Winter Wonderland Clairity Click-it: Nonprofit Links, Free Resources
In my last issue I talked about the extinct ostracod and channeled Seth Godin’s post on the subject. Today I offer up a non-extinct creature, but one with a similar message to offer if you don’t want your organization to suffer the ostracod’s fate.
ostrichism
MEANING:
noun: The act or policy of refusing to face reality or unpleasant facts.
ETYMOLOGY:
From the erroneous popular belief that ostriches bury their heads in the sand when facing danger. From Old French ostrusce/ostriche, from Latin struthio (ostrich), from Greek strouthos. Earliest documented use: 1834.
NOTES:
The ostrich doesn’t really bury its head in the sand. This flightless bird puts its head and neck close to the ground for camouflage. Also, they nest their eggs in holes in the ground. It’s the largest (up to 9 ft or 2.7 m) and fastest bird (43 miles/hour or 70 km/hour) on the planet and can kill a lion with a kick. If you ever upset an ostrich do not bury your head in the sand. Try apologizing. If not, be ready to be ostracized.
USAGE:
“Deciding that ostrichism is the better part of valor, I keep my eyes closed.”
Adam Davies; Mine All Mine; Riverhead; 2008.— from A.Word.A.Day with Anu Garg
I hope you’ll open your eyes to all the resources here, and use them to help you rethink the way you do things. Tried-and-true is worth its weight in gold, but tempis fugit. Sometimes you have to throw out the old (not all of it) to embrace the new (not all of it). To do your best work, you have to stay tuned… pay attention… commit to learning.
This newsletter is designed to help you. I try to give you a taste of what’s working/not working for businesses and causes of all stripes. Sometimes it’s tactical advice. Sometimes it’s theory and science underlying the tactics. And sometimes it’s about adjusting approaches to the work in ways that can make a significant difference.
It is my sincere pleasure and honor to help you find the ideas, strategies, templates and tools you need to make our world a better place. Thanks again to my Clairity Click-it sponsor, Bloomerang, who have stood with me and you throughout these rapidly changing times.
Thank you for doing such vital work,
Claire
P.S. Want to resolve to be an active learner next year? Your support via enrollment in ‘Clairification School’ enables me to deliver original articles direct to your in-box. Plus you’ll get access to all my webinars, exclusive monthly tips, bonuses and more!
Clairity Click-it, Your Nonprofit Ticket to…
ARTICLES
Annual (Year-Round) Fundraising
Click-it: Can You Upgrade Your Monthly Donors to Higher Levels? There’s nothing I love more than a new article from Erica Waasdorp on monthly giving. This one, on the NonprofitPro blog, is no exception. Erica points out “there’s a huge gap between what organizations do and what they could be doing more of.” Are you one of these nonprofits? Don’t be!
Click-it: How To Write an Opening Line for Your Fundraising Appeal. This is a terrific article from Julie Cooper, Fundraising Writing, with some wonderful examples you can adapt. How you open and close your appeal makes a huge difference, and bears more thought than you’re likely giving to the effort.
Boards
Click-it: 10 Fundraising Responsibilities of Every Board Member. There are so many ways to engage your board so they find greater fulfillment in their role – and also help you achieve your objectives. Gail Perry lists 10 of these ways in this article.
Data Intelligence
Click-it: What is Data Intelligence? As this article from sgENGAGE explains, it’s the practice of transforming data into insights and value. Learn about data health, augmented insights, and performance analysis solutions to help you better understand strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Plus read examples of how other nonprofits are using data intelligence to improve results. The way we work effectively is changing and, arguably, has reached a tipping point. It’s no longer sufficient to simply hold data.
Donor Retention
Click-it: How To Handle A Disgruntled Donor. Be prepared to respond to your donor’s feelings. When you fall on your sword and are gracious and grateful, it’s amazing how forgiving donors can be. They may actually become even more loyal moving forward! Check out this article by Rachel Muir on the Bloomerang blog.
Storytelling
Click-it: This is your brain on stories. Check out this beautiful, to-the-point article about the power of storytelling from Mary Cahalane, Hands-On Fundraising. If you’re not really tapping into the fact our human brains are literally wired to enter into stories, you’re not putting your best foot forward when it comes to engaging would-be philanthropists. Think about it seriously.
