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Top School Fundraisers
Fundraising, grants for SMART Boards in the school classroom
Karen Bantuveris, Founder of VolunteerSpot, recently posted on the company’s blog about one of the newest trends in the classroom, interactive whiteboards. There are several kinds available including SMART Board and Promethean. These tools help teachers make learning fun. Here’s what Karen had to say about experiencing these whiteboards for herself: How...
School Carnival Guide, On Sale Til End of February
Whether your school is gearing up for a spring carnival or looking ahead to fall, the School Carnival Guide will help your event to be a great success. This is a book authored by Jim Berigan, who for over a year wrote for the Top School Fundraisers blog. Now...
Lowe’s Toolbox for Education Offers Grants to Public Schools
Over the past four years the Lowe’s Toolbox for Education program has provided more than $17 million to almost 4,000 schools across the country. They don’t just choose a few schools either. Lowe’s will provide grants to public schools and public school parent teacher groups – at more...
8 Tips from an Experienced School Carnival Organizer
Recently, I had a wonderful conversation with Barbara Rypkema, who is the organizer of the PTO Carnival for the Tomahawk Elementary School in Lynchburg, Virginia. We spoke for over an hour, and I learned a great deal from her. Below, I have listed eight of the best tips she shared...
How to boost the sales of your cookie dough fundraiser sale
Let your sellers and supporters know ahead of time about the sale. Make sure they know how much their support is appreciated. Create specific goals for the fundraiser. How much money needs to be raised? How many tubs per person will need to be sold to reach this goal? Set a reasonable...
Discounted Magazine Subscriptions as a Fundraiser
Offer discounted magazine subscriptions to people who would like to support your school or other group. Parents, families and students just go online to order their favorite magazines and 40% goes to the school. These magazines are all offered at discounted prices – up to 95% off newsstand prices –...
FundraisingCoach.com
Nonprofit Executive Director and Fundraising Revisited
A few weeks back, I posted this question: Q: As an E.D., what percentage of my time should be spent on fund raising? I am relatively new at this and want to balance my schedule. My answer was something like, “100%.” And I got some comeuppance. Here are some of the comments: Roger Carr...
How much time should a nonprofit executive director allocate to fundraising?
Not long ago, I received this great question: Q: As an E.D., what percentage of my time should be spent on fund raising? I am relatively new at this and want to balance my schedule. A: Interesting question. I’m tempted to say 100%. But there are so many variables: If fundraising is your only...
“Ask Without Fear!” fundraising soundtrack game
As I mentioned in an earlier post, Ask Without Fear! was listed on Amazon.com two years ago. Last week I asked for suggestions about songs that dealt with Research. Some of the answers were: “The Gambler” Kenny Rogers “Private Eyes are Watching you” Hall & Oates “If I had a milliion dollars” BNL “She Blinded...
“Ask Without Fear!” soundtrack contest: Research
Today marks the 2nd anniversary of Ask Without Fear! being on Amazon! Years ago, I crowd-sourced a fun “Soundtrack for the Alumni Director’s First Year. So to celebrate this milestone, I’d like to make an “Ask Without Fear!” soundtrack based on each of the four steps: Research Engage Ask Love Today, we’ll start with fundraising Step...
Movie Monday’s 100th Episode: Free Fundraising Videos
If you subscribe to my bi-weekly fundraising email newsletter, you know I’m a big fan of 501Videos’ Movie Mondays. These short, free movies, are timely training tools and wonderful weekly reminders. Plus, they give you an inside look at how other fundraising professionals are approaching their work. I’ve even been privileged...
Are there creative ways to publicly thank donors?
Q:My organization is building an endowment fund and several people have made generous donations in the past few months. Of course, we’ve thanked them personally, but we want to find a more “public” way of recognizing them. We will include them in a special list in our Annual Report, but...
Latest Activity on My Social Actions
David Martel added 2 blog post
David Martel added 2 blog postGreen Awakening Fair Trade, Organic Coffee Launches with Socially Responsible Focus: Improving Lives With Your Morning CoffeeCSRminute: Ford Issues 11th Sustainability Report, Uses GRI Standards; EU Confirms Biofuel Standards...
