You can add a blog to your website and talk about your cause and keep it in front of your donor audience.
You can set up a blog at http://blogger.com or http://wordpress.com both of these are free services. Or if you're a bit more advanced and want more of a professional blog you may want to try http://typepad.com where you will have a monthly fee of up to $15.
Once you've done this you may want to learn more about blogging if you're a novice. There are two easy to follow books 'Blogging for Dummies' and 'Start Your Own Blogging Business'.
Write a Press Release about your blog and submit it to your local newspapers. I'll teach you how to do this later, but establish a number of entries on your blog first.
Make sure you use 'tags' or 'labels' that will make it easy for those to find you when they do a search. These 'tags' will be words that tie into your blog post for that day.
One of the things you want to do in your blog, that may be different than your website, is update how you are doing in reaching your goal. Perhaps you want to highlight a new member who has spent volunteer time helping your cause. (Everyone likes to see their name in print as long as you're writing something nice!) Remember to give them lots of public accolades! List any new events that may be coming up and write up a review of any past events. Adding photos will get prospective donors to continue to look at your site. There are many people who want to keep up with the Joneses!
As an example, one of my favorite types of non-profits are those that support our environment and wildlife. So, if that were your cause you could write about a different bird each week--include its migratory pattern, how it nests, what its nests are made of, how many are thought to exist, how long their eggs need to hatch, who are their natural predators, their habitat, what they need in order to survive, things that endanger their habitat, etc. Each week bird enthusiasts would return to your blog to educate themselves about a new bird. So do try to educate in your blog.
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Develop Your Mission Statement
Your Mission Statement is your reason--it's the reason you started this non-profit. It's why you work long hours for little pay. It's your calling. It's what keeps you awake at night and eats away at your soul until you do something about it.
It's best if you can keep it simple enough for you, and others, to remember. It should fit nicely on the top or bottom of your stationery and on your newsletter. You want to keep this in front of the public.
Can you recite your mission statement? Can you list the key factors? If you already have a board, sit down with them and ask them to write one sentence that best describes the main reason your organization exists. You may find variety of answers depending on their own view point. Some people will look at it as providers, others may be from consumers, some from the legal aspects, and others may be from the management end of the business.
Find the common denominators among the statements. Now look at those statements that encompass every aspect of your organization. This may a very broad statement, but it's a place to begin. As you bring on your staff and board of directors (if you are a start up) you want to include them in on your vision for the organization. Don't expect people to share your exact vision. Have a group discussion and remember YOU are not the organization. In order to have everyone 'buy into' the organization they must have a piece of the vision.
Every few years staff and board should sit down and review this mission statement. Make certain that it really is reflecting what the organization is doing, and WANTS to do in the future. If it is, great. If it's not, then make the changes.
Remember every time you change your mission statement that you need to file it with the IRS along with your 501 (c)(3) application.
It's best if you can keep it simple enough for you, and others, to remember. It should fit nicely on the top or bottom of your stationery and on your newsletter. You want to keep this in front of the public.
Can you recite your mission statement? Can you list the key factors? If you already have a board, sit down with them and ask them to write one sentence that best describes the main reason your organization exists. You may find variety of answers depending on their own view point. Some people will look at it as providers, others may be from consumers, some from the legal aspects, and others may be from the management end of the business.
Find the common denominators among the statements. Now look at those statements that encompass every aspect of your organization. This may a very broad statement, but it's a place to begin. As you bring on your staff and board of directors (if you are a start up) you want to include them in on your vision for the organization. Don't expect people to share your exact vision. Have a group discussion and remember YOU are not the organization. In order to have everyone 'buy into' the organization they must have a piece of the vision.
Every few years staff and board should sit down and review this mission statement. Make certain that it really is reflecting what the organization is doing, and WANTS to do in the future. If it is, great. If it's not, then make the changes.
Remember every time you change your mission statement that you need to file it with the IRS along with your 501 (c)(3) application.