Click-it: 6 Ways to Make a Connection with Your Audience. There are easy, proven ways you can connect with your audience and hook them to read the rest of your appeal. A lot have to do with the elements of a good story. Begin with this article from Vanessa Chase Lockshin, The Storytelling Nonprofit. Then click the internal link to attend a free training with a Storytelling Roadmap.
WEBINARS, PODCASTS, COURSES & ON-DEMAND AUDIO RESOURCES
If you can’t attend live, or are interested in sessions happening at overlapping times (I’m looking at you February 24th!), note many are available via recording – but ONLY if you REGISTER!
Other Learning Opportunities
WEBINARS, PODCASTS, ROUNDTABLES & ON-DEMAND AUDIO RESOURCES
If you can’t attend live, or are interested in sessions happening at overlapping times (I’m looking at you February 24th!), note many are available via recording – but ONLY if you REGISTER!
Boards
Click-it: Remote Governance: The Board Room v. Zoom [Listen to on-demand podcast or download transcript]. Virtual meetings were born of necessity in 2020. Now, two years into the pandemic, many boards are still opting to meet virtually. Krista Martin, VP of Growth at Boardable, talks about recent research into how boards are operating (and thriving) in remote environments. Simple adjustments like doing a round-robin ice breaker question or calling on each director for comment can make a big difference in terms of engagement comfort.
Donor Retention
Click-it: The Key to Recurring Giving: Donor Love [Register for free webinar, 2-23-22]. Less than a quarter of all donors will give more than one time to a cause. Fortunately, what they’re looking for in a relationship with an organization isn’t complicated. You’ll leave this Network for Good webinar knowing the five donor love languages, and you’ll get plenty of examples you can use and adapt.
Click-it: Donor Retention: Insight and Tips for Success [Register for free webinar, 2-24-2022]. Struggling to retain new donors? Join 4aGoodCause hosting Mary Cahalane, Hands-On Fundraising, to get concrete tips for donor stewardship including welcome packs, surveys and donor newsletters.
Click-it: Building Relationships For Fundraising Success [Register for free webinar, 2-24-2022]. Join Neon One and Sabrina Walker Hernandez for this practical session focusing on both prospect and donor cultivation.
Major and Legacy Gifts
Click-it: How Often Should an MGO Refresh Their Caseload [Tune in to the on-demand “Question of the Month”]. Jeff Schreifels and Richard Perry of the Veritus Group talk about an important, too-often overlooked, major gift fundraising strategy. Are you doing it? It’s a worthwhile 4 minute listen.
Online Marketing and Fundraising
Click-it: 2021 Research Review [Listen to free webinar; access free ]. I abso-bloomin-lutely love the NextAfter folks! They conduct research year-round, and freely share the results. This is a huge benefit, and gift, to charities without the resources to conduct A/B tests. Here is a compilation of their latest findings. Use these research-driven tactics to inform your own future strategies.
Click-it: How Marketing Automation Can Work for You [Register for free webinar 2-24-2022]. One of the biggest trends in 2022 will continue to be automated multi-channel marketing. Marketers have become accustomed to integrating their online efforts, but integrating with offline tactics like print will become the norm. It’s the art of taking creative marketing ideas, building them into data-driven, multi-channel marketing campaigns and launching them in one integrated platform. Join the experts at Firespring to learn how to turn theory into action!
Click-it: Momentum [Register for free 3-day virtual Conference, 3-8 to 10, 2022]. Organized by Community Boost, my friend James Martin at Rally Corp says this is “the best virtual conference for nonprofit marketers to capture the latest digital strategies you need to maximize impact in 2022.” Your free ticket gives you access to 50+ sessions from top nonprofit thought leaders: Check out James session here, and see how to enter a raffle to win a VIP PASS.
Technology
Click-it: Taking Control of Your Nonprofit Technology [Listen to free podcast or read transcript]. My pal Julia Campbell, Nonprofit Nation, hosted the Accidental Technologist, Maureen Wallbeoff, for a banging session to help you make good decisions about the systems you use to engage your supporters. She’ll teach you how to reflect on your true needs before jumping into the sales cycle. If you want tips to evaluate which technology, including CRMs, may work best for you, tune in now!
