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.

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.

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.

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.

Social Media for Nonprofits Best Practices: Gain Online Support for Your Charity Beyond Donations

Soliciting donations is the basis of fundraising, but creating a network of supporters is the avenue to this goal. How can you increase your online exposure to potential donors?

Online fundraising efforts are usually focused on that little donation button that is highlighted on our website, but creating traffic to the site is just as important. If people don’t know you’re out there, or what your organization is about, there is little driving them to give.

Sree Sreenivasan touches on this in Using Social Media to Bring Attention to Nonprofits, discussing the importance of having your donors promote your organization to their friends on various social networking platforms. Sreenivasan writes, “Sending money, of course, remains the single most important way to support nonprofits. But social-media users have learned that you can also have an impact by paying with something else. Attention — your own attention and your friends’ attention.” He goes on to add “hitting ‘Like’ or ‘Share’ or retweeting a post from a nonprofit can bring awareness to new circles of users — and potential supporters. And nonprofits big and small are finding ways to harness the energy of their fans to get more awareness to everything they do.”

How can you get more attention online?

 

Flipping through the channels, there seems to be trends emerging among many television news stations: at the end of every program they comment “Like us on Facebook.” They are asking their viewers to take action and join their brand page while also inadvertently advertising to their social network. Many supporters are focused on socializing on Facebook and probably haven’t considered “liking” your nonprofit or “sharing” your post with their friends. Bottom line: ask. Depending on your charity, marketing buzz words are a good place to start.

A few examples: Please like us on Facebook…

• … to share with your friends the importance giving children a brighter future.  
• … to help us feed 10,000 hungry people this holiday season
• … to bring awareness to the hundreds of homeless animals that desperately need a healing touch.

You can also encourage your donors on Twitter to retweet your comments, therefore introducing their followers to your organization.

Something Worth Sharing

 

Another way to empower donors to share your comments and posts with others is to produce engaging content. Utilize the incredible statistics about your cause and share them in new ways to inform your followers. Find a heartwarming story that will pull at supporters’ emotional side. Explain how a new law or candidate is going to impact your organization and encourage supporters to rally for your cause. Post any media coverage that highlights your organization. Reinvent content to keep it interesting, relevant, and causes a reaction to bring interaction.

Make Your Post an Invitation

 

There is one organization that I work with that had a great idea: they created a beautiful invitation for an upcoming event and posted it on Facebook. Several of my friends have “shared” it so it has popped up on my home page about four or five times with comments of support from the person who forwarded it. I get about ten pretty pictures with sappy sayings each day, why not use a great picture of your organization’s work with a call to action written below?

Finally, on your Fundly webpage your donors can make a financial contribution or just show their Facebook and Twitter friends that they support your cause. We make it simple so that even the most inexperienced computer user can spread the word on your behalf. Social media fundraising reaches its potential when it has a domino effect to touch countless possible supporters.

Attracting and Keeping Your Online Audience

Whether your nonprofit has been around for decades or if you are just starting out, everyone could use a little advice when it comes to online fundraising. While I can’t give you a magic formula or sure-fire method to have your bank account explode, I CAN give you some helpful ways to maximize your online giving potential.

Creating an Audience

 

What’s the point of creating an amazing online campaign if your organization’s social network is minimal? The majority of non-profits have a Facebook or Twitter account, but if you are recently established, it may take a little time and effort to build up a list that will make your social media fundraising worthwhile.

One way to attract people to your page is to find a common ground. You obviously don’t want to steal other organization’s donors, but if there is an event or news story that you come across online related to your cause, comment on it and get your organization’s name thrown into the mix. Commenting on posts allows your Facebook profile to be seen by others interested in the topic. Find sites where people have a common passion for your philanthropic goals and let them know where to find you.

Another way to gain attention is to create thoughtful content with intriguing hooks so that current followers are compelled to first read it (which is always the first hurdle) and then share it with their personal networks. An extraordinary story, a captivating picture, or a thought-provoking quote can trigger others to repost your message.

It is also important to keep your supporters engaged so that they continue to read your posts and become a part of your campaigns. Consider creating online polls, asking simple questions, or generating stories that encourage comments. To acquire dedicated supporters, they first need to invest their time and heart before they are willing to donate their dollars.

