NPA 095: How to Track Grants, Donations & Program Expenses

Are you scared of video? No, really… if I told you to make a video for your Facebook page, would you panic? In this podcast, I talk with Katie Prentiss Onsager from SmallForces.org. They offer professional video services and impact tracking for people and organizations making a difference in their communities at no cost to them. She walks us through –  How to find your story How to tell your story How to use and promote your video  Katie typically produces documentary-style videos that amplify the voices of people working to solve creative problems. These videos are great for gala events, social media platforms and donor meetings. If you want to tell a better story using video then this podcast is a great listen. Resources Website: SmallForces.orgThe post NPA 094 – How to Use Video Effectively first appeared on Nonprofit Ally.

Are you scared of video? No, really… if I told you to make a video for your Facebook page, would you panic? In this podcast, I talk with Katie Prentiss Onsager from <a href="http://smallforces.thetellingwell.org/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">SmallForces.org</a>. They offer professional video services and impact tracking for people and organizations making a difference in their communities at no cost to them. She walks us through – <ol> <li>How to find your story</li> <li>How to tell your story</li> <li>How to use and promote your video</li> </ol> Katie typically produces documentary-style videos that amplify the voices of people working to solve creative problems. These videos are great for gala events, social media platforms and donor meetings. If you want to tell a better story using video then this podcast is a great listen. <h3>Resources</h3> Website:<a href="http://smallforces.thetellingwell.org/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank"> SmallForces.org</a>The post <a href="https://nonprofitally.com/how-to-use-video-effectively/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">NPA 094 – How to Use Video Effectively</a> first appeared on <a href="https://nonprofitally.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nonprofit Ally</a>.

NPA 094 – How to Use Video Effectively

Everything is “video, video, video”. Really – 80% of all internet consumption is video. So, if you are not using video you are behind the game. The problem is video can be a technical and creative hurdle. And hiring an expert can be a financial hurdle. That is where my guest, Harry McAlister, from AmpleEarth.com comes in. Harry helps nonprofits connect with video producers for an affordable price. Here is how it works. There are 63,000 video producers on the internet, and millions more freelancers. If you want the perfect video, you have to find the perfect team, right? The problem is each producer has their own prices, styles, speed, quality and value for money. So how do you find the best people when there’s so many to choose from? Expert video-makers often have the spare time, money and energy to work on low budget projects – but only if it’s a cause they feel inspired to help. This means people making positive change in the world can expect a higher quality final video. Simply put: the greater your impact, the greater your video. How does this work? Just listen to this podcast for more information. Resources Everything you need is at: AmpleEarth.com Also mentioned in this podcast: StartSomeGood.comThe post NPA 093: Making Change with Video first appeared on Nonprofit Ally.

Everything is “video, video, video”. Really – 80% of all internet consumption is video. So, if you are not using video you are behind the game. The problem is video can be a technical and creative hurdle. And hiring an expert can be a financial hurdle. That is where my guest, Harry McAlister, from <a href="http://ampleearth.com" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">AmpleEarth.com</a> comes in. Harry helps nonprofits connect with video producers for an affordable price. Here is how it works. There are 63,000 video producers on the internet, and millions more freelancers. If you want the perfect video, you have to find the perfect team, right? The problem is each producer has their own prices, styles, speed, quality and value for money. So how do you find the best people when there’s so many to choose from? Expert video-makers often have the spare time, money and energy to work on low budget projects – but only if it’s a cause they feel inspired to help. This means people making positive change in the world can expect a higher quality final video. Simply put: the greater your impact, the greater your video. How does this work? Just listen to this podcast for more information. <h3>Resources</h3> Everything you need is at: <a href="http://ampleearth.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">AmpleEarth.com</a> Also mentioned in this podcast: <a href="https://startsomegood.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">StartSomeGood.com</a>The post <a href="https://nonprofitally.com/making-change-with-video/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">NPA 093: Making Change with Video</a> first appeared on <a href="https://nonprofitally.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nonprofit Ally</a>.

NPA 093: Making Change with Video

In this episode I talk with Adam Capes from GetAway2Give about how he helps nonprofit raise $10,000’s with auctions. Adam Capes is the Co-Founder and President of Getaway2Give, a company changing the way non-profits raise money and people think about vacations. Their mission is to be the best in the country at helping charities and schools raise money, and they’ve helped raise over $10M so far. Adam began his journey to being a Social Entrepreneur as co-founder and president of a luxury residence fund called Equity Estates. This fund was one of many playing in the crowded destination club space and one of the few that survived the economic downturn. Adam helped raise $60M for this unique equity-based fund where members own the homes they vacation in. At one prestigious gala in Aspen, Colorado, Adam had an “Aha” moment and decided to start Getaway2Give to help change the worlds of fundraising and vacations. Adam says, “At Getaway2Give, we’re incredibly passionate about two things – helping charities raise significant money and the lasting importance and memories made from meaningful vacation experiences.” Resource Just for NP Ally Listeners: getaway2give.net/Nonprofit Main Website: www.getaway2give.netThe post NPA 092: How to Really Raise Money with Auctions first appeared on Nonprofit Ally.

In this episode I talk with Adam Capes from <a href="http://www.getaway2give.net/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">GetAway2Give</a> about how he helps nonprofit raise $10,000’s with auctions. Adam Capes is the Co-Founder and President of Getaway2Give, a company changing the way non-profits raise money and people think about vacations. Their mission is to be the best in the country at helping charities and schools raise money, and they’ve helped raise over $10M so far. Adam began his journey to being a Social Entrepreneur as co-founder and president of a luxury residence fund called Equity Estates. This fund was one of many playing in the crowded destination club space and one of the few that survived the economic downturn. Adam helped raise $60M for this unique equity-based fund where members own the homes they vacation in. At one prestigious gala in Aspen, Colorado, Adam had an “Aha” moment and decided to start Getaway2Give to help change the worlds of fundraising and vacations. Adam says, “At Getaway2Give, we’re incredibly passionate about two things – helping charities raise significant money and the lasting importance and memories made from meaningful vacation experiences.” <h3>Resource</h3> Just for NP Ally Listeners: <a href="http://www.getaway2give.net/Nonprofit/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">getaway2give.net/Nonprofit</a> Main Website: <a href="http://www.getaway2give.net/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">www.getaway2give.net</a>The post <a href="https://nonprofitally.com/how-to-raise-money-with-auctions/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">NPA 092: How to Really Raise Money with Auctions</a> first appeared on <a href="https://nonprofitally.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nonprofit Ally</a>.

NPA 092: How to Really Raise Money with Auctions

In this episode, we talk about how to obtain emergency funding for your existing programs. I talk with Caroline Bressan from Open Road Alliance. They are a private philanthropic initiative that serves the social sector by keeping impact on track in an unpredictable world. Open Road Alliance provides short- and long-term solutions to unexpected challenges that arise during project implementation, so that impact and finite resources can be maximized across the social sector. To meet immediate needs, we offer fast, flexible funding to nonprofits and social enterprises facing discrete, unexpected roadblocks during project implementation. We fund via two portfolios, Charitable Grants and Loans. Open Road Loans are below market-rate and disbursed via our loan fund, Open Road Ventures. Open Road sees every grant and loan it makes as an investment for social impact. Our funding model is based on speed and financial leverage. In addition to our investment portfolio, Open Road promotes the long-term, sector-wide adoption of better risk management practices. In collaboration with peers, we conduct research, develop tools, and generate data on approaches to financial and non-financial risk management. By disseminating learnings and advocating for the adoption of best practices, Open Road is working to make risk management as commonplace in philanthropy as monitoring and evaluation; ultimately, preserving finite resources and social impact in our sector. RESOURCES Website: openroadalliance.org LinkedIn: linkedin.com/open-road-alliance Risk Management Resources: openroadalliance.org/advocacyThe post NPA 091: 911 Funding for Nonprofits first appeared on Nonprofit Ally.

In this episode, we talk about how to obtain emergency funding for your existing programs. I talk with Caroline Bressan from <a href="https://openroadalliance.org/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Open Road Alliance</a>. They are a private philanthropic initiative that serves the social sector by keeping impact on track in an unpredictable world. Open Road Alliance provides short- and long-term solutions to unexpected challenges that arise during project implementation, so that impact and finite resources can be maximized across the social sector. To meet immediate needs, we offer fast, flexible funding to nonprofits and social enterprises facing discrete, unexpected roadblocks during project implementation. We fund via two portfolios, Charitable Grants and Loans. Open Road Loans are below market-rate and disbursed via our loan fund, Open Road Ventures. Open Road sees every grant and loan it makes as an investment for social impact. Our funding model is based on speed and financial leverage. In addition to our investment portfolio, Open Road promotes the long-term, sector-wide adoption of better risk management practices. In collaboration with peers, we conduct research, develop tools, and generate data on approaches to financial and non-financial risk management. By disseminating learnings and advocating for the adoption of best practices, Open Road is working to make risk management as commonplace in philanthropy as monitoring and evaluation; ultimately, preserving finite resources and social impact in our sector. <h3>RESOURCES</h3> Website: <a href="https://openroadalliance.org/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">openroadalliance.org</a> LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/open-road-alliance" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">linkedin.com/open-road-alliance</a> Risk Management Resources: <a href="https://openroadalliance.org/advocacy/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">openroadalliance.org/advocacy</a>The post <a href="https://nonprofitally.com/911-funding-for-nonprofits/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">NPA 091: 911 Funding for Nonprofits</a> first appeared on <a href="https://nonprofitally.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nonprofit Ally</a>.

NPA 091: 911 Funding for Nonprofits

My guest on this podcast is Jesse Lane with Pure Charity. Jesse talks with us about nonprofit “innovation” and how it can be used to spark new ideas and build sustainable programs that grow through changing times. Pure Charity works with thousands of nonprofit organizations who are working on challenging global and local problems. They exist to help these world-changers fulfill their mission. They focus on two areas, technology &amp; strategy.  Their software provides the technological support to save nonprofits time and money, fundraise faster, and focus more time on what matters most. Their team of experts provides constant support, helpful resources, and strategic consulting to empower nonprofit leaders.  Jesse also talks with about the “State of Good” report that Pure Charity published. It is an in-depth report focusing on how nonprofits view their own place within the nonprofit sector. RESOURCE Website: Pure Charity Report: State of GoodThe post NPA 090: How to be an Innovative Nonprofit first appeared on Nonprofit Ally.

My guest on this podcast is Jesse Lane with <a href="https://go.purecharity.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Pure Charity</a>. Jesse talks with us about nonprofit “innovation” and how it can be used to spark new ideas and build sustainable programs that grow through changing times. Pure Charity works with thousands of nonprofit organizations who are working on challenging global and local problems. They exist to help these world-changers fulfill their mission. They focus on two areas, technology &amp; strategy. <ol> <li>Their software provides the technological support to save nonprofits time and money, fundraise faster, and focus more time on what matters most.</li> <li>Their team of experts provides constant support, helpful resources, and strategic consulting to empower nonprofit leaders.</li> </ol> Jesse also talks with about the <a href="https://purecharity.org/ally/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">“State of Good”</a> report that Pure Charity published. It is an in-depth report focusing on how nonprofits view their own place within the nonprofit sector. RESOURCE Website: <a href="https://go.purecharity.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Pure Charity</a> Report: <a href="https://purecharity.org/ally/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">State of Good</a>The post <a href="https://nonprofitally.com/be-an-innovative-nonprofit/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">NPA 090: How to be an Innovative Nonprofit</a> first appeared on <a href="https://nonprofitally.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nonprofit Ally</a>.

