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'Do you struggle to find time in your workday to actually sit and think? To plan for what are strategically the best new moves for your organization? Is it a badge of honor to NOT use vacation days, or to work late into the night, every night? To respond to emails as soon as they arrive in your inbox, at all times of day and night? I’ve been hearing stories like these for a long time in the nonprofit world, but as I mentioned last week, we heard many more during the session on work-life ba
'Spring is finally here, and after the winter we’ve had in Boston, it’s about time. Spring is a time for new beginnings. It’s a time to clean up, throw stuff out, and make room for improvements. Many of you may take on spring cleaning projects in your home. Here are a few spring cleaning projects you can do that will benefit your nonprofit organization.
'Anyone who has ever posted, shared, retweeted, pinned, or tumbled an infographic has first hand experience of how popular and poweful infographics can be online. Communicating your data and calls-to-action in visual format is smart strategy. However, you can have an exceptionally well-designed, useful infographic, but if its not compatible with social media and mobile devices, then it’s unlikely to gain traction.
'I like John Fulwider. His energy, optimism, and experience make a powerful force for helping nonprofits. I suppose this is in part because of his expertise with Gallup''s StrengthsFinder. He knows every organization and every leader has strengths and he''s skilled at building on them. His new book Better Together: How Top Nonprofit CEOs and Board Chairs Get Happy, Fall in Love, and Change Their World is a great example of that!
Your financial statements hold powerful insights—but are you truly paying attention? Many finance professionals focus on the income statement while overlooking key signals hidden in the balance sheet and cash flow statement. Understanding these numbers can unlock smarter decision-making, uncover risks, and drive long-term success. Join David Worrell, accomplished CFO, finance expert, and author, for an engaging, nontraditional take on reading financial statements.
'Confirming rumors that have been circulating for some time, the organizers of GivingTuesday announced late last night that this year’s event, slated for December 1st, has been canceled. Knowledgeable sources with close ties to the GivingTuesday Founders Council revealed to The Agitator that a new event — RandomWednesday — would be launched as the replacement.
'We hear this question often: Should we be branding each of our individual programs, or trying to create one single “umbrella” brand under which all our programs can live? Many nonprofits have named programs that are better known than the organization that runs them. If a program is popular – having a lot of name […].
'Image credit: https://flic.kr/p/7HCgw9. Hashtags and advocacy go together like peanut butter and jelly. The hashtag distills an issue into an instant, searchable sound bite that can not only travel far, but fast. MomsRising is a nonprofit that uses hashtags right – consistently, persistently, with focus. I asked MomsRising Director of Social Media Strategy and Blogging Anita Jackson ( @anita_sarah ) to tell me more about MomsRising’s use of hashtags for its two regular weekly Twit
'Image credit: https://flic.kr/p/7HCgw9. Hashtags and advocacy go together like peanut butter and jelly. The hashtag distills an issue into an instant, searchable sound bite that can not only travel far, but fast. MomsRising is a nonprofit that uses hashtags right – consistently, persistently, with focus. I asked MomsRising Director of Social Media Strategy and Blogging Anita Jackson ( @anita_sarah ) to tell me more about MomsRising’s use of hashtags for its two regular weekly Twit
'In college basketball, players are allowed to turn pro after playing one season. This is known as one-and-done. If you watch the NCAA tournament (aka March Madness), it’s likely that many of the players won’t be around next year. I’m not a fan of one-and-done. I think players should stay in college longer. I’m also not a fan of one-and-done in fundraising, but it seems to happen a lot.
'Working at a nonprofit often pays less than the for-profit sector, but the perks of extended vacation time, flex time, and the personal satisfaction of having a meaningful professional life can outweigh the financial downside of building a nonprofit career. And the good news is that 2015 is predicted to be a great year for nonprofit sector hiring thanks to a rebounding economy.
'Dear Marc, Help!! My board wants to do ANOTHER fundraising event! We''re already doing 10 events a year. How can I tell them we don''t have the resources to do another one? Stressed in San Diego. My Answer. Dear Stressed, Oh no! I definitely feel your pain! I think your board is living out the "when the only tool you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail" truism.
'As I emphasize repeatedly in my book, Retention Fundraising , over the long haul, Lifetime Value (LTV) is the most significant measure for benchmarking and steering your fundraising efforts. In fact, as Charlie Hulme, head of DonorVoice’s U.K. operation, puts it, “Unless you believe you’ll find the cure/right the wrong/feed every child with your next appeal, it’s unethical not to focus on lifetime value.
