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How to Encourage Monthly Donors – And Why People Give This article is packed with easy, actionable tips for increasing donations, understanding why people give, and building a strong base of recurring donors. Establish Your Value Proposition Start with a strong value proposition—why should someone spend their money on your cause? Think of it this way: you’re competing for a slice of their disposable income. So, ask yourself, why should they choose your mission? Can they see themselves in your work? Are you making an impact that’s meaningful to them? Donors are trusting you to use their funds responsibly and to report back on the difference it’s making. So, share your data. Tell meaningful stories. And recognize them personally because their support is central to your success. Define your unique value. Is it about reducing traffic fatalities, fostering a kindness culture, or something else? Craft this into a memorable phrase that will bring attention to your fundraiser. Understanding Why People Donate Connection is the cornerstone of giving—connection to the cause, the people, and the impact. Create opportunities to listen to your donors by asking questions. Send a short survey after each donation to ask what inspired them and what impact they hope to see. For recurring donors, ask what keeps them coming back. Knowing these motivations is key to building a sustainable, recurring donor base. Build a Strong Brand An effective nonprofit brand embodies a clear vision, mission, and set of values. Your brand should resonate with your audience, inspire unity, and adapt as you evolve. Keep it authentic—whether you’re a grassroots movement or a national powerhouse, embrace who you are and how that connects with your community. Putting Your Value Proposition into Action Now, let’s dive into how to put your value proposition into practice for your next fundraiser. If you’re working to build membership or form a coalition, here’s an example of how to structure your campaign landing page for maximum impact: Campaign Name: Make it short and memorable. Value Proposition: State why someone should give. Mission: Clearly outline the mission and how it relates to this project. Vision: Explain how this campaign brings you closer to achieving your vision. Data & Stories: Share stories and data that make supporting this cause a no-brainer. Objectives: Detail how donations will be used and the impact they’ll make. Values & Beliefs: Share what you stand for and why it equates to impact. Audience: Help potential donors see themselves in the story and mission. Goal: Set a comfortable target and a stretch goal to strive for. Call to Action: Invite the audience to join and make a difference by donating today. Remember, each piece of content should be brief yet compelling. Readers should be able to quickly put the pieces together. Conclusion To grow your monthly donor base, keep the connection alive by showing how much their support matters. Understand their motivations, build a brand that resonates, and always keep your value proposition front and center. With every campaign, you’re not just fundraising—you’re building a community of people who care and want to make a difference with you.

How to Encourage Monthly Donors – And Why People Give

November 11th 2024

This article is packed with easy, actionable tips for increasing donations, understanding why people give, and building a strong base of recurring don

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Giving Tuesday Success

Giving Tuesday Success

November 1st 2024

Be Impossible to Ignore The key to any Giving Tuesday campaign is to be impossible to ignore. Ensure your theme is top-notch; it should be both emot

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Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Done Right

Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Done Right

November 1st 2024

Fundraising is all about building community. Throughout the process, you might ask: How do you serve as many people as possible? How exactly do you pr

