Learning how to use existing media to help get your message out to the community on a regular basis is vital to fulfilling your mission, and though it can take some time, it is something that the leader of the organization needs to do.
Third Sector has a good article about it.
An excerpt.
“It makes perfect sense: of course you want to get your organization’s good deeds covered by the press. But for many nonprofits, there is often a detour on the road between goals and reality. Resources are limited, and it can often seem like a stark choice: do the work, or publicize it. For mission-driven groups, the decision isn’t hard.
“Overcoming Fear of the Media
“Some organizations - such as human service groups - have developed an instinctual fear of the media, thanks to outlets who only cover them when something goes awry. Others may want to engage the press, but aren’t sure where to begin. After all, most nonprofits haven’t received $10 million donations or won Nobel Prizes lately - what would reporters find newsworthy, anyway?
“The process of courting the media may seem mysterious - or even dangerous. But more and more nonprofits are finding that it is necessary. Any group that relies on private donors will benefit from positive stories, which reinforce their belief that you’re doing good work. Nonprofits that have a stake in building community goodwill - from Harvard University to residential care facilities for drug addicts - know that it’s easier to answer questions and assuage fears upfront, rather than face irate neighbors after the fact. Finally, even organizations that subsist solely on government earmarks are helped by good local coverage, which legislators’ offices devour and analyze to determine if their actions will meet with public approval.”
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Saturday, February 27, 2010
E Mail Fundraising
A good article from Third Sector about it, and the strategic use of electronic resources is both crucial and within the budgets of even the smallest nonprofits.
An excerpt.
“As nonprofits look for new ways to raise money in the digital age, email fundraising is beginning to stand out as a compelling option. Many of the larger and nationally active nonprofits already use this approach to save money and reach broader constituencies. Can it work as well for small and mid-sized organizations?
“Non-profit organizations of all sizes increasingly use email to create contact points with constituents, and many have moved to online newsletters and e-blasts about events and new happenings as ways of keeping in touch. Email fundraising seems to be the logical extension of such communication, but many nonprofits are finding that last step difficult – even if they already have the tools in place.
“If you are already using email communication tools and are equipped to receive online donations through your website, email fundraising is an easy step forward. Taking the plunge into online fundraising can effectively complement your direct mail campaigns – all it takes is a little planning and the willingness to try. For a better sense of what’s involved, let’s look at two organizations and their first attempts at email fundraising.”
An excerpt.
“As nonprofits look for new ways to raise money in the digital age, email fundraising is beginning to stand out as a compelling option. Many of the larger and nationally active nonprofits already use this approach to save money and reach broader constituencies. Can it work as well for small and mid-sized organizations?
“Non-profit organizations of all sizes increasingly use email to create contact points with constituents, and many have moved to online newsletters and e-blasts about events and new happenings as ways of keeping in touch. Email fundraising seems to be the logical extension of such communication, but many nonprofits are finding that last step difficult – even if they already have the tools in place.
“If you are already using email communication tools and are equipped to receive online donations through your website, email fundraising is an easy step forward. Taking the plunge into online fundraising can effectively complement your direct mail campaigns – all it takes is a little planning and the willingness to try. For a better sense of what’s involved, let’s look at two organizations and their first attempts at email fundraising.”
Friday, February 26, 2010
Oakland Nonprofit Expanding
In these tough times, it is always heartening to hear of a nonprofit that is not only doing good, but expanding, and the Bread Project in Oakland is doing both, as reported by the Oakland Tribune.
A great example of social enterprise.
An excerpt.
“EMERYVILLE — The recent expansion of an East Bay baking school, one that targets low-income residents in need of food industry job skills and employment, opens up the opportunity for a host of silly puns.
"You can go with how it's a great way to make some dough, or make some bread, or how everything is rising — it's almost too much," said Matt Lonner, a partnerships manager with Chevron, which has helped fund The Bread Project.
“The baking school celebrated Wednesday the grand opening of a new location at 1555 Park Ave., 8,000 square feet of warehouse and work space that will nearly double the amount of training and production it will be able to do, board President Jason Pena said.
“Founded 10 years ago in Kensington, The Bread Project interviews and accepts low-income students, about half from Oakland, and many struggling with the impacts of homelessness, criminal backgrounds, addiction and poverty.
“Many students come in with no kitchen knowledge — some not even knowing the names of basic appliances — and are helped through the entire process, including training in how to find, attain and keep a job.”
A great example of social enterprise.
An excerpt.
“EMERYVILLE — The recent expansion of an East Bay baking school, one that targets low-income residents in need of food industry job skills and employment, opens up the opportunity for a host of silly puns.
"You can go with how it's a great way to make some dough, or make some bread, or how everything is rising — it's almost too much," said Matt Lonner, a partnerships manager with Chevron, which has helped fund The Bread Project.
“The baking school celebrated Wednesday the grand opening of a new location at 1555 Park Ave., 8,000 square feet of warehouse and work space that will nearly double the amount of training and production it will be able to do, board President Jason Pena said.
“Founded 10 years ago in Kensington, The Bread Project interviews and accepts low-income students, about half from Oakland, and many struggling with the impacts of homelessness, criminal backgrounds, addiction and poverty.
“Many students come in with no kitchen knowledge — some not even knowing the names of basic appliances — and are helped through the entire process, including training in how to find, attain and keep a job.”
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Green Revolution & Foundations
The primary role that philanthropic foundations played in the beginning years of the green revolution are a wonderful story, and a bit of it is told in this profile of one of the founders of that revolution, Norman Borlaug, from the Philanthropy Roundtable.
An excerpt.
“Something has happened,” USAID administrator William Gaud marveled in 1968. “Pakistan is self-sufficient in wheat and rice, and India is moving towards it. It wasn’t a red, bloody revolution as predicted. It was a green revolution.”
“The phenomenon Gaud described was well known to his listeners, including Norman Borlaug, the Rockefeller Foundation agronomist who later recalled the conversation. Borlaug, who died on September 12, 2009, at the age of 95, was a principal leader of the Green Revolution. He is one of only six people to have won the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Congressional Gold Medal, and the Nobel Peace Prize. He is frequently credited with having saved one billion lives.
“The story of this “green revolution” is a story of foundation resources marshaled to tremendous effect. Indeed, it is one of the great success stories in philanthropic history. Because of visionary philanthropy, world food production has steadily outstripped global population growth, and the threat of mass starvation looms less heavily over the developing world.
“That success began in 1940, when Vice President–elect Henry Wallace traveled to Mexico. At the time, Mexico was forced to import over half its wheat and a significant portion of its maize. Appalled by the conditions he saw, Wallace met with Rockefeller Foundation officials, including the foundation’s president, Raymond Fosdick. Describing the plight of the Mexican poor, Wallace emphasized to Fosdick “that the all-important thing was to expand the means of subsistence.” For Rockefeller, hunger and malnutrition were tied closely to its longstanding efforts to combat disease among the poor. So, in 1943, the Rockefeller Foundation embarked with Mexico’s Ministry of Agriculture on the Mexican Agricultural Project (MAP), starting with an outlay of $20,000 for a survey, followed in 1944 by a $192,800 initial grant. Led by George Harrar (later the foundation’s president), the group included Borlaug and four other agricultural specialists.
“Of them, it was Borlaug who would be credited as the movement’s hero. Born in 1914 in his grandfather’s farmhouse in northeastern Iowa, Borlaug initially studied forestry. Later, he switched to plant pathology at the urging of a mentor who later convinced him to join MAP. Borlaug established winter and summer operations in far-flung parts of Mexico, and he lived close to the land—fighting illness, floods, mudslides, and bad roads.”
An excerpt.
“Something has happened,” USAID administrator William Gaud marveled in 1968. “Pakistan is self-sufficient in wheat and rice, and India is moving towards it. It wasn’t a red, bloody revolution as predicted. It was a green revolution.”
“The phenomenon Gaud described was well known to his listeners, including Norman Borlaug, the Rockefeller Foundation agronomist who later recalled the conversation. Borlaug, who died on September 12, 2009, at the age of 95, was a principal leader of the Green Revolution. He is one of only six people to have won the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Congressional Gold Medal, and the Nobel Peace Prize. He is frequently credited with having saved one billion lives.
“The story of this “green revolution” is a story of foundation resources marshaled to tremendous effect. Indeed, it is one of the great success stories in philanthropic history. Because of visionary philanthropy, world food production has steadily outstripped global population growth, and the threat of mass starvation looms less heavily over the developing world.
“That success began in 1940, when Vice President–elect Henry Wallace traveled to Mexico. At the time, Mexico was forced to import over half its wheat and a significant portion of its maize. Appalled by the conditions he saw, Wallace met with Rockefeller Foundation officials, including the foundation’s president, Raymond Fosdick. Describing the plight of the Mexican poor, Wallace emphasized to Fosdick “that the all-important thing was to expand the means of subsistence.” For Rockefeller, hunger and malnutrition were tied closely to its longstanding efforts to combat disease among the poor. So, in 1943, the Rockefeller Foundation embarked with Mexico’s Ministry of Agriculture on the Mexican Agricultural Project (MAP), starting with an outlay of $20,000 for a survey, followed in 1944 by a $192,800 initial grant. Led by George Harrar (later the foundation’s president), the group included Borlaug and four other agricultural specialists.
“Of them, it was Borlaug who would be credited as the movement’s hero. Born in 1914 in his grandfather’s farmhouse in northeastern Iowa, Borlaug initially studied forestry. Later, he switched to plant pathology at the urging of a mentor who later convinced him to join MAP. Borlaug established winter and summer operations in far-flung parts of Mexico, and he lived close to the land—fighting illness, floods, mudslides, and bad roads.”
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Nonprofits & Government Funding
As we blogged on earlier, reliance on government funding is very risky for nonprofits, and causes them to either curtail whatever private fundraising from individual donors they have been doing, or in more cases than not, they don’t do any at all.
Every year about 80% of all philanthropy comes from individuals and considering that last year about $300 billion was donated, it is obviously the deepest pool of generosity nonprofits need to reach out to, especially smaller organizations.
This article from Pennsylvania reveals the tragedy striking human service nonprofits in that state that are too reliant on government funding.
An excerpt.
“More than half of the midstate's human-service agencies are still feeling the financial impact of last year's state budget impasse.
“Last year, human-service agencies throughout Pennsylvania went almost four months without state aid during the standoff. From July 1 through Oct. 9, state money for day cares, drug and alcohol treatment services, emergency shelters, food banks and more was held up while Gov. Ed Rendell and state lawmakers fought over taxes and spending.
“A statewide survey of nearly 350 agencies conducted by the United Way of Pennsylvania indicates that the impasse hurt social-service agencies at precisely the time when more residents were turning to them for help. Some are still recovering.”
Every year about 80% of all philanthropy comes from individuals and considering that last year about $300 billion was donated, it is obviously the deepest pool of generosity nonprofits need to reach out to, especially smaller organizations.
This article from Pennsylvania reveals the tragedy striking human service nonprofits in that state that are too reliant on government funding.
An excerpt.
“More than half of the midstate's human-service agencies are still feeling the financial impact of last year's state budget impasse.
“Last year, human-service agencies throughout Pennsylvania went almost four months without state aid during the standoff. From July 1 through Oct. 9, state money for day cares, drug and alcohol treatment services, emergency shelters, food banks and more was held up while Gov. Ed Rendell and state lawmakers fought over taxes and spending.
“A statewide survey of nearly 350 agencies conducted by the United Way of Pennsylvania indicates that the impasse hurt social-service agencies at precisely the time when more residents were turning to them for help. Some are still recovering.”
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Nonprofit News & Associated Press
Six months ago the Associated Press made a commitment to bring the investigative journalism being practiced by four of the leading nonprofit news organizations to its 1,500 member news sources.
After that initial period, as reported by the Nieman Journalism Lab, the kinks are still getting worked out, and though the immediate results are still not all that pleasing to the nonprofits, the concept is sound, built on great technology, and will work over time.
An excerpt.
“This summer the Associated Press made a surprise announcement at the Investigative Reporters and Editors conference in Baltimore. As part of a six-month pilot project, the wire service was going to begin distributing content from four top nonprofit news outlets: ProPublica, Center for Public Integrity, Center for Investigative Reporting, and the Investigative Reporting Workshop. It looked like a win all around: Newspapers could run in-depth content from well respected outlets, and nonprofits could broaden their audience.
“This pathbreaking agreement will make an enormous difference in helping us reach the largest possible audience and maximizing the impact of our work,” Robert Rosenthal, the Center for Investigative Reporting’s executive director, said in a statement at the time. “We are deeply appreciative of AP’s commitment to public interest journalism.”
“So how did AP’s experiment go? In conversations with some of the nonprofit participants and the AP, it appears that AP members have used little if any nonprofit content.
“We wish it had gone better,” Bill Buzenberg, executive director of Center for Public Integrity, told me. “They announced it with great fanfare at the IRE conference. They haven’t done the technical backup work to really make it work…They haven’t made it a priority.”
“Buzenberg said he wanted to temper his criticism. “This is a good idea. I’d like it to work,” he said. “The potential of this remains.”
After that initial period, as reported by the Nieman Journalism Lab, the kinks are still getting worked out, and though the immediate results are still not all that pleasing to the nonprofits, the concept is sound, built on great technology, and will work over time.
An excerpt.
