Communications Strategies to Enhance the Climate of Giving

The methods your nonprofit employs to communicate with your constituents and stakeholders can make or break your fund development program. With so many options available, how do you decide which methods are appropriate for your target audience?

The first step in developing an effective communications plan is to identify the preferred ways in which your constituents wish to be contacted. Develop a brief survey to determine your constituents’ impressions about your printed materials, website, preferred method of receiving information, the frequency at which they expect to receive communications and how they want to communicate back to the organization. Surveys should be sent to representatives of all stakeholder groups.

While the survey is being developed, distributed and responses are compiled, conduct a review of your current marketing materials to evaluate consistency of message and case for support. Review your newsletters, brochures, event announcements, and direct-mail campaign letters. Also review your website and any video and audio marketing you employ.

Another step in evaluating consistency of message and case for support is to hold meetings with all staff involved in the fund development, marketing and public relations efforts. Discuss current fund development goals, processes and procedures related to messaging, language & frequency of printed materials, email and internet, and audio and video communications.

This information will help you better understand current communications strategies and interaction between and collaboration among staff currently communicating with your constituents on varying levels. Discussions should also include cultivation, stewardship & donor recognition plans.

The outcome of this investment of time and effort is a unified communications plan appropriate to your specific constituents and stakeholders and a growing connection to them.

Suzann Stahl, NonProfit Solutions NW 

NonProfit Solutions has developed a communications survey template specific to nonprofit organizations. You can purchase the template for $25 with a request to admin@nonprofitsolutionsnw.com.

Missed Opportunities are Gone Forever

This morning I was at a meeting for our local tourism bureau , which concluded with a discussion about fun and exciting things happening in our community.

One meeting attendee asked about a very large ship that visited the Port of Olympia last weekend.  He and his son were visiting the waterfront and noticed an aging vessel, a bit in disrepair but interesting none the less.  As they approached the ship they were alarmed to have been invited to board and tour the 100-foot long retired Coast Guard tug. 

They had a wonderful time and learned that the vessel is currently being managed by a nonprofit Foundation; however, there was no signage or advertising of any sort displayed to encourage visitors (and perhaps financial support!)  At the very least one would think they could produce a banner that says, “Come On Down!”

What have you done lately to attract new visitors to your ship?

Discussion Question of the Week

How does social media enhance the effectiveness of your nonprofit work?

Tip$ and Treasure$ Weekly 5-08-09

Every week we publish a newsletter that contains relevant information for staff, board members and volunteers of nonprofit organizations in the south Puget Sound area of Washington state.  Sometimes we write our own lead article, but we also like to share information we come across by other authors.

Karyn Greenstreet at www.passionforbusiness.com is one of our favorites.  Karyn offers practical advice that can be used in multiple types of businesses. 

Here’s the article we included in the last Tip$ and Treasure$ Weekly.  (If you’re interested in looking at previous publications you can view them at www.nonprofitsolutionsnw.com/enews.html.  We’ve been doing this for a couple of years now, so there are quite a few!)

THE 60 SECOND NEWSLETTER

By Karyn Greenstreet

Do you spend too much time writing your newsletter each month?

Do your readers actually read it…or is it too long?

These days your customers are time-constrained. There’s always too much to do, too many appointments, too many tasks. Finding time to read your newsletter may be asking too much.
 
Enter the “60-Second Newsletter” concept.
 
Imagine that you could promise that your readers can get through your newsletter in 60 seconds or less. How exciting is that? Then they’d read every issue you send out.

Often business owners don’t publish a newsletter because they feel it’s too time-consuming to write full articles, especially if writing is not your passion. But if you committed yourself to writing a micro-newsletter, it’s not too daunting and you can easily find the time and motivation to get it done on a regular basis.

You can do this via your mailing list, or via your blog. Remember, the point of doing a newsletter is to have regular communication with the people who have expressed interest in your products and services. They key word here is “regular” communication, so whichever timeframe you want to send a newsletter (weekly, monthly, quarterly), keep to your schedule. The 60-second newsletter should help you keep on track with regular communications to your customers.

When writing your newsletter, ask yourself, “How can I make this something readable in 60 seconds or less?” Here are some ideas:

Use bullet points for easy reading
Create a quick-list of resources
Give them one simple tip or action item
Use audio (podcast) instead of a written newsletter
Teach them how to do one task more efficiently
Write up an important item from the news
Give them a piece of advice about handling a specific situation
Write a “Top 10″ list on an interesting topic
Include a motivational quotation
Give a link to a longer article
Suggest a blog you love

Keep a list of ideas for your newsletter. You may be driving to the dentist or taking a shower — and POW, a newsletter idea pops into your head. Write them all down. This list will help shorten the time to create your newsletter, another added bonus! 

Let’s Start a Community Discussion

Welcome to the new NonProfit Solutions BLOG!

We’re just starting to build content so there isn’t much here just yet, but we hope you will come back again and again. Let’s start our community discussion with this question….

If you could rub a Genie’s lamp and wish for one thing for your organization, what would it be???

Grow your Nonprofit using Social Media

with the Definitive Social Media Planner

Presented by Janet Ott and Joan Hitchens

Are you confused about social media?  Would you like a stronger relationship with your current donors and prospective investors?  Do you want to reach them more effectively?