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Nonprofits are open for inspection by the public and potential donors. Organizations should strive to operate efficiently and ethically, while demonstrating a positive impact through their financials. When applying for grants, nonprofits are often required to keep administrative and overhead costs within a certain threshold, typically 10-20%, for better or for worse. Managing overhead within this range can be tricky—especially when investing in overhead could elevate your nonprofit to the next level. Like businesses, nonprofits often need to spend money to make money. So, how does an executive leader address concerns about investing in the organization when it might raise overhead costs? Learning how to sell funders and your board on supporting capacity-building efforts is a key skill for nonprofit leaders. It's important for these leaders to understand—and convey—the negative impact of underinvestment. How will strategic investment positively move the needle? This article will guide you through breaking the overhead myth and understand why investing in your nonprofit is essential. The Overhead Myth Capacity building is about maturing an organization so it can better advance its mission, vision, and long-term impact. It’s a continuous effort that sets organizations up for success. Unfortunately, the idea that overhead equals underperformance is a myth that puts nonprofits into a box. Overhead can be a good thing—it might mean your nonprofit has a strong, effective team, is using up-to-date technology, or has staff out fundraising to bring in more resources to serve more people. Nonprofits work tirelessly to build community and create change on very limited resources. Wastefulness isn’t a luxury nonprofits can afford. So, how do you break free from this “overhead myth” and encourage your board and donors to support capacity building? Consequences of Underinvesting What happens when you underinvest? As an example, being understaffed doesn't make an organization more efficient. It can lead to lower service quality, high staff turnover, burnout, and stagnation. In another example, lack of investment in technology can hinder productivity, data management, and processes. Staffing and technology are crucial to an organization’s success. Nonprofit boards and donors rely on the executive leadership to highlight when and where it's crucial to invest. Communication Preferences Everyone communicates differently. Some people love hard data, while others connect with storytelling or emotional appeals. Some appreciate directness, others prefer a more delicate approach. When presenting, try to touch on different styles, and when communicating one-on-one, be mindful of the other person’s preferences. Tools like 16Personalities, Clifton Strengths (now referred to as Gallup), or Color Code can help you understand communication and personality styles. Knowing what information helps someone make an informed decision is key when seeking approval for investments. Communicate, Communicate, Communicate Board members aren’t mind readers—they need to be kept in the loop. Sometimes, information needs to be repeated multiple times to ensure all board members receive it. Here are some proactive communication tips: Send a weekly newsletter or memo highlighting wins and struggles throughout the week. Create a Slack channel for sharing knowledge, starting conversations, and keeping board members informed of challenges. Have regular one-on-ones with each board member. Form workgroups and committees, join meetings to offer support. Hold regular board meetings with agendas shared 48 hours in advance. Develop a strategic plan every three years. Encourage meaningful board engagement—volunteering, providing lunch for staff, etc. Some of these tasks can be delegated—board chairs might manage the meeting agenda, secretaries take notes and follow up, and consultants handle strategic planning. Managing a board is a balancing act, but an executive director can foster a proactive communication culture. Change the Messaging How do you sell your board or donors on capacity building? Start by identifying the problem. Maybe share a story about an overworked staff member, a system failure, or a client who the organization was unable to serve? Show the impact. How is this issue hurting the organization? What would the solution look like? Better donor relations? Better services? Use data, tell stories, and show what other organizations are doing. Anticipate pushback and welcome questions. Give the board time to digest the information before following up with a formal vote. Invite them to see the issue firsthand and be part of the solution. No Surprise Culture While a 'no surprise' culture might be ideal, it’s not always realistic. However, there are ways to mitigate surprises, such as asking targeted questions and seeking input from stakeholders before making decisions. Use the proactive communication strategies mentioned earlier. Sometimes, a decision must be made, even if it’s not perfect. Confidence comes from making the best possible decision with the information at hand, always keeping the organization’s 'why' in mind. Legitimate Programmatic Expenses As mentioned, overhead costs usually need to fall into the 10-20% range to appease grantors, donors, and the public. But some overhead can legitimately be classified as programmatic expenses, as long as it supports the mission. Examples include: Salaries, Wages, and Fringe Benefits: Direct program staff salaries, or a portion of administrative salaries if they support program activities. Facilities and Utilities: Space used for program delivery, and even depreciation, can be categorized as program costs.  Technology Costs: Website, subscriptions, or software related to delivering programs may be considered programmatic. Training and Development: Program-related training and professional development can be considered a program expense. Marketing and Outreach: If promoting a program or event for your nonprofit, it’s programmatic. Some examples include community dinners, festivals, or workshops. Consultants and Contractors: Hiring consultants or contractors to enhance programs can be a program cost. An example is hiring a consultant to conduct the strategic planning process. Equipment and Supplies: Items like laptops, office supplies, if used for program delivery, are programmatic. Travel Expenses: Travel, including mileage reimbursement, that supports program delivery is a programmatic expense. It's crucial to speak with a lawyer or accountant to manage your books accurately and ensure precise records. Sourcing Funds There are many ways to source funds: individual donors, grants, contracts, special events, sales, sponsorships, investments, and more. Different sources of funds are critical for running an impactful nonprofit. Engage potential donors like you would your board—explain the need, demonstrate the solution, and align it with their interests.  Invest in Your Organization Investing in your nonprofit is crucial to making a bigger impact. Whether you’re strategic planning or hiring, recognize that overhead costs can strengthen your foundation. Keep shining a light on this with your board and funders, build relationships, and keep investing in your mission. Need help with strategic planning or hiring the perfect fit? Contact Mighty Penguin. We’ll partner with you to keep moving the needle in positive, achievable ways.

