Blog Archives
Capturing Your Organization’s Stories
Wild Apricot Blog : Capturing Your Organization’s Stories.
It is important to tell your organization’s story – it’s not all about the MATH and “bottom line” numbers. The blog article referenced above has great advice on how to engage your “raving fans” and volunteers to gather photos, leads on stories and various ephemera that can make a heart-felt compelling case for support.
The YouTube video below is a piece I put together recently for a couple that received an award for outstanding philanthropy. They ran a successful small business that became the engine for major gifts and planned giving to several outstanding non-profit organizations. Building these relationships and telling their stories inspire others to higher levels of philanthropy that will benefit your non-profit fundraising efforts as well as many other organizations.
Contact Laura to set up your organization’s editorial calendar – tell great stories and widen your network of raving fans!
philanthropyplus@hotmail.com 614-915-4324
Making Good Work 08/31 by PhilanthropyPlus | Blog Talk Radio
Making Good Work 08/31 by PhilanthropyPlus | Blog Talk Radio.
Laura Malone of American Endowment Foundation joins us this week for a discussion on being truly “donor-centered”. The ideas she will share with us will challenge you to rethink your current plans and strategies for fundraising now and in the future.
Join us!
Use Business Cards to Promote your Organization
10 powerful ways to use your business cards
By Beth Davis, Founder/CEO of Gold Star Referral Clubs
While this was written for small businesses, it is applicable to your non-profit work as well. . . . LAM
- Never leave home without them: Keep a supply handy at home so that you can restock your wallet/purse every day when you leave.
- Give and Receive: The best way to get someone to want your business card is to ask for theirs.
- Insert a card into all your mail: Starting today, don’t ever seal an envelope without your card in it, even your bills. The person that opens the envelope might know your next best client.
- Be generous: Business cards are the best value for your advertising dollar. Be able to give someone as many as they ask for. Always offer 2 – 1 for the person and 1 for them to pass along.
- Be ready at every occasion and any occasion: You can never predict when it’s a good time to give a business card. Buffet line, gas station, birthday party . . .
- Ask for a referral: You will be surprised at how well people will respond to, “Here are two of my cards. I would appreciate a referral and would welcome a call from you or family or anyone you know you may need a ____”
- Visit trade show: Ask for business cards from the show vendors, give yours in return. Read some of their card out loud and ask them about what they do. Make a friend. Then follow-up.
- Make it a coupon: Hand-write a special offer or a discount for your service or product on the back of your card. Initial it. Invite them to visit your business.
- Attach a small gift to your card: Attach a mint, a specialty cookie or other small (but useful or tasty) promotional item.
- Brand yourself: add your tag line, hook or quote
BONUS CHALLENGE from Laura Anne Miller:
Hand out 50 business cards per day: the owner of a local termite inspection/pest control company does this. In the morning, his wife hands him 50 cards, and he is under orders to return home with NONE. He uses the above techniques and takes every opportunity to give people his cards. He came to town knowing no one, and in a few short years became the leader of a thriving and wildly successful business. Every real estate agent in town knows him and most use his services . . . Think of creative ways you could accomplish this challenge goal!
This, of course, means that you have to get out from behind your desk every single day and go promote your organization. You cannot spend all your time perfecting the website, writing mass mailings and planning the next “event”. Use your imagination and think like a salesman. Call me to discuss – 614.915.4324 – Laura Anne Miller
Raise significant funds in 2011 – and BEYOND
Use the IRA Qualified Charitable Distribution in a special way – you don’t have to sacrifice current donations to build a long-term planned giving progam for your organization!
Take a look at this presentation on Slideshare.net – then contact Laura for more information.
Marketing Idea No. 215 – What we can learn from Bill Murray and Groundhog Day (via Creating the Longest Marketing Idea Chain in the World)
Check out the article link below from the “idea chain” blog
focus on your strengths – keep doing what does work and do more of it – STOP doing what doesn’t work! How does this apply to your non-profit? What unworkable activity do you keep trying, hoping for different results? Post your comments below . . .
The Dignity of Work
One of my clients, the MCS/TOUCH program was recently awarded a substantial grant to implement a program of community development. It is a summer work program for young people – helping them take their lives to a new level of growth and exploration. An essential part of this program, and of all the services at MCS/TOUCH, is to provide employment opportunities. We have an enormous list of “Pathway Partners” – employers who are willing to give people the opportunity to learn about the positive benefits of a good day’s work. They are small businesses and non-profit organizations that hire the participants and give them the gift of dignity. These business people are interested in making a profit, for certain. However, they are also intensely committed to making an investment in the community. Thank you to all the Pathway Partners! They are making it possible for people of all backgrounds to get to the level where they are net contributors and do not have to be dependent upon “charity” for their survival. . . .
