise money for more radio airtime,” explains Fitzpatrick.

Roemer is also creatively using Twitter and YouTube to gain a following. On Twitter “So far 121 people have donated their accounts, allowing his campaign to tweet through their accounts daily to 62,664 unique followers” and he is streaming a bunch of videos on YouTube.

It will be fascinating to see how Roemer’s efforts using technology and popular social media networks will impact his progress in the current campaign and how it will impact future fundraising. Fundly is excited to be a resource used by Roemer and we strive to create the best online products for all of our clients, whether they are in the political or philanthropic arenas.

Technology Makes Giving Online a Breeze for Donors

If there is a saying that applies to fundraising, I’d have to say that it would be “strike while the iron’s hot.” If you have a donor’s attention and they are willing to give, the more convenient you make the transaction the better. If you wait five minutes or even a day it seems like the opportunity withers away. Fortunately with technology, giving can be done almost instantly via phone or computer.

In the Fairfax City Patch reporter Lydia Patrick explains how technology is making great strides in non-profit fundraising. Through texting donations, QR codes, and online giving, charities have a variety of ways that donors can contribute to their cause.

With the many hurricanes and natural disasters that have struck our world over that past few years, texting donations via cell phone has become a great way to garner funds in an emergency situation. Patrick explains how donors can use this method for giving: “The sponsoring charitable organization provides the phrase to text and the number in their announcements. An example would be ‘text GIVE to 123456’. You’ll get a text back asking you to confirm. Reply yes. The donation amount plus a fee for processing the transaction will be on your next phone bill. You may also be charged for the text messages depending on your text message plan. Your phone bill serves as your donation receipt.

QR codes have become popular in the retail world, especially in catalogs where more information might be needed. These funky little black and white stamped sized squares have moved to the non-profit realm and can appear on posters or flyers to give the donor the option to “Scan the QR code with your QR Reader app. The Web browser on your device will open to the Web address provided in the QR code. Complete any requested information. Enter your donation amount and payment option,” explains Patrick.

Another method of giving is through a web browser. Most charities have a box located on the top of their website that says “donate.” If you don’t have this option, Fundly can equip you with the online fundraising tools you’ll need to make giving quick and easy for your donors and cost efficient for you.

Technology is always advancing by leaps and bounds. When you know what options are available, you can tap into an inexpensive and easy way to connect to more donors, volunteers and partners.

Religious Groups Receive Most Donations

Giving is up, and that’s great news for non-profits. According to the Giving USA Foundation and its research partner, the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, Americans gave about 10 billion dollars more than in 2009 which brings the astounding total to about 290 billion dollars. Our country is becoming more generous as giving steadily rises. Furthermore, these organizations estimate that about 75 million households gave to at least one charity this past year.

The Voice of America (VOA) highlights this study conducted by Giving USA and the Center on Philanthropy and details that 35% of all donations went to religious groups followed by schools and education based organizations who received 14% of total donations.

The VOA also discusses findings conducted by Charity Navigator who interviewed more than 500 donors and over 100 charities. They found that, “On average, these charities said they received forty-one percent of all their donations in the last few weeks of the year. Charity Navigator also asked donors about the kinds of charities they would likely support this holiday season. Human services rated at the top of the list. Arts, culture and humanities rated at the bottom.”

As more people are needing help because of lay-offs, foreclosures and government cuts, I find it heartwarming that so many donors are stepping up to the plate to help their fellow man. I believe that compassion and close-to-home situations are prompting this surge of generosity, but I also think that social media is bringing attention to these needs like never before. Social media is also making donating easier and connecting donors to charities that appreciate their sacrifice and will carefully use their dollars.

If you are a leader at a charity that has not yet tapped into the full potential that social media fundraising has to offer your organization, the staff at Fundly would love to help you implement this valuable resource. If so many people are willing to give, then why not make your charity available to those funds?

Is the Middle Class the Battlefield for the 2012 Presidential Election?

I’ve read countless articles proclaiming that the Latino voters, swing states, Baby Boomers and many other factions will be the group for the 2012 presidential candidates to win over in order to control the Oval Office. Now, the newest members of society to be targeted are the middle class. Is there any truth to this latest claim?

On ABCNews.go.com, Associated Press reporter Erica Werner explains the important role that the middle class will play in the upcoming election come November 2012. “Highlighted by the Occupy movement and fanned by record profits on Wall Street at a time of stubborn unemployment, economic inequality is now taking center stage in the 2012 presidential campaign, emphasized by Obama and offering opportunities and risks for him and his GOP opponents as both sides battle for the allegiance of the angst-ridden electorate.”

Just for argument’s sake I looked up on Wikipedia who makes up the middle class and how many people are included in this broad, loosely used term. There are several models and definitions being used which can include anywhere between 25% to 66% of American households. Generically speaking, it’s anyone who makes an individual income equal to or greater than the national median of $32,000 or a $46,000 income for a household. On the high side it includes incomes varying from the low six figures. Clear as mud, right?

So, now that we know who is in the middle class (um, sort of), why is this group of voters so important for the candidates to earn their support, both financially and in the voting booth? Werner explains that, “Obama is viewed as more likely to help the middle class than is the GOP, so he can capitalize on this by playing on concerns about inequality and contrasting his positions and the GOP’s on issues like tax cuts for the wealthy,’ John Sides, political science professor at George Washington University, said by email. ‘However,’ Sides added, ‘it’s an open question whether that strategy would enable him to overcome a weak economy and win.’”

With unemployment reaching 8%, social security dwindling and the weakening of the value of the dollar, the middle class are taking the brunt of the economic downturn. With the broadening gap between the rich and the poor, the middle class seems to be in the crossfire of a precarious future. Whether the Democrats or Republicans can restore confidence to this cautious group will very likely have a major impact on who the future leader of this country will be.

New Year’s Resolutions from Philanthropic Leaders

I came across a thought-provoking segment in The Chronicle of Philanthropy which shared some New Year’s resolutions of the top leaders and thinkers in the philanthropy world. From Darian Rodriguez Heyman, author of Nonprofit Management 101 to Jeff Raikes, president of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, here are some goals and strategies that these men and women have brainstormed for the non-profit think tanks in 2012.

To collaborate or not to collaborate, that seems to be the question in the upcoming year. As one of the major themes of 2011, many leaders are agreeing that joining together for a common mission saves time, money and energy. “Donors are not going to continue supporting the massive amount of duplication and waste that our sector has generated over the past few decades. The nonprofit world should resolve to establish formal collaborations between complementary organizations that can increase both the efficiency and impact of each partner agency,” states Jeremy Gregg, executive director, the PLAN Fund, a Dallas microfinance group.

Jeff Raikes, president, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation agrees with Gregg and adds “Not only do we need to share more about our strategies and what we’re learning, but we need to listen more. We should agree to work together as a sector to accelerate progress on measuring the impact of our work and using the results to make our work better. Together we can learn to use measurement, information, and data to continually improve our efforts to accelerate the change in the world we all seek.”

