Mastering Social Media and Online for Fundraising Success

You can also use social media and blogging to generate funds, but this should be secondary to providing a transparent view of your organization inaction making use of the funds it receives. Check out these online charities for inspiration on using social media:

The Acumen Fund – Twitter: @Acumenfund

Goods 4 Good – Twitter: @Goods4good

ASPCA – Facebook: facebook.com/aspcateam

1. Find directories (both large and small) that have categories accurately representing your nonprofit’s mission and submit to their website. Nine times out of ten, you’ll get the listing for free.
2. Send an email thank you to your sponsors and suggest they put it on a sponsorship page on their website, with a link back to your site. If they need a push, explain how this looks good for them and supports your initiative at the same time. You may want to thank your top sponsors with a video testimonial, which they can use to market their social responsibility.
3. Apply for the Google Grants program, where – if approved – you can receive $10,000 – $40,000 USD per month in free pay-per-click advertising on Google.com.
4. Contact popular social networks like Facebook and StumbleUpon and ask for free advertising credits – you won’t know until you try!
5. Create a Facebook profile for your nonprofit and provide an attractive badge for supporters to display on their profiles. They may not actually donate to your cause but they will help raise awareness. (you’ll need to have a Facebook profile to view the link)

Hyde Park Main Streets used a Hot Stamp Box to broadcast their 140th anniversary

Take the hot stamp box. What is this? Rather than presenting your ornaments in a plain box or your color choice, you can opt for a “line art” representation of, well, of whatever you like on the lid of the box. Many customers choose to put a line drawing of the ornament, or the organization’s logo. One customer put their signature on the box lid.

The advantages of using a hot stamp on the ornament packaging is multi leveled:

• Creates an immediate branding experience and alignment with your organization
• Allows a sneak peek of the treasure inside
• Adds to the intrinsic value of the entire piece and package
• Develops continuity for multi-year annual ornament program

It’s a rather innocuous “add on” to your ornament. And it’s only $75 more to the whole order! In the worst case scenario, that’s 33 cents more an ornament. But what a polished, finished, professional look it gives! And yet, most of our customers don’t have a hot stamp put on their box.

Why is that? Maybe it’s not a common topic of discussion. Maybe it is perceived to be priced more than it is. Maybe it is, like Winton’s Churchill’s Russia –  “an enigma, wrapped in riddle, shrouded by mystery”.

Whatever it is, a hot-stamp box should be a must-have for every ornament program.

Let’s face it; the odds of you landing a position as the Director of Brand Development directly out of school are almost zero today, and most day-to-day marketing activities don’t include you taking a month to put together a strategic plan for “your company.”  Entry to Early-level marketing is a lot more about following a plan than creating one. 

For ChemArt specifically, we use a number of different marketing vehicles including trade shows, email, direct mail, print and electronic advertising.  During my time in school I was able to learn what all of these were, but as you know, not get my hands dirty.  In 2009 I coordinated my first trade show, sent out my first email newsletter, put together my first direct mailing, edited my first website, and provided my first ROI report.  Phew! 

By now you’re probably wondering what part of going to school and getting my degree helped me.  Well, the obvious answer is the opportunities it brought me, but there are also advantages in knowing the purpose of your endeavors.  For example, I have an easier time editing our website because I’m aware of the goals of the website and how online marketing is a near essential function with the amount of people who have Internet access today.  I am also able to provide a different perspective to management for discussions about development and changes we can make.

Finally, don’t forget your arithmetic and accept that Excel will be your best friend!

2.  The graphics girls are out strutting their stuff at break time.  They burn calories and the tread on their athletic footwear.  Lead…follow… or get the heck out of their way!    

3.  With the sudden but welcome increase in temperatures, those confident enough in graphics can be spotted wearing shorts.  Some of us haven’t seen the sun in months so pale chicken legs are common. –sad and revolting but common. 

4.   Time to train! Break time and sunshine also draws forth a perennial trio who emerge from their slumber to don their gloves and ball caps…on top of mastering the art of ornament craftsmanship it is imperative that we perfect our infield drills.  Funding for a ChemArt ball field hasn’t been approved yet so the high traffic intersection will suffice. (we continue to lobby for the cause)

5.  The contest is not official or sanctioned by authorities…but everyone knows there is a silent race to achieve that savage tan. Those blessed with Mediterranean or sub-tropical ancestry usually rise to the occasion…but some have exploded out of the gate by embarking on jaunts to the sunshine state and beyond!  *The ChemArt safety committee vehemently opposses abusive tanning practices as exposure to the sun and UV rays leads to “wicked” sunburn.

6.  Turn it up! Afternoon exile from the parking lot in the spring means rolling down the window and pumping the jams for the ride home. It is a veritable cornacopia of sonic textures as Graphic Artist Bob’s fist-pumping “TOM SAWYER” clashes hard with Graphic Artist Pete’s majestic flamenco music…just as Graphic Supervisor Eric’s “Plastercaster” by our old KISS friends clashes with Sir Blogs-a-Lot Nathaniel’s frenetic “Oom-pah polka”…rarely heard outside the walls of the beer halls of his native Germany.  –and Graphic Artist Lisa’s country twang is simply no match for Graphics Manager Kim’s power-rock onslaught which surges relentlessly from the mighty mustang.

What are the tell-tale signs of Spring in your company?

Nonprofits and New Blood

Technology Toolkit for Start-up Nonprofits: Part Two

Don’t Flunk Online Fundraising 101

Wake-Up Call: Your Supporters Expect More

How to Create an Entire Fundraising Strategy Around Thank You Notes

How To Set Up A Free Non Profit Website

Social Media and Foundations

How Strong is Your Nonprofit’s Message?

2009 Nonprofit Benchmarks: How Does your Organization Measure Up?

Lessons in Campaign Organizing