State Your Goal and Your Strategies

 

I think one of the fundamental ways that many organizations fail in the fundraising department is their lack of focus. Donors want to know who they are giving to, that their contribution is making a difference, and that the goal has been reached. Without a tangible focal point, there is no way to feasibly share a success story to show your supporters that you are making great progress for your cause. While your umbrella mission statement may be to save the world, create bite-sized projects with measurable outcomes.

There are hundreds of amazing nonprofits using Fundly, and many successful ones have mastered this point. One example is the SF Goodwill Fund (check out their site: http://fundly.com/sfgoodwill). Their purpose is clearly defined: to help those in need and they are making a difference through their job skills program. Furthermore, they clearly explain the cost of the program and the goals they want to achieve. They have a clear, focused, accessible strategy with step-by-step descriptions of how they are planning on fulfilling their mission.

There are several things to take into account on your website for users to have a positive experience: first of all, what is the basic purpose of your nonprofit?  This can be explained in two to three sentences as an overview. Secondly, what are the practical steps that you are doing to have your work come to fruition?

Describe the project(s) that you are working on now and how this is helping you to further your cause. Thirdly, what credentials do you have that bring credibility and accountability to your charity? Explain your past experiences, training, and evidence to prove that the donations you receive are an investment that will produce a high return.  Next, use success stories and pictures to to share results of your work. Finally, make donating fast and easy such as creating a Fundly donation page. If donors have to search a site for information or if it takes a while to make a contribution, they’ll probably move on.

These may seem like basic ideas, but when the foundation is strong you will have a stable platform for future growth. Spending your time wisely is something every charity needs to master, and online fundraising can produce incredible results. When you build a strong audience and appeal to potential supporters using social media tools, your potential for growth can be monumental.

New Presidential Fundraising Numbers In

It seems like things have quieted down a bit on the presidential election scene for the moment. Is this lull due to the candidates’ and political action committees’ submission of their numbers pertaining to how much they have raised and spent this campaign season? Is this the quiet before the storm as new strategies are created concerning political fundraising?

Reuters posted these incredible numbers this past Saturday which breaks down the incoming and outgoing figures of the aspiring presidential hopefuls and their PAC backers up until March 31. These numbers reflect the FEC filings and include total contributions received along with amount spent regarding operating and independent expenditures.

In the lead with $147.4 million raised is President Obama. His high-priced banquets, online fundraising appeals, and various speaking engagements have won the hearts and dollars of countless Americans. While his PAC, Priorities USA, is far from the lead raising a mere $8.8 million, Obama has shown that his ability to raise dollars is not dependent on others.

In second place is hardly a surprise: Republican candidate Mitt Romney. With $87.5 million raised and $77.5 million spent, Romney is far behind in dollars but not in support. His PAC, Restore Our Future, has been a powerhouse contributor adding $51.9 million to his campaign efforts.

According to CNN Political Editor Paul Steinhauser, the Romney campaign said that 84% of all donations received through the end of last month were $250 or less. The Obama campaign announced that 97% of their donations were for $250 or less.

While the two other Republican candidates have raised considerably less (Newt Gingrich has raised $22.5 million and Ron Paul $35.9 million), their numbers are still quite respectable.

Holly Bailey from The Ticket reports that Romney’s campaign “hopes to raise $500 million in high-dollar donations for the campaign and for the joint fundraising account it has set up with the Republican National Committee. Romney aides hope to bring in another $300 million from small donors—an area where the former Massachusetts governor has lagged during the GOP primary.” It is also estimated that his PAC will raise “$200 million to support his general election bid—bringing the GOP’s overall fundraising target to at least $1 billion to defeat Obama.”

In response, “Obama aides estimated the president would raise at least $750 million for his re-election bid—though that total is now likely to be far more given that Obama has signed off on several Democratic super PACs to raise and spend millions to help him win a second term… Obama enters the general election with a major fundraising advantage. Through February, Obama had raised nearly $160 million for his re-election campaign—not including another $126 million he’s raised for a joint fundraising account between his campaign and the Democratic National Committee.”

The numbers are high and continue to grow. With a little over six months until the election, it will be interesting to see the tactics used in the attempt to secure the Oval Office. Undoubtedly more events, debates, and social media fundraising are in the future.

