Archive for the ‘Technology’ Category
Religious Fundraising
Posted by Judy Keller in Donor Cultivation, Faith-Based Giving, Technology on October 12th, 2009
Here’s an excellent article for anyone involved in fundraising for a faith-based organization:
www.nptimes.com/instantfund/09Oct/IF-091008-1.html
Reality Bytes: This Thing Called ‘Blog’
Posted by Jennifer Furla in Fundraising in a Recession, Technology on September 25th, 2009
Fall’s here. School’s begun, as have fall sports and Scouts, and a full roster of fall educational programs and speaking engagements for our firm. But just as the fall breezes have ushered in a flurry of activity, they also seem to have swept out my resolve to keep up with our blog.
Right now, blogging and social media are “to do’s” on my schedule. I think of them as a great way to capture and share thoughts — and Lord knows I have a lot to say — but, different from the ‘digital natives’ some 20 years younger, it’s not a natural habit for me.
I wonder how many of you share this same dilemma? Things heat up each fall in the nonprofit world. This fall, with a little more confidence in the economy and our nonprofits’ unique ability to “absorb” economic shocks, the level of activity is a welcome relief.
But what does that do to our resolve to blog, tweet — and more importantly phone, visit and thank — our donors and supporters? Time management 101 says don’t neglect the important but not urgent. Until it becomes a natural habit, blogging and all this social media must continue to be an item on my to do list. Important, but not urgent. But, important they are.
So, I’m laying it out there. Announcing to the world — or at least our blogging community — a renewed commitment to tend to this thing called “blog” as my own little personal reminder to keep up with the important, but not urgent.
Tweet-Tweet … hey … Blog-Blog
Posted by Jennifer Furla in Donor Cultivation, Nonprofit Marketing, Technology on July 28th, 2009
A friend had just returned from Dell Social Media Boot Camp and was sharing some ideas. She’s smart, stays current with the latest marketing trends, and sits on some high-profile nonprofit boards. When My Friend speaks, I listen. We talked about how nonprofits want to engage in social media, but are largely behind the curve in their ability to “drive the discussion,” and unsure of who is their market, message, or how to use the tools to connect with donors.
Not so with one organization My Friend serves as a board member. This well-run performing arts organization that hosts national productions “under the stars” is blogging and twittering to patrons about everything from upcoming performances, to special ticket opportunities, to pre-show dining opportunities weather, parking and road closures. They have a “Behind the Curtain” show on YouTube with an engaging 3-minute piece that tells the theater’s history and takes you onstage to learn about how shows are produced.
How do they do it, you ask? For the ??-something’s for whom Tweet-Tweet, Blog-Blog conjures up more of a familiar Donna Summer tune than a way to connect with friends and associates, that is the challenge.
This group smartly invited a couple of local philanthropists to invest in an internship program where two 20-somethings tweet and blog ’round the clock. They bought a couple of mini web cams to produce the material that populates their YouTube channel page. They invite patrons and donors to “Connect with Us” on their website (right above “Support Us”), have their mission posted on YouTube and Tweet Twitpics of concerts so absent fans can catch a glimpse of the action: Jacks Manniequin just stepped onstage. Not too late to catch the show. .. Next up, The Fray.
OK, so you’re not a performing arts organization with a mission and programs that relate easily to Twittering. We all have missions that we care about deeply and a whole host of issues surrounding those missions. You have something to say. And if you have a laptop and the Internet, you have the tools to engage in the conversation. How are you doing that?
Comment and let us know how you are (or aren’t) using social media to further your mission and connect with donors.
LinkedIn Expands Professional, Personal Resources
Posted by Terri Turner in Organizational & Personal Development, Technology on July 24th, 2009
As an associate with Jeffrey Byrne & Associates, Inc. we are asked to “live our mission” by actively engaging as volunteers with the nonprofits whose missions match our personal passions. I have chosen to support three organizations, one of which is the Kansas Women’s Business Center. Earlier this month, I reconnected with the Executive Director at the Kauffmann Center during the GivingUSA presentation. We agreed to get together in September. Following our meeting, I found she had a profile on LinkedIn. I requested that she join my network, and now we can keep up-to-date before our September meeting. I have found this professional networking site to serve not only as a personal avenue for finding former friends and colleagues, but as an excellent way to expand my professional networking and information gathering. Have you joined LinkedIn? What are your experiences? If you are looking to make more of your LinkedIn profile, check out this site: “33 Ways to use LinkedIn for Business.”
Follow Us On Twitter
Posted by Paul Weber in Technology on June 11th, 2009
Follow us on twitter at FundraisingJBA
