Nonprofit Marketing Guide

AUGUST 21, 2014

'It’s the question that thousands of nonprofit communications and development staff will be asked over the next several weeks: What’s our version of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge ? Of course, the real questions behind that are “How come we aren’t raising a bazillion dollars online?” and “Why can’t we get our supporters to make videos of themselves about our cause and share them with their friends?

Universities 276

Universities Philanthropy Culture Marketing 276

Ann Green

DECEMBER 11, 2014

'2014 is winding down and the New Year is just around the corner. I hope you had a successful year. The end of the year is a good time to figure out what worked and where you can make improvements for next year. Here are five ways you can improve your fundraising and communications in 2015. Tell stories. Don’t bore your donors with a lot of facts and statistics.

Communication 257

Communication Fundraising Fundraising Foundations 257

Nonprofit Tech for Good

OCTOBER 27, 2014

'According to Shop.org’s annual Holiday 2014 Pre-Holiday Retailer and Consumer Study , two out of five U.S. consumers started their holiday shopping in October. The study also found that o nline shoppers plan to spend 16 percent more than brick-and-mortar shoppers this holiday season on gifts, decorations, greeting cards, and food. All told, online shoppers expect to spend an average of $931.75.

Retail 111

Retail Ethics Food Nonprofits 111

Fundraising Coach

JUNE 17, 2014

'A while ago, I was invited to be a guest lecturer at Brandeis. As my friend David Mersky was introducing me, I put this question across various social media platforms: RIGHT NOW: Nonprofit people, what marketing tips would you tell a graduate class on philanthropy? I''m guest lecturing at Brandeis right now and would love to show the power of social media.

Marketing 111

Marketing Marketing Non-Profits Advertising 111

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

SEPTEMBER 15, 2014

'Today were adding a valuable, new tool to The Agitator Toolbox. The Donor Commitment Feedback Widget for Nonprofits has been designed, tested and proven by the folks at our sister company DonorVoice and is being given to Agitator readers for: $30/month $0 (Free).

Fundraising 109

Fundraising Fundraising Retention Communication 109

EveryAction

OCTOBER 16, 2014

'A frequent assumption is that social media runs itself, but the “build it and they will come” model won’t yield the engagement or impact that you’re looking for. It’s important to approach social media with a multifaceted strategy for spreading your message and getting the attention of your audience.

Nonprofits 108

Nonprofits 108

Nonprofit Marketing Blog

MARCH 4, 2014

'According to the Association of Fundraising Professionals’ Fundraising Effectiveness Survey Report , 105% of donors gained by nonprofits were offset by lapsed donors. Let that sink in for a minute: for every 100 new donors that came through the door, 105 walked out. Not exactly the growth most nonprofits are looking for. One of the best ways to improve your donor churn rate is to improve your donor communications.

Communication 104

Communication Associations Fundraising Fundraising 104

iMarketSmart

JUNE 24, 2014

'Brian Saber, president of Asking Matters, has spent his career asking for donations on behalf of nonprofits. Now he’s really done it with a cool online test that helps you determine your asking style so you can improve upon it by focusing on your strengths to close more gifts. Try it out here. P.S. – In case you’re wondering how I did… I am a “kindred spirit” (according to the test).

Fundraising 101

Fundraising Fundraising Nonprofits 101

Getting Attention

MAY 8, 2014

'Guest blogger, Julie Brown, is the program director at the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation. Julie is intrigued by storytelling, and the opportunity it offers to inspire donors and volunteers to act. We’ve all seen them: social media pages or websites for grassroots nonprofit agencies that appear to have been designed by a student or a well-intentioned volunteer.

Marketing 94

Marketing Marketing Recruitment Advertising 94

Care2

AUGUST 25, 2014

'Nonprofits have been trying to reach millennials effectively for some time now. Some organizations like Ask Big Questions , a program of Hillel International and Do Something have figured it out, while others are still tailoring their strategies. We took a look at a couple of surveys, from Millennial Impact Research and from the infographic, Everything You Need to Know About the Millennial Consumer.

Advertising 78

Advertising Nonprofits Education Education 78

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

Nonprofit Marketing Guide

JULY 15, 2014

'Communications directors and development directors are not magicians or miracle workers, and yet many executive directors and boards seem to think they should be able to pull rabbits out of hats and turn water into wine. Too often, when I coach communications directors through their daily challenges, I find that their jobs are being made so much harder than they should be because of a handful of leadership failures.