David Martel added 2 blog post
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William Logai Ochieng added 2 blog post
William Logai Ochieng added 2 blog postFATHER'S DAY IS JUNE 2010WOMEN FACE SERIOUS MARGINALIZATION IN MAGWI COUNTY OF SUDAN....
Adu Francis updated their profile
Adu Francis updated their profile...
Adu Francis Blessing from God to you all
Adu Francis Blessing from God to you all...
David Martel added a blog post
David Martel added a blog postIt’s a Miracle: Financial ReformThis is a cross posting from 3BLMediaDo you believe in miracles? Well, brace yourself. We may have another one coming down the pike. Financial reform bills have been passed by both the House and the Senate. Lawmakers are currently working on...
Too Busy To Fundraise
In January, I moved this blog to Wordpress, thinking that I would simply point to the blog's new home. What I didn't understand was I was on the OLD Blogger, and only the NEW Blogger points. So if you haven't followed me, please do...I miss you! Really....
New Blog Location - Please Subscribe
Many of you have been following me on BLOGGER. I have just moved my blog to WordPress. Please go to the Blog link at http://www.toobusytofundraise.com On the TOP RIGHT there is a link "Subscribe by email" -- this will enable you to continue to receive notice whenever a...
January 14, 2010 – if you are viewing this blog on BLOGGER / Blogspot.com please note that this has postings prior to January 14, 2010. The new blog on WordPress has both the old and newer postings. Please visit www.toobusytofundraise.comDear Readers, I am in the process of upgrading...
As we start on a new year, still smarting from scary economics and shaky financial futures, the old argument about why so many nonprofits are so poorly run is getting a lot of play. “We need to be run more like businesses,” one camp asserts. “Like Enron, GM,...
School was not a high point in my life. I was, so my teachers always told me, smart, but I didn’t apply myself. Not in the classroom, not in after school activities, certainly not in the homework I was supposed to but never quite get to.It wasn’t that...
Communicate, Evaluate, and Keep Everyone in the Loop
Every so often I send an email to my sister with the subject line: The Whine Report. Then I proceed to bitch and moan about all that is rotten in my life and the world. One thing that would definitely get a headline in The Whine Report is the...
Behind the Button
I made twenty buttons of this beautiful little girl yesterday...no name on the button just that little "light up the room" smile. There's a story there...... ...
Pepsi Refresh Everything | Too Good to Be True
Not this windwill...I have decided to "pull the plug" to end the voting campaign. I don't like to give up and if I thought we had even the slightest chance to make a difference I'd hold on - but candidly I am not thrilled with how the whole project is...
"people actually cared about my story" | #7 of 31 reasons to vote for Buttons of Hope
And you took the time out to find out exactly why I was walking and why I wanted to get the buttons made, which made me excited that people actually cared about my story. ...
An Inspiration to Herself! | reason #6 of 31 to vote for Buttons of Hope
I met Diana a few weeks ago preparing for the Avon Walk, Washington DC - actually I did not meet her in person but I'm not sure that matters because we have become fast friends. Diana stumbled upon my Buttons of Hope website and sent me an email with a...
"each step I take will be for her" | #5 of 31 Reasons to Vote for Buttons of Hope
When Erin visited the Buttons of Hope website - she was a stranger now her story and her passion are out there for everyone to see. Erin tells me she loves her buttons - but it's really not about the buttons ...
My Father, My Hero | #4 of 31 Reasons to Vote for Buttons of Hope
Merry Christmas Daddy! This is the third Christmas without you now and it has NOT gotten any easier to be without you on what was your FAVORITE time of year! How we used to... ...
Beth’s Blog
Let’s Talk About Networked Nonprofits: TechSoupGlobal Book Party
Today Allison Fine and I celebrated the launch of the Networked Nonprofit at TechSoup Global in the space where Netsquared Meetups take place. I got to snap this photo of two women, Marnie Webb and Charlene Li, who have greatly influenced my work over the past 5-10 years. It was...
Thank You For Making The Networked Nonprofit Launch A Hit!
It was a special launch day for our book, The Networked Nonprofit, thanks to you! On June 21st, the book was in the top 200 bestsellers on Amazon for the past five hours. During the peak, it was ranked as the #1 nonprofit bestseller, #3 for general industries, #19 in...