The second theme seems to be to change the way we think and base upcoming decisions on new data. Susan Raymond, executive vice president of the consulting company Changing Our World comments, “The nonprofit and enterprise worlds are blending. Therefore, turn your thinking upside down and begin to think as though you operate in the competitive market because, increasingly, you do. Think first about what people want and what they expect, and only second about what you want to provide them.” Amy Sample Ward, membership director, Nonprofit Technology Network somewhat expands on this idea combined with supporting collaboration by stating, “Not only do I see more organizations looking for ways to be data-driven in decision making, communications, campaigning, and marketing, but also a growing interest and understanding of the value in sharing data. Just as we want to be data-driven inside our organizations, the more we share our data with each other, the more data-driven we can be in our work collectively.”

A third idea that resonates is to use technology to its potential. “2012 must mark the year we get in front of technology, instead of behind it. Let’s resolve to unleash the full potential of social media and Internet marketing for fundraising, community organizing, and advocacy,” suggests Darian Rodriguez Heyman, author of Nonprofit Management 101. An easy way to start on this path is to let Fundly come beside your organization to create a easy and accessible link between social media and your non-profit.

The times are changing and New Years seems to be the best day on the calendar to implement new strategies and thought patterns. Make this be the best year your charity has ever seen!

Facebook Changing the Political Landscape

The times are definitely changing. No longer are buttons that say “I Like Ike” or traditional door-to-door canvassing enough in the campaign world. In these times of fast-paced media, iPads, laptops and iPhones, candidates are turning to social media to gain approval and public support from voters.

Laura Phelps writes in the Miami Herald that many local and presidential candidates are putting a lot more stock into social media sites. Consultant Josh Koster, a managing partner at Chong and Koster, a progressive digital-media communications firm, said “campaign budgets used to be about two things: raising money and spending it on TV. But this year’s budgets reflect today’s new media market as more Americans go to the Internet for news. This is the first major election cycle that online strategy is receiving a large media budget for advertising.”

Michael Beach, a co-founder of the Republican digital-strategy firm Targeted Victory, estimates that approximately 25% of a candidate’s budget is designated for online strategies. He believes that while social media won’t fully replace commercial spots and voter recruitment campaigns, it will continue to have a larger role in the upcoming election and beyond.

Phelps brings up some interesting figures when it comes to politics and the internet. She states that, “60 percent of all U.S. adults and 76 percent of U.S. adult Internet users are on Facebook, according to the Pew Research Center.” Furthermore, “22 percent of adults online used social networking sites such as Facebook to connect with campaigns or learn about the election.”

“Facebook and social media make it much easier to organize to raise money and to engage supporters because successful campaigns ultimately are about social organizing,” said Andrew Rasiej, a co-founder of techPresident, a blog that covers how candidates use Web technology. “If a political conversation is happening on Facebook, then to be able to donate where the conversation is happening is key.”

Obviously Facebook and Twitter aren’t just affecting how people are socializing, but it also is impacting the political world and how voters are choosing to support their candidate. Fundly is proud to be a part of this monumental change on the electoral horizon with so much emphasis on social media, and we are excited to participate as a democracy and technology partner together to reach the masses. We have several candidates using our social fundraising platform to reach their supporters, collect donations,  and we would love to come aside your campaign to help you achieve your potential.

Top 3 Ways to Keep the Holiday Momentum Going

The holidays seem to be a sort of jackpot for non-profits: send out an appeal and the response cards or online donations pour in like a blinking and bell-ringing slot machine. Okay, so it’s not that easy, but it is hard to argue against donors being more generous during the holidays and that donations are at their peak for the year.

Here are some ways to keep that holiday momentum going:

1)     Send a note of thanks – When I was little, my mom made sure that I send thank you cards to all the people that gave me presents. I had to state what the gift was and why I liked it. This is a practice that I have kept with me throughout my personal and professional life. Let donors know you received their gift, that it was an important part of their holiday outreach program, and what events are in the near future. Everyone likes to feel appreciated and that their gift is being used.

2)     Organize documentation of your events –While volunteers and donors who participated in your events are fresh in your mind, write captions for your photos and list groups and major individuals who joined in your outreach programs. This will help you for your December 2012 campaigns and you won’t be trying to scramble to find out names and remember what happened a year earlier. This is also helpful when you send out requests for more volunteers or donations; these pictures will be great reminders of the fun they had and they will be more eager to sign up again (and tell their friends!)

3)     Get as much donor info as you can – I should have mentioned this earlier, but it still can be helpful for future events: get your donor information while they are active and eager to participate. Obviously their name, address, phone numbers and e-mail address is all important, but how can they specifically help your organization? Do they want to help your clients one on one? Are they interested in office work? Would they like invitations to future banquets and special events? Do they have a distinct expertise or professional skill they can donate? Find out their interests and when the need arises, you know exactly who to call.

Although the garland may be taken down, the Christmas tree needles are brittle and the gifts are now in piles to be put away, I believe the spirit of generosity still lingers. Using social media to stay in contact with your donors can play an important role is keeping them active in your organization and Fundly can help you create the perfect strategies for continuous fundraising and improving donor engagement.

Walmart Using Social Media to Promote Charities

It’s always great when a popular retail chain donates to charities in their area. Not only does it tie the corporation in with the community, but it gives the non-profit much needed funding and local attention. Walmart has perfected this strategy with their holiday Facebook campaign combining philanthropy, business acumen and social media to help those in need throughout the nation.

In a press release distributed by Walmart and posted on SacBee.com, the corporation stated that, “On the 10th day of its ‘12 Days of Giving’ Facebook campaign, Walmart is awarding $170,000 to eight nonprofits with remarkable volunteers who have lent a helping hand to members of their community who need it most. Over twelve consecutive days, Walmart will award a total of $1.5 million to 145 organizations in all 50 states, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico.”

“Walmart’s call for nominations for its ‘12 Days of Giving’ Facebook campaign resulted in more than 5,400 nominations from Facebook users who shared photos and short descriptions of a nonprofit’s impact in its local community. A panel from the Walmart Foundation reviewed submissions and selected nonprofits with a focus on organizations that are providing basic needs such as food, shelter, clothing and baby supplies.”

Once again here is an example of how social media can greatly benefit non-profit organizations. Not only were volunteers able to submit their entries on Facebook to receive grant monies, but this outlet reached thousands of people with the message of how their charity of choice was doing amazing work to benefit needy members of their community.

I applaud Walmart for their charitable efforts. It was brilliant how they had volunteers submit the charity for consideration and not just the typical grant writer submissions that many corporations choose to use. By tying in people who donate their time and efforts, they were able to broaden their audience and touch more people on a social media platform.

Social media is a valuable tool for non-profits and here is one success story. Let Fundly help you develop your social media fundraising strategies to increase online giving and donor engagement. Just think of the new opportunities that can become available when you tap into this low-cost, effective tool.

Making some tough digital decisions? Remember: sharing prompts caring

Mark Zuckerberg’s “law of sharing” states that the amount of information shared digitally will double every year.

One of social media’s most powerful and influential women, Sheryl Sandberg (chief operating officer of Facebook) shared with The Economist exactly what she thinks this means.

The internet has evolved from a place where people search for info to a place that powers – and empowers – the individual. In recent years, the individual has engaged in a new sharing experience online.

