Steve Vick from NonprofitAlly.com talks with nonprofit experts about social media strategies, capacity building, board of director development, fundraising and budgeting.
NPA 095: How to Track Grants, Donations & Program Expenses
Aug 22, 2018
Keep track of your nonprofits funds can be tricky. Tracking grants, donations, program expenses and other revenue means organizing your dollars into trackable categories. Have you ever wondered if there was a system that made this all easier? What is the “right” way to track grants? Should I track each fundraiser separately? If so, how?
In this podcast, I talk with Chyla Graham from CNRG Accounting Advisory. If you want to learn how to track grants, donations and program revenue then this is the podcast to listen to. Chyla talks about hands-on booking keeping practices that you can start using today.
NPA 094 – How to Use Video Effectively
Aug 08, 2018
Are you scared of video? No, really… if I told you to make a video for your Facebook page, would you panic?
In this podcast, I talk with Katie Prentiss Onsager from SmallForces.org. They offer professional video services and impact tracking for people and organizations making a difference in their communities at no cost to them.
She walks us through –
How to find your story
How to tell your story
How to use and promote your video
Katie typically produces documentary-style videos that amplify the voices of people working to solve creative problems. These videos are great for gala events, social media platforms and donor meetings.
If you want to tell a better story using video then this podcast is a great listen.
Everything is “video, video, video”. Really – 80% of all internet consumption is video. So, if you are not using video you are behind the game.
The problem is video can be a technical and creative hurdle. And hiring an expert can be a financial hurdle. That is where my guest, Harry McAlister, from AmpleEarth.com comes in. Harry helps nonprofits connect with video producers for an affordable price. Here is how it works.
There are 63,000 video producers on the internet, and millions more freelancers. If you want the perfect video, you have to find the perfect team, right?
The problem is each producer has their own prices, styles, speed, quality and value for money. So how do you find the best people when there’s so many to choose from?
Expert video-makers often have the spare time, money and energy to work on low budget projects – but only if it’s a cause they feel inspired to help. This means people making positive change in the world can expect a higher quality final video.
Simply put: the greater your impact, the greater your video.
How does this work? Just listen to this podcast for more information.
NPA 092: How to Really Raise Money with Auctions
Jul 17, 2018
In this episode I talk with Adam Capes from GetAway2Give about how he helps nonprofit raise $10,000’s with auctions. Adam Capes is the Co-Founder and President of Getaway2Give, a company changing the way non-profits raise money and people think about vacations. Their mission is to be the best in the country at helping charities and schools raise money, and they’ve helped raise over $10M so far.
Adam began his journey to being a Social Entrepreneur as co-founder and president of a luxury residence fund called Equity Estates. This fund was one of many playing in the crowded destination club space and one of the few that survived the economic downturn. Adam helped raise $60M for this unique equity-based fund where members own the homes they vacation in. At one prestigious gala in Aspen, Colorado, Adam had an “Aha” moment and decided to start Getaway2Give to help change the worlds of fundraising and vacations.
Adam says, “At Getaway2Give, we’re incredibly passionate about two things – helping charities raise significant money and the lasting importance and memories made from meaningful vacation experiences.”
In this episode, we talk about how to obtain emergency funding for your existing programs. I talk with Caroline Bressan from Open Road Alliance. They are a private philanthropic initiative that serves the social sector by keeping impact on track in an unpredictable world.
Open Road Alliance provides short- and long-term solutions to unexpected challenges that arise during project implementation, so that impact and finite resources can be maximized across the social sector.
To meet immediate needs, we offer fast, flexible funding to nonprofits and social enterprises facing discrete, unexpected roadblocks during project implementation. We fund via two portfolios, Charitable Grants and Loans. Open Road Loans are below market-rate and disbursed via our loan fund, Open Road Ventures.
Open Road sees every grant and loan it makes as an investment for social impact. Our funding model is based on speed and financial leverage.
In addition to our investment portfolio, Open Road promotes the long-term, sector-wide adoption of better risk management practices. In collaboration with peers, we conduct research, develop tools, and generate data on approaches to financial and non-financial risk management. By disseminating learnings and advocating for the adoption of best practices, Open Road is working to make risk management as commonplace in philanthropy as monitoring and evaluation; ultimately, preserving finite resources and social impact in our sector.
NPA 090: How to be an Innovative Nonprofit
Jun 21, 2018
My guest on this podcast is Jesse Lane with Pure Charity. Jesse talks with us about nonprofit “innovation” and how it can be used to spark new ideas and build sustainable programs that grow through changing times.
Pure Charity works with thousands of nonprofit organizations who are working on challenging global and local problems. They exist to help these world-changers fulfill their mission.
They focus on two areas, technology & strategy.
Their software provides the technological support to save nonprofits time and money, fundraise faster, and focus more time on what matters most.
Their team of experts provides constant support, helpful resources, and strategic consulting to empower nonprofit leaders.
Jesse also talks with about the “State of Good” report that Pure Charity published. It is an in-depth report focusing on how nonprofits view their own place within the nonprofit sector.
In this episode, I talk with Michael Rivera from Jee Foods. Michael is part of a group of high school students who started a nonprofit to help the hungry in their area. The program is an initiative to discover new models for alleviating hunger throughout the world.
JEE Foods is a Non-Profit Organization which has partnered with local grocers and companies like Kroger and Shared Harvest to collect food that would otherwise be wasted. We reprocess and redistribute these donations in the form of economically priced meals. We also provide employees and volunteers with training and certification. These unique aspects of JEE Foods help us reach our goal of Breaking the Cycle of Poverty and Starving Out Hunger.
JEE Foods was started through a first-year program called Global Classroom Steam Challenge organized by Samsung. The team from Ross High School was assigned a partner team from KSA of KAIST in Busan, South Korea. The group was prompted to develop solutions for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 1 and 2: No Poverty, and Zero Hunger. The group, through collaborative efforts, decided that the main issues surrounding poverty and hunger are Jobs, Education, and Economy, hence our name JEE Foods.
About Michael
Michael Rivera is the Chief Executive Officer for JEE Foods. He is a Junior at Butler Tech Ross High School and is active in his community. After high school, Michael plans on majoring in business and minoring in pharmaceutical sciences.
In this episode, I talk with Kate Hayes from Echoing Green. We talk about the importance of creating diversity on your board as well as how to help your board work better as a team.
According to a survey by BoardSource, a research and support organization for nonprofit boards, 25 percent of boards are all white, and only 20% of board members are people of color. Yet, most nonprofit leaders and board chairs desire to have boards that are more diverse–not only racially, but in terms of gender, socioeconomic status, age, experience, and so on. In order to reconcile this desire with reality, creating intentional plans for diversifying nonprofit boards is essential. Further, we know that boards – and teams – that are more diverse actually perform better.
About Kate
Kate oversees programming for a dynamic group of emerging business leaders who are dedicated to realizing their full potential as agents of social change. Prior to joining Echoing Green, she worked as Director of Evaluation and Program Impact in the national office of Minds Matter, where she developed new systems and methods for evaluating organizational success. While at Minds Matter, she led several new initiatives for engaging alumni, scaling the organization, and training 1,700 skills-based volunteers across the United States. Kate currently sits on the Executive Committee at the Northfield Mount Hermon School, where she also serves as Chair of the Young Alumni Committee. She holds a degree in Behavioral Neuroscience from Northeastern University.
NPA 087: The Journey to Sustainability
Apr 18, 2018
In this episode I speak with Rosenna Bakari from Talking Trees. It is a nonprofit she started back in 2010 and just recently devoted full-time hours to help the organization become sustainable.
We talk about her journey starting the nonprofit, where she is now and her plans to grow her organization. We also, talk about her new book and how that new book is helping raise awareness about Talking Trees.
Here is more info on Rosenna:
Rosenna Bakari is a scholar, motivational speaker, and social advocate. She earned her Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Northern Colorado in 2000. She earned her Master’s degree in Counseling from the State University of New York and her undergraduate degree in psychology from Cornell University.
Dr. Bakari is the founder and executive director of Talking Trees, an empowerment organization for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse. She is also launching a new “We2” movement to bring survivor and listeners together to break the silence of sexual abuse.
In addition to her organization work, she hosts a monthly open mic to share her transformational poetry and offer a platform for community members to share their passion and pain.
NPA 086 – How to Fundraise without Asking for Money
Apr 04, 2018
The reason most people hate fundraising is because they hate asking people for money. But this assumes that “asking” is all we do when we fundraising. And this is where the problem lies. It’s not so much that we hate asking for money… it is that we think that asking for money is what funding raising is about. And this is just not true.
In fact, if you want to be a really good fundraiser, then “asking” for money should only be 10% of what you do. Hmmm… gotcha you thinking yet?
Successful fundraising requires strategy, timing, planning, data and relationship building. Here is how our guest, Laurie Wolf, lays it out. Fundraising is:
30% internal work and research
30% relationship building
10% asking for money
30% recognition
This podcast goes into detail on how to be successful at fundraising without having to always be asking for money.
ABOUT LAURIE
Laurie Wolf, MNPL, CFRE is the President and CEO of The Foraker Group. She has worked in the nonprofit sector for 30 years and with Foraker for 17 years. She has been instrumental in creating many of Foraker’s services and philosophy. Laurie holds a BA in English from Scripps College and an Executive Master’s degree in Not-for-Profit Leadership from Seattle University. She has been a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) since 2003. She has served on a variety of boards and worked as a volunteer in arts, environmental and human services organizations.
NPA 085 – Get Better Rankings in Google
Mar 21, 2018
Getting found in Google doesn’t happen by accident. Your website doesn’t magically appear in the search engines for the right search terms. Well… that isn’t totally accurate. It sorta does. But it may not rank well and the search results may not be accurate or consistent.
But there is a way to get your website ranked for the correct terms and that is by using SEO (search engine optimization). SEO has become a sophisticated field that is separate from your typical web design practices.
In this episode, I talk with Kris Reid from Ardor SEO. Kris talks about what it takes to get your website indexed in the search engines and how to rank higher than your competition.
Kris began doing SEO work after he developed an online game called Mob Warrior. Like many people with new products, he needed to get it found in Google. This is when he started researching and practising SEO. And ultimately lead him to found Ardor SEO.
If you want to learn a bit about the inner workings of search engines and get some tips on how to rank your website better, then this is a great listen.
In this podcast, I talk with Jenna Benn Shersher. She shares with us her story on overcoming a rare form of cancer and how it inspired her to start a nonprofit.
Jenna is the Founder and Executive Director of Twist Out Cancer, a non-profit organization she founded after surviving Grey Zone Lymphoma in 2011. Jenna saw firsthand how young adults with cancer have a unique set of needs that are not being addressed or talked about. She found that one way of fulfilling this need is through creative arts, which could be used as a mechanism for coping and healing. Twist Out Cancer was founded on the principle that when you share, the world opens up.
Since Twist Out Cancer was founded in 2011, over 100,000 people worldwide have been touched by its programs and events. Over 700 people attended the fifth annual Brushes With Cancer Gala and Exhibition in Chicago on September 9, 2017. Other upcoming events are planned in Philadelphia, Montreal, and Tel Aviv.
Brushes With Cancer is a unique celebration of survivorship and hope that pairs those touched by cancer (previvors, survivors and caregivers) with talented artists working in a variety of mediums. Those touched by cancer share their ‘twist on cancer’ – their stories, feelings and experiences – with the artist, which serves as the inspiration for a unique piece of artwork created in their honor. The program culminates with a celebratory annual event and fundraiser in which the pairs connect in person and the artwork is revealed for the first time.
NPA 083 – Put your Mailing List on Steriods
Feb 28, 2018
Have you wondered what is the best way to get information in front of your followers and supporters? Most people think social media is the end-all/be-all of communication. But I want to assure you – it is not.
In this podcast, I talk with Kathryn Calhoun from kathryncalhouncoaching.com. Kathryn discusses some of the myths about social media, what it should be used for and how to maximize its effective reach.
But most importantly, Kathyrn shares with us some of her best tips on using your mailing list to reach your audience.
I, personally, have been very frustrated lately with the number of nonprofits I follow, who rely on Facebook to communicate with their followers. Here is the issue:
Facebook is not a website and should not replace your website.
Facebook has limited reach with barely 5% of your followers ever seeing a post.
Facebook displays post chronologically forcing people to scroll through your timeline to find information.
Facebook does not – let me repeat – DOES NOT show all your posts.
Facebook is losing popularity. Not many millennials are using Facebook on a daily basis.
So please, STOP using Facebook to communicate important events and information with your followers. Sure, put a post about your upcoming spring Gala on there, but be sure you announce it to your mailing list and have a page on your website about it.
OK, enough of me ranting about Facebook.
Let’s talk about the solution. Grow, nurture and use your mailing list. Listing to this awesome podcast to learn how.
NPA 082 – How to Turn Risks into Insights
Feb 07, 2018
Risk Doesn’t Have To Be a Four-Letter Word
Risks can be unsettling. It is easier to focus on what’s urgent while ignoring what’s necessary and important. But if you can create ways to make it easier to see and address threats and opportunities, you can:
Increase clarity
Reduce costs
Simplify tasks Streamline processes
Develop new initiatives, and;
Increase sustainability and resilience
Knowing your risks can help you increase your awareness of the threats and opportunities faced by your organization. You can identify unnecessary costs and find fixes to unlock additional resources.
Does any of that sound familiar?
“Too much of our knowledge is stuck in the minds of our key personnel. If we lose any of them, we’re sunk.” “If we’re honest, we move from crisis to crisis and can’t get ahead of the curve.” “We want to grow, but we need a repeatable model that doesn’t require constant supervision.” “We are on the cusp of great things, but we need to make sure we look and act professional to the outside world. More than that, we actually need to be professional.”
Then listen to this podcast and learn how knowing your risks can give you your best insight.
About Ted
Before founding Risk Alternatives LLC, Ted was a Distinguished Visiting Professor from Practice at Georgetown University Law Center. At Georgetown, his research focused on dispute resolution, complex litigation, preventive law, legal training, risk management, governance, and compliance.
Prior to fulltime teaching, Ted served for more than 20 years in the Washington DC office of the international law firm of Jones Day. At Jones Day, Ted represented clients in successful high-profile lawsuits and investigations and worked closely with parties with divergent interests to craft workable settlements involving businesses, consumers, and government agencies. While at Jones Day, Ted taught at Georgetown for many years as an adjunct professor.
NPA 081: How to Build & Spend Social Capital
Jan 31, 2018
In this episode I talk witth Dr. Froswa’ Booker-Drew about building socail capital and developing asset based based community relationships. Let’s start with some definitions.