Celebrate! You’re Invited to the Virtual Launch of The Networked Nonprofit
The Networked Nonprofit Launch Day: June 21st View more presentations from Beth Kanter. You are invited to a virtual book launch party! Join us today, June 21st from 1-2 PM PST/4-5 PM EST for the launch of The Networked Nonprofit published by Jossey-Bass. Follow it on Twitter (#netnon) and/or Ustream (http://www.ustream.tv/channel/networked-nonprofit). ...
Can Social Network Analysis Improve Your Social Media Strategy?
Networked Nonprofit: Care2 Webinar View more presentations from womenwhotech. You are invited to a virtual book launch party! Join Allison Fine and me on June 21st at 1-2 PM PST/4-5 PM EST for the launch of The Networked Nonprofit published by Jossey-Bass. Yesterday, Allison Fine and I, along with colleagues Danielle Bridiga...
Networked Nonprofits Avoid Scarcity Thinking and Embrace the Black Smoke Monster
You are invited to a virtual book launch party! Join Allison Fine and me on June 21st at 1-2 PM PST/4-5 PM EST for the launch of The Networked Nonprofit published by Jossey-Bass. Today, Allison Fine and I, along with Marc Sirkin and Danielle Brigida did a free webinar...
The Networked Nonprofit Book Arrived!
Yesterday, an advanced copy of our book, The Networked Nonprofit, arrived. My son, Harry, who is in video making summer camp, decided to make a little movie of me opening the book! Today, I taught a workshop in Santa Cruz hosted by the Community Foundation of Santa Cruz and supported by...
Get Fully Funded Blog
Donor relationships are like gardens…
This was the topic of one of my presentations at the AFP Northern Arizona Education Day last week. Here are some key points from this session: Donor relationships are like gardens. They bear the most fruit when they are properly tended to. Keep them weeded, watered, and fertilized, and you’ll be...
The 7 Deadly Sins of Organizational Leadership Communication
Today’s post comes from Skip Weisman of Weisman Success Resources, Inc. Skip helps business leaders create “Champion Organizations” with improved personnel, productivity and profits. During a lunch meeting with a new client I learned he was becoming increasingly frustrated with senior team members and frontline employees who: Were not taking...
Private, Corporate, or Government Grants?
When it comes to grantwriting, it can be confusing to decide which kinds of grants to go after. Here’s a quick-and-dirty explanation of private, corporate, and government grants. Typically, I like to go after private foundation grant opportunities first. They tend to be the easiest to apply for and the easiest...
Top 4 nonprofit grantwriting mistakes
Writing grants is one of the most popular fundraising techniques for nonprofit organizations. With hundreds of foundations out there offering millions of dollars to fund a variety of programs, it’s easy to understand why Fundraising staff and volunteers want to write proposals to seek funding. Unfortunately, there are lots of ways...
Unlock Your Grant Writing Talent
Today’s blog post is provided by my dear friend and grant writer extraordinaire, Charlaine Hood. The biggest tip about writing a grant is to get over your fear: of failure, of not getting it right, of not including enough…what ever your mind is telling you to hold you back from ever...
Fast Ways to Find Funding Sources
Today’s blog post comes from Stephen A. Price, a grant writing expert and co-owner of Educational Resource Consultants, central CA’s premiere grant writing firm. Often, one of the most frustrating parts of applying for a grant is locating a grant suitable for your organization. It is common to hear...
Nolo’s Fundraising Tips for Busy Nonprofits
Fundraising by Selling Sweet, High-Fat Foods Is a Problem!
I just came across the excellent and well-written report "Sweet Deals: School Fundraising Can Be Healthy and Profitable," by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (and authored by Joy Johanson and Margo G. Wootan).Wow! It's a couple years......
Oops -- Not-So-Effective Fundraising Examples
Usually I try to applaud fundraisers who are doing a great job, rather than point a finger at those who don't quite get it. It's tough being a fundraiser, and many come to the task with no training other than......
Record Rise in Volunteerism: Is Your Nonprofit Ready?
