#fundchat - Latest Comments

Re: This Week’s #fundchat – Twitter Tips & Tricks For Nonprofits

Steph Tanner — Mon, 08 Aug 2016 16:56:32 -0000

Thanks for posting! I am always looking for new advice! I write for nonprofit organizations on stephtanner.com

Re: Live Discussion

Mary Cahalane — Wed, 16 Jul 2014 11:59:39 -0000

#fundchat, and I'm actually on time for once. :) Good to be here!

Re: Live Discussion

Brendan Kinney — Tue, 08 Jul 2014 10:09:07 -0000

Ken, a good place to start: http://www.councilofnonprof...

Re: Live Discussion

Jason Nicosia — Tue, 08 Jul 2014 10:01:33 -0000

Looking good! Ready to finally be back in the loop!

Re: #fundchat – Millennials Are Crucial To Future Of Nonprofits

yougivegoods — Wed, 25 Jun 2014 11:55:52 -0000

I've found online programs to be a good way to do it. I'll plug my organization here, but this is true of really any virtual tool. http://www.yougivegoods.com is an online food and supply drive platform. Individuals or groups make an online page for your nonprofit seeking donations of goods. To really promote this well, they have to tell your story. For Millennials, who are very internet savvy and often very busy, this is a great way to fit into their every day lives, networks, and timeframes.

Re: Getting More From Your Smaller Donors

yougivegoods — Wed, 25 Jun 2014 11:52:58 -0000

I love your blogs. Just wanted to add in that in kind giving is a great way to support where you can. Canned goods, school supplies, etc. That makes a big difference, and lets nonprofits move unrestricted funds to other bills that are often harder to get donations to cover.

Re: #fundchat – Millennials Are Crucial To Future Of Nonprofits

Josh Hirsch — Tue, 03 Jun 2014 15:52:21 -0000

Im curious as to how one can best engage Millennials to become brand ambassadors for your nonprofit. I'd also like suggestions on how to best engage Millennials in educational nonprofits. Our parent population is comprised of a large percentage of Millennials.

Re: This Week’s #fundchat: Nonprofit Board Basics

Tonya Heathco — Tue, 20 May 2014 18:11:50 -0000

Does your nonprofit Board consist of members across the state or across the nation? Which is the most popular title in NP Boards, CEO or Pres?

Re: This Week’s #fundchat: Nonprofit Board Basics

Jen Brett Fraser — Tue, 20 May 2014 16:33:30 -0000

+ Here's the article "Warning Signs of Board Underperformance" that had me start mulling this topic: http://www.massnonprofit.or...

Re: This Week’s #fundchat: Nonprofit Board Basics

Brendan Kinney — Tue, 20 May 2014 15:00:23 -0000

Question ideas from @OutsideVoiceCom

Re: This Week’s #fundchat: Nonprofit Board Basics

Josh Hirsch — Tue, 20 May 2014 14:56:49 -0000

Possible questions for this week's #fundchat:
Does your nonprofit organization require a give or get from Board members?
What is the process for recruiting new Board members in your nonprofit organization?
Do Board members go through a training on how to fundraise?

Re: The Quickest Way To Lose A Donor

Dennis Fischman — Sat, 17 May 2014 19:31:24 -0000

Thanks, Ger...I mean, WATurner. I wish I could say the problem was solved, but I received another "Bernard" email just today!

Re: Are You Sending Donors The Wrong Message?

Ngozi Charles Udofia — Thu, 15 May 2014 08:50:54 -0000

i think most organisations may not know the intent behind the cause for giving just like my organisation 'The Rural People' we are reaching out to a community this saturday with free medical check-ups and nutritional drugs yet we dont even know how to reach people about it.

Re: Are You Sending Donors The Wrong Message?

Addie McGowan — Wed, 14 May 2014 15:05:54 -0000

Robin, I agree with the sentiment that it can be seen as unfair to pull support without giving an answer why. However, this is a classic example of the disconnect between development professionals and donors. Although they are both well intended, they are approaching giving from their own point-of-views.

Donors are seeing their contributions as a customer would see customer service. They demand transparency and to be asked about their decisions and motivations. It is their hard earned money, and should not have to think to explain why they now want to spend it elsewhere.

Development professionals are working hard and wearing many hats. They usually care passionately about the cause and sometimes forget that not everyone sees their side of the story (or understands their vocabulary, processes, or methodology). When someone pulls support, development profs should realize it's their responsibility to proactively ask why. Better yet, put some steps in the front end to understand the donor better.

I understand this all requires a lot of work and care on limited resources. But, as in pretty much every industry now, a culture of listening and collecting opinions on the front end should be created. To Dennis' point, often the wrong message sent is not the intended one, and it's important to see your operations through the donor's point of view.

Great dialogue, all!

Re: Are You Sending Donors The Wrong Message?