Social Capital is a network of relationships among people who live and work in a particular society, enabling that society to function effectively.
Asset Based Community Development is a methodology for the sustainable development of communities based on their strengths and potentials.
In a nutshell, we talk about how to use existing networks within a comminuty that enables that society to function effectively and thus help communities develop based on their strengths and potentials.
Here’s more about our guest.
Dr. Froswa’ Booker-Drew has an extensive background in nonprofit management, partnership development, training and education. She is currently serving as a catalyst, partnership broker, and capacity builder of an international NGO partners’ around the U.S. This entails facilitating the emergence and strengthening of community-led initiatives to improve and sustain the well-being of children and their families. She also assists a number of organizations as a consultant, board member, trainer or adviser. She is the co-host of the web talk show, Social Issues Time. Froswa’ earned her PhD in Leadership and Change from Antioch University with a focus on relational leadership and social capital.
NPA 080: Find New Funding for Your Nonprofit
Jan 23, 2018
Podcast show notes written by Alexandra Black-Paulick. Thank you Alex!
Can nonprofits make money?
You’d be surprised at how many people adamantly believe that under no circumstances can nonprofits earn revenue. The reality is that the term “nonprofit” has nothing to do with whether an organization can make a profit and everything to do with what they do with that profit. In the instance of a nonprofit, they cannot distribute profits to shareholders like a for-profit company. Instead, the revenue stays within the organization to be used to achieve the nonprofit’s mission.
But diving into the tax code isn’t what today’s episode is about.
In today’s show, I connect with Alexandra Black-Paulick from Positive Impact Media and co-creator of Nonprofits for the Future on ways that nonprofits are generating revenue. We not only break down some of the ways you can discover opportunities in your organization but we also go through two separate case studies.
Between grants gaining competition and donors starting to disappear after the economic crash of 2008, nonprofits across the nation started funneling their efforts into earned income solutions that aligned with their mission. Below, you’ll find a brief synopsis of the two case studies we talk about in the episode as well as tips to help you discover opportunities in your organization.
Our goal with this episode is to help you come up with ideas that align with your mission and opportunities that are viable to implement in your organization.
Method for Discovering Opportunities in Your Organization
On the episode, Alexandra highlights the strategy that she walks organizations through in her upcoming course. It’s really important to use your mission as a metric throughout this process so you develop a related income stream and don’t pull resources away from your main goals.
Start with an organizational asset list to find things of value in your organization. This could include everything from curriculum to technology to communities advocating on your behalf. Then you need to look at different needs in the communities you serve or groups near to your cause.
Case Study One: Denver Food Rescue + Fresh Food Connect
The Denver Food Rescue realized that they had a valuable technology asset with their software running Fresh Food Connect. Additionally, they realized other hubs or organizations running a similar food program would benefit from it.
This led them to license the app. They charge a nominal annual fee, which then covers all the required maintenance costs.
In the episode, we dive in deeper to how you can use a similar thought pattern to make sure the endeavors you’re doing add to your mission. Some of the suggestions both Alex and I recommend to expand could fall into mission creep, which we talk about ways to avoid.
Case Study Two: Bikes Together
Bikes Together needed a way to sustain their incredibly generous bike giveaway programs, which has given away over 6,000 bikes to date. They also had a complete bicycle workshop and ample volunteers ready and willing to work on bikes.
This led them to start refurbishing bikes to sell.
Tune in to hear how we talk about another really innovative way they built in value to create memberships, and how members love it!
How to Move Your Mission Forward with Earned Income Solutions
If you want a structured approach and a step by step roadmap to develop earned income solutions for your organization, then check out Alex’s new course: Roadmap to New Funding Sources.
This four-week course walks you through everything from exploring different business models, discovering opportunities within your organization, how to vet ideas, and mission-driven marketing strategies to take it to market. To ensure that every organization going through the class comes away with tangible ideas to implement, she and her co-creator are hosting office hours twice a week.
Hurry though – this course closes on January 30th.
Enter the Giveaway!
If you listened until the end of the episode, you know that we’re giving away one FREE course for Nonprofits for the Future: Roadmap to New Funding Sources. To enter, you need to comment on the show notes. To really make this powerful, we’d love to hear what you think about earned income for nonprofits, different takeaways you want to apply to your organization, or potential earned income solutions you want to implement.
NPA 079: Keys to “Social Startup Success”
Jan 16, 2018
In this podcast I talk with Kathleen Kelly-Janus, author of Social Startup Success. In this interview we talk about the different factors involved in building a nonprofit into a sustainable, profitable (yes, you can make money) and affective organization.
Kathleen is an award-winning social entrepreneur, author and lecturer at Stanford University. Her work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Huffington Post, Stanford Social Innovation Review, Tech Crunch and the San Francisco Chronicle.
In this podcast (and in her book) Kathleen gives real life examples of how successful nonprofits went from start up to sustainable. Examples of this include:
Testing ideas by engaging stakeholders and reframing failure as learning, like Aspire Public Schools did to devise a creative solution to ineffective preschool education in low-income communities.
Measuring impact as you track the positive outcomes of your organization and maximize that data, like At the Crossroads did to create stages of progress as they reached out to homeless youth in San Francisco.
Funding experimentation to find a funding model true to your goals and effective at raising money, like Hot Bread Kitchen did when they both raised money and sold bread to sustain their training program for low-income women to find jobs in the food industry.
Leading collaboratively by building a team and creating an environment where people feel empowered and appreciated, like the crowdfunding platform Kiva did by allowing employees to manage their own success metrics.
Telling compelling stories to share the work you’re doing, like founder of the Center for Youth Wellness Nadine Burke Harris did in a TED talk that’s been viewed over 2.5 million times.
NPA 077 – How to be an Emerging Nonprofit
Jan 03, 2018
The term “emerging nonprofit” is thrown around a lot. But what does it mean? Does mean anything? Well, that is actually not the topic we discuss in this podcast. But, if you want to “emerge”, then pay close attention. It’s time to build your capacity.
In this podcast I talk with Jeremy Grandstaff from SGEndeavors.com. We talk about building your nonprofit team and helping them define their roles within the organization. This of course leads us into a discussion about holding a better meeting. We then move on to discuss strategic planning and board retreats.
This is a great podcast if you are looking to build your nonprofits capacity. Here are links to what is mentioned in the show.
In this special edition of the Nonprofit Ally Podcast we count down the top 5 episodes of all time.
In this episode, we hear an exerpt from the most listened to podcast of all time. It features Ann Myren. The podcast title is, “Grant Writing from Preparation to Submission”.
In this special edition of the Nonprofit Ally Podcast we count down the top 5 episodes of all time.
In this episode, we hear an exerpt from the second most listened to podcast. It features Chris Ferdinandi. The podcast title is, “Secrets to Getting more Website Visits”.
In this special edition of the Nonprofit Ally Podcast we count down the top 5 episodes of all time.
In this episode, we hear an exerpt from the third most listened to podcast. It features Laurie Wolf. The podcast title is, “Sustainability is Not the Destination”.
In this special edition of the Nonprofit Ally Podcast we count down the top 5 episodes of all time.
In this episode, we hear an exerpt from the fourth most listened to podcast. It features Autumn Bernstein. The podcast title is, “Creating a Nonprofit Coalition – Building Relationships with other Nonprofits”.
In this special edition of the Nonprofit Ally Podcast we count down the top 5 episodes of all time.
In this episode, we hear an exerpt from the fifth most listened to podcast. It features Nick Loper. The podcast title is, “Starting a Nonprofit as a Side Job”.
In this special edition of the Nonprofit Ally Podcast we count down the top 5 episodes of 2017.
In this episode, we hear an exerpt from the most popular podcast or 2017. It features Carolyn Appleton. The podcast is title is “Insider Tips from a Professional Grant Writer”.
In this special edition of the Nonprofit Ally Podcast we count down the top 5 episodes of 2017.
In this episode, we hear an exerpt from the second most popular podcast. It features John Haydon. The podcast is title is “How to Build Relationships with Everyone”.
In this special edition of the Nonprofit Ally Podcast we count down the top 5 episodes of 2017.
In this episode, we hear an exerpt from the third most popular podcast. It features a panel discussion with Mauricio Belgrano, Megan Innes and me. The podcast is title is “Crowdfunding Special Edition”.
In this special edition of the Nonprofit Ally Podcast we count down the top 5 episodes of 2017.
In this episode, we hear an exerpt from the fourth most popular podcast. It features Robert McGuire from McGuire Editorial. The podcast is title is “Practical Content marketing for Nonprofits”.
In this special edition of the Nonprofit Ally Podcast we count down the top 5 episodes of 2017.
In this episode, we hear an exerpt from the fifth most popular podcast. It features Amanda Babine from Evaluate for Change. The podcast title is “Building Capacity with the Logic Model”.
NPA 076: Do You Believe these Nonprofit Myths? Let’s Bust Them!
Dec 14, 2017
If you ever second guessed the validity of advice you’ve been given, then you are not alone. In this podcast we talk with Zoot Velasco from zootvelasco.com. He shares his insights on how to bust the myths we are all told about how to run our nonprofits.
In this podcast he breaks the myths of:
Holding gala events. Is the money worth the effort?
The board runs the nonprofit. Uh oh, I hope you know better than this…
My nonprofit idea should start now! Watch your ego…
Nonprofits shouldn’t make money? Hmmm…
Strategic planning. Are you following your plan? Or is it just making you feel good because you did it?
Our mission statement should cover everything we do. OK… tell me your mission… in one sentence.
We need to have more fundraiser. Do you? What for? Be specific.
We have more “likes” than you. Ha – we have more supporters.
If you are ready to hear it like it is (instead of how you want it), then tune in to this podcast and get your nonprofit myths busted.
NPA 075: Go Beyond the Donation with Social Fundraising
Dec 06, 2017
Social fundraising (sometimes called crowdfunding… but it is more) is becoming more sophicated and more useful. It is more than just a way to raise money. It is a way to connect with supporters, garner new donations, build relationships with your community and increase awareness of your organization.
In this podcast, we talk with Gary Wohlfeill from CrowdRise.com. Gary describes social fundraising as a way to go “beyond the donation”. It let’s your supporters “share out”, via their own networks, the actions they take with your organization. This can be via a donation, the purchase of an event ticket or the simple sharing of a story that moved them. This can help create new donors and raise an incredible amount of awareness.
Gary explains how techology can help you find new opportunities to have your supporters spread the word about your services, mission and/or fundraiser.
This is a great interview that delves into the psychology of our donors combined with the ability to harness their desire to do good.
NPA 074: How to Start a Major Gifts Program for Your Nonprofit
Nov 29, 2017
It takes a special kind of person to be a fundraiser. Or at least that is what we tell ourselves. For most people, fundraising is intimidating. After all, who wants to go around asking other people for money. For most of us, fundraising doesn’t come naturally.
And yet, fundraising is an essential part to running a successful nonprofit.
So, here is some good news. Fundraising can be learned. AND it can be enjoyed.
In this podcast I interview Mitchell Linker, author of the book, “Nobody Dreams of Being a Fundraiser”. He talks about his evolution of becoming a good fundraiser. And the struggles he went throught that helped him learn his craft.
Mitchell walks us through a start-to-finish scenario of how to approach potential donors to ask for major gifts. Within this scenario he discusses:
How to identify potential major gift donors
How to start a major gifts program
What to say (and ask) during face-to-face visit with potential donors
And, in the end, how to ask for money
This is a great podcast for anyone interest in raising money for their nonprofit. And especially if you want to start a major gifts program.
Special Gift! Leave a comment below to be automatically entered to win a free copy of Mitchell’s Book.
NPA 073: New Approaches to Grant Writing
Nov 14, 2017
If you run a nonprofit then you likely write grants. But it is easy to take grants for granted (pun intended). With competition for grants increasing and available funding decreasing it is now more important than ever to research your grants and target your funding needs.
In this podcast I talk with Holly Rustic from Grant Writing and Funding. Holly is a professional grant writer who offers consulting services, courses, workshops and a podcast.
Holly gives tips on how to work together with other nonprofits to help increase your chances of getting a grant. She also talks about how to use grants to “start up” your programs and projects. Holly then brings this all together and explains the role grants have in building a sustainable nonprofit. (Note – the answer may be surprising.)
NPA 072 – Community Engagement & Fundraising
Oct 26, 2017
If you are a growing nonprofit, then you likely have spreadsheets, paypal accounts, book keeping software, volunteer mailing list, etc. It can quickly turn in to mess of documents that are hard to manage.
Eventually, you need a place to put this all. That is where todays guest, Ro Valiao, with Flipcause comes in.
Maybe you have looked in to getting some type of software platform for you nonprofit, but were turned away by the cost of it – or the sheer enormousness of the product. Flipcause is different. It is geared to help you build relationships in the community, grow your programs and raise more money. And it is targeted for the smaller nonprofits, like you.
Are you ready for software?
Ro gives us a great baseline to start with. He says start with:
Once you have all this in place you should be good for awhile. If fact, this will likely help you greatly build your capacity. The next step is putting all this all together in its own platform. What you need next is a CRM.
When do you need to take the next step?
Ro is upfront about the need for Flipcause. If you are making less that $40,000 a year, stick with the above list of baseline apps. But once you reach $50,000 or more, then you should seriously look into getting a software solution that integrates your major software needs.
Ro shares with us how Flipcause integrates community outreach, fundraising and email marketing all in to one affordable and easy to use platform.
If you want to take you nonprofit to the next level, then this podcast is a must listen.
*Please note: The ability to sell raffle tickets, as discussed in this podcast, may not be available for all Flipcause clients. Raffle ticket sales are subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations.
NPA 071: Increase Your Online Engagement
Oct 12, 2017
How do you use your website? Is it a simple page with basic information about your mission, your services and a contact page? Do you have a blog? Do people comment on your blog? Do you have “landing pages” that encourage visitors to “opt-in” for resource?
How do you use your website?
Most websites are what I call “Brochure” sites. They have basic information about an organization (home, about, services) and a contact page. This is a good start. But if you want visitors to engage with your organization online (sign up for newsletters, volunteer, donate, read advocacy related news) then your website has to be optimized for engagement and conversions.
This is what we talk about with Barbara Carneiro, from wordrevolution.com. Word Revolution is a wed design company that specialized in helping ministries and religious based organizations delivery online messages to new and returning audiences.
Barbara shares her insight about how to engage your audience and then, more importantly, convert your visitors to donors, volunteers and advocates.
If you have a website, and you want to start using it to increase your nonprofits awareness, then this is a great podcast to listing to.