“This summer the Associated Press made a surprise announcement at the Investigative Reporters and Editors conference in Baltimore. As part of a six-month pilot project, the wire service was going to begin distributing content from four top nonprofit news outlets: ProPublica, Center for Public Integrity, Center for Investigative Reporting, and the Investigative Reporting Workshop. It looked like a win all around: Newspapers could run in-depth content from well respected outlets, and nonprofits could broaden their audience.
“This pathbreaking agreement will make an enormous difference in helping us reach the largest possible audience and maximizing the impact of our work,” Robert Rosenthal, the Center for Investigative Reporting’s executive director, said in a statement at the time. “We are deeply appreciative of AP’s commitment to public interest journalism.”
“So how did AP’s experiment go? In conversations with some of the nonprofit participants and the AP, it appears that AP members have used little if any nonprofit content.
“We wish it had gone better,” Bill Buzenberg, executive director of Center for Public Integrity, told me. “They announced it with great fanfare at the IRE conference. They haven’t done the technical backup work to really make it work…They haven’t made it a priority.”
“Buzenberg said he wanted to temper his criticism. “This is a good idea. I’d like it to work,” he said. “The potential of this remains.”
Monday, February 22, 2010
Government Funding & Foundations
The tendency to quit raising money through philanthropy, once your nonprofit, or the local mission it represents, starts getting government money, is wide-spread.
A story from New Jersey, as reported by the Randolph Reporter, concerns one such situation.
A foundation, that allowed itself to become dormant, is now ramping up to stave off the severe reduction in government funding.
It is a strategy that should also be replicated elsewhere—including Sacramento—where many nonprofits once founded to serve as fund raising foundations took over other tasks while government funding was plentiful but now that it isn’t, are not prepared to make up the shortage.
Of course, the obvious question is why do foundations established to provide supplemental funding shut down in times of plenty when experience has taught us that times of funding famine always come around.
An excerpt.
“RANDOLPH TWP. -- A local non-profit group has undergone a rebirth of sorts in what organizers hope will help alleviate the sting of Trenton's plan to cut state aid to local schools.
“The Randolph Education Foundation will hold a wine and cheese reception at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow, Friday, Feb. 19, at the Shongum Clubhouse on Shongum Road. Future events, including a 5K run, are also planned, according to a Foundation statement.
“Chair Margaret Clark said the group has three primary goals: To develop alternative funding sources to support “high quality education” in the district; provide funding for “innovative programs that prepare Randolph students for the world of tomorrow; and to celebrate “the many successes experienced by Randolph students and teachers each year.”
“Our state’s existing system for funding public education makes it difficult to provide some desired services and programs," Clarke said. “We need to help our graduates be competitive in today’s world. Faced with decreasing revenues, public school districts not developing new sources of funding will find it increasingly difficult to offer educational excellence and innovative programming.”
“The group is actually the re-birth of an older organization that was formed some time ago but then went dormant, said Board of Education member Jeanne Stifelman.”
A story from New Jersey, as reported by the Randolph Reporter, concerns one such situation.
A foundation, that allowed itself to become dormant, is now ramping up to stave off the severe reduction in government funding.
It is a strategy that should also be replicated elsewhere—including Sacramento—where many nonprofits once founded to serve as fund raising foundations took over other tasks while government funding was plentiful but now that it isn’t, are not prepared to make up the shortage.
Of course, the obvious question is why do foundations established to provide supplemental funding shut down in times of plenty when experience has taught us that times of funding famine always come around.
An excerpt.
“RANDOLPH TWP. -- A local non-profit group has undergone a rebirth of sorts in what organizers hope will help alleviate the sting of Trenton's plan to cut state aid to local schools.
“The Randolph Education Foundation will hold a wine and cheese reception at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow, Friday, Feb. 19, at the Shongum Clubhouse on Shongum Road. Future events, including a 5K run, are also planned, according to a Foundation statement.
“Chair Margaret Clark said the group has three primary goals: To develop alternative funding sources to support “high quality education” in the district; provide funding for “innovative programs that prepare Randolph students for the world of tomorrow; and to celebrate “the many successes experienced by Randolph students and teachers each year.”
“Our state’s existing system for funding public education makes it difficult to provide some desired services and programs," Clarke said. “We need to help our graduates be competitive in today’s world. Faced with decreasing revenues, public school districts not developing new sources of funding will find it increasingly difficult to offer educational excellence and innovative programming.”
“The group is actually the re-birth of an older organization that was formed some time ago but then went dormant, said Board of Education member Jeanne Stifelman.”
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