NPA 090: How to be an Innovative Nonprofit

In this episode, I talk with Michael Rivera from Jee Foods. Michael is part of a group of high school students who started a nonprofit to help the hungry in their area. The program is an initiative to discover new models for alleviating hunger throughout the world.JEE Foods is a Non-Profit Organization which has partnered with local grocers and companies like Kroger and Shared Harvest to collect food that would otherwise be wasted.  We reprocess and redistribute these donations in the form of economically priced meals.  We also provide employees and volunteers with training and certification.  These unique aspects of JEE Foods help us reach our goal of Breaking the Cycle of Poverty and Starving Out Hunger.JEE Foods was started through a first-year program called Global Classroom Steam Challenge organized by Samsung. The team from Ross High School was assigned a partner team from KSA of KAIST in Busan, South Korea. The group was prompted to develop solutions for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 1 and 2: No Poverty, and Zero Hunger. The group, through collaborative efforts, decided that the main issues surrounding poverty and hunger are Jobs, Education, and Economy, hence our name JEE Foods.About MichaelMichael Rivera is the Chief Executive Officer for JEE Foods. He is a Junior at Butler Tech Ross High School and is active in his community. After high school, Michael plans on majoring in business and minoring in pharmaceutical sciences.Resources Website: www.jeefoods.com Facebook: facebook.com/jeefoods Twitter: twitter.com/JeeFoods  The post NPA 089 – Smart Start Your Nonprofit first appeared on Nonprofit Ally.

In this episode, I talk with Michael Rivera from Jee Foods. Michael is part of a group of high school students who started a nonprofit to help the hungry in their area. The program is an initiative to discover new models for alleviating hunger throughout the world.JEE Foods is a Non-Profit Organization which has partnered with local grocers and companies like Kroger and Shared Harvest to collect food that would otherwise be wasted.  We reprocess and redistribute these donations in the form of economically priced meals.  We also provide employees and volunteers with training and certification.  These unique aspects of JEE Foods help us reach our goal of Breaking the Cycle of Poverty and Starving Out Hunger. JEE Foods was started through a first-year program called Global Classroom Steam Challenge organized by Samsung. The team from Ross High School was assigned a partner team from KSA of KAIST in Busan, South Korea. The group was prompted to develop solutions for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 1 and 2: No Poverty, and Zero Hunger. The group, through collaborative efforts, decided that the main issues surrounding poverty and hunger are Jobs, Education, and Economy, hence our name JEE Foods. <h3>About Michael</h3>Michael Rivera is the Chief Executive Officer for JEE Foods. He is a Junior at Butler Tech Ross High School and is active in his community. After high school, Michael plans on majoring in business and minoring in pharmaceutical sciences. <h3>Resources</h3> Website: <a href="http://www.jeefoods.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">www.jeefoods.com</a> Facebook: <a href="https://facebook.com/jeefoods" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">facebook.com/jeefoods</a> Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/JeeFoods" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">twitter.com/JeeFoods</a>  The post <a href="https://nonprofitally.com/smart-start-your-nonprofit/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">NPA 089 – Smart Start Your Nonprofit</a> first appeared on <a href="https://nonprofitally.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nonprofit Ally</a>.

NPA 089 – Smart Start Your Nonprofit

In this episode, I talk with Kate Hayes from Echoing Green. We talk about the importance of creating diversity on your board as well as how to help your board work better as a team. According to a survey by BoardSource, a research and support organization for nonprofit boards, 25 percent of boards are all white, and only 20% of board members are people of color. Yet, most nonprofit leaders and board chairs desire to have boards that are more diverse–not only racially, but in terms of gender, socioeconomic status, age, experience, and so on. In order to reconcile this desire with reality, creating intentional plans for diversifying nonprofit boards is essential. Further, we know that boards – and teams – that are more diverse actually perform better. About Kate Kate oversees programming for a dynamic group of emerging business leaders who are dedicated to realizing their full potential as agents of social change. Prior to joining Echoing Green, she worked as Director of Evaluation and Program Impact in the national office of Minds Matter, where she developed new systems and methods for evaluating organizational success. While at Minds Matter, she led several new initiatives for engaging alumni, scaling the organization, and training 1,700 skills-based volunteers across the United States. Kate currently sits on the Executive Committee at the Northfield Mount Hermon School, where she also serves as Chair of the Young Alumni Committee. She holds a degree in Behavioral Neuroscience from Northeastern University. RESOURCES Website: https://www.echoinggreen.org/ Email: kate@echoinggreen.org Download Podcast Slidedeck	 The post NPA 088: An Audio Board Training first appeared on Nonprofit Ally.

In this episode, I talk with Kate Hayes from <a href="https://www.echoinggreen.org/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Echoing Green</a>. We talk about the importance of creating diversity on your board as well as how to help your board work better as a team. According to a survey by BoardSource, a research and support organization for nonprofit boards, 25 percent of boards are all white, and only 20% of board members are people of color. Yet, most nonprofit leaders and board chairs desire to have boards that are more diverse–not only racially, but in terms of gender, socioeconomic status, age, experience, and so on. In order to reconcile this desire with reality, creating intentional plans for diversifying nonprofit boards is essential. Further, we know that boards – and teams – that are more diverse actually perform better. About Kate Kate oversees programming for a dynamic group of emerging business leaders who are dedicated to realizing their full potential as agents of social change. Prior to joining Echoing Green, she worked as Director of Evaluation and Program Impact in the national office of Minds Matter, where she developed new systems and methods for evaluating organizational success. While at Minds Matter, she led several new initiatives for engaging alumni, scaling the organization, and training 1,700 skills-based volunteers across the United States. Kate currently sits on the Executive Committee at the Northfield Mount Hermon School, where she also serves as Chair of the Young Alumni Committee. She holds a degree in Behavioral Neuroscience from Northeastern University. <h3>RESOURCES</h3> Website: <a href="http://www.echoinggreen.org" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.echoinggreen.org/</a> Email: <a href="mailto:kate@echoinggreen.org" rel="noopener">kate@echoinggreen.org</a> <a href="https://nonprofitally.com/wp-content/uploads/board-diversity-kate-hayes.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Download Podcast Slidedeck</a> 	 The post <a href="https://nonprofitally.com/an-audio-board-training/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">NPA 088: An Audio Board Training</a> first appeared on <a href="https://nonprofitally.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nonprofit Ally</a>.

NPA 088: An Audio Board Training

In this episode I speak with Rosenna Bakari from Talking Trees. It is a nonprofit she started back in 2010 and just recently devoted full-time hours to help the organization become sustainable. We talk about her journey starting the nonprofit, where she is now and her plans to grow her organization. We also, talk about her new book and how that new book is helping raise awareness about Talking Trees. Here is more info on Rosenna: Rosenna Bakari is a scholar, motivational speaker, and social advocate. She earned her Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Northern Colorado in 2000. She earned her Master’s degree in Counseling from the State University of New York and her undergraduate degree in psychology from Cornell University. Dr. Bakari is the founder and executive director of Talking Trees, an empowerment organization for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse. She is also launching a new “We2” movement to bring survivor and listeners together to break the silence of sexual abuse. In addition to her organization work, she hosts a monthly open mic to share her transformational poetry and offer a platform for community members to share their passion and pain. Resources Her new book – Too Much Love is Not Enough Website – rosennabakari.com Website – talkingtreessurvivors.com Facebook – www.facebook.com/1roguescholar Twitter – twitter.com/RosennaBakari YouTube – www.youtube.com/channel  The post NPA 087: The Journey to Sustainability first appeared on Nonprofit Ally.

In this episode I speak with Rosenna Bakari from <a href="https://talkingtreessurvivors.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Talking Trees</a>. It is a nonprofit she started back in 2010 and just recently devoted full-time hours to help the organization become sustainable. We talk about her journey starting the nonprofit, where she is now and her plans to grow her organization. We also, talk about her new book and how that new book is helping raise awareness about Talking Trees. Here is more info on Rosenna: Rosenna Bakari is a scholar, motivational speaker, and social advocate. She earned her Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Northern Colorado in 2000. She earned her Master’s degree in Counseling from the State University of New York and her undergraduate degree in psychology from Cornell University. Dr. Bakari is the founder and executive director of Talking Trees, an empowerment organization for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse. She is also launching a new “We2” movement to bring survivor and listeners together to break the silence of sexual abuse. In addition to her organization work, she hosts a monthly open mic to share her transformational poetry and offer a platform for community members to share their passion and pain. <h3>Resources</h3> Her new book – <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Too-Much-Love-Not-Enough/dp/099716994X/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Too Much Love is Not Enough</a> Website – <a href="https://rosennabakari.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">rosennabakari.com</a> Website – <a href="https://talkingtreessurvivors.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">talkingtreessurvivors.com</a> Facebook – <a href="https://www.facebook.com/1roguescholar/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/1roguescholar</a> Twitter – <a href="https://twitter.com/RosennaBakari" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">twitter.com/RosennaBakari</a> YouTube – <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3VK5QbAMBOxwDKconWfoGg/videos" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">www.youtube.com/channel</a>  The post <a href="https://nonprofitally.com/nonprofit-journey-to-sustainability/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">NPA 087: The Journey to Sustainability</a> first appeared on <a href="https://nonprofitally.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nonprofit Ally</a>.

NPA 087: The Journey to Sustainability

The reason most people hate fundraising is because they hate asking people for money. But this assumes that “asking” is all we do when we fundraising. And this is where the problem lies. It’s not so much that we hate asking for money… it is that we think that asking for money is what funding raising is about. And this is just not true. In fact, if you want to be a really good fundraiser, then “asking” for money should only be 10% of what you do. Hmmm… gotcha you thinking yet? Successful fundraising requires strategy, timing, planning, data and relationship building. Here is how our guest, Laurie Wolf, lays it out. Fundraising is:  30% internal work and research 30% relationship building 10% asking for money 30% recognition  This podcast goes into detail on how to be successful at fundraising without having to always be asking for money. ABOUT LAURIE Laurie Wolf, MNPL, CFRE is the President and CEO of The Foraker Group. She has worked in the nonprofit sector for 30 years and with Foraker for 17 years. She has been instrumental in creating many of Foraker’s services and philosophy. Laurie holds a BA in English from Scripps College and an Executive Master’s degree in Not-for-Profit Leadership from Seattle University. She has been a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) since 2003. She has served on a variety of boards and worked as a volunteer in arts, environmental and human services organizations. Resources Gift Chart Download Example Gift Chart for $25K Website: forakergroup.org Awesome Article: Where’s the Magic Wand for FundraisingThe post NPA 086 – How to Fundraise without Asking for Money first appeared on Nonprofit Ally.

