I’ve been to more fundraising
banquets than I can count. From homeless shelters and families in
crisis to building programs and disaster relief, I think I’ve eaten my
share of salty sauced chicken and soggy roasted vegetables. Not that I
don’t enjoy these events, but they can all seem to run together.
However, two weeks ago I went to one banquet that clearly stands out
among the rest.
I think what was so amazing about this organization and so memorable
about this event was the sincerity and intimacy of it. With only 200
guests, this was one of the smaller banquets I’ve attended. The guest
list wasn’t composed of the largest donors, just those who were there
from the beginning and were most dedicated to the cause. This event was
held to celebrate the organization’s 15th anniversary and
over 45 million needy and impoverished served. I think I spoke to every
director present and had a real conversation with each one.
On the Association of Fundraising Professional’s
website, they touch on a similar topic. It’s not about gaining donors
and accessing their wallets; it’s about earning the trust and dedication
of people who can partner with your mission. “People do not want to be
seen simply as sources of funds. More and more the people we call
‘donors’ are looking to be much more: volunteers, service providers,
advocates… Even through their giving alone donors are looking to connect
with a cause. The money is more than money; it is an expression of
their very selves. It is those ‘selves’ that nonprofits need to get
better at understanding.”
Here are some recommendations that the AFP suggests to transform donors into partners:
Redefine relationships from donor relationships to individual relationships.
Re-orient toward longer term measures of fundraising performance.
Enhance focus on retention and building supporter loyalty.
Develop a more integrated approach to fundraising.
Break down organizational silos and encourage greater collaboration between teams.
Give supporters greater control over the relationship.
Promote the development of shared back office facilities.
Tackle high turnover rates in the fundraising profession.
Educate all stakeholders about the necessity of a longer term and integrated approach.
I think the banquet I attended earlier in the month was a great
example of what the AFP advices. It wasn’t the fanciest, it didn’t have
the most eloquent of speakers, and they didn’t even make an ask for
donations. It was a genuine thank you to their partners and I will
continue to donate my time and yes, my funds, to help this organization.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Non-Profits Continue to Get Creative With Fundraising
With tight budgets these days (was there ever a time when a non-profit didn’t have a tight budget?), many charities are getting creative with their fundraising
methods. From focusing on individual donors rather than corporations,
to virtual participants in various activities, non-profit leaders are
definitely thinking outside the box.
With corporations tightening their belts and foundations limiting their grant funding, charities are pursuing creative ways to appeal to new donors. The Washington Post tells how many of their local charities are expanding their vision and changing their fundraising efforts. This was my favorite: “In a YouTube video clip, a middle-aged man with brown hair demonstrates how he can recline on his sofa watching a baseball game and at the same time participate in an upcoming charity walk to raise funds for N Street Village, a women’s homeless shelter… He’s virtual walking, he explains.”
With technology being in the advanced state that it’s in, I don’t see why we don’t use the resources that are available more often. YouTube can be great if you have an upcoming banquet: interview your guests, document your speaker and share the event with those who couldn’t attend. YouTube can also be a valuable tool to explain what your charity does on a day to day basis and shows your donors how their funds are being used.
The Washington Post also reports that, “A recent survey by the Center for Nonprofit Advancement illustrates the financial turmoil roiling Washington area charities: More than half that responded are seeing demand rise for their services, with nearly half of those grappling with a 10 to 50 percent drop in revenue. Nearly 60 percent said they have responded to the funding gaps by cutting salaries or staff.”
With Fundly, your non-profit fundraising initiatives don’t have to face the same detriment that many other organizations are struggling with. Through social media you could reach thousands of new donors and stay in contact with those who are already passionate about your cause. With the ease of giving online and your cause at the forefront of their contacts, your donors will be able stay connected. By using social media creatively, you can increase your revenue with little cost.
With corporations tightening their belts and foundations limiting their grant funding, charities are pursuing creative ways to appeal to new donors. The Washington Post tells how many of their local charities are expanding their vision and changing their fundraising efforts. This was my favorite: “In a YouTube video clip, a middle-aged man with brown hair demonstrates how he can recline on his sofa watching a baseball game and at the same time participate in an upcoming charity walk to raise funds for N Street Village, a women’s homeless shelter… He’s virtual walking, he explains.”