If you would like to learn how to become a Pathway Partner and jump to the highest level of the Golden Ladder, contact Laura Miller – 614.915.4324 or lmiller@nfpcoaching.com . . . The summer works! program fully compensates the participant (up to 120 hours). See: Pathway Partners wordpress blog
If you are a non-profit and would like to learn how we were successful in this grant process, contact Laura Miller at the phone/email above. As a reminder, here is the Golden Ladder of Philanthropy:
The Golden Ladder of Philanthropy
By Maimonides
(From Lowest Level to Highest Level)
1. To give reluctantly, the gift of the hand, but not of the heart.
2. To give cheerfully, but not in proportion to need.
3. To give cheerfully and proportionately, but not until solicited.
4. To give cheerfully, proportionately, and unsolicited, but to put the gift into the poor person’s hand, thus creating shame.
5. To give in such a way that the distressed may know their benefactor, without being known to him or her.
6. To know the objects of our bounty, but remain unknown to them.
7. To give so that the benefactor may not know those whom he has relieved, and they shall not know him.
8. To prevent poverty by teaching a trade, setting a person up in business, or in some other way preventing the need of charity.
About the Author – Maimonides (1135 -1204)
Jewish rabbi, physician, Talmudic scholar and philosopher in Egypt.
A Single Grain of Rice
Let this simple folk tale inspire you . . . . Contact Us to learn how to experience extraordinary growth through Referrals and Network Fundraising. It goes beyond “social media” and related phenomena – our programs are about building commitments.
A SINGLE GRAIN OF RICE
a mathematical folktale by Demi
Long ago in India, there lived a raja who believed he was wise and fair, as a raja should be. The people in his province were rice farmers. The raja decreed that everyone must give nearly all of their rice to him. “I will store the rice safely,” the raja promised the people, “so that in time of famine, everyone will have rice to eat, and no one will go hungry.” Each year, the raja’s rice collectors gathered nearly all of the people’s rice and carried it away to the royal storehouses.
For many years, the rice grew well. The people gave nearly all of their rice to the raja, and the storehouses were always full. But the people were left with only enough rice to get by. Then one year the rice grew badly and there was famine and hunger. The people had no rice to give to the raja, and they had no rice to eat. The raja’s ministers implored him, “Your highness, let us open the royal storehouses and give the rice to the people, as you promised.” “No!” cried the raja. How do I know how long the famine will last? I must have the rice for myself. Promise or no promise, a raja must not go hungry!”
Time went on, and the people grew more and more hungry. But the raja would not give out the rice. One day, the raja ordered a feast for himself and his court–as, it seemed to him, a raja should now and then, even when there is famine. A servant led an elephant from a royal storehouse to the palace, carrying two full baskets of rice. A village girl named Rani saw that a trickle of rice was falling from one of the baskets. Quickly she jumped up and walked along beside the elephant, catching the falling rice in her skirt. She was clever, and she began to make a plan.
At the palace, a guard cried, “Halt, thief! Where are you going with that rice?”
“I am not a thief,” Rani replied. “This rice fell from one of the baskets, and I am returning it now to the raja.”
When the raja heard about Rani’s good deed, he asked his ministers to bring her before him.
“I wish to reward you for returning what belongs to me,” the raja said to Rani. “Ask me for anything, and you shall have it.”
“Your highness,” said Rani, “I do not deserve any reward at all. But if you wish, you may give me one grain of rice.”
“Only one grain of rice?” exclaimed the raja. “Surely you will allow me to reward you more plentifully, as a raja should.”
“Very well,” said Rani. “If it pleased Your Highness, you may reward me in this way. Today, you will give me a single grain of rice. Then, each day for thirty days you will give me double the rice you gave me the day before. Thus, tomorrow you will give me two grains of rice, the next day four grains of rice, and so on for thirty days.”
“This seems to be a modest reward,” said the raja. “But you shall have it.”
And Rani was presented with a single grain of rice.
The next day, Rani was presented with two grains of rice.
And the following day, Rani was presented with four grains of rice.
On the ninth day, Rani was presented with 256 grains of rice. She had received in all 511 grains of rice, enough for only a small handful. “This girl is honest, but not very clever,” thought the raja. “She would have gained more rice by keeping what fell into her skirt!”
On the twelfth day, Rani received 2048 grains of rice, about four handfuls.
On the thirteenth day, she received 4096 grains of rice, enough to fill a bowl.
On the sixteenth day, Rani was presented with a bag containing thirty-two thousand, seven hundred and sixty-eight grains of rice. All together she had enough rice for two bags. “This doubling up adds up to more rice than I expected” thought the raja. “But surely her reward won’t amount to much more.”
