Non-profit...Or Not Just Not Profiting?
More Non-Profit Articles
Response Rates to Expect in Direct Mail Fundraising with Acquisition and Renewal...
What kind of response rates do your direct mail fundraising letters generate That's the most common question I'm asked by potential clients. And it's a good question, since non-profit organizations need the highest response rates they can get in today's competitive environment. Direct mail is an expensive way to raise funds if your response rates are low and your average gift is small.
Your way to give to charity
There is without a doubt that every single person can see the good intentions of giving to charity, the effects it can bring, the changes to the world it is has done. However, when is the last time that you have done something for charity An act where in the end results, someone who is need would get some kind of aid or help People do things, because they like to do them.
Relay For Life Fundraising Events
Here are some fundraising ideas for events to help your team raise funds for Relay Of Life. Most of these can be put together by a single team or in partnership with other groups. Fundraising Billboard A unique idea is to put together a fundraising billboard in support of breast cancer research. People pay a reasonable fee, say $100, to add a name to a billboard list honoring women who are struggling with or have the lost the battle with cancer.
Fun Fundraising - Try A Cow Chip Fundraiser
What exactly is a cow chip fundraiser It's a country-style fundraising event that combines guessing where a cow will answer nature's call with raising funds for your favorite charitable cause. Turn it into a big party with multiple fundraising activities and you'll be amazed how much you can raise! How it works Line up a location with a flat grass field and plenty of parking.
Sales Tips For Candy Bar Fundraisers
Candy bar fundraisers are a direct sale of specially packaged candy bars, usually in convenient $1 or $2 sizes. Candy bar fundraising is an easy moneymaker and is a favorite of youth sports teams in baseball, football, soccer, basketball, cheerleading and more. Many fundraising companies offer popular types of brand name candy bars including Hershey, Nestle, Mars, M&M's, and Worlds Finest Chocolate.
Healthy Fundraisers
As childhood obesity levels rise, schools are looking for healthy fundraisers as an alternative solution for raising much needed funds. Many school districts have even banned fundraising candy sales, so what kind of school fundraisers will help bridge the funding gap Here are several ideas for healthy school fundraisers: Participant events Many schools have discovered that events where all students participate in a fun exercise-based event do a good job.
Environmental Non-Profits and Corruption
Who can you trust to give your money to In recent years the number of non-profit and charitable organizations has skyrocketed. For the individual or business interested in making a charitable, often tax-deductable, contribution is faced with the need to investigate or do some research on these organizations.
Do you run a church or non-profit organization Is your organization donation-based Is your company a 501(C)3 If you run a non-profit, you might be surprised at the changes in landscape that can help you create an online experience that would even surpass secular businesses. The goal, of course, would be to help you develop better affinity and loyalty for your donors and give them a reason to continue supporting your cause - whatever that may be.
One of the big barriers to non-profits or churches taking advantage of many of the new technologies has been the commonly held belief that technology is expensive. Or, that there is some sort of ethical barrier to using the same strategies that a secular business might use.
Well tear down the walls - because if you don't, they'll be torn down for you and you'll be exposed to the harsh realities of failing numbers and loyalty dropping in masses.
If you are a non-profit or not-for-profit organization, you actually may have more of a moral obligation to seek efficient practices than those whose business is entrusted to shareholders. If you are donor-based, you do a disservice to your donor anytime you don't take advantage of cost-effective developments on the web. Well, enough about that - now on to how you can enjoy successes of best practice and proven strategy with new web technology and developments.
Principle One - Understand your mission and sellout to it.
Everything - from the volunteer core, to the receptionist, to your leadership, to your print pieces, to your website to your Press Releases - has to resonate with your message.
Use the elevator test to make sure every single person in the building understands what their mission is. Notice I didn't say, "Make sure everyone knows the slogan".
The elevator test is simply to ask each employee to be able to describe what the organization does to their mother in fifty words or less. Then, once they get it down to that, tell them to refine it so that they can talk about your organization in three sentences or less. That way, when they enter an elevator they can talk about what you do and your mission in the time it takes to ride in an elevator from one floor to the next.
Then, take that mission communication and sell everything to make sure it gets communicated appropriately and consistently in everything you do.
Principle Two - Spend money to save money. You need to save money to make more money.
One of the larger challenges of non-profit organizations is the shrinking pool of donation-based constituency. Changing habits in consumer lifestyles and "competing interests" in catastrophe funding has created a remarkable attack on regular donor giving. As a result, the opportunity to solicit from people is becoming less and less as the asks are more and more.
The best way to approach this competition is to invest more in saving money. Allow me to clarify: spend money right now to advance your communication with your donor. Develop a better web site, funding operation and strategy; become better at those things and you'll reduce costs, expenses and overhead later on.
One of the best ways to save money later on is by reducing the human capacity needs through better technologies such as content management systems for your web sites, automating processes, and developing better, more consistent branding in your marketing collateral.
Principle three - Close the communication gap.
I can't tell you how many non-profit web sites I've visited over the last several years that seem as though they were built in the dark ages. And I am talking about large, well-known organizations. Not the small, mom and pop variety.
If your organization values its donors and desires a strong way to make use of the limited resources that are available, you need to make sure your web site speaks well of your mission, your people and your service in the community.
There are several web applications that can be affordable for even the smallest budgets over time, and that help you close the perceived communication gap.
Some ideas:
1. Develop a strong web site infrastructure that will grow with your organization at no additional expense. There are a lot of great web designers and programmers out there. Find one that can give you a web site built with a strong architecture - a structure that allows you to continue to grow your web site without always having to return to them for more expenses and programming.
