December 2008 Entries
Facebook is one of the largest online social networks. Many people spend hours visiting friends’ profiles, adding applications, and browsing photos. Now many organizations from bands to ministries are using Facebook to profile themselves. Facebook offers many features to promote your specific group.
One of the applications many organizations are adding is called “Causes.” Causes allows your organization to set up a Facebook page to feature information about your ministry and allow people to donate to the cause. Beth Kanter, a well known proponent for nonprofits using social media, writes about this in her blog. You can read her full article...
posted @ Wednesday, December 31, 2008 9:42 AM |
As of September 2008 over 1,250,000 people raised almost $70,000,000 for close to 14,000 nonprofit organizations--- all through one online giving website, Firstgiving.com Online giving isn’t still coming on to the scene. It is here.
Who cares what the economy is doing! There still are hundreds of thousands of dollars available for funding. Organizations simply must utilize the available tools. With the giving trends, we’re seeing ministries getting active in promoting their cause. Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Digg, MySpace, YouTube-- the list goes on and on.
Don’t fall behind now! A younger generation is coming up, one that loves entertainment and imagery. Revamp...
posted @ Tuesday, December 30, 2008 9:44 AM |
Imagine that as your best friend tells you about a non-profit organization he volunteers with, he mentions that his organization is starting a program that benefits a cause you support. Or perhaps you are in your favorite restaurant and you begin a conversation with the waitress and discover that she is behind on medical payments for her ailing son. As much as you want to help these organizations and individuals, it would be impossible for you to accomplish much on your own, especially with the current economy. However, there is an option that is bringing together groups of people to...
posted @ Monday, December 29, 2008 10:17 AM |
Is it possible to get grants in a recession?
Absolutely! But you have to recognize that the strategy changes some. There is little doubt that foundations have been hit hard by the stock market declines. The private foundations are invested in stock portfolios. When the market declines, so do their assets. Nonetheless, private foundations are required by law to give 5% each year. In short, private foundations will still be making grants.
However, they will be making fewer grants. The key to getting on the radar screen of these foundations is to look carefully for who is on their board. See,...
posted @ Saturday, December 27, 2008 10:43 AM |
A recent study by the Barna Group tells us that giving to non profits is down by 30% in the last three months. My own informal survey tells me the same infomation. What is normally the busiest time of the year for many non profits has now turned into a time of uneasy calm.
In looking at the months ahead, the bloom doesn't promise to return anytime soon. Some economists are predicting that it will take three years for investors to work off stock losses. This means that gifts of publicly traded stock will be down for that same period of...
posted @ Sunday, December 14, 2008 6:13 PM |
George Barna recently completed a survey on giving trends over the last three months. It's a little disturbing. No doubt the past three months have been some of the most tumultous in history. Stock market crashes. Market swings. An uncertain economy. Job losses. The list is exhaustive. What's been the effect on giving?
1. 20% of households have decreased their giving to churches;
2. nearly 19% have decreased their giving to chruches by as much as 20% and 11% had decreased their giving by 50%;
3. 22% have stopped giving to churches altogether;
4. upscale household were most likely to decrease their giving;
5. ...
posted @ Saturday, December 06, 2008 1:12 PM |