A whopping 63.4 million Americans (age 16 and older) volunteered for charitable causes last year (2009), despite -- or perhaps in response to -- economic hard times. As if that weren't impressive enough, it represents an increase of almost 1.6......
It's Official: Humorous Videos Win the Most Eyeballs
My previous post, called "Videos: Hot New Communication Tool, or Waste of Time?" mentioned journalists' observations that the videos that draw people in the most are those that manage to incorporate humor.As if in response, the Pew Research Center just......
Videos: Hot New Communication Tool, or Waste of Time?
As part of every nonprofit's efforts to connect and communicate with members and donors via every media possible, I've heard a lot of buzz about videos of late. Michael Stein, for example, who writes the blog Internet Strategy for the......
"Cleverness is a gift, kindness is a choice."
Those were the words of Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos, addressing the Princeton graduating class this year. A worthy sentiment to pass on in your organization's Twitter feed or Facebook page, perhaps? Here's the Princeton press release, and the......
Donor Power Blog
Video: Doing Good is Good for Business
This past Sunday, former President Bill Clinton was interviewed on ABC's "This Week", where he shared his thoughts on philanthropy, engaging young people in civic action, and how nonprofits, like his Clinton Global Initiative University, can make the case that......
Seriously, be stupid when you look at something; approach it with a totally blank mind. I picked up this phrase from Edward Dolnick’s The Forger’s Spell– a book that outlines one of the greatest art forgeries of the last century......
Darwinism and Fundraising – an Observation.
“In the long history of humankind (and animal kind, too) those who learned to collaborate and improvise most effectively have prevailed.” – Charles Darwin Most industries, whether it be financial services, telecommunication carriers, sportswear brands, or whatever other commercial entity......
On Wednesday, the House of Representatives unanimously approved a bill allowing taxpayers who make a donation to victims of the Haitian earthquake to claim a charitable donation when filing their 2009 taxes this spring. Nonprofits who have the most to......
What can we learn from TV’s most popular curmudgeon?
I am referring to Gregory House, the brilliant medical diagnostician who is the poster-child for unconventional thinking. Season 4 introduced a group of Fellowship candidates that had to compete to make the final team of three. In Guardian Angels (episode......
What can we learn from TV’s most popular curmudgeon?
I am referring to Gregory House, the brilliant medical diagnostician who is the poster-child for unconventional thinking. Season 4 introduced a group of Fellowship candidates that had to compete to make the final team of three. In Guardian Angels (episode......
Step By Step Fundraising
Three Ways to Define Your Target Audience
Kivi Leroux Miller, author of The Nonprofit Marketing Guide: High-Impact, Low-Cost Ways to Build Support for Your Good Cause, advises small nonprofits who are creating quick-and-dirty marketing plans to start by defining their target audience. Here she shares three ways to do that. When nonprofit marketing and fundraising programs fail, organizations...
Proposal Rejection: Saying Thank You is Critical
I’ve received a great deal of interest lately from novice and experienced fundraisers about what happens after you receive a rejection letter for your proposal. I have never hesitated to tell people that I’ve received plenty of rejection as a grant writer. What this rejection has done is made me...
6 Steps to Online Fundraising for Medical Costs
When a friend or loved one gets sick and is facing huge medical bills, the quickest and easiest way to raise money for them is through an online fundraising website. Sites like GiveForward, Fundbunch and GoFundMe allow individuals to create customized pages where friends and family from across the world can...
Video: Caught in a Cat Romance (thanks to San Francisco SPCA)
If you think all nonprofit communications have to be serious, think again. Kudos to the San Francisco SPCA for creatively jumping on a hot topic while promoting their mission. Warning: watching this video may cause abrupt laughter, inability to stop singing this song and warm fuzzies....
Improve Your Fundraising by Thinking Big
If there’s one thing I don’t like, it’s thinking small. Far too many people spend their time and energy thinking small. That’s true in the wider world, and it’s true in fundraising. There are a lot of fundraisers in the world – some professional, some volunteer. Some work...
The Number One Way to Get Board Members to Follow Through
So many nonprofit board members are enthusiastic and well-meaning but too often they back out of their commitments. Bet you have run into this problem! And I have been on the other side too, as a board member. In the heat of an exciting discussion, I suddenly found myself making personal...
