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Leverage the Power of Storytelling Technology to Raise More Funds
My maternal grandmother left Italy for the United States at age 19 and cried throughout the entire transatlantic voyage. She didn’t know when she’d see her mother again nor what fate awaited her in a strange land. Fortunately, she found piecework at a raincoat factory and survived on a few dollars a week. I know about these and other memories, because I interviewed her with a hand-held video camera some [...]
Nonprofit Tech: 5 Types of Software to Elevate Productivity
In a world full of people constantly striving for perfection, it’s only natural for your nonprofit to crave new levels of speed, efficiency, and time management in your everyday projects. That being said, your nonprofit team are not superheroes, and there are definitely times when juggling every task — from fundraiser development and data tracking to marketing and communications — can be just too overwhelming. Luckily, that’s where all the [...]
Nonprofit Hiring: The Right Degree?
Are liberal arts degrees the norm in the nonprofit sector? These days, many recent college graduates experience cautious optimism. The world is at their fingertips, but what lucrative direction will their degrees take them? For liberal arts graduates in areas such as sociology and philosophy, job prospects could seem limited - on the surface. However, isn’t the nonprofit realm a place of comfort where such job seekers may utilize [...]
7 Reasons to Serve on a Nonprofit Board
It may sound a little self-serving, but there's an easy way to advance your career, get networked, while you're also doing good for others. Serve on a nonprofit board. Of course, the primary reason you should serve on a nonprofit board is that you want to make the world a better place and you care about the cause. But, serving on a board and bringing your knowledge, energy, and [...]
Nonprofits and Data: You Can’t Know Too Much
This post was originally published on our sister site, Third Sector Today Jamey Heinze, Chief Marketing Officer at CDS Global, recently spoke at the 2014 Bridge to Integrated Marketing & Fundraising Conference on the topic of how nonprofits can utilize certain marketing techniques more effectively than for-profits can. The full discussion can be found in a brand new white paper: “The Nonprofit vs. For-Profit Marketing Approach: Ten Techniques Your Organization Should Consider.” In [...]
The of Roots of Fundraising: How We Got Here
Let's take a look at the roots of fundraising. Did the history of professional fundraising in the U.S. begin with the Village People? Not exactly, but the YMCA played a significant role. The origins of America were ripe with fundraising, as the wealthy came to the aid of the new colonies, according to Philanthropy in America: A Comprehensive Historical Encyclopedia, Volume 1 (ed. Dwight Burlingame). The philanthropy gave the [...]
Proving ROI of Your Non-Viral Digital Campaign
This piece is based on the Proving ROI: Quantitative and Qualitative Measures of a Successful Digital Campaign workshop presented by Devon Hopkins and Leah Stern at NTEN's 2017 Nonprofit Technology Conference. So you’ve successfully launched your most recent digital campaign. It’s catchy, it’s meaningful, and it’s got a pretty amazing hashtag. Sounds like you’re on your way to going #IceBucketChallenge-level viral, right? I hope so. The Ice Bucket [...]
Brand & Creative Process Q&A with Keri Goff at DoSomething.org
Craig Van Korlaar (TopNonprofits): DoSomething is special. It is one of the youngest organizations in terms of age and audience in the Top 100 Nonprofits List, yet it ranks all the way up at #5. With me today is Keri Goff, the Creative Director and Producer at DoSomething.org. Preview of the Topics Covered Description of DoSomething.org's Brand Role and responsibilities of a Creative Director Keri's definition of Brand Brand Advice for [...]
5 Important Tips for Succession Planning
Succession planning for nonprofit organizations requires more attention. A CompassPoint and Meyer Foundation study in 2011 found that only 17% of nonprofits surveyed had a document detailing their succession planning. However, 67% of executive directors anticipated leaving the organization within the next five years. Further, the study found nearly a third of current directors (31%) had tenure of fewer than three years, which was more than the 27% of executives [...]
Planned Giving’s Role in Your Development Strategy: 6 Steps
Seeking out new revenue streams helps your nonprofit maintain healthy and diverse funding sources. Among these sources, planned giving has the potential to provide long-term, reliable support. However, compared to other fundraising strategies, its potential role in nonprofit development is often overlooked. Regardless of the size, mission, or budget of your organization, planned giving should be a part of your development plan. If you have a strong donor base, solid [...]
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