NPA 070: Successful Advocacy in a Noisy World
Sep 28, 2017
Advocating for the rights of others is not an easy job. It is difficult to bring awareness of your cause to the general public. There are 100’s of ways to get your message out and your audience could be scattered across the country. This is the challenge.
In this episode, I talk about with Jay and Shira Ruderman from the Ruderman Foundation. They are the President and Director of the foundation and advocate for the inclusion of people with disabilities throughout our society. They have run advocacy campaigns that have been picked up on national TV and received millions of views on social media.
Their Advice on Successful Advocacy
You have to be prepared to produce content. The importance of this can’t be overemphasized. Take control of your message, don’t be afraid to take a position and then disseminated it on as many media platforms (social media, tradition media, flyers, advertisements) as possible. It is also be important to produce your content with a variety of mediums (photo’s, video, essays, audio).
Be prepared to do a lot of work. Jay stresses there is no shortcut. Advocacy is work.
Build relationships with the media. Continually pitch stories.
Build alliances with other organizations and individuals.
NPA 069: Roadmap to a Sustainable Nonprofit
Sep 13, 2017
Nathan Runkle started an animal rights advocacy group when he was just 15 years old. Move ahead 18 some years and Mercy for Animals is now a nonprofit with 130 employees and $12M in revenue. How did Nathan do this? Well, it’s a long story. And it is a story Nathan shares in this interview.
Nathan talks about the four pillars of his nonprofit and how it has blossomed into an international nonprofit affecting government regulations and corporate policy. During this growth, Nathan worked on building a great team of talented advocates, expanded his infrastructure and nurtured the support of supporters who helped fund the Mercy for Animals mission.
To create a multi-million dollar nonprofit takes strategy, planning, budgeting and goals. Nathan shares with us the road map he used to build his nonprofit.
NPA 068 – Turn Minimum Resources Into Maximum Impact
Sep 06, 2017
Most start up nonprofits share one thing in common… they have little, to no, resources. In this podcast, I talk with Coby Schoffman. He is the founder and executive director of Nation Foundation (nation-foundation.org).
He talks about how his visit to a Ugandan school inspired him to start a nonprofit to help the students finish their studies. He organized volunteers, coordinator with school representative, found students that needed help and, of course, raised money. Much of this was cooridanated from 1,000’s of miles away, part-time (while attending school) with very few resources. Oh, and it should be noted, Coby is just 24 years old.
Coby engineered a grassroots startup that appears to be on its way to sustainability. It’s a great example of how to use “what you have” for the “maximum impact”. Using a combination of Google Ads, a website, a few boots on the ground and a team of volunteers, Coby has been able to set a solid foundation for the Nation Foundation to deliver its mission.
If there is one thing nonprofits do a lot, it is look for funding. This funding comes in the form of grants, membership dues, corporate sponsorship, individual donors and, of course, crowndfunding.
In this episode, I talk with Devin Thorpe who is a motivational speaker, writer and holds an MBA from Cornell University. Devin believes that society is becoming more socially aware and that this leads to more opportunity for direct, peer-to-peer, fundraising. This may help explain why crowdfunding is one of the fastest growing forms of fundraising for nonprofits.
Devin talks about crowdfunding strategy and gives and aweseome three step process to get you started on the road to success. Devin is a great speaker who is enthusaistic and knowledgable. This is a podcast you will listen to many times.
NPA 066: Email Marketing for Nonprofits
Aug 23, 2017
Being able to affectively use email to market your nonprofit is becoming increasely important. And increasingly easy. Todays guest, Carlos Scarpero, talks with us about the basics of setting an email marketing campaign and strategy.
Obviously this starts with a plan and a goal. It could be as simple as getting people to an upcoming event. Or more involved, like getting people to donate to your nonprofit. In most cases, you will need to set up some type of email campaign.
What’s a Campaign?
A campaign is a series of emails that get sent in accordance with a timeline. For instance, you can send a series of four emails, to potential donors, that shares stories on how your nonprofit helps the community. Then, send a fifth email asking them to help support your cause.
OK, that was overly simplistic, but I think you get the picture.
What you Need?
You need an email campaign service like MailChimp, AWeber* of ConstantContact. These services help you build email lists that people can “subscribe” to. MailChimp does hava free version which is great to get started with. But, eventually you are going to want to automate the delivery of your email campaigns. And to do that, you will need to get the paid services. And believe me… if you plan to use campaigns, the paid services are SOOOOOOO worth it.
So, sit back and enjoy the podcast. And then get ready to start your email campaign.
NPA 065: From For-Profit to Non-Profit. Making the Transition.
Aug 16, 2017
For some, it is easy to enter into the nonprofit world. But for many it is an “ideal”, a dream, or a passing fantasy that is tough to realize.
There seems to be a common thread among nonprofit seekers. They want to do more. They want to feel like they are doing something for their community. They want to make a difference.
Often theses “wants” can’t be fulfilled in the for-profit corporate world. But transitioning into a position at a nonprofit can seem scary. There are lots of concerns that run through our minds:
Will I make enough money?
Will the work be challenging?
How do I pick the right organization?
How do you find the right position?
What qualifications do I need?
And again… will I make enough money?
In this podcast I talk with Rick Sleutaris, Co-director at Open Connections in Pennsylvania. He talks about his personally story of working for Gore (a.k.a. Gore-tex), with a Masters in Business Adminstration, and how his desire to do something else, lead him to the nonprofit world.
This is a great story that many will be able to relate to. For those seeking the nonprofit expereince, this will help inspire and comfort you along your journey.
NPA 064: The Many Hats of a Nonprofit Executive Director
Aug 09, 2017
Being the Executive Director (ED) of a nonprofit means different things for different organizations. But it means one thing for the ED. You will wear many hats, use different skills and fulfill a variety of roles.
Let’s get a bit more specific. As an ED you may be required to be the bookkeeper, fundraiser, grant writer, program developer, volunteer organizer, event planner, donor outreach coordinator or marketing specialist.
In smaller organizations you may also be the dog walker, custodian, envelope licker, web designer, software updated, printer fixer, supply clerk, etc. I think you get the picture.
It is not an easy job. But our guest, Ann Wrixon, has been doing it for nearly 30 years and she shares with us a wealth of knowledge. She currently is the ED at CASA of Contra Costa County, in Concord, CA. This is a real “boots on the ground” interview with someone who has been there and done that. (And is still doing it).
So, if you are an executive director, thinking about becoming one or are on a board that works with one, this podcast will give you an appreciation and understanding of all the work that goes in to being an ED.
NPA 063: How to Fundraise Using Email
Aug 02, 2017
Fundraising for your nonprofit can be time consuming and energy draining. Let’s face it, most of us don’t like fundraising. But what if you could create a “passive” fundraising system. Does that sound intriguing?
Well, that is just what Jason Granger from Infinity Marketing Group is going to share with you in this podcast. Jason has decades of marketing experience and has developed an innovative way to approach nonprofit fundraising. He takes what is often termed a “sales funnel” and has turned it into a “fundraising funnel”.
In this podcast, Jason walks us through the steps you need to take in order to set up your own fundraising funnel for your nonprofit. This is a great hands-on podcast that will help you set up a passive fundraising system.
NPA 062: Starting a Nonprofit in a Foreign Country (Listener Interview)
Jul 26, 2017
Starting a nonprofit is not easy. But starting a nonprofit in a foreign country… that shares a war-affected border… well, that is just down-right difficult. But that is what Jason Szolomayer is doing in Jordan.
How can regular people like you and me help tangibly with the humanitarian crisis in the Middle East? In this episode I talk with Jason Szolomayer about how 3D printing and 3D scanning technology can bring the “gift of hearing” to Syrian refugees and low-income individuals in the world’s biggest war-torn hotspot.
Jason, the founder of 3DP4ME (3D Printing for Me/Middle East), shares the challenges he and his partner in Jordan are facing to create ear molds for hearing aids. Jason also shares info about the Hearing Express Project, which aims to provide 12,000 hearing aids over the next five years.
“In developing countries less than 3% of people who need a hearing aid are thought to have.” World Health Organization (WHO), 2013
This is an great story that is bound to inspire. I hope you like it.
NPA 061: Get a FREE Website for your Nonprofit
Jul 12, 2017
Adam Walker is the co-founder of a special kind of nonprofit. His nonprofit, 48-in-48, gives free websites to nonprofits. Yup, you heard that right – he makes websites for nonprofits and gives them away for free.
This is how it works. A team of web designers get together and make 48 websites for 48 nonprofits in 48 hours.
OK, so of course that is cool. But this podcast also goes into detail about web design best practices for nonprofits.
Adam shares his expertise about page design, message crafting, website marketing, branding and, of course, donation pages.
So, if you are making your nonprofit website and want to know what pages to include, what content to create or what features you should include, then this is the podcast to listen to.
NPA 060 – Using an Impact Funnel to Market your Nonprofit
Jun 27, 2017
In this podcast I talk with Boris Kievsky. He is the founder of dotorgstrategy.com. He is an online marketing strategist that helps nonprofits find new audiences, increase their engagement and raise more awareness. And, of course, this can all help with fundraising.
Boris talks about the basic concepts of a conversion funnel, or what he calls an “impact funnel”. The idea is to gradually increase engagement with your supporters and followers to help build relations with your audience. As this audience builds you can lead them down your impact funnel to help them find the best ways to engage with your nonprofit.
A general outline for this is:
Find your story
Target your audeince
Reach out to them via various platforms
Of course there is more to it than that and Boris goes over these details during the podcast.
NPA 059 – Using Stories to Further your Mission and More
Jun 13, 2017
Story telling is becoming one of the main ways nonprofits spread awareness and fundraise for their cause. In this episode I talk with Meg Campbell and Marybeth Redmond from the Vermont Story Lab.
Meg and Marybeth talk about how to find the stories that are right in front of your eyes. Yup, it is that simple. Yet, seeing what is right in front of us can sometimes be difficult. They go on to help us inventory our stories with the creation of a “story vault” to help us track and plan the uses, and strategy, for our stories.
We then move on to discovering a formula that helps us actually “tell” the story. This is a great info for those who have story ideas but just aren’t sure where to start.
This is a fun and informative episode. I hope you enjoy it.
NPA 058: Better Meetings with Roberts Rules
May 30, 2017
Running efficient meetings can make or break a nonprofit. Long meetings that don’t reach actionable outcomes can drain board members and increase turn-over in your organization. Having a simple meeting structure to follow can reign in distracting side-topics and keep members focused on the topics at hand.
One of the most common ways to structure a meeting is to follow Roberts Rules. In this podcast I talk with Susan Leahy about the fundamentals of using Roberts Rules. She walks us through how to structure a meeting and teaches us to use some of the most used meeting “motions”.
Roberts Rules will help you:
Build your team
Increase communication
Improve Efficiency
The Fundamental Motions of Roberts Rules
Resources
To learn more about Susan Leahy MA CSP visit her at:
NPA 057 – How to build relationships with EVERYONE… No Joke.
Apr 25, 2017
Do you have donors, volunteers, members, board members or staff? Of course you do. Do you know the best way to keep them up to date on events, programs and latest news?
Did you say FaceBook? Wonk, wonk, wonk… no.
How about blogging ? Wonk, wonk… no, but actually not a bad idea.
Did you say with emails? Ding, ding. Winner!
Having an email list can be one of most important tools you use to help grow your nonprofit. And we aren’t talking Excel spreadsheets or Outlook mailing list. We are talking full-on automated list with subscribe now buttons, opt-in offers and automated drip release. We are talking email marketing. Sound like overkill? Too technical? Too expensive?
It’s not. In fact, it is easy to get started, it will help you GROW your nonprofit AND it can done for FREE.
This ain’t hype. It is actually just what the modern mailing is made to do. And it is easy.
In this podcast I talk with John Haydon about building a mailing list. How to use it? What technology to use? And what you actually write to all your email subscribers. John is an expert marketer specializing in working with nonprofits and charities.
John is full of ideas and gives us usable suggestions on how to start using our mailing list.
Why is this important? Well…
It helps you buid relationships with your community
It can establish trust and authority within your given field
It can make event planning simplier and increase turnout
You most certainly will use it to improve your fundraising efforts
This podcast will help you start using powerful tools that will help your nonprofit grow.
NPA 056 – Building Capacity with the Logic Model
Apr 06, 2017
In this episode of the Nonprofit Ally Podcast I talk with Amanda Babine from Evaluate for Change. We talk about the “Logic Model” which is an evaluation method designed to help build the capacity of nonprofit programs.
The logic model helps you understand how your organization does what it does? It is a tool that allows you to break down the different components of your organization’s programming and clarify how your organization’s program works to achieve its objectives.
It is broken down into three main components, with many subcoponents within each main category. The three main component are, inputs, outputs and outcomes-impact.
Taking a program through the logic model will help you better understand your resources, how you are using them, how you deliver your services, what resources are taking the most effort, what your cost/benefit is, etc, etc.
It is an indepth analysis of how you do, what you do – and how you can do it better.
NPA 055: Practical Content Marketing for Nonprofits
Mar 14, 2017
In this episode I talk with Robert McGuire about how to use content marketing for your nonprofit. Robert is the owner of McGuire Editorial where he provides content marketing strategies for nonprofits and businesses.
So, here is the cool thing. Prior to recording the podcast I talked with Robert about my desire to make the information we present as practical as possible. And boy did Robert deliver! Not only is the follow post completely written by Robert (with a great example of how nonprofits can use content marketing) there is also a FREE download.
Here is a very hands-on email Robert sent to me about Nonprofit Content Marketing:
I just now Googled the term “services for disabled children” and the name of my state. After links to state government agencies. national organizations with directories, and for-profit providers, the first actual nonprofit service provider — on page two of the Google search results — is the page for the local chapter of a national organization we would all recognize the name of.
Going down the navigation menu of their site, we see versions of “What we do, what we need, how hard we work, why our work matters, the people who support us, how you can support us, success stories about our clients and news about us.”
All necessary. Nothing necessarily wrong with that. But here are some of the questions not answered anywhere on this site:
I’m a department manager of a small team, and one of my direct reports just told me her child was diagnosed with a severe disability. How can we support her? What are my obligations for her schedule? What are the family leave regulations I should be aware of?
My disabled child is being teased at school. How do I open a productive dialogue with the principal?
My oldest child is struggling with the attention our family has to give to her disabled brother. Where can we get family counseling?
My brother and his wife need a break. How can I organize some respite time for them?
I’m a new policy director at city hall, and I keep hearing how services for disabled students are a growing share of education budgets. What’s the best source of data on that?
I own a fast food franchise, and the director of the group home down the street asked for a meeting about employing some of his residents. I want to be supportive, but how would I have to manage my business differently?