The reason most people hate fundraising is because they hate asking people for money. But this assumes that “asking” is all we do when we fundraising. And this is where the problem lies. It’s not so much that we hate asking for money… it is that we think that asking for money is what funding raising is about. And this is just not true. In fact, if you want to be a really good fundraiser, then “asking” for money should only be 10% of what you do. Hmmm… gotcha you thinking yet? Successful fundraising requires strategy, timing, planning, data and relationship building. Here is how our guest, Laurie Wolf, lays it out. Fundraising is: <ul> <li>30% internal work and research</li> <li>30% relationship building</li> <li>10% asking for money</li> <li>30% recognition</li> </ul> This podcast goes into detail on how to be successful at fundraising without having to always be asking for money. ABOUT LAURIE Laurie Wolf, MNPL, CFRE is the President and CEO of The Foraker Group. She has worked in the nonprofit sector for 30 years and with Foraker for 17 years. She has been instrumental in creating many of Foraker’s services and philosophy. Laurie holds a BA in English from Scripps College and an Executive Master’s degree in Not-for-Profit Leadership from Seattle University. She has been a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) since 2003. She has served on a variety of boards and worked as a volunteer in arts, environmental and human services organizations. <h3>Resources</h3> <a href="https://nonprofitally.com/wp-content/uploads/gift-range-chart-activity-6-18-15.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gift Chart Download</a> <a href="https://nonprofitally.com/wp-content/uploads/Gift-chart-25K-Example.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Example Gift Chart for $25K</a> Website: <a href="http://www.forakergroup.org/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">forakergroup.org</a> Awesome Article: <a href="https://www.forakergroup.org/index.php/wheres-the-magic-wand-for-fundraising/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Where’s the Magic Wand for Fundraising</a>The post <a href="https://nonprofitally.com/how-to-fundraise-without-asking-for-money/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">NPA 086 – How to Fundraise without Asking for Money</a> first appeared on <a href="https://nonprofitally.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nonprofit Ally</a>.

NPA 086 – How to Fundraise without Asking for Money

Steve Vick from NonprofitAlly.com talks with nonprofit experts about social media strategies, capacity building, board of director development, fundraising and budgeting.

This podcast is easy to listen to and easy to implement their suggestions. Way to have great topics that should always be top of mind. Its so easy to get caught up in all that needs to be done that these reminders are timely and beneficial. Thanks!

Very informative

Extremely helpful!! This is a critical resource for all non profit start ups!

Awesome!!

Steve Vick from <a href="http://NonprofitAlly.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">NonprofitAlly.com</a> talks with nonprofit experts about social media strategies, capacity building, board of director development, fundraising and budgeting.

Nonprofit Ally Podcast

The term “emerging nonprofit” is thrown around a lot. But what does it mean? Does mean anything? Well, that is actually not the topic we discuss in this podcast. But, if you want to “emerge”, then pay close attention. It’s time to build your capacity. In this podcast I talk with Jeremy Grandstaff from SGEndeavors.com. We talk about building your nonprofit team and helping them define their roles within the organization. This of course leads us into a discussion about holding a better meeting. We then move on to discuss strategic planning and board retreats. This is a great podcast if you are looking to build your nonprofits capacity. Here are links to what is mentioned in the show.  DVF Model: http://www.sgendeavors.com/the-dvf-change-formula/ Five Disfunctions of a team: http://www.sgendeavors.com/client-resource-the-five-disfunctions-of-a-team-great-read-and-very-helpful/ Engaged Change: http://www.sgendeavors.com/engaged-change-engaging-people-doesnt-have-to-cost-you-travel/  Quick Meeting Tip Wanna run a better meeting? Here is the language Jeremy suggest goes at the top of every agenda. To be best prepared, and to help us best use your time, please make sure you have read the attached reports and reviewed the agenda below. RESOURCES Jeremy’s website: http://www.sgendeavors.com/ YouTube: http://www.sgeconections.tv/ Facebook: http://facebook.com/sgendeavors   The post NPA 077 – How to be an Emerging Nonprofit first appeared on Nonprofit Ally.

The term “emerging nonprofit” is thrown around a lot. But what does it mean? Does mean anything? Well, that is actually not the topic we discuss in this podcast. But, if you want to “emerge”, then pay close attention. It’s time to build your capacity. In this podcast I talk with Jeremy Grandstaff from <a href="http://www.sgendeavors.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">SGEndeavors.com</a>. We talk about building your nonprofit team and helping them define their roles within the organization. This of course leads us into a discussion about holding a better meeting. We then move on to discuss strategic planning and board retreats. This is a great podcast if you are looking to build your nonprofits capacity. Here are links to what is mentioned in the show. <ol> <li>DVF Model: <a href="http://www.sgendeavors.com/the-dvf-change-formula/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.sgendeavors.com/the-dvf-change-formula/</a></li> <li>Five Disfunctions of a team: <a href="http://www.sgendeavors.com/client-resource-the-five-disfunctions-of-a-team-great-read-and-very-helpful/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.sgendeavors.com/client-resource-the-five-disfunctions-of-a-team-great-read-and-very-helpful/</a></li> <li>Engaged Change: <a href="http://www.sgendeavors.com/engaged-change-engaging-people-doesnt-have-to-cost-you-travel/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.sgendeavors.com/engaged-change-engaging-people-doesnt-have-to-cost-you-travel/</a></li> </ol> <h3>Quick Meeting Tip</h3> Wanna run a better meeting? Here is the language Jeremy suggest goes at the top of every agenda. To be best prepared, and to help us best use your time, please make sure you have read the attached reports and reviewed the agenda below. <h3>RESOURCES</h3> Jeremy’s website: <a href="http://www.sgendeavors.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.sgendeavors.com/</a> YouTube: <a href="http://www.sgeconections.tv/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.sgeconections.tv/</a> Facebook: <a href="http://facebook.com/sgendeavors" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">http://facebook.com/sgendeavors</a> The post <a href="https://nonprofitally.com/how-to-be-an-emerging-nonprofit/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">NPA 077 – How to be an Emerging Nonprofit</a> first appeared on <a href="https://nonprofitally.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nonprofit Ally</a>.

NPA 077 – How to be an Emerging Nonprofit

Getting your 501.c.3 just got faster, easier and cheaper. In this podcast we talk about the new form 1023 EZ with Nonprofit Ally contributor James Gilmer. But once you get that 501.c.3, then what do you do? Well, that is just what Becky Straw, co-founder of The Adventure Project, talks to us about. The Adventure Project helps people in developing countries acquire the skills necessary to find jobs that meet specific needs in their local communities. In just over three years they have become a sustainable nonprofit with over 5,000 donors and have helped nearly 600 people find jobs in their local communities. Becky talks with us about the start-up process and what it took for them to achieve such a high level of success in such a short time. Resources Jame Gilmer (New Ally) article: “Get your 501c3 Fast – Tax Exempt Status Just Got EZ-ier” Harbor Compliance 1023 EZ Qualification Requirements The Adventure Project Website Becky’s blog: BeckyStraw.comThe post NPA 017: You Can Get Your 501.c.3 Faster – But Then What? first appeared on Nonprofit Ally.

Getting your 501.c.3 just got faster, easier and cheaper. In this podcast we talk about the new form 1023 EZ with Nonprofit Ally contributor James Gilmer. But once you get that 501.c.3, then what do you do? Well, that is just what Becky Straw, co-founder of The Adventure Project, talks to us about. The Adventure Project helps people in developing countries acquire the skills necessary to find jobs that meet specific needs in their local communities. In just over three years they have become a sustainable nonprofit with over 5,000 donors and have helped nearly 600 people find jobs in their local communities. Becky talks with us about the start-up process and what it took for them to achieve such a high level of success in such a short time. <h3>Resources</h3> Jame Gilmer (New Ally) article: “<a href="http://nonprofitally.com/get-your-501c3-fast-tax-exempt-in-weeks" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Get your 501c3 Fast – Tax Exempt Status Just Got EZ-ier</a>” <a href="https://www.harborcompliance.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Harbor Compliance</a> <a href="http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1023ez.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">1023 EZ Qualification Requirements</a> <a href="http://www.theadventureproject.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Adventure Project Website</a> Becky’s blog: <a href="http://beckystraw.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">BeckyStraw.com</a>The post <a href="https://nonprofitally.com/fast-easy-501-c-3-but-then-what/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">NPA 017: You Can Get Your 501.c.3 Faster – But Then What?</a> first appeared on <a href="https://nonprofitally.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nonprofit Ally</a>.

NPA 017: You Can Get Your 501.c.3 Faster – But Then What?

In this episode of the Nonprofit Ally Podcast I talk with Amanda Babine from Evaluate for Change. We talk about the “Logic Model” which is an evaluation method designed to help build the capacity of nonprofit programs.The logic model helps you understand how your organization does what it does? It is a tool that allows you to break down the different components of your organization’s programming and clarify how your organization’s program works to achieve its objectives.It is broken down into three main components, with many subcoponents within each main category. The three main component are, inputs, outputs and outcomes-impact.Taking a program through the logic model will help you better understand your resources, how you are using them, how you deliver your services, what resources are taking the most effort, what your cost/benefit is,  etc, etc.It is an indepth analysis of how you do, what you do – and how you can do it better.ResourcesEvaluate for Change website: www.evaluateforchange.comResource Templates: www.evaluateforchange.com/resources/templatesVirtual Book Club: http://www.evaluateforchange.com/resources/virtual-bookclub/Download the Logic Model Chart The post NPA 056 – Building Capacity with the Logic Model first appeared on Nonprofit Ally.

In this episode of the Nonprofit Ally Podcast I talk with Amanda Babine from Evaluate for Change. We talk about the “Logic Model” which is an evaluation method designed to help build the capacity of nonprofit programs.The logic model helps you understand how your organization does what it does? It is a tool that allows you to break down the different components of your organization’s programming and clarify how your organization’s program works to achieve its objectives.It is broken down into three main components, with many subcoponents within each main category. The three main component are, inputs, outputs and outcomes-impact.Taking a program through the logic model will help you better understand your resources, how you are using them, how you deliver your services, what resources are taking the most effort, what your cost/benefit is,  etc, etc.It is an indepth analysis of how you do, what you do – and how you can do it better.<h3>Resources</h3>Evaluate for Change website: <a href="http://www.evaluateforchange.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.evaluateforchange.com</a>Resource Templates: <a href="http://www.evaluateforchange.com/resources/templates/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.evaluateforchange.com/resources/templates</a>Virtual Book Club: <a href="http://www.evaluateforchange.com/resources/virtual-bookclub" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.evaluateforchange.com/resources/virtual-bookclub/</a><a href="https://nonprofitally.com/wp-content/uploads/EFC_LogicModels.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Download the Logic Model Chart </a>The post <a href="https://nonprofitally.com/building-capacity-with-the-logic-model/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">NPA 056 – Building Capacity with the Logic Model</a> first appeared on <a href="https://nonprofitally.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nonprofit Ally</a>.