Traditional budgeting and forecasting methods can no longer keep pace with today’s rapidly evolving business environment. Static budgets, rigid annual forecasts, and outdated financial models limit an organization’s ability to adapt to market shifts and economic uncertainty. To stay ahead, finance leaders must leverage a future-forward approach—one that leverages real-time data, predictive analytics, and continuous planning to drive smarter financial decisions.
'With so many resources to read and review, keeping up with nonprofit marketing and fundraising insight can be a little overwhelming. Never fear, we’ve collected the cream of the crop in this week’s round up. Could a single point of failure devastate your organization? Mazarine Treyz takes a look at how can your nonprofit become less fragile. via Wild Woman Fundraising.
'Peter Panepento. Last month, Peter Panepento challenged nonprofits to Stop Approaching PR Like It’s 2007. This month’s he’s back to share more about how you can best reach your audience and cultivate relationships with the media. ~Kivi. Guest Post by Peter Panepento of Panepento Strategies. You probably wouldn’t expect Bob Dylan to draw inspiration from Frank Sinatra.
'You have a message you want to send. Easy enough, right? But today people are barraged with information coming at them from all different directions. How can you stand out and get your audience’s attention? What do you want to achieve. A popular discussion on LinkedIn over the last couple of months asked the question “When you write a communication what’s the first thing you consider?
'The reports listed below are just a small sampling of some of the research available to nonprofits on the subjects of online fundraising and social media. The data can be used to help your nonprofit craft a technology and fundraising strategic plan. If you would like to suggest a report be added to the list, please post the name and a link to the report in a comment below.
Speaker: Tim Sarrantonio, Director of Corporate Brand
Do you really know your donors? Not just what they give, but who they are? 👥 In this interactive session, we’ll break down how nonprofits can use behavioral indicators (affinity, recency, frequency, and monetary value) to build prospecting segments that go beyond wealth screening and actually align with donor identity. You’ll walk away with practical strategies to move beyond basic demographics and cultivate supporters based on how they already engage with you!
'Each week, I send out a coaching email to nonprofit CEOs , Executive Directors, and leaders. These Fundraising Kicks are quick emails designed to help them get out from behind their desk and in front of donors. Often they have scripts or task lists. Sometimes they contain attitude adjustment reminders. Here''s one I wrote for today. It will definitely help in your fundraising this week.
'Unfortunately, not every nonprofit can afford to hire accomplished copywriters and designers to prepare their fundraising messages. I wish everyone could, because there’s an enormous bank of know-how out there, and there’s no real substitute for it … fundraising copywriting and design is a craft. But the fact is, in many — if not most — nonprofits the task of preparing fundraising appeals falls to the same untrained person juggling numerous other tasks … or e
'We counsel our clients to repeat, repeat, repeat: Get a good message and stick with it—in print, digital, and spoken communications. In fact, we often say that someone needs to hear a message 14 times before they will take action based on that message. I recently went looking for the original source material for that […].
'Don’t shoot yourself in the foot! I hear it all the time from nonprofits: Our e-newsletter doesn’t work. Direct mail doesn’t work for us. Social media doesn’t work for us. When I probe a little deeper, what people often mean is that their communications don’t seem to be motivating people to do what the nonprofit wants, whether that’s donating money, signing up to volunteer, or registering for an event.
Payroll compliance is a cornerstone of business success, yet for small and midsize businesses, it’s becoming increasingly challenging to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of federal, state, and local regulations. Mistakes can lead to costly penalties and operational disruptions, making it essential to adopt advanced solutions that ensure accuracy and efficiency.
'Generic products can be a great option. When CVS ibuprofen is exactly the same as Advil, why not save some money by going generic? One area where you don’t want to go generic is in your fundraising and communication. Yet so many organizations do. Here are some ways to avoid creating generic communication. Same old same old. Are you sending all your donors the same appeal letter and thank you letter?
'Date: Tuesday, June 16. Time: 1-2:30pm EDT. Cost: Free! How to Register: Sign up. Presented by: Heather Mansfield. View: Complete Webinar Schedule. Based on more than 20 years of experience and 25,000+ hours spent utilizing mobile and social media, Mobile for Good: A How-To Fundraising Guide for Nonprofits is a comprehensive 256-page book packed with more than 500 best practices.
'It’s round up time in the NFG corral! Mosey on over and check out this week’s best nonprofit resources and recommended reads. Why do donors give? Science has the answer. Most of this we’ve covered before, but these principles are important for all fundraisers to keep in mind. via The Guardian. “Philanthropy is a way for people to experience human love.” Don’t miss this great profile of Jen Shang , Professor of philanthropic psychology at University of Plymout
'A recent email to The Agitator urged Roger and me, among other things, to stop pontificating. Wanting to know precisely the crime we were accused of, I consulted the Oxford Dictionary , where I found this definition: Pontificate: Express one’s opinions in a pompous and dogmatic way. Hmmm, I concluded, she must have been talking about Roger. Seriously, it’s true both Roger and I rant and get emotional.
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.
'The February Nonprofit Blog Carnival generated some interesting comments but not many blog posts. The call for posts was for creative ways to celebrate you cause. We seem to be a creative bunch.Many people said they loved this topic. But there weren''t any blog post submitted. In looking around, I did find that the most creative time for nonprofits seems to be around anniversaries.
'Photo Credit: https://flic.kr/p/oQdBuA. Do you break out in a sweat trying to write the first line of your email appeal or advocacy alert? And do you struggle with connecting ideas in your donor communications? . You’re not alone. Even professional copywriters struggle with these all-important lines. If the first thing you say is confusing or dense or boring, chances are very high that your reader will simply move on and never read the rest.
' Guest blogger Stephanie Bowen leads communications and marketing for Mobile Alliance for Maternal Action (MAMA). Howdy y’all! Just back from Austin and this year’s NTEN Conference (#15NTC) , and I’m buzzing with energy from all I learned and those I met. But about halfway through the conference, I felt totally depleted… I was stressed by balancing my work responsibilities, things back home and the many choices I had before me in Austin.
'15-second video interviews are the new elevator pitch. In a world where attention spans are waning, the ability to communicate a message succinctly and on camera is a very valuable skill. While a few individuals succeeded in just one take, most needed two or three takes. Getting your point across verbally in 15 seconds while the camera is recording is much harder than it looks!
Managing HR tasks like payroll, compliance, and employee data can overwhelm small businesses. That’s where a Human Capital Management (HCM) solution comes in. Our eBook, Why Every Small Business Needs an HCM Solution: A Comprehensive Guide , shows how an HCM system automates tedious processes, ensuring your business stays compliant and efficient. You’ll learn how to simplify payroll, eliminate costly errors, and empower your employees with self-service tools.
'Another Friday the 13th? Never fear! There’s nothing scary about these blogs, events, and resources that rose to the top this week. Our friends at Social Media for Nonprofits kick off their new monthly Twitter chat today at 1pm ET. This month’s session focuses on measuring social media for the most impact. Follow along with the hashtag #SM4NPChat. via Social Media for Nonprofits.
'Given a choice, the harder something is to use the less people will use it. The more difficult something is to read the fewer people will read it. Most organizations don’t bother measuring the difficulty donors have in using their online donate pages. Nor do they bother measuring the readability of what they write and stick in the mail. Countless hours and dollars are spent in meetings and on designers creating ‘award winning’ web pages that glow in the dark.
'Acquiring a new donor is just the start. Developing long-term donors who contribute year-after-year should be the goal of any fundraiser. Donor acquisition takes a lot of work. What can you do to improve your donor retention rate? Consider these nine ideas: Say thank you. A “thank you” is one of the easiest things you can do, but it’s often forgotten.
'Greetings from Texas, Y’all! Kristina and I are currently in Austin, TX at this year’s Nonprofit Technology Conference. This morning, Stephanie Bowen, Leili Khalessi, Kerala Taylor and I led a session called Paradox but Possible: Hardcore on Work AND Life. Stephanie, Leili, Kerala, and Kivi. After the session, we heard this statement from about 20 people who were NOT in it: “Oh, I wanted to go to that session, but I decided that would have been more for me personally, and I ne
Speaker: Duke Heninger, Partner and Fractional CFO at Ampleo & Creator of CFO System
Are you ready to elevate your accounting processes for 2025? 🚀 Join us for an exclusive webinar led by Duke Heninger, 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.
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