In other words, this direct service provider does have a wealth of insight and expertise that is valuable to somebody in their community. And all of those people mentioned — the manager, the parent, the extended family member, the government employee, the small business owner — are people that a nonprofit agency would want to reach for one reason or another. Content that answers questions like those above is a way to start engaging them so that they are more receptive later to the “How you can help” conversation.
As I discuss in this definition of content marketing, it is a “plan to grow and engage your customer base that is built around discovering what you can do for someone else, developing and delivering related content, and then measuring the results”.
Hope that illustrates the idea.
Thank you Robert for the great example of how to use content marketing.
NPA 054: Insider Tips from a Professional Grant Writer
Feb 28, 2017
In this episode I talk with Carolyn Appleton about grant writing. Carolyn is a grant writing and fundraising specialist and she gives us some insider tips on how to get that next grant.
Carolyn begins by presenting an ethical view of grantsmanship to help guide you during your grant writing endeavours. She then goes into detail with tips on how to research a grant, what to include in a grant and how to develop a relationship with potential grantors.
This is a rolling conversation with a lot information packed into it.
NPA 053: Special Crowdfunding Edition
Jan 25, 2017
Crowdfunding can seem overly simple and, at the same time, overly complex. It’s pretty easy to start a crowdfunding campaign – just sign up for an account, upload some photos, add a video and paste your content. Once you have it all added, just turn your campaign on and you are fundraising.
That’s the easy part.
But then what? You now have a crowdfunding campaign to maintain and manage. What exactly does that mean? How do run a crowdfunding campaign? And where are all these donors coming from?
Well, that is the hard part.
In this podcast, I talk with Mauricio Belgrano and Megan Innes about the details of running a crowdfunding campaing. In particular, they answer the following quesitons:
What, in your opinion, is the most important part of a crowdfunding campaign?
How do you convert visitors to donors?
Best strategy for social media?
What do you say on your campaigns home page?
How do you build and keep interest during the campaign?
How do you reach new and old donors?
We can’t make crowdfunding easier. It is a lot of work. But we can take the guess work out and simplify the process of running a crowdfunding campaign.
The Complete Crowdfunding Course is your detailed guide to running a successful crowdfunding campaign. This course gives you a start-to-finish implementation plan that will help you run an awesome fundraiser.
The course gives you sample content you can use for your campaign page, your donation request email and your thank you emails.
Each step of the campaign is covered in detail so you won’t feel alone in the midst of your campaign. You’ll always know what to do next.
And if you ever have questions, you’ll have access to a private forum just for the Crowdfunding Course.
So take the guess work out of crowdfunding and get ready to run a successful fundraiser.
NPA 052: How to Avoid Mission Creep and Achieve your Nonprofit Goals
Jan 17, 2017
Nonprofit organizations obviously have a mission they follow. Sometimes they are lofty ones and other times they are vague and verbous. But the point of your mission is to focus your organization so you can do more. Or as Liana Downey puts it, in the title of her book, “Mission Control – How Nonprofits and Governments can Focus, Achieve More and Change the World.”
In this podcast, Liana guides us through the process of defining our mission and refocusing our efforts so we can develop a strategy that really helps achieve our organizations mission. She also goes over the signs and symptoms of “mission creep” and how to reverse the trend of a mission out of control.
If you are a nonprofit leader then this podcast has the information you need to develop a strong mission focused organization.
NPA 051: Build a Sustainable Nonprofit Board
Dec 13, 2016
Building your nonprofit board of directors is some of the most important work you should. A strong board can help lead an organization to success and create credibility within the community your serve. And no one knows this as well as Laura Otten, Ph.D. from the Nonprofit Center at La Salle University.
In this episode Laura talks with us on how to develop our board of directors. She points out the importance of having a systematic recruiting approach that involves reaching out to your community to find the professionals you need.
She also talks about establishing a committee to help ensure the board gets regular training, is prepared for transition and remains involved in your mission. Some boards just use a nominating committee during election time, but Laura encourages the formation of a development committee to oversee and plan the growth of the board.
There is a strategy to board development and this podcast will help outline a course for your own board development.
Oh and one more thing. For those who are Founders, ED’s and Directors all-in-one… prepare for some sobering, but hopefully welcoming, advice.
NPA 050: How to be a Nonprofit Outreach Super Hero
Nov 30, 2016
It is one thing to have a great idea to serve your community, it is another to go out and actively market your services. Making initial contact with potential funders, donors, sponsors and partners is integral to the success of any nonprofit. But for many this type of outreach is an intimidating process that is out of our comfort zone.
Joel Geier, founder of Keep Integrating Developmental Sports (KIDS), shares how he uses his passion and belief to open doors to new opportunities. He has developed an outreach program that is on steroids. that includes presentations, events, followup calls and even custom made SWAG for his potential partners. And he is doing this all before his organization even has its official 501.c.3 status.
NPA 049: Inbound Marketing for Nonprofits
Nov 20, 2016
Do you have a website? Do you post to a blog? Do you use a newsletter? How about social media? Are you connected to Google Analytics? If you said “yes” to anyone of these, then you are already using some of the tools for Inbound Marketing. Now you just have to put it in to a system. In this podcast I talk with Keith Selvin from HubSpot about how to use Inbound Marketing for your nonprofit.
What is Inbound Marketing?
The best way to explain this is to tell you what it isn’t. It is not sending out mass mailing, posting flyers or buying radio commercials. That is outbound marketing. That is telling everyone – ninety-percent of whom don’t care – about your nonprofit. It is not very efficient and not easy to track.
Inbound Marketing attracts visitors who are interested in your nonprofit and funnels them through to the services or resources you want them to find. You attract them with blog posts, newsletters, social media posts and videos. They find your content, like your content and then follow this stream of content until your end result is achieved.
OK, that is a simplified version. Here is the bottom line… I am paraphrasing Keith… would you rather have 1,000 visitors to your website, but only two donate to your cause? Or would you rather have 100 visitors to your website and 10 donate to your cause?
How to Do It
I want you to look over this graphic. This is the flow chart of inbound marketing. This will give you a good idea on how inbound marketing works.
Now, as you listen to this podcast, follow along on this graphic and see how you can turn strangers into donors.
The Tools
Keith mentioned a whole bunch of tools. Here are links to what he talked about. Most of them are FREE.
Google Analytics – tracks visitors to your website and help you get found in search results. FREE.
MailChimp – a great tool for generating an email list and publishing a newsletter. FREE.
Infusion Soft – Customer Relationship Management Software CRM. Great for tracking donors, volunteers and sponsors. (Not free)
NPA 048: Fiscal Sponsorship for Nonprofits
Aug 17, 2016
In this podcast I talk with Andrew Schulman (Schulmanconsulting.com). Andrew is a Fiscal Sponsorship Adviser that specializes in working with nonprofit. This is a very broad topic and much of
If you want a quick overview of what fiscal sponsorship is and how it can help you, just read these articles on Andrew’s website:
NPA 047: Sustainability is not the Destination
Jun 14, 2016
We all want our nonprofits to be sustainable. We want a regular source of revenue, program participants, board members and staff. But does having all this mean we are sustainable? In this podcast, Laurie Wolf talks with us about how sustainability is “not a destination, it is a journey”.
Laurie is the CEO of the Foraker Group, and she explains that sustainability begins with “Focus”. And that focus includes your purpose, your mission and you values. Sustainability also includes the right people, partnerships, unrestricted funds and programs/services. You can see the Foraker model of sustainability at: forakergroup.org/index.php/our-business/sustainability-model.
This podcast interview goes into detail about how to move your nonprofit toward a sustainable future.
NPA 046: Secrets to Getting more Visitors to your Website
Mar 07, 2016
If you want to get more people to your website then this is the podcast to listen to. There are some simple steps you can take to get and KEEP visitors on your website. Today’s guest is Chris Ferdinandi. Chris is the founder of GoMakeThings.com and a web developer who helps nonprofits (specifically animal rescues) improve their web presence, increase their website visitors and ultimately, raise more money online.
Over 50% of people surfing the web are going to visit your nonprofit website on a mobile device. If you site does not work well (or look good) on a cell phone or tablet, then you are giving an unprofessional impression. So being sure you have a “responsive” design is going to help ensure you are giving a professional first impression to ALL of your visitors.
Chris talks about the importance of having a mobile friendly website and how to develop a web strategy for your nonprofit. This goes beyond just having a responsive website. It also means paying attention to your load speed, site architecture (are things easy to find) and accessibility.
NPA 045: Listener Interview – Turning Inspiration into Action
Feb 22, 2016
Inspiration can occur most anywhere. For Nicolette Holferty it struck while she was knitting a hat for a friend. But getting over the resistance and self-doubt of pursuing her idea seemed to challenge her around each corner. Note… I said “challenge”, not “stop”.
Armed with passion and “The War of Art” – a book she carries with her everywhere – Nicolette pushed through her resistance and her fear, and made a beautifully inspired nonprofit a reality.
This is her story. It may seem simple in the telling, but it is inspiring in the action.
NPA 044: Finding Affordable Software Solutions for your Nonprofit
Feb 08, 2016
Finding the right software for your nonprofit can be as simple as buying Microsoft Office or as complex as finding a donor management system that integrates with your accounting software. This is where Janna Finch comes in. Janna is a software market research associate at softwareadvice.com. Her job is to measure and track what types of software and features nonprofits are needing and looking to buy.
Buyers’ top software purchase drivers include a need for more functionality (27 percent) and changes to, or the expiration of, an existing contract (22 percent).
Built-in email marketing and outreach tools are a “must-have” for 42 percent of buyers: a 133 percent increase from 18 percent last year.
In a sub-sample of buyers who seek fundraising software that integrates with another application, 57 percent want accounting integration.
Now, for those of you who may be techno-phobes, Janna has some advice for you.
Software can save you time by automating regular processes. So the time it takes to learn something new will save you time in the end.
Delegate the responsibility to staff, volunteer or board member.
Spend time to find the right solution (there are plenty of user friendly solutions).
NPA 043: Create a Sustainable Financial Plan for your Nonprofit
Jan 25, 2016
Getting your nonprofit to a state of financial sustainability is a goal for all of us. But just how do you get there and is there a “quick” way to do it? Patrick Renn, from The Renn Wealth Management Group, joins us to talk about setting up your nonprofits finances so you can naturally attracted long term donors and investors, and reach your sustainable goal.
Patrick talks about the importance of having a financial plan that covers short (one year), medium (three year) and long term (5 or more years) goals.
He also talks about the need to be transparent. People like to donate to success and the best way to show your success is to share it with your current and potential donors. So don’t hide your financial statements – share them. This could be done by sharing your budget, your profit and loss statement, your business plan and/or your annual report with your supporters.
Patrick goes on to tell us how we can best attract and retain investors in our nonprofits. And you may be surprised… but one of the best ways to do this is through story telling. The return on investment (ROI) for a nonprofit donor is knowing their donation is making a difference. So by simply sharing your stories with your donors can help them feel like they are getting a good ROI.
NPA 042: Starting a Religious Based Nonprofit
Jan 05, 2016
Starting a religious based nonprofit can seem confusing. A church is already considered to be tax deductible, even without becoming a 501.c.3. So why would you want to apply for 501.c.3 status? Is there a benefit? (Hint: the answer is YES).
And what about ministries and religious based after school programs? Are they tax exempt too? If not, what do they need to do to be tax deductible? And what if they want to operate over seas?
These are questions that Nonprofit Ally Podcasts listeners have been asking for a while. And to be honest… I just didn’t know the answers. So, I thought I’d ask someone who knew the answers. So I called Thomas Wrobel. Thom has been on the podcast before (NPA 015: Tips on How to Apply for 501.c.3 Tax Exempt Status). He is the founder of nonprofitlegalcenter.com and specializes in helping new nonprofits get their 501.c.3 charitable status.
Thom answers all the questions above with great detail and clarity. This is a must-listen podcast for any religious organization who is working towards becoming a 501.c.3 charitable nonprofit.
NPA 041: The Accidental Nonprofit – How an Event Turned in to a $3.5M Nonprofit
Dec 15, 2015
Bobby Gill wanted to have an event to raise money for neurofibromatosis (NF). The criteria for the event was 1) it’d have to be fun 2) it’d have to be something he would want to do himself and 3) it would obviously have to raise money. Enter “Cupid’s Undie Run“. A mile long run, held in the winter time and run in your underwear.
Bobby will be the first to admit that this is not your typical fundraiser. “It’s a very nontraditional idea of what a fundraiser should look like. But to us… it just seemed like a fun idea and something we would want to do ourselves.”
In this podcast, Bobby talks about organizing the first run and how it grew into an international event that has raised over $8M in the past five years. Part of the secret to the events success is simple networking. Bobby explains how, with just five weeks to prepare for the first Cupid’s Undie Run, they were able to get over 600 runners to participate in the event. That is not a typo… 600+ people participated in an event that was planned with barely a months notice.
After a couple years, the run became its own nonprofit. And Bobby is now the COO. This is truly a fun and inspiring story. And lots of lessons to be learned for nonprofits of all sizes.
NPA 040: How to Win Donors with Video
Dec 03, 2015
When it comes to raising money with crowdfunding, there is one thing all successful campaigns have in common… they all have a compelling video. This video tells the story of their organization. But it is not a historical type video that talks about “why” they do what they do. It is a story of “how” they do what they do.
In the episode, we talk with Mauricio Belgrano, owner of Name Sake Pictures. He shares with us tips and ideas on how to create the best video possible for your nonprofit. He does this by critiquing an already made video (below) and giving suggestions on how to make it better.
So, first, watch this video. Then sit back and enjoy the podcast.
NPA 039: How to Run a Successful Giving Tuesday Fundraiser
Nov 17, 2015
In just a few years, Giving Tuesday has turn in to a world wide event. In this episode, we talk with Kait Sheridan, from 92y.org and GivingTuesday.org, about how to prepare for and run a successful Giving Tuesday fundraiser.
Kait talks about the importance of reaching your audience and shares a variety of useful ways to accomplish this. This includes:
Phone calls
Using your email list
Writing letters
Using social media
Creating Videos
But finding them is just part of the job. Getting your followers to pay attention, follow your campaign and actually donate is another story. In fact, doing it successfully, involves just that… a story. Kait talks to us about how story telling can help you convert your followers to donors.
And to wrap it up, Kait goes in to detail on how to set up a successful strategic plan for your Giving Tuesday event. It may just be a one-day fundraiser but it can take months to prepare for and dove tail into larger fundraising efforts.
NPA 038: Create Crowdfunding Content that Converts Visitors to Donors
Oct 28, 2015
What if I were to tell you that what your nonprofit does — doesn’t matter.
