Google+ Circles in Gmail
It's no secret that I love Google+. And it's really no secret that Google loves it too. If you needed further evidence that Google+ is changing the way Google works, check out your Gmail account. (You're not still using Hotmail or Yahoo, are you?) Last night, I...
Using video in nonprofit fundraising
Here's a 5 minute recording of CC Chapman talking with me about using video in nonprofit work. Filmed at BlogWorld Expo in Los Angeles last month, you'll see there's a lot going around in the background...including voices from on high and a loud shriek!
A Google Chat thank you for a donation?
Have you ever been thanked for a nonprofit donation over Google Chat? I just was. And it was so cool! I just made a donation to an amazing nonprofit, Amirah. [Full disclosure: I am on their board.] A couple minutes later, Google Chat popped up with the message: You...
Google+ for Nonprofits at BlogWorld Expo in LA
Here's a video of my "Google+ for Nonprofits" session from BlogWorld Expo in Los Angeles last month. There were 2 sessions about Google+ there: Guy Kawasaki and Chris Brogan did one; I did the other. This was presented days before Google opened up pages for brands....
Top 10 Blog Posts in 2011
The year is coming to a close so it's the season for "Top 10 Lists," right? Here are the list of the top 10 most popular posts published here on FundraisingCoach.com in 2011. # 10. was actually a tie between both: 3 Easy Phone Tips and 3 Tips for Effective Fundraising...
3 Nonprofit Lessons from The Princess Bride
I love William Goldman's classic The Princess Bride, and the movie of the same name. And as a dad, I'm proud that my kids can quote portions. (Not as much as me, but I've seen the movie a few dozen more times.) But did you know there are nonprofit lessons embedded in...
3 strategic steps for December fundraising
December 1 is almost here. And many inexperienced fundraisers are getting ready to throw in the towel. It only seems natural: In December their donors' schedules are full of holiday parties. In December, many of their donors will go to additional church services. In...
Black Friday – Cyber Monday Sale
Here in the United States, today is called "Black Friday." It's theday that most stores have sales so they can end the calendar year "in the black" (as opposed to being in the red). And the following Monday is known as "Cyber Monday"-- a time for online retailers to...
Being Thanked Never Gets Old
Since Thanksgiving is in November here in the USA, I always spend most of this month thinking about gratitude, gratefulness, and thankfulness. I wanted to post some really off-the-wall creative way to say thanks. Something that would wow you and get you to retweet...
So you have a Google+ page for your nonprofit, now what?
On Tuesday, 501 Mission Place hosted our monthly "Office Hours" on Google Hangouts. We had a blast! I hosted it using the "Hangout with extras" so I was able to give the hangout a title (not creatively called "501 Mission Place November Office Hours"). And we were...
A FundraisingKick: An easy email fundraising idea from Zappos
I don't normally share my messages to the Fundraising Kick folks here on my blog...but I am today. Here's what I sent them this week. Two weeks ago, I got an email that got me thinking “why couldn’t nonprofits do that?” Here is the entire text of the email: Dear Marc...
Can The Second Mile survive this scandal?
Over the weekend, a friend asked me if The Second Mile had any chance of surviving. After all, it now looks like it's founder, Penn State's Jerry Sandusky, created it as a place to prey on children. Can a nonprofit overcome this type of scandal My first reaction was...
How to Write Posts People Will Remember
I'm honored to introduce you to Darren Rowse, uber-blogger. I've learned alot from Darren over the years and finally got to meet him last week at BlogWorld Expo in Los Angeles. This post seemed perfectly suited to help your nonprofit retool your blog so Darren's...
6 tips to help board members work a room at a fundraising event
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...
Google+ is open to nonprofits
If you've been waiting to join Google+ until your nonprofit or organization could have a presence on Google+? The wait is over. About 30 minutes ago, Google opened up Google+ Pages! I've scoured their introductory material and have found references to pages being for...
