Fundraising for Small Groups Newsletter

Use Regular Events to Increase Your Nonprofits Visibility by Gregory Burrus

To help clarify the purpose of your nonprofits mission and to elicit maximum support, membership should understand that every meeting or event that occurs in front of the public is important. Simply put it is a chance to get the word out and build support for your nonprofit's causes. To help with that thinking, here are 12 reasons to always make the most of each event.

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Tips for Managing Your Small Nonprofit Organization by Steve Novak

Many people are involved with helping small, nonprofit organizations, in a variety of roles. Organizations range from semi-organized children's sports teams, to local chapters of professional societies, to well-established charitable service providers. The range of organization and management varies as well, from seat-of-the-pants, one or two people overwhelmed from doing the bulk of the work, to professionally managed with paid staff, and everything in between. Here are some tips to help you and your organization become more effective and successful.

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Technology - 5 Signs Your Non Profit Needs Technical Help by A. J. Maddox

When your plumbing is in need of repair, chances are you don't call your family doctor- you call a plumber, right?! It wouldn't make sense to call the doctor to fix your plumbing, but many nonprofits are doing just that when dealing with their technology requirements. If the staff are consulting with the CEO regarding a printer that isn't working or a slower than usual internet connection, that's almost as crazy as calling the doctor in to repair the pipes. Here are 5 obvious signs your non-profit needs serious technical help:

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How to Write Inspirational Articles for Nonprofit Newsletters by Kivi Leroux Miller

Inspirational articles were once limited to self-help and religious publications, but they are just about everywhere now. (Think about those wildly popular Chicken Soup books or most of the stories in Reader's Digest, for example.) Inspirational articles can be very useful in newsletters, because they make a human connection between the newsletter publisher and the reader.

Well-written inspirational articles move people emotionally and motivate them to do something or to make a change of some sort. Nonprofit organizations can use these articles to motivate readers to volunteer, write letters of support, or make a donation. Businesses can use inspirational articles to create a positive public image, build brand loyalty, and encourage repeat business.

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How Nonprofit Organizations Compete by Kelly Robbins

According to the book Successful Marketing Strategies for Nonprofit Organization by Barry McLeish, nonprofit groups compete with each other in roughly four areas: quality of programs or technology, positioning of programs or products, quality of support services and price. Let's take a look at each of these areas and compare them with regard to how a for-profit company competes.

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Freecycle for Nonprofits Too by Deane Brengle

"In Kind Donation" has taken on a whole new meaning with the advent of Freecycle.

Is your nonprofit in need of items and short on money? A fax machine for the office? A kitchen table for the break room? Or perhaps you need items for your constituents? Clothing? Household items? Or you're a teacher in need of classroom supplies?

Freecycle may be able to help.

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Smart Fundraisers Know and Love their Donors by Marte Cliff

Do you know who your donors are? Do you know how much they gave last time? Do you know how much they've given over the years?

If you've got good record-keeping practices in place, you do know - and you tailor your messages to them accordingly.

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How to Record, Edit, and Promote Your Nonprofit's Podcast by Karen Soloman

Use podcasting to help spread your organization's message -

Nonprofits are discovering that podcasting - a method of distributing audio files over the Internet for playback on computers or portable audio players - is a useful, affordable way for organizations to expand their reach and further their missions.

Although, as with any type of online content, there is a learning curve, podcasts can deepen your relationship with your constituents and help attract a larger audience to your cause - particularly if you're trying to reach a younger, more tech-savvy demographic.

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Seven Ways Nonprofits Can Use Podcasts by Britt Bravo

Interested in creating a podcast for your nonprofit, but not sure what kind of content would be appropriate podcasting material? In this article, which was modified from a post that first appeared on the NetSquared Blog, writer Britt Bravo offers suggestions for creating compelling podcasts out of your everyday work.

A 2005 study by thePEW Internet & American Life Project found that more than 22 million American adults own iPods or MP3 players and 29 percent of them have downloaded podcasts from the Web. "That amounts to more than six million adults who have tried this new feature that allows Internet 'broadcasts' to be downloaded onto their portable listening device," the study noted.

After the initial investment in recording equipment, the only cost to creating a podcast at your organization is staff time. Podcasts aren't for everyone, but they are worth considering because you can't get more intimate with potential supporters than talking in their ear — literally!

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Saving for a Rainy Day by Deane Brengle

I don't have to be a weatherman to predict that someday it's going to rain on your nonprofit. And it's going to rain hard!

I don't mean literally. No, I mean you're going to have something happen to your nonprofit that devastates your operating account balance.

• Like a terrorist attack (didn't 9-11 affect your fundraising?).
• Or a scandal (your president or executive director who raises most of your funds is involved in a horrific crime).
• Or a thief (someone in your organization embezzles funds ... most of them).
• Or your area has a natural disaster ....

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Leadership Tips for Fundraisers by the Booster Clubs of America

As a member of your organizations board of directors you have been chosen by your peers as a leader in the club. Possibly you have just been elected or you may be an "old hand." In either case your job is an important one with much responsibility.

The function of the board of directors is to establish and review major policy and plans of the group. Board members have specific legal and fiscal responsibilities to the members of the club, depending upon the degree and level of your club's organization.

Your job as a board member will involve working cooperatively with your president, your fellow board members, and club members.

This brochure is designed to help you achieve goals as a booster board member.