Now, give me a second to clarify: the point here is that “what” is the wrong place to put your focus when it comes to fundraising writing.Potential donors and supporters aren’t really interested in information about your programs or what you hope to do — they need information about the, “Why.”
It’s really important to uncover the people behind what your organization does (Especially when creating content for a crowdfunding campaign): the social impact, the emotional hook, the people who remind you every day why your organization does what it does.
Quality content is an essential piece of any successful crowdfunding campaign. This means if you’re putting any effort at all into this type of fundraising campaign, is vital that your organization find the write person to create this content — whether it be a professional writer, an active supporter or volunteer with strong writing experience.
How do you know if someone inside your organization is fit to do the job? You need to be confident that a volunteers’ work is going to be effective for your campaign, so start by considering two factors:
Does the person actually enjoy writing? If not, writing all the content for this campaign will become a chore. And, there’s a lot of writing to be done — the last thing you want to do is slow down the momentum of your campaign because creating great stories seemed like too much work.
Does the person have strong interviewing skills? While you can prepare a standard list of questions to use in interviews about the “why” of your organization, when it comes time to actually do the interview your writer better be able to think on his or her feet and get the real, emotional conversations started.
What are the essential “ingredients” to a successfully written crowdfunding pitch?
While there isn’t a black and white answer for the set number of paragraphs your writing needs, which paragraph should talk about what, and so forth — there are some general guidelines to follow as to the flow of your story-focused campaign pitch.
Start with an emotional hook. Bring your readers to tears, or evoke belly laughs so vigorous they bounce off their chairs and climb back up looking for more. The point is, you want potential donors reading your campaign to be interested from the start — and that starts with an emotionally captivating human story.
Give brief details about how your organization helps. Make the transition natural by explaining, in generic terms, how your nonprofit helped the person in the emotional hook.
Explain that the problem still exists. Just because your organization helped the person in the first example, doesn’t mean your work is done. Use statistics that showcase how many more people are still in need, or other data or information that truly showcases the societal need for your nonprofit.
Call to action/the ask. Tell people what you need them to do, and be specific.
Now, that you have all the right ingredients, it’s time to be sure your mixing it in with the essential characteristics of writing that will truly captivate your audience: here, study up on the 5 essential elements of any successful crowdfunding campaign here.
Resources
The best way to learn more about Lyssa is to visit her website: lyssaschmidt.com
NPA 037 – The Most Important Part of Crowdfunding… the Kick-off
Oct 20, 2015
Running a crowdfunding campaign takes a lot of preparation, research and maintenance. But one of the most important parts of running a campaign is getting it off to a good start. Kicking off your crowdfunding campaign means having a lot of ducks in a row (read more at: How to Start a Crowdfunding Campaign).
So here is an overview of how I just kicked-off my crowdfunding campaign for the nonprofit I started (Noble Paws). This is the third crowdfunding campaign I have run. Our goal is to reach $10,000.
First Things First
The first thing I did was take all my pre-made content and get it set up to auto-post the morning of the campaign. This included a Facebook post with our video, a YouTube video post (same video), a tweet ready to be launched and two pre-made emails. I also had a volunteer make a new banner for our Facebook page (we will have a new banner each week of our campaign).
So all this was set to go live by 8am the first day of the campaign.
Here is the video we used to kick off our campaign:
The All Important Emails
I sent out two emails. One email went to my support team with instructions on how to help kick-off the event. The second one was an email to all our previous donors, supporters and volunteers (about 180 people). Here is how it worked.
Support Team The email that went to my support team gave detailed instructions on how to help the campaign, including links to the videos, facebook post and a sample email for them to send to their friends. Here is what I wrote:
Hey all, Today is the big day. We kick off our 2015 Fundraiser. The campaign will last just over six weeks. But it is super important to get started with a bang. This is a major campaign with multiple people helping ensure its success. I appreciate all your support and help with this.
Here are the FOUR THINGS you can do to help.
1. Send Email TODAY (Monday) Please send an email to your close friends asking them to support Noble Paws. This email should be sent right away (Monday morning). It is really important to get as many donors as possible on the first day. It sets the tone for the campaign and greatly increases our success rate by over 200%. Below is a sample email you can use – just cut and paste it. It’d be great if you could send it to at least 10 people.
2. Share our Video Post TODAY (Monday) Go to this link and share it on your Facebook page. Put a little note to your friends asking them to support Noble Paws. This link is set to automatically post to the Noble Paws Facebook page at 9am. https://www.facebook.com/noblepawsalaska/videos/905531919532662/
3. Share Every NPaws FB post (Daily) During the coming weeks we will be posting all sorts of stuff on our Facebook page. Most of it will be fun, entertaining and informative. We will also pepper in some calls to action (donate now posts). It is really important to get the word out about every post. So please, share EVERY post you see on Noble Paws. Awareness is important and on going.
4. Like and Comment when we get donations (Daily) When someone donates to our campaign, it automatically gets posted to our Facebook page. It is really important we LIKE and COMMENT on these post (no need to share these posts). These people are our supporters. The more we recognize them and thank them the more meaningful their donation will feel and the more others will want to be a part of it.
So, to sum up how you can help the campaign:
Send emails to friends asking for support
Share our video – https://www.facebook.com/noblepawsalaska/videos/905531919532662/
Share ALL our Facebook Posts
Like/comment when someone donates to our campaign
Thanks all – it takes a team to make this happen. I appreciate all your help.
Steve
[SAMPLE LETTER TO FRIENDS]
Hey _____. [START WITH A SHORT FAMILIAR TOPIC – I LIKE THE POST OF YOUR KIDS HALLOWEEN COSTUMES, DO YOU STILL LIKE 4 SHOT COFFEE?, HOW ARE YOUR DOGS DOING… SOMETHING THAT CONNECTS WITH THEM ON A PERSONAL LEVEL. THEN ADD…] So, you may know that I volunteer for a cool organization called Noble Paws. They teach people with disabilities how to run their own dog team. It’s a lot of fun and what they do really makes a difference in many people’s lives. They are holding their annual fundraiser and I am hoping you can help us reach our goal. Noble Paws is a 100% volunteer organization and all donations go directly to their programs. Please take a minute (literally, it is only a minute) and watch this video – https://youtu.be/SJOzcPH57LY. At the end there is a link to donate to the cause. But even if you don’t donate, please consider sharing the video with people you know. You can donate directly at: https://fundly.com/noble-paws-2015. Well, I hope [SOMETHING FAMILIAR HERE…]. And I appreciate you considering helping Noble Paws. Thanks so much.
Mailing List I then emailed a newsletter to our mailing list (about 180 people). This announced the start of our campaing. I did this using Mailchimp. If you don’t have a mailing list, don’t sweat. Just pull together as many emails as you can (friends, family, co-workers) and have your board members and other volunteers do the same. Then just like that, you have a mailing list.
Ok, so here is a link to the newsletter announcement I sent out to our mailing list.
After all this was done, I had nothing to do but wait. I tried not to check my Facebook, email and crowdfunding page too much… but it was hard to resist. I really prompted people to “like” and “share” our video. And it paid off. But the end of the day, the video was shared over 50 times and seen by 3,000 people. I did my best to “like” and thank everyone who shared the video as well as thank all who donated.
That is important, so I will say it again. If someone shares your post, or donates to you, be sure to thank them via social media. That keeps the post alive and thus it will show up on more peoples timelines. Share, like, comment. Share, like, comment. Say it with me… share, like, comment.
Ok, that is basically it. The campaign is kicked-off. Now it is time to keep it alive. More about that in a coming post.
Connecting with your audience can be like hopping on a moving train from an bridge overpass. OK – not the best metaphor but it is does capture the changing landscape of connecting with followers. What people read, how they read and where they read have all changed drastically. The fact that a sentence can serve as a paragraph is just one obvious change in the field of communication in general. So effectively communicating with your audience, with content that is engaging, takes skill and forethought.
Here are some key points that all communicators should strive to accomplish:
Start with WHY: This seems a no brainer, but don’t assume that your visitor knows “why” they are on your site and “why” you do what you do. So when you write your about page, your mission page, your latest posts or even a calendar event try to relay “why its important” at the beginning of your content.
Know WHO your Audience is: we have heard this before in other podcast, so obviously this is important. If you want to connect to your audience you have to know who they are. Go beyond the basic demographic (gender, age location) and try to learn more about your audience: soccer mom? country music listener? social media user? sports fan? parent of autistic child?
Connect with your Audience: don’t just assume that since someone is on your site they know what they are doing there. So the sooner you can connect with with, with stories, photos or videos, the better chance they will stay on your site and read more about what you do. People may come to your site because of a topic you offer information on, but they stay for themselves… they stay because there is something of there for them.
Fix a Problem: if you can “fix” a problem or answer a question, then you are relevant to your audience and connecting with them at a level that is useful and meaningful. Chad suggest writing content that includes tips and how-to’s, stories about your agency and metaphors (jumping on a train = connecting with your audience).
Just for Fun: So, for those who have listened to the podcast you now know why there is a picture of my dog with Trump hair as the featured image for this podcast. Join in on the fun… just brush your dog and use the hair to make a Trump wig. Then post it on twitter #trumpdog.
NPA 035 – Stop the Bake Sale. Fundraise More Money – Easier
Sep 28, 2015
If you want to raise more money for your nonprofit, don’t… I repeat don’t… have a bake sale. There are a number a reasons why:
Your return on investment (ROI) is very low
The people who donate will not be invested in your mission
There is very little short term gain and NO long term gain.
If you really have four people willing to volunteer four hours (a rough guess and what it takes to run a successful bake sale), then put them together in a more useful manner and MAKE MORE MONEY.
First, think of fundraising as a long term project the mostly involves relationship building. You goal is to get people invested in your mission and turn them into recurring donors. This involves shaking hands and exchanging information. You want to collect your donors information, but them on a mailing list, get their phone number and email. You want them to visit your website and come to an event.
Person one: half-hour of email friends and business and a half-hour of socail media sharing/posting. (Once a week for four weeks).
Person two: One hour of “Thank You” card writing (yes, hand written) to previous and current donors. (Once a week for four weeks).
Person three: Make a video short that highlights your mission and tells a success story of your services. (Four hours in one week).
Person four: Create three-five images a week (HOW TO MAKE AN IMAGE LINK) to post on your social media sites during the crowd funding campaign. (Once a week for four weeks).
[box type=”info” align=”alignleft” ]Don’t forget to sign up for our FREE CROWDFUNDING WEBINAR. This webinar is hosted by Dana Ostomel. Dana is the founder of Deposit A Gift, which is an online crowdfunding platform. This is your chance to get insider tips on crowdfunding from the source! [/box]
[button color=”green” size=”big” link=”http://nonprofitally.com/crowdfundweb” target=”blank” ]Sign up for FREE Crowdfunding Webinar[/button]
Fill out donation/sponsorship request forms
Just go door-to-door asking for donations/sponsors from local business and you’ll likely end up with a handful of applications and web addresses to online forms. It is pretty common for businesses to have a donation request process. These forms are relatively simple to complete but they are time consuming. So assign two donation request forms to each of your volunteers. That would be eight forms completed. This could easily generate $1,000 AND it would be the start of a long term relationship with local businesses.
If you MUST do a Bake Sale
Bring brochures and business cards. Make shaking hands and talking about your mission the number one prorioty. Don’t ask them if they want a cookie, ask them if they want to help homeless people find warm beds.
Have your mailing list sign up sheet on the table. After you talk to them, invite them to join your mailing list. You want to build a relationship with them… get their contact information.
Do a series of bake sales throughout your community. Make it an “Awareness Campaign”. Your goal is to get your brochure (not cookies) in to as many hands as possible.
Have a poster board or banner displaying your mission in action. Make your booth an “information center” that just happens to have baked goods.
Give your baked goods away! Yes, give it all away! And just have a simple donation jar on the table and a simple note that says “Thank You.” Don’t ask for a dime. (I bet you make even more money this way).
Want More Tips?
The above video (see video on Youtube) has even more tips for you. So be sure to watch it, share it and review it.
NPA 034: Crowdfunding Tips from the Source
Sep 21, 2015
Dana Ostomel is an expert on crowdfunding. How do I know this… well because she started and runs her own crowdfunding platform. So who better to get the best tips on crowdfunding from than the source. Her website is at depositagift.com. Dana has a background in market so her insight can help you run a successful fundraising campaign on many levels.
And here is the really cool thing. You not only get to hear her on this podcast about crowdfunding, but you are also invited to a FREE WEBINAR. Yup free… and only being offer to listeners and followers of Nonprofit Ally.
So enjoy this very informative podcast and don’t miss the opportunity to learn more at our upcoming webinar. It’s going to be awesome.
First, here are some of the things you will learn in this podcast:
How to attract donors to your crowdfunding site
The different types of followers and how to convert them to donors
The three most important things your campaign needs to be successful
Making a successful plan for your campaign
And now, here is more about the webinar:
Crowdfunding for Nonprofits Webinar: How To Run a Successful Campaign, from Prep Through Appreciation!
You’ve probably heard the buzz around “crowdfunding”. But what is it, and how does it work? Join us for a free event to learn how you can incorporate crowdfunding to raise the bar on your fundraising initiatives. The timing is perfect as you prep for Fall initiatives, end-of-year appeals, #GivingTuesday and even Spring benefits!
Please join us for a lively discussion with Deposit a Gift, the go-to crowdfunding site for nonprofits, schools and religious organizations.
Who Should Attend:
Executive Directors Development Staff Marketing & Communication staff
What You’ll Learn
Why crowdfunding is important for your organization
How to incorporate crowdfunding into your existing fundraising mix
What types of campaigns crowdfunding can be most effective for
What other objectives can it help you achieve beyond just making the thermometer rise
Best practices for setting up and marketing your campaign
Strategies to energize your community and galvanize an even wider audience
Q & A / Open Discussion About Projects You Have In Mind
NPA 033: Solving the Mystery of SEO so You can get Found in Google
Sep 09, 2015
Getting found in Google can seem confusing. But there are some basic steps you can take to help you “get ranked” in Google. In this episode I talk with Shae Baxter, an SEO rock star. She walks us through some of the most important parts of setting up a successful search engine optimization plan for our nonprofit websites. You can visit her website at shaebaxter.com.