Breaking the Overhead Myth: Why Investing in Your Nonprofit is Essential

September 23rd 2024

Nonprofits are open for inspection by the public and potential donors. Organizations should strive to operate efficiently and ethically, while demonst

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Fundraising can be for many purposes, whether it's for program expenses, general operating funds, capacity building, or capital campaigns. Some of the ways you might “make the ask” include direct mail, major gift campaigns, grants, crowdfunding, memberships, events and galas, corporate sponsorships, or planned giving. That’s a pretty long list! So, who manages all these different methods, and which ones should you prioritize? Larger nonprofits may have a professional development team or consultants implementing all of the above strategies. They often also involve staff, volunteers, a high-performing board, and an executive director in fundraising efforts. Smaller organizations, on the other hand, may choose just 1-3 methods to focus on, gradually enhancing their processes over time. Fundraising initiatives are likely overseen by the board and volunteers. In either case, fundraising is a shared responsibility! Get Your Strategy in Place First, decide which fundraising strategies your organization will focus on for the year, and set a main objective (or goal) for each strategy. Then, create priorities (sub-goals) to support each objective. You might have 2-5 priorities per objective, each followed by an implementation plan with benchmarks, tasks, roles, responsibilities, and timelines. When you put all of this together, you’ve got your development plan! For example, a section of your development plan might look like this: Objective: Raise $5,000 through online fundraising. 1.1 Priority: Host an annual crowdfunding campaign. Benchmark: Raise $3,000 through crowdfunding by 2025. Task Who Timeline Create crowdfunding campaign roadmap Jill May 2024 Launch campaign John September 2024 Evaluate campaign Cindy December 2024 Donor stewardship roadmap & plan Board January 2025  This structured approach allows you to measure success at each stage and adapt as needed. Supplement your plan with graphs, logic models, or additional roadmaps as necessary. Be a Great Project Manager Successful fundraising is all about being a good project manager, telling compelling stories, maintaining professionalism, and building confidence among your supporters. Use video, live streaming, and social media to create awareness and understanding. Establish themes and activities that your audience will recognize year after year, and develop a clear case for why supporting your cause is crucial. Project management tools such as Google Workspace are free and easy to use. What to Bring to a Donor Meeting Let’s say you’re meeting with a local credit union or dentist’s office that’s excited about your corporate sponsorship program and were enticed about boosting their brand awareness. What should you bring? Create a brief narrative that explains who you are, what you do, your impact, and why you need their support. Show how their donation will provide a tangible return on investment (ROI)—maybe they get their logo featured in social media posts, email campaigns, or the annual report. Spend 75% of your time listening and engaging with them. Get comfortable talking about your cause briefly and powerfully. This strategy also applies to other fundraising strategies; just make sure to tailor the materials accordingly. (For more on engaging with donors, check out our article, "No Kissing on the First Date!") Train the Troops Everyone involved in fundraising needs to be on the same page. Do they know the organization’s values? What makes it unique? Why is it needed? Make sure you have a compelling messaging kit and that everyone knows how to use the right language in their conversations with potential donors. Say "Thank You" Three Times Over You can never thank donors enough. Many donors don’t give again because they weren’t thanked properly or didn’t feel their donation made an impact. Go above and beyond with personal emails, phone calls, and personal invitations to events. Show up at their company parties if applicable. Make them feel valued! How to Make the Ask: Action Steps Create a gift acceptance policy to prevent any unnecessary issues arising. Develop your plan with objectives, priorities, and implementation strategies. Monitor for success. Prepare training materials to ensure everyone is aligned with the goals and messaging. Make a list of donors and their ask amounts. Develop an engagement strategy for your top prospects for each strategy, whether it's corporate sponsors or major donors. Be ethical—ensure all “askers” are reflecting the organization’s values. Keep learning and growing—document what works and what doesn’t. And always improve! Refresh sponsorship materials annually for relevancy. Include who you are, what you do, the impact you are making, and the need.  Overcoming Fundraising Obstacles Ensure a clear call to action: ask directly, for example, “Join us by donating $10 today.” Supply evidence: include testimonials and success stories. Demonstrate impact: use visuals to show how donations make a difference. Generate excitement: create buzz with live streams, fun stunts, or creative activities. Always follow up: thank donors and let them know their donation made a difference. A good CRM system is key. Communicate trust: spotlight board members, enhance your social media presence, showcase impact, or earn a transparency seal through Candid. Ensure a user-friendly experience: make sure your donation landing page is accessible and mobile-friendly. Fundraising is about personal outreach, networking, storytelling, and showing ROI. If you need help creating a development plan, implementing fundraising strategies, or overcoming obstacles, give Mighty Penguin a call today! We can help create a fundraising plan and narratives that people want to stand behind.

