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Kick Unproductive Meetings to the Curb

7/29/2019

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We’ve all suffered through unnecessary, unproductive meetings. It’s a universal truth, regardless of industry. 

How many of the meetings at your nonprofit have no agenda? 


How many of these meetings take place in the same boring, windowless room? 


How many times have you listened to your Executive Director recite statistics and metrics at
you instead of engaging with you?


These are all examples of how not to run a meeting.


Sure, donor statistics and metrics are important but the thing is, you and your coworkers should have access to this information without attending a meeting. And, if that’s the case, why attend that meeting? Why waste your time sitting in a room, being told what you already know. 


Your work is funded by the gifts of your generous donors, don’t you owe it to them to make the best use of your time?


It’s time to start thinking about meetings as a way to create change and promote new ideas rather than a way to disseminate information. After all, information goes out just fine over email.


Have a Clear Purpose for Each Meeting

Each meeting you hold or attend should have a clear purpose that ties back into the mission of your nonprofit. Only focus on topics that can’t be handled any other way. 


Instead of setting a meeting agenda, which may artificially limit the scope of your conversation, focus on outcome goals. What is the one thing you want to accomplish during this meeting and how does it benefit your nonprofit? Thinking of meetings in these terms will naturally broaden the scope of what you feel you can do to accomplish your goal.


Nonprofit meetings are for sharing information and planning donor engagement, not making decisions. Decisions can be made over email, but strategizing and problem solving, those tasks benefit from discussion and debate in a meeting setting.


Give Permission to Participate, or Not!

Meetings should be interactive. Everyone in attendance should feel welcome to participate in the conversation. The more discussion and debate that occurs around the topic of the meeting, the better your resolution will be. 


Similarly, only the people who need to be at the meeting should be at the meeting. If you don’t require input from a particular department on the specific project or issue being discussed, that person doesn’t need to waste their time attending the meeting. They can catch the highlights later over email. If someone who needs to be there can’t physically be there, let them join virtually.


To shake off the meeting doldrums, hold your meetings somewhere other than the dingy, windowless meeting room. Go for a walk as a team, meet at a park, or grab coffee at a local cafe. Anything you can do to break up the monotony and change your perspective is sure to have a positive effect on meeting productivity.


Stop Wasting Time

Time is valuable. Start and end every meeting on time. This shows that you respect and value your coworkers’ time and your donors’ dollars. Similarly, don’t waste time bringing everyone up to speed at the start of the meeting. Send out any important information or necessary background before the meeting, early enough that everyone has time to go over it. 


Think of meetings in terms of dollars per hour. Sure, a meeting only takes up one hour of your day, but if you have twenty people in attendance and each of those people makes $100/hour, the meeting is costing your donors $2000. 


Here’s the thing about meetings: There are no meeting police. You don’t have to hold a meeting just because that’s what’s always been done. If there’s no reason to hold a meeting, don’t hold one! And for goodness’ sake, stop holding meetings that could be emails.

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Are You Tricking Your Donors?

7/26/2019

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Right before I went away for winter break, I received an invitation in the mail to an end of the year luncheon for major donors. I opened it quickly and then looked at the invitation for about five minutes straight. I looked at it so long that my husband asked what I was reading. I told him, “This is the worst invitation I have ever received.” And it was. 

It was the perfect example of what not to do and how to mislead your donors.


There were many issues with this invitation, but the biggest issue was the RSVP card. The card had two checkboxes: One for “Yes, I will attend” and one for “No, I am unable to attend.” 


This is all well and good, except that when I read the entire invitation, it became clear that this was more than just a simple RSVP. By checking “Yes I will attend,” I was actually checking “Yes I will attend and recommit my yearly gift.” 


This luncheon is for
major donors, so these yearly gifts are not small. We’re talking about $5,000 donations, at a minimum.


Here’s the problem with asking for gift commitments this way: You are missing the chance to interact with your major donors and deepen your relationship. In my opinion, asks this large should
always be done in person. 


Always.


At this level of giving, donors should receive updates about the organization and how their money is being used on a regular basis. And they simply must be solicited in person. 