Increasingly, there is a convergence between the virtual self and the actual self. As Sandberg explains it, technology enables the individual to share themselves. The individuals shares information because they care – about what they are sharing or about who they are sharing with. A single act of sharing, in turn, can cause others to care. It’s this positive dynamic between sharing and caring that has ultimately created a culture that encourages sharing online.

Fundly embraces this sharing-caring relationship. We’ve created a social fundraising platform that allows donors to share their support for a cause with their friends.  When these donations are shared digitally, donations grow. The world thrives.

Sandberg says that launching of the Facebook timeline in 2012 will further enable and encourage individuals to share a 3-dimensional version of themselves online.  Only time will tell the full impact of this timeline, but it’s safe to say that it will be profound. With more than 800 million users worldwide, Facebook’s timeline will directly shape the virtual identities and lives of more than 800 million individuals.

Choosing to share your support for a cause online might be one of the most influential decisions you make.

Women are the Main Decision Makers in Philanthropic Giving

There’s a quote in the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding that the women in my family love: “The man is the head [of the family], but the woman is the neck. And she can turn the head any way she wants.” Apparently this is true when it comes to donating to charities.

According to a press release posted by Business Wire on MarketWatch.com, “In nearly 90 percent of high net worth households, women are either the sole decision maker or an equal partner in decisions about charitable giving, according to the Bank of America Merrill Lynch 2011 Study of High Net Worth Women’s Philanthropy, released today. The power and influence of women in philanthropy may mean that some charitable organizations will need to adapt their messaging and strategies to appeal to women’s distinct charitable giving behaviors and motivations.”

These are some of the key findings from this study:

–Women spend more time than men on due diligence before making decisions about giving to a charitable organization.

– Women expect a deeper level of communication with the organizations they support and place greater
importance than men on the efficiency and effectiveness of the organization and hearing about the impact of their gift.

– Women want to be actively involved with an organization and its mission, with volunteering being among the most important motivations for women to give.

– Women are more likely than men to stop giving to an organization they had previously supported whereas men tend to support the same causes year after year.

Women tend to make more of an emotional investment with their giving and in their budget a portion is marked for a predetermined charity. Women also expect an update of how their giving was used and that it was successful in the project that it was earmarked for.

The study also found that women give to make a difference in the world and to set an example for the next generation. Volunteering tops the reasons why women are motivated to give. Women stop giving if they are pestered too much with solicitations or if the amount that they are asked to give is too high.

It’s a tightrope that non-profits have to walk between appealing to age, sex, financial demographics, communicating without overkill and being heartfelt without being sappy. At least there are a bunch of studies that help to guide charities know who their audience is and what appeals to the masses.

Learn more about Fundly today and how you can use our social fundraising platform to reach women via Facebook and other social networks to garner support and donations for your cause.

Giving Increases Despite Financial Setbacks

There’s something about Christmas that warms the heart and touches the soul. Whether it be the traditions that we continue to honor year after year or the spirit of giving that swirls around us like a crisp winter breeze, there’s just something that unites us and transforms the mundane into the spectacular.

From the twinkling lights draped on the Christmas tree, to the eyes of a child that sparkle with anticipation on Christmas morning, the season is aglow with generosity and brotherhood. With the warmth of the season, many charities and non-profits are feeling the prosperity of the holidays and the sacrificial giving of thoughtful donors.

At this time of year, it’s interesting to note that the less fortunate are on giving lists right next to beloved family members. It’s well known and accepted that Christmas is the season when charities reap the largest amounts of donations and this is the month when these organizations play catch up for the shortcomings of the 11 not as prosperous months. The American Red Cross confirms these notions with the following facts:

• 80 percent of respondents felt their finances are either the same or worse than they were last year.
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• Sixty-eight percent of Americans believe that because of the economy, it’s important to give something to charity a 10 percentage point increase over the 58 percent who felt that way last year.
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• More than half (55 percent) say they feel bad about spending money on gifts people might not use.
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• 79 percent agreed that they would rather have charitable donation in their honor than get a gift they wouldn’t use.

I think what we can glean from these statistics is that although people seem to be stagnating on their overall income, they are feeling more compassion for their less fortunate counterparts and are willing to make sacrifices to help the less fortunate.

I can’t help but ponder what has made donors more aware of the plight of those in need: is it celebrities highlighting causes that fuel their passions, television commercials that bring the harsh realities of life into the living rooms of the common man, or social media which keeps donors abreast of the victories and fundraising challenges their organization is facing?

Regardless of the cause, it seems like many in our nation are becoming more compassionate, and that is always a good thing for the non-profit industry (regardless of the time of year.)

Presidential Election 2012: Is History Repeating Itself?

I came across an intriguing article in the Huffington Post written by Al Checchi that really got me thinking about the upcoming 2012 Presidential Election. There are some striking similarities to the election in the 1980’s in which Ronald Reagan became our president and the pattern seems to continue some 30 years later. Is there nothing new under the sun?

Now think back with me to 1980, when the country was in a similar economic recession that we are facing today. President Carter’s approval rates were declining and many Democrats scoffed at the thought of extreme right winger and former actor Ronald Reagan becoming the Republican candidate for office. Many people were discontent with their financial situation, the U.S’s declining global influence and the expansion of government. Sound familiar?

Checchi writes that, “Seventy-five percent of the public feels that we are on the wrong track… As in 1980, Republican primary voters appear poised to cast aside another eminently qualified centrist and do the arguably more unthinkable and nominate for the presidency the former Speaker of the House of Representatives Newt Gingrich. Again, they appear to seek the more radical alternative…Democrats who are gleeful at the prospect of a race against the controversial Gingrich would do well to remember their similar elation over the Reagan nomination. Not only did the ‘amiable dunce’ and ‘right wing’ Reagan win a smashing electoral college victory (489 to 49) but he led his party to an unimagined gain of twelve seats and reversed fifty years of Democratic control of the Senate. Equally noteworthy, he went on to win an even greater 525-13 re-election victory and ushered in an era of significant political realignment.”

I think this is going to be an exciting year for politics and so far the race is far too close to predict who our next president will be. I’m surprised at the balance much of the media is providing; it seems that every day I find equal articles stating why President Obama will win or why Newt Gingrich is going to be the new president, or others close in the polls like Mitt Romney, Ron Paul, Rick Santorum, and Michele Bachmann. Mr. Obama is clearly campaigning with all his might, but Gingrich is gaining speed and political fundraising savvy at a surprising rate.

All I know is that on November 6, 2012, I’ll be glued to my TV and laptop like the rest of the nation.

5 Ways to Lose Your Donors

In a previous post I quickly referenced why some women stop giving to a charity that they’ve been fairly dedicated to. For some reason this topic keeps rattling in my brain and I can’t help but write about it.
Here are my TOP 5 ways to lose your donors:

Too many solicitations – It comes in ebbs and waves, but many times just when I’m ready sit down and enjoy a nice quiet meal, the phone rings. I let the answering machine get it and the next night, it rings again but I am still too hungry to get it. Finally, on the third night I answer it, annoyed and frustrated that someone would ask me for money when I am relaxing and at dinner time, and I respond to the solicitation with a firm “Sorry, but please take me off your list.” Whether it’s about my cable service or if my alma mater needs money for a scholarship fund, their timing is bad and I’m not giving a credit card number. I also gave to a certain charity about a month ago and since then, they have sent me the same packet of Christmas cards three times. Um, thanks, but no thanks.

