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.
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.
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Allison Fine
DECEMBER 17, 2014
Here is the dilemma for business leaders: How can we work with people out in the world when the world is so unsafe? Outside is a teeming, chaotic mass of people armed with social media tools shouting at companies about what they want and how they want it. Inside it is nice and safe, with controlled processes and plans that should work--if everyone just left us alone.
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.
Speaker: David Worrell, CFO, Author & Speaker
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.
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.
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).
Nonprofit Leadership Zone brings together the best content for advertising professionals from the widest variety of industry thought leaders.
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).
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.
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.
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.
Speaker: Dave Sackett
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.
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.
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.
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
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…
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
Speaker: Jennifer Hill
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.
Nonprofit Marketing Guide
NOVEMBER 20, 2014
'I am so excited about next week, not only because it’s Thanksgiving, but because this is when we see a huge wave of nonprofit thank you videos being released. And I LOVE THESE THINGS. I’ve started my 2014 Playlist of Nonprofit Thank You Videos. If you have one and want me to consider adding yours to the list, just leave me the link in the comments on this blog post.
Nonprofit Marketing Guide
JULY 14, 2014
'Lindsay J.K. Nichols. 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. Lindsay J.K. Nichols is the senior director of marketing and communications for GuideStar , a nonprofit that powers philanthropy and is widely considered the leading source of nonprofit information.
Ann Green
OCTOBER 3, 2014
'Have you ever received an appeal letter from an organization you’ve donated to for years and they make no mention of your previous donations? Or maybe you get a letter that thanks you for your past support and you’ve never donated to this organization. Grrrr. This is why is you need to know your audience and personalize your letters as much as possible.
Ann Green
SEPTEMBER 26, 2014
'It’s officially fall! Many of you are getting ready for your year-end appeal, and the cornerstone of your campaign is your appeal letter. You want to create an awesome letter that captures your donors’ attention right away and convinces them to donate. Sounds simple, but it’s not. Here are some ways to ensure a successful letter. Make a good first impression.
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.
Nonprofit Marketing Guide
DECEMBER 10, 2014
'Somya Qureshi. Last month we heard from Somya Qureshi from NonprofitNinja.org on the easiest place to get started with collecting data. Today she has some ideas on how to take that donor data and turn it into a communications startegy. ~Kivi. In the last post, I talked about some of the basic metrics that nonprofit organizations could start measuring regularly in order to track donors to ensure that the donor base grows over a period of time.
Nonprofit Marketing Guide
NOVEMBER 19, 2014
'Photo Credit: https://flic.kr/p/aPY4K8. Stuck trying to find new ways to describe your matching gift campaign? Never fear! Use these matching gift phrases in all the right places: Subject line. Preheader. Header. Calls-to-action (be sure to include at least 2 in each email). Sidebars. P.S. Donation landing page. Good luck fundraisers! Contribute today to make sure we can match your gift.
Ann Green
OCTOBER 17, 2014
'Most of you are about ready to launch your year-end appeal. We have many ways to reach out to our donors – by mail, email, social media, phone calls. But your fundraising campaign will be more effective if you use a combination of these. Some donors may respond to your direct mail piece, but donate online. Others will see your email message, but prefer to send a check.
Nonprofit Marketing Guide
SEPTEMBER 2, 2014
'I’m putting together a list of different kinds of fundraising asks or offers, as a prompt to get you thinking about new ways to talk to your donors about supporting your work. It’s part of a new training I’m putting together (more on that later). Here’s my list so far. I’ve given each category a name, followed by a very brief description of the overall message to the donor.
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Nonprofit Marketing Guide
SEPTEMBER 17, 2014
'Jim Lynch. TechSoup is currently running their annual Storymakers contest so today we have TechSoup’s Jim Lynch to share some tips on how to create short, but compelling videos you can use for fundraising, to say thank you or to share your mission. ~Kivi. Guest Post by Jim Lynch of TechSoup. The heart of effective fundraising is telling a story that a donor can emotionally connect with.
Nonprofit Marketing Guide
OCTOBER 29, 2014
'Alexandra Ale Bezdikian. TechSoup’s annual Storymakers contest had some great entries this year. Watch the winners and see what you can learn from them. ~Kivi. Guest Post by Alexandra (Ale) Bezdikian of TechSoup. The world is changing. The landscape of communication is evolving at an exponential rate, and digital media creation is riding at the head of the wave.
Ann Green
NOVEMBER 24, 2014
'What’s your opinion of #GIvingTuesday? Do you think it’s a great way to raise more revenue and find new donors, or is it a complete waste of time? Maybe it’s a little of both. In case you don’t know, #Giving is on December 2. It’s a global day to give back and is a nice contrast to Black Friday and Cyber Monday. WHAT IS #GIVINGTUESDAY?
Nonprofit Marketing Guide
JUNE 27, 2014
'Here’s a quick tip for you today on using Microsoft Word to check how easy it is for your supporters to read your communications. Word has the ability to let you know your Flesch Reading Ease score and your Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level. You just have to turn it on! Wait, what? The Flesch Reading Ease score and the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level are readability tests that let you know if your copy is easy to read or not.
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!
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