Can YouTube Be Successful for Online Fundraising?

I confess that I am one of the millions that watch stupid videos on YouTube. From angry oranges with awkwardly shaped human mouths to sappy kid tunes to occupy my toddler, YouTube has worked its way into our entertainment arsenal as much as the television and Facebook. However, can this newer medium in the world of technology actually be useful towards online fundraising goals? How could it not?!?!

Last night I attended a board meeting and we were discussing strategies to get our mission more attention. I obviously touted the wonders of social media fundraising and the vast potential that Facebook has to connecting to more donors. We excitedly made a bare bones plan to incorporate more time and effort into this area, but one board member sat quietly in the corner and didn’t share our enthusiasm. When I asked his opinion about this topic, he commented that it felt too impersonal. Where was the human interaction and emotion? Everyone seems so connected to their media devices that we ignore the people that are in front of us.

This is a valid point and one that many nonprofit leaders share. However, with a limited amount of time and resources, social media can be a bridge between the needs of an organization and the giving power of a donor. YouTube is one such avenue to stay connected to supporters. I think this is a perfect way to have people near and far take a tour of your facility, attend events and outreaches and to hear the passion of the leadership through a simple video. You don’t need expensive cameras, editing equipment or directorial experience to create a powerful, heartfelt video clip.

YouTube is currently adding features to aid nonprofits to easily adapt to this platform. With live video streaming, image stabilization, light-filtering tools to help users clean up cell phone video, branding capabilities, and different resolutions to accommodate various internet connections, they are providing the tools to create quality videos with minimal time and skills needed.

Fundly has also tapped in to the power of YouTube by allowing users to view video directly on their donor page. There is something compelling about seeing highlights from a walk-a-thon to help a cancer patient or hearing a supporter explain why they are passionate about a cause. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then how much is a video worth?

3 Big Fat Reasons to be Fundraising on Fundly

Every nonprofit has three basic needs to fill in order to survive: know-how, resources, and passion. Finding the right people and tools to fill these gaps is essential, especially when it comes to the task of fundraising. Online fundraising is a concept that has developed over the past years, however, the concept of “social fundraising” is fairly new.  Social media networks are a great set of tools anyone can take advantage of…
and they’re free. Leveraging social media to expand online fundraising efforts with Fundly provides you with a platform to use social media effectively and gather your resources and passion behind your cause, so that you can reach your goals.

Here are 3 big fat reasons to use Fundly to drive your online fundraising potential:



1) Fundly makes fundraising online simple, effective and fun!!!  No, seriously… Starting a campaign page on Fundly is easy, and until you’re actually raising money, it’s free.  Since it only a takes a few minutes, there’s no reason you can’t have a little fun and check it out!  Your fundraising page is ready to share from the moment you sign-up.  Fundly’s user-friendly interface makes it quick to customize your page by adding video and photos, choosing your fundraising goal and giving levels, and writing a description about your cause… And it’s exciting to see the final result!

The experience is even more engaging for your donors and gives them a chance to be recognized. It only takes a minute for your donors to contribute to your cause by a click of the ‘Donate’ button and give with ease with Fundly.  Once they’ve donated, there are several ways for them to engage and feel like they are a part of the overall effort.



2) Donors turn into fundraisers.  When a stranger asks for money, it’s easy and probable for people to answer “no, thanks.” When a friend asks for money, there is a foundation and level of trust in the relationship which usually produces a positive response like, “sure, I’d love to!”  This is the basic idea of social fundraising and Fundly helps your organization reap the benefits in two ways.  First, when a donor contributes to your cause through Fundly, their giving action can be posted to their Facebook and Twitter profiles to share with their network of friends, family, and colleagues. Now, not only are they bringing attention to your cause, but sending a call to action to their entire social network. The average person has well over 100 friends on Facebook and now you have over 100 potential donors.  Secondly, your donors also have the option to launch their own fundraising page under your campaign and set their own goals.  This empowers them to fundraise for the cause and they’re now motivated to achieve their own goal, adding to your donation yield.  Your givers are now your gatherers!