Not valuing volunteers – Volunteers can be an important part of any organization; they can save you money on a salary, they can spread your message to their friends and they even slip in a check or two into your bank account. However, how you treat them and their services can make all the difference. If you ask a volunteer to help, make them wait around and then never use the project they completed, they’ll probably move on to somewhere where they feel needed.

How does your clientele represent you to donors? – Now you can’t please everyone all the time, but what does your clientele say about you? If they are soliciting funds, are they polite and respectful? Do they have raving reports about how you’ve helped them? If they come into one on one contact with your supporters, what would they say? If you produce a product or service, how is the quality?

Cash the check – I sent a monthly check to one organization, but they never seemed to deposit it in a timely manner. After one check was held on to for six months, I stopped giving. If they could wait that long to deposit my money, I guess they didn’t need it that bad.

Ease of giving – Many people choose to give online, so do you offer this option on your website? Is your site easy to navigate, quick to load and simple to use? I’ve shopped online countless times but when I get to the check out portion, if the payment doesn’t work right I click out of that page. I don’t have the time or patience to deal with faulty sites. If they won’t take my money someone else will. At least with this point, Fundly can help you make online giving quick, easy and profitable.

In many cases, it can take a ton of effort to gain a donor, so you certainly don’t want to lose them. Hopefully these tips help you maintain giving partners for many years of success in fundraising.

Non-Profits Brainstorm to Subsidize Government Cut Backs

It’s no secret that our government is ailing when it comes to balancing a budget. As of December 13, the U.S. National Debt Clock reveals that we currently owe $15,067,709,105,674.70. (For you number crunchers, that means that each of the 311,846,207 people who live in the U.S. owe $48,317.76.)
As a non-profit you may be feeling some of the effects of these numbers as the government holds back some of its funding. Many charities are creating new strategies to improve private donations in this precarious economy.

Patrick Wall writes on Crain’s New York Business that many non-profits are seeking out new ways to cultivate relationships with donors. Holiday giving campaigns and random mailers are coming back with minimal success as contributors want to become partners in the cause and not just wallets to be pried open.
“’Today’s donors don’t want to be seen as piggy banks,’ said Adrian Sargeant, a professor of fundraising at Indiana University. ‘They want to be seen as people who are active in the cause.’

“To acknowledge that, Mr. Sargeant warns, nonprofits seeking lasting support must treat donors as partners, not checkbooks with legs. Organizations that reach out to supporters only during giving campaigns and that send out generic mailings may come up dry the following year. In fact, 50% to 70% of people who make initial gifts to a nonprofit never return, the professor notes.”

Many organizations are trying new ways to gain long term supporters, not just occasional donors. Moving away from “fundraising events,” some charities are creating community events and free celebration banquets to thank donors and engage new ones in their mission. Creating partners allows people to invest emotionally in a cause with lasting long term effects.

Wall also writes that many non-profits are engaging their board members to recruit associates to give and to give more themselves. I’ve seen award banquets and balls honoring major donors which therefore brings in their social circle to the charitable event. Not a bad way to tap into potential supporters.

Social media updates are also a great way to keep in contact with your donors and help them to feel a part of your organization. This is an easy and affordable way to stay connected with your supporters. As a non-profit, trying new ideas and keeping abreast of the trends can certainly help your non-profit to succeed.
If your non-profit or charity organization needs to fill the gap in funding, check out Fundly’s leading social fundraising platform today and raise money online via social media, strengthen relationships with donors, and increase donations over the long-term for your organization.

Secret Santas Motivated to Give Anonymously

As a leader or employee of a non-profit organization, marketing, fundraising, and accumulating donors is at the apex of importance. You constantly strive to think of new and unique ways to reach people with the message of your cause, you ponder how to motivate donors to give and you spend hours creating campaigns scouring each word to devise the most impactful statements. However, the message of philanthropy and individual needs is spreading and anonymous donors are making a difference in many lives.

I’ve been reading a lot of articles lately about why people give and the answers are not surprising: tax refunds, setting an example for their children, and moral obligations are all on the list, but the biggest factor is just plain human decency — it’s the right thing to do and it warms the heart.

There is an article on the Yahoo! Finance page in which reporter Margery A. Beck conveys a story that is both heartfelt and pleasantly surprising. “At Kmart stores across the country, Santa seems to be getting some help: Anonymous donors are paying off strangers’ layaway accounts, buying the Christmas gifts other families couldn’t afford, especially toys and children’s clothes set aside by impoverished parents,” writes Beck. And this isn’t just a onetime occurrence; Nebraska, Michigan, Iowa, Indiana and Montana have also seen several of these instances.

Beck also comments that, “Kmart representatives say they did nothing to instigate the secret Santas or spread word of the generosity. But it’s happening as the company struggles to compete with chains such as Wal-Mart and Target.

“Kmart may be the focus of layaway generosity, Salima Yala, Kmart’s division vice president for layaway said, because it is one of the few large discount stores that has offered layaway year-round for about four decades. Under the program, customers can make purchases but let the store hold onto their merchandise as they pay it off slowly over several weeks.”

Fancy campaigns. No catch phrases. No expensive marketing executives analyzing the psyches of their donors and the triggers for giving. Just plain, old fashioned helping-your-brother-in-need grassroots movement. Kind of warms your heart, doesn’t it?

Economy has Greater Impact on Smaller Non-Profits

The struggling economy has handicapped non-profit organizations across the board in 2011, but there is a new study out that reveals how smaller charities have felt the bite of cutbacks more than their larger counterparts. Why do smaller groups suffer more and what can they do to strengthen their fundraising numbers?

Rick Cohen writes in The Non-Profit Quarterly about a new study that was conducted by GuideStar pertaining to how 875 respondents faired in 2011 and what they plan to do in 2012. Although GuideStar doesn’t claim to have a proper sampling of the non-profit population or an adequate parallel of specific organizations from 2010 to 2011, their findings are still interesting food for thought.

The study reports that:

• A little over one-fourth of respondents reported declining foundation support in 2011, and just under another third said that their foundation support in 2011 has been “flat”;
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• Just about one-third of “smaller” charities (defined as expenditures below $3 million) reported declines in fundraising in 2011 compared to 2010, roughly twice the proportion of large nonprofits;
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• Smaller nonprofits showed more signs of fundraising and overall fiscal distress, including greater likelihood of losing new or renewing donors, low cash reserves, and overreliance on a very limited number of funders;
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• One-fifth of the smallest groups in the survey (expenditures below $250,000) said they were at risk of closing in 2012 compared to only 5 percent of respondents with larger expenditures;
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• Over half of respondents with government funding suffered from government cutbacks while only 16 percent reported that their government funding increased.
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The numbers are thought provoking but the overall results are not. The big fish in the fundraising sea have obviously more money to invest in larger campaigns, more staff for outreach purposes and the ability to garner more media attention. They also can higher experts to analyze and create their fundraising strategies and they probably have a board of financial gurus.