So You Want to Start A Non-Profit....
As I would speak to various groups about fundraising I'd often be asked the question, "How do I go about getting 501 (c)(3) status?" Perhaps you want to apply for some grants that are specifically set up for no-profits; or maybe you want your donors to be able to have a tax deduction from supporting your organization. Whatever the reason there are guidelines you must follow. Let's take a look at how you begin this process.
Your organization must be recognized by filing articles of incorporation. If you do not know the agency in your state that would be responsible for this contact your Secretary of State. Their number will be listed under your state government listings or your can find them through the Governor's office.
You also have the responsibility to apply to the IRS for application for Federal Income Tax Exemption. This is publication number 557, Tax-Exempt Status for Your Organization. This can also be downloaded from the IRS website. If you're really a novice at this I would recommend you find a mentor--perhaps someone from the SCORE program (check with your local Chamber of Commerce). They will likely be able to provide you with any technical assistance you may need. Also contact your local bar association for a referral to someone who has worked with non-profits in the past. Do not be afraid to ask them if they do 'pro-bono' work or if they will discount their typical fees.
And now you wait. Consider yourself lucky if this is done within six months. :-) So have lots of patience, and definitely be working on acquiring board members who share in your vision AND CAN OFFER YOUR NON-PROFIT ASSISTANCE! More on this later.
Your organization must be recognized by filing articles of incorporation. If you do not know the agency in your state that would be responsible for this contact your Secretary of State. Their number will be listed under your state government listings or your can find them through the Governor's office.
You also have the responsibility to apply to the IRS for application for Federal Income Tax Exemption. This is publication number 557, Tax-Exempt Status for Your Organization. This can also be downloaded from the IRS website. If you're really a novice at this I would recommend you find a mentor--perhaps someone from the SCORE program (check with your local Chamber of Commerce). They will likely be able to provide you with any technical assistance you may need. Also contact your local bar association for a referral to someone who has worked with non-profits in the past. Do not be afraid to ask them if they do 'pro-bono' work or if they will discount their typical fees.
And now you wait. Consider yourself lucky if this is done within six months. :-) So have lots of patience, and definitely be working on acquiring board members who share in your vision AND CAN OFFER YOUR NON-PROFIT ASSISTANCE! More on this later.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Short-Term Fundraising Goals
If you're doing a fundraiser with a short term goal there are an infinite number of products that can help get you profits in a hurry. Some of the most popular are:
Cookie dough---lots of different companies
Popcorn
Magazines
Candles
Flower bulbs
Pizza
Scratch tickets
Calendars
Some products you will be asked to pay for upfront and others you can collect all the funds and then pay. Companies vary so do shop around.
These items are best sold in a two week period. Anything longer and the group may lose their sense of 'urgency' and anything less and they may fall short of their $$$$ goal amount.
So what types of groups benefit the most from this type of fundraising?
Schools
Church groups
Youth groups
Little league
Scout groups
Cookie dough---lots of different companies
Popcorn
Magazines
Candles
Flower bulbs
Pizza
Scratch tickets
Calendars
Some products you will be asked to pay for upfront and others you can collect all the funds and then pay. Companies vary so do shop around.
These items are best sold in a two week period. Anything longer and the group may lose their sense of 'urgency' and anything less and they may fall short of their $$$$ goal amount.
So what types of groups benefit the most from this type of fundraising?
