There are only so many hours in a day and many smaller non-profits
don’t have the luxury of having a social media manager. Between e-mails,
Twitter, Facebook and a website, social media fundraising
can make any CEO exhausted. With limited time and limited resources,
what should you focus on to get the biggest return on your time
investment?
The social media world is obviously vital to the existence of any
non-profit organization. In a world where cell phones and iPads are the
new appendage in the evolutionary process, this is the best and easiest
way to stay connected to your donor base. E-mails are great but if you
send a mass e-letter, you’ll probably get an abundance of responses in
the process which take more time that you have to spare. Twitter is
great for comments and short updates, but there is no depth to it.
Facebook is perfect for sharing pictures and paragraphs but not everyone
is a member.
Of course your website is the 3-D version of your organization and
your spokesperson on the web, but not everyone is going to take the time
to click every tab or read every page. Blogging is great if you have
the passion of a writer and you can really get in depth with your
topics, but will your donors take the time to search out your blogs? So
we’re back to our original question: what genre should you invest your
limited time in to?
On StepbyStepFundraising.com, Gayle Thorsen advises “If you truly
don’t have the staff time to blog at least once a week or make a
Facebook update twice a week, you shouldn’t be considering either
medium… If you do have adequate staff resources, go back to your strategic communications plan to
make this decision. You have to start there—with what you want to
happen as a result of your communications efforts… Each organization has
unique goals and needs, they have to drive your choice. Don’t be
seduced into thinking that because everyone’s on Facebook or
such-and-such an organization has a blog, that you have to do the same
thing.”
Here’s the breakdown: If most of your financial support comes from
individual donors, Facebook is a great way to keep in touch with them.
If most of your support comes from grants and foundations, have a
stellar website with a blog attached. For major events, giveaways and
milestones, send an e-mail from an address that is not your personal one
and delegate an assistant to sort through what’s important and what can
be skimmed over.
Whichever method you choose to implement, social media is an important aspect to non-profit fundraising. Being consistent, detail oriented, informative and heartfelt is the best way to approach this forum.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Stories matter – what’s yours?
I just started Start Something That Matters by Blake Mycoskie, founder of the wildly successful shoe company TOMS.
Blake’s book shares the inspiring story of TOMS and inspires readers to change the world with their own stories.
On a trip to Argentina, Blake became enchanted by the alpargatas, a casual shoe worn by many Argentineans. He traveled around the country to find a shoemaker to partner with and soon discovered that in many villages children were shoeless. No shoes means blisters, sores and infections. Blake knew he had to help. Within months, TOMS became increasingly popular in the U.S.; for every pair sold a pair was donated to a person in need.
The story of TOMS is compelling, and Blake has invested a lot in sharing its story. He recalls the exciting moment he first saw a stranger in TOMS. After complimenting her shoes, she shared the story of the company with him. At that moment, he realized the power of the TOMS story and started traveling the world in an airstream trailer to share it. Driven by a clear mission to give shoes to the shoeless, Blake – and TOMS – have taken the roads by storm.
Blake devotes the second chapter of his book to helping readers find their own story and explains why stories resonate more than facts. People might not know how many calories are in a Subway sandwich, but they will always remember Jared who lost over a hundred pounds on a Subway diet.
Blake says that answering three questions will help you get to the core of your story.
Blake also advises readers to carefully manage their online stories (your Facebook, Flickr or Tumblr pages, for example, should connect to your story) and to “find the influence makers who will love your story. … Sharing your story with someone at the center of a social network will have an exponential effect.”
What is your organization’s story? Share it with the world – and with @Fundly – today!
Blake’s book shares the inspiring story of TOMS and inspires readers to change the world with their own stories.
On a trip to Argentina, Blake became enchanted by the alpargatas, a casual shoe worn by many Argentineans. He traveled around the country to find a shoemaker to partner with and soon discovered that in many villages children were shoeless. No shoes means blisters, sores and infections. Blake knew he had to help. Within months, TOMS became increasingly popular in the U.S.; for every pair sold a pair was donated to a person in need.