How to Make the Ask

September 20th 2024

Fundraising can be for many purposes, whether it's for program expenses, general operating funds, capacity building, or capital campaigns. Some of the

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A Comprehensive Guide to Crowdfunding for Nonprofits Crowdfunding has emerged as a powerful tool for nonprofits to fund their missions by engaging their communities. Whether you're looking to raise funds for a specific project, validate a new idea, or build a recurring donation stream, crowdfunding can be an effective way to mobilize support. In this guide, we’ll explore the key elements of crowdfunding, different types of crowdfunding campaigns, and how your nonprofit can leverage this approach to achieve their goals. What is Crowdfunding? Crowdfunding is a type of fundraiser that seeks to raise money from the organization’s “crowd”. For nonprofits, this may mean engaging your dedicated community—whether that’s friends, family, past or current supporters, or the broader public—to support your cause. It's about creating a shared sense of purpose and inviting people to be part of something bigger. How Crowdfunding Works and What Makes You a Good Candidate Before launching a crowdfunding campaign, it’s essential to evaluate your network and assess your readiness. Here’s how you can determine if crowdfunding is right for your nonprofit: Assess Your Network: Who is in your network? This may include friends, family, clients, customers, colleagues, social media followers, etc. Can your team extend this network through network mapping? Community Engagement: How are you currently engaging with your community? Have you built trust with them? A successful crowdfunding campaign usually requires a robust email list, SMS contacts, and active social media channels. Willingness to Ask for Support: Are you comfortable asking your community for funds? Successful crowdfunding relies on the ability to make direct asks and mobilize your supporters. If you believe you have a supportive crowd, the next step is to plan your campaign. This involves: Setting a Funding Goal: How much do you want to raise, and what will the funds be used for? Clearly define your outcome and what supporters can expect from their contributions. Offering Rewards: What benefits or recognition will you offer your supporters? Consider partnering with local businesses or leveraging community donations to provide meaningful rewards. Rewards may also be special types of recognition donors receive throughout the year. Choosing a Platform: Which crowdfunding platform will you use, and why? Your choice should align with your campaign’s goals and your audience.   Campaign Timeline: Planning typically takes 3-6 months, and campaigns usually last 4-6 weeks. Prior to launch, you’ll want to create a roadmap with project tasks and deadlines. Creating a Marketing Strategy: Develop a day-to-day marketing plan that includes video content, social media engagement, email and SMS campaigns, media outreach, word-of-mouth networking, partnerships with influencers, and hosting fun events. Events may include a private launch party, a public launch party, and smaller activities to keep the excitement going throughout the campaign.  Pro tip: On average, organizations will raise 180% more by utilizing a day-to-day marketing plan that was created before launch. Private vs. Public Campaign Windows: Successful crowdfunders often raise 30-70% of their funds during a private campaign window before going public. This involves engaging board members, staff, and volunteers through personal networks. The goal is to build momentum and show potential public donors that there’s already strong support for your cause. Pro tip: Strangers or a “cold” audience won’t support before 30-70% of the goal is met!  When approaching potential supporters before and during the private window, focus on building deeper relationships rather than just making a financial ask. Engage them in meaningful conversations, ask for their insights on the campaign, and align your mission with their personal values. As the public launch nears, consider asking questions like, “If you were to donate when we launch our campaign, what would that look like? Could we count on your support?” Different Types of Crowdfunding Campaigns Depending on your goals and audience, you may choose from several types of campaigns: Crowdstarter: This type of campaign relies on a personal network and is typically smaller in scale, raising less than $10,000. It’s highly personal and driven by close connections, like mom and Uncle Joe. Crowd Validator: This campaign is about testing an idea and seeing how many people will support it, often to validate a new product or business. The focus is on the number of supporters rather than the amount raised.  CrowdScaler: Designed to acquire new customers and build a larger network, this campaign involves a heavy marketing budget and a strong strategy to generate excitement around a new product, or business. CrowdFinisher: This type of campaign is for organizations that have already built a strong community over the years. The audience is highly engaged. You've given three times over and they are ready to give back to you too.  CrowdPatron: Also Ideal for nonprofits, this campaign seeks recurring memberships or donations. Members might receive exclusive access, recognition, or other benefits. It may involve ongoing fundraising efforts, with several smaller pushes throughout the year and one major push at year-end. Why Your Nonprofit Should Consider Crowdfunding For many nonprofits, the CrowdPatron model can be particularly interesting. It focuses on engaging staff, board members, and volunteers to tap into their personal and social networks for recurring donations. Creating tiers of benefits and recognition is crucial to this approach, as it motivates supporters to give regularly. A big annual campaign combined with smaller quarterly pushes can help maintain interest and support throughout the year. This strategy not only drives donations but also strengthens your relationships with supporters, ensuring that your nonprofit continues to thrive. Crowdfunding offers nonprofits a unique opportunity to engage their communities in meaningful ways. By carefully planning your campaign, choosing the right type of crowdfunding, and focusing on relationship-building, you can create a successful campaign that not only raises funds but also deepens your connection with your supporters. Crowdfund Better© Certified Team member Jill Colby is the first nonprofit Crowdfund Better® Certified Advisor in the U.S.! Jill has been working as a Client Manager and Grant Writer at Mighty Penguin for the past year and a half. She excels at helping nonprofit organizations and small businesses develop strategies and systems to accomplish their missions and goals. If you know of a nonprofit or social enterprise looking for crowdfunding guidance, share this post with them or reach out today!

