Last night, I was asked for some tips to help my fellow board members with a fundraising dinner on Thursday. Fundraising events so often devolve into board members huddling together in tight groups of people they all ready know.

But money is raised when board members act as ambassadors and hosts. Here’s what I wrote.

Tips on Working the Room

1. Remind yourself why you’re there
   As a board member, you’re not there to hangout with friends. You’re there to be a host. So meet new people and make others feel welcome.

2. Look for “centers of influence” you haven’t met
   As you look over the room, notice the people that seem to have a crowd around them. Go up and introduce yourself to those people you haven’t met.

3. Look for stragglers
   It’s also helpful to look for people feeling lost. Some people simply are uncomfortable. Do your best to make them welcome but don’t let them become a time suck. It can be great to introduce them to someone else who has something in common. That makes them feel more connected and allows you to walk away.

Here are some questions to help get conversation going

1. “What do you do when you’re not at an anti-trafficking dinner?”
   This will get a chuckle. But it also gets at “where do you work” without insulting at home parents and retired people.

2. “How did you get into that?”
   People love to tell their story. So be a person who’ll listen. They love you for asking, and you don’t have to carry the conversation all on your own! Don’t try to fill them up with facts about Amirah. The dinner program will do that. Just take the time to get to know the guests.

3. “How did you first hear about Amirah?”
   It’s nice knowing how people connect with us. It’ll show us what messaging is working, as well as who are our most effective evangelists.

Those were my tips. What would you add?

(c) The Fundraising Coach, LLC

Know you should be fundraising but just need a little kick? Sign up for the weekly Fundraising Kick!

Other Possibly Related posts:

1. 3 ways to help board members with leaving the board
2. Fundraising Secret #8: Plan Your Work; Work Your Plan
3. The Strategy Room

A couple days ago, I offered some tips on public speaking. 2 1/2 tips to be exact.

Since then, I thought of 2 more:

3. Be able to give your talk without electricity

There’s nothing more embarassing to watch than a presenter who’s completely lost without their PowerPoint slides. Stuff happens. Projectors go to sleep. Computers shut down. Organizers forget extension cords. Be prepared to give your talk without your props.

You only get a limited amount of time with an audience. Don’t blow it trying to be the IT department. Come to grips with the fact that this group will miss out on your great charts and cute slides and get on with the real reason you’re talking to them: to get them hooked on your organization’s vision.

This takes time. I know. I was shocked at how wedded I was to my Ask Without Fear! slides. But speaking without slides helped me grow in confidence and forced me to use word pictures to illustrate my talk. I found that these word pictures even made my presentations with slides more effective.

4. Ask the audience what they hope to get from the session

Worrying about filling the time for longer sessions can be nerve wracking. But if the audience is choosing to hear you speak, find out why. If you can ask them in advance, send out an email saying something like “I’m so excited about next week’s presentation. And I want to make sure it’s the best for you too. If you could leave with only one take-away from our time together, what would you want it to be?”

Now if you’re speaking to a group that is there whether you speak or note, like a Rotary club, or to a conference that doesn’t let you poll your audience, ask the organizer. Your organizer’s reputation is a bit on the line. So ask them what they think the audience wants from the talk. And ask them if there are any things you should avoid doing.

I find this helpful for paying gigs too. For some inexplicable reason, I usually am scared that I’ll run out of things to say. So on the day of the event, I ask the person who hired me: “What is more important to you: that I fill the entire time? Or that the audience has an amazing experience?”

I’ve never had a conference planner say they’d like to fill the time. But if that were more important to them, it’s good to know!

Those are the two tips I’d add to my original 2 1/2 tips. What would you add?

(c) The Fundraising Coach, LLC

Know you should be fundraising but just need a little kick? Sign up for the weekly Fundraising Kick!

Other Possibly Related posts:

1. 2 1/2 Public Speaking Tips for the Theatrically Timid
2. Raising support for the Waterville Public Library
3. Fundraising Follies: Erratic Public and Spell-Check

Let’s face it, fundraising involves speaking. Lots of it.

We speak to individuals. We speak to groups. We speak to volunteers, donors, staff, peers, bosses, everyone. And some of the best exposure we can get for our cause is doing public speaking to larger groups like service organizations, or depending on your cause, even conferences.

Despite this common requirement in fundraising, many of us seem really scared. Sure, there are some that love a stage. They seem energized and confident and able to command the crowd.

But what about the rest of us?

I’ve been speaking in front of groups large and small all my life. I’ve recently been coaching a client in growing in confidence as a speaker and I’m realizing that most of the advice I’ve received about public speaking has been just plain wrong. Here are 2 1/2 tips I find useful. I hope you’ll add your own in the comments!

1. Look for friendlies

The bad speaking advice is to look over peoples’ heads at the back wall. The theory is people are dumb enough to not notice you’re (literally) talking over their heads.

Sorry. That doesn’t work. And it makes you look silly.

Instead, try to find a few friendlies early on in your presentation. Friendlies are easy to find. Just look for smiling people that are nodding their head with you. You don’t want to talk to them the entire time. But it is amazing how energizing it is to come back to them throughout your talk.

If you’re really strategic, look for friendlies in each quadrant of the audience. That does make it feel more like you’re talking to every one.

2. Treat people like human beings

Chances are good you wouldn’t want anyone imagining you in your underwear, why would you try inflicting that on others?!

Mildly self-deprecating humor is a great way to treat people like humans, even if you’re not normally humorous. You can just created a standard joke about how nervous you are. Don’t dwell on the nervousness, but be real.

You could even make people feel great by explaining your nervousness is due to this group being so amazing at ________ [fill in the blank]. Don’t lie. But look for things that they might be doing that intimidate you.

I’m not advocating being sloppy. You should know your material. There’s nothing worse than a presenter that is nervous and clueless. Don’t be that guy.

2 1/2. Answer people like humans

One of the scariest things about speaking is that, if you are even the slightest level of interesting, people might have questions. But even if you know there was to know about your cause, you’d still get questions you don’t know how to answer.

So treat people like human beings by being authentic. You can start out by acknowledging the person and then you can ask the audience how they would answer it:

“Wow. That’s a great question. Does anyone here want to take a crack at it?”

This gives the questioner a bit of an ego boost — they were praised by the presenter — and there’s usually always someone in the group dying to speak. You’re now inviting them to speak while giving yourself time to come up with an answer of your own.

The thing is, as you grow in confidence, you’ll realize that your audience is lot smarter than you. So you’ll actually turn the question to them because you really want to find out what they think.

Those are my 2 1/2 tips. What would you add?

Tell us in the comments!

(c) The Fundraising Coach, LLC

Know you should be fundraising but just need a little kick? Sign up for the weekly Fundraising Kick!

Other Possibly Related posts:

1. 2 more public speaking tips for the theatrically timid
2. Raising support for the Waterville Public Library
3. Speaking Schedule

I was just checking in with Facebook, when an NTEN ad caught my eye.

It wasn’t the image. (Not sure what that is.) But it was the “You’re already a fan of NTEN…” line.

Let’s face it, most Facebook ads are as effective as community bulletin boards at the supermarket–very easy to ignore.

But this NTEN ad worked because it made the direct connection to it and something I was already interested in. Brilliant!

To target your nonprofit’s ads this well, simply go to http://www.facebook.com/advertising/. There you can either click on “create an ad” or “manage existing ads.”

As you’re setting up your ad, you’ll see a section called “Connections on Facebook.” Choose the “Advanced connections” option as shown here:

Facebook already lets you target with great specificity. You can choose ages, cities, education levels, people celebrating birthdays, people working at certain companies. But by clicking on the “advanced connections” option, you can now get your ad in front of people that are either

• connected to your Facebook page, event, or app or
• people not yet connected to your Facebook page, event, or app!

So now you can market your event to people that already like you. Or you can promote your cause to people that haven’t yet “liked” your page. You can now make the Facebook ad copy for each group very different, specifically fitting their level of engagement with your Facebook page or event. Just like NTEN did!

(c) The Fundraising Coach, LLC

Know you should be fundraising but just need a little kick? Sign up for the weekly Fundraising Kick!

Other Possibly Related posts:

1. A case for Twitter, Facebook, & social media for nonprofit fundraisers
2. Are your Facebook updates invisible?
3. Facebook “Ask Without Fear!” fan page

This week, I’m pleased to introduce Sherry Truhlar. Sherry is an auction expert so I’ve asked her to come and share with us how to make our nonprofit’s next silent auction better. Be sure to check out her free guide of auction items — listing the 100 best-selling items to sell in your benefit auction — at www.RedAppleAuctions.com.

Wanna make more money in your silent auction? Re-read your descriptions.

If you’re wondering why some items in your silent auction just aren’t getting the bidding activity you expected, re-read your silent auction descriptions. In any metropolitan area, guests need to know the suburb, town, or general location of the business. Washington, D.C. commuters have some of the worst traffic congestion in the nation. You better believe we want to know where something is located before we buy!

Nobody wants to buy a $40 gift card only to find out the business is a 50-minute commute. I might be interested in buying that gift certificate for bird seed from The Wren’s Nest, but only if I know where The Wren’s Nest is located. Is it within 20 minutes of my home or office? Great! If it’s located 60 minutes away, I might still be interested in buying, but I’ll give it as a gift to my sister-in-law, who lives in that area.

Guests need to know if delivery is included.

This is most commonly heard when the item being sold is large, like a piano, playhouse, or holiday tree. And between school auctions and non-profit gala auctions, I hear it more often at school silent auctions where these large, more awkward types of items are more frequently donated.

If delivery is included — or is available for a modest fee — be sure to mention that in the description. Delivery could be the make-it-or-break-it reason as to why a guest bids.

Guests must understand if the business service is coming to them, or if they are going to the business service.

I might be interested in signing up for a massage session, but only if that massage is available to me in my home, or within a 10-minute drive of my home or office. Outside of that, I’m not bidding.

So if the description says, “Jen Smith is a certified massage therapist,” but fails to tell me if Jen Smith is providing these services to me in my home or at her studio, I won’t bid.

Some services are vague. Like what about those services with the home designer? Am I taking my pillow cushions to her at her retail outlet, or is she coming to me?

And what about the seamstress who is going to create my one-of-a-kind fitted suit? Am I going to her, or is she coming to me? If she’s are coming to me, I’m likely ready to bid a little more.

My floor team are outstanding sales support in any auction. They find an item and work it until it has bids…or until they have outright sold it to a guest.

But if a silent auction description is lacking key information, my sales reps must leave their post to find someone in the marketing department who knows about this item and can provide the missing details.

Follow these simple steps, and you will raise more money at your next silent auction!

(c) The Fundraising Coach, LLC

Know you should be fundraising but just need a little kick? Sign up for the weekly Fundraising Kick!

Other Possibly Related posts:

1. How to Ask for Money Effectively – Top Mistakes People Make When Fundraising
2. Feeling guilty about not raising enough money?
3. How to Make Your Fundraising Efforts Go Viral

Last month I had the privilege of interviewing some Twestival organizers, Stéphanie Montreuil @fleur_de_lotus of the Ottawa team and Chris Penbernthy @chrispenberthy on the Plymouth team.

I love how both of these organizers are going about creatively helping charities in their communities. These clips are full of great ideas. Happy watching!

There are more Twestival videos at
http://www.youtube.com/user/twestivalglobal

(c) The Fundraising Coach, LLC

Know you should be fundraising but just need a little kick? Sign up for the weekly Fundraising Kick!

Other Possibly Related posts:

1. Fundraising Tips for Twestival Local 2011 Organizers
2. Local Twestivals: Using Twitter to fundraise for charity
3. Fundraising Secret #14: Don’t be hard on local businesses

I’m pleased to be providing fundraising coaching for Twestival organizers around the world. Here are some tips the team has developed over the last couple years. I’ve updated them this year and made sure they fit in 140 characters!

Hopefully these will be helpful even if you’re not organizing a Twestival. (Organizers, these are also available in the Huddle workspace.)

Fundraising Tips for Local Twestivals

Twestival is about connecting people’s skills and passions to help local charities. It’s also about raising money so they can do even more! Here are some thoughts to help you make your event a success for you and for the nonprofit!

In the spirit of Twitter, these suggestions are limited to 140 characters. (with special thanks to @marcapitman for putting these together).

9 Fundraising Tips for Twestival Organizers

1. Use multiple streams: ticket sales, donations, ads, corporate sponsors, sponsor space on blogs, raffles…the possibilities are endless!
2. As your Twestival planning begins, consider identifying a key team that will focus “only” on fundraising.
3. Do these events FOR nonprofits but don’t put an extra burden on those nonprofits. They’re already working hard. Twestival is to help!
4. To help nonprofits, be sure to raise funds for their core mission, something that they can get excited about.
5. The “right” event is key. When planning your event always have your audience and community in mind.
6. Team up with others, fundraising is more fun in groups!
7. Make sure that 100% of the money raised goes to the charity, not event costs. Get corporate sponsors to underwrite event.
8. If you know organizers in other cities, a little healthy competition can help everyone raise more money!
9. A helpful way to think of fundraising is “Get REAL”: research the cause, engage the donor, ask them, and love them after

5 Fundraising Basics

1. Set a goal, even if you don’t publicize it. Having something to shoot for will help your raise more money
2. Brainstorm a list of all potential sponsors. Many “traditional” companies would love to partner with your event.
3. Once you have an overall goal, a tool like www.GiftRangeCalculator.com can help you determine sponsorship amounts.
4. Try to communicate measurable outcomes. Like: “A gift of $1000 will send this many kids to camp.”
5. The #1 reason people give? They are asked. Go out and ask, even if you don’t feel you have it all together.

3 More Fundraising Thoughts

1. Passion and energy are contagious! Simply share with people your passion & ask them to join you with a donation!
2. Think of fundraising like networking circles. Start with family, then friends, business’ and ask them to do the same.
3. Get your friends involved! 5 donations are great, but getting them to ask 5 of THEIR friends multiplies the effort – and the results!

A Few More Fundraising Thoughts

1. Don’t be afraid of the ask. People and organizations really want to make a difference. Twestival gives them that opportunity.
2. Don’t get discouraged by “no”, just thank them for their time and ask if they could recommend a few friends that might be interested.
3. Have FUN! Have FUN! -Stay positive and just do your best.

Tips for Nonprofits

1. If you’re chosen as a recipient, this is FOR you. Don’t let it become a burden.
2. Twestival can be an incredible boost to help promote your cause, increase your following and hopefully create an exciting annual event.
3. If you’re not chosen as the recipient organization, champion the one that is. Twestival will help you learn social media for your cause
4. Please realize the are no guarantees on the amounts raised. Organizers are fans of your organization but not professional fundraisers!
5. Help by creating bite size chunks of your cause. What will $100 do? How many homeless will be kept warm? How many kids sent to camp?

For more information on Twestival, check out this great blog post by Twestival founder, Amanda Rose: Twestival. Two years on..

To see if your city is hosting a Twestival, go to Twestival.com.

What would you add to the list?

(c) The Fundraising Coach, LLC

Know you should be fundraising but just need a little kick? Sign up for the weekly Fundraising Kick!

Other Possibly Related posts:

1. Twestival Local 2011: Interviews with Organizers
2. Local Twestivals: Using Twitter to fundraise for charity
3. Top 10 Blog Posts in 2011

I love going to Disney World in Florida. Disney has celebrations worked out to a science.

Looking at this t-shirt today, I realized three things Disney’s taught me about celebrations and special events:

1. Find excuses to celebrate
   Disney seems to celebrate everything. Even a 1 year anniversary merits parades and fanfare. Think about your nonprofit. What can you celebrate today? Is it some uncommon act of service? Or a donor’s gift you’ve neglected to celebrate? Or clients that are graduating from the program?

   You could even celebrate the fact that you are doing what you’re doing. You’re in the fight. You’re team is making a difference. Everyday. Why not take some time to get a cake and celebrate that today? Or even throw an internal parade?

2. Give yourself time to celebrate
   Disney’s “year of” celebrations are actually 18 months. They’ve learned that more people are able to celebrate with them if the stretch the year over a year and a half. You can do this too. Do you have a centennial coming up? Rather than starting celebrating that year on New Years, why not start this July? Build anticipation and expectancy. And take the time to celebrate your accomplishment well.

3. Make them magical.
   Yeah, I had to say the “m” word. C’mon, it’s a post about Disney!

   When we visit the parks on our kids’ birthdays, they get special pins and other free things. My daughter remembers getting cupcakes and chocolate. Disney took our family celebration and made it even more special. How can you do that for your cause? Maybe your gala invitation could include a note of thanks from people impacted by a donor’s gifts? Or you could start sending birthday cards to board members and donors? (You do have those recorded in your database, don’t you?)

Those are three things I’ve learned. Are you a Disney geek too? What would you add to the list?

(c) The Fundraising Coach, LLC

Know you should be fundraising but just need a little kick? Sign up for the weekly Fundraising Kick!

Other Possibly Related posts:

1. What Katy Perry and the Black Eyed Peas taught me about nonprofit fundraising
2. Ten Things to Do Today to Get Business
3. The 3 things to get you over the fear of asking

This week, I’m honored to introduce Vivanista. Vivanista is a member-based, lifestyle community for charitable volunteers. I really like their practical tips as well as their emphasis in women in philanthropy. Check out their tools at Vivanista.com This top 10 list was put together by Vivanista’s founder, Layne Gray, a Bay Area entrepreneur and experienced volunteer fundraiser.

When it comes to being the Chair for a charity event, it takes some creativity, hard work and above all, patience. Chairing an event usually follows no script as often the schedule is bound to change ongoing. However, there are several things to keep in mind in general when faced with the task of Chairing an event.

1. Being the Chair of a charitable event is like being a duck: You may be paddling like hell under the surface, but you look cool and calm on the surface.
2. Count to 10 or, better yet, get a good night’s rest before you respond to a committee member’s email flame.
3. Stay focused on the big picture.
4. Being the Chair means you have to make the big decisions and not everyone is going to like those decisions. Toughen up.
5. Don’t get sucked into the petty political issues that sometimes, and quite naturally, arise within groups of women.
6. Set your own personal confidential goal – what mark do you want to make. But don’t be too upset if you don’t completely achieve it; it was your goal, no one else’s.
7. No matter how fabulous, organized and experienced you and your committee are, there will undoubtedly be something major that will go wrong. Anticipate it.
8. Be realistic of what you can balance. In addition to being Chair, it can be difficult to be good at all the other responsibilities you have like a (1) a husband, (2) kids and (3) a job.
9. Keep lots of personal note cards, envelopes and stamps around. Send them out willy-nilly to anyone and everyone who contributes to the success of your event.
10. If 85% of the people still like you in the end, you’ve done really well.

(c) The Fundraising Coach, LLC

Know you should be fundraising but just need a little kick? Sign up for the weekly Fundraising Kick!

Other Possibly Related posts:

1. Have you thought of a non-event?
2. When is the best time to host a fundraising movie event?
3. What it really takes to successfully fundraise in a recession

Here are my slides from today’s session How to Become a Fundraising Hero at the 2010 International Bowl Expo here in Las Vegas, NV.

I really had a blast talking to for-profit businesses and helping them help nonprofits in their community without going out of business. Click through to the slides on SlideShare.net to see the bullet points embedded under the images.

(c) The Fundraising Coach, LLC

Know you should be fundraising but just need a little kick? Sign up for the weekly Fundraising Kick!

Other Possibly Related posts:

1. Fundraising Secret #37: Use Powerpoint effectively
2. Development and Social Media in a nutshell
3. Fundraising for your next walkathon