With technology being in the advanced state that it’s in, I don’t see why we don’t use the resources that are available more often. YouTube can be great if you have an upcoming banquet: interview your guests, document your speaker and share the event with those who couldn’t attend. YouTube can also be a valuable tool to explain what your charity does on a day to day basis and shows your donors how their funds are being used.
The Washington Post also reports that, “A recent survey by the Center for Nonprofit Advancement illustrates the financial turmoil roiling Washington area charities: More than half that responded are seeing demand rise for their services, with nearly half of those grappling with a 10 to 50 percent drop in revenue. Nearly 60 percent said they have responded to the funding gaps by cutting salaries or staff.”
With Fundly, your non-profit fundraising initiatives don’t have to face the same detriment that many other organizations are struggling with. Through social media you could reach thousands of new donors and stay in contact with those who are already passionate about your cause. With the ease of giving online and your cause at the forefront of their contacts, your donors will be able stay connected. By using social media creatively, you can increase your revenue with little cost.
New Report on Philanthropy Recommends Different Fundraising Tactics
A new report was published by Blackbaud, Inc. on MarketWatch.com
which presents some surprising results. This report entitled “Growing
Philanthropy in the United States” suggests that charitable funding has
stagnated over the past four decades. We all know that donor’s pockets
don’t seem to be as deep as they used to be, so we just need to find
more pockets, right? However, this report also has some surprising
recommendations to help non-profits increase their funding.
Co-authored by Adrian Sargeant and Jen Shang of Indiana University, the report is presented by Indiana University, Blackbaud, Hartsook Companies, and Hartsook Institutes for Fundraising and is based on research from the Growing Philanthropy Summit. “Despite an increasing effort on the part of nonprofits, individuals today give no more than their predecessors did over four decades ago,” said Adrian Sargeant, co-author of the report and Hartsook Professor of Fundraising, Indiana University. “Forty years of increasingly sophisticated fundraising practice, the development of planned giving vehicles, the appearance of the Internet, and the rise of new digital channels have done nothing to move the needle on giving. Yet, while giving has remained static, demands on the sector have not.” According to Giving USA, in the United States, charitable giving is estimated to be around two percent of average household disposable income.
While giving levels may not have increased, I think that a huge factor in the giving process is the accessibility for donors to make their contributions. For example, if a person has allocated two percent of their income for charity, will they donate to an organization where they have to search for information, address an envelope and write a check or will they be more willing to give to someone they are connected to on Facebook with a link to give online? Of course a major factor in this equation is history and emotional connection, but with Fundly, many of our donors have seen an increase in their giving numbers.
According to the report, leaders in this study recommend that charities need to change by “shifting the focus in fundraising practice away from technique toward the encouragement of individual philanthropy; Redesigning the structure of fundraising education, particularly for more senior practitioners; The creation of a research institute that would focus solely on fundraising research and adding value for donors; The development of a public educational initiative that would dispel common myths about the way the sector operates and thus enhance the public trust.”
Personally I find it rather discouraging that the majority of people give only two percent of their income to philanthropy, but I also think that charities need to work smarter, not harder at gaining donor support. Accessibility and consistent connections will keep your donors tied in.
Co-authored by Adrian Sargeant and Jen Shang of Indiana University, the report is presented by Indiana University, Blackbaud, Hartsook Companies, and Hartsook Institutes for Fundraising and is based on research from the Growing Philanthropy Summit. “Despite an increasing effort on the part of nonprofits, individuals today give no more than their predecessors did over four decades ago,” said Adrian Sargeant, co-author of the report and Hartsook Professor of Fundraising, Indiana University. “Forty years of increasingly sophisticated fundraising practice, the development of planned giving vehicles, the appearance of the Internet, and the rise of new digital channels have done nothing to move the needle on giving. Yet, while giving has remained static, demands on the sector have not.” According to Giving USA, in the United States, charitable giving is estimated to be around two percent of average household disposable income.