First off, you need to know that getting ranked in Google search results involves several things. There is no silver bullet that will do all of it for you. But with the right tools and tactics, you can help your website “get found on google”. Here are some things you need to know to get started:
Get a WordPress SEO plugin: when google crawls a page (looking for content) it searches the page titles, description and tags. An SEO plugin will allow you to customize how your site appears to the “Google Bots” and thus how you get indexed in the search results. Here are two popular SEO plugins, Yoast SEO and All in One SEO. (these plugins are for websites made with WordPress – Learn How to Make a WordPress Website)
Install a site map: another thing those Google bots are looking for our sitemaps. This tells Google where your content is on your site. It makes their job easier. Both of the above SEO plugins come with a one-click sitemap install.
Connect to Google Analytics: Google may find you by accident, but connecting to Google Analytics will tell Google you exist and exactly where to find you. This step is a must.
Connect to Google Search Console: Once you connect your site to the Search Console you will be able to see what keywords people are using to find your site as well as which pages are being visited the most.
Write SEO friendly content: don’t just write a blog post or news article. Think about who will be reading it and why. Then address those people right away with content relative to their needs. There is no need to write a two paragraph introduction to your blog post. SEO friendly content gets to the point quickly and with detail.
Keyword Research and Optimization
Every page on your site is not the same. So be sure that you use good keywords with your SEO Plugin (see above) to help Google index your site. Think of some phrases that people will use to find your content. The key is to use “long-tail” phrases (not one or two word phrases). For example, you’d do better with a phrase like “How to loose weight drinking green smoothies” than if you tried ranking with “weight loss”. The more specific your keyword phrase the less competition you have with competitors and the better chances the people that find you will actually stay on your site.
On Page SEO vs Off Page SEO
Shae breaks down two ways you can help your content get found on the web.
On Page SEO: This is your content. You have control over this. This includes your page title and your description tags. Make sure your SEO plugin (see above) is optimized to best portray the content on each page with researched (keyword rich) page titles and description tags.
Off Page SEO: Market your content so others can find it! Link to other post (on other sites) that are similar to yours, submit your post to other sites, encourage people to share your content and market it with your social media. Don’t just leave it up to Google to send people to your site. The more others link to your site, the higher you will rank in the search results.
Think Like a Brand
Stop the mindless blogging and start creating content that will make you look like a brand. First make sure you are writing to your audience. Good content – worth sharing – will help establish you as an authority. Remember Google wants to promote good content. And they want this content to be credible. If you can establish authority, then you will start ranking higher in Google. This means actively marketing your great content, linking it to other publications and sharing it on social media (off page SEO). But also seek out opportunities: offer guest posts to other sites, reach out to others in your field, offer to be a guest on a podcast, host a webinar or start a YouTube channel. The key is to get others to recognize you (and ultimately your content) as an authority and have them send their followers to your site.
NPA 032: 14 Grassroot Marketing Tips for your Nonprofit
Aug 31, 2015
Getting the word out about your nonprofit organization can be a challenge. But it doesn’t have to be. There are a lot of ways to help bring awareness to the community about your program. And the great thing is… most of them are free! Here are some simple ways to spread the word about you nonprofit.
Social Media – get a Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and/or Youtube account and post to them regularly. It is better to have ONE social media account you use often than it is to have four accounts that you use rarely.
Network with other Organizations – Go to events, fundraisers or meetings hosted by local nonprofits that provide similar services (or complimentary programs) to your own. Be sure to bring your business card.
Start a Blog – First, you should have a website. If you don’t, then follow my free course on How to make a Website for your Nonprofit. Now add a blog (or latest news) section to your website and post to it regularly.
Give a Free Talk – Book a room at the library or call your local Rotary Club and offer to give a presentation about your organization or a service you provide. The best way to do this is to NOT talk about yourself. Instead talk about approaches used to tackle hunger or how to file for public assistance.
Like/Follow other Organizations Social Media Pages – This can help other organizations find you and learn more about what you do.
Advertise with other Organizations – This can be as simple as sharing a link to your website on their Facebook page or buying a small ad in their newsletter.
Give Interviews – Simply put, if you get the opportunity to talk to the media, Do It!
Send Press Releases – Anytime you do something in public (events, fundraiser, presentation) go ahead and send a press release to the newspaper, radio and TV.
Write an Op Ed – A well written article that is informative, newsworthy or educational can be a great way to bring awareness to your cause.
Start a Podcast – With some simple recording equipment you can reach a broad range of people with a podcast. You can talk about trends in your industry, interview experts, give a how-to… whatever you think would be helpful to your audience.
PSA’s – a public service announcement is a great way (and usually free) to tell people about upcoming events or services. Just contact your local radio or TV station to see about submitting a PSA.
Put up Posters – This is the ultimate grassroots way of telling people about your organization. Don’t overlook the simplicity and effectiveness of a eye catching poster.
Start a Newsletter – the best thing about a newsletter is it means you are starting to collect a mailing list. This is super important.
Write a Guest Blog Post – Contact another organization and see if they will let you write an article for their website (or newsletter) about a service you provide or a particular subject you are an expert in.
OK. So that is it. Fourteen quick, down-and-dirty, ways to get the word out about your organization. There is no secret to grassroots marketing. It’s just a matter of going out and doing it. If you have other ideas on simple and affordable marketing tips that have worked for you, please share them in the comments below.
NPA 031: Make Success a Habit – Set Goals the SMART Way
Aug 24, 2015
In this episode, I talk with Steve Scott who is the author of many books including, “Level Up Your Day: How to Maximize the 6 Essential Areas of Your Daily Routine”, “To-Do List Makeover: A Simple Guide to Getting the Important Things Done” and “S.M.A.R.T. Goals Made Simple – 10 Steps to Master Your Personal and Career Goals”. Steve talks about goal setting and how change your habits to get the most our of everyday.
Steve recommends against making too many long term goals. Instead focus on the short term goals (three to six months) and then set your goals based on the actions it would take to achieve these short term goals. He advocates following the SMART goal format (see video on SMART Goals) which is to make goals: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time Bound.
One way to set yourself up for goal setting success is to stay focused on the purpose. Let’s admit it, sometimes the actions it takes to achieve a goal can seem overwhelming and just flat out no fun. So to help reach your goals start by chunking down the goal into small task. And then when completing these task stay focused on the “purpose (goal)” of the task. This will help you check of the to-do’s from your task list.
Another thing Steve stresses in this interview is to stay focused on your 80/20. That is, focus on the 20 percent of your actions that produce 80 percent of your results. Each day make a short list of the most important things you need to accomplish that will help you with your 80/20.
During the podcast we use Steve’s goal setting method and applied it to writing a grant. Here is what we came up with:
Research (find organizations that fit your grant needs)
NPA 030: How to Start a Crowdfunding Campaign for your Nonprofit
Aug 03, 2015
As crowdfunding has exploded in popularity, rapidly evolving into a 5.1 billion dollar industry, the diversity of crowdfunding platforms has likewise ballooned. While this is excellent news for hopeful crowdfunders in terms of the choices and options available, it also makes the question of how to choose the right crowdfunding site a rather overwhelming one. By following the tips outlined below, however, you can begin to navigate these teeming waters and avoid choosing the wrong platform for your campaign:
1. Know which platforms are suited to which campaign types.
Different crowdfunding sites tend to cater to different campaign goals; there are crowdfunding sites which are, for example, intended for nonprofits and social causes:
There are also a few crowdfunding sites which may be used for either personal causes or creative/business ventures, such as Fundly and Fundrazr, and a smaller number of platforms oriented more toward attracting business investors, e.g. AngelList and Fundable.
Note that some of these platforms, like Kickstarter, will require your campaign to go through an approval process, so you will need to research what that process entails before designing your campaign.
2. Know the basic types of crowdfunding.
Your backers need some kind of incentive to invest in your campaign; that incentive might be:
Equity-based – Backers get a stake in your company. Donation-based – Backers will be able to write their donation off on their taxes, as they would when donating to a conventional charity. Lending-based – Backers are lending you money, and that money will be repaid over time, perhaps with interest. Rewards-based – Backers will receive a tangible product if they fund your campaign, such as a copy of the book or CD you plan to produce.
As nonprofits, we are “donation based”.
3. Understand the fee structure and how underfunded campaigns are handled.
Not only do different platforms have a range of initial fees (anywhere from 2-12%), you will also need to look into what your platform of choice allows if your campaign does not meet its funding goal. Some, such as Kickstarter, will not allow you to keep the money you have raised (it will all be refunded to the backers) while others, like Indiegogo, will allow you to keep the money, but will raise the fee so that they take a larger cut of your profits.
4. Examine the extra features offered by those platforms that best suit your campaign type.
Once you have narrowed down your options to those platforms which suit the mission of your campaign and have an appealing fee and incentive structure, you should make your final choice based on relevant additional features. Think about how you want to design and promote your campaign:
Do you want to focus on visual presentation, such as by changing the color scheme and background of your campaign page?
Do you want to have your own URL or a custom domain name?
What about social sharing—will you be marketing primarily through email (if so, look for a platform that integrates with your mailing list) or social media sharing?
How will you get news and updates to your backers—is there a blog/news section?
Is there any way to get information about the demographic(s) backing your campaign (e.g. a donor database or tracking system)?
Does the platform allow you to offer perk awards as incentives for donating?
As a final note, if you begin to feel a bit lost while assessing the aforementioned, take a step back and research successful campaigns with a purpose similar to your own. Then ask yourself, what did they do, and why did it work for them?
NPA 029: Decide, Deciding, Decided – The Division of Decision
Jul 20, 2015
In this episode I talk with Steve Scheier, author of “Do More Good. Better.” We talk about the impact that proper decision making can (or cannot) have on the health and future of your organization.
Part of making a good decision involves: knowing what decisions need to be made, who is making this decision and whether you are involving the right people in the process. With this at the core, Steve walks us through what he calls “decision clarity”.
As Steve says, “Decision clarity gives the Executive Director focus”. Getting others involved in the decision making process can relieve the ED of having to deal with an overwhelming amount of daily decisions. By having a more inclusive decision making process, the power of decision making gets delegated to those who are best suited (with the right resources) to make these decisions.
Steve breaks down the decision making process into five decision making roles:
Decision maker
Adviser
Contributor
Someone who is informed
Driver
Steve also talks about the key factors that effect – and prevent – us from making good decisions. What are those? Well, I can ‘t tell you everything… or you would have no a reason to listen to the podcast.
NPA 028: How to Market to your Target Audience
Jun 25, 2015
For those who have heard the podcast already… the subtitle to this article is: “Why your Mother Never Reads your Newsletter”. (It’s an inside joke. You have to listen to the podcast to get it 🙂
If you are working with a small nonprofit, then the chances are part of your job includes “Nonprofit Communications and Marketing”. If you publish a blog, post to facebook or twitter, give presentations, make videos or publish a newsletter then, yes – you are a “Communications Manager”. In this podcast I talk with Kivi Leroux Miller from NonprofitMarketingGuide.com. She is the author of two award winning books, a coach, a consultant and a trainer.
To create a successful communications plan you have to start with a good strategy. There are three core questions you need to ask to help you with your marketing/communication strategy.
Three Core Communications Strategy Questions
Who is your target audience? Demographics is important, but even better is to determine what their values are and how they spend their time.
What is you message to those people? What is your call to action?
How do you get that message to those people?
Learn More about your Audience
Once you have a plan, you need to craft your message. It is important to create content that is relevant to your audience. Kivi suggest “listening in” to social media to learn more about what people are talking about. If possible, do a mini focus group – nothing formal – just a cup of coffee with a few people. Then just asked some questions to find out what is important to them and what their challenges are. You can also try a survey (read this great article – Get better results from surveys). This can give you valuable nuggets of information on what is important to your audience. Once you determine this, it is time to get the message out.
The Three Avenues of Communication
Online – email, social media, newsletters, video
Personal – give presentations, meet in person, call on phone
Advertising: posters, flyers, mailers, adwords, radio
With a better idea of who your audience is it will be easier to develop and deliver your content. So make your plan, target your audience and then produce your content.
NPA 027: Create a Nonprofit Budget like Rembrandt
Jun 03, 2015
When it comes to making a budget for your nonprofit, it can seem like there is little to guide you. This can be especially true for new nonprofits whose budget is more like a best guess than a best estimate. If you are in this position, don’t panic… making a budget is often more art than science.
In this podcast, I talk with Rick Sluetaris who is a co-director at Open Connections in Pennsylvania. When he first started working there they had an income of $300,000 but no budget. No one was tracking where the money came from or where it went. When it came to giving employee raises or buying equipment it was simply a matter of seeing if the bank account could cover the cost.
Rick talks about the steps they took to create a budget and start tracking their finances. This gave Open Connections an annual budget with guidelines to help them spend money relevant to their goals.
Creating your Budget
If you have been tracking your income and expenses then you are off to a good start. This will make it easier to project what will be needed in the months and years ahead. If you haven’t been tracking your finance (or if this is your first year) then your projected budget really is just a best guess.
Income
Income for a nonprofit comes in the form of grants, gifts/donations, product sales, service fees, endowments and/or membership fees. This is usually the easiest part of the budget to create. Just calculate what you took in last year and project it forward a year. The trick is to be conservative.
If you had $10,000 in donations then it is likely you can reach that number again (unless you have had staff/volunteer turnover or have suffered a loss of reputation). So it would be reasonable to expect $10,000 to $11,000 in donations in the new budget. Like I said, be conservative, a 2-5% increase is usually a safe number. It is easier to meet and exceed conservative estimates and helps you plan realistic expenditures.
Keep projecting your income in a similar fashion for each line item. Take the known amounts and adjust them according to your best prediciton of the future. Obviously, new or expiring grants can have a significant impact on your bottom line. So be sure to account for these dramatic increases (or decreases) in your income.
If this is your first year budget and you have no numbers to work with, then do your best to come up with honest and conservative “guestimates” of your income.
Expenses
This is where tracking is really important. An honest budget is a tracked budget. Your expenses will include utilities, maintenance, office supplies, salaries, insurance, equipment, rent/lease, etc. Even if you are a sole social-entrepreneur paying for everything out of pocket, you still need to track these expenses. It is important to know a realistic cost on what it takes run your nonprofit.
Your expenses should be adjust for inflation, so adding an extra 2-3% is pretty common practice.
Once you have your list of projected incomes and expenses created it is time to figure out your net income.
Net Income
This is pretty simple math. Your gross income is all of your total income. Let’s say $20,000. That may be a great number unless your total expenses is $30,000. In this case you would be operating at a loss. Your net income (gross income minus gross expenses) would be -$10,000.
Don’t panic if you have a negative net income. If the difference is only a few thousand dollars you can go back and adjust some of your income and expenses to try to narrow this gap. If this is your first year in existence, then it may mean running your nonprofit at a loss for the first several years until your income can catch up with your expenses.
