Winter Wonderland Clairity Click-it: Nonprofit Links, Free Resources
How often do you hear people saying these days “the world is out of control,” “everything is chaos,” or “these times are so disordered and abnormal?” I hear it. A lot. So I was struck by a recent piece from coach and author Tara Mohr who said it suddenly struck her that everything is in perfect order. In other words, actions have consequences. Our job, whenever the world falls into a state of unbalance, is to deal with them. To tip the scales back to equilibrium.
If we act with greed and disregard for the earth, our beautiful skies and clean air will no longer be there for us.
If our economy doesn’t put people first – treating its workers with decency and care – we will find it is profoundly vulnerable in a time of crisis.
If as a collective, we can’t walk humbly and work together diligently in the face of a pandemic, we will become its fools.
And if we try to ignore, or somehow transcend, our oppression of people and communities, without real reckoning, without the destruction of old ideas and systems and the creation of new ones, we will find out that no, there is no true way forward without deep transformation and reparation.
In all these ways, nothing that is happening now is out of order.
Nothing that is happening now is out of order – and the order it is revealing to us is one where regard for the earth, and each other, is imperative.
Your job right now, as a philanthropy facilitator, is imperative. Philanthropy means “love of humanity,” and we need philanthropy now more than ever.
Whatever I can do to help you, it is my sincere honor and pleasure. That’s why I take the time, every other week, to curate this collection of completely free resources to help you with theory, tips and tools. Find a few things that speak to you, and… get clicking! I also want to give a shout out to my Clairity Click-it sponsor, Bloomerang. I hope you enjoy these resources as much as I enjoy finding them for you.
Thank you SO MUCH for doing the important work you do,
Claire
Clairity Click-it, Your Nonprofit Ticket to…
OPINIONS FEATURE
This Issue: Does Salary Transparency Increase Wage Equity or Dissuade Qualified Applicants?
Click-it: Nonprofit ‘Salary Secrecy’ Targeted in the Name of Pay Equity. Drew Lindsay, writing in the Chronicle of Philanthropy, reviews the history of the #ShowTheSalary campaign noting the share of job ads that include such information has tripled since 2016. Whether this increases pay equity is still up for debate, yet the number of job listings now including salaries is impressive.
Click-it: The ‘Show the Salary’ Campaign Is the Wrong Battle for Achieving Nonprofit Workplace Diversity. In this opinion piece for the Chronicle of Philanthropy, Vincent Robinson argues the #ShowTheSalary campaign, which pushes foundations and nonprofits to publicly report salary details for advertised jobs, has the unintended consequence of discouraging those who make less than the published salary from applying for the job.
Click-it: Choosing the Equitable Path for Salaries. This opinion for the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) by Jennifer Wijangco, CFRE, argues for an organization-wide “no negotiation” policy as a way to ensure pay equity. It’s an interesting approach. See what you think.
ARTICLES
Annual (Year-Round) Fundraising
Click-it: What Numbers Should Be In Your Appeal? Steven Screen at the Better Fundraising Blog always has great advice for writing appeals, and this article is no exception. This is a good one to send to your boss with a note: “Check this out; good to consider for our next appeal.”
Boards
Click-it: How to Secure Board Members Who Really Work. A lot of the problem lies with how board members are recruited. Here Jeff Schreifels of the Veritus Group offers a new approach – with 9 steps — to board recruitment, engagement and retention. It’s practical, and will make a huge difference in both your and your board members’ satisfaction.
Click-it: How to Keep Board Members Engaged Between Meetings. Joan Garry, Nonprofits are Messy, knows her stuff backwards and forwards. So read this if you want to help board members when life gets in the way of their good intentions.
Culture of Philanthropy
Click-it: Top 2021 Fundraising Strategies: Adopting a Culture of Philanthropy. Part 6 of my six-part Bloomerang series to help you prioritize fundraising strategies this year is all about the importance of talking and walking your values. Every day. Because you’re in a values-based business. Whenever there your values and the way you practice them are disconnected, the culture can feel fraudulent or even toxic. Donors will run from fraud. Staff will run from toxicity. Everyone will be frustrated by inconsistency and ultimately made to feel unhappy. Unhappiness does not inspire productivity. And it doesn’t inspire passionate philanthropy. [BTW: You can read part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, and part 5 here.]
Donor Retention
Click-it: Fundraising’s Silver Bullet. Roger Craver hits the nail on the head with this article for the Agitator-DonorVoice blog. Are you asking for donor feedback? If not, you’ll want to read this article to learn why it’s just plain dumb not to do so regularly and systematically.
Major and Legacy Giving
Click-it: The Difference Between Wealth Screening and Wealth Appending. If you’ve been contemplating the value of purchasing donor research, you’ll want to check out this article from Greg Warner of Market Smart. Major Gift Fundraising
Click-it: So you want more major gifts this year? Here’s the secret! I’m honored SOFII is sharing one of my articles in their showcase of fundraising ideas and innovation. If you’re not subscribed – it’s free!— you’re missing out on a heap of helpful tools, tips and amazing fundraising examples from which you can borrow. Don’t miss out!
Psychology of Giving
Click-it: No More Nudges. The bottom line take-away from this article from the Agitator-Donorvoice is this: Good fundraising takes planning; there are no magic shortcuts. For example, what we know from behavioral economics is not the same as the broader field of behavioral science. One is tool; the other gestalt. We have to get the latter right to truly benefit from the former. My advice? Engage in as much research as possible – surveys, analytics tracking engagement, phone calls, in-person visits — to get to know your donors better.
Strategy and Management
Click-it: Nonprofit Leaders, Stop Waiting for Permission From Your Funders. Nell Edgington, Social Velocity, is making a career by preaching adoption of a culture of abundance, not scarcity. This article is no exception and deserves your attention. Here’s a taste: “if you know what you and your staff truly need, then start claiming it. Start making it a reality, instead of something you’d love someone to give you.”