3) Online donation yields can increase by as much as 52% on Fundly!  Regardless of the cause or size of your organization, current statistics prove that online giving is increasing ever year.  Launching a campaign on Fundly could increase your donation revenue by as much as 52%, as proven by a case study campaign on Fundly. Also, according to a recent study released by M+R Strategic Services and the Nonprofit
Technology Network (NTEN) entitled the “eNonprofit Benchmarks Study”, they have  found that from 2010 to 2011 online giving increased 20 percent. That is a tremendous amount of growth and fundraising revenue.  Furthermore, the average one-time online gift was $62 and the average monthly gift was $20. These dollars quickly add up!  And Fundly is confident that as social media networks grow and continue to build into the routine of our daily lives, nonprofits will see online giving potential increase even more in the next year.

In all, online fundraising is here to stay. Fundly has taken out what has made it time consuming and complicated so you can do what you do best: run your nonprofit and strengthen support for your cause.

Branding Your Nonprofit in the Age of Social Media

If you interviewed a panel of consumers, undoubtedly most would be able to identify Nike by its swoosh, Disney by its three circles forming Mickey Mouse’s head and Microsoft Windows by its four-colored waving flag. Branding and marketing go hand-in-hand; not just in the marketplace but also for non-profit fundraising.

Rahim Kanani, contributor to Forbes Magazine, had an informative interview with Nathalie Kylander, adjunct lecturer in public policy at Harvard University’s John F.

Kennedy School of Government and a research fellow at Harvard’s Hauser Center for Nonprofit Organizations. Kylander, along with Hauser Center Faculty Director Christopher Stone, are authors of an in-depth research study on the role of brand in the nonprofit sector. With more than a decade of nonprofit branding research to her credit, Kylander brings some useful insight to the subject.

First of all, why is branding so important to a nonprofit organization? Kylander explains that, “traditionally, brand was essentially viewed as a communication and fundraising tool, but we found that a new paradigm was emerging where brand was increasingly being considered in a strategic way, fundamentally anchored in the mission and values of an organization and critical at every step in the theory of change of an organization.

“We also found that the role that brand played internally was as critical to many of the organizations we interviewed, as the external role of the brand. Internally, a strong brand drives cohesion and helps an organization build the capacity and skills to implement its social mission. Externally a strong brand results in trust among its many constituents, be they donors, beneficiaries, partners, or otherwise, which enables the organization to have greater impact. However, what makes a brand strong is the close alignment between internal brand identity and external brand image, what we call brand Integrity.”

Can your donors easily identify your brand? Does your logo fully symbolize your cause? When constituents see your organization, what values and goals do they associate with it? “A brand is a psychological construct held in the minds of all brand audiences, a promise, a short-cut for decision making if you will. Strong brands in both sectors enable organizations to build trust, gain resources, and establish partnerships and access” explains Kylander.

A strong brand is needed especially when using social media networks for online fundraising. With Twitter’s shorthand and Facebook’s overwhelming traffic, a reliable brand makes the difference between a glance at your comments and a click on the “donate” button. Let Fundly help you create a free fundraising website today that can expand your social media fundraising and promote your organization’s brand!

Do High Numbers of Facebook Fans Equal High Numbers of Voters?

The other day on TechPresident.com, Micah L. Sirfry discussed the interesting argument on whether or not the media is inflating the impact that social media is having on the upcoming presidential election.

From followers “liking” candidates on Facebook to online fundraising contributions, is the action on the web really influencing the race to the Oval Office? Does every person on Twitter equate to a ballot submitted on Election Day?

Sirfy states that, “Politics isn’t only about voting; it’s more deeply about organizing to get and keep power. And the evidence that social media is helping organized groups get more power–sometimes more than their raw numbers might get them at the ballot box–is staring us in the face.”

At Fundly, we would have to agree with Sirfy. At the end of the 2010 election cycle, 120 political customers were using Fundly to raise money and currently our numbers show 10 times that amount. The campaigns have ranged from local races to the presidential efforts of Rick Santorum, Mitt Romney and a Newt Gingrich PAC. Candidates also successfully raised $71 million for the 2010 midterm elections.