Charity Development Fundraising Consultants » Blog
To Wholesale or Not to Wholesale a Donated Vehicle – You Decide
As I mentioned in the last blog, the expertise of the car donation field lies in the handling of donated vehicles. Anyone can get a car towed to a wholesale or salvage auction and have it sold. But those of us in this field who work closely with charities know...
Wholesale Auctions – Not Always the Best Route
The majority of donated vehicles across the nation go straight to wholesale and salvage auction. For some of these vehicles, this is the most profitable route, but here’s the important thing to know: wholesale auctions are not the best route for all donated vehicles. Some vehicles are just too good for...
Car Donations What the GAO Report Does NOT Tell You
When we discuss car donations, the Grassley Bill and the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) Vehicle Report of 2003 are a part of the discussion whether we mention them out loud or not. Both have had a major impact on public perception of our industry and on tax laws. The U.S....
It’s Time for Change in the Car Donation Arena
Change always begins with the first step taken, and that’s what my next several blogs are all about: taking the first step to making essential changes in the car donation industry. Why? Because it’s time. It’s been over five years since the November, 2003, federal General Accounting Office (GAO) Report on...
ID Theft – How Charities Protect Their Good Names
The public is aware that Toys R Us and other large corporations diligently protect their names against copy-cats and ID theft. The reason’s obvious: copycats and thieves cash in on the brand recognition, good name and national marketing done by these large corporations. ID thieves try to steal the good name...
Took a Market Hit, Sold Anyway!
Every donated vehicle has a story, and this one had a pretty good ending. I’m not complaining, considering the market. A month ago I told the beginning of the story of a 2005 Ford E350 Sportsmobile 4×4 6.0L Turbo Diesel, long body, Sportsmobile conversion that was donated to charity. This van in...
Personal Fundraising Blog
40+ Web Design and Development Resources for Beginners
40+ Web Design and Development Resources for Beginners. For the boot-strapping nonprofit marketer - here's a nice consolidated list of web design and development resources that, with a little practice, will help you significantly improve your organization's web site. As... ...
Google's Nonprofit Portal Can Help Smalland Startup Nonprofits
http://techcrunch.com/2008/03/18/google-launches-non-profit-portal/ this is worth checking out - especially for smaller nonprofits. most of this was already available but Google has consolidated much of its back office functionality and made it non-profit-centric. ...
New Legal Structures That Will Increase Competition For Nonprofits
As if the nonprofits sector isn't fragmented and competitive enough... Anyone involved in the nonprofit sector should take note of this article in TechCrunch. http://techcrunch.com/2010/07/18/the-many-bottom-lines-of-businesses/ It discusess the existence and growth of 2 new types of legal structures for corporations;... ...
The Most Common Mistake Nonprofits Make When Choosing Personal Fundraising Software
Avoid the middleman. With lots of options for personal fundraising software, nonprofits need to choose a vendor that gets their donations to them the most quickly and securely. A surefire way to cause delays is to allow a software company... ...
Massachusetts Nonprofit raises over $70000 with hike-a-thon
Wilderness Heals is a three-day pledge hike to raise funds for the Elizabeth Stone House. The event has posted some impressive numbers thus far including one hiker who is personally responsible for raising over $6500. Elizabeth Stone House is well... ...
Nonprofits Should Avoid This Online Fundraising Software Feature
http://www.firstgiving.com/Riding4Renal_CircaRigel "Due to delays in FirstGiving forwarding funds..." YIKES. The problem with legacy systems is that it's really tough to change anything. There is absolutely no good reason for FirstGiving or any other vendor to have a nonprofit's donations before... ...
A Small Change- Fundraising Blog
To Be or Not To Be- Donor Loyalty
Is donor loyalty changing? It would appear to me that older generations were more consistent about their giving. An organization could count on a monthly gift from their regular supporters and these individuals would give for years and years. Is that different today? Younger generations seem to respond more to...
Question: How Much is Too Much Board Prep?
Every organization is different and every board is different. Some boards have major players who play a key role in raising money for an organization, whereas others have a working board that is more involved in the strategy of the organization (as we’ve talked about in another post, Who Talks...