NPA 056 – Building Capacity with the Logic Model

In this episode I talk with Thomas Wrobel from the Nonprofit Legal Center (nonprofitlegalcenter.com). Tom is a lawyer with 17 years of experience. He specializes in nonprofit law. Tom answers some basic legal questions you need to ask yourself when you apply for 501.c.3 tax exempt status. His advice will help you prepare your IRS form 1023, so you can get your 501.c.3 tax exempt status for your nonprofit. Here are some of the questions he answers in this interview: Question: How do I know if I qualify as a 501.c.3 nonprofit? Check the IRS website to see if you fall within their guidelines. You can do that here: http://www.irs.gov/Charities-&amp;-Non-Profits/Charitable-Organizations/Exemption-Requirements-Section-501(c)(3)-Organizations You can also do a Google search and see if there are other organizations that provide similar services to yours that already have their 501.c.3. Question: Do I have to be a 501.c.3? You do not have to be a 501.c.3 until you reach an annual revenue of $7,500/year. If you exceed this threshold you can find a fiscal sponsor. Basically, you would operate under the umbrella of an already existing 501.c.3 nonprofit. It is recommended you start the 501.c.3 application process as soon as you can. Question: What are the different types of religious 501.c.3s? Churches, synagogues and mosques are organizations that have weekly services and have a congregation. Churches are automatically tax exempt (even without their 501.c.3). But, if you get your 501.c.3 you can be a tax deduction for your donors AND you do not have to file an annual form 990. Let’s repeat that. A church that is recognized as a 501.c.3 does not have to file tax form 990! Ministry or afterschool religious based programs become tax exempt once they have their 501.c.3 status. Religious organization (not churches) will still have to file IRS tax from 990. Question: What are some of the things I should look for when recruiting board members. Recruit members that are assets to your organization. Look to community members that have skills that meet your needs (fundraisers, grant writers, marketers, laywers, etc). Avoid having relatives on your board. It is technically OK to have a relative on your board but it can raise a red flag with the IRS – best to avoid this. Question: How do I make a three year budget projection for a startup nonprofit? Your budget is your best guess. Include your expected fundraising revenue, any program fees you expect to collect and figure in your office expenses (phone, computer, copier). Be sure your revenues and expenses balance out. It is OK to carry over a little revenue into the next fiscal year. But if you carry over to much profit – or run to large a deficit – this will raise a red flag with the IRS. Your budget is a “guess-timate”. Do your best to balance your revenue and expenses for each fiscal year.   PROGRAM LINKS &amp; RESOURCES Thomas Wrobel: Mr. Wrobel has assisted hundreds of organizations, across the country and internationally, in successfully attaining nonprofit tax exempt status with their state and the IRS.  He is committed to making life easier for people who are doing good work in the world. You can reach Tom through his website at: www.nonprofitlegalcenter.com In this episode we mentioned the NOLO guide to starting a nonprofit. You can learn more about this book using the link below:  The post NPA 015: Tips on How to Apply for 501.c.3 Tax Exempt Status first appeared on Nonprofit Ally.

In this episode I talk with Thomas Wrobel from the Nonprofit Legal Center (<a href="http://www.nonprofitlegalcenter.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">nonprofitlegalcenter.com</a>). Tom is a lawyer with 17 years of experience. He specializes in nonprofit law. Tom answers some basic legal questions you need to ask yourself when you apply for 501.c.3 tax exempt status. His advice will help you prepare your IRS form 1023, so you can get your 501.c.3 tax exempt status for your nonprofit. Here are some of the questions he answers in this interview: <h4>Question: How do I know if I qualify as a 501.c.3 nonprofit?</h4> Check the IRS website to see if you fall within their guidelines. You can do that here: <a href="http://www.irs.gov/Charities-&amp;-Non-Profits/Charitable-Organizations/Exemption-Requirements-Section-501(c)(3)-Organizations" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.irs.gov/Charities-&amp;-Non-Profits/Charitable-Organizations/Exemption-Requirements-Section-501(c)(3)-Organizations</a> You can also do a Google search and see if there are other organizations that provide similar services to yours that already have their 501.c.3. <h4>Question: Do I have to be a 501.c.3?</h4> You do not have to be a 501.c.3 until you reach an annual revenue of $7,500/year. If you exceed this threshold you can find a fiscal sponsor. Basically, you would operate under the umbrella of an already existing 501.c.3 nonprofit. It is recommended you start the 501.c.3 application process as soon as you can. <h4>Question: What are the different types of religious 501.c.3s?</h4> Churches, synagogues and mosques are organizations that have weekly services and have a congregation. Churches are automatically tax exempt (even without their 501.c.3). But, if you get your 501.c.3 you can be a tax deduction for your donors AND you do not have to file an annual form 990. Let’s repeat that. A church that is recognized as a 501.c.3 does not have to file tax form 990! Ministry or afterschool religious based programs become tax exempt once they have their 501.c.3 status. Religious organization (not churches) will still have to file IRS tax from 990. <h4>Question: What are some of the things I should look for when recruiting board members.</h4> Recruit members that are assets to your organization. Look to community members that have skills that meet your needs (fundraisers, grant writers, marketers, laywers, etc). Avoid having relatives on your board. It is technically OK to have a relative on your board but it can raise a red flag with the IRS – best to avoid this. <h4>Question: How do I make a three year budget projection for a startup nonprofit?</h4> Your budget is your best guess. Include your expected fundraising revenue, any program fees you expect to collect and figure in your office expenses (phone, computer, copier). Be sure your revenues and expenses balance out. It is OK to carry over a little revenue into the next fiscal year. But if you carry over to much profit – or run to large a deficit – this will raise a red flag with the IRS. Your budget is a “guess-timate”. Do your best to balance your revenue and expenses for each fiscal year. <h3>PROGRAM LINKS &amp; RESOURCES</h3> Thomas Wrobel: Mr. Wrobel has assisted hundreds of organizations, across the country and internationally, in successfully attaining nonprofit tax exempt status with their state and the IRS.  He is committed to making life easier for people who are doing good work in the world. You can reach Tom through his website at: <a href="http://www.nonprofitlegalcenter.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.nonprofitlegalcenter.com</a> In this episode we mentioned the NOLO guide to starting a nonprofit. You can learn more about this book using the link below: The post <a href="https://nonprofitally.com/podcast-how-to-apply-for-501c3-tax-exemption/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">NPA 015: Tips on How to Apply for 501.c.3 Tax Exempt Status</a> first appeared on <a href="https://nonprofitally.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nonprofit Ally</a>.

NPA 015: Tips on How to Apply for 501.c.3 Tax Exempt Status

In this podcast I talk with Kathleen Kelly-Janus, author of Social Startup Success. In this interview we talk about the different factors involved in building a nonprofit into a sustainable, profitable (yes, you can make money) and affective organization. Kathleen is an award-winning social entrepreneur, author and lecturer at Stanford University. Her work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Huffington Post, Stanford Social Innovation Review, Tech Crunch and the San Francisco Chronicle. In this podcast (and in her book) Kathleen gives real life examples of how successful nonprofits went from start up to sustainable. Examples of this include:  Testing ideas by engaging stakeholders and reframing failure as learning, like Aspire Public Schools did to devise a creative solution to ineffective preschool education in low-income communities. Measuring impact as you track the positive outcomes of your organization and maximize that data, like At the Crossroads did to create stages of progress as they reached out to homeless youth in San Francisco. Funding experimentation to find a funding model true to your goals and effective at raising money, like Hot Bread Kitchen did when they both raised money and sold bread to sustain their training program for low-income women to find jobs in the food industry. Leading collaboratively by building a team and creating an environment where people feel empowered and appreciated, like the crowdfunding platform Kiva did by allowing employees to manage their own success metrics. Telling compelling stories to share the work you’re doing, like founder of the Center for Youth Wellness Nadine Burke Harris did in a TED talk that’s been viewed over 2.5 million times.  RESOURCE Get the book, Social Startup Success: How the Best Nonprofits Launch, Scale Up and Make a Difference Her website is at, www.kathleenjanus.com See this podcast on YouTube  The post NPA 079: Keys to “Social Startup Success” first appeared on Nonprofit Ally.

In this podcast I talk with Kathleen Kelly-Janus, author of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Social-Startup-Success-Nonprofits-Difference-ebook/dp/B073P56C64/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Social Startup Success</a>. In this interview we talk about the different factors involved in building a nonprofit into a sustainable, profitable (yes, you can make money) and affective organization. Kathleen is an award-winning social entrepreneur, author and lecturer at Stanford University. Her work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Huffington Post, Stanford Social Innovation Review, Tech Crunch and the San Francisco Chronicle. In this podcast (and in her book) Kathleen gives real life examples of how successful nonprofits went from start up to sustainable. Examples of this include: <ol> <li>Testing ideas by engaging stakeholders and reframing failure as learning, like Aspire Public Schools did to devise a creative solution to ineffective preschool education in low-income communities.</li> <li>Measuring impact as you track the positive outcomes of your organization and maximize that data, like At the Crossroads did to create stages of progress as they reached out to homeless youth in San Francisco.</li> <li>Funding experimentation to find a funding model true to your goals and effective at raising money, like Hot Bread Kitchen did when they both raised money and sold bread to sustain their training program for low-income women to find jobs in the food industry.</li> <li>Leading collaboratively by building a team and creating an environment where people feel empowered and appreciated, like the crowdfunding platform Kiva did by allowing employees to manage their own success metrics.</li> <li>Telling compelling stories to share the work you’re doing, like founder of the Center for Youth Wellness Nadine Burke Harris did in a TED talk that’s been viewed over 2.5 million times.</li> </ol> <h3>RESOURCE</h3> Get the book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Social-Startup-Success-Nonprofits-Difference-ebook/dp/B073P56C64/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Social Startup Success: How the Best Nonprofits Launch, Scale Up and Make a Difference</a> Her website is at, <a href="http://www.kathleenjanus.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">www.kathleenjanus.com</a> See this podcast <a href="https://youtu.be/L_7ZVQNFlXQ" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">on YouTube</a>  The post <a href="https://nonprofitally.com/keys-to-social-startup-success/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">NPA 079: Keys to “Social Startup Success”</a> first appeared on <a href="https://nonprofitally.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nonprofit Ally</a>.

NPA 079: Keys to “Social Startup Success”

Getting the word out about your nonprofit organization can be a challenge. But it doesn’t have to be. There are a lot of ways to help bring awareness to the community about your program. And the great thing is… most of them are free! Here are some simple ways to spread the word about you nonprofit.  Social Media – get a Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and/or Youtube account and post to them regularly. It is better to have ONE social media account you use often than it is to have four accounts that you use rarely. Network with other Organizations – Go to events, fundraisers or meetings hosted by local nonprofits that provide similar services (or complimentary programs) to your own. Be sure to bring your business card. Start a Blog – First, you should have a website. If you don’t, then follow my free course on How to make a Website for your Nonprofit. Now add a blog (or latest news) section to your website and post to it regularly. Give a Free Talk – Book a room at the library or call your local Rotary Club and offer to give a presentation about your organization or a service you provide. The best way to do this is to NOT talk about yourself. Instead talk about approaches used to tackle hunger or how to file for public assistance. Like/Follow other Organizations Social Media Pages – This can help other organizations find you and learn more about what you do. Advertise with other Organizations – This can be as simple as sharing a link to your website on their Facebook page or buying a small ad in their newsletter. Give Interviews – Simply put, if you get the opportunity to talk to the media, Do It! Send Press Releases – Anytime you do something in public (events, fundraiser, presentation) go ahead and send a press release to the newspaper, radio and TV. Write an Op Ed – A well written article that is informative, newsworthy or educational can be a great way to bring awareness to your cause. Start a Podcast – With some simple recording equipment you can reach a broad range of people with a podcast. You can talk about trends in your industry, interview experts, give a how-to… whatever you think would be helpful to your audience. PSA’s – a public service announcement is a great way (and usually free) to tell people about upcoming events or services. Just contact your local radio or TV station to see about submitting a PSA. Put up Posters – This is the ultimate grassroots way of telling people about your organization. Don’t overlook the simplicity and effectiveness of a eye catching poster. Start a Newsletter – the best thing about a newsletter is it means you are starting to collect a mailing list. This is super important. Write a Guest Blog Post – Contact another organization and see if they will let you write an article for their website (or newsletter) about a service you provide or a particular subject you are an expert in.  OK. So that is it. Fourteen quick, down-and-dirty, ways to get the word out about your organization. There is no secret to grassroots marketing. It’s just a matter of going out and doing it. If you have other ideas on simple and affordable marketing tips that have worked for you, please share them in the comments below. Thanks folks. I hope this was helpful.The post NPA 032: 14 Grassroot Marketing Tips for your Nonprofit first appeared on Nonprofit Ally.

