Winter Wonderland Clairity Click-it: Nonprofit Links, Free Resources
I’ve got a cornucopia of useful practical tools to help you here – enough to last the entire rest of the summer – and then some! If you don’t have time to click through to all these great resources now, this is a “Click-it” edition you’ll seriously want to tuck away for when you’re ready. If you use these tools, you’ll be a lot more effective. Why just work hard when you can work smart?
NOTE: As I’ve done throughout the year, I’ve organized these articles into categories aligned with my top “Dive the Five” fundraising fundamentals for 2016, and beyond. Plus I’ve added a few articles with some great basics and specific tips. And plenty of free resources too. And now… let’s dig in!
Donor Retention
Click-it: Stop and smell the roses. Are you fundraising from your donor’s perspective? Let this common sense article by Brad Sedal on the 101 Fundraising blog serve as your compass.
Click-it: 10 Ways To Make Sure Donor Retention Is Everyone’s Job. I like this post on Bloomerang so much, I may have shared it with you before. Why? I’ve long been an advocate of eliminating silos and developing an organization-wide culture of philanthropy. This is how it’s done. Read it, or re-read it, and develop a plan to DO it!
Major Gifts Fundraising
Click-it: It’s Only One Major Donor. Jeff Schreifels and Richard Perry at Veritus Group always offer the best advice when it comes to major donor fundraising. This is simple, but important. Don’t forget: you are talking to one person.
Integrated Donor-Centered Content Marketing
Click-it: 55 Easy Ways To Write A Headline That Will Reach Your Readers. Did you know that 8 out of 10 people will read a headline, but only two out of 10 will proceed to read the rest of your content? One of the most important parts of your content creation is your headline. I’m serious! What’s the point of writing compelling copy if no one opens it? Check out this truly useful article by the folks at Co-Schedule (and see the free resource they offer, below).
Click-it: Beth and the Story Bean. This is a promo for the upcoming Nonprofit Storytelling Conference. Lots of my friends and colleagues will be participating (not me!), but I’m sharing this with you here because it’s such a good metaphor to explain how storytelling works to engage your nonprofit’s supporters. Give it a look and listen; then think about it. Remember: stories are your most compelling content.
Online Social Fundraising
Yes, I know I’ve got a plethora of articles in this category this month. But take a cue from the first article – it’s time for you to own it! People are online these days. Everyone, just about. You’ve got to be there too. No matter your size.
Click-it: Why Nonprofit Fundraisers Need to Own Social Media. Just in case you missed my post last month on Maximize Social Media, here it is!
Click-it: The Best Ways to Utilize Facebook for your Nonprofit. Want some nonprofit Facebook best practices? This article on Elevation has a few easy Facebook uses for your nonprofit to take full advantage of.
Click-it: Hesitant about broadcasting your cause with Facebook Live? John Haydon is the guru of all things Facebook and nonprofit, and you’ll definitely want to check out this article if you’re planning any kind of an event – fundraising or otherwise.
Click-it: Facebook to Change News Feed to Focus on Friends and Family: Here’s Everything You Need to Know. New changes to the Facebook news feed mean you’ll be better off getting other folks to share your articles to Facebook than posting them yourself. This article from Buffer explains why Facebook made the change, and how it may become essential to find new and innovative ways to encourage your audience to share your content directly to Facebook.
Click-it: The Optimal Day and Time for Social Media Fundraising. Personally, I take broad recommendations like this with a shaker of salt. But if your board or boss is asking you to justify the times of day you send your social media posts, here’s some fodder for you from the Social Giving School.
Culture of Philanthropy
Click-it: Culture of Philanthropy: Why You Need it; 6 Ways to Get it. Here’s an article I wrote for the Guide Star blog, in case you missed it. Do you have a culture of philanthropy?
Annual Fundraising
Click-it: Fundraiser: Don’t “be yourself” — be your donor. Straightforward donor-centered fundraising advice from Jeff Brooks of Future Fundraising Now.
Click-it: Facing Funding Cuts: 4 Tips to Keep Your Nonprofit Going Strong. If you’re among the 75% of nonprofits with budgets under $1 million, and want some tips for what to prioritize to ramp up your current fundraising, this article by Brian Lauterbach on Network for Good is a great place to begin.
FREE RESOURCES + LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
Click-it: How to Create an Effective Donate Page [Free Webinar]. My friend Mazarine Treyz is offering this free webinar with the good folks at 4GOOD on July13 at 1:00 p.m. EDT. Her presentations are always fun – so sign up now!
Click-it: Headline Analyzer by Co-Schedule. I use this all the time. It’s really cool, and lots of fun. And it will help you get a lot more of your content read. I promise! This may be one of the best tips I’ll give to you all year. And it’s free!
Click-it: Philanthropy by the Numbers: The Stories Behind the Stats [Free E-Book]. This comes from Blackbaud and npEXPERTS and includes advice from leaders in philanthropy about what’s happening in the social benefit sector today and how trends are shaping strategies for the future. Thoughtful stuff + practical tips.
Click-it: Download your free social media marketing checklist NOW! Heidi Cohen is my “go to” guide for all things social media whenever I want to see where the for profit world is headed (they usually get there before nonprofits catch up). Also check her article: 50 Social Media Tips You Can Use Now. Begin with her “Who, What, When, Where and Why” and you’ll be way ahead of the game.
Click-it: 1 Hour Mission Statement [Free Guide]. How do you some up your work to the outside world? Is what you’d say the same as what your colleague, board member or donor would say? Sometimes mission statements can be tricky. Use this free collaborative guide from Nonprofit Hub to get started improving yours.
Click-it: The Ultimate Nonprofit Guide to Creating Great Social Media Graphics [Free Download]. Here’s a hands-on resource from nonprofit social media guru, Julia C. Campbell. Her resources are always helpful!
For more on key subject areas this year, check out:
- Donor Retention and Gratitude Playbook (you’ll learn about both donor retention and developing a culture that channels an attitude of gratitude in this 6-volume set)
- Major Gifts Playbook (a 4-volume set; get them all at a discount or buy them individually to meet your specific needs)
- Major Gifts Actionable Checklists & Cheat Sheets (If all of these issues resonate with you, then get them all. If you’re struggling with a particular area, then you can just get the one or two you need most)
- Nonprofit Blogging that Drives Engagement Playbook (you’ll learn about both content marketing and online social fundraising in this 4-volume set)
If you want access to these types of free curated resources year-round, please subscribe to Clairification below. To your success!
