I’m a regular watcher of the NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams (usually recorded – it’s part of my nightly wind-down routine), and one of my favorite segments is Making a Difference. For the last few years, the Nightly News has regularly run segments on do-gooders. Because these clips are so popular, NBC recently created…
I’ve closed the 2011 Nonprofit Communications Trends Survey . . . thanks to the 785 people who participated! We are analyzing all the data and preparing the report this week. It’s full of really interesting information about the nonprofit sector’s communications plans for 2011, as well as what excites and scares nonprofit marketing professionals about…
I’ve decided to start blogging daily (or darn close) as of January 3, 2010. I’m giving it three months, and I’ll reevaluate then. I’ve been thinking about it for a few months, and when I saw this video, I stopped thinking and decided to do it. What This Means for You For you, I hope…
Two Nonprofit Marketing Guide specials are wrapping up on December 31: 1) The 2011 Nonprofit Communications Trends Survey We’ll be taking down the survey on January 1 so we can start analyzing the results. Everyone who participates in the survey will get an advance copy of the Trends Report on Monday, January 10. We are…
I’ll be teaching several different e-clinics in 2011. These are small group sessions (usually limited to 12-15 people) that include several webinars, a private wiki and discussion board where you can share and network with other participants, and personal coaching with me to improve your skills. They are a great way to get some hands-on…
If you’ve been reading my blog for awhile, you’ll remember the “thank you” note experiment I did in 2008 and 2009. More recently, Marta Lindsey’s experiment on keeping all of the nonprofit direct mail she received for a year was also a big hit. So, I started thinking, what if a bunch of us picked…
Here’s a little holiday surprise for you, courtesy of my friend, movie buff, and fundraiser extraordinaire, Rob Blizard. I suspect many of us will be watching some old movies on the holiday break, and Rob gives you his take on a few of them with fundraising at the core of their plots. Given the active…
I’ve just re-released my popular e-book on how to write a nonprofit annual report. If you are struggling with how to produce one, this guide will answer your questions. This new edition covers the five essentials of a good annual report, as well as what I consider to be the best “new and improved” formats.…
The end of one year and the start of another is always a good time to reflect on what’s important, and what’s not. Sam Davidson has a new book out that will help you do this, while also making you laugh. It’s called 50 Things Your Life Doesn’t Need (Amazon). I especially loved the sections…
I just took a look at the results to date from our survey of nonprofit communicators, as I prepare for our webinar tomorrow (Wednesday) on Trends for 2011 and Your Nonprofit Marketing Plan for 2011. The “How much email is too much (or too little)” question is one I get all the time, so I…
Network for Good just released a new online giving study that provides all kinds of good ideas for increasing the amount of money you can raise online. It’s not about coming up with gimmicks; it’s about creating connections and building relationships with your donors. Here’s one of the central lessons from this study of over…
I’m putting together a Nonprofit Communications Trends Report that I’ll release in January, and I need your input and predictions. Please take just a minute to complete the survey. Here’s what I’m asking: Which communications tools will be very / somewhat / least important to your nonprofit in 2011? How often will you email the…