Robin — Tue, 13 May 2014 11:38:04 -0000

Though I completely feel your pain as a development professional, I don't think it's completely fair to write them off without telling them why. Yes, you picked to give to Haiti for personal reasons, but many gave to Haiti because it was a horrible disaster that needed help. They don't know you were compelled to give because it was Haiti, not just in response to a horrible disaster. I think if you give a gift and include a note that says you are not interested in supporting other disasters through AJC, but are compelled to do so for Haiti and THEN they solicit you for other disasters, fine, take them off your list. But by just giving to one fund, you haven't completely said "me, me, I'm only Haiti."

Re: Anatomy Of An Ask (Infographic)

Clay Myers-Bowman — Fri, 09 May 2014 11:18:36 -0000

This is an awesome graphic!

Re: The Quickest Way To Lose A Donor

WATurner — Wed, 07 May 2014 11:18:05 -0000

I feel your pain Dennis, and admire your persistence in trying to fix the problem. The DNC has been calling me Gerald for some unknown reason, and it's damned irritating. As direct marketers we know they should know better.

Re: The Quickest Way To Lose A Donor

Dennis Fischman — Mon, 05 May 2014 17:47:20 -0000

Happy to say that Fundraising/Donor Relations Coordinator Loren Lynch wrote me back today pledging to fix my name in the database. She also promises to get the Social Media person to pay attention when people are blogging about The Nation. This story may yet have a happy ending. Still...don't let it happen to your nonprofit!

Re: How To Mobilize ‘Slacktivists’ For Your Cause

Daniel Buckley — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 13:00:52 -0000

Here are a few potential questions:
How are slacktivists different than nondonors on your file?
What channels or actions have proven successful for you when engaging or converting slacktivists?
How does slacktivism compare with more traditional forms of engagement, such as with advertising?
And a bigger one...Are slacktivists a real thing?

And, here's another great article on slacktivism, from Beth Kanter:
http://www.bethkanter.org/s...

Re: How To Mobilize ‘Slacktivists’ For Your Cause

Josh Hirsch — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 10:27:14 -0000

Potential questions for tomorrow's #fundchat:
Does your organization identify/seek out slacktivists to help promote the cause/nonprofit?
Do you provide incentive for slacktivists to support your organization?
What is the difference between a slacktivist and a supporter?
How do you convert a slacktivist into a supporter/donor?

Re: The Future of Social Activism (Infographic)

Brendan Kinney — Fri, 11 Apr 2014 16:11:13 -0000

I would agree that activism isn't the only solution to societal problems (we have plenty of examples to back that notion). If the only benefit of a more "slacktivist" approach means that more people are aware of an issue, then perhaps that's good enough?

Re: The Future of Social Activism (Infographic)

Brendan Kinney — Fri, 11 Apr 2014 16:09:04 -0000

I was intrigued by a recent study that concluded:

"...In other words, those whose initial act of support is done more
privately (for example, writing to a member of Congress) are more likely
to engage in deeper, more costly forms of engagement later on. Those
whose initial support is public (i.e. through posting to Facebook or
Twitter) are less likely to engage more deeply. Moreover, the
researchers find that most appeals for token engagement “promote
slacktivism among all but those highly connected to the cause.”

Obviously, one study does not mean certainty on the issue, but if "deep engagement" is what organizations are after, less public forms of support seem the best approach.

See the full article here: http://www.washingtonpost.c...

Re: The Future of Social Activism (Infographic)

Amy DeVita — Fri, 11 Apr 2014 15:47:05 -0000

Thanks for the infographic...I think it's really a great profile. It also leads, logically,for one to think about the way in which this group of Activists spreads the word of their boycott, support, etc---social media and on mobile devices . So, I would think about how my organization is represented using that perspective. Also -Interesting report from Mashable: Millennials Trust User Generated Content 50% More than Other Media http://mashable.com/2014/04...

To the other point of the post, I really dislike the term "Slacktivism" . Why not call it "Slapinthefaceactivism"? I guess some "clever" wordsmith thought of GenY/Millennials as Slackers (I believe that the term "slacker" actually belongs to my era of Gen X-ers!) who seem to be involved in Activism. How better to punish good deeds than create a pejorative term with which to label? And, I agree with Leslie Allen's point: It was always my understanding that the psychology behind philanthropy lies deeply within the "feel good" motivation.

My two cents: If someone is willing to help, in any form that they are capable, it is worthy of sincere gratitude. Great discussion, Brendan--I'm looking forward to following it!

Re: The Future of Social Activism (Infographic)

Leslie Allen, FrontRangeSource — Fri, 11 Apr 2014 10:22:17 -0000

Haven't activism and philanthropy always been about how they make us feel? It seems to me that every generation has a slightly different way of communicating based on their place in time, but we all take action to make ourselves feel good in some way. I don't think this generation is any different. And since when does activism have to have a practical effect? If that were the case, all the activists for long-term change like ending homeless or stopping climate change might as well just throw in the towel, regardless of their age. Thanks for sharing this great infographic!

Re: Don’t Be Alarmed, I’m A Prospect Researcher

David Lamb — Thu, 10 Apr 2014 17:09:33 -0000

Nicely done, Preeti. A wonderful, positive statement of how thoughtful prospect research serves both the nonprofit and the donor.