Remember, You’re Rembrandt
Creating a budget can be fun. It is useful to see the financial health of your organization. And it takes just as much creativity to make a budget as it does basic math. Just remember, a budget is a living document and should be visited several times throughout the year. It is not written in stone. If you see that you need to increase an expenses due to fuel prices, then make the necessary adjustments to cover this new increase (either increase a revenue item, or cut an expense).
So get out your paint brush (and calculator). It is time to make your budget.
NPA 026: Stop Marketing like a Used Car Salesman
May 14, 2015
One of the most important things you do with your nonprofit is market your services and/or products. But for many of us this isn’t always easy to do. In this episode I talk with Marlene Oliveira from the NonprofitMarCommunity.com and MoFlow.ca. Marlene is a nonprofit marketing and communication specialist.
Marlene talks with us about creating a strategic plan for marketing and communication. And then she goes into detail about creating an editorial calendar that will help you follow a timeline to produce your content.
But first, it is important to understand why you want to produce content in the first place. Here are some of the reasons Marlene tells us why content production is important:
It can help you raise money
It can bring awareness to your brand (yes you are a brand)
It can build trust with your community
It can help you build authority in your field
It can bring visitors back to your page
There are a myriad of ways to deliver content, this includes: blogging, videos, ebooks, podcasts, guides, webinars and even newspapers and TV. The key to determining which medium to use is know “who your audience is” and “where they are.” Some of this can be done by trial and error, but for the most part, you want to post content where your audience is. If you have 100 likes on your facebook page but 450 subscribers on your youtube channel, then it should be pretty clear where to spend your time posting content.
Marlene then discusses the importance of creating an “editorial calendar”. She goes into detail on the questions you need to ask yourself when creating creating this calendar. She gets pretty detailed on this subject, so instead of me just retelling you what she said, it would be easier for you to 1) listen to the podcast and 2) read the article she wrote, Nine questions to answer when creating editorial calendars“.
NPA 025: How to get Expert Volunteers for your Nonprofit
Apr 29, 2015
In this episode I talk with Mark Horoszowki from MovingWorlds.org. Mark talks about how the MovingWorlds organization helps nonprofits, from around the world, find skilled volunteers to help them with their missions. It is a process they call “Experteering”.
Mark gives us some insight in to the volunteer recruitment and management process. He also fills us in on just how to find the right volunteer to meet the needs of your organization.
Mark offers us a glimpse into the mind of a volunteer by helping us understand what motivates them, how to “thank” them and how to keep them around. This podcast is a great resource for any nonprofit that works with volunteers, regardless of the size of your organization and the size of the project you need help with.
Also in this podcast, I talk about how to get found in Google. This consist of three steps:
Connect to Google Analytics (learn more) This involves – 1) signing up for a Google Analytics account, 2) copying the code your are given when you add your website and, 3) pasting that code into your website. This way Google can connect Analytics to your site and confirm that you are the owner of that site.
Get a sitemap (learn more) Install an XML site map. This will help the Google “Bots” know where to go when they visit your site. It is a crucial part of getting your site “indexed” in the search engines.
Connect to Google Webmaster Tools (learn more) Now that you have a sitemap and an Analytics account you should connect it all to Webmaster Tools. This is where you can manually submit your sitemap to Google. From here you can also get insight into what key words people are using to find your site and what search rankings your pages are getting.
You see, you just can’t put a website up and hope that Google will find you. You have to take some action to start showing up in search engines. I will write a more in depth blog post about this later, but for now, I hope the info and links above help you get found in Google.
NPA 024: Google Grants for Nonprofits – Get $10K in Free Adwords
Apr 16, 2015
In this episode I talk with Jason Granger of Infinity Marketing Group about Google Grants. Yes, Google gives grants to nonprofits. And they are awesome. How about $10,000 worth of adwords every month for FREE! Yes, that awesome.
Jason walks us through the Google Adwords development process and teaches us how to find the right keywords to help us find our audience. It’s a very interesting and creative process. Adword campaigns can be made for fundraising, event promotion, volunteer recruitment… you name it. Jason even tells us how he is helping increase attendance at a small town fair that has bronco riding by targeting country music lovers with Adwords.
But first, the podcast begins with a short segment on how to find royalty free images you can use on your nonprofit website and newsletter. Here are links to the sites I mentioned during this part of the show:
NPA 023: Starting a Nonprofit as a Side Job – an Interview with Nick Loper from Side Hustle Nation
Mar 23, 2015
In this episode I talk with Nick Loper from Side Hustle Nation. Nick is an blogger, podcaster and entrepreneur that shares awesome information on how to start a side business (in our case a nonprofit) while still working a fulltime job.
Nick talks about how to manage your time, how to grow your “side hustle” and how to find extra help when you need it. This is not your typical interview as we talk about a variety of topics involved in starting a new [nonprofit] business, including starting and email list, building a website and using social media.
Resources
Here are some links to the topics we discussed:
Fiverr.com – this is an awesome site to find affordable help on your next project. Need a logo, t-shirt design, website or custom graphic? Fiverr can help you get it done for just $5!. Use this link and get a FREE GIG when you sign up for Fiverr. (Fiverr accounts are free).
NPA 022: Starting an Endowment for your Nonprofit
Mar 10, 2015
In this episode I talk with Josh Brooks from The Enduring Charity Foundation. Josh talks with us about how he started a nonprofit that helps donors invest their funds into endowment funds that go towards charities they support. As it says on the Enduring Charity website, “we help donors become philanthropists.”
Josh also talks with us about what an endowment is, why they are a good investment for an organization and if it is the right thing for you.
What is an Endowment? Well, according to Investopedia, it is:
An investment fund set up by an institution in which regular withdrawals from the invested capital are used for ongoing operations or other specified purposes. Endowment funds are often used by nonprofits, universities, hospitals and churches. They are funded by donations, which are tax deductible for donors.
Josh also talks to us about what he believes are the foundations to successfully starting a nonprofit. In a nutshell, he talks about:
NPA 021: Turning a Personal Loss into a Charity
Feb 18, 2015
Kenan Irving lost his wife, Ashley, to stomach cancer after nine years of marriage. During Ashley’s six month battle with cancer she kept a journal and wrote in it everyday. No one was suppose to read the journal until after Ashley had passed away. The hope was that no one would read this journal. But that is not how it turned out. And Kenan is now using this journal to help others heal, cope and live.
Kenan created The Cancer Journal Project. He says, “I wanted the journal itself to be part of the charity. I wanted this amazing historical document to be shared with the world.”
In this podcast, Kenan talks about how he created The Cancer Journal Project; how he brought media attention to his cause; and how, through this project, he has been able to help three children fulfill their dreams through “Make-a-Wish”.
This interview with Kenan is candid and honest. It is this sincerity that makes this a must listen podcast. And it is this honest that makes The Cancer Journal Project such a successful charity.
NPA 020: How to Find Sponsors for Your Nonprofit with Abby Clemence
Jan 27, 2015
Abby Clemence is a corporate sponsorship expert who specializes in gaining sponsorship’s for nonprofits. In this podcast we discuss how to prepare a sponsorship marketing plan. Yes, a marketing plan. What many nonprofits don’t realize is that the money corporate sponsors use to sponsor a nonprofit comes from their marketing budget.
Abby talks about how to discover your target audience and line it up with the interest of a potential sponsor. Using real life scenarios, Abby walks us through how she has helped nonprofits raise hundreds of thousands of dollars in sponsorship money.
Special note:
Listeners to The Nonprofit Ally Podcast (that’s you) get an extra 20% off all these books (below) for the first 60 days after the release of this podcast. Also, keep in mind, the prices are in Australian dollars… prices are about 25% less when converting AUD to USD. Just use promo code:NPAlly during checkout.
NPA 019: Telling your Nonprofit Story with Video
Nov 20, 2014
If you are trying to tell a story about your nonprofit using video you probably have a few questions. How long should the video be? Who should be in it? Should you make a script? What’s the best way to tell your story? What equipment do you need?
Well, in this podcast I talk with Mauricio Belgrano from Name Sake Pictures and he guides us through the video story telling process. He talks with us about telling a story that makes you more personable and credible, and helps you build a relationship with your supporters. He also talks about how to “find” the story that will help you connect with your audience.
Mauricio also talks to us about what three goals (not including fundraising) that you should try to accomplish with your video.
Resource
Connect with Mauricio at: Name Sake Pictures Email Mauricio at: namesakepictures@gmail.com
NPA 018: Approaching Corporations for Money
Oct 16, 2014
Asking for money is tough. Let’s face it, not many of us enjoy the prospect of approaching somebody and asking them for a donation. But what if the person your asking is a corporation (they are people, you know). Talk about being nervous…
Sitting in a board room and asking for money from a business can be intimidating. But this is just what our guest, Carolyn Appleton, does for a living. Carolyn shares with us her experiences working with nonprofits and how she helps them find donations from businesses.
Also, I announce the upcoming “Ultimate Crowdfunding Course”. It’s a four part webinar course that will help you set up your next crowdfunding campaign from start to finish. You can learn more about the course on the Ultimate Crowdfunding Course page.
NPA 017: You Can Get Your 501.c.3 Faster – But Then What?
Sep 22, 2014
Getting your 501.c.3 just got faster, easier and cheaper. In this podcast we talk about the new form 1023 EZ with Nonprofit Ally contributor James Gilmer.
But once you get that 501.c.3, then what do you do?
Well, that is just what Becky Straw, co-founder of The Adventure Project, talks to us about. The Adventure Project helps people in developing countries acquire the skills necessary to find jobs that meet specific needs in their local communities. In just over three years they have become a sustainable nonprofit with over 5,000 donors and have helped nearly 600 people find jobs in their local communities. Becky talks with us about the start-up process and what it took for them to achieve such a high level of success in such a short time.
NPA 016: How to Manage a Massive Nonprofit Event
Aug 29, 2014
Imagine having to raise $6.5M, find 2,700 volunteers, hire 14 staff members, get corporate sponsors and host, house and feed 2,000 visitors from nine countries – all in a two year time span. This is what Karen Lane, general manager of the Fairbanks 2014 Arctic Winter Games, was tasked to do – and she pulled it off.
In this interview Karen talks with us about how she undertook managing such a massive project. Here are some highlights from her interview.
Keys to hiring staff: must have necessary skill set, must be team players, must handle stress well, must have “can-do” attitude. Karen also notes that is it important to have regular staff meetings to keep everyone on the same page and enhance communication for the organization as a whole.
Getting sponsors: go for the big bucks first – they need the most lead time for the budgets, find a person who is not afraid to “ask”, over different levels of sponsorship
Recruiting volunteers: offer incentives(shirts, tickets, dvds), keep training’s short and to the point, offer a flexible schedule of training opportunities, say thank you, keep them informed
Planning: have contingency plans for EVERYTHING, plan early, delegate to committees and staff.
Marketing: Be everywhere. Not everyone is on Facebook. Some people only use Facebook. Others just read emails. While others want to see info on your website. Have booths at fairs, Be in parades. Visit the schools.
Fundraising: in kind donations can provide a lot of resources, offer donors perks (tickets, shirts, recognition), make donating easy
It’s hard to summarize everything Karen had to offer in this interview. In fact even the interview doesn’t summarize the massive accomplishment of pulling of such a large and successful event.
NPA 015: Tips on How to Apply for 501.c.3 Tax Exempt Status
Aug 05, 2014
In this episode I talk with Thomas Wrobel from the Nonprofit Legal Center (nonprofitlegalcenter.com). Tom is a lawyer with 17 years of experience. He specializes in nonprofit law. Tom answers some basic legal questions you need to ask yourself when you apply for 501.c.3 tax exempt status. His advice will help you prepare your IRS form 1023, so you can get your 501.c.3 tax exempt status for your nonprofit.
Here are some of the questions he answers in this interview:
Question: How do I know if I qualify as a 501.c.3 nonprofit?
You can also do a Google search and see if there are other organizations that provide similar services to yours that already have their 501.c.3.
Question: Do I have to be a 501.c.3?
You do not have to be a 501.c.3 until you reach an annual revenue of $7,500/year.
If you exceed this threshold you can find a fiscal sponsor. Basically, you would operate under the umbrella of an already existing 501.c.3 nonprofit.
It is recommended you start the 501.c.3 application process as soon as you can.
Question: What are the different types of religious 501.c.3s?
Churches, synagogues and mosques are organizations that have weekly services and have a congregation. Churches are automatically tax exempt (even without their 501.c.3). But, if you get your 501.c.3 you can be a tax deduction for your donors AND you do not have to file an annual form 990. Let’s repeat that. A church that is recognized as a 501.c.3 does not have to file tax form 990!
Ministry or afterschool religious based programs become tax exempt once they have their 501.c.3 status. Religious organization (not churches) will still have to file IRS tax from 990.
Question: What are some of the things I should look for when recruiting board members.
Recruit members that are assets to your organization. Look to community members that have skills that meet your needs (fundraisers, grant writers, marketers, laywers, etc). Avoid having relatives on your board. It is technically OK to have a relative on your board but it can raise a red flag with the IRS – best to avoid this.
Question: How do I make a three year budget projection for a startup nonprofit?
Your budget is your best guess. Include your expected fundraising revenue, any program fees you expect to collect and figure in your office expenses (phone, computer, copier). Be sure your revenues and expenses balance out. It is OK to carry over a little revenue into the next fiscal year. But if you carry over to much profit – or run to large a deficit – this will raise a red flag with the IRS.
Your budget is a “guess-timate”. Do your best to balance your revenue and expenses for each fiscal year.
PROGRAM LINKS & RESOURCES
Thomas Wrobel: Mr. Wrobel has assisted hundreds of organizations, across the country and internationally, in successfully attaining nonprofit tax exempt status with their state and the IRS. He is committed to making life easier for people who are doing good work in the world.
NPA 013: Planning an Event for your Nonprofit
Jun 16, 2014
Many nonprofits will host an event of some type over the course of the next year. It may be as simple as a member meeting or more complex like a multi-day music festival. In either case, a successful event entails planning, coordinating, outreach and management. In this episode I talk with Jessica Edwards, the Executive Director of the Southeast Alaska State Fair, who talks with us about how she and her team pull-off hosting and average of one event per month. This includes a four day state fair, a two day beer festival and a one night film festival.
Jessica walks us through the process of organizing a large event. This includes planning/preparation, marketing, hosting, contingency planning, and post event wrap up.
MARKETING
If you hold more than one event each year, it is a good idea to cross-market upcoming events with the current events your are advertising. This way you can introduce other events you host when people sign-up or order tickets for your current event.
Be sure that you are branding your events with your logo, the event logo and any original art that you may use.