The story of TOMS is compelling, and Blake has invested a lot in sharing its story. He recalls the exciting moment he first saw a stranger in TOMS. After complimenting her shoes, she shared the story of the company with him. At that moment, he realized the power of the TOMS story and started traveling the world in an airstream trailer to share it. Driven by a clear mission to give shoes to the shoeless, Blake – and TOMS – have taken the roads by storm.
Blake devotes the second chapter of his book to helping readers find their own story and explains why stories resonate more than facts. People might not know how many calories are in a Subway sandwich, but they will always remember Jared who lost over a hundred pounds on a Subway diet.
Blake says that answering three questions will help you get to the core of your story.
- If you did not have to worry about money, what would you do with your time?
- What kind of work would you want to do?
- What cause would you serve?
Blake also advises readers to carefully manage their online stories (your Facebook, Flickr or Tumblr pages, for example, should connect to your story) and to “find the influence makers who will love your story. … Sharing your story with someone at the center of a social network will have an exponential effect.”
What is your organization’s story? Share it with the world – and with @Fundly – today!
Earlier this month
Earlier this month, Twitter launched @Twitterstories, a series of stories that capture the power of the tweet.
I love that Twitter has developed a place for these stories to be shared. They are great reminders that technology, at its best, is a direct extension of the helping human hand. The best tweets in turn have a special way of anchoring to the human heart.
“Each story reminds us of the humanity behind Tweets that make the world smaller,” Twitter posted on its blog.
These stories come from people around the world, and new ones surface each day. Twitter encourages users to submit their stories to be spotlighted.
One Oregon man describes how a single tweet saved his mother’s small independent bookstore. He used the last $1,000 on his credit card to promise a burrito to anyone who came into the store.
Roger Ebert, the famous film critic who lost his voice after a series of cancer surgeries, writes about how Twitter has helped him find a new voice: “There’s something seductive about it: the stream, the flow, the chatter, the sudden bursts of news, the snark, the gossip, time itself tweet-tweet-tweeting away.”
When Chris Strouth from Minnesota needed a kidney, he put it in a tweet. He got 19 offers within days. He found a compatible donor and now has a new kidney.
The world of social media can be overwhelming, and if we’re not careful, all-consuming. There have been times when we’ve all reconsidered how and why we participate in social networks, but these stories inspire us to keep tweeting.
I love that Twitter has developed a place for these stories to be shared. They are great reminders that technology, at its best, is a direct extension of the helping human hand. The best tweets in turn have a special way of anchoring to the human heart.
“Each story reminds us of the humanity behind Tweets that make the world smaller,” Twitter posted on its blog.
These stories come from people around the world, and new ones surface each day. Twitter encourages users to submit their stories to be spotlighted.
One Oregon man describes how a single tweet saved his mother’s small independent bookstore. He used the last $1,000 on his credit card to promise a burrito to anyone who came into the store.
Roger Ebert, the famous film critic who lost his voice after a series of cancer surgeries, writes about how Twitter has helped him find a new voice: “There’s something seductive about it: the stream, the flow, the chatter, the sudden bursts of news, the snark, the gossip, time itself tweet-tweet-tweeting away.”
When Chris Strouth from Minnesota needed a kidney, he put it in a tweet. He got 19 offers within days. He found a compatible donor and now has a new kidney.
The world of social media can be overwhelming, and if we’re not careful, all-consuming. There have been times when we’ve all reconsidered how and why we participate in social networks, but these stories inspire us to keep tweeting.
Eight social media truths about eight types of top non-profits
Craig Newmark’s craigconnects team has recently released another interesting infographic titled “Who Rules Social Media?”
The info-graphic looks at the influence of non-profits and is a follow-up to the “How the Top 50 Non-profits Do Social Media” infographic. This time, over a two-month period, the craigconnects examined and compared social media activity of top non-profits in eight areas: Animal, Children, Cultural, Disaster Relief, Environment, Health, Military/Vets, and Women.
Here are eight interesting truths about the kings and queens of the non-profit world.
(1) They all use social media.
(2) Animal and Environment non-profits average the most weekly tweets and facebook posts.
(3) Animal, Disaster Relief and Environment non-profits get the most weekly @mentions on Twitter.
(4) People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), CARE and Natural Resources Defense Council are the most talkative on Facebook and Twitter.
(5) Military/Vets are the least talkative on Facebook and Twitter.
