Winter Wonderland Clairity Click-it: Nonprofit Links, Free Resources
- Click it!
Once again, it’s time for your weekly serving of interesting links from around the web. This week it’s a mix of thought-provoking and practical. I dare you not to find at least one of these links useful! Plus, as always, some great learning opportunities for you (scroll to the bottom).
Money
Click-It: 9 Reasons Why Money Does Not Equal Success. If you’ve got volunteers who are afraid to ask for money because they fear asking folks to part with something so valuable, show them this article from the Inspower blog. Passion makes folks happier than money. Finding meaning and purpose makes folks happier than money. Joining your nonprofit community/family makes folks happier than money. And when you give folks the opportunity to act on their values and make a passionate gift, you’re helping them to be successful. Give this notion some thought.
Social Change Infrastucture
Click-It: Upgrading The Infrastructure For Social Change comes from Eric Henderson of Markets for Good. It’s an interesting discussion – one that’s just beginning — about a future social benefit sector that’s truly powered by information. If you’re interested in what this might look like, how the sector’s information infrastructure would need to evolve and what benefits could ensue, you can download the whitepaper. Authors include: Darin McKeever, Deputy Director, Charitable Sector Support, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; Victoria Vrana, Senior Program Officer, Charitable Sector Support, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; Brian Walsh, Executive Director, Liquidnet For Good Kelly Born, Fellow, Philanthropy and Special Projects, The Hewlett Foundation.
Donor Databases
Click-It: Finding the Right Donor Database for Your Nonprofit I couldn’t resist adding this article on Nonprofit Hub with suggestions about databases that may work for different types of organizations (thank you Lyndsey Hrabik for doing the research for us). On a personal note, I can say I’ve used Raiser’s Edge for a medium-sized organization ($30-40 million budget) and it’s quite robust. You do need a database manager, however. As a consultant, I’ve found a number of my smaller clients have had great success with Bloomerang. It’s relatively new, quite user-friendly and was built with the overwhelming needs of nonprofits to retain more donors in mind. You can get a video demo here.
Email List Building
Click-it: 4 Actions You Can Take to Grow and Sustain Your Email List. Everyone wants to grow their email list, right? Check out these tips from Network for Good to see what you may be able to do just a bit better.
Social Media Implementers
Click-it: Transforming Nonprofit Staff Into Champions on Social. This is a super useful article from Beth Kanter about how to empower staff to become more socially engaged and become your communications ambassadors using social media. If you have limited capacity and staff resources when it comes to implementing marketing and communications strategy, especially social media, you owe it to yourself to read this post.
Learning Opportunities for You!
Click-it: The Power of Thank You- the basics and more. I’m once again offering one of my most popular E-Courses. IMHO if you’re not keeping more donors, you’re not thanking them properly. This course will turn things around for you! It’s just that simple – and transformative. Until May 9th you can save – just catch the Early Bird Discount here. You can add team members too, and it’s all delivered to you – guides, webinars, podcasts and all sorts of bonuses – so you can watch/read at your own convenience and on your own schedule.
Click-it: 50 Ways to ‘Move’ Your Donor: Stewardship Solutions to Get to Yes with Finesse. Having trouble getting around to the major gift ask? No more procrastinating! No more guessing! The Foundation Center and I will clear the air May19th with an intensive online Major Gifts Master Class. You’ll learn how to move your donor and get a novel, tried-and-true way to choreograph and measure your moves so you know exactly when you’re ready to ask.
Click-it: Webinar: 2015 Nonprofit Benchmarks Study. You may recall that last week I told you about a new nonprofit benchmarks study from M+R. Next Tuesday they’re offering a free webinar on the topic! I know Madeleine Stanionis is a faboo presenter (she did wonders for the San Francisco Food Bank when I had the pleasure to work with her on some list-building campaigns); am sure Jonathan Benton will be as well. I’m going to tune in for sure!
Click-It: How to Interview Strong (from either side of the desk). I’m pleased to join ThirdSector Today on May 5th for a free webinar to help you interview successfully for nonprofit jobs – whether you’re the applicant or the employer. It will include examples of interviewing behavior and questions/answers to illustrate how to best prepare so you get the successful outcome you seek. Grab your spot here. Did I mention there’s no fee?
Click-It: Hour of Power. Want to take a deeper dive into career advancement with some quick one-on-one mentoring to help you advance? Or simply want some coaching help with a challenge that’s keeping you awake at night (perhaps it’s finding just the right development staffer)? Or some advice on one of your current fundraising or marketing plans or strategies? I’ve got a few coaching slots open right now. Grab up to four sessions – while they last — at a discounted rate.
Photo: Flickr, Isaac Torronterra
