Nonprofit Marketing Guide

AUGUST 7, 2009

As you may know, I am in the middle of writing the full-length, printed book version of Nonprofit Marketing Guide, to be published in Spring 2010 by Jossey-Bass. As I was writing various chapters on both strategy and tactics, I realized that I was making choices about what to include and what to leave out based on my own set of assumptions about the world that nonprofit communicators are working in.

Marketing 217

Marketing Marketing Public and Social Policy Public and Nonprofit Management 217

Selfish Giving

AUGUST 13, 2009

Powerful presentations are the backbone of most successful cause marketing pitches. Whether you’re talking to one person or a hundred, the ability to speak compellingly, sincerely and briefly can be a deciding factors in earning a company’s cause business. I have no doubt that speaking well has made a huge difference in my success. Representing a small, relatively unknown hospital in Boston requires not only better ideas than our competition, but also the eloquence to make them glow

Marketing 211

Marketing Marketing Energy Communication 211

Get Fully Funded

AUGUST 11, 2009

This just in from the world of the weird and unbelievable - -. Development Director for a small nonprofit providing housing to families in need speaks to donor who has been supporting annual golf tournament for the past several years. Man wants to give extra money this year, but wants it ALL spent on the tournament , to promote his business, and openly admits this. “Don’t spend any of the money on ‘those’ people.

Nonprofits 85

Nonprofits 85

Fundraising Coach

AUGUST 31, 2009

Recently, I’ve been asked how to use Twitter. I’ve already written on Twitter for Fundraising and Twitter for nonprofits. But these questions were much more “tactical,&# how-to type questions so I thought I’d share with you what I’ve been telling folks. The questions work into 3 basic categories: What do you use to tweet?

Fundraising 83

Fundraising Fundraising Nonprofits 83

Speaker: Amanda Adams, Fractional CFO, CPA

Are you ready to elevate your accounting processes for 2025? 🚀 Join us for an exclusive webinar led by Amanda Adams, a seasoned fractional CFO and CPA passionate about transforming back-office operations for finance teams. This session will cover critical best practices and process improvements tailored specifically for accounting professionals.

Finance

The Agitator

AUGUST 31, 2009

Back in July, Mark Dolliver wrote this terrifically insightful article in Adweek regarding marketing to today’s age 65+ consumer. [Sorry, I'm just catching up to this, thanks to a mention by the Boomer Project.]. Dolliver refers to this group as the Silent Generation (born 1925-42), sandwiched between a group whose life-shaping — and well-told story — involves the Depression, and the Boomers, who have never lacked a voice in pop culture (and all matters!).

Marketing 72

Marketing Marketing Advertising Values 72

Sea Change Strategies

AUGUST 6, 2009

As long as I have been doing fundraising the “is direct mail dead” question has arisen with great regularity. Interestingly, the question is always raised by direct mail fundraising consultants — and the answer is always unsurprisingly “no.”. Clouding the situation from the other side are the over-optimistic claims from the Internet world that it’ll all be online in a matter of a few years.

Non-Profits 61

Non-Profits Communication Fundraising Fundraising 61

Selfish Giving

AUGUST 27, 2009

I really don’t unplug on vacation. I don’t like to disconnect from my gadgets or my work. I like to have my two sidearms, my iPhone and cause marketing, on at all times, thank you very much. So it’s not surprising that after spending time in Hyannis on Cape Cod last week I came home with a few cause marketing lessons–captured on my iPhone no less!

Marketing 188

Marketing Marketing Advertising Associations 188

Get Fully Funded

AUGUST 20, 2009

Thanks to my friend Sherry Truhler at Red Apple Auctions , I found out about a cool contest for nonprofits this morning. 3banana is sponsoring the contest. Basically, you try out their online product then ask people to comment on Twitter on why your cause should win. The contest is called Share to Win. Grand prize is $5,000! “Share to Win is a fun contest we put together to help health, environment and education-related non-profit causes who want to push the boundaries of the social inte

Non-Profits 75

Non-Profits Health Education Education 75

Fundraising Coach

AUGUST 23, 2009

Have you heard about Twestival ? In one day last February, people all over the globe used Twitter to organize fundraising events that raised $250,000 for charity:water. Well it’s back! This time it’s Twestival Local. Hundreds of teams around the world will be raising money for hundreds of local charities. Even if you’re not one of these fortunate charities, I’d encourage you to get involved.

Fundraising 69

Fundraising Fundraising Nonprofits 69

The Agitator

AUGUST 12, 2009

No, says e-marketer Loren McDonald. Here’s an abridged list of what Loren says the successful email marketer really needs to know [with my comments from the peanut gallery]: 1. Email strategy — know how to create an email marketing plan and program that maximize the channel’s capabilities. [Always happy to see strategy at the top of a list like this.]. 2.

Activism 72

Activism Marketing Marketing Communication 72

Speaker: Radhika Samant and Todd Wuestenberg

Employee recognition has often been deemed a "feel-good" initiative, tied closely to rewards. While we understand its importance, we tend to associate recognition with intangible outcomes like engagement and sentiment, rather than direct impacts on retention and high performance. In today’s workplace, the true ROI of recognition lies in its ability to regenerate tangible, business-driven results.