(6) Facebook and Twitter users are talking about Women the least.
(7) Facebook and Twitter users are talking about Animals the most.
(8) The words of Animals and Disaster Relief have the greatest impact.
So many non-profits are using social media to get the word out about their causes. We can all benefit by learning from the examples of the top-non-profits. To check out the infographic for yourself, like Craig Newmark’s fan page on Facebook. You should also check out Craig’s recent piece for the Huffington Post about the infographic.
The craigsconnect team has connected with and studied so many non-profits. One thing that almost all of them share? A part-time or full-time social media writer/director.
Fundly can help your non-profit become more social media savvy. Check out our online social fundraising platform today!
The info-graphic looks at the influence of non-profits and is a follow-up to the “How the Top 50 Non-profits Do Social Media” infographic. This time, over a two-month period, the craigconnects examined and compared social media activity of top non-profits in eight areas: Animal, Children, Cultural, Disaster Relief, Environment, Health, Military/Vets, and Women.
Here are eight interesting truths about the kings and queens of the non-profit world.
(1) They all use social media.
(2) Animal and Environment non-profits average the most weekly tweets and facebook posts.
(3) Animal, Disaster Relief and Environment non-profits get the most weekly @mentions on Twitter.
(4) People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), CARE and Natural Resources Defense Council are the most talkative on Facebook and Twitter.
(5) Military/Vets are the least talkative on Facebook and Twitter.
(6) Facebook and Twitter users are talking about Women the least.
(7) Facebook and Twitter users are talking about Animals the most.
(8) The words of Animals and Disaster Relief have the greatest impact.
So many non-profits are using social media to get the word out about their causes. We can all benefit by learning from the examples of the top-non-profits. To check out the infographic for yourself, like Craig Newmark’s fan page on Facebook. You should also check out Craig’s recent piece for the Huffington Post about the infographic.
The craigsconnect team has connected with and studied so many non-profits. One thing that almost all of them share? A part-time or full-time social media writer/director.
Fundly can help your non-profit become more social media savvy. Check out our online social fundraising platform today!
How Large Non-Profits are Implementing Social Media
Why recreate the wheel when others have invented some amazing
designs? There are several large non-profits out there who are using
social media to their advantage and have created strategies into their
fundraising agenda to make the most of this technological format. If it
works for them, why not give it a try?
John Hayden writes on Razoo.com some practices that larger non-profits implement on a regular basis. “The Red Cross has 30 subject matter experts who devote 30 minutes to 2 hours each day engaging on social media around their respective areas of expertise… Elise LaPrade of Conservation International formed a social media team who meets each week to brainstorm content ideas and discuss various issues. Since the ASPCA hired a full-time social media person, they’ve seen significant growth of the Facebook Page and Twitter followers. The American Cancer Society encourages all staff to engage on social media. That might explain why they have so many mentions on Twitter. One factor that successful orgs share in common is that they approach social media strategically. They don’t just wing it.”
Now I know that not everyone can hire a full time social media manager or experts to devote two hours a day to social media, but it is still important to make your organization known using the web. You may want to consider writing one blog a week, posting on Facebook every other day or creating a monthly e-newsletter.
With the holidays coming up, this is the perfect time to advertise and inform your donors of upcoming activities and needs. Are you doing a toy drive? Do you want to suggest that parents adopt a dog for that picture perfect Christmas morning? Do you need volunteers to serve dinner at a senior’s center? Post last year’s pictures on your website or Facebook account to pull at some heart strings. Create an online fundraising website to get people involved while your organization is fresh in their mind. Fundly can help you make online donations easy with the click of a button. If donors hesitate to take action, they probably won’t do it.
It is so important to make a social media plan to use this effective tool to its full impact. While the initial costs are low, the results that could be had are immense. What you put in to it is what you’ll get out of it!
John Hayden writes on Razoo.com some practices that larger non-profits implement on a regular basis. “The Red Cross has 30 subject matter experts who devote 30 minutes to 2 hours each day engaging on social media around their respective areas of expertise… Elise LaPrade of Conservation International formed a social media team who meets each week to brainstorm content ideas and discuss various issues. Since the ASPCA hired a full-time social media person, they’ve seen significant growth of the Facebook Page and Twitter followers. The American Cancer Society encourages all staff to engage on social media. That might explain why they have so many mentions on Twitter. One factor that successful orgs share in common is that they approach social media strategically. They don’t just wing it.”