Now let’s move beyond dollars. Sirfy brings up the interesting point that the nomination for the Republican presidential candidate is still up in the air in large part because of the role that social media is playing in creating factions among the conservative party. There are dozens of groups on Facebook that are backing the politician of their choice and there is even a social network that has more than 168,000 users who are largely beyond the control of any Republican organization.

In an ironic turn of the internet, not only is technology bringing more people of like-mindedness together, it is dividing the GOP. While the Republican Party is getting a ton of press for the Super PACs that are changing the landscape of political fundraising, an arsenal of small donors are also equipping the candidates with the funds to pursue the office of Commander in Chief. “On Fundly, a social fundraising site, the Rick Santorum page has nearly 3,000 donors who have built personal fundraising pages generating an average of about $80 each. By contrast, Romney has two donors who have created personal fundraising pages on the site, one of whom is his son Tagg” sites Sirfry.

So let’s get back to the original question at hand: do high numbers on Facebook equal high numbers of voters at the polls?

When so many people have invested their time, finances and opinions concerning the political scene, I can’t imagine them abandoning the cause at the apex of the battle.

Read the TechPresident.com article here: How Social Media is Keeping the GOP Primary Going

Event Fundraising? 5 Tips to Make it a Hit

I can’t remember a time when my dad wasn’t on some board to help the homeless or that involved a ministry. When I became a teenager my parents started toting me along to various fundraising banquets and I would paste on a smile and present a firm handshake. Then when I needed a job I accepted the position as Special Events Coordinator at a local mission. From golf tournaments to banquets to toy giveaways, I learned the ropes of event planning. Next I moved on to work at a symphony where I continued planning events such as fashion shows, intimate concerts at donor’s homes and supporter meet-and-greets. Here are five tips that I’ve learned over the years:

1) Plan, plan, plan – The first vital step is to create a firm foundation for your event. What is your goal for the event and who do you want to attend? Who are the most important people on your guest list and what dates are they available? Next, pick a date that doesn’t coincide with other local charity events that may vie for your donor’s attentions and that doesn’t land too close to any holiday or sporting event.

2) Timelines are your best friend – Once you’ve established a date, guest list, “tone” for your party (ex. formal, casual, intimate, etc.), create calendars and timelines detailing every aspect for your event. The calendar should have drop dates for Save the Date cards (if necessary for a large event); when the invitations should be designed, approved, sent, and RSVP deadline; when to meet with caterer or facilities coordinator; meetings with the event committee, and all of those things on your to do list. Also, create a “day of” timeline accounting for every minute of the event day from set up to the presentation itself. For example, assign times for your set up crew to arrival, guest arrival, salad served, main course served, MC introduces your CEO, video presentation, etc. When you’re well organized things will go much smoother.

3) Leave them wanting more – Many non-profits leaders are so passionate about their project that they want their guests to catch that same fire by giving endless examples of how they’ve helped people and what is in store for the future. That is great information for special events, but stop way before your guests start to check their watches and their coffee gets cold. From guest arrival to “Thank you for coming,” your typical event should last no more than three hours tops.

4) You’ve got to spend money to make money – Your event is a reflection of your organization and many times you have this one chance to meet donors or future supporters face to face. If you run out of food or have cheap appetizers, your guests will not have a good experience with your non-profit. Spend a little more or invite fewer guests to ensure that you can provide the quality that puts your best foot forward. It’s the lasting impression that counts.

5) Relationships – This is by far the most important point! Make each guest feel welcomed and appreciated. It’s the human touch that creates a partnership and a lasting relationship. Have your leadership team and staff spread out and talk to as many people as they can. Thank each guest for coming and tell them you value their sacrifice and support. Be genuine and caring.

Special events are a great way to fundraise and build a foundation for a strong relationship with your donors. Once they’ve committed to your cause, keep the momentum going through social media fundraising and encourage them to share your message with their friends. Although you may not see instant returns on your effort, special events are a high investment, high return.

Social Media for Nonprofits Conference Equips Non-Profits with Social Media Skills

More than any other moment in history, now is probably the best time to be a non-profit. Within minutes you can reach a massive donor base, share you vision, and generate donations all with a device as small as an iPhone or at a coffee shop armed with a laptop. I believe we are just tapping into the potential of social media fundraising, and Fundly is proud to support the SM4NP conference in San Francisco on November 4, 2011. With amazing speakers, intriguing presentations and time to connect with other non-profit leaders, this conference promises to be a valuable asset to the future of online fundraising.