Click-it: 8 Tips for Facilitating Nonprofit Hybrid Meetings. Beth Kanter is a meeting facilitation geek, in the very best way. This article will give you lots of useful ideas. Don’t miss it, especially living in the times we’re in. There are also all sorts of useful links to templates, tools and more.
Click-it: this meeting could have been an email. I love Tom Fishbourne, the Marketoonist, because, well, cartoons. I think you’ll find this article and the accompanying drawings useful and entertaining.
Writing
Click-it: The word that aims your fundraising message at your target. Jeff Brooks reveals more on the demonstrated power of “you,” direct from a for-profit marketing example. Plus he reminds us a Copy Optimizer tool is coming… from DonorVoice.
Click-it: So you want to write to donors. Mary Cahalane, Hands On Fundraising, does this all the time: She writes articles I wish I’d written! This is simple advice to hold close to your heart as you enter into fall fundraising appeal writing season.
WEBINARS, ROUNDTABLES & ON-DEMAND AUDIO RESOURCES
If you can’t attend live, or are interested in sessions happening at overlapping times, note many are available via recording – but ONLY if you REGISTER!
Events
Click-it: Everything You’ve Wanted to Know About Virtual Fundraising Events, But Were Too Embarrassed to Ask [Listen to free, on-demand webinar]. Alas, we’re still in uncharted territory when it comes to bringing supporters together for events. Top Nonprofits hosts Patrick Kirby for this Q & A answering all your questions about how to inspire folks virtually.
Major and Legacy Giving
Click-it: Weaving Planned Giving Into Your Donor Conversations [Register for free webinar, 9-8-2021]. Ever felt unsure how to approach the subject of an estate or planned gift with major or mid-level donor prospects? Learn how to get comfortable transitioning into conversations that actually provide solutions for donors interested in making a lasting impact. The Stelter Company hosts Melanie J. Norton, CFRE.
Online Fundraising and Marketing
Click-it: Intro to Online Fundraising Optimization [Limited time sign up for free course series]. This isn’t just a webinar; it’s a 7-session course from the primo experts and experimenters at NextAfter. Everything they recommend is backed by research and examples. Plus OneCause is sponsoring it so it’s free! Learn proven methodologies to help your online fundraising program reach more people, acquire more donors, and generate more revenue. If it’s up your alley you can go on (or send someone on your marketing team) to get a full certification in online fundraising optimization.
Click-it: The Power of Blogging & Thought Leadership for Nonprofits [Sign up for free webinar, 9-14-2021]. Have you dabbled in blogging, but failed? Join Firespring for this session sharing collective wisdom gleaned from dozens of nonprofit organizations that have stumbled upon the magic formula for becoming thought leaders in their community. You’ll get: (1) 7 components of the best nonprofit blogs; (2) Tips to optimize your blog’s effectiveness; (3) 4 ways to promote your blog, and tips for measuring your blog’s performance.
Click-it: How to Use Marketing and Mobile Messaging to Scale Online Revenue [Register to watch on-demand webinar]. Did you know nonprofits using mobile messaging reach and engage 5X as many potential supporters as their email-using counterparts? Join Rally Corp and Community Boost to learn: (1) How to attract new donors using effective calls to action via Facebook Ads + Google Ad Grants; (2) How to engage your community using the most effective channels, and (3) How to retain donors and convert them into recurring givers.
Click-it: What’s Next for Philanthropy – A Look Ahead at Emerging Trends [Register for free webinar, 9-16-2021]. The compounding crises of the last several years—the health and economic emergencies of COVID-19, the widespread reckoning on racial justice, the growing political polarization and violence, and the looming threat of climate change—have marked a pivotal moment for the field of philanthropy. Clearly philanthropy today takes place in a context that is radically different from the environment in which many of its current models, systems, and structures were developed. Join Stanford Social Innovation Review for a look at what today and tomorrow may hold.
DOWNLOADABLE GUIDES, WHITE PAPERS & OTHER RESOURCES
Midlevel Fundraising
Click-it: Cultivating Mid-Level Donors for Maximum Results [Download free white paper]. The secret is out. It’s easy for mid-level donors to get lost in the shuffle, yet they give several times what general donors give in the course of a year. Can you really afford not spending time cultivating them? The folks at Veritus Group have designed a system that works, and will walk you through why investing in this donor segment makes strong financial sense. Share this with your leaders, and get to work unclogging this valuable pipeline to major gifts.
Click-it: MID-LEVEL GIVING: A Million Dollar Missed Opportunity [Download free white paper]. Like I said above, the secret is out. While mid-level supporters may represent just three percent of a donor file in numbers, they account for up to 30% of your contribution income. And that’s without trying! Read this smart assessment from Merkle if you want to stop leaving money on the table.
Did You Miss My Newest Articles?
- 7 Keys to Rock Thank You Calls and Retain More Donors
- Want a true philanthropic culture? Make it the air you breathe.
- R.I.P. Donor Pyramid?
- So You Want More Major Gifts This Year? Here’s the Secret!
- Reframe Fundraising: Responsibility, Privilege and Opportunity
- Top Strategies to Overcome Fear of Nonprofit Fundraising
Finally… if you have a question, any question…
Check out my free fundraising advice column on the Bloomerang blog! Ask your question here. Or email me with it directly. And bookmark the Ask an Expert page! See How to Tactfully Ask for Donor Feedback without Making Promises and Do You Have To Ask For Feedback In Person?
Please support my extraordinary sponsors (see below). Clairification School is affordable because of their generosity.
My motto is: “If I know it, I want you to know it.” Don’t miss out.
Hope to see you in Clairification School!