In an earlier post, Tracking is More Than a Name, I mentioned the importance of tracking donor information. That’s just a quick snapshot of some of the key areas we are keeping track. I’d love to hear your feedback regarding what your organization tracks. There is some information that is important...
With the emergence of so many social media tools, there are fan bases developing all around you. I’ve seen websites that will tell give you a financial value of your network. I’m not sure how accurate they can really be, but the reality is that these kinds of groups are...
I’ve been writing for A Small Change for more than 2 years now. I am always trying to keep track of what you, my readers, are reading, what your expectations are when you come to my site, and what content you’d like me to create in the future. It has...
Last Monday I gave a few of my personal thoughts on why I give to nonprofit organizations. I find it funny that we ask people for money all day but hardly talk about where we give it ourselves. Today I’m going to talk a little bit about where I give...
Pamela Grow's Grantwriting Blog
Six Critical Things to Look For in a Foundation’s 990 For Successful Grant Funding!
When it comes to foundation grants, researching prospective foundations is crucial for locating the ideal match. And there is no finer tool for truly observing the inner workings of a grant-making foundation — and whether or not their mission provides a match with your organization — than with a thorough...
When is it Time to look for Outside Help with your Mailing Campaign?
Dramatic reductions in grants, corporate sponsorships and overall donations have forced many nonprofits to make substantial cuts, or in some cases close their doors completely. Despite the growth in social marketing, tried and true direct mail is still the primary fundraising source for most nonprofits. In challenging times, it’s certainly...
How to Tell Your Nonprofit’s Story With Video
Have you ever thought about how you tell your organization’s story? I’m a big believer in constant story collection – from your clients, your donors, your founder, your staff (see my article 6 Tips for Collecting Great Nonprofit Stories for more information) – but just as importantly as the stories you...
I Don’t Get No Respect. Development Staff Are the Rodney Dangerfields of the Nonprofit World
Is it true what “they” say? That nonprofit program people and development professionals just can’t get along? Several weeks ago I had the opportunity to attend a foundation site visit on behalf of a client. I had written a grant proposal and, as a result, two trustees from the foundation had...
Fundraisers and Program Professionals: Can’t Everyone Just Get Along?
Today’s guest post comes to us by way of Heidi Massey. Heidi is a nonprofit consultant with a passion for strategic networking, leadership development and creating meaningful educational and service-based programs and collaborations. For more on Heidi, check out her blog. Every time I meet someone who tells...
A Nifty Tool to Help You Build Relationships With Foundation Funders
What if one simple tool could ensure that you never let a prospective foundation grant slip through your fingers again? In the six years I worked in programming and communications for a grantmaking family foundation I learned a lot about nonprofit management just from observing the grant proposals that crossed my...
UK Fundraising - latest blog posts
The most successful team I've ever been part of
I've been completing application forms for volunteer opportunities and aside from the fact that they are very long, it struck me that they are almost indistinguishable from job application forms. It appears charities are becomming fussier about who they will accept as volunteers; and I think this is a good...
Each time we see a significant evolution in the way consumers communicate there is always a temptation to jump to the conclusion that the latest method will surely kill-off the previous methods. As such, following the incredibly rapid adoption of Social Media over the last few years it’s not surprising...
Are you making best use of fundraising volunteers?
With volunteer centres reporting an increase in enquiries, an obvious question to ask is whether your charity is making best use of this free resource. Most charities use volunteers in some capacity, but not all recognise how they can support fundraising. So what are the benefits of volunteer fundraisers and...
What happens when your audience's needs aren't at the centre of your thinking
I will never stop believing, or probably saying that, whichever audience(s) we serve as organisations, their needs should underpin our thinking and actions. That's not to say that we shouldn't seek to achieve our own objectives - of course we should. The customer / supporter / volunteer is not always...
Anatomy of an emergency DRTV campaign for Haiti
read more »...
We need a clearer view on ageing....
There are 2 big issues the sector needs to get a grip on in the social care and ageing debate.... read more »...
CharityFocus.org: Incubator of Compassionate Action
Six Keys to Making Good Decisions
On my first day in a class called "Decision Analysis" at Stanford, I was shocked when Prof. Ron Howard said that you couldn't judge a decision from the outcome. I walked up to him after class and said, "Professor, this is what I have read in spiritual...