By as asking for a major gift on an RSVP card the organization missed a major donor cultivation opportunity. By taking the opportunity to build and preserve donor relationships, this organization could have secured increased gifts, rather than flat gifts. 


I also wondered what would have happened if I had not read the information carefully. Would I have committed to a gift of $5k or more? Was I the only one who was confused? What did other donors think? Did they check the RSVP box and not realize that they were committing to a gift to that year’s campaign?


When designing invitations to a special event, it’s important to make your donor’s feel special, rather than making them feel unappreciated. Take the time to cultivate your donors and be clear about what you need and want from them. You’re better off picking up the phone and having a quick chat than risking alienating a major donor and losing their donations for years to come.

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My Secret for Easy to Acquire Live Auction Destination Trips

7/22/2019

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Finding amazing auction items for your live auction is hard. It’s time consuming, it’s slow, and it’s not always easy to find something fresh and new for your donor community to bid on. 

People often ask me: What are the top sellers at your fundraising auctions? 


The answer is: The Live Auction Trinity

  1. Trips
  2. Dinners
  3. Experiences

Hands down, trips are the best-selling items at live charity auctions. Trips are also the hardest auction items to procure.

But not anymore. 


I’m sharing my secret for amazing vacation packages to include in your nonprofit’s next live auction, silent auction, or raffle. 


HGAFundraising.com
 


HGA Fundraising typically sells directly to charity auctioneers, like me. However, they recently started selling directly to nonprofits, which is great news for you and your organization.


HGA Fundraising’s trips are different from the typical consignment packages that many nonprofits use in their live auctions.

  • They’re low-priced. HGA Fundraising’s trips have RIDICULOUS margins. Since their trips cost anywhere from $89-$400 for a week long trip, your nonprofit can expect a 100% return. Compare that to a typical consignment package that most nonprofit’s sell for a 25%-50% return on their investment. Do the math. It is simple to see that HGA Fundraising makes your organization more money.
  • They don’t contain extras. I personally believe that travel packages do not need to include airfare. During my time as a charity auctioneer, I have found that airfare rarely affects the final selling price. HGA Fundraising’s trips do not include airfare (although they do offer it if you are interested in adding to any package) which means larger margins for your organization.
  • They’re multi-use. Because the price point of these trips is so phenomenal, many of my clients use trips purchased from HGA Fundraising as silent auction items, raffle prizes, and auction game prizes. 

The Fine Print
Head to 
HGAFundraising.com and peruse the trips. 

What would appeal to your audience? Cabo? Punta Cana? Las Vegas? Orlando? 


Purchase as many travel packages as you want/need.


HGA Fundraising will mail you certificates for each package. These certificates are what you give to the winning bidder. 


The winner of the package calls the HGA Fundraising concierge service to help them book their hotel.
These packages do not come attached to a specific hotel, instead they let you pick where you want to stay from a list of hotels in your chosen location.  


These packages are for two people. If you want to offer a trip for four people, you will need to buy two packages. 


Many auctioneers will try to sell you packages just like these. Know that they are going to mark them up to make a little extra money. If it is easier for your to purchase these through your auctioneer, great! Just know, that you can go straight to the website and buy them yourself. 

HGA Fundraising used to be a secret within the charity auctioneer community, but something this good shouldn’t be kept a secret. Head over to 
HGAFundraising.com and check it out for yourself. Tell them I sent you!
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Save Time and Money Buying These Services on Fiverr

7/19/2019

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Nonprofit organizations are notorious for being understaffed and overworked. Furthermore, we know many nonprofits only have one or two employees, and we can’t expect them to be able to fundraise and create beautiful marketing materials or set up Google’s G Suite. 

A great way to handle limited, overworked staff is to outsource the tasks that can be easily done by other professionals. This saves your organization time and money. It also ensures that your employees and volunteers are using their time as wisely as possible and using the skills they were hired for, rather than spending hours fiddling with creating marketing materials.

So where should a nonprofit turn to find an endless range of services provided by independent contractors with fixed rates? 

Fiverr.

Fiverr is the world's largest marketplace for digital services. A service offered on Fiverr is called a gig. Sellers have the option to choose their starting price point. With gig packages, contractors can offer buyers different service packages at different prices. Many gigs on Fiverr start at only $5.