Getting the word out about your nonprofit organization can be a challenge. But it doesn’t have to be. There are a lot of ways to help bring awareness to the community about your program. And the great thing is… most of them are free! Here are some simple ways to spread the word about you nonprofit. <ol> <li>Social Media – get a Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and/or Youtube account and post to them regularly. It is better to have ONE social media account you use often than it is to have four accounts that you use rarely.</li> <li>Network with other Organizations – Go to events, fundraisers or meetings hosted by local nonprofits that provide similar services (or complimentary programs) to your own. Be sure to bring your business card.</li> <li>Start a Blog – First, you should have a website. If you don’t, then follow my free course on <a href="http://nonprofitally.com/make-a-nonprofit-website" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">How to make a Website for your Nonprofit</a>. Now add a blog (or latest news) section to your website and post to it regularly.</li> <li>Give a Free Talk – Book a room at the library or call your local Rotary Club and offer to give a presentation about your organization or a service you provide. The best way to do this is to NOT talk about yourself. Instead talk about approaches used to tackle hunger or how to file for public assistance.</li> <li>Like/Follow other Organizations Social Media Pages – This can help other organizations find you and learn more about what you do.</li> <li>Advertise with other Organizations – This can be as simple as sharing a link to your website on their Facebook page or buying a small ad in their newsletter.</li> <li>Give Interviews – Simply put, if you get the opportunity to talk to the media, Do It!</li> <li>Send Press Releases – Anytime you do something in public (events, fundraiser, presentation) go ahead and send a press release to the newspaper, radio and TV.</li> <li>Write an Op Ed – A well written article that is informative, newsworthy or educational can be a great way to bring awareness to your cause.</li> <li>Start a Podcast – With some simple recording equipment you can reach a broad range of people with a podcast. You can talk about trends in your industry, interview experts, give a how-to… whatever you think would be helpful to your audience.</li> <li>PSA’s – a public service announcement is a great way (and usually free) to tell people about upcoming events or services. Just contact your local radio or TV station to see about submitting a PSA.</li> <li>Put up Posters – This is the ultimate grassroots way of telling people about your organization. Don’t overlook the simplicity and effectiveness of a eye catching poster.</li> <li>Start a Newsletter – the best thing about a newsletter is it means you are starting to collect a mailing list. This is super important.</li> <li>Write a Guest Blog Post – Contact another organization and see if they will let you write an article for their website (or newsletter) about a service you provide or a particular subject you are an expert in.</li> </ol> OK. So that is it. Fourteen quick, down-and-dirty, ways to get the word out about your organization. There is no secret to grassroots marketing. It’s just a matter of going out and doing it. If you have other ideas on simple and affordable marketing tips that have worked for you, please share them in the comments below. Thanks folks. I hope this was helpful.The post <a href="https://nonprofitally.com/14-grassroot-marketing-tips-for-nonprofits/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">NPA 032: 14 Grassroot Marketing Tips for your Nonprofit</a> first appeared on <a href="https://nonprofitally.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nonprofit Ally</a>.

NPA 032: 14 Grassroot Marketing Tips for your Nonprofit

Advocating for the rights of others is not an easy job. It is difficult to bring awareness of your cause to the general public. There are 100’s of ways to get your message out and your audience could be scattered across the country. This is the challenge. In this episode, I talk about with Jay and Shira Ruderman from the Ruderman Foundation. They are the President and Director of the foundation and advocate for the inclusion of people with disabilities throughout our society. They have run advocacy campaigns that have been picked up on national TV and received millions of views on social media. Their Advice on Successful Advocacy You have to be prepared to produce content. The importance of this can’t be overemphasized. Take control of your message, don’t be afraid to take a position and then disseminated it on as many media platforms (social media, tradition media, flyers, advertisements) as possible. It is also be important to produce your content with a variety of mediums (photo’s, video, essays, audio).  Be prepared to do a lot of work. Jay stresses there is no shortcut. Advocacy is work. Build relationships with the media. Continually pitch stories. Build alliances with other organizations and individuals. Use social media: take a position. Say it strongly. Have a message. Don’t waiver.  And in any campaign it is important to be  Authentic Relevent Timely  RESOURCE Website: rudermanfoundation.org Facebook: facebook.com/RudermanFamilyFoundation Twitter: twitter.com/RudermanFdnThe post NPA 070: Successful Advocacy in a Noisy World first appeared on Nonprofit Ally.

Advocating for the rights of others is not an easy job. It is difficult to bring awareness of your cause to the general public. There are 100’s of ways to get your message out and your audience could be scattered across the country. This is the challenge. In this episode, I talk about with Jay and Shira Ruderman from the <a href="http://rudermanfoundation.org/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Ruderman Foundation</a>. They are the President and Director of the foundation and advocate for the inclusion of people with disabilities throughout our society. They have run advocacy campaigns that have been picked up on national TV and received millions of views on social media. Their Advice on Successful Advocacy You have to be prepared to produce content. The importance of this can’t be overemphasized. Take control of your message, don’t be afraid to take a position and then disseminated it on as many media platforms (social media, tradition media, flyers, advertisements) as possible. It is also be important to produce your content with a variety of mediums (photo’s, video, essays, audio). <ul> <li>Be prepared to do a lot of work. Jay stresses there is no shortcut. Advocacy is work.</li> <li>Build relationships with the media. Continually pitch stories.</li> <li>Build alliances with other organizations and individuals.</li> <li>Use social media: take a position.</li> <li>Say it strongly. Have a message. Don’t waiver.</li> </ul> And in any campaign it is important to be <ul> <li>Authentic</li> <li>Relevent</li> <li>Timely</li> </ul> <h3>RESOURCE</h3> Website: <a href="http://rudermanfoundation.org/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">rudermanfoundation.org</a> Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/RudermanFamilyFoundation" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">facebook.com/RudermanFamilyFoundation</a> Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/RudermanFdn" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">twitter.com/RudermanFdn</a>The post <a href="https://nonprofitally.com/successful-advocacy-in-a-noisy-world/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">NPA 070: Successful Advocacy in a Noisy World</a> first appeared on <a href="https://nonprofitally.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nonprofit Ally</a>.

NPA 070: Successful Advocacy in a Noisy World

In this episode I talk with Chad Reid of JotForm.com. You may remember Chad from his three part series he wrote for Nonprofit Ally about using forms to survey your members, creating your donation page and making “apply online” forms. Connecting with your audience can be like hopping on a moving train from an bridge overpass. OK – not the best metaphor but it is does capture the changing landscape of connecting with followers. What people read, how they read and where they read have all changed drastically. The fact that a sentence can serve as a paragraph is just one obvious change in the field of communication in general. So effectively communicating with your audience, with content that is engaging, takes skill and forethought. Here are some key points that all communicators should strive to accomplish: Start with WHY: This seems a no brainer, but don’t assume that your visitor knows “why” they are on your site and “why” you do what you do. So when you write your about page, your mission page, your latest posts or even a calendar event try to relay “why its important” at the beginning of your content. Know WHO your Audience is: we have heard this before in other podcast, so obviously this is important. If you want to connect to your audience you have to know who they are. Go beyond the basic demographic (gender, age location) and try to learn more about your audience: soccer mom? country music listener? social media user? sports fan? parent of autistic child? Connect with your Audience: don’t just assume that since someone is on your site they know what they are doing there. So the sooner you can connect with with, with stories, photos or videos, the better chance they will stay on your site and read more about what you do. People may come to your site because of a topic you offer information on, but they stay for themselves… they stay because there is something of there for them. Fix a Problem: if you can “fix” a problem or answer a question, then you are relevant to your audience and connecting with them at a level that is useful and meaningful. Chad suggest writing content that includes tips and how-to’s, stories about your agency and metaphors (jumping on a train = connecting with your audience). Resources Chad works at JotForm.com Simon Sinek Ted Talk – How Great Leaders Inspire Action Simon Sinek Book – Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action Just for Fun: So, for those who have listened to the podcast you now know why there is a picture of my dog with Trump hair as the featured image for this podcast. Join in on the fun… just brush your dog and use the hair to make a Trump wig. Then post it on twitter #trumpdog. The post NPA 036 – Reaching your Millennial Audience first appeared on Nonprofit Ally.

In this episode I talk with Chad Reid of <a href="http://JotForm.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">JotForm.com</a>. You may remember Chad from his three part series he wrote for Nonprofit Ally about <a href="http://nonprofitally.com/five-tips-for-better-surveys" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">using forms to survey your members</a>, <a href="http://nonprofitally.com/why-your-donation-page-is-loosing-you-money" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">creating your donation page</a> and <a href="http://nonprofitally.com/apply-online-form-tips" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">making “apply online” forms</a>. Connecting with your audience can be like hopping on a moving train from an bridge overpass. OK – not the best metaphor but it is does capture the changing landscape of connecting with followers. What people read, how they read and where they read have all changed drastically. The fact that a sentence can serve as a paragraph is just one obvious change in the field of communication in general. So effectively communicating with your audience, with content that is engaging, takes skill and forethought. Here are some key points that all communicators should strive to accomplish: Start with WHY: This seems a no brainer, but don’t assume that your visitor knows “why” they are on your site and “why” you do what you do. So when you write your about page, your mission page, your latest posts or even a calendar event try to relay “why its important” at the beginning of your content. Know WHO your Audience is: we have heard this before in other podcast, so obviously this is important. If you want to connect to your audience you have to know who they are. Go beyond the basic demographic (gender, age location) and try to learn more about your audience: soccer mom? country music listener? social media user? sports fan? parent of autistic child? Connect with your Audience: don’t just assume that since someone is on your site they know what they are doing there. So the sooner you can connect with with, with stories, photos or videos, the better chance they will stay on your site and read more about what you do. People may come to your site because of a topic you offer information on, but they stay for themselves… they stay because there is something of there for them. Fix a Problem: if you can “fix” a problem or answer a question, then you are relevant to your audience and connecting with them at a level that is useful and meaningful. Chad suggest writing content that includes tips and how-to’s, stories about your agency and metaphors (jumping on a train = connecting with your audience). <h3>Resources</h3> Chad works at <a href="http://www.jotform.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">JotForm.com</a> Simon Sinek Ted Talk – <a href="https://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_inspire_action?language=en" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">How Great Leaders Inspire Action</a> Simon Sinek Book – <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1591846447/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=1591846447&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=nonpally-20&amp;linkId=LWYTJIGELPLUYFO4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action</a> Just for Fun: So, for those who have listened to the podcast you now know why there is a picture of my dog with Trump hair as the featured image for this podcast. Join in on the fun… just brush your dog and use the hair to make a Trump wig. Then post it on twitter #trumpdog. The post <a href="https://nonprofitally.com/reaching-your-millennial-audience/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">NPA 036 – Reaching your Millennial Audience</a> first appeared on <a href="https://nonprofitally.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nonprofit Ally</a>.