Below are last week's Tweets for CharityFocus. Spread the good! Last Week's Twitter Links [more] ...
"The Path is Found in the Service of Others:" An Evening With David Gustave
This past week, we had a very inspiring Wednesday gathering of twenty Londoners for a guest speaker Circle of Sharing with David Gustave, who candidly and honestly shared his incredible personal journey with us. It is very humbling to learn from and share a beautiful evening with someone whose life experiences are...
The Story of iJourney's 100,000+ Audio Listens
In late 2006, we received an interesting email: Just subscribed to your service. I have been writing and recording my own motivational content (messages-of-the-day in MP3 format) for two years to deliver daily using my own voice ... Any thoughts on using actual voice in your Quote-A-Day deliveries? Turned...
Seven Reflections From 30 Days of Meditation
After sitting many 10-day Vipassana meditation courses, I got a chance to sit for a 30-day course last month. The same context of no reading, writing or talking but with more intensity and seriousness. How was my experience? What did I learn? In a way, there's a lot to say...
Below are last week's Tweets for CharityFocus. Spread the good! Last Week's Twitter Links [more] ...
Online Fundraising Blog
This week’s Best Practice in Action- June 23: Get post event donations!
As every dedicated fundraiser knows, the fun(draising) never stops! This is especially true in the days and weeks surrounding a major fundraising event. Too often fundraising efforts peak just as the event is about to occur and drop sharply after the event has concluded. But, as mountain climbers know all...
How to create a Twitter strategy for your nonprofit in less than 140 minutes
You just created a Twitter account for your nonprofit. Now, what? Lots of people are talking about how Twitter can help you engage with your network of supporters by making it easier to listen and communicate. But it can be difficult to make sense of a new set of tools...
This week’s Best Practice in Action- June 17: Get Creative!
Sometimes the best fundraising strategy is just to get a little creative, like trying to raise $10,000 in 10 days. Our friends at Down Syndrome Association of Greater St. Louis (DSAGSL) were deep into their campaign for their 2010 Step Up for Down Syndrome awareness walk held on June 13,...
Fundraiser spotlight: Kate Farren for Team M4M
I have never been a natural runner. In fact, my freshman year, I attempted to run track to keep in shape for volleyball and basketball seasons. I will never forget when my track coach said, “Katie, some people are born runners and others need to be made runners… we have...
Improvements to your FirstGiving account: Email your supporters with our new email tool
We’ve been hard at work making it easier to communicate with your supporters. Now you can email people on FirstGiving right from your FirstGiving account. This is useful if you want to: send an email to all of your supporters at once send separate emails by event send separate emails to fundraisers and...
Please join us for a free webinar: Raise over $100,000 with a fundraising rewards program
Ok, so I have my event set up, what about a strategy to make sure it raises money? With a little planning you can put together a simple and effective fundraising plan for your next campaign or event. Learn how the nonprofit, One Home, Many Hopes, implemented a rewards program to...
Who really gives a toss?
Matched funding. Tied Funding. Tangible Proposition. Nerve.Hats off to Christian Aid for ticking all the boxes and letting us test it.Watch this space.JamesSubscribe By Email to Ignore at Your Convenience!...
Not straying too far from the last post, Greenpeace have launched a competition to design BP a new logo "that's more suitable for their dirty business".The one shown above was designed by We Made This, but there's separate categories for non-professionals and under 18s too. Maybe we should make an...
If the Deepwater Horizon spill had happened in our office, here's how it would look...Click here to oil your home town.RichardSubscribe By Email to Ignore at Your Convenience!...
Today found me wishing, just for a moment, that I still worked at Bluefrog This is awesome.Subscribe By Email to Ignore at Your Convenience!...
Smile by name, smile by nature.
All the charities I recently gave a donation to thanked me quickly – which was nice to see. But the one that stood out (and made me smile) was from The Smile Train. Things little and large that made the difference: ...
If you're looking for something to take your mind off the fact that we have a Tory government, can I suggest emergency eye surgery? Having your cornea cut open while still conscious really does chase all secondary concerns from your mind.Thankfully, I'm getting better fast and am assured that recovery...