How can these smaller charities compete for donors and their resources? Once again social media can be the best tool for these ailing groups. With minimal financial investment and with a knack for creativity, social media can link micro-charities to a larger group of current and potential donors. I’ve noticed a huge trend in the non-profit world in which groups create huge fundraising campaigns using just social media resources such as “A Day to Donate” or “One Week to Raise $250,000.” Now these are my samples, but countless groups have been successful posting similar propositions. It’s never too late to connect to more supporters and social media is the most efficient and profitable way to do so.

Let Fundly help you use this great resource today!

Five social media experts to follow on Twitter

There are a lot of people out there using social media to write about social media, philanthropy, fundraising, and the intersection of all three. Here are five stand-out voices that any non-profit will want to hear.

(1)   Claire Diaz-Ortiz @ClaireD – Author of Twitter for Good and the leader of social innovation at Twitter, Claire is the leading expert on using social media for good. To stay in the loop about how your non-profit can use twitter to be a better force for good, ClaireD is a must-follow.

(2)   Beth Kanter @Kanter – Author of Beth’s Blog: How Non-profits can use Social Media, Beth has been writing about social media and the non-profit world for years. One of the first social fundraising gurus, she is full of wisdom and sports one awesome cowboy hat.

(3)   John Wood @johnwoodRTR – John left Microsoft and founded Room to Read (@RoomtoRead), an organization on a mission to educate children around the world. Currently, an alarming 300 million children will never receive an education. John and his team are on an inspiring mission to change this.

(4)   Jen Preston @NYT-JenPreston – Jen writes about technology and social media for The New York Times. She’s one savvy journalist who stays connected with what’s going on in the world and what’s going on in the world of social media. Follow her to stay in-the-know.

(5)   Charity:water @charitywater – With more than a million followers, Charity: water is an awesome model of a non-profit that uses social media well. With photos of the day and a wide variety tweets, Charity:water is a charity to emulate.

Of course, don’t forget to follow @Fundly and @DavidJBoyce1 to keep up with the latest trends in social media, philanthropy and non-profit fundraising.

Who else belongs on this list? Share with us the voices that matter most to you.

2011 Mashable nominees for awards in social media: Seven non-profits get the nod

It’s almost time to roll out the red carpet. Mashable has announced its 2011 nominees for awards in social media. Voting closes Dec. 16, and winners will be announced on Dec. 19 before the Jan. 11 MashBash in Las Vegas.

Of greatest interest to Fundly are the nominees for Must-Follow Non-Profits. The list was determined by Mashable readers who identified these non-profits as most worthy of being followed on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Tumblr, or other popular social networking sites.  Here’s who made it:

(1)   The Trevor Project which provides crisis and suicide prevention services to LGBTGQ youth.

(2)   Teach for America which connects top college grads with low-income students deserving of a top-notch education.

(3)   The Human Rights Campaign which works to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender equality.

(4)   GLAAD which builds support for equality by amplifying the voice of the LGBT community and holding the media accountable.

(5)   The Joyful Heart Foundation which works to heal, educate, and empower survivors.

(6)   The One Campaign which works to fight poverty and preventable disease around the world.

(7)   Fuck Cancer which works to promote awareness of the importance of early detection of all cancers.

In addition to Must-Follow Non-Profit on Social Media, there are nominees in eight categories: Best Social Network, Up-and-Coming Social Media Service, Must-Follow Actor or Actress on Social Media, Must-Follow Musician or Band on Social Media, Must-Follow Athlete on Social Media, Must-Follow Media Personality on Social Media, Must Follow-Business Personality on Social Media, and the Must-Follow Politician on Social Media.

What other non-profits below on this list? Let @Fundly know today.

Alliance sweetens great ideas with Innovation Fund

The non-profit world thrives on great ideas.

Great ideas, all too often, thrive on money… and lots of it.

The Alliance for Global Good, a non-profit that promotes collaboration and sustainability in philanthropy, recently announced a fund to promote innovation in philanthropy. The Innovation Fund will initially have about $10 million.

Though logistics are still getting ironed out, David M. Brand, the alliance’s chief executive, is interested in helping great ideas gain prominence and attention. Many organizations, especially small ones, are doing extraordinary things but receive little attention.

Brand cites Sweet Beginnings, a honey business that trains young people that have been incarcerated, as an innovative inspiration for the fund.

The for-profit honey business was created by the North Lawndale Employment Network to help residents of some of Chicago’s lowest income neighborhoods gain employment.  By creating a market-driven revenue stream by selling honey, Sweet Beginnings has been able to see growth even during these tough economic times.

Brand hopes the Innovation Fund will help both established and start-up non-profits. The fund will begin accepting proposals for requests early next year.

“We want to take an operation and help it grow and mature,” Brand said.

To learn more about how innovative fundraising can help your organization grow, check out Fundly’s social fundraising tools today!

Using Twitter as a Tool for Non-Profits

Running a non-profit can seem overwhelming. As CEO of your organization the hats you wear are many: business person, spokesperson, Human Resources Manager, magician making funds appear out of thin air, motivational speaker… the list goes on and on. Now with social media no longer an option for reaching out to donors, becoming a writer and social media manager have now been added to the list of your duties.

Undoubtedly you have heard of Twitter and maybe you are an avid user. Maybe you’ve been meaning to look into it (when the days are extended from 24 to 30 hours per day.)Maybe you’ve been hoping that Twitter is just a fad that you won’t have to spend the time learning and it will all just go away. Well, it looks like Twitter is here to stay and if used properly it can be an important (and inexpensive) tool in your fundraising arsenal.

Marc A. Pitman writes on his site FundraisingCoach.com some very informative tips to using Twitter to your non-profit’s advantage. Pitman explains that the greatest advantage to Twitter is that it easily helps to maintain donor relationships. Here are some other benefits Pitman mentions:

1)     You get to meet people all over the world that might be interested in your cause.

2)     You get to hear what people are really thinking about a wide variety of issues.

3)     You can follow other fundraisers and get great real-time advice.

4)     You can even promote traffic to your website or those of your friends.

Just like the stages of grief, Twitter also has emotional stages that the user will experience as listed by Pitman: confusion followed by fun as your friends get involved,  then intrigue as people you don’t know become followers and finally being overwhelmed at the messages you see coming in.

The bottom line is that fundraising is based on relationships. There is no way that you can speak to all of your donors or potential donors on a daily or even weekly basis. Twitter allows a large group of people to see what you and your organization are doing and it gives them a chance to comment and be involved. The key to Twitter is to speak but also to carry on a conversation and listen to what your fellow Tweeters have to say.

Finally, this is a great way to share the needs of your charity and direct donors to your website. Social media continues to be the most efficient and cost effective way to fundraising!

Top 5 Ways to Create a Successful Website

Gone are the days of pamphlets, brochures and information packets. Okay, those days may not be completely gone, but by no means is it the most practical or cost effective way to build your organization’s supporter base. It may work with an older generation who is uncomfortable tinkering around a computer keyboard, but social media and web design are the most productive ways to connect to both new and established donors.

As Christmas approaches I tend to stay away from the mall filled with anxious shoppers, crowded aisles and lines ten people deep. Online shopping is how I tackle my gift list and I think there are some valuable lessons to be learned from their marketing tactics.

