We need more stories for this series! Tell us what you do in a typical day as a nonprofit communications pro. Heather Svoboda is the communications and development manager at the Cat Adoption Team (CAT). Located just outside Portland, Ore., CAT is the largest nonprofit, feline-only, adoption-guarantee shelter in the Pacific Northwest. In her role, Heather oversees CAT’s…
Is it me, or can everyone under 30 write, manage, code, photograph, design, analyze, train, present and strategize? Me? I’m not so good with the graphics. I’m getting better, but infographics and photo manipulation aren’t second nature to me. Sometimes, they’re a struggle. But I need visuals to communicate, to tell the story I need to tell, to motivate donors…
So you’re talking to a nice couple in their 70s who have been giving to your organization for years. You think they are a great candidate to ask for a bequest. Now what? Well here are a few things you probably shouldn’t say: “So….how was that last doctor’s visit?” “Since your kids turned out to be…
Let’s start the weekend a little early with a round of Mixed Links… Nancy Schwartz has some tips to make social media matter more. Although this post isn’t written specifically for nonprofits, the tips in 9 Copywriting Rules To Create Hypnotic Posts Your Readers Will Love will help you create more engaging content for your supporters.…
Wake up, girls and boys. It’s time to do things a little bit differently. Here’s the thing: I’m a rule follower, and I bet you are too. After all, nonprofit communications isn’t the Wild West. But, even so… Rules are made to be broken, at least once in a while. And as much as I…
Hope you had a great week! Let’s dive right into some Mixed Links… The week started off with a bit of a brouhaha (love that word!) between fundraisers and marketers. Luckily, cooler heads prevailed and now everyone is happy – for the most part. If there is still animosity between your fundraising staff and your…
I love working for nonprofit clients. It’s the sweet life. And I want other consultants and freelancers to be able to make it work as a career choice too, because I believe nonprofits are better served by people who are fully dedicated to the sector’s success. So, one of my side projects from Nonprofit Marketing…
Image source: https://flic.kr/p/7CdtRG (Reading this on email? Be sure to click over to the post to see the graphics.) Nonprofits, it’s time to see other people (besides those on Facebook). According to the latest research from Pew Research Center, more Americans are branching out from Facebook to try second and third social networks. Instagram in particular jumped 16% percent in…
Some fundraising bloggers/consultants have discovered a terrifying new boogeyman – the work of nonprofit marketing directors! Hurry, get the pitchforks and the lighter fluid. We got us some branding hocus pocus witches to burn! Oh, haven’t you heard the hysteria? Yep, nonprofit marketing and branding are apparently killing fundraising. Killing it, they say! “Marketing…
We started our Day in the Life of a Nonprofit Communicator series back in 2013. It’s been a great success and has allowed us to get a glimpse into the everyday, nitty-gritty things you have to do for your job as a nonprofit communicator. It’s a popular series, but one we can’t continue without your help! We…
Happy Friday, everyone! Let’s cap off this chilly week with some Mixed Links (and maybe a little dancing)… New survey results from Pew Research show that while Facebook is still the top dog among social networks, its growth has slowed especially compared to Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter. The Fundraising Effectiveness Project (FEP) has released its findings…
We’ve been producing the Nonprofit Communications Trends Report for five years for lots of different reasons. You ask us questions all the time, especially about things like communications frequency and whether you really have to “do” a certain communications channel. We wanted data for you, to supplement our own so-called “expert” opinions. I wanted…