Retention

Getting Attention

AUGUST 12, 2009

Dog-days-of-summer reminder ==> Effective communications has shifted radically from the megaphone model. These few weeks, when the work world is far quieter than normal, is a great time to begin shifting your org's communications model (if you haven't already). Do it now, so your org isn't left behind. Here are three strategies to ensure your organization works this all-voices-have-equal-weight conversation to its advantage.

Leadership 58

Leadership Activism Communication Nonprofits 58

Nonprofit Marketing Guide

AUGUST 17, 2009

I read “ Trust Agents &# by Chris Brogan and Julien Smith this weekend. It’s about, as the subtitle says, “Using the Web to Build Influence, Improve Reputation, and Earn Trust.&#. I’m talking about these concepts in the book I’m writing on nonprofit marketing, so I wanted to see how what Chris and Julien advocate for the business community might translate to the nonprofit world.

Nonprofits 187

Nonprofits Marketing Marketing Values 187

Selfish Giving

AUGUST 4, 2009

Last week I was part of a group of Boston cause marketers David Hessekiel from Cause Marketing Forum pulled together to discuss the field. It was a lot of fun, and I think we all learned something from each other. In addition to my own organization, there were reps from The Jimmy Fund , Oxfam , Pine Street Inn , Children’s Hospital , Project Bread and The Home for Little Wanderers.

Marketing 133

Marketing Marketing Children Food 133

Get Fully Funded

AUGUST 12, 2009

Video is the rage these days. It’s fairly easy to produce and distribute (through YouTube). With a Flip camera or an iPhone you can capture video quickly and have it available on your website or blog in no time. Think about the implications! We’ve known a picture is worth a thousand words. So, what is a video worth? As you ponder that, check out this great (and short) video about Suzanne Falter-Barnes who recently lost her Twitter account.

Fundraising 75

Fundraising Fundraising 75

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Management

Fundraising Coach

AUGUST 25, 2009

As fundraisers, we know we are most effective at our job when we’re talking to prospects one-on-one. Isn’t it amazing how seldom we do it? I’ve been doing this for years but I’m still amazed at how easily we get caught up in writing case statements, designing fundraising letters, refining development strategies…all things we can do from our desk.

Fundraising 67

Fundraising Fundraising Public and Nonprofit Management Management 67

The Agitator

AUGUST 17, 2009

Writer and occasional fundraising consultant Ken Burnett has been struggling lately with Twitter. In this blog post , reproduced below with permission, he vents his frustrations and offers a solution. I thought you might enjoy his tribulations. Or as Ken asks: Is it time for Twitter Elite? Or is Twitter suicide the only option? I took some persuading to even try Twitter.

Children 71

Children Universities Communication Activism 71

Care2

AUGUST 17, 2009

We love watching organizations take video into their own hands. The beauty of online video is that people are more interested in compelling content and stories than fancy camerawork. Pretty pictures can go a long way, but they’re not always necessary. For those organizations jumping into video on their own, we’ve provided 5 ways to save money and do it right. 1.

Energy 64

Energy Marketing Marketing Nonprofits 64

Nonprofit Marketing Guide

AUGUST 11, 2009

Print newsletters have been the default communications tactic for nonprofits forever. Even though I now believe the default should be an e-newsletter, and we are seeing more and more nonprofits drop their print newsletters in favor of email , print still remains an important tactic for many organizations. If you decide that sending a print newsletter or other print communications really is the best approach for your audience and for your organization, consider these five steps to reduce your c

Marketing 169

Marketing Marketing Public and Nonprofit Management Communication 169

Speaker: Joe Sharpe and James Carlson

Payroll optimization can be one of the most time-consuming and complex factors of small business management. Yet, organizations that crack the code on streamlining employee compensation often discover innovative avenues for growth. With the right strategies in place, outsourcing and streamlining payroll processes can result in substantial time and resource savings.

Foundations

Nonprofit Marketing Blog

AUGUST 13, 2009

Today I had the privilege of presenting to communications, marketing and development staff of Children’s National Medical Center. While I was preparing for my talk last week, I visited their website. And I was blown away. I’m always being asked, what is an example of a great nonprofit website? Theirs is certainly one of them. Check out their give page here.

Medical 47

Medical Children Communication Marketing 47

Get Fully Funded

AUGUST 8, 2009

Last Thursday, I had the privilege of speaking at the Tennessee Valley Fundraising Institute in Chattanooga. It was a great event with over 100 fundraising professionals in attendance. I’m always on the lookout for interesting things at these sorts of events and saw something I wanted to share with you. At lunch, each round had a beautiful single sunflower in a vase as a centerpiece with this card: What a great way to decorate the table and promote a local nonprofit at the same time!

Fundraising 75

Fundraising Fundraising Nonprofits 75

Getting Attention

AUGUST 17, 2009

I'll be back September 1st to launch voting for the 2009 Getting Attention Nonprofit Tagline Awards, and share more nonprofit marketing guidance with you! Looking forward to seeing you then! All the best, Nancy. Tags: Nonprofit Communications.

