What’s in my Inbox | Is your nonprofit’s email communications missing this key component?

October 13, 2015

What’s missing more often than not in nonprofit communications? If you said ‘fun,’ you’re right. Who says nonprofit communications have to be dry and boring? Imparting a genuine sense of fun will go a long way towards growing your email list and encouraging action. Case in point, this fabulous campaign from Heifer International, a nonprofit […]

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Power of Nonprofit Storytelling | The ‘Go Fund Me effect’ (or, what charities can learn about storytelling)

October 12, 2015

Today’s Power of Nonprofit Storytelling post was originally published on the Gemma Pettman blog. Just lately I have noticed something of an explosion in the number of crowdfunding pages being set up to support individuals or families going through tough times. If you’re not familiar with crowdfunding it’s essentially a way of supporting a project or […]

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Fundraising Friday | October 9, 2015

October 9, 2015

The title of the video is “Learn It Young. Remember It Forever.” Immediately, I wondered what this “It” could possibly be. This week’s Power of Nonprofit Storytelling. This week’s What’s in my Inbox, featuring a specific, solid e-appeal you can learn from. This week’s What’s in my Mailbox features a print donor newsletter, along with […]

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My easy secret from Stephen Covey to skyrocket your year-end fundraising (*free* download!)

October 8, 2015

2015 is flying by, isn’t it? If you’re not already planning out your year-end fundraising, there’s no time like now to start. If you’re old enough to remember when The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, first published in 1989, you’ll love today’s tip. Seven Habits is a business and self-help book written by Stephen […]

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What’s in my Mailbox | A Donor Love Newsletter

October 7, 2015

I’m a monthly donor to Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation,   a nonprofit organization that “keeps music alive in our schools by donating musical instruments to under-funded music programs, giving youngsters the many benefits of music education, helping them to be better students and inspiring creativity and expression through playing music.” You can learn more about […]

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What’s in my Inbox | A specific, solid e-appeal

October 6, 2015

Center for Biological Diversity‘s plea to help save the lives of wolves captured my attention and held it. For one thing, there’s the headline: 12 Bucks to Kill a Wolf — How Much to Save One? I wanted to know the answer to the question posited in the email’s title and was compelled to read […]

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Power of Nonprofit Storytelling | “Learn It Young. Remember It Forever” A Powerful Video

October 5, 2015

The title of the video is “Learn It Young. Remember It Forever.” Immediately, I wondered what this “It” could possibly be. “It” turns out to be potentially life-changing and life-saving. The video opens with the powerful imagery and sound and for a moment, you really become lost in the loud crashing of the waves and […]

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Fundraising Friday | October 2, 2015

October 2, 2015

Teach for America, a member of our 2015 Nonprofit Storytelling | Basics & More™ course, really ‘gets’ the power of storytelling, and if you take a look at their website, their relationship to storytelling couldn’t be more obvious. This week’s Power of Nonprofit Storytelling. A great fundraiser takes advantage of every opportunity to make new […]

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The 411 on Matching Gifts

September 30, 2015

Who doesn’t love a buy one get one free offer? Whether purchasing a favorite cereal or brand of socks during a two for the price of one sale, it’s hard to not feel like you’re winning. Employee matching gift programs are the buy one get one free offers of the fundraising world. With the right […]

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What’s in my Mailbox | Time and resource strapped? Try a “newsyletter!”

September 30, 2015

Nonprofit communications are vitally important. They keep your organization current, relevant, and fresh in the minds of your supporters. You want to keep your people in the know, especially since you don’t want them to forget about you! Communications are key in establishing sustainable long-term donor relationships between you and them. Yours may involve the […]

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What’s in my Inbox | The “new donor” opportunity you’re probably missing!

September 29, 2015

Online giving is on the rise, with some attributing upwards of a third of all revenue raised online directly to email. Email fundraising, while not free, is relatively inexpensive compared to direct mail and your opportunities for new donor prospecting are endless. Are you taking advantage of the opportunity by welcoming new supporters into the […]

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Power of Nonprofit Storytelling | You can never have too many stories

September 28, 2015

Teach for America, a member of our 2015 Nonprofit Storytelling | Basics & More™ course, totally understands the power of storytelling, and if you take a look at their website, their relationship to storytelling couldn’t be more obvious. Their site is peppered with compelling stories that capture your attention, emotionally inspire you, and motivate you […]

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Fundraising Friday | September 25, 2015

September 25, 2015

Do you remember Lisa Sargent’s brilliant treatise on changing communication styles? This week’s What’s in my Inbox, featuring an email from the current presidential campaign, is a perfect example of what we’re talking about. Honest. Raw. Authentic and emotionally compelling. I loved this week’s Power of Nonprofit Storytelling | Alfie the Astronaut – NSPCC TV […]

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What’s in my Mailbox | Keeping monthly donors close

September 23, 2015

For many donors, becoming a monthly sustainer to an organization means that you suddenly fall into a black hole where communications are concerned. Not the case with Brittany’s Hope, a non-profit organization dedicated to aiding abandoned children around the world. Ever since I became a monthly donor, I’ve become a cherished member of the Brittany’s […]

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What’s in my Inbox | Changing communications…political fundraising at its finest

September 22, 2015

Call me a glutton for punishment, but I thrive on political fundraising. There are always plenty of applicable lessons for the nonprofit sector, so, with every US presidential race, I sign up to receive every candidate’s emails. Yes. Every candidate. Overall, there have been few surprises. Trump is all about making us great again (but […]

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Power of Nonprofit Storytelling | Alfie the Astronaut – NSPCC TV Ad

September 21, 2015

What makes this ad, which clocks in at merely one minute, such a great slice of storytelling? There are two narratives woven throughout the piece. First, there is the experience that young Alfie is living as an astronaut. His experience lights up the screen, and it is his story, or, at least, part of it. […]

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Fundraising Friday | September 18, 2015

September 18, 2015

If you struggle with sharing stories due to client confidentiality regulations, take a cue from HONY. This week’s Power of Nonprofit Storytelling. What’s a nonprofit organization’s best friend when it comes to online donor acquisition? If you answered email marketing, you’re right. Why, then, are so many organizations failing to maximize this inexpensive tool? This […]

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Board Development on a Budget

September 16, 2015

By Susan Schaefer and Bob Wittig, co-authors of Nonprofit Board Service for the GENIUS We all have such lofty goals for our board. Some weeks, achieving a quorum might seem like an achievement! Small organizations have particular challenges since many board members are new to governance, and time or money may preclude formal training workshops […]

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What’s in my Mailbox | What lessons can you learn from this stellar direct mail monthly giving appeal?

September 16, 2015

The wider adoption of monthly giving (also known as regular giving or sustained giving) in the United States could itself transform philanthropy.The lifetime value of supporters giving in this way is estimated to be 600 to 800 percent higher than the annual giving (also known as cash giving) (McKinnon, 1999).     Growing Philanthropy in […]

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What’s in my Inbox | Three great nonprofit welcome emails

September 15, 2015

In addition to donor retention, every nonprofit needs to be thinking about donor acquisition. And email is your organization’s best friend when it comes to online donor acquisition. That said, your welcome email is a critical component of getting your email program off to a good start. It sets the stage — the tone — […]

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