
Today, I received an email asking me to take a survey on the nonprofit sector and encountered a number of obstacles in getting to the survey. Here is my assessment and tips for improving the process. Read the rest of this entry »

Today, I received an email asking me to take a survey on the nonprofit sector and encountered a number of obstacles in getting to the survey. Here is my assessment and tips for improving the process. Read the rest of this entry »
In Madison Square Park today, people were handing out postcards with a pack of gum taped on. Free gum was an enticing offer and got me to take the postcard. The card itself had a compelling headline that invites you to find out more. Turns out, this is a promotion for a church. It’s not the first time that innovative marketing has helped promote religion – it seems to be part of a larger trend of reaching people “where they are” rather than where the church is. It makes use of low-cost marketing tactics that you can apply to your campaign. Here’s why I think this piece is effective:

Here’s one way to extend your message to a new audience of people that may not have heard of you – partner with another organization that has a sizable distribution. The Fresh Air Fund is able to reach millions of New Yorkers by striking a deal with Con Edison to include a “bill stuffer” solicitation envelope in their invoices to their customers. The insert is a self-addressed envelope that makes it very easy to respond with a donation.
WAKE UP CALL: What relationships (board members, donors, vendors, etc.) can you leverage to extend your message inexpensively?

I recently received an invitation for a fundraising event that had the standard ticket prices already sold out. As a donor that supported the organization in the past, what do you think my response was? Not a positive one – that’s for sure. In fact, it made me feel unappreciated. I felt that as a donor, they did not value me enough to engage me at the level I was accustomed to. And it made me wonder: Who are the people who got the tickets first – and why was I not on the list? That’s not the type of response you want your donors to have.
WAKE UP CALL: Don’t isolate your donors and jeopardize your relationship with them. Show them that you value them and provide opportunities for them to give at the level they are comfortable with.

People often say that they wish they knew “how to network.” There’s no doubt that networking is an essential component of success. What surprises me, however, is the extent to which many people think of networking as some sort of exotic art (it’s not) or something that’s only taught in business school (it isn’t).
Like many good things in life, networking takes practice, enthusiasm and patience. And it works. Imagine if I told you that people who are not part of your social network, or your family, or your profession would be willing to help you succeed. Without charging you a penny. They will, but only if you ask them. Only if you tell them what you need. And only if it’s a mutually beneficial relationship.

From Business Wire
In partnership with All for Good, YouTube is launching “Video Volunteers,” a platform designed to make connections between non-profit organizations with video needs and skilled video makers who can help broadcast their causes through video. Video Volunteers will pool nonprofit, video-related volunteer postings from All for Good and then match them up with YouTubers who want to volunteer their video-creating skills to make a difference.
Because many YouTubers have amassed a large online audience, the influence of their work on behalf of nonprofits can have a big effect in raising the profile of the causes nonprofits are working on and can drive others online to take action. Here’s how it works: Starting today, nonprofits can post video assignments (with the words “Video Volunteers” in the description) on idealist.org, serve.gov or volunteermatch.org; these posts will be cycled through the Video Volunteers feed of the All for Good widget on youtube.com/videovolunteers. YouTube Video Volunteers can visit youtube.com/videovolunteers to pick up assignments directly from nonprofits. Select videos will be showcased on the Video Volunteers YouTube channel and in other high-traffic areas of YouTube.

So you’re starting a nonprofit organization or have one and want to know how to build or strengthen your brand. Well, what is a brand? Is it advertising, your spokesperson. a logo? Read the rest of this entry »

This article from ThirdSector discusses a new concept in Britain to help channel more money to those that need it. This solution addresses a growing concern in the United States as well that lower-income populations are not being served well by nonprofits.
Call to give philanthropists tax breaks when they donate to poor areas
Major donors should pay less tax if they make donations to charities based in disadvantaged regions, according to the Community Foundation Network. The network represents charities that support local communities. The recommendation is one of 29 made in its Manifesto for Community Philanthropists, published this week. Read the rest of this entry »

I just received a direct mail piece from Audubon that I think is effective (of course I don’t know what actual results were). Here are the elements and graphic techniques that I think make this piece appealing: Read the rest of this entry »

Another in our series documenting Culture Jamming. Spotted on Fifth Avenue and 19th Street, NYC.