While giving levels may not have increased, I think that a huge factor in the giving process is the accessibility for donors to make their contributions. For example, if a person has allocated two percent of their income for charity, will they donate to an organization where they have to search for information, address an envelope and write a check or will they be more willing to give to someone they are connected to on Facebook with a link to give online? Of course a major factor in this equation is history and emotional connection, but with Fundly, many of our donors have seen an increase in their giving numbers.
According to the report, leaders in this study recommend that charities need to change by “shifting the focus in fundraising practice away from technique toward the encouragement of individual philanthropy; Redesigning the structure of fundraising education, particularly for more senior practitioners; The creation of a research institute that would focus solely on fundraising research and adding value for donors; The development of a public educational initiative that would dispel common myths about the way the sector operates and thus enhance the public trust.”
Personally I find it rather discouraging that the majority of people give only two percent of their income to philanthropy, but I also think that charities need to work smarter, not harder at gaining donor support. Accessibility and consistent connections will keep your donors tied in.
Nextdoor opens to a new frontier of social media
A new social network called Nextdoor launched and joined the recent trend of hyper-local social networks.
Nextdoor describes itself as a place where you can “meet neighbors, get recommendations for local services, and learn about neighborhood events.” Not to worry, Nextdoor offers a secure website for all members to verify that they live in the neighborhood they say they do.
An intrigued friend of mine decided to join the network the day it launched. After entering her address and e-mail address, she was informed that no one had launched Nextdoor in her neighborhood yet, but they would notify her when they did.
Surprised, she wondered why she couldn’t launch the network. She read on to a wanted ad for “one motivated neighbor” who could be the “founding member” of Nextdoor in her neighborhood.
She considered it, but she is a busy person and realized she might not be the community leader (the head of the H.O.A. or a P.T.A. parent, Nextdoor suggests) that Nextdoor was looking for. Though my friend was a little disappointed she could not easily launch her local social network the moment she wanted to, Nextdoor is smart to be selective about its Founding members.
This social networking site, like so many others, has tremendous potential. Nextdoor realizes that this potential is best tapped by strong leaders. Technological tools are only as strong and effective as those who use them, and a community-minded leader is just the person to use these tools well.
Like Nextdoor’s cutting edge social media network, Fundly’s social fundraising platform has tremendous potential to reach out to community. The community-minded leader of your organization is just the person to look into opening a free account with Fundly today. Check us out!
Nextdoor describes itself as a place where you can “meet neighbors, get recommendations for local services, and learn about neighborhood events.” Not to worry, Nextdoor offers a secure website for all members to verify that they live in the neighborhood they say they do.
An intrigued friend of mine decided to join the network the day it launched. After entering her address and e-mail address, she was informed that no one had launched Nextdoor in her neighborhood yet, but they would notify her when they did.
Surprised, she wondered why she couldn’t launch the network. She read on to a wanted ad for “one motivated neighbor” who could be the “founding member” of Nextdoor in her neighborhood.
She considered it, but she is a busy person and realized she might not be the community leader (the head of the H.O.A. or a P.T.A. parent, Nextdoor suggests) that Nextdoor was looking for. Though my friend was a little disappointed she could not easily launch her local social network the moment she wanted to, Nextdoor is smart to be selective about its Founding members.
This social networking site, like so many others, has tremendous potential. Nextdoor realizes that this potential is best tapped by strong leaders. Technological tools are only as strong and effective as those who use them, and a community-minded leader is just the person to use these tools well.
Like Nextdoor’s cutting edge social media network, Fundly’s social fundraising platform has tremendous potential to reach out to community. The community-minded leader of your organization is just the person to look into opening a free account with Fundly today. Check us out!
Social media: a galaxy of learning opportunities
“Social media exposes us to a galaxy of dots, and through education
with can provide students with the tools to begin the connection
process.”
In a recent blog for Social Media Watch, Aran Levasseur made a compelling case for the educational use of social media.
Aran sites a study out of Harvard that shows that students one of the greatest factors in a student’s success is their ability to participate in study groups.