Simply type the service you are looking for into the search bar. When you find a gig you like, click on it for more information on the contractor and the service they are advertising. Don’t forget to check the seller’s reviews to see if they are reputable. When you have found what you need, place your order and the product will be delivered in a few days.

Here’s my list of the top ten marketing and content creation tasks that your nonprofit can buy on Fiverr.

1. 2D animation video/explainer video
Creating videos and animations can be tedious, even for seasoned professionals. Stop wasting your time and search one of the most popular categories on Fiverr. Not sure what you would use an animated explainer video for? Here are some ideas:
  • Homepage video explaining what your nonprofit does
  • Volunteer recruitment video
  • Event promotion video
  • Giving Tuesday video
  • Introduce new staff/programs/facility 
  • Explain how a donation will be used

Take a look at these top Fiverr freelancers who create great explainer videos:
Weperfectionist, Gigblast 


2. Google Analytics, if not set up already

Unsure of how much traffic your nonprofit website is getting? Don’t know what your bounce rate is? How are people finding your organization? No idea? You need Google Analytics. Google Analytics is a web analytics service offered by Google. This is a service no organization should go without, but it is tricky and complicated to set up. Don’t waste time trying to figure it out - just purchase a gig and your google analytics will be set up in about 24 hours.

Take a look at these top Fiverr freelancers: georgecollins, luikangmk

3. Newsletter/marketing materials
Writing a newsletter and other marketing materials takes time. Lots and lots of time. Well-constructed written material makes all the difference in how people perceive your organization. If you don’t have a writer on staff, this is one area you should definitely consider outsourcing.

Take a look at these top Fiverr freelancers: iiqrubel, seatiel

4. Email marketing using constant contact or mailchimp
Managing your email list is another time-consuming task that can be easily outsourced.

Take a look at these top Fiverr freelancers: amyample, shmm097

5. Logo

An eye-catching logo can really set your organization apart from the pack. Don’t have one? Don’t have hundreds of dollars to spend on a graphic designer to create you one? Consider a custom logo from  Fiverr. The best part about it? It will be ready to use in just a few days.

Take a look at these top Fiverr freelancers: skydesigner, bilalhaider23

6. Direct Mail brochures/fliers
Direct mail campaigns can be a breeze to write, but designing and formatting them can be time consuming, and often frustrating. Don’t waste your time trying to figure out Canva or Microsoft Word, head over the Fiverr and have it done in less than 24 hours.

Take a look at this top Fiverr freelancer: creative_clan

7. Banners for social media
Want your LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to have custom banners at the top? It’s so simple, when you know how to do it. Hire an independent contractor each time you need to update your social media images.

Take a look at these top Fiverr freelancers: graphicsfox, supuntharaka225

8. Infographics about the work your nonprofit does
Infographics are a great way to communicate the impact of your nonprofit in a clear, concise manner. All donors love seeing how their donations make an impact. Thinking about creating an infographic yourself? Don’t. Leave it to the experts on Fiverr. Just send your verbiage and data and they will turn it into a presentable graphic.

Take a look at these top Fiverr freelancers: jenajenny, fasty93

9. Online research - SEO and market research
Doing market research and finessing your SEO can be time consuming. Are you planning on keeping up with all the monthly Google algorithm changes? In just 24-48 hours you can get a full spreadsheet of keywords for SEO usage. Don’t spend hours on tasks like these - outsource to a Fiverr contractor who has the time and expertise to deliver the information you need.

Take a look at these top Fiverr freelancers: ozzieuk, blboss

10. Annual reports
Get your annual report put together in an easy to read format before distributing it to your board and CEO.

Take a look at these top Fiverr freelancers: midoridesign, akilmazumder
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Disclaimer: These are examples, not recommendations. Always vet all of your independent contractors individually.
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Inside My Business: Why I Get Hired

7/15/2019

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Hiring the right charity auctioneer for your fundraiser is the single most important thing you’ll do when planning the event. If you don’t have the right auctioneer, your event won’t work.

It’s very much like entering a relationship; if you don’t have the right chemistry, it won’t be a good fit. The relationship must be a good fit for everyone involved: the auctioneer, your nonprofit, and the guests in attendance.