NPA 036 – Reaching your Millennial Audience

Nick Loper

In this episode I talk with Nick Loper from Side Hustle Nation. Nick is an blogger, podcaster and entrepreneur that shares awesome information on how to start a side business (in our case a nonprofit) while still working a fulltime job. Nick talks about how to manage your time, how to grow your “side hustle” and how to find extra help when you need it. This is not your typical interview as we talk about a variety of topics involved in starting a new [nonprofit] business, including starting and email list, building a website and using social media. Resources Here are some links to the topics we discussed: Fiverr.com – this is an awesome site to find affordable help on your next project. Need a logo, t-shirt design, website or custom graphic? Fiverr can help you get it done for just $5!. Use this link and get a FREE GIG when you sign up for Fiverr. (Fiverr accounts are free). Articles from Nicks website at SideHustleNation.com  The Ultimate Guide to Crowdfunding Your Side Hustle The Fastest and Cheapest Way to Build a Great-Looking Website How to Start and Scale a Service Business to Quit Your Job PodCastAwards.com  How to contact Nick: nick@sidehustlenation.comThe post NPA 023: Starting a Nonprofit as a Side Job – an Interview with Nick Loper from Side Hustle Nation first appeared on Nonprofit Ally.

In this episode I talk with Nick Loper from Side Hustle Nation. Nick is an blogger, podcaster and entrepreneur that shares awesome information on how to start a side business (in our case a nonprofit) while still working a fulltime job. Nick talks about how to manage your time, how to grow your “side hustle” and how to find extra help when you need it. This is not your typical interview as we talk about a variety of topics involved in starting a new [nonprofit] business, including starting and email list, building a website and using social media. <h4>Resources</h4> Here are some links to the topics we discussed: <a href="https://www.fiverr.com/s/7s6kyo" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Fiverr.com</a> – this is an awesome site to find affordable help on your next project. Need a logo, t-shirt design, website or custom graphic? Fiverr can help you get it done for just $5!. Use this link and get a FREE GIG when you <a href="https://www.fiverr.com/s/7s6kyo" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">sign up for Fiverr</a>. (Fiverr accounts are free). Articles from Nicks website at <a href="http://www.sidehustlenation.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SideHustleNation.com</a> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.sidehustlenation.com/ultimate-guide-crowdfunding-side-hustle/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Ultimate Guide to Crowdfunding Your Side Hustle</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.sidehustlenation.com/fastest-cheapest-website-case-study/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Fastest and Cheapest Way to Build a Great-Looking Website</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.sidehustlenation.com/start-and-scale-a-service-business/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">How to Start and Scale a Service Business to Quit Your Job</a></li> <li><a href="http://podcastawards.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">PodCastAwards.com</a></li> </ul> How to contact Nick: <a href="mailto:nick@sidehustlenation.com">nick@sidehustlenation.com</a>The post <a href="https://nonprofitally.com/start-a-nonprofit-as-a-side-job-nick-loper-side-hustle-nation/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">NPA 023: Starting a Nonprofit as a Side Job – an Interview with Nick Loper from Side Hustle Nation</a> first appeared on <a href="https://nonprofitally.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nonprofit Ally</a>.

NPA 023: Starting a Nonprofit as a Side Job – an Interview with Nick Loper from Side Hustle Nation

Being the Executive Director (ED) of a nonprofit means different things for different organizations. But it means one thing for the ED. You will wear many hats, use different skills and fulfill a variety of roles. Let’s get a bit more specific. As an ED you may be required to be the bookkeeper, fundraiser, grant writer, program developer, volunteer organizer, event planner, donor outreach coordinator or marketing specialist. In smaller organizations you may also be the dog walker, custodian, envelope licker, web designer, software updated, printer fixer, supply clerk, etc. I think you get the picture. It is not an easy job. But our guest, Ann Wrixon, has been doing it for nearly 30 years and she shares with us a wealth of knowledge. She currently is the ED at CASA of Contra Costa County, in Concord, CA. This is a real “boots on the ground” interview with someone who has been there and done that. (And is still doing it). So, if you are an executive director, thinking about becoming one or are on a board that works with one, this podcast will give you an appreciation and understanding of all the work that goes in to being an ED. Resources CASA of Contra Costa County, https://cccocasa.org/. Contact Ann, contact page.The post NPA 064: The Many Hats of a Nonprofit Executive Director first appeared on Nonprofit Ally.

Being the Executive Director (ED) of a nonprofit means different things for different organizations. But it means one thing for the ED. You will wear many hats, use different skills and fulfill a variety of roles. Let’s get a bit more specific. As an ED you may be required to be the bookkeeper, fundraiser, grant writer, program developer, volunteer organizer, event planner, donor outreach coordinator or marketing specialist. In smaller organizations you may also be the dog walker, custodian, envelope licker, web designer, software updated, printer fixer, supply clerk, etc. I think you get the picture. It is not an easy job. But our guest, Ann Wrixon, has been doing it for nearly 30 years and she shares with us a wealth of knowledge. She currently is the ED at CASA of Contra Costa County, in Concord, CA. This is a real “boots on the ground” interview with someone who has been there and done that. (And is still doing it). So, if you are an executive director, thinking about becoming one or are on a board that works with one, this podcast will give you an appreciation and understanding of all the work that goes in to being an ED. <h3>Resources</h3> CASA of Contra Costa County, <a href="https://cccocasa.org/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://cccocasa.org/</a>. Contact Ann, <a href="https://cccocasa.org/menus/staff.html" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">contact page</a>.The post <a href="https://nonprofitally.com/the-many-hats-of-a-nonprofit-executive-director/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">NPA 064: The Many Hats of a Nonprofit Executive Director</a> first appeared on <a href="https://nonprofitally.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nonprofit Ally</a>.

NPA 064: The Many Hats of a Nonprofit Executive Director

In this podcast I talk with Brock Warner who is the fundraising manager at War Child. Brock just finished a big fundraising campaign and he fills us in on some of the strategies he used that helped them realize a 30% increase in donations. We also discuss ways to increase donor retention from year to year. PROGRAM LINKS Brock Warner is a fundraiser at War Child and a blogger at iamafundraiser.com. You can also follow him on Twitter as @BrockWarner.  Website: www.warchild.ca Blog: www.iamafundraiser.com Twitter: @BrockWarner  RESOURCES*    *These are some of the resources that were mentioned in the podcast. The links go to Amazon.com. These are affiliate links. Thank you for considering purchasing these books.The post NPA 006: Nonprofit Fundraising and Donor Retention first appeared on Nonprofit Ally.

In this podcast I talk with Brock Warner who is the fundraising manager at War Child. Brock just finished a big fundraising campaign and he fills us in on some of the strategies he used that helped them realize a 30% increase in donations. We also discuss ways to increase donor retention from year to year. <h3>PROGRAM LINKS</h3> Brock Warner is a fundraiser at War Child and a blogger at <a href="http://iamafundraiser.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">iamafundraiser.com</a>. You can also follow him on Twitter as @BrockWarner. <ul> <li>Website: <a href="http://www.warchild.ca/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.warchild.ca</a></li> <li>Blog: <a href="http://www.iamafundraiser.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.iamafundraiser.com</a></li> <li>Twitter: <a href="http://www.iamafundraiser.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@BrockWarner</a></li> </ul> <h3>RESOURCES*</h3> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0470547979/ref=as_li_tf_il?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=0470547979&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=nonpally-20" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1118137604/ref=as_li_tf_il?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=1118137604&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=nonpally-20" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/006227306X/ref=as_li_tf_il?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=006227306X&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=nonpally-20" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a> *These are some of the resources that were mentioned in the podcast. The links go to <a href="http://Amazon.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amazon.com</a>. These are affiliate links. Thank you for considering purchasing these books.The post <a href="https://nonprofitally.com/podcast-nonprofit-fundraising-and-donor-retention/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">NPA 006: Nonprofit Fundraising and Donor Retention</a> first appeared on <a href="https://nonprofitally.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nonprofit Ally</a>.

NPA 006: Nonprofit Fundraising and Donor Retention

Story telling is becoming one of the main ways nonprofits spread awareness and fundraise for their cause. In this episode I talk with Meg Campbell and Marybeth Redmond from the Vermont Story Lab. Meg and Marybeth talk about how to find the stories that are right in front of your eyes. Yup, it is that simple. Yet, seeing what is right in front of us can sometimes be difficult. They go on to help us inventory our stories with the creation of a “story vault” to help us track and plan the uses, and strategy, for our stories. We then move on to discovering a formula that helps us actually “tell” the story. This is a great info for those who have story ideas but just aren’t sure where to start. This is a fun and informative episode. I hope you enjoy it. Resources Website: VermontStoryLab.org  The post NPA 059 – Using Stories to Further your Mission and More first appeared on Nonprofit Ally.

Story telling is becoming one of the main ways nonprofits spread awareness and fundraise for their cause. In this episode I talk with Meg Campbell and Marybeth Redmond from the <a href="http://www.vermontstorylab.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Vermont Story Lab</a>. Meg and Marybeth talk about how to find the stories that are right in front of your eyes. Yup, it is that simple. Yet, seeing what is right in front of us can sometimes be difficult. They go on to help us inventory our stories with the creation of a “story vault” to help us track and plan the uses, and strategy, for our stories. We then move on to discovering a formula that helps us actually “tell” the story. This is a great info for those who have story ideas but just aren’t sure where to start. This is a fun and informative episode. I hope you enjoy it. <h3>Resources</h3> Website: <a href="http://www.vermontstorylab.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">VermontStoryLab.org</a>  The post <a href="https://nonprofitally.com/using-stories-to-further-your-mission-and-more/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">NPA 059 – Using Stories to Further your Mission and More</a> first appeared on <a href="https://nonprofitally.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nonprofit Ally</a>.

