Winter Wonderland Clairity Click-it: Nonprofit Links, Free Resources
The ‘Clairity Click-it’ is a curated bimonthly newsletter – my gift to you – and I hope you enjoy the resources below as much as I enjoy finding them for you. There are plenty of useful articles, plus free webinars and downloadable guides – all hand-picked by yours truly.
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Clairity Click-it, Your Nonprofit Ticket to…
Annual Individual Giving
Click-it: How Clever Are You? Test Your Communications Smarts With These 16 Nonprofit Quizzes – and Emails to Match! I put this under annual giving rather than marketing. Why? Because quizzes are a great way to build your email list! I’ve used them quite successfully, adding hundreds of new names. Remember: if you don’t have a big enough mailing list, you’re wasting a lot of your efforts in crafting your appeal. Kerri Karvetski gives a lot of great examples for you to borrow from on Kivi’s Nonprofit Communications blog.
Click-it: The Secret Sauce For Increasing Donor Conversion by 3x. This article on Cause Square suggests enabling one-click donations, especially on mobile phones, to increase your donation conversation rate. It makes a compelling case for leveraging mobile technology to advantage your annual campaign appeals.
Content Marketing
Click-it: 10 Free Google Tools All Content Marketers Should Use. You may not be aware of Neil Patel, but he’s a top web influencer and renowned entrepreneur. Here he’s put together some great basic tips to get more visitors to your website and stay on top of your digital presence. Pass this sound advice along to your marketing folks.
Management and Strategy
Click-it: 3 Simple Fundraising Metrics for Nonprofits (and How to Calculate Them). If you’re not measuring, you’re likely not working smart. And you’re probably focusing on the wrong things, thereby leaving money on the table. Zach Shefska of the Fundraising Report Card outlines the three most important things to measure, and how to do so. It’s a worthwhile read.
Click-it: 6 Ways to Look More Confident During a Presentation. This article in Harvard Business Review describes how body language can make a difference in how you’re perceived. Use this information to improve any presentation – including interviewing for a job, asking for a raise or soliciting a major gift!
Management and Strategy
Click-it: Fundraising Hell. This is an oldie but goodie from Jeff Brooks of Future Fundraising Now. Thanks to Roger Craver for alerting me to it in a recent Agitator article. Read it to find out what’s waiting for you in the fundraiser afterlife. You still have time to change things!
Online Social Fundraising and Marketing
Click-it: Are you using email to reach your millennial donors? If not, you’re missing out and here’s why. This is an interesting read from Maddy Rieman on the Guidestar blog. It will destroy a lot of your assumptions.
Click-it: A simple way to send more nonprofit email (with less work). I highly suggest you do what Jeremy Koch suggests in this article on Empower Nonprofits. I can attest to the fact that it’s worked for me, and my clients. But don’t take my word for it. Test it out, like Keith. I double dare you!
Sponsorships
Click-it: https://sponsorshipcollective.com/the-five-stages-of-sponsorship-sales/. If you’re responsible for bringing in support from businesses, you owe it to yourself to read this article from The Sponsorship Collective. Five stages of sponsorship sales are laid out, and you can download a free corporate sponsorship proposal template and webinar on all things sponsorship. This information is about as definitive as you’re ever going to get. Thank you Chris Baylis!
SOMETHING DIFFERENT: YOU
Click-it: How Can I Relax More Right Now? My friend and renowned life coach Tara Sophia Mohr weighs in on a challenge I increasingly see in my practice. If you find yourself feeling a bit too on edge, take a quick read (or listen).
FREE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
Grantwriting
Click-it: Granted: Successful Grant Writing [Register for free webinar, 5-2-17]. Join Mandy Pearce of Funding for Good for a look at major questions to be addressed in making a successful grant application, and how to incorporate your research and answers into a competitive proposal.
Management and Strategy
Click-it: Nonprofit Capital: How to Think Differently about Its Use in Your Organization [Click to listen to free webinar on demand]. Hilda Polanco, CEO of FMA, presents for Nonprofit Quarterly. If you’re not the right person for this, share with your finance and executive management.
Online Social Fundraising and Marketing
Click-it: 10 Signs Your NGO Excels at Social Media [Register for free webinar, 5-16-17]. This is the last year Nonprofit Tech for Good is offering free webinars, so don’t miss out! Heather Mansfield is always good.
FREE DOWNLOADABLE RESOURCES
Best of the Best
Click-it: National Fundraising Awards 2017 shortlisted. Look here for great inspiration. Individual giving campaigns. Legacy campaigns. Events. Best use of digital. And more!
Culture of Philanthropy
Click-it: Fundraising Bright Spots: The Secrets of Successful Fundraising from Individuals [Click to listen to free webinar] The webinar starts with a review of the distinguishing characteristics of 16 grassroots progressive organizations that are uniquely successful fundraisers. They’ve built a true culture of philanthropy. Jeanne Bell of CompassPoint is the key speaker.
FEATURED CLAIRIFICATION RESOURCE
Tomorrow is the last day to register for my 4-week e-course: The Power of Thank You. This is your quintessential blueprint for creating and implementing your organization’s donor loyalty and retention program, and turning first-time donors into lifetime donors. If you’ve been wondering how to get your board members involved in fundraising, how to engage event attendees beyond the event, why you should absolutely send a snail mail thank you letter for an online donation, and more, register now. I can’t wait to see you inside! NOTE: Clairification School students receive a huge discount – just $97 instead of $297. Not yet a student? Take advantage of the “Enroll + E-Course” option to save now and in the future. Registration ends Saturday, 4-29.