This study is consistent with psychologist Lev Vygotsky’s theory of social constructivism. We learn from and with each other. By design, social media is one tool that has tremendous potential to enhance learning.
Through social media, a class can increase opportunities for interaction with each other. The learning domain transcends the classroom walls. There are also thousands of opportunities for teachers to network with other teachers and learners online.
Social media also allows teachers to better connect with their students. In a recent piece for The Chronicle of Higher Education, Theresa Billiot writes about her positive experience using Twitter with an online class: “For my part, Twitter not only helped me to forge a stronger connection with my online students, but it also allowed me to help improve the academic work of all my students, online and on campus, in a new, interactive way.”
How should schools best use social media? Schools around the nation are struggling with this question and the answer is certainly different for each school and each level. Colleges such as Brown University and Boston University have turned to Google Apps. Many high schools, including Moreau Catholic High School in Hayward, Calif. have followed suit and “gone Google.” Other schools have turned to Wikispaces and WordPress as platforms for online communities.
The galaxy is big – but when the dots are connected – social media can strengthen and build intimacy within a community.
Check out Fundly’s social fundraising platform, and make us a part of your galaxy today.
In a recent blog for Social Media Watch, Aran Levasseur made a compelling case for the educational use of social media.
Aran sites a study out of Harvard that shows that students one of the greatest factors in a student’s success is their ability to participate in study groups.
This study is consistent with psychologist Lev Vygotsky’s theory of social constructivism. We learn from and with each other. By design, social media is one tool that has tremendous potential to enhance learning.
Through social media, a class can increase opportunities for interaction with each other. The learning domain transcends the classroom walls. There are also thousands of opportunities for teachers to network with other teachers and learners online.
Social media also allows teachers to better connect with their students. In a recent piece for The Chronicle of Higher Education, Theresa Billiot writes about her positive experience using Twitter with an online class: “For my part, Twitter not only helped me to forge a stronger connection with my online students, but it also allowed me to help improve the academic work of all my students, online and on campus, in a new, interactive way.”
How should schools best use social media? Schools around the nation are struggling with this question and the answer is certainly different for each school and each level. Colleges such as Brown University and Boston University have turned to Google Apps. Many high schools, including Moreau Catholic High School in Hayward, Calif. have followed suit and “gone Google.” Other schools have turned to Wikispaces and WordPress as platforms for online communities.
The galaxy is big – but when the dots are connected – social media can strengthen and build intimacy within a community.
Check out Fundly’s social fundraising platform, and make us a part of your galaxy today.
Donor Retention Strong for Non-Profits
Are we becoming more compassionate by nature or are non-profit
marketing tools becoming more effective at donor retention? When a
plethora of news articles and business reports state that the economy is
still on the feeble side, in an ironic turn of events many charitable
organizations are only getting stronger.
In a report recently published by the Fundraising Effectiveness Project, more non-profits gained new donors or re-established a relationship with past donors than the amount of donors they lost. “The FEP, a report of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and the Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy at the Urban Institute, compares gains and losses of donors and donation amounts. More than just a look at total revenue and the total number of donors to a given organization, the FEP indicates year over year growth by comparing how many new donors are acquired with how many stopped giving, and the donation levels of each…Organizations saw an average net increase of 1.7 percent in the number of donors. This compares favorably to a -3.2 percent average net loss of donors in 2009.”
Although donation levels are not at the rate that they were at during previous years, the numbers are rising steadily. “For every $5.35 that organizations gained in gift dollars in 2010, $5.54 was lost through donor attrition, for an average net loss of -1.9 percent… In 2009 there was a much steeper average net loss of -17.7 percent (a median net loss of -8.1 percent).”
It is also interesting to note that organizations that raise over $500,000 had an increase of 8% net gain. Organizations that brought in between $100,000 and $500,000 had a net gain of 2.3% and organizations under $100,000 had a net loss of -12.2%. The greatest increase in giving came from new donors and the greatest losses were due to donors who once gave and chose not to that year.