NPA 059 – Using Stories to Further your Mission and More

In this podcast I talk with Ann Myren from Resources and Results Consulting LLC. She is a nonprofit consultant specializing in grant writing and strategic planning. In this episode she talks about planning to write a grant, how to find grants, grant writing best practices and gives us a “grant writing check list” you should use before you submit your grant application. To start the podcast we played a quick game of “Fact or Myth”. Spoiler alert… they all turn out to be myths:  Start ups can’t get grants. MYTH We must have matching funds to get grants. MYTH (but good idea) We must be a 501.c.3 to get a grant. MYTH (funding criteria could allow for partnering with another nonprofit) Grant writing is complicated and takes specialized skills. MYTH We can’t ask for a lot of money. MYTH We already got a grant from Agency “A”, we can’t ask them again. MYTH There are no grants for the services we provide. MYTH Grants won’t cover our operating expenses. MYTH We can function on grants alone. MYTH  TIPS TO GETTING YOUR FIRST GRANT  Get a strategic plan. Show how you are going to do what you say you are going to do. A strategic plan is your blue print and demonstrates to the grantor that you have your act together. Go for smaller grants first. Not necessary but good to build off of for next grant. Research granting agency. Who have they given to in the past, do you meet their requirements, can they fund the amount you need. Contact the funder. Read their website to see who to contact and if it is encouraged. Get letters of support from other organizations. Have a budget – not just for project but for entire year.  REVIEW YOUR GRANT PRIOR TO SUBMISSION Ask Yourself  Did you repeat yourself? Do you say the same thing in multiple sections? Did you put supporting information in the grant? Did you compare it to other successful projects? Did you use quotes that substantiate your statements? Did you answer all the questions completely?  Other Checks  Check spelling and grammar. Check your math. Is the budget laid our correctly? Does it add up? Be sure to have someone proof read your grant prior to submission. Keep all final documents organized in a way you can find them again on your computer. If you can’t find it you can’t repurpose for another purpose. (See organizing files here).  PROGRAM LINKS Ann Myren can be contacted in at: Website: myrenandstern.com Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/annmyren RESOURCES foundationcenter.org grantstation.comThe post NPA 008: Grant Writing – From Preparation to Submission first appeared on Nonprofit Ally.

In this podcast I talk with Ann Myren from Resources and Results Consulting LLC. She is a nonprofit consultant specializing in grant writing and strategic planning. In this episode she talks about planning to write a grant, how to find grants, grant writing best practices and gives us a “grant writing check list” you should use before you submit your grant application. To start the podcast we played a quick game of “Fact or Myth”. Spoiler alert… they all turn out to be myths: <ol> <li>Start ups can’t get grants. MYTH</li> <li>We must have matching funds to get grants. MYTH (but good idea)</li> <li>We must be a 501.c.3 to get a grant. MYTH (funding criteria could allow for partnering with another nonprofit)</li> <li>Grant writing is complicated and takes specialized skills. MYTH</li> <li>We can’t ask for a lot of money. MYTH</li> <li>We already got a grant from Agency “A”, we can’t ask them again. MYTH</li> <li>There are no grants for the services we provide. MYTH</li> <li>Grants won’t cover our operating expenses. MYTH</li> <li>We can function on grants alone. MYTH</li> </ol> <h3>TIPS TO GETTING YOUR FIRST GRANT</h3> <ul> <li>Get a strategic plan. Show how you are going to do what you say you are going to do. A strategic plan is your blue print and demonstrates to the grantor that you have your act together.</li> <li>Go for smaller grants first. Not necessary but good to build off of for next grant.</li> <li>Research granting agency. Who have they given to in the past, do you meet their requirements, can they fund the amount you need.</li> <li>Contact the funder. Read their website to see who to contact and if it is encouraged.</li> <li>Get letters of support from other organizations.</li> <li>Have a budget – not just for project but for entire year.</li> </ul> <h3>REVIEW YOUR GRANT PRIOR TO SUBMISSION</h3> Ask Yourself <ul> <li>Did you repeat yourself? Do you say the same thing in multiple sections?</li> <li>Did you put supporting information in the grant? Did you compare it to other successful projects? Did you use quotes that substantiate your statements?</li> <li>Did you answer all the questions completely?</li> </ul> Other Checks <ul> <li>Check spelling and grammar.</li> <li>Check your math. Is the budget laid our correctly? Does it add up?</li> <li>Be sure to have someone proof read your grant prior to submission.</li> <li>Keep all final documents organized in a way you can find them again on your computer. If you can’t find it you can’t repurpose for another purpose. (See organizing files here).</li> </ul> <h3>PROGRAM LINKS</h3> Ann Myren can be contacted in at: Website: <a href="http://myrenandstern.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">myrenandstern.com</a> Linkedin: <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/pub/ann-myren/49/649/597" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.linkedin.com/pub/annmyren</a> <h3>RESOURCES</h3> <a href="http://foundationcenter.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">foundationcenter.org</a> <a href="http://grantstation.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">grantstation.com</a>The post <a href="https://nonprofitally.com/podcast-nonprofit-grant-writing/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">NPA 008: Grant Writing – From Preparation to Submission</a> first appeared on <a href="https://nonprofitally.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nonprofit Ally</a>.

NPA 008: Grant Writing – From Preparation to Submission

If there is one thing nonprofits do a lot, it is look for funding. This funding comes in the form of grants, membership dues, corporate sponsorship, individual donors and, of course, crowndfunding. In this episode, I talk with Devin Thorpe who is a motivational speaker, writer and holds an MBA from Cornell University. Devin believes that society is becoming more socially aware and that this leads to more opportunity for direct, peer-to-peer, fundraising. This may help explain why crowdfunding is one of the fastest growing forms of fundraising for nonprofits. Devin talks about crowdfunding strategy and gives and aweseome three step process to get you started on the road to success. Devin is a great speaker who is enthusaistic and knowledgable. This is a podcast you will listen to many times. Resourses Devin’s website: www.devinthorpe.com Devin’s business: YourMarkontheWorld.com Crowdfunding Platforms  Classy Crowdrise Fundrazr Razoo Fundly  How to Crowdfund Courses Crowdfunding for Socail Good (by Devin Thorpe) The Complete Crowdfunding Course (by Nonprofit Ally)The post NPA 067: The Quest for Funding first appeared on Nonprofit Ally.

If there is one thing nonprofits do a lot, it is look for funding. This funding comes in the form of grants, membership dues, corporate sponsorship, individual donors and, of course, crowndfunding. In this episode, I talk with Devin Thorpe who is a motivational speaker, writer and holds an MBA from Cornell University. Devin believes that society is becoming more socially aware and that this leads to more opportunity for direct, peer-to-peer, fundraising. This may help explain why crowdfunding is one of the fastest growing forms of fundraising for nonprofits. Devin talks about crowdfunding strategy and gives and aweseome three step process to get you started on the road to success. Devin is a great speaker who is enthusaistic and knowledgable. This is a podcast you will listen to many times. <h3>Resourses</h3> Devin’s website: <a href="https://www.devinthorpe.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">www.devinthorpe.com</a> Devin’s business: <a href="http://yourmarkontheworld.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">YourMarkontheWorld.com</a> <h3>Crowdfunding Platforms</h3> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.classy.org/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Classy</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.crowdrise.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Crowdrise</a></li> <li><a href="https://fundrazr.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Fundrazr</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.razoo.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Razoo</a></li> <li><a href="https://fundly.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Fundly</a></li> </ul> <h3>How to Crowdfund Courses</h3> <a href="http://crowdfundingforsocialgood.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Crowdfunding for Socail Good</a> (by Devin Thorpe) <a href="https://nonprofitally.com/courses/nonprofit-crowdfunding-course/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Complete Crowdfunding Course</a> (by Nonprofit Ally)The post <a href="https://nonprofitally.com/the-quest-for-funding/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">NPA 067: The Quest for Funding</a> first appeared on <a href="https://nonprofitally.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nonprofit Ally</a>.

NPA 067: The Quest for Funding

Nathan Runkle started an animal rights advocacy group when he was just 15 years old. Move ahead 18 some years and Mercy for Animals is now a nonprofit with 130 employees and $12M in revenue. How did Nathan do this? Well, it’s a long story. And it is a story Nathan shares in this interview. Nathan talks about the four pillars of his nonprofit and how it has blossomed into an international nonprofit affecting government regulations and corporate policy. During this growth, Nathan worked on building a great team of talented advocates, expanded his infrastructure and nurtured the support of supporters who helped fund the Mercy for Animals mission. To create a multi-million dollar nonprofit takes strategy, planning, budgeting and goals. Nathan shares with us the road map he used to build his nonprofit. Resources Website: mercyforanimals.org Mercy for Animals Book: mercyforanimals.org/bookThe post NPA 069: Roadmap to a Sustainable Nonprofit first appeared on Nonprofit Ally.

Nathan Runkle started an animal rights advocacy group when he was just 15 years old. Move ahead 18 some years and Mercy for Animals is now a nonprofit with 130 employees and $12M in revenue. How did Nathan do this? Well, it’s a long story. And it is a story Nathan shares in this interview. Nathan talks about the four pillars of his nonprofit and how it has blossomed into an international nonprofit affecting government regulations and corporate policy. During this growth, Nathan worked on building a great team of talented advocates, expanded his infrastructure and nurtured the support of supporters who helped fund the Mercy for Animals mission. To create a multi-million dollar nonprofit takes strategy, planning, budgeting and goals. Nathan shares with us the road map he used to build his nonprofit. <h3>Resources</h3> Website: <a href="http://www.mercyforanimals.org/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">mercyforanimals.org</a> Mercy for Animals Book: <a href="http://www.mercyforanimals.org/book" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">mercyforanimals.org/book</a>The post <a href="https://nonprofitally.com/roadmap-to-sustainable-nonprofit/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">NPA 069: Roadmap to a Sustainable Nonprofit</a> first appeared on <a href="https://nonprofitally.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nonprofit Ally</a>.

NPA 069: Roadmap to a Sustainable Nonprofit

For those who have heard the podcast already… the subtitle to this article is: “Why your Mother Never Reads your Newsletter”. (It’s an inside joke. You have to listen to the podcast to get it 🙂 If you are working with a small nonprofit, then the chances are part of your job includes “Nonprofit Communications and Marketing”. If you publish a blog, post to facebook or twitter, give presentations, make videos or publish a newsletter then, yes – you are a “Communications Manager”. In this podcast I talk with Kivi Leroux Miller from NonprofitMarketingGuide.com. She is the author of two award winning books, a coach, a consultant and a trainer. To create a successful communications plan you have to start with a good strategy. There are three core questions you need to ask to help you with your marketing/communication strategy. Three Core Communications Strategy Questions  Who is your target audience? Demographics is important, but even better is to determine what their values are and how they spend their time. What is you message to those people? What is your call to action? How do you get that message to those people?  Learn More about your Audience Once you have a plan, you need to craft your message. It is important to create content that is relevant to your audience. Kivi suggest “listening in” to social media to learn more about what people are talking about. If possible, do a mini focus group – nothing formal – just a cup of coffee with a few people. Then just asked some questions to find out what is important to them and what their challenges are. You can also try a survey (read this great article – Get better results from surveys). This can give you valuable nuggets of information on what is important to your audience. Once you determine this, it is time to get the message out. The Three Avenues of Communication  Online – email, social media, newsletters, video Personal – give presentations, meet in person, call on phone Advertising: posters, flyers, mailers, adwords, radio  With a better idea of who your audience is it will be easier to develop and deliver your content. So make your plan, target your audience and then produce your content. Resources Kivi’s website is at: NonprofitMarketingGuide.com Kivi on Facebook: facebook.com/kivilm Kivi on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kivilerouxmillerThe post NPA 028: How to Market to your Target Audience first appeared on Nonprofit Ally.