Now I know that not everyone can hire a full time social media manager or experts to devote two hours a day to social media, but it is still important to make your organization known using the web. You may want to consider writing one blog a week, posting on Facebook every other day or creating a monthly e-newsletter.
With the holidays coming up, this is the perfect time to advertise and inform your donors of upcoming activities and needs. Are you doing a toy drive? Do you want to suggest that parents adopt a dog for that picture perfect Christmas morning? Do you need volunteers to serve dinner at a senior’s center? Post last year’s pictures on your website or Facebook account to pull at some heart strings. Create an online fundraising website to get people involved while your organization is fresh in their mind. Fundly can help you make online donations easy with the click of a button. If donors hesitate to take action, they probably won’t do it.
It is so important to make a social media plan to use this effective tool to its full impact. While the initial costs are low, the results that could be had are immense. What you put in to it is what you’ll get out of it!
Building the Foundation for a Successful Non-Profit
The needs are great in a hurting world and many new non-profits are
starting up to address those who require assistance. Whether it be a
food pantry, after school program, animal rescue society or elderly
assistance, all charities need to build a similar foundation to ensure a
promising future.
The first step is to create a board of trusted and skilled individuals who share the passion for your cause and have different talents to bring to the table. Ideally, find professionals who have a strong financial background, marketing experience, and business acumen along with others who have worked in this area and are willing to get creative with ideas on how to prosper your organization. Creating a strong mission statement will align your board to your vision and bring unity at the get go. Another important thing to consider when selecting your board members is how often you want to meet and if the member can dedicate the time it takes to attend meetings, fundraisers and media outreach events. Financial investment and professional peer influence are also assets that they can bring.
The next step is to create a name, symbol and slogan for your new charity. Being creative is great, but being too creative can cloud the purpose of your organization. This is going to be on every letter, website, staff shirt and promo that you distribute so it needs to be timeless, simple and relevant. Brainstorm a list of names and then double check to see what comes up on the internet. I worked with one non-profit that had to change their name because they didn’t research it enough and found a conflicting cause in another state that had the same name. They had to re-file several forms and reprint stationary which wasted quite a bit of time and money.
Start small, focus on a few goals at a time and do them well. Create a set of long term goals and short term goals and decide the three most important jobs on each list. Develop a timeline to achieve those goals and a plan of attack. For example, you may have the priority of generating a donor list of 200 people and securing a certain amount of funds in your bank account as a short term goal. The long term goal would be to find a building to rent or purchase. Another short term goal could be to help 10 people consistently as part of your outreach. The long term goal would be setting up an afterschool program at several schools.
Once your board, mission statement, name, and goals are established, create a website to spread the word. Use Facebook and Twitter to tell your friends and family about what you’re up to and direct them to the website. You may be working out of your home office, but a stellar website can set the standard of professionalism. It also makes fundraising more convenient and accessible to those who want to contribute.
The first step is to create a board of trusted and skilled individuals who share the passion for your cause and have different talents to bring to the table. Ideally, find professionals who have a strong financial background, marketing experience, and business acumen along with others who have worked in this area and are willing to get creative with ideas on how to prosper your organization. Creating a strong mission statement will align your board to your vision and bring unity at the get go. Another important thing to consider when selecting your board members is how often you want to meet and if the member can dedicate the time it takes to attend meetings, fundraisers and media outreach events. Financial investment and professional peer influence are also assets that they can bring.
The next step is to create a name, symbol and slogan for your new charity. Being creative is great, but being too creative can cloud the purpose of your organization. This is going to be on every letter, website, staff shirt and promo that you distribute so it needs to be timeless, simple and relevant. Brainstorm a list of names and then double check to see what comes up on the internet. I worked with one non-profit that had to change their name because they didn’t research it enough and found a conflicting cause in another state that had the same name. They had to re-file several forms and reprint stationary which wasted quite a bit of time and money.