As I become more comfortable as a business owner and a fundraiser, I know what works for me and my staff. 

I’m very transparent with potential clients. I want to make sure they know that I don’t always get hired because I’m not always the right fit for their event.

Why I Get Hired
The number one reason I get hired is because people see my videos on YouTube and they love my energy and style. I get out in the crowd and interact with people. My auctions are more of a show than a traditional auction. I get hired to have fun with the crowd.

I get hired because I’m a woman and there aren’t many of us in this business. We know that women lead men in philanthropy, but so few women get involved as fundraisers.

I do my homework. People see me or one of my other auctioneers live and are blown away by how well we understand the organization we’re supporting.

Nine times out of ten I get rehired because of the Fund-A-Need auction. My Fund-A-Needs are amazing. I often hear, “The auction was fun, but the Fund-A-Need was spectacular.” This is because of my professional development and my passion for raising money. 

I know how to ask people for money in a way that sounds good and feels good.

Why I Don’t Get Hired
The main reason why I don’t get hired is because people see my videos on YouTube and are turned off by my energy and style. Sometimes the upbeat, party atmosphere is not what a nonprofit is looking for, and that’s okay. There are plenty of fundraisers out there who specialize in more formal, traditional events.

More times than I would prefer, a committee is scared to have a female auctioneer and I am not  hired solely because I am a woman. Many people believe that a woman cannot hold the room or command the stage with a female voice and presence.  

Why I Turn Down Jobs
Occasionally, I turn down jobs because I don’t think the nonprofit’s mission or staff is good fit for Generosity Auctions. 

Over the years we have developed parameters for working with nonprofits. We know what works for us and our style.

I won’t take on auctions that have more than ten items. With our style it takes longer to sell each item, and ten items is our maximum.

We also require an external sound system and if your event is using the ceiling speakers at a country club, we will politely decline.

Although we would love to help every nonprofit reach their fundraising goals, ultimately we need to be partners in fundraising. We do our homework and can’t risk putting your event or our reputation at risk by working a fundraiser that we don’t feel is a perfect fit for both parties.
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So….You Suck at Fundraising. Ten things to UP your fundraising game and help you get comfortable asking for money.

7/12/2019

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Sweaty palms, heart palpitations, dry mouth. I’ve been there. Especially right before asking for a big donation.

You are not alone. 


Asking for money is hard. It’s intimidating. Especially when you are making a nonprofit salary and asking a major donor for big bucks.  


Most nonprofit’s have limited resources which means many fundraisers have to figure things out on their own, with little training or professional development.


In order to improve your development skills, you’ll need to get some professional development ASAP. But until then, here are some tips to help you sharpen your skills independently. 


Remember that fundraising is not about you.
Fundraising in the nonprofit world is about getting organizations the money they need to help the community. Think about all the dogs that will be saved, or the people that will be fed if your organization can continue to work in the community. Drive that point home every chance you get. 


Thinking about fundraising not in terms of reaching your personal fundraising goal, but in terms of helping as many people in the community as possible can make it easier for you to keep pushing ahead.


Get to know your major donors.
If you are brand new to the organization and still unsure of what motivates donors to give, take the time to meet with a handful of major donors. In person is great, but a phone meeting or video call works too. Ask them why they are involved with your organization, what motivated their first gift, why they stay involved, and why they give so generously.


These conversations will help you begin to understand how and why donors are attracted to your organization. In turn, this will help you speak confidently about your organization and ask others to support your cause. 


Don’t be ashamed to ask for money.
Maybe it’s because of a cultural reticence to talk about money and finances, but a lot of people feel ashamed or embarrassed to ask for money. Even when that’s their job. 


If you are going to work in nonprofit fundraising you cannot be ashamed to ask for money. Fight back against the urge to feel shame. There’s nothing shameful about asking people for money so that your organization can keep doing work in the community.


Let your personality shine through.
People don’t donate to organizations, they donate to people. 


Resist the urge to hide your personality behind your ask. You are unique, your asks and events should be too. You aren’t going to ask for money, lead an auction, or write fundraising copy exactly like the person next to you. Find your voice and lean in to what makes you different.


Craft your messaging for your audience.
You are probably not in the same demographic as many of your donors. What appeals to you will not necessarily appeal to them. 


When writing fundraising copy or planning an event put yourself in the donor’s position and see if it still appeals to you. Ask as many coworkers as you can what they think about your marketing material, event plan, or solicitation to get a better idea of how it will play to your different audiences. 


Write several versions of the same copy when possible. You shouldn’t be sending the same materials to an older, male donor as you to do to a younger, female donor.


Collect data. Then, trust that data.
Keep track of who is donating to your organization individually, but also what demographic groups they fall into. 


Actually, keep track of everything. 


The more information you have on who is donating, how much, and why, the better off you will be. Refer to your data and metrics often.


If it’s broke, fix it.
Don’t stick to the same language when asking for a donation if it isn’t working for you. If you notice that the words you are using aren’t resonating with your audience, try crafting your message with a new angle. Practice often to ensure that you are comfortable with this new language before using it with a donor. 


Take risks. Make mistakes.
You can’t learn and grow without making mistakes. Take a risk with a new donor or asking for a big increase to a yearly donation. Remember that any mistakes you make are not likely to be world-ending. The worst that can happen is that they just say “No.” 


Practice, practice, and practice some more.
Sure there are those who are naturally awesome at fundraising, but most of us aren’t. Practice your pitches alone (I like to practice in my car) and with coworkers. Then get out there and start fundraising. The best practice you get is out in the field talking to any donor that will meet with you. Don’t forget to hone your skills writing direct appeals and marketing material. Do as much of this as you can. Before you know it, you’ll be a fundraising powerhouse.


Ask for help when you need it.
Most great fundraisers aren’t born, they’re made. If you feel like you are struggling, ask the people around you for help. You’ll learn more from the people in your field than you ever could from books or the internet.  


The truth is, there’s no magic pill that will make you an amazing fundraiser. You have to do the work, and a lot of it. But, with patience and practice you will build the confidence you need and you will get better at fundraising.

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Should Your Next Hire Be a Virtual Assistant?

7/8/2019

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Every week I hop on a video conference call with someone that I have never met in person. She’s not a client, she’s my Virtual Assistant and she rocks.

Amberlee (my VA) and I have been working together since January 2018 and I couldn’t be happier. She’s not my first VA and she won’t be my last. I found her via
Upwork and manage all payments and logistics through their site.


Working with Amberlee has been simple, easy, and straightforward. She has skills that I lack and is completely focused on her tasks and goals for the week. 


If your organization is looking to hire a staff member you should absolutely consider hiring a Virtual Assistant.


And here’s why.


Nonprofits often struggle with hiring staff. It can be difficult to offer employees a competitive salary on a limited budget. Equally, it can be hard to find qualified employees in small towns or rural locations.


Enter the Virtual Assistant. 


Virtual Assistants are independent contractors who work for you remotely. They don’t come in to your office. They do not even need to live in the same state as you. In my opinion, the benefits of hiring a Virtual Assistant cannot be ignored.


There’s a Virtual Assistant for every task.
They can help you respond to emails, create content for your blog or website, monitor and run your social media accounts, attend meetings (virtually), write grants, create solicitation letters, crunch data, etc. 


If there’s a task you want to outsource, there’s a freelancer who can handle it. 


Outsourcing the tasks your employees and volunteers normally do will free them up to spend more time cultivating donors, fundraising, and doing the actual work your nonprofit does in the community. 


Virtual Assistants can fill the holes in your skill set.
If, like me, you are not the best writer and writing feels more like a chore to you than anything, consider hiring a freelancer who specializes in writing. Maintaining a constant stream of content on your blog and social media pages is really important. Hiring a freelancer who can create the content with you, and take care of publishing it, can free up hours and hours of your week, not to mention increase your visibility and social media presence.


Virtual Assistants can keep you on track.
If your brain works a mile a minute and you have trouble keeping yourself organized or following a task to completion, having a person around to hold you accountable makes a huge difference to your own productivity. And you’ve got a second pair of eyes helping to make sure projects don’t get forgotten. 


Virtual Assistants often work on a per project basis.
This means you can hire them for a one-time project instead of committing to a long-term contract. Some freelancers accept payment per project or task, others prefer to be paid hourly for their time. With so much variety you are sure to find someone who fits your needs. 


Virtual Assistants will save your organization money.
Because they work remotely, your organization does not have any overhead admin costs when hiring a Virtual Assistant. You don’t have to provide them with an office, computer, phone, etc. You don’t have to provide insurance, paid time off, or other benefits.


Keep in Mind...
 


Here are some tips for fostering a healthy working relationship with your next Virtual Assistant, straight from mine.


Have a purpose for hiring.
Know exactly what you want from your freelancer. Are you open to a variety of roles they might fill or do you need someone specifically to stay on top of scheduling and emails? Be honest with yourself about what you need and what you are looking for. If you aren’t honest with yourself, you won’t find the best person for you. 


Many freelancers specialize in certain areas. Me? I’m a writer and editor. When hiring a freelancer, look for someone who specializes in what you need. Don’t hire a graphic designer and expect them to also take care of your scheduling and emails.


You get what you pay for.
Freelancers who charge a shockingly low rate are not going to provide the same level of service as those who charge more. They just aren’t. Even though you are hiring an independent contractor, you should still expect to pay them a decent rate for their time and expertise. 


We’re not mind readers.
Don’t expect your Virtual Assistant to nail everything on the first day. You will need to provide clear direction and training for them, just as you would any other employee or volunteer.


Similarly, if we’re not doing something correctly, tell us! Most of us want to do our best work for each and every client.


We’re people too.
Sure, we don’t have traditional office jobs (and hey, we might have one of those too!), but most of us have a lot of other stuff going on. Respect our time like we respect yours. If your freelancer gives you set hours during which they are available, honor that schedule. Don’t email them at 2:00 a.m. and expect them to turn something around for you in an hour. 

It all boils down to communication. Be upfront and honest when interviewing prospective hires. Let them know exactly what you’re looking for and what is expected of them. Really listen to any concerns they have about scheduling, pay, and workload. Then keep that line of communication open going forward. Honest conversation will ensure that you have a healthy, mutually beneficial working relationship with your Virtual Assistant or contractor from the beginning.  

Hiring a Virtual Assistant can be a boon to your nonprofit organization. Start small. Hire your first freelancer to complete a single project or to work for you for five hours a week. Communicate openly and honestly with them, and give them the tools they need to do the job you are requesting. You’ll be surprised how much of a difference outsourcing tasks and exposing your team to the expertise of others can make to your nonprofit.

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Throw Give/Get Out the Window

7/5/2019

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Give/Get is one of my most hated nonprofit terms. 

I hate it so much. 


I hate the name. 


I hate the concept behind it.

But before we get to that, let’s talk a bit about what give/get is. 


Nonprofits often have a minimum gift requirement for their board members. This gift not only shows a board member’s commitment to the organization but also creates an even playing field for all board members. This equality is important because board members are leaders in the organization and the community, those leaders should each have a baseline for participation. 


Some nonprofits offer their board members a different way to fulfill their financial responsibility. This practice is called give/get. 


Give/Get, loosely defined, refers to the set amount of money that each nonprofit board member is required to either donate themselves (give) or solicit other people to donate instead (get).


There are oh so many problems with give/get system, where do I begin... 


I recently started working with a nonprofit that was debating whether board and committee members who get auction items donated should count those items toward their give/get. 


My question is: If this is adopted as an accepted practice, where does it end? Do they start allowing volunteer hours in lieu of the expected donation? What about asking for auction items? Does that count? There’s no end to this conversation. 


In my opinion, allowing some board members to give and others to get, creates an atmosphere of inequality that is difficult to navigate. Tracking “gets” can be hard and there must be firm parameters around what a “get” is defined as within your organization.


I’m assuming that give/get was created to add diversity to a board and provide equal opportunity for people who have different financial situations to get involved. Unfortunately, most people take advantage of the “get” part of this equation and this can create conflict and disdain among board members.


If you want to add people to your board or committee who don’t have the capacity to give at the minimum gift level, consider having a conversation with them prior to them joining the board about making a donation that is meaningful and substantial for them. 


A board has fiduciary responsibility for your organization. If your nonprofit goes belly up, your board has a duty to resuscitate your organization. Most nonprofits cannot afford to have board members without the capacity to give. 


Simply, it’s fiscally irresponsible. 


That being said, board members can, and should, be valued for more than just their capacity to give and I see no reason to refuse board membership to a person solely based on their capacity to give financially.  


I understand why many organizations choose to institute a give/get policy, however I think the goals of give/get are more easily accomplished through smart board recruitment tactics and honest conversations.

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YouTube for Nonprofits? YES!

7/1/2019

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Video is the most memorable way to share stories, news, and information.

I’m a YouTube-a-holic. I watch 5-10 videos per day on multiple subjects and often turn to YouTube instead of TV. This trend of preferring YouTube over TV is growing with younger generations and doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon.


I even have my own
YouTube channel where I share fundraising ideas and techniques. At the time of this article I have almost 650 subscribers. YouTube has been hugely helpful for my business and career. It is the one platform that nonprofits seem most intimidated by, and it doesn’t have to be! 

Video is still overwhelmingly underutilized by nonprofit organizations. Not only do they not post video content regularly, they do not even consider YouTube when searching online for information. YouTube is not only the second largest search engine in the world, after it’s parent company Google, but YouTube is the ultimate place to find how-to videos on everything from running a successful
Fund-A-Need to editing a video. 


Out of all the content available online, video has the best ROI. Video allows your nonprofit to reach your beneficiaries, donors, and supporters in new and exciting ways. The opportunities for storytelling are endless. 


YouTube is an outstanding resource for so many things, but have you ever stopped to ask if your nonprofit needs a YouTube channel? 


The answer is a resounding yes! 


Your nonprofit needs an
active YouTube channel. 

And here’s why.

According to statistics from 
Omnicore, YouTube has 1.9 billion active users each month, 30 million of which are active on a daily basis. 


5 billion videos are watched every day on YouTube. 50 million of those videos are watched on mobile devices. 


300 hours of video are uploaded every single minute. 


And if you think YouTube is only for kids, think again. The fastest growing demographics on YouTube are the 35+ and 55+ age groups. What’s more, 60% of people prefer Youtube to live TV. 


If those numbers haven’t convinced you to get your nonprofit’s YouTube channel up and running, here are more reasons to start your channel today:

  1. YouTube enables you to easily share information about your nonprofit with people all over the world.
  2. People come to YouTube for two reasons: to learn something or to be entertained. Use your channel to teach the world about your cause.
  3. YouTube makes it easier than ever to tell the stories you want told. Create videos that highlight your organization’s successes and the stories of your beneficiaries. 
  4. It’s a convenient way to make training materials available to your volunteers.
  5. The YouTube Nonprofit Program.

**The YouTube Nonprofit Program allows eligible nonprofits to take advantage of certain perks including putting donation cards on YouTube videos so supporters who are moved to donate can do so immediately. YouTube also allows nonprofits to link back to their websites from their videos, as well as providing technical support and help with optimization. 

“But wait!” I hear you say. “I still don’t know what the heck my nonprofit would put on YouTube.”


Check out these video examples based on a fictional nonprofit serving the homeless:


  1. Stories highlighting one homeless person each week. Ask them to talk about how they became homeless and what it’s like being homeless.
  2. Give a different homeless person the camera each week and ask them to share how they live with your viewers.
  3. Make a video of the soup kitchen. Show how it works and highlight the people you feed.
  4. Share recipes like “How to make chili that serves 100 people.”
  5. Create how-to videos for things like putting together care kits and running donation drives. Highlight the work your volunteers do.

Need more inspiration? Check out my post on crafting successful video appeals.

Millions of people come to YouTube every day to learn and be entertained, if your nonprofit isn’t using this platform you are missing out on a spectacular opportunity to reach people worldwide. YouTube is unmatched in its ability to help you increase your reach and build an extended community around your cause. 


As you get started, I recommend posting a YouTube video at least once a month. Be as consistent with your posting schedule as possible. And don’t forget to have fun!

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