A Comprehensive Guide to Crowdfunding for Nonprofits

August 16th 2024

Crowdfunding has emerged as a powerful tool for nonprofits to fund their missions by engaging their communities. Whether you're looking to raise funds

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How to Grow Your Nonprofit's Presence on YouTube Imagine growing your nonprofit's reach on a social media platform that not only drives awareness but also generates support and leads interested donors to your website. If that sounds like a dream, it's time to start building your nonprofit’s presence on YouTube. YouTube Keyword Research Before you can post about the topics that matter most to your mission, you need to consider which topics are gaining traction. One of the best ways to research trending video topics with low competition is to use a keyword tool specific to YouTube. VidIQ is an excellent keyword research tool that integrates directly with your YouTube account. When you integrate VidIQ, you'll see various statistics, including video competition, suggested keywords, hourly view statistics, and even tag rankings. Keywords Everywhere is another tool you can use to see metrics for popular YouTube topics, which can also be useful for other platforms requiring search terms like Google. Eye-Grabbing Content Ideas Creating the perfect content for your YouTube channel involves a few key steps. First, ensure you’re confident in your ability to create a video on the chosen topic. Second, check if the topic has a monthly search volume of at least 1,500. Third, evaluate the competition for the topic. Avoid researching terms or ideas that don't interest you. For instance, if your channel focuses on advocacy work, you don't need to create videos on unrelated trending topics. Your video topics should align with your mission and values. Use the keyword research tools mentioned above to narrow down those topics and couple them with your unique branding to create a channel worth subscribing to. To enhance your branding and increase the likelihood of attracting viewers, make sure your YouTube thumbnails are appealing, well-framed, and that the text is eye-catching. Video Branding Like any other social media platform, your YouTube videos should be easily identifiable in comparison to your brand. Don’t be afraid to mention that you have more to offer beyond your YouTube channel. While it's essential to save time as a content creator by reusing content across platforms, posting the exact same content regularly on every platform can deter people from subscribing to all of them. Include your branding, but don’t forget to offer a variety of content to your followers. Branding your content creates regular viewers and grows your subscriber list—hopefully on all of your social media platforms! Consistent Engagement Unlike other platforms, a small subscriber count does not equate to low viewership on YouTube. Consistent engagement with your audience can significantly increase your visibility. Share your posts in local networking groups to build organic reach and engagement. Find Facebook groups that support each other's accounts through likes, comments, and follows. The more engagement your posts receive, the more likely Facebook (and YouTube) will show your content to a wider audience. Offering Value Remember to offer value in your interactions. Whether it’s responding to comments, engaging with other creators, or offering exclusive content, providing value, awareness, and education to your audience fosters loyalty and encourages more people to support your cause. You may even consider hosting a podcast on YouTube to amplify your storytelling. In fact, you can read our previous article “10 Reasons Your Nonprofit Should Start a Podcast in 2024.”  Conclusion Growing your nonprofit's presence on YouTube is about more than just posting videos; it's about creating meaningful content that aligns with your mission and resonates with your audience. Thousands of people visit YouTube to find answers to their questions, and it doesn’t matter what niche your nonprofit operates in—there's an audience eager to learn and support your cause. Have you started your YouTube channel yet? Now is the perfect time to begin!   You may even consider hosting a podcast on YouTube. In fact, you can read our previous article “10 Reasons Your Nonprofit Should Start a Podcast in 2024.”

How to Grow Your Nonprofit's Presence on YouTube

August 16th 2024

Imagine growing your nonprofit's reach on a social media platform that not only drives awareness but also generates support and leads interested donor

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How to Make Effective Fundraising Calls Imagine you are working on securing major gifts or building a corporate sponsorship program. It's time to pick up the phone and start calling prospects. How do you make effective calls when you have mere seconds to make a good first impression? Be Prepared: Have a plan to keep the call on track. Be Knowledgeable: Be familiar with the prospect and their business.  Introduce Yourself Clearly: Confidently state your name and where you are calling from. Be Authentic: Don’t be too scripted. Instead, be personal and genuine. Reference Sent Materials: Mention the corporate sponsorship packet or case narrative you recently mailed or emailed. State Your Purpose: Explain that you are calling to gather their insight on the material sent and to set up an in-person or Zoom meeting to discuss. When it comes to meetings, encourage them to share what is important to them. Let them tell stories about their interactions with your organization and ask questions. Genuinely be curious about them and be passionate about your mission and programs too. Fundraisers should avoid common sales tactics; instead, focus on bonding over aligned passions, stories, and impact. You are offering them the chance to be part of something that has the potential to transform communities. Check out our previous article, "Your Major Gift List is About Offering Opportunities, Not Asking for Money." In this article, you will learn how to shift the focus from soliciting donations to presenting opportunities that can lead to significant change, helping nonprofits engage major donors more meaningfully.  Learning to “make the ask” is an important skill that takes time to develop. We have been honored to manage capital campaigns for many clients, including this diverse list of a few examples: Clark Planetarium WabiSabi Orem Fitness Center Historic Wendover Airfield Museum University of Utah Alumni House Loveland Living Planet Aquarium National Ability Center Oneida Stake Academy Friends of Historic Spring City Topaz Museum Roosevelt Aquatic Fitness Center Lantern House / St. Anne’s Center Mighty Penguin is our totem, tributed to our clients—the people who give their time, energy, and passion in the pursuit of making the world a better place. It signifies the principles and ideals we aspire to and witness every day working with people we admire: hard work, generosity, perseverance, loyalty, tenacity, wisdom, teamwork, and a bit of fun. We would be privileged to partner with your organization as we champion your project forward. Please contact our friendly team to get started today!

How to Make Effective Fundraising Calls

August 2nd 2024

Imagine you are working on securing major gifts or building a corporate sponsorship program. It's time to pick up the phone and start calling prospect

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Building Connections to Drive Your Mission Forward Learning and developing skills in networking is important for leadership success. Word-of-mouth referrals remain one of the best ways for organizations to grow, so it's crucial to prioritize building an effective network to increase and leverage resources through partnerships and collaborations. Building your network on social media is a great place to start. Some of our favorite platforms for networking are LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook. The Networking Power of LinkedIn The networking power of LinkedIn is unmatched by other social media platforms. LinkedIn is essential for professionals and organizations! This is a professional networking space for all things work and community. Linkedin makes it easy to connect with people in your target audience, those in your industry, and potential collaborators through direct messaging. When deciding who to connect with, think about people who could fill gaps in your network. Is there someone who could use your services? Without being pushy, kindly message them to keep you in mind if they are ever looking for services like yours. Take it a step further and offer a trial run or a discount. Does another organization offer services that you don’t, and vice versa? Could you collaborate? If so, send a message to schedule a virtual meeting to evaluate if the partnership would be a good fit. Building Connections on Instagram Next on the list of powerful networking platforms is Instagram. Try searching for podcasts related to your mission and see what comes up in the top posts. Take your time exploring, following, and engaging with the podcaster’s account. When ready, send a message expressing your appreciation for their work and your interest in being on their show. Mention that you'd like to connect via phone or Zoom to see if you would be a good fit. Be sure to offer value, such as a free service or product. If being on their podcast works out, come prepared with a special offer for them and their followers. Don’t be shy with your messaging! You may be pleasantly surprised by how responsive and kind people can be. Engaging in Groups on Facebook Your posts will get lost in the mix if you don’t network. For example, share your posts in local networking groups to build organic reach and engagement and interact with other like-minded Facebook posts. Run Facebook ads for an upcoming event or fundraiser. You may also consider starting a Facebook group of your own for your community to share their posts, ask questions, and start discussions. Need more ideas? Check out a previous article ‘50 Ways to Build Organic Engagement on Social Media.’  As a nonprofit leader, the success of your organization ultimately depends on you, so take the initiative to grow your network. Networking is all about being consistent with your outreach efforts. Finding the right partner organization, being on the right podcast, and finding the right Facebook community. When you find the right network, you can expect to embrace an abundance of opportunities. Remember, integrity, responsiveness, and honesty should be at the forefront of your mind when networking. Aim to give as much value as you hope to receive from others. Networking can significantly enhance your nonprofit's impact. By building strong, meaningful connections, you’ll ensure your mission reaches further and resonates more deeply with your community.

Building Connections to Drive Your Mission Forward

July 26th 2024

Learning and developing skills in networking is important for leadership success. Word-of-mouth referrals remain one of the best ways for organization

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Building organic engagement on social media is crucial for nonprofits to increase visibility, attract supporters, and fuel mission-driven initiatives. This article covers 50 ways to build organic engagement on the three major platforms: Facebook, Instagram, and Linkedin. Remember, any action performed on your content (likes, comments, shares, etc.) signals to the algorithms that they should show the post to more interested viewers. Facebook Share posts in local or relevant nonprofit Facebook groups. Mix it up occasionally, but maintain some consistency in scheduling content. Engage with location or cause-specific hashtags with your page. Share blog posts on Facebook. Post to your story. Share others' content to your feed or story. Work in engagement pod groups to request likes, comments, shares, etc. (works on all platforms). Engage with other nonprofit pages (like, comment, share, etc.). Start a Facebook group focused on your cause. Respond to messages. Join relevant groups from both your personal profile and your nonprofit page. Invite your friends to your Facebook group or page. Encourage feedback in your captions. Use 2-3 hashtags in your post captions. Engage with other people's posts after you post in relevant groups. Comment and show appreciation when people share your posts. Reshare your posts into your stories. Use consistent branding on your posts. Set up an auto-response in Messenger. Instagram Follow hashtags relevant to your cause. Use geotags on your posts. Use 5-10 relevant hashtags in your post description or comments. Include a description that prompts people to provide feedback or answer a question. Engage with similar accounts within 20-30 minutes of posting. Post in your stories. Like and comment on other people’s posts. Share your own posts into your stories. Send your posts to others when relevant. React to other people’s stories. Post reels as well as static posts. Ensure your account is set up as a professional profile. Share other people’s posts into your stories. Post at your highest engagement times according to the professional dashboard on your Instagram profile. Respond to comments. Share pictures to your story and include a link to your website when appropriate. Respond to messages. Post regularly. LinkedIn Join industry-specific groups. Respond to any comments and engage with your posts heavily within the first hour of posting to increase your chances of the algorithm favoring your posts. Use 2-3 location-based hashtags on your posts. Interact with posts within relevant industry or location-based groups. Join groups for your location (look for state and county groups). Send connection requests to people with mutual connections. Respond to messages. Share your posts in the groups you join. Post consistently. Repost other people’s content. Interact with posts that use hashtags you often use. Invite people to follow your nonprofit's page. Establish a group for your cause or specific nonprofit focus. Send messages and thank people for joining your group. Building a social media presence takes patience and dedication. Engaging with others is time-consuming, but it is a surefire way to grow organically. By consistently applying these strategies, your nonprofit can create a vibrant online community that supports and amplifies your mission.

50 Ways To Build Organic Engagement for Nonprofits

July 12th 2024

Building organic engagement on social media is crucial for nonprofits to increase visibility, attract supporters, and fuel mission-driven initiatives.

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