Regardless of your organizations size or mission - and regardless of your politics - there are important lessons to learn from this historic campaign.
1) YOUR DONORS ARE'NT LISTENING TO YOU - They are listening to their friends, family and trusted advisers .
2) MILLENIALS ARE THE FUTURE - If you weren't already convinced, you should be now; Millenials rule! The fact is, they might well have decided the election. But if you're like most non profit organizations, 15-25 year old don't account for a significant portion of your donor database. You can't afford to ignore these 75 million Americans.
3) THE INTERNET = MORE THAN A PC - your message must be everywhere. You cannot overlook mobile communications.
4) YOUR DONORS ARE YOUR BEST FUNDRAISERS. - Obamas individual supporters greatly extended the reach of the campaign by self organizing political dinners, canvassing and raising money. People were awed by how quickly the Obama Campaign and movement grew.
5) GOOGLE IS THE KEY INFLUENCER - Google has fundamentally changed the way we shop and learn. Make sure you have a plan in place for getting discovered via search engines.
6) THE INTERNET IS LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD - Now even the smallest non profits have the opportunity to talk and be heard. Build your website and keep it updated, enable online donations, comment on peoples blogs and or start your own.
It is a new world. Do not get left out.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Friday, November 28, 2008
CHILDREN'S CHAMPION
" My parents always told me, 'Service is the rent we pay to be living,'" says Marian Wright Edelman, founder and president of the Children's Defense Fund (CDF), and through her influential children's advocacy organization, she has lived by that Motto. " I'm most proud of the fact that children's needs are more visible, " Edelman says. "But I thought I'd be out of business by now, that this country would do the right thing for children. It amazes me that the richest country in the world still has so much poverty."
70% of the estimated 2500 children the Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County serve are living on or below the Poverty level. It is the responsibility of our community to "pay or rent for living" by supporting the Boys & Girls Clubs. Our clubs give children the opportunity to learn, grow and dream. More importantly, our clubs save lives and give the children the skills they need to become productive, caring and responsible citizens.
To pay your rent, go to www.bgcofmanatee.org.
70% of the estimated 2500 children the Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County serve are living on or below the Poverty level. It is the responsibility of our community to "pay or rent for living" by supporting the Boys & Girls Clubs. Our clubs give children the opportunity to learn, grow and dream. More importantly, our clubs save lives and give the children the skills they need to become productive, caring and responsible citizens.
To pay your rent, go to www.bgcofmanatee.org.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Great Campaigns
GREAT CAMPAIGNS ARE NOT A DATE RANGE ON A CALENDAR - THEY ARE ABOUT AN AMAZING DESTINATION THAT YOU AND YOUR SUPPORTERS WANT TO REACH TOGETHER.
Banish "It's fundraising Season or It's that time again annual appeal..."
Start looking into donors' hearts and minds. We need to explain WHY GIVING NOW makes sense for them, Tell them what urgent, compelling, fascinating things they can achieve with their gifts. Express how their money will go further RIGHT THIS INSTANT. Spin them a story that engages them on their terms!
For example: We would like to raise $300,000 so we can send 100 children like this one boy through our outcome driving programs. If 300 people give $1,000 we can fill one of our clubs.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County Florida Mission:
"To enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens."
Banish "It's fundraising Season or It's that time again annual appeal..."
Start looking into donors' hearts and minds. We need to explain WHY GIVING NOW makes sense for them, Tell them what urgent, compelling, fascinating things they can achieve with their gifts. Express how their money will go further RIGHT THIS INSTANT. Spin them a story that engages them on their terms!
For example: We would like to raise $300,000 so we can send 100 children like this one boy through our outcome driving programs. If 300 people give $1,000 we can fill one of our clubs.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County Florida Mission:
"To enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens."
Thursday, October 30, 2008
HOW TO DEFEND YOUR MARKETING BUDGET
EVEN IN TOUGH TIMES, CUTTING MARKETING BACK IS A BAD MOVE....
You must proactively respond.
You must prove why it is needed.
Arm yourself with as many hard stats and success stories you can.
Show your case.
TRACK your plan and progress:
You must proactively respond.