Be sure to advertise on all available mediums. This include: social media, posters, newspapers, radio station, flyers, pamphlets, website and word of mouth. Be all everywhere.
Use scarcity! If your event has limited tickets available, then use that to your advantage. Jessica tells us that their beer festival has 1400 tickets available and they sell out in hours.
What is “special” about your event? Location? Guest speaker? Art? Entertainment?
PLANNING
Start early. Very Early.
Make a list of your needs (credit card processor, poster art, hall rental, guest speakers, sponsors, etc) and put them on a timeline for completion.
What is your budget?
Do you have to build or order anything? These things typically take more time than you think. Plan early.
Line up and lock-in your speakers, entertainment, etc early and make sure they are available for your event.
Identify the needs you will have during the event and start lining up volunteers. Be sure to match a volunteers skills to their duties. This will help volunteers feel more like they contributed.
HOSTING THE EVENT
Meet often with staff and volunteers. This will keep everyone on the same page and help you prioritize any last minute needs. This also works as a team building exercise.
Keep a list(s) and visit it often. Keep it updated.
Set up a communication system. Are you going to use handheld radios, cellphones, email, etc?
Have a contingency plan. What happens if the power goes out? Are you prepared for a medical emergency? What is a volunteer or staff member is sick and can’t show up?
If you are the one running the event, then do not get caught up in taking care of things your self. Find a volunteer and delegate this responsibility. Keep your eye on the big picture
Know who your “go to” people are. Who is the tech person, the medical person, the maintenance person, etc?
POST EVENT
Have a plan for what needs to be done once your event is over. This may include clean up, thank you cards, returning of rental equipment, etc.
Post event activities can effect whether someone returns next year to help again.
Be sure to celebrate.
Thank everyone – volunteers, sponsors, staff, board members, guest, speakers, entertainment, etc. Do your best to personalize these thank yous. A sponsor thank you should be different that a volunteer thank you.
Plan post event needs by thinking through the entire event. Do you need to track who attended the event? Do you need to track money? Do you need to transport anyone or anything?
By being prepared and having a plan you can reduce the stress on your team and help ensure the enjoyment of those who attend your event.
PROGRAM LINKS
Jessica Edwards is the Executive Director of the Southeast Alaska State Fair. You can learn more about the fair at:
NPA 012: Using Social Media for Storytelling
May 27, 2014
In this episode we talk with Julia Campbell from jcsocialmarketing.com about how to prepare and implement a social marketing campaign that helps tell your story using social media. Julia is a trainer and coach who helps nonprofits reach their goals using digital marketing and social media. She has been recognized as a Top Nonprofit 150 Blog from topnonprofits.com and a Top 40+ Digital Strategists in Marketing for 2014 by Online Marketing Institute. Here is an outline of some of the topics we talked about.
Social media is not a silver bullet. You need an infrastructure underneath your social marketing. This includes:
A website is a must. Once someone learns of your organization they are going to look for your website.
A mailing list that allows you to divide your contacts into groups (board, voluteers, staff, etc).
A database to track your constituents, volunteers, donors and staff.
A functional infrastructure which includes your computer, a secure internet connection, computer networks, mission based software, etc.
NPA 011: Charitable Giving – Using Story Telling to Find your Donors
May 13, 2014
Finding donors for your nonprofit can be a daunting task. But using some simple nonprofit story telling techniques can help you find new donors and retain them for years to come.
In this podcast I talk with Sierra Jimenez, Development Director at Southeast Alaska Independent Living (S.A.I.L. ). Sierra built a 500 person donor base, using nonprofit story telling techniques, in just seven years. Donations to S.A.I.L, which started at zero, now bring in over $110K annual.
Sierra shares with us some of the techniques she used to bring in new long-term donors. Here are some of the simplest ways to get started:
Hold events for public relations and awareness raising, not just to raise money.
Use events to share and show your mission
Send newsletters
Easy way to share your story and keeps your organization fresh in people’s minds
Become an Ally!
Nonprofit Ally is looking for writers to post relevant and informative blog post on this website. You’ll get your own login and author page. You can hear more about this during the last ten minutes of this podcast. Or visit nonprofitally.com/ally to learn more.
NPA 010: Dealing with Rogue Board Members
Apr 23, 2014
Dealing with a rogue board member creates turmoil and dysfunction within an organization and can be a tricky situation to resolve. In this podcast I talk with Laurie Wolf, MNPL, CFRE – the Vice President/COO of The Foraker Group – about how to identify, deal with and prevent rogue board members. Laurie gives training’s on nonprofit governance, strategic planning and resource development. She was selected as one of the “Top 40 under 40” leaders in Alaska by the Chamber of Commerce in 2005.
Definition of a Rogue Board Member
A rogue board member is a board member who uses their authority outside the jurisdiction of the board as a whole. Often their actions are no longer serving the better good of the organization but instead our based on a personal agenda and what they feel is “right” for the organization. Rogue board member behavior can manifest in many ways but commonly targets the organizations Executive Director. This can result in staff feeling bullied and/or abused by the rogue member.
Signs You Have a Rogue Board Member
Micro-managing staff, board meetings become full of surprises, adversarial behavior (including playing devil’s advocate), knit-picking executive director decisions, often loudest board member, member yields more power than other members (remember all board members should have equal power), executive director (and other board members) begin feeling bullied.
How to Deal with a Rogue Board Member
Talking directly with someone that demonstrates hostility and unpredictability is challenging. But not addressing the situation can lead to a passive-aggressive situation where some type of “explosion” can happen at an inappropriate time and/or location. Do your best to deal with a rogue board situations as soon as possible. Here are some suggested steps to take:
Talk to the Member: Directly communicate with the board member. This should be a non-confrontational conversation focused on listening and relationship building.
Involve the Board Chair: Go to your board chair (unless your chair is the rogue member) and let them know about the situation. The board chair should then have a peer-to-peer discussion with the rogue member to determine the nature of the behavior and possibly help the rogue member adjust their behavior in accordance with proper board governance.
Have a Conference Meeting: If behavior continues, again inform the board chair and request the three of you (the rogue member, the board chair and your self) meet to discuss the situation and how to resolve the conflict. This is a good time to brush up on “I statements”. Note: This is not a “secret meeting”. The board president should keep the other board members informed of the situation as it develops.
Hold an Executive Session: By this time, it is likely the entire board is aware of the situation. The board should an executive session (including the rogue member and possible the executive director) to discuss the situation and try to remedy it
Removal of Board Member: This is a tough situation, but the board has to do what is best for the health, and in some cases the survival, of the organization. Be sure that your organizations bylaws are followed to the letter.
Risk/Consequences of Having a Rogue Board Member
Not longer fulfilling mission
Lose board members
Lose your executive director and other staff member(s)
Lose credibility as an organization within your community
Legal issue (depending on extent of abuse)
Preventative Measures
Have a strategic plan and stay focused on mission
Create board member job descriptions
Be sure to govern in accordance with your by-laws
Have a strong Board Development committee focusing on training, recruitment, mentoring
NPA 009: Getting Sponsors for your Nonprofit
Apr 01, 2014
In this episode of the Nonprofit Ally Podcast I talk with Kim Skildum-Reid who is the Director and Owner of Power Sponsorship (PowerSponsorship.com). Kim offers a wealth of information on how to attract corporate sponsor partners for your nonprofit. She is the author of the The Sponsorship Seeker’s Toolkit, Fourth Edition.
NPA 008: Grant Writing – From Preparation to Submission
Feb 24, 2014
In this podcast I talk with Ann Myren from Resources and Results Consulting LLC. She is a nonprofit consultant specializing in grant writing and strategic planning. In this episode she talks about planning to write a grant, how to find grants, grant writing best practices and gives us a “grant writing check list” you should use before you submit your grant application.
To start the podcast we played a quick game of “Fact or Myth”. Spoiler alert… they all turn out to be myths:
Start ups can’t get grants. MYTH
We must have matching funds to get grants. MYTH (but good idea)
We must be a 501.c.3 to get a grant. MYTH (funding criteria could allow for partnering with another nonprofit)
Grant writing is complicated and takes specialized skills. MYTH
We can’t ask for a lot of money. MYTH
We already got a grant from Agency “A”, we can’t ask them again. MYTH
There are no grants for the services we provide. MYTH
Grants won’t cover our operating expenses. MYTH
We can function on grants alone. MYTH
TIPS TO GETTING YOUR FIRST GRANT
Get a strategic plan. Show how you are going to do what you say you are going to do. A strategic plan is your blue print and demonstrates to the grantor that you have your act together.
Go for smaller grants first. Not necessary but good to build off of for next grant.
Research granting agency. Who have they given to in the past, do you meet their requirements, can they fund the amount you need.
Contact the funder. Read their website to see who to contact and if it is encouraged.
Get letters of support from other organizations.
Have a budget – not just for project but for entire year.
REVIEW YOUR GRANT PRIOR TO SUBMISSION
Ask Yourself
Did you repeat yourself? Do you say the same thing in multiple sections?
Did you put supporting information in the grant? Did you compare it to other successful projects? Did you use quotes that substantiate your statements?
Did you answer all the questions completely?
Other Checks
Check spelling and grammar.
Check your math. Is the budget laid our correctly? Does it add up?
Be sure to have someone proof read your grant prior to submission.
Keep all final documents organized in a way you can find them again on your computer. If you can’t find it you can’t repurpose for another purpose. (See organizing files here).
NPA 007: Preparing to Fundraise with Crowdfunding
Feb 07, 2014
In this podcast I talk about what you need to have prepared before you start crowdfunding. I also talk about why our nonprofit only got five new likes on our Facebook page after being featured on a Facebook page with 15,000+ followers.
Here is an outline of the crowdfunding portion of this podcast.
Preparing to Fundraise
PLANNING
Here are the questions you will want to answer when you meet with your fundraising team.
WHY are we fundraising?
HOW much money do we need to raise?
WHAT kind of fundraiser are we going to have?
Peer to peer, crowd funding, event?
What is our budget?
WHEN:
Will we kick off the fundraiser?
When does the fundraiser end?
WHO is going to:
Create content on the campaign page
Send thank yous
Post to social media
Deposit check in the bank
Post posters/flyers
Make phone calls
Track donors
WHO are you going to ask?
Demographics
Who will contact who and when
CREATE CAMPAIGN CONTENT
Make a campaign page (your fundraiser home page) – don’t expect people to click through your site to find your website. Include details on:
What you need the money for
Why you need it
How much it will cost
Use a visual at the top of the page:
Video are all the rage now
At least picture or slideshow. Preferably with a person or animal in it
MARKETING AND OUTREACH MATERIAL
Much of you campaign marketing/outreach material can be pre-made.
“Asking” emails and letters
Premade postcards, rackcards, business cards and brochures
Social media campaign content
Benchmark materials (e.g. email announcing you have reach 30% of your goal)
NPA 006: Nonprofit Fundraising and Donor Retention
Jan 20, 2014
In this podcast I talk with Brock Warner who is the fundraising manager at War Child. Brock just finished a big fundraising campaign and he fills us in on some of the strategies he used that helped them realize a 30% increase in donations. We also discuss ways to increase donor retention from year to year.
PROGRAM LINKS
Brock Warner is a fundraiser at War Child and a blogger at iamafundraiser.com. You can also follow him on Twitter as @BrockWarner.
*These are some of the resources that were mentioned in the podcast. The links go to Amazon.com. These are affiliate links. Thank you for considering purchasing these books.
NPA 005: The Effects of Founders Syndrome
Dec 16, 2013
Founders syndrome is not a disease, but for many nonprofits it is smart to take precautions to prevent its effects. In this podcast, I talk with Kay Clements who started experiencing the effects of burnout after serving as the general manager of a small public radio station in California. Though she did not experience “text book” founders syndrome, many of the symptoms were similar. Her story is raw, honest and enlightening.
Here are a few ways founders syndrome can be defined:
when the founder of an organization is unable (or unwilling) to adapt as an organization changes and grows
when the structure of an organization becomes dependent on the founders system of making things work, making it difficult to replace the founder without collapsing the organization
when an organization becomes identified by its founders personality to the point that – when the founder leaves – the organization can no longer function.
At the end of this podcast I go over some ways to help prevent the onset of founders syndrome.
I also share with you some exciting news I received about a nonprofit I am starting. The effects of this news won’t be known for a few more weeks, but I wanted to let you know about it as I plan to update you on its progress.
PROGRAM LINKS:
Kay Clements General Manager – KHNS Website: www.khns.org
NPA 003: Developing Your Board of Directors
Oct 25, 2013
In this episode I speak with Cecily Stern from Word Craft Consulting. Cecily is an expert in nonprofit board development, strategic planning as well as grant writing. We discuss how to build a strong board of directors and plan for the future. Topics include:
Board Development
Board Recruitment
Board Member Responsibilities
Strategic Planning
Also in this episode I talk about the FaceBook PTAT… that is “People Talking About This” and why it is more important than “likes”.
NPA 002: Reaching Out to a New Community and Becoming a Foreign Entity
Oct 02, 2013
In this episode of the Nonprofit Ally podcast I talk with Shannon Donahue who is the Executive Director of the Great Bear Foundation. Their organization is expanding into a new state and we discuss how to implement such a transition as well as how to reach out to a new community. Topics include:
Community Outreach
Board and Member Communication
Becoming a Foreign Entity
IRS Group Exemption
Forming a Local Chapter
Also in the episode, I introduce a free online accounting app for nonprofits as well as tips on “when” to post to your social media page.
Note: This is a pre-release podcast. This episode has not been published on itunes just yet. Nonprofit Ally is still in launch phase. I am excited to be sharing all this initial content with you early. Thanks for visiting and please feel free to leave comments.
NPA 001: Creating a Nonprofit Coalition & Building Relationships
Sep 04, 2013
In this episode of the Nonprofit Ally Podcast, I talk with Autumn Berstein, from Climate Plan, about how she built a statewide nonprofit coalition, with nearly 60 members, in California. Learn about:
Forming a coalition
Building relationships with other nonprofits
Consensus building
Organizing state-wide partnerships
Project development
I also go over some Facebook tips that will help you get more “likes” at on your page. As well as an overview of a free online image editor you can use for your photo’s
Note: This is a pre-release podcast. This episode has not been published on itunes just yet. Nonprofit Ally is still in launch phase. I am excited to be sharing all this initial content with you early. Thanks for visiting and please feel free to leave comments.
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In this episode I speak with Cecily Stern from Word Craft Consulting. Cecily is an expert in nonprofit board development, strategic planning as well as grant writing. We discuss how to build a strong board of directors and plan for the future. Topics include:
