Winter Wonderland Clairity Click-it: Nonprofit Links, Free Resources
My motto is: “If I know it, I want you to know it!” So twice a month I collect and curate articles, whitepapers, webinars, templates and guides – all free – that I encounter in my readings across the web. They’re my gift to you, and I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoy finding them for you.
My motto also leads me to offer plenty of original content via my virtual year-round ‘Clairification School’ — because I’ve got a LOT more to share with you based on my 35 years’ experience – 30 of them in the trenches – plus all the new things I learn every day in my practice.
If you find value in Clairification, please sign up now for all the benefits ‘Clairification School’ has to offer. It’s as free of a ‘public school’ as I can make it, while covering expenses.
Your support makes it possible and, truly, means a lot.
P.S. I’m also available for one-on-one coaching, and offer up to four deeply discounted hours to members of the Clairification community. Please email me at claire@clairification.com if you have any questions.
P.S. I’m excited to mention that Clairification has been selected as one of the “Top 75 Fundraising Websites” on the planet! Aw, shucks. It’s only because you read it. So… thanks!
Clairity Click-it, Your Nonprofit Ticket to…
101
Click-it: Acronyms, Jargon and Other Fundraising Terms to Know. If you’re new to nonprofits or fundraising, this article by Zach Shefska of the Fundraising Report Card is a must read. It will get you ready for your interview, first job and more. Plus there’s a link to an article by Andrea McManus on the AFP blog that expounds on some important and basic principles of fundraising and philanthropy.
Annual Individual Giving
Click-it: When “Make the donor the hero” is shaky fundraising. This is an important reminder from George Crankovik on the Future Fundraising Now blog that you can’t simply pay lip service to things you learn. You must internalize them, and always think from the donor’s perspective.
Click-it: Rejoice In The ‘Trump Bump’, BUT Prepare Now For The ‘Trump Slump’. You’ll find some excellent advice here from the folks at The Agitator and Donor Voice about how to develop deeper relationships and ongoing bonds with folks who may give to you in reaction to events that draw them in but soon lose their urgency. Includes 10 tips about the use/misuse of emotion.
Click-it: Getting Started with Monthly Giving. Check out this interview with Erica Waasdrop on the Network for Good blog. She’s a true expert, and you need to hear what she has to say. There are so many reasons to make this a priority for the coming year, that I recommend it as a core annual giving retention and upgrade strategy.
Social Media
Click-it: How to Manage Social Media During Summer Vacation. Human beings aren’t machines; they need rest! Go take that vacation, knowing you’ve planned ahead with these smart strategies offered up by John Haydon on the Socialbrite blog.
Strategy and Management
Click-it: Does Your Nonprofit Suffer from Fire Drill Culture? Sadly, this is all too common. And it’s a killer. Learn how to avoid this by recognizing the symptoms and learning how to incorporate self-care into your work day. From Beth Kanter on Beth’s Blog.
Click-it: Just for you: free tools you can use. Holy Toledo! This is the most useful assortment of tools all in one place that I’ve seen in a while. Some I was aware of, but many were new. Thank you Mary Cahalane of Hands-On Fundraising.
Writing
Click-it: Change your words, change your world. This 90 second video so beautifully demonstrates the power of words. Think about it next time you write a fundraising appeal or update your website. Thanks to branding expert Sunil Bali for sharing this.
Something Different – Just for YOU
Click-it: 4 Ways To Reduce Stress Inside and Outside of Work. Stress getting you down? This article from the Dumb Little Man blog is here to help. Read #3 to learn how to remove “toxic proteins” from your brain. #4 suggests when to walk away. Your mental health is not something you should take lightly.
Click-it: 5 Illegal Job Interview Questions (& What To Do If You’re Asked One). Sadly, interview skills is something most of us are never taught. Pick up some tips here, provided by Mary Parisi in The Financial Diet.
FREE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
Exercising your brain keeps you healthy!
The more you learn, the more you grow.
Note: I know some of these webinars are offered on the same dates. Not to worry. For many of these webinars you can obtain a copy of the recording if you’re unable to join live – as long as you register!
Annual Individual Giving
Click-it: Understanding Campaign Effects on Annual Giving [Register for free webinar, 7-26-17]. This webinar sponsored by Campbell & Company shares research and case studies that illustrate how to coordinate annual and campaign giving strategies.
Click-it: End-of-Year Fundraising: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly [Register for free webinar, 7-25-17]. Blackbaud offers this to help you get ready for end-of-year fundraising, including Giving Tuesday. You’ll hear real opinions about what’s working, what isn’t, and where end-of-year giving strategies have gone horribly wrong.