Start small, focus on a few goals at a time and do them well. Create a set of long term goals and short term goals and decide the three most important jobs on each list. Develop a timeline to achieve those goals and a plan of attack. For example, you may have the priority of generating a donor list of 200 people and securing a certain amount of funds in your bank account as a short term goal. The long term goal would be to find a building to rent or purchase. Another short term goal could be to help 10 people consistently as part of your outreach. The long term goal would be setting up an afterschool program at several schools.
Once your board, mission statement, name, and goals are established, create a website to spread the word. Use Facebook and Twitter to tell your friends and family about what you’re up to and direct them to the website. You may be working out of your home office, but a stellar website can set the standard of professionalism. It also makes fundraising more convenient and accessible to those who want to contribute.
Successful Fundraising Includes Planned Giving
Long ago I saw a T-shirt that said “The one who dies with the most
toys… still dies.” I don’t mean to start this post on a morbid note, but
each one of us is going to have to face our own expiration date. While
in life we strive to make a difference and touch the lives of many, upon
our exit of this earth we can still leave our mark. Planned giving and
legacy societies are becoming commonplace in many non-profits and if you
haven’t created one of these fundraising programs in your organization,
I strongly recommend that you look into it.
While many people are hesitant to give a substantial amount due to future security, a gift determined in a will or bequest is a sound option. In the Miami Herald, reporter Amy Driscoll explores how planned giving is becoming a larger part of donor giving. “For nonprofits and charities struggling through tough economic times, planned giving through legacy societies — programs designed to encourage gifts made through wills, trusts or other means — offer a chance to build strong relationships with donors that will pay off down the line. For donors, the programs establish a way to give in the future even if cash is currently tight.”
I’ve worked with several organizations that are implementing legacy societies into the foundation of their fundraising efforts. Through introducing this program at annual banquets, honoring donors who have designated funds in a will or trust with a plaque, or creating a donor wall in their facilities, many charities are encouraging donors to consider leaving a portion of their assets to futhur the cause that they are most passionate about.
Driscoll writes that donor giving has hit a plateau on many levels but “Charitable bequests… rose an estimated 18.8 percent in 2010, according to Giving USA, which reports annually on charitable trends. Richard Lehrman, a Miami trust and estate planning attorney who is also a member of the steering committee for Leave A Legacy, a project of The Partnership for Philanthropic Planning of Miami-Dade to promote philanthropy, said there has been ‘a slow evolution’ in fundraising, moving away from total reliance on event-oriented annual campaigns and toward planned giving.”
To start this new phase of fundraising, it is of the upmost importance to find a reputable lawyer or CPA to guide you through this process. Once the details are ironed out, the next step is to guide your donors to these professionals so they get sound advice and feel secure with their decision. Investing in donor relationships today can greatly benefit your cause tomorrow.
While many people are hesitant to give a substantial amount due to future security, a gift determined in a will or bequest is a sound option. In the Miami Herald, reporter Amy Driscoll explores how planned giving is becoming a larger part of donor giving. “For nonprofits and charities struggling through tough economic times, planned giving through legacy societies — programs designed to encourage gifts made through wills, trusts or other means — offer a chance to build strong relationships with donors that will pay off down the line. For donors, the programs establish a way to give in the future even if cash is currently tight.”
I’ve worked with several organizations that are implementing legacy societies into the foundation of their fundraising efforts. Through introducing this program at annual banquets, honoring donors who have designated funds in a will or trust with a plaque, or creating a donor wall in their facilities, many charities are encouraging donors to consider leaving a portion of their assets to futhur the cause that they are most passionate about.
Driscoll writes that donor giving has hit a plateau on many levels but “Charitable bequests… rose an estimated 18.8 percent in 2010, according to Giving USA, which reports annually on charitable trends. Richard Lehrman, a Miami trust and estate planning attorney who is also a member of the steering committee for Leave A Legacy, a project of The Partnership for Philanthropic Planning of Miami-Dade to promote philanthropy, said there has been ‘a slow evolution’ in fundraising, moving away from total reliance on event-oriented annual campaigns and toward planned giving.”
To start this new phase of fundraising, it is of the upmost importance to find a reputable lawyer or CPA to guide you through this process. Once the details are ironed out, the next step is to guide your donors to these professionals so they get sound advice and feel secure with their decision. Investing in donor relationships today can greatly benefit your cause tomorrow.
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