Communication 45

Communication Marketing Marketing Nonprofits 45

The Agitator

AUGUST 13, 2009

To a communications or fundraising professional, "what is relevant" to my target audience or prospect is — or should be — the threshold question. Relevance to the receiver — not you the sender — is what determines whether your message or appeal has the remotest chance of penetrating the media clutter, as well as all the conscious and unconscious "screens" that the receiver has installed to manage their limited attention span.

Marketing 67

Marketing Marketing Communication Values 67

Speaker: Tim Sarrantonio, Director of Corporate Brand

Is your organization ready to build a recurring giving program that not only sustains but also propels your mission forward? 🚀 In this new webinar with industry visionary Tim Sarrantonio, we’ll guide you through the critical steps to establishing and scaling a successful recurring giving program. Whether you’re starting fresh or enhancing an existing program, this session will provide the strategies you need to deepen donor relationships and secure long-term support!

Nonprofits

Care2

AUGUST 18, 2009

If you’ve ever made an online video before, you know the level of work that goes into it. But creating a compelling video is just the beginning of the process. Getting your video seen—and by the right people—takes just as much work, if not more. Crossing your fingers that your video will “go viral&# is a bad idea for a number of reasons , not the least of which is that you learn absolutely nothing about what works and what doesn’t.

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Nonprofit Marketing Guide

AUGUST 10, 2009

I’m devoting a chapter in the upcoming “Nonprofit Marketing Guide&# book (available Spring 2010) to time. One of my 10 realities of nonprofit marketing is that it takes more time than money to do it well. This particular chapter is only about half-written, so please help me finish it! What are some of your favorite ways to save time, manage your time, or otherwise work more efficiently on nonprofit marketing?

Communication 146

Communication Public and Nonprofit Management Nonprofits Management 146

Nonprofit Marketing Blog

AUGUST 10, 2009

Maybe I’m missing something, but I really dislike this campaign, called Tappening (sounds like a straight-to-video horror movie). More like a nonprofit marketing horror. Even though I’m a fan of the creative people behind it, I’m giving it two thumbs down. Here’s the idea : Spread lies about where bottled water comes from to show that bottled water marketing is a lie.

Psychology 42

Psychology Environmental Marketing Marketing 42

Get Fully Funded

AUGUST 11, 2009

This just in from the world of the weird and unbelievable – -. Development Director for a small nonprofit providing housing to families in need speaks to donor who has been supporting annual golf tournament for the past several years. Man wants to give extra money this year, but wants it ALL spent on the tournament , to promote his business, and openly admits this. “Don’t spend any of the money on ‘those’ people.

Nonprofits 70

Nonprofits 70

Speaker: Radhika Samant and Adri Glover

The world of work has fundamentally changed. The series of waves that the pandemic began have rippled through the Great Resignation, quiet quitting, the Great Regret, and other eloquent phrases that boil down to the same thing: people aren’t engaged at work or enabled to perform at their best. The truth is that engagement and enablement is more important than ever, but how we do it is the critical differentiator for many organizations.

Activism

Fundraising Coach

AUGUST 31, 2009

Recently, I’ve been asked how to use Twitter. I’ve already written on Twitter for Fundraising and Twitter for nonprofits. But these questions were much more “tactical,&# how-to type questions so I thought I’d share with you what I’ve been telling folks. The questions work into 3 basic categories: What do you use to tweet?

Fundraising 40

Fundraising Fundraising Nonprofits 40

The Agitator

AUGUST 16, 2009

Here’s a great story from the Washington Post about young people — ages like 11, 12, and 13 — and their fundraising activities. Zach Bonner set out to help homeless kids in his area of Florida. Now his Little Red Wagon Foundation has generated 27 trailer trucks of aid, received a $25,000 check from Elton John, and is the focus of a $5 million film.

Philanthropy 61

Philanthropy Altruism and Helping Volunteerism Volunteerism 61

Care2

AUGUST 21, 2009

This year, YouTube has really increased its offerings, giving the producer more control and opening possibilities for more interactive video. If you want to get the most out of your YouTube videos, look into the following tools and functionality. 1. Insight. You wouldn’t judge your website’s performance by traffic alone, so why judge your video just by views?

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Nonprofit Marketing Guide

AUGUST 31, 2009

Jason Dick at A Small Change is the host of this month’s Nonprofit Blog Carnival , a monthly roundup of goodness from the nonprofit blogosphere, where this month’s topic is A Day in the Life of a Nonprofit Fundraiser. Check it out and add to the discussion by leaving a comment about what your days look like. Thanks for hosting, Jason! Next month the Carnival travels to Getting Attention with Nancy Schwartz.

Fundraising 141

Fundraising Fundraising Marketing Marketing 141

Speaker: Igli Laci, Strategic Finance Leader

In today’s competitive market, pricing is more than just a number — it’s the cornerstone of profitability. The right pricing strategy ensures that you capture the true value of your offering, paving the way for sustainable growth and long-term success. Join Igli Laci, Strategic Finance Leader, in this exclusive session where he will explore how a well-crafted pricing approach balances customer perception with business objectives, creating a powerful tool for securing both competitive advantage a

Finance