1)     Capture the Donor’s Attention – Graphics, pictures and bold titles make your message stand out. In my opinion, you only have a few seconds to capture a person’s attention online or else they will quickly type in another word in the search engine. If your pictures seem outdated, if your titles are mundane and if your layout looks unprofessional, why would someone be motivated to give? Your organization must be outdated, mundane and unprofessional. On the flip side, don’t cram everything into your home page which may overwhelm your online guest.

2)     Make it easy to maneuver – What is the point of your website and who is going to visit it? Are you announcing to volunteers that there is a place to sign up for an upcoming work day? Can donors RSVP to a holiday event? Have you made online giving as simple as a couple of clicks? If people can’t find what they’re looking for, they just may give up. (Actually, it might be a good idea to ask a donor to journey through your website and get their honest opinion about it. Does it work in the real world?)

3)     What’s your brand? – Your charity is a brand and you should market it as such. That means having the same logo and “feel” on your letterhead as on your staff polo shirts as on your website. Consistency shows that you know what your goal is, who your clientele is and that you know your identity.

4)     Your message is your hook – People who look up your website probably already have an interest in your mission. Let people know how exciting your non-profit is and the successes you are having. Keep your articles around 400 words or else you may bore your reader.

5)     Keep it up to date – If it’s December and you still have your Halloween party pictures up, chances are your donor is going to leave your website. Change it up every couple of weeks so your donors will have a reason to return.

The Internet is probably the greatest resource non-profits have to gain information, reach out to donors and find new methods of fundraising. Having a strong website can be a destination for social media posts therefore gaining the attention of more supporters to your cause.

If your non-profit needs a cost-effective website solution, check out WIX today.

What Does 2012 Hold for Non-Profits?

With 2011 coming to a close, one can’t help but reflect on the challenges and successes of days past and wonder what lies ahead in the upcoming year. Will the economy take an upturn with the pending presidential election and the optimism that it brings? Will the job market strengthen therefore providing more expendable income for donors to give?

What new technological advancements will be made to make life easier and people more connected. Well, I can’t tell you any of those answers. (Sorry, my crystal ball is in the shop.) However, there is a recent study that has some substantial information that can help non-profits plan for the New Year.

The 2011 Social Good Survey by Fenton and GlobeScan was published in the Sacramento Bee and the results are as follows:

“Giving to nonprofits is stalled: Seventy-two percent of U.K. respondents and 65% of U.S. respondents say they expect their giving to remain the same in 2012. A notable minority say their giving will decrease (16% U.K. and 17% U.S.).

“Nonprofits are perceived to be most effective as change makers: Forty-one percent of U.K. respondents and 55% of U.S. respondents say they believe nonprofits and charities are highly effective at bringing about positive social change.

“Nonprofits and charities can earn greater support by getting personal: People say an organization’s commitment to a cause they feel strongly about (54% U.K.; 44% U.S.) is the most important factor for their decision to give.

“Confusion surrounding nonprofit spending and management: Respondents who report knowing more about how nonprofits are managed are also more positive about their support, but less than half say they believe nonprofits/charities do a good job spending funds and managing operations.

“Social media is most important for staying current on nonprofit activities and taking action: The majority of responses underscore the value of social media to keep them up to date and provide opportunities for engagement. While social media may not be the most effective tool to reach new audiences, it is an effective for engaging existing supporters.

“Traditional media is still important for breaking through: News stories and television commercials rank higher than social media as persuasion tools to bring new people into an effort.”

I think there is a lot of useful information that can be gleaned from these new findings. Knowing that giving is stabilized can help create a workable budget. Connecting to donors on an emotional level creates more dedicated partners. Letting supporters know where your money is going builds a bridge of trust.

Finally, social media is here to stay and is the best way to keep your donors informed and engaged. So ring in the New Year! We’re ready to face the future!

Create and promote a successful non-profit fundraising campaign today with Fundly!

Non-Profits Balance Charity Work and Free Enterprise

Countless non-profits are facing the dilemma of a decrease in funds coming in and an increase in the needs of the people whom they serve. While new marketing approaches and rearranging budgets are usually at the top of the list for strategic planning, many charities are dabbling with new and creative ideas. Innovative business models are popping up with profitable results.

It’s not a new idea for non-profits to cross over into the for profit world. Goodwill and St. Vincent DePaul have managed thrift shops for decades. Junior Achievement has been producing handmade products to help high schools students learn the principles of business and many websites are hawking the crafts of third world countries to provide a better standard of living. And this holiday season, how many of your co-workers have brought in cookie, decoration or candy catalogues to help raise money for their children’s schools? However, more non-profits are looking to become self sufficient since donations have dwindled and government funding is shaky.

Columnist Michelle Singletary writes in the Washington Post that, “To help encourage more creativity, the Alliance for Global Good, a nonprofit group that promotes philanthropic efficiency and effectiveness, has established a fund to support charitable organizations that come up with new business models. The alliance’s Innovation Fund will initially have about $10 million.”

Singletary gives one such example. “The Chicago-based North Lawndale Employment Network inspired the idea for the innovation fund. The organization created a for-profit beekeeping enterprise, Sweet Beginnings, to help ex-offenders and other low-income residents of Chicago’s Westside neighborhoods get employment training.” Now their products can be found in local stores and even in airports!

Now I’m not saying that non-profits need to create a product to sell to stay afloat. I’m just suggesting that there are many options out there to help your non-profit succeed in a tough market. With social media making marketing and financial transactions easy and accessible, this low cost way to connect to donors and consumers can be a viable way to raise money.

If your non-profit is looking for new and innovative ways to raise funds, I encourage you to start an online non-profit fundraising campaign using Fundly’s leading social fundraising platform used by non-profits big and small to raise money online via social media.

Are Government Grants Always Beneficial?

As a non-profit, sometimes it seems like any money that comes in is a good thing. (Heck, as a human it seems like any money that comes in is a good thing.) However, some non-profits have learned that that theory doesn’t always hold true. Government grants can decrease funding from foundations and also decrease overall fundraising efforts.

Joshua Benton writes in the Neiman Journalism Lab about a study conducted concerning charities, where their funding comes from, and how it effects giving in other areas. This study found some surprising results that I did not expect.

Benton reports that, “For every $1,000 given through a government grant, nonprofits reduced their investment in other forms of fundraising by an average of $137. That, in turn, meant an average drop of $772 in gifts from private donors. In other words, that $1,000 check from the government netted only $410, on average, because grant recipients reduced how much they tried to raise money through other means.”

On an interesting note, when the government deems a charity worthy of grant money individual donors find that the organization is trustworthy and are more willing to part with their dollars. On the flip side, foundations tend to overlook charities with government assistance deciding that their money would be better used in a charity that is not getting help elsewhere. The authors of the study, UCSD’s Jim Andreoni and McMaster’s Abigail Payne, ascertain that “Unlike private donors, these institutional donors are likely to be quite well informed about the quality and finances of charities. But as with private donors, there are costs of attracting institutional gifts, such as making applications and accounting for expenses. In contrast to private donors, government grants are less likely to provide any signaling value to institutional donors, and more likely to make the donor institution feel their marginal impact has been reduced, leading to lower giving and more crowding out.”

