July 2008 Entries
The NonProfit Times recently conducted a survey which shows that twice as many donors research a charity online after receiving a direct mail solicitation than they did three years ago. The NonProfit Times had Opinion Research Corporation (ORC) repeat a study that it did three years ago for The NPT. ORC asked 1,000 adults, “When you receive a mail solicitation from a charity, which of the following places on the Internet do you look at before deciding whether to give money?” The options were these – look up the organization on the Internet; visit the organization’s website;...
posted @ Thursday, July 31, 2008 10:20 AM |
On Friday, July 25, the IRS informed an unnamed organization which claims to work “for the advancement of Christianity and for other charitable purposes” that it is not eligible for federal tax exemption as a church under US tax code Section 501(c)(3). The group stated that it holds “street ministry” activities and wants to rent a facility and purchase musical equipment for indoor services. The group also said it has tentative plans to launch a Christian school once it is “fully established.” The group’s board is composed of its pastor (founder and chairman of the board),...
posted @ Wednesday, July 30, 2008 10:45 AM |
At a conference in Washington last week, Jon Duschinsky, an international fundraising expert, told his audience that American charities might soon be competing with organizations worldwide for donations. With the rise of online giving, donors are no longer hampered by geographic boundaries when choosing organizations to support. Mr. Duschinsky, founder of Bethechange Consulting in Paris, said that globalization is forcing non-profits to realize that their world is changing. For example, American donors who are interested in medical research are no longer limited to supporting American hospitals or scientists. They can easily find information about new research and...
posted @ Tuesday, July 29, 2008 9:46 AM |
In 2007, charitable bequests rose to $23.15 billion, and foundation giving also rose to $38.52 billion, a 10.3% increase. Campbell & Company President Peter Fissinger says this information from the Giving USA 2008 study may indicate that the generational transfer of wealth is beginning. With this increase in bequests and foundation giving, charitable organizations need to have knowledgeable staff ready to discuss planned giving and major giving strategies with clients. In doing so, charities may be less affected by the sluggish economy. Mike Poston, vice president for advancement at Guilford College, says that while a slow economy...
posted @ Friday, July 25, 2008 10:00 AM |
Selecting new right donor management software for your foundation can seem like a confusing, frightening job. The starting point for finding the right package is to figure out why you need the software and how you’ll use it. If you already have software that doesn’t seem to suit you, make sure that the product is being used to the fullest of its potential – that you don’t buy something new because you weren’t using your old software efficiently. Technological ignorance is often a bigger problem than inadequate software for nonprofits. If, however, you think that you need new software, you...
posted @ Thursday, July 24, 2008 6:13 PM |
We all know it’s important to make your organization’s message clear. This is especially true as you begin making plans for figures at the year’s end. Now is the time to take a look at the identity of your organization and the way that identity is being communicated to the masses. What makes your organization stand among myriad others? What makes it worth a donor’s attention? There are a few places you can start in making an evaluation of your organization’s exceptionality. -- Be investigative – think about the people who make up your...
posted @ Tuesday, July 22, 2008 5:28 PM |
Convio, Sea Change Strategies, and Edge Research just released the results of their national research study on the trends of online giving. The study surveyed more than 3,000 donors from 23 major nonprofit organizations to determine the online behaviors and preferences of one of the nonprofit sector’s most important constituents. These individuals were ones that give an average of $10,896 to various charities each year, with a minimum gift of $1,000. Some important statistics from the study that nonprofits should be aware of are: 80 percent of those surveyed made donations both online and offline. ...
posted @ Thursday, July 17, 2008 9:05 AM |
This is the fourth and final step of creating your online fundraising strategy -- mapping out your numbers. Your goal in this step should be to evaluate the numbers you have now and make plans for the numbers you’re anticipating after all your fundraising efforts. Budgeting 1. Make certain that in planning your budget you take into account what you will need to spend for donation processing. Services such as Custom DonateNow can be very effective without being too pricey. 2. If you want to “improve” your website, keep in mind that your site is...
posted @ Wednesday, July 16, 2008 10:46 AM |
There are many young people in our communities today that have vast potential to go into Christian ministry. However, many do not understand calling or all the opportunities of ministry. The Fund for Theological Education (FTE) is seeking to remedy this by offering competitive grants from $5,000-$12,000 to programs that will help youth better understand the call to ministry and spark interest in it. By 2009, they would like to have over 500 partners to help further their goal of reaching young people. This grant program is part of the Calling Congregations initiative. “Calling Congregations is a...
posted @ Tuesday, July 15, 2008 9:06 AM |
Picture this: You're a Catholic ministry searching for grants and happened to encounter the Christian Foundation Grants (CFG) website. We've got some pretty exciting resources and tools, but obviously you are most interested in the database. We seem to have a strong Christian focus, but wait! Don't leave yet just because it doesn't necessarily suit your focus! We've made sure that our database is one of the most comprehensive for all types of organizations- Methodist, Catholic, Episcopal etc. Let me give you a better idea of the the vast variety of foundations available to you. We just finished adding...
posted @ Friday, July 11, 2008 9:22 AM |
This blog will address the third of four steps to improving your online fundraising strategy: weaving together your online and offline marketing techniques. While online fundraising is vital, it cannot be the whole of your marketing strategy. Because your donors are unique and diverse, your marketing channels should be too. Your aim in this step should be to integrate online and offline marketing to give your donors a variety of communication and donation options. Mailing offline 1. Talk to your donors to discover which channels they favor for communication and donation. Even if you think you...
posted @ Wednesday, July 09, 2008 10:14 AM |
The IRS is taking a heightened approach to their monitoring of charities, and it is already becoming apparent that they do intend to stick with these policies. Last week, a charity had its tax exempt status revoked for not spending enough on their charitable programs. Many steps can be taken though to be confident in submitting the new form 990. The Panel on the Nonprofit Sector has published a list of guidelines for charities to look at. (visit www.independentsector.org for the full text) The 33 principles in this booklet are not all required for charities to follow. There are six...
posted @ Tuesday, July 08, 2008 9:20 AM |
In an interview with the Idaho Statesman, Larry C. Johnson, founder of a consulting firm, gives his advice on how non-profits can succeed, especially by connecting with individual and corporate donors. Approaching corporations for donations. In order for a non-profit to establish relationships with businesses, the non-profit must prove “its viability and demonstrate that it adds to a more positive business environment, to the GDP (gross domestic product), to a more livable environment, which helps corporations attract better employees.” Connect with the business community. Philanthropy encourages better businesses - it is not something corporations...
posted @ Thursday, July 03, 2008 9:20 AM |
Yesterday’s blog outlined ways to maximize your website -- the first of four steps to make your online fundraising efforts as effective as possible. This blog will discuss the next step: developing an email strategy. Your goals with your email communication should be to get organized and to continue to uphold content as your focus. Planning 1. Stay in touch with donors and potential donors through an email messaging program, which may include e-newsletters, event updates, and action alerts. Provide subscribers with useful and interesting information so they’ll want to read more. 2. Create...
posted @ Wednesday, July 02, 2008 10:51 AM |
There are four basic steps to creating an effective online fundraising strategy. Step 1: maximize your website. You should have three main goals with your website: to make sure your site is usable, to keep content the main focus, and to formulate strategies to increase traffic. Design 1. Make sure your “donate” button clearly visible and near the top of the screen. 2. Connect with site visitors via surveys, contests, and other creative interaction. 3. Keep in mind that all different sorts of visitors will find your site. Make your...
posted @ Tuesday, July 01, 2008 11:05 AM |