2. Use your limited human capacity as well as possible through strong technology. Make sure that you have a suitable content management system (CMS) that will allow you to add new content with a few clicks of the mouse...or delete content without having to go through people and money to get it done. This will allow you to organize your business so that everyone can help accomplish the same goal.
3. Provide online giving. All your donor needs is a reason and a way to give online for you to see increases in donations. There are several solutions to help you get there. You can use PayPal. There are several non-profit services that take donations. But there is nothing as good as having a customized donation and online giving page that keeps your donor on your web site. It may cost a little more up front, but in the long-run your web site user will appreciate the trustworthy experience much more and therefore also be more apt to return.
4. Develop brand consistency online. If your web site looks poorly constructed or changes to different looks and styles from page to page, you'll sabotage your own efforts. Don't spend minimally to recreate a poorly designed site. It is better not to use that money at all and pull down your site.
Better yet, take the time to carefully consider the options available to you through a marketing consultant or web developer, and then make the plunge into the 21st century. Your donors, board of directors and bottom line will appreciate it.
For more great articles, go to Mergeleftmarketing.com.
About the Author
Martin is focused on bringing easy to understand, relevant business solutions to the table so that your company can feast on success. With expertise in marketing, brand management and web- based development, Martin will give you the straight talk on how your brand development and marketing collateral needs to improve.
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Recent Non-Profit Articles
Non-profit...Or Not Just Not Profiting?
Do you run a church or non-profit organization Is your organization donation-based Is your company a 501(C)3 If you run a non-profit, you might be surprised at the changes in landscape that can help you create an online experience that would even surpass secular businesses.
Youth Peace Project
YOUTH PEACE PROJECT Our community peace project this year is a Youth Arts and Entrepreneur Conference. The theme of the conference is My Future is Bright Because... Young people from grades 4 to 12 will bring their own designs and learn how to use a heat press and button maker to manufacture their own t-shirts and buttons.
Fighting the War for Talent: Retaining Generation Y in the Nonprofit Sector
Educated. Tech-Savvy. Idealistic. Self-Absorbed. The "Me" Generation. Impatient. Call us what you want, but Generation Y (made up of 70 million people born between 1977 and 2002) is indeed the future of the workplace in America, and undoubtedly comprises the next generation of nonprofit leaders.
Seasonal Fundraising Ideas
The calendar can provide some great inspiration when looking for fundraising ideas for your group. The changing seasons, holidays and other calendar related events can create good opportunities for fundraisers that can be repeated year after year.
Wish List Fundraiser
"Wish list fundraiser" could be considered to be a misnomer. When you create a wish list for your nonprofit group and receive a contribution from it, have you created a new fundraising source or saved yourself from spending your hard earned fundraising dollars Actually .
Product Fundraising in the Workplace vs. Office Etiquette
A recent phone call from a Los Angeles Times reporter for some back ground information (yeah, I was kind of amazed too) got me thinking on this subject. But given the time of year it's relevant to think about and go over some of the issues involved.
Recycle Printer Cartridges & Cell Phones Fundraiser
Most folks wouldn't dream that recycling something they normally throw away could be a very lucrative fundraiser. You would be overlooking a great new low impact fundraiser if you ignore the potential untapped profit a printer cartridge and cell phone recycling fundraiser could be earning for your group.
Rebate Fundraisers
Twenty years ago nobody would have thought that by just doing your day-to-day shopping for groceries you could be fundraising for your group. Or that your usual shopping for household and business items could be generating money for your nonprofit too.
Fundraising with Cookbooks
Cookbooks have been popular fundraisers for years. They started out with church and women's groups and have now spread like wildfire. It's because they can be produced by almost any size group, club, team, or nonprofit organization.
Bill MacKenzie to Speak at Celebrate Tualatin
For more information, contact: Shelly Jones, MEDIA ALERT Bill MacKenzie to Speak at Celebrate Tualatin January 29, 2008 (Tualatin, OR) The Tualatin Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce that Bill MacKenzie, Communications Manager for Intel Texas and Intel Oregon, will be the speaker at the "Celebrate Tualatin" volunteer recognition dinner on April 17, 2008 at the Tualatin Country Club (9145 SW Tualatin Road, Tualatin, OR 97062).
The 50-50 Raffle Fundraiser
The 50-50 raffle fundraiser. It's not the most glamorous fundraiser. Or even the most productive fundraiser for the amount of money it raises. But when used correctly, the 50-50 raffle can be a steady ongoing source of fundraising revenue for almost any size or type of nonprofit group.
Hot Items for Your Charity Auction Fundraiser
Procurement is perhaps the most important part of planning your charity fundraising auction. The success of your auction depends on the value and demand for items up for bid. Your team in charge of procurement should be looking for items, experiences, and activities that are not easily purchased.
What's on Your Fundraising Calendar
It doesn't matter if your nonprofit has 30,000 members, 3,000 members, 300 members, or 30 members. Scheduling your organization's fundraisers to take maximum advantage of the calendar is a no-brainer.
Choose the Right Catering Service for Your Fundraising Event
When food is a part of your fundraising event you must choose a catering service wisely. How your guests remember your fundraiser will greatly depend on what they thought of the food and service. Those memories, good or bad, will influence them when it comes time to think about attending your next fundraising event.
Choosing a Nonprofit Email Newsletter Provider
One of the most important decisions you'll ever have to make about your nonprofit email newsletter is which company to choose for delivery. Choose wrong and maybe your newsletter will never see the light of day in your members email inbox.