Management and Strategy
Click-it: The State of Fundraising: Mid-Year Checkpoint [Register for free webinar, 7-25-17]. Are you hitting your benchmarks? What trends do you need to know about to reach your goals? Join Pursuant’s CEO Trent Ricker and Senior Vice President Jennifer Bielat to learn how your organization can adapt in the current zeitgeist.
Online Social Fundraising and Marketing
Click-it: Video Strategy for Do-Gooders [Register for free webinar, 7-25-17]. Video is hot, hot, hot! And I know you’ve got questions. Grantspace sponsors Benjamin Packard, Founder of Retainer Media, to answer such questions as: How much of my marketing budget should I allocate toward video? What content should be in our videos? How long should our videos be?
Click-it: It’s a New World—How to Cultivate Your Community Online [Register for free webinar, 7-27-17]. Dana Ostomel of Firespring discusses ways to build relationships online, including 10 vital actions to cultivate a network eager to support you. Sponsored by Nonprofit Hub.
Social Media
Click-it: How to Build a Social Media Plan [Watch for free, on demand]. This webinar from Hootsuite not nonprofit-specific, but it’s basic and offers suggestions for auditing where you are right now, aligning business and social goals, determining next steps, building a plan and resourcing the tools you need. Perfect if you’re an auditory learner!
Storytelling
Click-it: Messages & Stories that Resonate and Raise Money [Register for Free Webinar, 7-25-17] Storytelling expert Vanessa Chase Lockshin presents for Network for Good on the best ways to craft and deliver compelling, persuasive communications.
FREE DOWNLOADABLE RESOURCES
Culture of Philanthropy
Click-it: Fundraising Matters: Building a Culture of Philanthropy [Download free E-Guide]. This is the latest from Blackbaud NPexperts and has advice from a bunch of leading lights in the world of philanthropy.
Donor Journey
Click-it: Donor Journey Guidebook [Free download]. Grab this from Pursuant to walk through five steps your organization can take to create a more meaningful experience for your donors.
Management and Strategy
Click-it: Sample Development Plan Template [Free Download] Planning may be the most important predictor of long-term success. The good folks at Bloomerang know this and have created this Excel template – with a 78-week calendar — just for you.
Storytelling
Click-it: Storytelling Summer School – [Register for free 6-week training program]. This looks like the greatest thing since sliced bread. It’s a free 6-week online course from my go-to online marketing gurus, Julia C. Campbell of Campbell Social Marketing. I promise you will learn a lot!
Your Journey?
Click-it: A Woman’s Guide to Thriving in Fundraising [Download free e-book]. Check out the amazing career and life advice over 30 women share in “A Woman’s Guide to Thriving in Fundraising.” This is the brainchild of Vanessa Chase of The Storytelling Nonprofit.
NOT FREE, BUT WELL WORTH A LOOK
Click-it: Nonprofit Leadership Summit [Grab Early Bird Discount Before 7-30-17] hosted by Mazarine Treyz of Wildwoman Fundraising. Hear from the experts — over three days in September — on navigating change, elevating board fundraising, inspiring your staff, eliminating siloes and more, without leaving your office or home! It’s at least a $2,000 value, but you’ll pay much less. Especially since I’m Check it out! COUPON CODE for the Summit: I’m please to let you know that by virtue of being a member of the Clairification community, I’m able to offer you a special discount. Simply enter this code at check-out to save $100: clairityclickit
FEATURED CLAIRIFICATION RESOURCE
Want to Attend Major Gifts Wizard School? LAST CHANCE TODAY!
You can’t afford not to ask for major gifts. They’re the most cost-effective way to fundraise.
Registration for my 8-week online Winning Major Gift Fundraising Strategies course ends July 22nd. If you’re serious about fundraising – no matter your size — you’ve got to get serious about investing in major gifts. There’s no more cost-effective fundraising strategy. Don’t be pennywise and pound-foolish here. It’s a struggle to figure out how to do it on your own, and it wastes time. Research shows for every training like this you take, you’ll increase your contributed income by $37,000 on average. That will more than cover your tuition. Enroll yourself and your team (up to six people per organization for one fee).
SAVINGS ALERT: Haven’t yet joined Clairification School? Now’s the perfect time! You’ll more than make up your $100 annual tuition fee with the $200 discount you’ll receive on this E-Course. Enroll + get the course discount with one click HERE.
CAREER ALERT: Being skilled in major gifts puts you in high demand in the nonprofit world. Set up your own and your nonprofit’s success! *16 CFRE certification points.
P.S. For a taste of what we’ll cover in the course, check out my article this week for Nonprofit Pro: Introduction to Strategic Nonprofit Major Gifts Moves Management.
And so ends another Clairity Click-it. If you find value in Clairification, please sign up now for all the benefits ‘Clairification School’ has to offer. I need your support to keep it going and to offer free support, scholarships and discounts to nonprofiteers who may not be able to afford expensive conferences and consultation. Thank you for doing your important work!