Schools
Church groups
Youth groups
Little league
Scout groups
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Fundraising Opportunities
Fundraising jobs for the week of January 14th, 2008
Direct Marketing Specialist
Forrester Research Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
Executive Director
Congregation Etz Chaim Marietta, Georgia, United States
Associate Director, Major Gifts, Chicago Reg Ofc
University of Chicago Chicago
Executive Director/Head of School
East Baltimore Development Inc Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Senior Editor
Council for Advancement and Support of Education Washington, Dist. Columbia, United States
Web Writer/Editor
Save the Children Westport, Connecticut
Web Content Manager
Save the Children Westport, Connecticut
Executive Director
Foundation for Physical Therapy Alexandria, Virginia, United States
Development Manager
Pacific Research Institute for Public Policy San Francisco, California, United States
Event Planner
Ontario Non-profit Housing Assoication Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Dean, College of Education
Armstrong Atlantic State University Savannah, Georgia, United States
Assistant Director of Advancement Services
Clark University Worcester, Massachusetts, United States
Alaska Coalition Coordinator
Alaska Wilderness League Washington, Dist. Columbia, United States
Washington, United States
Database Coordinator
Alaska Wilderness League Washington, Dist. Columbia, United States
Part-time Sesquicentennial Celebration Chairperson
North Central College Naperville
Media Relations Manager, Marketing Resource Center (MRC) - South
The Nature Conservancy Altamonte Springs, Florida, United States
Executive Director
Children's Museum of Bozeman Bozeman, Montana, United States
Research Associate
Helen Brown Group New England area, United States
Sr. Major Gifts Officer
Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago
Assistant Director - The Leadership Center
Fort Lewis College Durango, Colorado, United States
Direct Marketing Specialist
Forrester Research Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
Executive Director
Congregation Etz Chaim Marietta, Georgia, United States
Associate Director, Major Gifts, Chicago Reg Ofc
University of Chicago Chicago
Executive Director/Head of School
East Baltimore Development Inc Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Senior Editor
Council for Advancement and Support of Education Washington, Dist. Columbia, United States
Web Writer/Editor
Save the Children Westport, Connecticut
Web Content Manager
Save the Children Westport, Connecticut
Executive Director
Foundation for Physical Therapy Alexandria, Virginia, United States
Development Manager
Pacific Research Institute for Public Policy San Francisco, California, United States
Event Planner
Ontario Non-profit Housing Assoication Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Dean, College of Education
Armstrong Atlantic State University Savannah, Georgia, United States
Assistant Director of Advancement Services
Clark University Worcester, Massachusetts, United States
Alaska Coalition Coordinator
Alaska Wilderness League Washington, Dist. Columbia, United States
Washington, United States
Database Coordinator
Alaska Wilderness League Washington, Dist. Columbia, United States
Part-time Sesquicentennial Celebration Chairperson
North Central College Naperville
Media Relations Manager, Marketing Resource Center (MRC) - South
The Nature Conservancy Altamonte Springs, Florida, United States
Executive Director
Children's Museum of Bozeman Bozeman, Montana, United States
Research Associate
Helen Brown Group New England area, United States
Sr. Major Gifts Officer
Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago
Assistant Director - The Leadership Center
Fort Lewis College Durango, Colorado, United States
Friday, January 18, 2008
Click & Pledge for Web Site Donations
'Click & Pledge' has been in existence since 2000 and it gives non-profits a great way to collect donations from their web site. It was created with fundraisers in mind and provides you with a 'Click It' button that will connect your potential donors to some advanced fundraising techniques.
http://www.clickandpledge.com/ does not charge a recurring fee but rather a fee per transaction. The fee does vary depending on the credit card utilized. MasterCard, Discover and Visa are at 4.75 percent, while American Express is at 8.75 percent.
Under 'Advanced Fundraising Techniques' you'll find the Empower program. This allows you to offer a product giveaway on behalf of your organization. Donors are entered into the contest and a winner is drawn at the conclusion of the event. Click and Pledge then sends the winner the gift--a nice thank you for their donation. Their site also allows for recurring donations, making it easier for you and your donors.
They offer you three different programs: Payment System, Donor Management and Web Content Management. Each program is offered at $50 but you can get all three programs for $135. I have found this to be a wise investment and one that will bring you many additional donations. Do keep in mind that it is specifically designed for fundraising.