Ironically, obtaining government grants does not seem to change an organizations bank account. This study found that as charities garnered government funds, their efforts elsewhere decreased therefore causing no change in the budget. Benton deduces that “Each $1,000 in grants reduces revenue from other sources by about $1,000. But most of that reduced revenue — 77 percent — is due to reduced fundraising effort by the nonprofit, not the result of changed behavior by individual or foundation donors.

So what’s to be learned from this in depth study? Push on and fight hard whether you get government moneys or not. Provide equal effort in your grant writing as well as investing in individual donors. Use social media as part of your time management strategy and touch as many people as you can with your message.

The 2012 Republican Presidential Candidates in Expensive Race, Cheap Primaries

If money makes the world go round, then buckle your seat belts because the 2012 presidential election is going to have us spinning fast. Between President Obama’s record breaking fundraising numbers and the cost of the candidates garnering support on the campaign trail, gathering dollars to become the future President of the United States is a billion dollar industry.

However in this pre-election period of spending money to raise money, many Republicans are cutting costs. Is it a reflection of the economic times we are living in or is there another motivation behind the frugality?

On Bloomberg Businessweek, Kristin Jensen and Jonathan D. Salant reported that “Even as experts predict that the 2012 presidential race will be the most expensive in U.S. history, a funny thing is happening on the way to the Republican nomination: It’s becoming one of the cheapest primaries in a more than a decade…The top nine Republican candidates spent $53 million through September, compared with $132 million spent at the same time four years ago. The sum is even lower than totals reported during the same period in the 2004 and 2000 primaries — when most candidates still were abiding by campaign spending limits in order to receive public matching money…In the crowded Democratic primary in 2004, the candidates had spent $58 million through Sept. 30, 2003. Four years earlier, a primary field of 10 Republican candidates had spent $68 million in the first three quarters of 1999.”

So why has the spending levels dropped for these candidates? First of all, there have been an abundance of televised debates (11 so far) which has eliminated the need of expensive commercial time. Secondly, if Obama is the supposed ‘King of Fundraising’, it seems to be that the Republicans are mere peasants in this area. Thirdly, the candidates are more organized and are focused on spending smarter on a smaller budget. With the economy being a major issue, many are showing that they are frugal business people.

Just because fewer dollars are spent does not mean the war for the presidential seat will be less intense than in previous years. If fundraising is the gas, then this political fundraising engine is just getting warmed up and I believe we haven’t even come close to seeing the battle that is ahead.

What Motivates People to Give to Charity?

There are a few basic reasons why people are motivated to donate to charities: a moral obligation, it’s good for the self-esteem, it provides a decent tax right off, and/or helping others is part of a holiday tradition. We all have certain triggers that attach our hearts to our wallets and that’s what makes the holidays one of the busiest times of year for non-profits. Sentimentality, generosity and family traditions are as much a part of the season as decorated trees, sappy movies and too sweet cookies with a side of cold milk.

Knowing what motivates your donors to give is one of the biggest marketing challenges for non-profit organizations. It’s not that we want to manipulate our donors to pry open their wallets, but we do want to plant the reality of the urgency of the needs that burden our clientele. In a world filled with countless people needing assistance, many of our donors are bombarded with mail boxes flooded with letters petitioning for a monthly gift, Facebook posts stating the latest project that needs to be completed or TV commercials displaying heart breaking pictures with a melodic soundtrack playing in the background. Standing out and tapping into what motivates your donors is key to successful fundraising.

On StarTribune.com, writer Jean Hopfensperger interviewed several people to determine what motivates their giving in the holiday season. Hopfensperger mentions that in Minnesota, 60% of non-profit donations come between the Thanksgiving holiday and January. “Apart from feeling that warm glow of giving, people donate for more specific reasons. A 2009 survey by the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University showed the top three reasons people donate are to help disadvantaged folks meet their basic needs, to make the world a better place and to make their community a better place. Also near the top of the list was the personal conviction that people with more should help those with less,” explains Hopfensperger.

Tim Seiler, director of the fundraising school at the philanthropy center, commented “Tax breaks may not motivate the gift, but they may motivate the size of the gift… Likewise, improving social status is a motivator for some, such as having a chance to hobnob with the rich and famous at charity galas. But, again, it is not in the top tier of reasons.”

Fundraising experts say that giving has increased over the holiday seasons because of low-cost technological ways to reach out to donors via Facebook, Twitter and e-mail. This is also the easiest way for donors to make a pledge to their favorite charity.

Baby Boomers Impact Non-Profit World

With 81.5 million baby boomers making up 26.4 percent of the U.S. population and many entering retirement, the impact they are having on the non-profit world is impressive. Not only is this group giving a portion of their dollars to their favorite charities, but they are also benefitting the non-profit world by volunteering or returning to the work force to help those in need.

Forbes magazine contributor Kerry Hannon gives one such example: “Today, Civic Ventures, a nonprofit think tank that focuses on boomers and encore careers with social purpose, announced a program with the Santa Clara, CA-based chip maker to offer all of Intel’s U.S. employees who are eligible to retire the chance to apply for Encore Fellowships – paid, part-time, yearlong assignments working at local nonprofits… And take note, these are paid positions. Encore Fellows are paired with nonprofits, where they typically work 1,000 hours over a six-to-12-month period, through either a part or full-time schedule, and earn a stipend of $25,000.”

Obviously from this type of partnership, everybody wins. The non-profit organization gains a skilled worker with experience at a minimal to no cost investment and the retiree is making a difference in countless lives while still remaining active and earning an income. Some of these fellowships also have the potential for long term positions in which these workers can truly dedicate themselves to the cause that touches their hearts.

Hannon also states that, “New research from Civic Ventures and MetLife Foundation shows that as many as 9 million people, or 9 percent of all people ages 44 to 70, are currently in encore careers, having made major career changes after age 40 or come out of retirement to do work that combines personal meaning, continued income and social purpose.”

On a side note, Baby Boomers make up the largest segment of donors in the non-profit world reports About.com. While traditional direct mail campaigns are most successful with this generation, many are jumping on the technology revolution and donate online (however the most common practice is a check via the mail.) And with increasing computer usage and skill, most Baby Boomers research an organization’s website before committing to making a monetary contribution.

Garnering support is a main focus of any charity and engaging people of all ages helps to ensure the health of your organization. Whether it be through volunteerism or financial support, it’s important to engage your donors and appeal to a variety of generations.

SplashMedia Highlights Fundly’s Impact on Holiday Giving

I had the privilege of sharing with SplashMedia the exciting work that is being done here at Fundly to aid non-profits in social media fundraising. With the holidays upon us, Fundly has been a vehicle in promoting holiday giving campaigns and we are eager to share success stories. This is the best time of year to raise funds, and social media is the best way to do it!

SplashMedia is a team of marketers who mix technology and creativity to reach the masses. Always on the cutting edge, SplashMedia promotes companies via social media networks with stellar results. It was an honor to be interviewed by writer Renay San Miguel and to have the spotlight on Fundly this week.

The holidays inspire people to go the extra mile to help those who are down on their luck or need an extra little boost. I was eager to share some examples of the charities that we are privileged to help with our social media online giving program. We are promoting some really inspirational campaigns, all the way from helping people with illnesses to buying kids bicycles for Christmas to getting equipment into schools for end-of-year drives. It really is a magical time of the year!