This hands-on workshops takes you through five steps for defining your organization, identifying your customers and creating your personalized plan of action to utilize low-cost online social media.

WHEN: May 16, 9:00 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.

WHERE: Indian Summer Golf & Country Club, Olympia, WA

REGISTER: $97 per person includes The Definitive Social Media Planner and lunch.  Call 360.943.7176.

A Co-opetive Solution for Nonprofits in Hard Times

SolutionsNOW! Consulting, a subsidiary of Nonprofit Solutions NW, is a network of independent nonprofit consultants working together to offer strategic, workable solutions for their clients.

SolutionsNOW! Consulting members help nonprofits take a step back in this difficult environment, clearly assess their needs, and develop strategies for planning their futures. Consulting group members have collective experience that spans several decades and past economic downturns so they can quickly evaluate your situation and suggest solid solutions.

SolutionsNOW! Consulting demonstrates how efficiency in planning and thoughtful partnership alignment can achieve better results than doing it all alone.

If you are an independent consultant interested in learning more about or joining the SolutionsNOW! Consulting group send an email to info@solutionsnowconsulting.com or call 360.352.0060.

Announcing the Stargazer Club!

In a recent survey of nonprofit organizations in the South Puget Sound area, NonProfit Solutions learned that 72% of the respondents “would be more likely to take advantage of outsourced services if there was a more economical way of doing so”.

NonProfit Solutions NW has addressed this need by designing an economical membership plan called the Stargazer Club. It is a great way for non-profit organizations to economically outsource the important development activities faced by many organizations today!

If you are looking to find a way to affordably invest in outside consulting services to assist your organization with strategic planning, fundraising and feasibility studies, or organizational assessments, NonProfit Solutions has designed the perfect membership plan for you.

The Stargazer Club is designed to provide an efficient, simple, affordable way to turn budget friendly investments into a bank of consulting time that can be used for a variety of important services.

To learn more go to www.nonprofitsolutionsnw.com/stargazer

Suzann Stahl, NonProfit Solutions NW

Tip$ and Treasure$ Weekly 05-01-09

In this Post

• Keep Dire Talk Out of Fund-Raising Letters 
• Workshops, Events, Seminars and More!  
• Open Positions
• Fundraising Opportunities
• Quote of the Day

Keep Dire Talk Out of Fund-Raising Letters

As the recession continues to squeeze donations to nonprofit organizations, fund raisers are feeling increased pressure to refer to their economic hardships in their written appeals to donors.

But is it really a smart idea to mention the recession in fund-raising letters?
Two prominent direct-mail fund raising experts answer that question with a resounding “no”. 

“I strongly recommend that you do not complain about how hard the recession is impacting your organization,” said Mal Warwick, a consultant and author of the new book Fundraising When Money Is Tight: A Strategic and Practical Guide to Surviving Tough Times and Thriving in the Future. 

Instead, Mr. Warwick told participants in today’s Chronicle live discussion on direct-mail appeals to focus their letters on what they’re doing to adapt to the tough times. 

To view the article in its entirety, go to The Chronicle of Philanthropy website.

- Article by Peter Panepento
Tuesday April 28, 2009

 Workshops, Events, Seminars and More!  

Nonprofit Solutions’ Table Topics Series presents

An Overview of Social Media: Using On-line Networking to Create Connection

Featuring Janet Ott, Ph.D

Internet Marketing Consultant, Transform Life & Financial Coaching

 Social Media sites have multiplied lately, and more and more people are flocking to them.
 
Should you? It depends. Looking first at who you want to connect with, and what information you want to impart will help you determine both the strategy and which social media make the most sense to spend time with.
 
We’ll cover the different social media, and how best to use each and the basic of integrating them to best serve you, your clients, customers and donors.
 
WHEN:
Thursday, May 28, 2009 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 
WHERE: 
Greene Realty Conference Room
1722 Harrison Ave. NW 
Olympia, WA 98502 
COST:  $25 per person, includes lunch

Payment and registration required before May 25, 2009.
 
Please send your check to:
NonProfit Solutions NW
1824 Black Lake Blvd. SW Ste. 101
Olympia, WA, 98512
 
OR call to charge to MasterCard, Visa, Discover or American Express 
360.866.3638

 Fundraising Opportunities

 The Wave Carwash is pleased to announce their new Fund Raising Participation Program.  They welcome the opportunity to support the efforts of our local nonprofit and charity organizations.

No more standing out in a parking lot waving cars in off the road!  This program involves selling basic wash cards for whatever you feel your market will bear.  It’s possible to raise substantial dollars in a short period of time. 

 Board members, staff, volunteers…everyone can be involved!

 Call Katharine M. Opitz, the owner of The Wave Carwash in Hawks Prairie, Lacey and Centralia, WA for more details. 360.481.2496  

Quote of the Day

 ”Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover”

 – MARK TWAIN

Let’s Start a Community Discussion

Welcome to the new NonProfit Solutions BLOG!

We’re just starting to build content so there isn’t much here just yet, but we hope you will come back again and again.  

 

Let’s start our community discussion with this question….

 

If you could rub a Genie’s lamp and wish for one thing for your organization, what would it be???