For those who have heard the podcast already… the subtitle to this article is: “Why your Mother Never Reads your Newsletter”. (It’s an inside joke. You have to listen to the podcast to get it 🙂 If you are working with a small nonprofit, then the chances are part of your job includes “Nonprofit Communications and Marketing”. If you publish a blog, post to facebook or twitter, give presentations, make videos or publish a newsletter then, yes – you are a “Communications Manager”. In this podcast I talk with Kivi Leroux Miller from <a href="http://www.nonprofitmarketingguide.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">NonprofitMarketingGuide.com</a>. She is the author of two award winning books, a coach, a consultant and a trainer. To create a successful communications plan you have to start with a good strategy. There are three core questions you need to ask to help you with your marketing/communication strategy. <h3>Three Core Communications Strategy Questions</h3> <ol> <li>Who is your target audience? Demographics is important, but even better is to determine what their values are and how they spend their time.</li> <li>What is you message to those people? What is your call to action?</li> <li>How do you get that message to those people?</li> </ol> <h3>Learn More about your Audience</h3> Once you have a plan, you need to craft your message. It is important to create content that is relevant to your audience. Kivi suggest “listening in” to social media to learn more about what people are talking about. If possible, do a mini focus group – nothing formal – just a cup of coffee with a few people. Then just asked some questions to find out what is important to them and what their challenges are. You can also try a survey (read this great article – <a href="http://nonprofitally.com/five-tips-for-better-surveys" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Get better results from surveys</a>). This can give you valuable nuggets of information on what is important to your audience. Once you determine this, it is time to get the message out. The Three Avenues of Communication <ul> <li>Online – email, social media, newsletters, video</li> <li>Personal – give presentations, meet in person, call on phone</li> <li>Advertising: posters, flyers, mailers, adwords, radio</li> </ul> With a better idea of who your audience is it will be easier to develop and deliver your content. So make your plan, target your audience and then produce your content. <h3>Resources</h3> Kivi’s website is at: <a href="http://www.nonprofitmarketingguide.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">NonprofitMarketingGuide.com</a> Kivi on Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/kivilm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">facebook.com/kivilm</a> Kivi on LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kivilerouxmiller" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">linkedin.com/in/kivilerouxmiller</a>The post <a href="https://nonprofitally.com/how-to-market-to-your-target-audience/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">NPA 028: How to Market to your Target Audience</a> first appeared on <a href="https://nonprofitally.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nonprofit Ally</a>.

NPA 028: How to Market to your Target Audience

When it comes to raising money with crowdfunding, there is one thing all successful campaigns have in common… they all have a compelling video. This video tells the story of their organization. But it is not a historical type video that talks about “why” they do what they do. It is a story of “how” they do what they do.In the episode, we talk with Mauricio Belgrano, owner of Name Sake Pictures. He shares with us tips and ideas on how to create the best video possible for your nonprofit. He does this by critiquing an already made video (below) and giving suggestions on how to make it better.So, first, watch this video. Then sit back and enjoy the podcast.ResourcesMauricio’s Website: NameSakePictures.comNonprofit Ally Articles by MauricoEbooks Mentions During PodcastThe Ultimate Guide to Nonprofit Fundraising with CrowdfundingNonprofit Bylaws Made Easy			The post NPA 040: How to Win Donors with Video first appeared on Nonprofit Ally.

When it comes to raising money with crowdfunding, there is one thing all successful campaigns have in common… they all have a compelling video. This video tells the story of their organization. But it is not a historical type video that talks about “why” they do what they do. It is a story of “how” they do what they do.In the episode, we talk with Mauricio Belgrano, owner of <a href="http://www.namesakepictures.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Name Sake Pictures</a>. He shares with us tips and ideas on how to create the best video possible for your nonprofit. He does this by critiquing an already made video (below) and giving suggestions on how to make it better.So, first, watch this video. Then sit back and enjoy the podcast.<h3>Resources</h3>Mauricio’s Website: <a href="http://www.namesakepictures.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">NameSakePictures.com</a>Nonprofit Ally <a href="http://nonprofitally.com/author/ally_mauricio" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Articles by Maurico</a><h3>Ebooks Mentions During Podcast</h3><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Nonprofit-Fundraising-Crowdfunding--finish-ebook/dp/B018VMJG0I" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Ultimate Guide to Nonprofit Fundraising with Crowdfunding</a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Nonprofit-Bylaws-Made-Easy-Complete-ebook/dp/B0175FBD3U" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nonprofit Bylaws Made Easy</a>		 	The post <a href="https://nonprofitally.com/how-to-win-donors-with-video/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">NPA 040: How to Win Donors with Video</a> first appeared on <a href="https://nonprofitally.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nonprofit Ally</a>.

NPA 040: How to Win Donors with Video

What if I were to tell you that what your nonprofit does — doesn’t matter. Now, give me a second to clarify: the point here is that “what” is the wrong place to put your focus when it comes to fundraising writing. Potential donors and supporters aren’t really interested in information about your programs or what you hope to do — they need information about the, “Why.” It’s really important to uncover the people behind what your organization does (Especially when creating content for a crowdfunding campaign): the social impact, the emotional hook, the people who remind you every day why your organization does what it does. Your nonprofit organization can create this human connectivity by fusing story-telling into your crowdfunding campaign strategy. Here are a few things to consider as you prepare your writing strategy for a crowdfunding campaign. How will your organization create its content? Quality content is an essential piece of any successful crowdfunding campaign. This means if you’re putting any effort at all into this type of fundraising campaign, is vital that your organization find the write person to create this content — whether it be a professional writer, an active supporter or volunteer with strong writing experience. How do you know if someone inside your organization is fit to do the job? You need to be confident that a volunteers’ work is going to be effective for your campaign, so start by considering two factors:  Does the person actually enjoy writing? If not, writing all the content for this campaign will become a chore. And, there’s a lot of writing to be done — the last thing you want to do is slow down the momentum of your campaign because creating great stories seemed like too much work. Does the person have strong interviewing skills? While you can prepare a standard list of questions to use in interviews about the “why” of your organization, when it comes time to actually do the interview your writer better be able to think on his or her feet and get the real, emotional conversations started.  What are the essential “ingredients” to a successfully written crowdfunding pitch? While there isn’t a black and white answer for the set number of paragraphs your writing needs, which paragraph should talk about what, and so forth — there are some general guidelines to follow as to the flow of your story-focused campaign pitch.  Start with an emotional hook. Bring your readers to tears, or evoke belly laughs so vigorous they bounce off their chairs and climb back up looking for more. The point is, you want potential donors reading your campaign to be interested from the start — and that starts with an emotionally captivating human story. Give brief details about how your organization helps. Make the transition natural by explaining, in generic terms, how your nonprofit helped the person in the emotional hook. Explain that the problem still exists. Just because your organization helped the person in the first example, doesn’t mean your work is done. Use statistics that showcase how many more people are still in need, or other data or information that truly showcases the societal need for your nonprofit. Call to action/the ask. Tell people what you need them to do, and be specific.  Now, that you have all the right ingredients, it’s time to be sure your mixing it in with the essential characteristics of writing that will truly captivate your audience: here, study up on the 5 essential elements of any successful crowdfunding campaign here. Resources The best way to learn more about Lyssa is to visit her website: lyssaschmidt.com Twitter: TipsOnPurpose Note: these show notes were written by Lyssa herself. How cool is that?! Website Hosting Mentioned in Podcast Make your Nonprofit Website Get website hosting with HostGatorThe post NPA 038: Create Crowdfunding Content that Converts Visitors to Donors first appeared on Nonprofit Ally.

What if I were to tell you that what your nonprofit does — doesn’t matter. Now, give me a second to clarify: the point here is that “what” is the wrong place to put your focus when it comes to fundraising writing. Potential donors and supporters aren’t really interested in information about your programs or what you hope to do — they need information about the, “Why.” It’s really important to uncover the people behind what your organization does (Especially when creating content for a crowdfunding campaign): the social impact, the emotional hook, the people who remind you every day why your organization does what it does. Your nonprofit organization can create this human connectivity by fusing story-telling into your crowdfunding campaign strategy. Here are a few things to consider as you <a href="http://www.lyssaschmidt.com/blog/how-to-prepare-writing-for-my-crowdfunding-campaign/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">prepare your writing strategy for a crowdfunding campaign.</a> How will your organization create its content? Quality content is an essential piece of any successful crowdfunding campaign. This means if you’re putting any effort at all into this type of fundraising campaign, is vital that your organization find the write person to create this content — whether it be a professional writer, an active supporter or volunteer with strong writing experience. How do you know if someone inside your organization is fit to do the job? You need to be confident that a volunteers’ work is going to be effective for your campaign, so start by considering two factors: <ul> <li>Does the person actually enjoy writing? If not, writing all the content for this campaign will become a chore. And, there’s a lot of writing to be done — the last thing you want to do is slow down the momentum of your campaign because creating great stories seemed like too much work.</li> <li>Does the person have strong interviewing skills? While you can prepare a standard list of questions to use in interviews about the “why” of your organization, when it comes time to actually do the interview your writer better be able to think on his or her feet and get the real, emotional conversations started.</li> </ul> What are the essential “ingredients” to a successfully written crowdfunding pitch? While there isn’t a black and white answer for the set number of paragraphs your writing needs, which paragraph should talk about what, and so forth — there are some general guidelines to follow as to the flow of your story-focused campaign pitch. <ul> <li>Start with an emotional hook. Bring your readers to tears, or evoke belly laughs so vigorous they bounce off their chairs and climb back up looking for more. The point is, you want potential donors reading your campaign to be interested from the start — and that starts with an emotionally captivating human story.</li> <li>Give brief details about how your organization helps. Make the transition natural by explaining, in generic terms, how your nonprofit helped the person in the emotional hook.</li> <li>Explain that the problem still exists. Just because your organization helped the person in the first example, doesn’t mean your work is done. Use statistics that showcase how many more people are still in need, or other data or information that truly showcases the societal need for your nonprofit.</li> <li>Call to action/the ask. Tell people what you need them to do, and be specific.</li> </ul> Now, that you have all the right ingredients, it’s time to be sure your mixing it in with the essential characteristics of writing that will truly captivate your audience: here, study up on the <a href="http://www.lyssaschmidt.com/blog/writing-tips-for-crowdfunding-campaigns-to-boost-contributions/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">5 essential elements of any successful crowdfunding campaign here</a>. <h3>Resources</h3> The best way to learn more about Lyssa is to visit her website: <a href="http://www.lyssaschmidt.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">lyssaschmidt.com</a> Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/TipsOnPurpose" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">TipsOnPurpose</a> Note: these show notes were written by Lyssa herself. How cool is that?! <h3>Website Hosting Mentioned in Podcast</h3> <a href="http://nonprofitally.com/make-a-nonprofit-website" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Make your Nonprofit Website</a> <a href="http://nonprofitally.com/hostgator" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Get website hosting with HostGator</a>The post <a href="https://nonprofitally.com/write-crowdfunding-content-that-converts/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">NPA 038: Create Crowdfunding Content that Converts Visitors to Donors</a> first appeared on <a href="https://nonprofitally.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nonprofit Ally</a>.

NPA 038: Create Crowdfunding Content that Converts Visitors to Donors

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