On the twentieth day, Rani was presented with sixteen more bags filled with rice.
On the twenty-first day, she received one million, forty-eight thousand, five hundred and seventy-six (1,048,576) grains of rice, enough to fill a basket.
On the twenty-fourth day, Rani was presented with eight million, three hundred and eighty-eight thousand, six hundred and eight grains of rice–enough to fill eight baskets, which were carried to her by eight royal deer.
On the twenty-seventh day, thirty-two brahma bulls were needed to deliver sixty-four baskets of rice. The raja was deeply troubled. “One grain of rice has grown very great indeed,” he thought. “But I shall fulfill the reward to the end, as a raja should.”
On the twenty-ninth day, Rani was presented with the contents of two royal storehouses.
On the thirtieth and final day, two hundred and fifty-six elephants crossed the province, carrying the contents of the last four royal storehouses–Five hundred and thirty-six million, eight hundred and seventy thousand, nine hundred and twelve grains of rice.
All together, Rani had received more than one billion grains of rice. The raja had no more rice to give. “And what will you do with this rice,” asked the raja with a sigh, “now that I have none?”
“I shall give it to all the hungry people,” said Rani, “and I shall leave a basket of rice for you, too, if you promise from now on to take only as much rice as you need.”
“I promise,” said the raja. And for the rest of his days, the raja was truly wise and just, as a raja should be.
______
Interpretations Consulting has two programs as part of PhilanthropyPlus ™ that build your network of ambassadors to advocate for your organization.
Ask about :
The Ultimate Gift Century Club
Business Mastermind Groups
2 systems that pay for themselves right away and along the way – financing long-term sustainability . . . laura@nfpcoaching.com or 614.915.4324
You can make only so many budget cuts before you disappear.
Non-profits with an active planned giving program are more stable than those without one.
Last year, when the recession really hit, most non-profits tightened their belts. Then they went on a binge of events, galas, direct mail appeals and “tin cup” campaigns (the least effective methods of fundraising, by the way.)
Well, revenues for most non-profits were down anywhere from 10% – 25%, or worse. If an organization made budget cuts last year, there is no more “fat” left to trim. They could shut their doors if they don’t find a way to raise more revenue, and raise it now. It may seem like a hopeless downward spiral, fraught with stress and confusion. So what is a non-profit to do?
A system of sincere, values-based, face-to-face encounters with donors and potential donors is the key to your success, both now and in the future. It will take a plan that includes not only annual fundraising but also planned giving.
The problem is that planned giving is complex. It is a mystery to most development professionals, let alone board members, executive directors and donors. Further, it takes a very long time to “convert” the donation – an average of 18 months to 3 years. Therefore, very few organizations have truly meaningful and effective planned giving programs.
However, the average size of a planned gift is 20-25 times larger than the average annual gift, including corporate sponsorships. In addition, organizations that have an established planned giving program are weathering the recession storm better than the average non-profit.
An investment in a planned giving program does not have to be delayed. With a fresh approach, such as PhilanthropyPlus ™, my clients can raise money now AND planet seeds for that future growth and security. Any plan to get a planned giving program up and running should include:
- CLEAR, values-based, compelling case for support
- Education & Professional Development for the non-profit leaders
- Board engagement and education
- Ambassadorship program
- A “sales” program of genuine relationship cultivation & referrals
It takes time, a lot of authentic character development, focus on service and discipline. In the process, you will have to get out of your “cave” and into circulation, which is very difficult for most non-profit professionals. It is not easy, like an event or a direct mail campaign, but it is simple.
For more information on how your organization can have PhilanthropyPlus ™ work for you, see our website and Laura’s full LinkedIn profile.
Non-profits working harder . . .
This news story came across my desk today:
Non-profits working harder/Donations still down
http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/news/story.jhtml?id=286000019
How are all those events working for you? – if you are like the organizations in this article/survey, probably not as well as you would like . . . and you are putting more time and effort into them.
Why work harder when you can work smarter to bring in revenue? PhilanthropyPlus has 2 “shovel ready” plans that are low/no cost ways to increase revenue now, and build meaningful realtionships in planned giving.
Did you know that Planned Gifts average about 20-25 times the size of the average annual gift? In addition, it solves a whole host of problems for small businesses, family-run enterprises, and high-net-worth families. But don’t be fooled – it takes an authentic person willing to focus on servicing the donor. It also takes time: about 18 months-3 years of CONSTANT cultivation before the gift is “official”.
So, in the meantime, you are under pressure to produce results NOW. That’s what the PhilanthropyPlus processes can do for you. Contact Laura Anne Miller to get started on a path that leads to an increasing stream of diversified revenue.
Unleashed Abundance 