So what do these numbers tell us? It is of the upmost importance to retain the donors you already have. It costs less time and money to motivate people who already know about your cause and have given than to inspire a new group of individuals. Rather than getting random funds, nurture the relationships you have. A onetime gift of $100 is still less than someone who gives $10 a month for five years. Plus the longer they give the more likely they are to volunteer, share the passion for your charity with friends and become a greater advocate for your cause.
Want to maximize your donor acquisition and retention for your non-profit and increase your donations? Create a free account on Fundly today, and utilize our social fundraising tools to increase your organization’s success.
In a report recently published by the Fundraising Effectiveness Project, more non-profits gained new donors or re-established a relationship with past donors than the amount of donors they lost. “The FEP, a report of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and the Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy at the Urban Institute, compares gains and losses of donors and donation amounts. More than just a look at total revenue and the total number of donors to a given organization, the FEP indicates year over year growth by comparing how many new donors are acquired with how many stopped giving, and the donation levels of each…Organizations saw an average net increase of 1.7 percent in the number of donors. This compares favorably to a -3.2 percent average net loss of donors in 2009.”
Although donation levels are not at the rate that they were at during previous years, the numbers are rising steadily. “For every $5.35 that organizations gained in gift dollars in 2010, $5.54 was lost through donor attrition, for an average net loss of -1.9 percent… In 2009 there was a much steeper average net loss of -17.7 percent (a median net loss of -8.1 percent).”
It is also interesting to note that organizations that raise over $500,000 had an increase of 8% net gain. Organizations that brought in between $100,000 and $500,000 had a net gain of 2.3% and organizations under $100,000 had a net loss of -12.2%. The greatest increase in giving came from new donors and the greatest losses were due to donors who once gave and chose not to that year.
So what do these numbers tell us? It is of the upmost importance to retain the donors you already have. It costs less time and money to motivate people who already know about your cause and have given than to inspire a new group of individuals. Rather than getting random funds, nurture the relationships you have. A onetime gift of $100 is still less than someone who gives $10 a month for five years. Plus the longer they give the more likely they are to volunteer, share the passion for your charity with friends and become a greater advocate for your cause.
Want to maximize your donor acquisition and retention for your non-profit and increase your donations? Create a free account on Fundly today, and utilize our social fundraising tools to increase your organization’s success.
Friday, June 15, 2012
How Will You Thank a Teacher This Year?
Teaching has to be one of the hardest occupations in the world. As a former high school teacher myself, I realize that this job truly is one of high risk and high reward. The full classrooms, budget cuts, and variety of student and parent personalities can really take a toll, but eyes lit up with understanding, a simple “thank you,” and a legacy of promise certainly is a reward unto itself. More than just a job, teaching is a calling to touch the future and to better humanity. So how does one show appreciation to those so dedicated and self-sacrificing?
An apple motif is charming and traditional, but there are only so many name placards, paper weights, and #1 Teacher chotckies a desk can hold. However, the gifts that always meant the most to me is when a student would pick it out himself, not when mom shopped and wrapped it up perfectly. A card written with handwritten words of gratitude, a stuffed bear paid for by a hard earned allowance, or homemade cookies would have me smiling all day.
My sister is currently a sixth grade teacher at a private school and some of the parents there collect $5 from each student to purchase a gift certificate for coffee or to a favorite restaurant. For my nephew’s teacher, last year a group of us painted her classroom and made art for the walls with her theme of “the State of California.” Another favorite idea is when a few of the parents get together and make lunch for all of the teachers during a teacher work day and their kids serve the meal and clean up.
With school funding being so tight these days, I think another way to make sure that a teacher is appreciated is to ensure that he or she has all of the supplies they need for their classroom. An online fundraising page with Fundly can allow parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents and friends to donate to the school fundraisers without having to purchase high-priced wrapping paper or calorie packed cookie dough through traditional fundraising. A well stocked library, efficient computers, art supplies and other educational resources make life much easier for any educator.
Not only do these ideas help the teachers, but it also instills an attitude of gratitude for the students who sit in the desks. So how will you thank a teacher this year?
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