You must prove why it is needed.
Arm yourself with as many hard stats and success stories you can.
Show your case.
TRACK your plan and progress:
- Direct Marketing - response rate; dollars earned per dollar amount (ROI)
- Media Relations - Development of media relationships; coverage by media type (newspaper, magazine, web, broadcast); Actions that result (increase in donations, volunteers, new program participants
- Public Speaking - number of speaking engagements and presentations
Monday, October 13, 2008
GHANDI'S FIVE FUNDAMENTALS FOR CHANGING THE WORLD
Gandhi's Five Fundamentals for Changing the World
Mahatma Gandhi's wisdom and inspiration transcends time and place. The remarkable spiritual leader led the Indian people to independence from British rule in 1947 and his teachings continue to resonate - particularly relevant in tumultuous times. Here are is top five tips for serving as an effective change agent and leader in a chaotic world.
1) CHANGE YOURSELF FIRST.
As human beings, our greatness lies not so much in being able to remake the world - that is the myth of the atomic age - as in being able to remake ourselves. If you change yourself, you will change your world.
2) FORGIVE AND LET IT GO.
Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong. An eye for eye only ends up making the whole world blind. If you don't forgive, then you let the past and another person control how you feel. By forgiving you release yourself from those bonds.
3) ACT NOW.
An ounce of practice is worth more than tons of preaching. Without taking action very little will be done. However, taking action can be hard work and difficult. There can be much inner resistance.
4) LIVE IN THIS MOMENT.
I do not want to foresee the future. I am concerned with taking care of the present. I have no control over the moment following. The best way to overcome the inner resistance that often stops us from taking action is to stay in the present as much as possible and to be accepting.
5) PERSIST.
First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win. Be persistent. In time, the opposition around you will fade and fall away. And your inner resistance and self sabotaging tendencies that want to hold you back will weaken, you will manifest your most essential gifts.
In all that you do, be congruent, be authentic, and be your true self. You will achieve happiness when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony. Always aim at complete harmony of thought and word and deed. Always aim at purifying your thoughts and everything will be well. And on that path, always remain open to change and continuous growth.
Mahatma Gandhi's wisdom and inspiration transcends time and place. The remarkable spiritual leader led the Indian people to independence from British rule in 1947 and his teachings continue to resonate - particularly relevant in tumultuous times. Here are is top five tips for serving as an effective change agent and leader in a chaotic world.
1) CHANGE YOURSELF FIRST.
As human beings, our greatness lies not so much in being able to remake the world - that is the myth of the atomic age - as in being able to remake ourselves. If you change yourself, you will change your world.
2) FORGIVE AND LET IT GO.
Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong. An eye for eye only ends up making the whole world blind. If you don't forgive, then you let the past and another person control how you feel. By forgiving you release yourself from those bonds.
3) ACT NOW.
An ounce of practice is worth more than tons of preaching. Without taking action very little will be done. However, taking action can be hard work and difficult. There can be much inner resistance.
4) LIVE IN THIS MOMENT.
I do not want to foresee the future. I am concerned with taking care of the present. I have no control over the moment following. The best way to overcome the inner resistance that often stops us from taking action is to stay in the present as much as possible and to be accepting.
5) PERSIST.
First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win. Be persistent. In time, the opposition around you will fade and fall away. And your inner resistance and self sabotaging tendencies that want to hold you back will weaken, you will manifest your most essential gifts.
In all that you do, be congruent, be authentic, and be your true self. You will achieve happiness when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony. Always aim at complete harmony of thought and word and deed. Always aim at purifying your thoughts and everything will be well. And on that path, always remain open to change and continuous growth.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
12 WAYS FOR FUNDRAISERS TO FACE THE ECONOMY
From the Agitator, 7 Fundraising Tips for Surviving 2008:
1) Don't Whine.
2) Re-Project and Take it Upstairs.
3) Advance the time-table for your year-end campaigns.
4) Resist Your Natural Instincts.
5) Engage your core donors as you never have before.
6) Do not lose the courage of your convictions.
7) Don't expect that the "good old days" will ever return.