YOU
Click-it: It’s Time to Party! Join Us for a Virtual Celebration of YOU [Free virtual party, 2-24-2022]. Up for some merriment? Who isn’t after the year we’ve had! Join the Veritus Group for this fun celebration of all you’ve accomplished. Bring a fun treat for yourself and think about what accomplishments you might like to share. There’s no agenda, no slides, no chat box. This is a video-on, fun Zoom backgrounds encouraged type of call where folks will be jumping in to cheer each other on. Just do it!
DOWNLOADABLE GUIDES, WHITE PAPERS & OTHER RESOURCES
Content Marketing
Click-it: The M+R Guide to Effective and Ethical Direct Response Creative [Free Download]. The two building blocks of effective creative, relevance and authenticity, are explored in depth by the M+R team. The former is about the listener, the latter about the speaker. How do you achieve your goals while living your values? Read on…
Click-it: Opinion Page Yellow Pages [Download freshly updated guide of current op-ed editors]. Before you submit your op-ed — actually, before you even begin to write it — you should read this M+R post: An Op-ed About Op-eds for Nonprofits Writing Op-eds. Also use this fast Letter to the Editor tool. Then send your masterpiece to the right people listed in this free directory.
Events
Click-it: How to Host a Virtual Fundraising Event [Download free checklist]. Maybe you’ve done a few of these at this point, and felt you were flying by the seat of your paints. Bring a bit more savvy and organization to your next event with these tips from DonorPerfect. There are all sorts of great options here!
Major and Legacy Gifts
Click-it: 2022 National Holidays for Planned Giving Fundraisers to Celebrate [Download free Calendar]. Speaking of fun, here’s some more! The folks at Stelter have put together this calendar to give you some “hangers” upon which to drape your legacy and major gift fundraising coats. You can probably tie them into annual giving as well. For example, imagine sending a message for International Day of Friendship, World Kindness Day,r Estate Planning Awareness Week or National Chocolate Cake Day. They also explain how to register your own branded day!
Online Marketing and Fundraising
Click-it: 365 Days of Social Prompt Ideas [Download free e-book]. Coming up with engaging social posts year-round can be a challenge. Never fear! Two wonderful experts, Ephraim Gopin and Qgiv, collaborated to produce this great resource. Have some fun!
Click-it: Why Should Nonprofits Care about Experience? Today, nonprofits don’t compete with their peers as much they do with an always-on culture that faces the same competition for attention and increased expectation for experience as commercial brands. And according to a donor satisfaction survey Merkle conducted across leading organizations, donors rated nonprofits as “poor” at developing personal connections and building relationships. Nonprofits are not meeting donors’ expectations, not delivering relevant experiences, and not consistently creating deeper and more profitable relationships, while so many commercial marketers are. Download this white paper with digital trends and concrete recommendations to deliver better donor experiences.
Did You Miss My Newest Articles?
- How to Write a Foolproof Nonprofit Grant Proposal
- How to Craft a Nonprofit Board Orientation Strategy
- How to Leverage Philanthropic Giving Circle Grants
- 6 Strategies to Make a Powerfully Winning Major Donor Pitch that Gets Top Results
- How to Apply Job Interview Skills to Fundraising
- Are You Getting the Best Bang From Your Fundraising Buck?
REMINDER for Clairification School students: Don’t forget to log in to your “My Clairification/Subscriber Dashboard/Monthly Tips” to grab your exclusive, timely tips for each month. Catch your FEBRUARY tips now! If you’re not yet an enrolled student, you can get in on the fun here!
You have a unique voice in the area of how nonprofits attract and retain donors. I am a huge fan of your writing!
– Ronald Pruitt, Founder, 4aGoodCause
We regularly look to your blog for top insights.
– Taylor Gibbs, Double the Donation
I get so much out of your postings on e-mail! I have been in the development world for 25 years and always find ideas I can use in your writing. Thanks for doing such a great job and keep ’em coming in the future!
–Kathleen Pasley, Director of Development, Dacor Bacon
My motto is: “If I know it, I want you to know it.” Don’t miss out.
Please support my extraordinary sponsors (see below). And enroll in Clairification School! It’s almost free — because of their generosity. I am grateful.