There are two other sources that you may wish to explore: PayPal allows you to create 'Donate Now' button. They have no set up fees, no monthly fees, no termination fees. You pay per transaction. To check their fees go to http://www.paypal.com/ . PayPal notifies you of your donations, sends a receipt to your donor, and keeps track of payments the organization has received.
Another possibility is the Amazon Honor System. http://www.honorsystem.amazon.com/ Here you can also get a 'Donate' button and a 'Pay Box'. They charge no recurring fees but they do charge a higher fee per transaction than PayPal, 15 % of your total donations! So this one is not my first choice.
Another great option is to add a banner. This is one that I use that allows Non-Profits an ongoing stream of income. It takes awhile before the money builds up but once it does it's a steady revenue stream and allows everyone to participate just by doing their regular shopping. Go to http://www.TopBananaMall.com and sign up for their free program. You will then get a choice of banners to display on your web site. There is no fee involved.
http://www.clickandpledge.com/ does not charge a recurring fee but rather a fee per transaction. The fee does vary depending on the credit card utilized. MasterCard, Discover and Visa are at 4.75 percent, while American Express is at 8.75 percent.
Under 'Advanced Fundraising Techniques' you'll find the Empower program. This allows you to offer a product giveaway on behalf of your organization. Donors are entered into the contest and a winner is drawn at the conclusion of the event. Click and Pledge then sends the winner the gift--a nice thank you for their donation. Their site also allows for recurring donations, making it easier for you and your donors.
They offer you three different programs: Payment System, Donor Management and Web Content Management. Each program is offered at $50 but you can get all three programs for $135. I have found this to be a wise investment and one that will bring you many additional donations. Do keep in mind that it is specifically designed for fundraising.
There are two other sources that you may wish to explore: PayPal allows you to create 'Donate Now' button. They have no set up fees, no monthly fees, no termination fees. You pay per transaction. To check their fees go to http://www.paypal.com/ . PayPal notifies you of your donations, sends a receipt to your donor, and keeps track of payments the organization has received.
Another possibility is the Amazon Honor System. http://www.honorsystem.amazon.com/ Here you can also get a 'Donate' button and a 'Pay Box'. They charge no recurring fees but they do charge a higher fee per transaction than PayPal, 15 % of your total donations! So this one is not my first choice.
Another great option is to add a banner. This is one that I use that allows Non-Profits an ongoing stream of income. It takes awhile before the money builds up but once it does it's a steady revenue stream and allows everyone to participate just by doing their regular shopping. Go to http://www.TopBananaMall.com and sign up for their free program. You will then get a choice of banners to display on your web site. There is no fee involved.
Start A Web Site for Your Fundraiser
I know all the medium to large non-profit organizations have active web sites, but I'm surprised at how many small non-profits still have not taken advantage of this means to reach people. So, for those of you who are stymied about where to begin let me walk you through the process.
First you need to register a name for the web site. Since no two sites can share the same name you will need to check on availability. I think one of the most popular, services is http://www.godaddy.com/ and go to the 'register domain' site. Your domain name is one that you will have to live with so make certain that your Board has approved it. At this site you can check for availability of the name you prefer. It will indicate whether it's available with .org or another ending. If you've found a name that you like and it is available then you may want to buy the other domains as well. This will assure that people don't get the wrong organization when they are looking for you.
If your chosen name is not available, scroll down that page it will give you options close to what you've selected that are available. This makes the selection easier.
GoDaddy will also offer you a selection of templates which makes building your web page a simple process. A smaller, more personal company, that I have loved working with is http://www.0grief.com/ They will help you with your selection and help you build your site. And, they truly live up to their name, Zero Grief. The owner is an SEO expert will also help you become SEO--Search Engine Optimized. This makes it easy for web browsers to find you. There are many other hosting companies available and you will pay them a small monthly hosting fee.