10 Take-aways from BlogWorld Expo
Day 2 of BlogWorld Expo was completely different from Day 1. I had some Fundraising Coach work to attend to. And I just kept getting into great conversations with cool people. But here are 10 things I got today. Read them and think about how they apply to your...
10 Things I Learned at BlogWorld Expo Day 1
This is my first BlogWorldExpo and I ended up speaking twice. I knew about one of the sessions. But I filled in for a person who didn’t show too. But even in the few sessions I could attend where I wasn’t speaking, I have learned a ton! Here are 10 things I learned in...
5 Reasons Google+ is great for job seekers
A couple months ago, I was asked why I thought Google+ is great for job seekers. Here's what I replied: I am an executive coach and a geek who loves G+. Here are five reasons I think G+ would be fabulous for job seekers. Like Twitter, you can follow anyone without...
An interview with Get Fully Funded author Sandy Rees
I love it when people come out with practical, nuts-and-bolts books to help nonprofits. It's even more fun when it's with people I know! I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Sandy Rees and ask her about her new book Get Fully Funded. [affiliate link] The...
3 Ways + 1 to Get Your Head Back in the Game
Fundraising is hard. You're asking people to do something they probably haven't considered doing yet. So they need to be helped through the process. (After all, they've given it far less thought than you have!) And then there's the news. It can distract and...
3 Tips for Traveling Spouses
I've been doing a lot of travel lately. As a result, I've learned to savor the time at home. Here are some things to consider if your job has you traveling and you want to stay married. Take half days when you are home Travel isn't the most productive time for work. I...
I’m not your ATM
As the economy continues to falter (or barely grow), we need people's donations more than ever. But if we operate from a place of "need," we can start sounding like we think we're entitled to people's money. We never are. So it's more important than ever that you have...
How much cause marketing is too much? A trip on Delta
My friend Joe Waters got me to seriously think about cause marketing. Thanks to him, I've now been seeing cause marketing everywhere...sort of like when you buy a car and then start seeing them all over the place. Enough already Today was a bit over the top. I was on...
Join me at BlogWorld LA!
I'm thrilled to be speaking at BlogWorld 2011 in Los Angeles in November! 501 Mission Place is co-sponsoring the "Cause" track. My presentation will be on Google+ for Nonprofits! For more information, click on the image. [affiliate links]
Term limits are for a reason!
Let me say it for the record: board term limits are for a reason! But they can feel hard to enforce, can't they? There are two very real risks with board terms: The leaving board member will feel left out Nobody likes it when people they care about feel left out. But...
Get a free month of 501 Mission Place!
I'm thrilled to announce the relaunch of 501 Mission Place! A year in the making We started 501 Mission Place because we were tired of seeing our nonprofit friends and colleagues get burned out. Running a cause can consume your life and be thankless at the same time....
Nonprofit job openings on the West Coast of the USA
I recently received an email from Waldron HR about job openings in on the West Coast. There are positions for EDs, CEOs, Directors. There's even an odd listing for a City Manager (not sure how that's "social enterprise" but hey, why not?) You can check them out by...
FREE webinar on Monday: Social Media Increases Fundraising
I am thrilled to announce that Blackbaud's Frank Barry will be joining the 501 Mission Place hosts for September's webinar. The webinar is about recent research that shows Social Media Increases Fundraising. And to celebrate our 501 Mission Place relaunch, we're...
Looks like Google+ is open
My wife opened Google tonight and had a big blue arrow. When I opened Google the arrow was there too. Are you seeing it too? When you mouse over it, it says, "You're invited to join Google+." Jump in, the water's fine I'd encourage you to check it out. There are some...
Are you as creative as Red Box?
Yesterday, I got an email from Red Box asking me to take a picture of myself hugging a Red Box. Hugging a huge DVD dispensing box. Why haven't I done this with my nonprofit?! This is a simple tactic of creating buzz. And it's really easy! If you're Western Kentucky...