Leadership 249

Leadership Communication Fundraising Fundraising 249

Ann Green

OCTOBER 10, 2014

'Annual reports get a bad rap, and sometimes deservedly so. They’re often these massive, boring booklets filled with mind-numbing text and statistics. It doesn’t have to be this way. Remember, your annual report is for your donors. As you put together your report, think of what your donors will want to read. It’s possible to create an annual report that will dazzle your donors and not put them to sleep.

Homelessness 250

Homelessness Activism Fundraising Fundraising 250

Nonprofit Tech for Good

AUGUST 24, 2014

'In 2013 online giving grew 13.5% according to the Blackbaud Index of Online Giving and 14% according to the Network for Good’s Online Giving Index with small and medium-sized nonprofits are experiencing the largest growth. In addition, charitable giving is at an all-time high in the United States and nonprofits would be wise to invest in upgrades to their online donation service to ensure that they are meeting the needs of today’s online donors. “Donate Now” buttons were laun

Fundraising 111

Fundraising Fundraising Nonprofits Advertising 111

Fundraising Coach

MAY 20, 2014

'Since writing about the exact words to say on your next major gift ask , many have asked me for what to talk about during the meeting, both before and after the ask. What to say to a donor prospect. Here are 5½ things you can say on your next major gift visit: Hi. Having a genuine relationship with a donor significantly reduces any jitters you may experience during the meeting.

Leadership 111

Leadership Fundraising Fundraising Nonprofits 111

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Management

The Agitator

AUGUST 10, 2014

'Editors Note: This is the first of a three-part series on how some politicians and their special interest supporters are attempting to intimidate, discredit and destroy nonprofits that oppose them through the misuse of fundraising regulations. Saturday the 9 th marked the 40 th anniversary of President Nixons resignation for abuse of power and process.

Nonprofit Management 109

Nonprofit Management Management Fundraising Fundraising 109

EveryAction

OCTOBER 31, 2014

'You have just a few hours before your end-of-the-day office costume contest and evening Halloween festivities, but have no idea what to be. Well, we have your back. For the ultimate procrastinator, we''ve got 6 nonprofit costume ideas that you can do with (almost) no planning at all.

Nonprofits 106

Nonprofits 106

NonProfit Hub

MARCH 3, 2014

'Online fundraising garners millions in charitable giving for the nonprofit industry every year, but there are so many options it can be difficult to find the right online donation tools for your organization. Here are some of our favorite online donation tools, with an emphasis on widgets and donate buttons. They are all both easy for donors to use and affordable for nonprofit fundraising at all levels. 1.

Technology 77

Technology Associations Production Management 77

Nonprofit Marketing Blog

MAY 6, 2014

'[Editor’s note: We’re very excited to announce that Nancy Schwartz will be a regular columnist for Network for Good’s Nonprofit Marketing Blog. Twice each month, Nancy will share her expert tips and insight on communications, marketing, and sector trends. Enjoy!]. As a fundraiser, you aim to change how people perceive your organization’s work and cause, then motivate them to give.

Participation and motivation 95

Participation and motivation Values Marketing Marketing 95

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

iMarketSmart

SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

'I think “grit” is more important than talent or skill. Grit is courage, strength of character and “stick-to-it-ive-ness.” Here’s a neat test to determine your grittiness thanks to someone at the University of Pennsylvania. CLICK HERE. I got 4.63 out of 5 putting me in the 90th-99th percentile. How about you? LIKE THIS BLOG POST?

Universities 95

Universities Fundraising Fundraising 95

Nonprofit Marketing Guide

JULY 10, 2014

'Here’s yet another great example of how remaking your tired old traditional annual report into something more modern can reap great rewards. Paula Watson-Lakamp, Communications Manager at Poudre River Public Library District , shared how they pared down their 32-page (!!) annual report into an infographic that created more member engagement, especially on social media.

Public and Nonprofit Management 247

Public and Nonprofit Management Nonprofits Communication Management 247

Ann Green

NOVEMBER 13, 2014

'Thanksgiving is a time when we show gratitude to the special people in our lives. Do you extend this same gratitude to your donors? Sometimes it doesn’t seem that way. Nonprofit organizations tend to treat thanking their donors as an afterthought. But you need to spend just as much time thanking your donors as you do on fundraising. Here are some ways you can create an attitude of gratitude.

Recruitment 246

Recruitment Retention Communication Fundraising 246

Nonprofit Marketing Guide

JUNE 30, 2014

'Danielle Gates. Here’s the latest installment in our series on the “Day in the Life” of nonprofit communicators, where we ask you to describe your day in your own words. Danielle Gates is the communications assistant for the marketing and communications department at RedRover. She supports the team through social media, copywriting and design, and embodies RedRover’s values of being ever-vigilant and ready to spring into action.

Communication 244

Communication Public and Nonprofit Management Nonprofits Management 244

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

Nonprofit Marketing Guide

OCTOBER 8, 2014

'At a recent workshop with more than 200 nonprofit board and staff members, we did an exercise where board members shared what they secretly wanted staff to know on yellow notes, and staff shared what they wanted board members to know on pink notes. Today and tomorrow, I’ll share the most popular messages with you, starting today with what board members wish they could say to staff.

Communication 242

Communication Marketing Marketing Nonprofits 242

Nonprofit Marketing Guide

NOVEMBER 18, 2014

'More than 800 nonprofits have completed our 2015 Nonprofit Communications Trends Report Survey (please take it now if you are not one of those 800+). Here’s some preliminary data. We asked you to put eight social networks in “order of importance to your nonprofit’s communications strategy in 2015.” This is what that ranking looks like as of today: Which social networks will be most important to nonprofits in 2015 (preliminary data from the 2015 Nonprofit Communications

Nonprofits 240

Nonprofits Communication 240

Ann Green

NOVEMBER 5, 2014

'Do you feel as if nonprofit organizations care about you as a donor? Sometimes it seems like they don’t. Some organizations brag too much about themselves. I recently received an appeal letter from an organization that specializes in cancer research and treatment. In the first two paragraphs, they emphasize how they’re “a leading force in caring for adults and children battling cancer.” That they’re a world leader in cancer research and ranked number one…

Children 240

Children Communication Nonprofit Organizations Nonprofit Organizations 240

Ann Green

OCTOBER 28, 2014

'Many of you are busy with your year-end fundraising campaign. Even if you mail your appeal letter, a bunch of people will donate online. If you’re sending out reminders by email and social media, you’ll also include a link to the donation page on your website. Is your donation page ready for an onslaught of online donors? Find out by asking yourself these questions.

Fundraising 240

Fundraising Fundraising 240

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

Ann Green

SEPTEMBER 3, 2014

'Ready or not, it’s September. Where did this summer go? Fall is a busy time, especially if you’re doing a year-end appeal. Many nonprofits rely on their year-end appeal for a good portion of their revenue. There’s a lot to do to, so here are some tips to help you get started. How much money do you need to raise? You may have already set a goal in your 2014 fundraising plan (at least I hope you did) and perhaps you need to revise that goal.

Recruitment 238

Recruitment Communication Fundraising Fundraising 238

Nonprofit Marketing Guide

OCTOBER 6, 2014

'Genna Kasun. Here’s the latest installment in our series on the “Day in the Life” of nonprofit communicators, where we ask you to describe your day in your own words. Want to be featured in this series? Tell us what you do in a typical day as a nonprofit communications pro. Genna Kasun is a marketing and advancement writer whose work varies from writing and supervising social media and enrollment content to grant writing, case statement work and institutional proposal writing.

Communication 237

Communication Nonprofits Leadership Education 237

Nonprofit Marketing Guide

AUGUST 12, 2014

'I’m coaching a fundraising team at a national nonprofit that wants to revamp its annual communications calendar. As part of that process, we are looking at their editorial calendar for their year-end fundraising campaign, which will include direct mail, email, and social media. Before they can develop that plan, however, they have several strategic decisions to make, and this is the time of year to be making them.

Public and Nonprofit Management 237

Public and Nonprofit Management Fundraising Fundraising Communication 237

Nonprofit Tech for Good

JULY 14, 2014

'The following is an excerpt from Mobile for Good: A How-To Fundraising Guide for Nonprofits. In 2013 the number of nonprofits that hired part-time or full-time new media managers increased fourfold. As nonprofits have gotten better at implementing multichannel communications and fundraising campaigns and improving their tracking and reporting systems, many nonprofits have come to the conclusion that creating a paid part- or full-time new media manager position is worth the financial investment

Management 111

Management Public and Nonprofit Management Nonprofits Technology 111

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