You want to start your web page with your MISSION STATEMENT. You probably already have your mission statement but do make certain it's one that people can remember readily. Don't make it so long and verbose that it's like reading a legal document. On the left hand side it is good to list your Board of Directors. List their name and the organization where they are employed. Under your Mission Statement you should have a description of your organization--who you are as an organization, what you do, what you have accomplished and what your goals are now. I always suggest following that up with a story or two--think of 'testimonials', i.e.:
"I have no idea what my family would have done without the help of XYZ organization! Our home had burned down a month before Christmas and we had 3 small children. XYZ found us a temporary place to live and through donations purchased us some of the essentials that we needed. We received clothing, furniture, pans, towels, and then, they brought our children Christmas presents! We thought we were going to have our most difficult Christmas ever, but in many ways we had our best--we were able to witness first hand the true meaning of this holiday. We'll never be able to repay you for your loving generosity!"
Or something that shows your potential donors the difference you have made in people's lives. You must make certain that your testimonials are true however! But there's nothing wrong about asking past recipients if they would like to contribute. You'll find that most will be very eager to do so.
Next you want to restate your goal--exactly why you need their help. Make it as specific as possible. "We need to raise $600,000 to purchase an additional house for a women's shelter, staff, furnishings, and food." Make certain you give enough information about WHY you need whatever it is you need.
"This year, in x county, 487 women were battered. Statistics have shown us that the battering behavior is likely to continue and that these women, and their children, are in imminent danger. This home will provide a safe respite for them and provide them with job & financial training so that they will be able to support themselves and their family."
First you need to register a name for the web site. Since no two sites can share the same name you will need to check on availability. I think one of the most popular, services is http://www.godaddy.com/ and go to the 'register domain' site. Your domain name is one that you will have to live with so make certain that your Board has approved it. At this site you can check for availability of the name you prefer. It will indicate whether it's available with .org or another ending. If you've found a name that you like and it is available then you may want to buy the other domains as well. This will assure that people don't get the wrong organization when they are looking for you.
If your chosen name is not available, scroll down that page it will give you options close to what you've selected that are available. This makes the selection easier.
GoDaddy will also offer you a selection of templates which makes building your web page a simple process. A smaller, more personal company, that I have loved working with is http://www.0grief.com/ They will help you with your selection and help you build your site. And, they truly live up to their name, Zero Grief. The owner is an SEO expert will also help you become SEO--Search Engine Optimized. This makes it easy for web browsers to find you. There are many other hosting companies available and you will pay them a small monthly hosting fee.
You want to start your web page with your MISSION STATEMENT. You probably already have your mission statement but do make certain it's one that people can remember readily. Don't make it so long and verbose that it's like reading a legal document. On the left hand side it is good to list your Board of Directors. List their name and the organization where they are employed. Under your Mission Statement you should have a description of your organization--who you are as an organization, what you do, what you have accomplished and what your goals are now. I always suggest following that up with a story or two--think of 'testimonials', i.e.:
"I have no idea what my family would have done without the help of XYZ organization! Our home had burned down a month before Christmas and we had 3 small children. XYZ found us a temporary place to live and through donations purchased us some of the essentials that we needed. We received clothing, furniture, pans, towels, and then, they brought our children Christmas presents! We thought we were going to have our most difficult Christmas ever, but in many ways we had our best--we were able to witness first hand the true meaning of this holiday. We'll never be able to repay you for your loving generosity!"
Or something that shows your potential donors the difference you have made in people's lives. You must make certain that your testimonials are true however! But there's nothing wrong about asking past recipients if they would like to contribute. You'll find that most will be very eager to do so.
Next you want to restate your goal--exactly why you need their help. Make it as specific as possible. "We need to raise $600,000 to purchase an additional house for a women's shelter, staff, furnishings, and food." Make certain you give enough information about WHY you need whatever it is you need.
"This year, in x county, 487 women were battered. Statistics have shown us that the battering behavior is likely to continue and that these women, and their children, are in imminent danger. This home will provide a safe respite for them and provide them with job & financial training so that they will be able to support themselves and their family."
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