From Fundraising Success magazine, Five Tactics to Rev Up Fundraising in a Down Economy:
1) Connect with your donors' pain.
2) Call mid to major donors now.
3) Begin year-end campaigns in September with installment options.
4) Use Alternative giving vehicles.
5) Focus on segmentation and target total net incomes (not return on investment or revenue)
1) Don't Whine.
2) Re-Project and Take it Upstairs.
3) Advance the time-table for your year-end campaigns.
4) Resist Your Natural Instincts.
5) Engage your core donors as you never have before.
6) Do not lose the courage of your convictions.
7) Don't expect that the "good old days" will ever return.
From Fundraising Success magazine, Five Tactics to Rev Up Fundraising in a Down Economy:
1) Connect with your donors' pain.
2) Call mid to major donors now.
3) Begin year-end campaigns in September with installment options.
4) Use Alternative giving vehicles.
5) Focus on segmentation and target total net incomes (not return on investment or revenue)
Sunday, September 21, 2008
DONORS: WHAT THEY GET IS KEY TO WHAT THEY GIVE
THE BENEFIT EXCHANGE:
What do I get for my money? If I'm fundraising, there are many possible benefit exchanges I can offer my donors - faith in themselves, inspiration, a feeling of accomplishment, or , on a more mundane level, a plastic wristband or logo-laden coffee mug.
Think about this formula the next time you ask for money. Remind donors of the returns of giving, which are precious indeed.
The qualities of a great "benefit exchange" are:
IMMEDIATE - What will the donor get right away
BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF MANATEE COUNTY: Your gift of $1,000 TODAY will sponsor one child for one year in our clubs.
PERSONAL - need to believe from our message that the reward we're offering for taking action will make something better for them personally.
BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF MANATEE COUNTY: Besides being a tax benefit to you (donor), your gift will give children a place to go after school to learn and grow and develop into responsible and caring citizens thus securing a safer neighborhood for you and your community. You are doing your part which will positively impact many.
RELEVANT - Plug into existing mindsets
BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF MANATEE COUNTY: Today, Now, crime rate is high, Gangs are out of control and Poverty is growing. Your donation is a step towards investing in the children of your community. If they are in attendance at our clubs after school, they do not have idle time to participate in gangs and drugs. In addition, the skills and knowledge the clubs provide give children the tools needed to make healthy decisions. In addition, 85% of children attending our clubs graduate high school. With a high school diploma, the child is eligible for a good paying job thus eliminating the chance of poverty.
The Boys & Girls Club Movement is clearly a community problem solver, thus every living human being in the community receives the maximum "benefit exchange" when they invest in our clubs.
What do I get for my money? If I'm fundraising, there are many possible benefit exchanges I can offer my donors - faith in themselves, inspiration, a feeling of accomplishment, or , on a more mundane level, a plastic wristband or logo-laden coffee mug.
Think about this formula the next time you ask for money. Remind donors of the returns of giving, which are precious indeed.
The qualities of a great "benefit exchange" are:
IMMEDIATE - What will the donor get right away
BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF MANATEE COUNTY: Your gift of $1,000 TODAY will sponsor one child for one year in our clubs.
PERSONAL - need to believe from our message that the reward we're offering for taking action will make something better for them personally.
BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF MANATEE COUNTY: Besides being a tax benefit to you (donor), your gift will give children a place to go after school to learn and grow and develop into responsible and caring citizens thus securing a safer neighborhood for you and your community. You are doing your part which will positively impact many.
RELEVANT - Plug into existing mindsets
BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF MANATEE COUNTY: Today, Now, crime rate is high, Gangs are out of control and Poverty is growing. Your donation is a step towards investing in the children of your community. If they are in attendance at our clubs after school, they do not have idle time to participate in gangs and drugs. In addition, the skills and knowledge the clubs provide give children the tools needed to make healthy decisions. In addition, 85% of children attending our clubs graduate high school. With a high school diploma, the child is eligible for a good paying job thus eliminating the chance of poverty.
The Boys & Girls Club Movement is clearly a community problem solver, thus every living human being in the community receives the maximum "benefit exchange" when they invest in our clubs.
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