Eight Internet Tips for Nonprofits

The internet offers a dizzying array of sites and services for nonprofit organizations. Here are a few worth checking out:

• SwipeGood rounds up debit or credit card purchases to the nearest dollar and allows your supporters to donate the difference: https://swipegood.com/

• eScrip is a resource for fundraising for nonprofits serving youth. Your supporters just have to sign up, choose your organization, and register any one or all of their existing credit, debit and/or grocery cards: http://www.escrip.com/ 

• Causes makes it easy for users to ask their friends (via Facebook) to donate to your nonprofit on birthdays and holidays: http://www.causes.com/

• eBay Giving Works allows sellers on the site to contribute to your organization. As well, eBay users can select a favorite nonprofit which then receives a $1 donation every time they make a transaction: http://www.ebaygivingworks.com/nonprofit-info.html

• GreatNonprofits is an online "Zagat" for nonprofits; folks can find, review, and share information about great nonprofits on the site:  http://greatnonprofits.org/about/

• Yelp has become the place folks look for feedback on local businesses - and the site does indeed include nonprofits. Encourage your supporters to write a laudatory review:  http://www.yelp.com/

• Google for Nonprofits provides access to products and resources to help you expand impact and increase traffic to your website. It also includes a designated nonprofit channel on YouTube:  http://www.google.com/nonprofits/ 

• Google, Bing, and Yahoo are the most-used browsers on the internet. Make sure people can find you there - search for "submit your site" along with the appropriate browser name and follow the directions.

It's easy to feel overwhelmed by the internet and all it has to offer, but strategic use of its resources can be powerful in increasing outreach and raising dollars for your work.

Jokes for Fundraisers

Feeling like your fundraising work rivals that of Sisyphus, the Greek king who was condemned to rolling an immense boulder up a hill only to watch it roll back down - and repeat this through all eternity? Then perhaps it's time to take a break and enjoy a few of my favorite jokes:

     A hurricane blew across the Caribbean. It didn't take long for the expensive yacht to be swamped by high waves, sinking without a trace. There were only two survivors who managed to swim to the closest island - the boat owner Dr. Eskin and his steward Benny. After reaching the deserted strip of land, Benny started crying. Dr. Eskin, however, seemed completely unperturbed as he relaxed on the beach.

     "Dr. Eskin, how can you be so calm?" cried Benny. "We're going to die on this lonely island. We'll never be discovered here."

     "Sit down and listen to what I have to say, Benny," began the confident Dr. Eskin. "Five years ago, I gave the United Way $500,000 and another $500,000 went to Stanford University. I donated the same amount four years ago. Three years ago, since I did so well in the stock market, I contributed $750,000 to each. Last year business was even better, so the two charities each got a million dollars."

     "So what?" shouted the frustrated Benny.

     "Well, it's time for their annual fund drives, and I know they're going to find me," replied Dr. Eskin.

     A visitor to Israel attended a recital and concert at the Moscovitz Auditorium. He was quite impressed with the architecture and the acoustics. He inquired of the tour guide, "Is this magnificent auditorium named after Chaim Moscovitz, the famous Talmudic scholar?"

     "No," replied the guide. "It is named after Sam Moscovitz, the writer."

     "Never heard of him. What did he write?"

     "A check," replied the guide.

     At a circus, the strongman Hercules startles everyone with magnificent feats of strength, lifting hundreds of pounds over his head and putting a fist through a solid wall. For his final act, he takes a lemon and squeezes it. At first, the juice dribbles out quickly, then it slows down, and finally not a single drop comes out. The circus manager steps forward and says, "I will personally give anyone who can squeeze even one more drop from this lemon two hundred dollars." Two large men step forward. Each one squeezes the lemon with all his might, but not a drop comes out,

     "Does anyone else want to try?" the manager asks.

     A short, slightly built man steps forward. People in the crowd snicker. The man picks up the lemon and squeezes. Juice gushes out. The manager is stunned. He steps forward with the cash, but as he hands the money over, he can't resist asking, "Who are you? What do you do?"

     "Seymour Goldstein," the man replies. "I'm a fundraiser for the United Jewish Appeal."

Have any good fundraising or nonprofit jokes of your own? I'd love to add them to my collection! Email with your best at cjay@horizoncable.com

Fundraising Do's and Don'ts

Fundraising isn't rocket science - but there are some very important guidelines to keep in mind as you work to build donor relationships and raise the funds necessary to support your nonprofit services.

Don't:

• Blindside your prospective donors. Most folks who care about your cause will be open to a fundraising ask - but not if you make a cold call, invite them to a donor party without telling them its purpose, or shanghai them unexpectedly in the supermarket. A serious and ethical fundraising ask will be preceded by a thoughtful process that includes getting to know the donor, establishing rapport, and sending a well-written solicitation letter, all prior to arranging a personal phone call or meeting.

• Bombard donors with endless appeals. You've all had the unfortunate experience of receiving constant and repetitive solicitations via phone, direct mail, or email. Besides being irritating and intrusive, it often results in the loss of donor support, even when the donor actually believes passionately in your cause. Nonprofits can - and should - regularly ask for donations, but you need to develop a reasonable schedule that will not drive people away.

• Ignore their expressed wishes. Pay attention when donors specify how and when they wish to be contacted. And when a donor requests anonymity, be meticulous in honoring his/her privacy. Organize your database to track this information and be sure to carry information forward when there are staff changes.

Do:

• Know your donors. Do your homework! Find out which of your services are closest to their hearts; keep track of events they attend; know their giving history.

• Communicate honestly and efficiently. Stay in touch with important news and updates about your clients, programs, and services - not just through solicitation letters. Let them know about your achievements, but also let them know if your agency is experiencing serious financial difficulties, significant staff changes, and/or re-thinking its mission. Invite their feedback as you work to improve services and plan for the future.

• Thank them promptly and often. Always thank a donor immediately for all donations with a letter including the approved IRS language, plus a person note, sent via first class mail - and proofread to be sure you have the correct salutation, amount, and method of payment. But don't just stop there; continue to thank and communicate with your donors throughout the year using email, newsletters, letters, postcards, published donor lists, thank you phone-a-thons, and an annual donor appreciation event.

Ethical fundraising is not just about money; it's about developing long-term partnerships in support of your nonprofit mission. Just as you would with a business of life partner, take the time to nurture these important relationships. Treating your donors with care will pay off both for your organization and yourself.