In addition to holiday campaigns, I was also thrilled that I was able to share how easy Fundly is to use. Fundly takes the promise of social media for non-profits as an inexpensive, user-friendly way for these organizations to raise money and ties it to a software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform. Organizations can set up campaign microsites in five minutes using Fundly, which then helps manage their social media pages for fundraising and recruiting purposes. Fundly also provides a Facebook app that can help incentivize the donation process. Since 2009, Fundly has helped non-profits raise more than $230 million.

The word is getting out that social media is the key to success in non-profit fundraising, and Fundly is the best way that I can think of to accomplish that goal – especially during the holidays. Our mission is to bring world-class, best of class fundraising tools to all non-profits, no matter what size or budget.

Say cheese! Using photographs to promote your cause

Sue LaLumia has been the art director for The Chronicle of Philanthropy for 20 years. Her Moving Pictures blog is devoted to helping non-profits use images to “tell a compelling story, inspire donors, attract media attention, and advance your organization’s mission.”

In a recent blog post, How Every Worker Can Share a Charity’s Mission, LaLumia writes about how organizations are using photographs to tell their stories in new, interesting ways.

Conservation International, for example, selected 33 compelling images of wildlife and the natural world to tell their organization’s story. On a budget, the organization has put these images on employees’ business cards.

Heather Luca, Conservation International’s senior creative director, told LaLumia about how she lets recipients select their favorite image. Usually, this sparks a conversation about why they picked what they did and allows the recipient to share a personal story. Employees also hand deliver cards to the people they want to reach most.

Accompanied by the tagline, “People need nature to thrive,” these cards are sending a powerful message to their recipients. Together, they tell the story of an organization. Conservation International has also put these images on their website.

“A charity’s photos may evoke joy, inspiration, devastation, or hope. Conservation International understands the power of its images and values them enough to use them to give potential supporters a strong first impression,” says LaLumia.

What first impression does your non-profit give? How can images help tell your non-profits story?
For inspiration and for tips on selecting the right photos, check out an earlier post, How Great Photos Can Tell a Charity’s Story. LaLumia has some great commentary and advice.

Tell your story with engaging pictures for your next non-profit fundraising campaign on Fundly.

Storytelling tips from NPR’s Scott Simon

Scott Simon is a professional storyteller. He’s traveled the world as an award-winning correspondent for NPR and is host of NPR’s Weekend Edition. He’s also an acclaimed novelist and memoirist.

Stories are universally appealing, and we’ve written a lot about how important it is for non-profits to tell share their own stories with the world. But, unfortunately, not all stories are well told.

In a video on YouTube Reporters’ Center, Simon shares the universal truths of the well-told story:

(1)   A good story has a point. Not necessarily a lesson or a moral, but something that the listener can take away from it.

(2)   A good story has vivid detail. Sometimes, just one phrase will do. Listeners need something that they can remember and repeat.

(3)   A good story has a strong start. Without this, you’ll lose a listener immediately. Even if you have great analysis and wonderful prose later, it won’t matter because nobody will hear it. Simon sites a 1940 Winston Churchill speech as having the ultimate strong start: “The news from France is very bad.” Direct, engaging, and dramatic.


(4)   A good story is broken up into short, “breathable” sections. Writing a story is like going on a swim. With proper breaks for breath, storytellers will develop a natural rhythm.


(5)   A good story avoids dependent clauses. This applies to audio/video stories. Keep things conversational and easy for your listener to digest.


Simon also encourages people to use social networking sites like Twitter to tell their stories, find stories, and raise money online.

“Use them! Have fun!”

And don’t forget to share them with @Fundly!

The artnership: philanthropy’s latest stroke in fundraising

Non-profits have a long history of partnerships with musicians and creative types.

For the past 25 years, the annual Bridge School Benefit concert in Mountain View, Calif. has brought in talent like Paul McCartney, Death Cab for Cutie, Eddie Vetter, and Dave Matthews. Event proceeds benefit the school for children with severe speech and physical impairments.

In recent years, non-profits have increasingly partnered with visual artists to promote and raise money for their cause.

As part of the 50/50 initiative to raise over a million dollars for famine relief in East Africa, “Posters for Good” artists are selling their art online to feed the hungry.

Posterity is a limited-edition series of posters designed by artists at The Mill, a creative visual effects company. The posters go for $50 each, and all net-proceeds go to benefit UNICEF’s famine relief efforts in East Africa. My personal favorite is “The Desert” by Emmet Dzieza and “Sun” by Michelle Higa. These posters are beautiful, inspiring and would make an excellent addition to any office or living room. They would also make great Christmas gifts!

Erica Harris, a Brooklyn-based artist, is also a part of the posters-for-good trend. She sells her art to benefit students at the Buddhas Smile School in Varanasi, India. My friend has one of her whimsical $20 prints hanging in her classroom.

These wonderful partnerships are creative and bringing money, education, and food to those in need.
A picture is worth a thousand words, they say. One of the most creative ways to attract supporters (and bring in donations) is to embrace the power and magnetism of a beautiful visual.

We can’t all secure a partnership with Paul McCartney-level superstars, but most of us have talented friends, many of whom might be looking for a meaningful platform to get their art out into the world.

How can your non-profit make an artnership a reality?

How Much Influence Does Hollywood Have in Political Fundraising?

Our nation has long put celebrities on a pedestal. From Mary Pickford and her popularity in silent movies to Angelia Jolie and her humanitarian causes, those on the big screen seem to have always had an impact on the way society forms its opinions. As the 2012 presidential election heats up, many actors are choosing sides and giving their two cents worth on Twitter, Facebook and by attending political fundraisers. Do the political stands celebrities truly make a difference in public opinion and political fundraising for candidates?

According to Ted Johnson, writer for Variety magazine, “So far this cycle, the industry has donated more than $17 million to federal candidates and committees, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, with more than 70% going to Democrats. The split is more equal when it comes to giving among industry political action committees. The MPAA’s giving is running about 64% to Democrats and 36% to Republicans; the Recording Industry Assn. of America is at 40% to Democrats and 60% to Republicans.

“But there’s even a difference in giving at the corporate level and individual giving at the top. The Sony Pictures Entertainment PAC has given 57% to Democrats and 43% to Republicans so far this election cycle; its chairman and CEO, Michael Lynton, has given only to Democrats this cycle and is an Obama bundler.
The president even held his first re-election fundraiser in Los Angeles on the Sony lot.”

I can’t help but wonder which is the stronger force here: the dollars being tossed into the presidential pool or the influence that these super stars have on public opinion. I have to admit that I think money has the upper hand here. My guess is that voters between the ages of 18-30 may be swayed by a celebrity’s political point-of-view, but the average voter is much less impressionable.

So what motivates a candidate to support one candidate over the other? Producer Norman Lear states that, “It is usually about their sense of good government, what they perceive is best for the country. These tend to focus on non-industry specific issues…like education, human rights, environment and foreign policy. They are among the highest-earning contributors that back higher tax rates, at odds with their own personal interest.”

Quite frankly, I don’t believe that Hollywood is a force to be reckoned with concerning politics. It is more along party lines, corporate interests and an individual’s moral compass that cause the gravitational pull to or from each candidate.