Craig Newmark, founder of Craigslist, is sure to be one of the many highlights in this conference. He recently created craigconnects.org to advance philanthropy and public service. Approximately 40.8 million people visit Craigslist per month, so I am sure he has some great insight to share on creating a successful website and generating traffic.

I am honored to be one of the speakers at this exciting event and I can’t wait to share my presentation with you. “Social Fundraising 101: How to Jump Start Your Social Fundraising” will equip your non-profit with the guidelines and tools to make the most of the technology that is already at your fingertips. We have helped many non-profit organizations, charities, politics, schools, clubs, teams, groups, and many other causes to raise over $225 million using Fundly’s online fundraising platform and we would love to assist your organization, too.

From using Facebook and LinkedIn to engaging volunteers to use Social Media, the SM4NP conference is sure to touch on many valuable subjects to elevate your non-profit in the social media world. The staff at Fundly is eager to participate in this amazing event and we would love to see you there!

Implementing a Social Media Policy

I’d be hard pressed to create a list of ten people who didn’t have a Facebook, Twitter or e-mail account. This method of communication has become so commonplace and vital to social networking. However, many companies and organizations are neglecting to create parameters of professionalism for this newer media. Benjamin Franklin stated that “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Here are some guidelines that you may want to adopt as you create your social media policy.

First of all, what is the mission of your organization and how is social media going to aid in the advancement of your goals? Every word typed, every comment posted, each tweet sent into the cyber world is a reflection of your non-profit. Whether it be on behalf of your cause or during personal time, your employees are a reflection of your company.

Several months ago there was a story in the media pertaining to nursing students who took pictures of their lab work (which involved human specimens) and they posted their pictures on Facebook… bad move.

There was a controversy on whether or not these students should be expelled from their nursing program. I think the lesson learned is that with social media the lines are blurred between private life, public life and professionalism. Be sure your sins will find you out… especially if you post them for the world to see; use discretion.

I think another issue to consider is that what is said in conversation may not be appropriate for social media networks. It’s easy to say that someone misunderstood what you said, but with technology you’ve just created tangible evidence. Choose your words carefully.

The next topic is to give credit where credit is due. Consider copyright laws and common courtesy.
Most of these seem obvious, but all are worth consideration. Sharlyn Lauby has a great article on this topic on mashable.com if you’d like more information on creating a social media policy for your organization. It’s worth the time and energy to make sure everyone is on the same page.

Implement your policy and create and promote a rewarding social media fundraising today using Fundly and raise money online quick and easy for your cause.

How to Help Your Non-Profit Group Thrive in a Struggling Economy

It’s no secret that many non-profit organizations are feeling the bite of a starved economy. It’s terribly ironic that as the funds seem to decrease, the number of people who need help is vastly increased. So how are some agencies able to not only keep their doors open, but expand?

The Huffington Post reporter Gabrielle Cannon wrote an interesting article concerning how the recession is impacting many charities. Cannon explains, “In a new study released by the Nonprofit Finance Fund (NFF), an organization that surveyed nearly 2,000 nonprofit organizations, 87 percent report the decline in the U.S. economy continues to impact their operations… This figure is largely attributed to the increase in demand for nonprofit services, as an upswing in unemployment, poverty, and government budget cuts, resulting from the recession, have put added pressure on nonprofits.”

There are several ways that non-profits are readjusting their spending and fundraising to accommodate these changes. “According to the Guidestar report, nonprofits facing limited resources to meet looming increases in demand have had to find new strategies, like partnership, to increase efficiency… [They also] diversify funding streams, focusing on outcome based programs that are more attractive to foundations,” writes Cannon.

Another way that organizations are continuing to bring in funds is through online giving. Last year alone online giving increased by 77%. With natural disasters such as the tsunami in Japan and the earthquake in Haiti, online giving was highlighted as the best way to aid the victims in these tragedies. Cannon reports that, “The study showed that peer-to-peer fundraising   and social media shaped this growth, in addition to increases in online response for disaster relief.”

“Non-profits in the US raise over $300 billion a year. Only 13% of this is being raised online, but large non-profits are growing online fundraising 56% per year. Plus, social media platforms like Fundly   enable non-profits to turn donors into fundraisers for their cause, which has the potential to grow this even more”, said Darian Rodriguez Heyman, co-producer of Social Media for Non-Profits  .

The best way to keep the funds flowing in a tough economy is to make it easy to give, get your message out using social media and use specific examples of how your organization is changing lives. Most important: never underestimate the generosity of your donors!

Hands On New Orleans Social Media

Watch this excellent entry to Fundly’s Social Fundraising Video Contest  .

HandsOn New Orleans

Since Katrina and Rita, HandsOn New Orleans has mobilized over 25,500 volunteers to provide over 614,000 hours of service to the community.

The Mission: HandsOn New Orleans transforms communities through volunteer service and leadership development.

The Vision: HandsOn New Orleans envisions Greater New Orleans as a hub of civic-minded individuals that take action through service to meet critical community needs.

Start up your own community fundraising   campaign using Fundly today! Gather volunteer support, accept donations online  , and do some social good for your community… it’s easy with Fundly.

Will social media savvy non-profits grow their online fundraising 10x faster than the industry average?

Photo by Philipp Roth.

Social media engagement and social fundraising for non-profits are so new that it is hard to know exactly how big its impact will be on the bottom line. Time will tell, but many leading non-profits believe that social media will be transformative: that it will change the way they connect with and empower its supporters and ultimately, how and from whom they raise money.

One of our interns at Fundly interviewed 13 non-profits on the topic of social media fundraising. All organizations interviewed were early adopters of social media. We asked about their expectations for growth in online fundraising supported by social fundraising tools.

All of these organizations look to social media to engage more frequently and more deeply with volunteers and supporters, without adding additional burden to an overworked staff.  Several of these organizations are turning to social media to form the backbone of massive capital campaigns to the tune of $50 million or more.  For the purpose of our thought experiment, we excluded these “XXL non-profits” from the below calculations, leaving us with fundraising predictions from nine non-profits. While the data collected from these nine is of course not statistically significant, the results do raise interesting questions for further research. So we decided to share the results with you here regardless.

On average, these nine non-profit organizations interviewed raised $302,800 online in 2010.  The median online raise in 2010 was $216,000.

The nine non-profits all predicted dramatic growth for their online fundraising efforts in 2011: an increase between 94% and 156% in 2011 as compared to 2010.

The industry average increase in online fundraising is 16% to 56% per year, as reported in the 2010 Online Giving Report.  This means that the social-media-savvy group could be growing its online fundraising efforts between two and ten times faster than the industry average.

Of course this is only anecdotal evidence at best and a broader sample and survey are required to draw any conclusions, but I am left to wonder: will social media savvy organizations indeed outperform their peers in 2011?

We are interested in your thoughts! Please share them with us here or e-mail me at dboyce at fundly dot com.

In the meantime, sign up for your free trial of Fundly’s social media engagement tools here.
Dave Boyce, CEO Fundly

Success Metrics for Social Fundraising

Go beyond the status quo … and discover how to measure, analyze, and extract useful information from your social media fundraising metrics! Use precise measurements to figure out what drives your fundraising   numbers. This fabulous 30-minute webinar is packed with tips and ideas to help you sift out what matters and what doesn’t.

Click on the image below for access to the content.



Here’s just a bit of what we cover:

• Why most people don’t know if their social media fundraising   efforts are working
• What causes you to waste your time on the wrong measurements
• How to measure the effectiveness of your social fundraising efforts
• 6 metrics you need to take a long, hard look at
• The basics of ROI
• Guidelines for understanding the age-old myth of correlation vs causation

How to summarize social fundraising in one picture?

The Silicon Valley Education Foundation, The Red Cross Silicon Valley and Fundly hosted a lunch ‘n learn last week for non-profits to talk about social fundraising. We will hopefully blog about this more – as the discussion was truly inspiring and we all learnt something new from each other.  However, for now, a summary in one picture (or: one introductory slide and one picture):

 

 

social fundraising and volunteer fundraising: the social multiplier

 

 

 

the difference between list marketing and social network marketing

Sometimes a picture or two say more than a thousand words.

But for those who like words we will expand in a future post.