Online Fundraising

Online fundraising is the wave of the future. Already, it is making a dent in direct mail fundraising, and, as the “wired” generation matures, online may become the dominant form of fundraising.

The lesson is that if you have not started building your capacity to raise funds online, start now.

Here are some things to think about.

1. Ensure your online fundraising is legal.

Just as with other types of fundraising, online solicitations must be registered with the appropriate officials. Check with your state attorney’s office or secretary of state office to find out the requirements in your state.

2. Market your online fundraising program.

It is not enough to just put a “donate now” button on your website and wait for the money to roll in. Promote your online capacity in your newsletters and include your website address on all of your collateral materials.  Include information about the online giving option in all of your direct mail campaign literature. Put together a special promotion for online giving using your email list and your mailing list.

3. Explore all your options for online fundraising.

Expand your thinking about online fundraising to include social networking sites.

For your own site, do you want to set up your own system and be able to process credit card transactions? Or do you want to engage a company that provides that service for you? Would you like to be able to offer recurring (preauthorized) donations to your supporters? Do you want to use another site to collect your online donations?

4. Make sure your website invites online donations.

You don’t need a flashy website, but you do need an attractive one that is easy-to-understand and navigate. Also consider the various generations that will be using your site. Design it in a way that will please all ages.

5. Observe proper online etiquette in your online fundraising.

Don’t spam, and don’t look like a spammer. Don’t overwhelm your donors with too much email, and don’t use email to the exclusion of other methods of fundraising. Online fundraising should be only part of a well-balanced portfolio of strategies.

6. Provide lots of ways for people to donate – not just online.

Everyone has a preference…by mail, phone, online, even instant messaging or from their cell phones. Make sure you accommodate as many of them as possible. See this great example from the Red Cross.

Include information about planned giving options too. The World Wildlife Fund has a good page about planned giving that can be reached through its donate button

7. Make sure that your website donation button is big and above the fold.

Your visitors should be able to locate it immediately. And, it does not have to say “Donate Now.” The Hunger Project has a button that says “Invest Now.” That button leads to another page that offers options to the donor. Nothing but Nets has a Net-O-Meter that is counting the number of nets bought by donors and the call to action button says “Buy a Net.”

8. Provide the opportunity for non-monetary contributions such as volunteer time.

Getting people to volunteer is one of the best methods of donor cultivation. Indeed, a study from the Association of Fundraising Professionals found that people who are asked to give of their time before being asked to donate will ultimately give more money to that organization.

9. Show real donors and specify how donations will help.

Include testimonials and photos of donors. Provide photos of people receiving help. Be liberal with success stories, stories about real people, and use plenty of inspirational photographs. St. Louis University’s giving page is laced with profiles of donors and testimonials of students.

10. Try segmentation of your online fundraising audience.

As your expertise and experience with online fundraising advances, think about segmenting your audience. This will require good record keeping and growing a large enough list that there is something to segment. Segment based on age, gender, income, interests, previous giving history, geography, or role, such as donor or volunteer.

Develop versions of your email campaigns to fit targeted groups and then test. Testing involves breaking down a particular group into smaller groups and testing different versions of your copy. Track the results and you will soon get a feel for what kinds of appeals work for whom.

************************

Karmen A. Booker is an Attorney, Business Consultant and Owner of Compu-Perfect Professional Services, a business consulting firm specializing in Business Entity Formation (Corporations, Limited Liability Companies, and Nonprofit Corporations), Completing 501(c)(3) Federal Tax Exemption Applications, Grant Research and Writing services, and more.

Call her at (301) 408-1082 to Move on the Road to Greater Success!!1

 

 

 

Grant Writing Services

Compu-Perfect Professional Services works with a team of professionals who are experienced in every facet of grant development.  Our team members have conducted thousands of customized research reports for individuals.  Additionally, our team members combined awards raised for clients total over $17 million.  We focus on grant and assistance for individuals and nonprofit organizations because times are tough and everyone needs assistance.

Researching grants is a very complicated and time-consuming task.  However, our knowledge, processes, and relationships cultivated along the way, have given our team members the ability to provide specialized services unique to individuals and nonprofit organizations to help them overcome dead-ends caused by not being able to find grants and assistance programs for which they are eligible.  Moreover, our team’s understanding of the intricacies of the fundraising world are a good fit to assist you in furthering your personal, business, organizational, or charitable mission.

Finding grants and assistance has never been so inexpensive and easy.  Compu-Perfect will help you locate the assistance you need and tell you how to apply.  Stop thinking about what type of aid you could be benefiting from and CALL us TODAY at (301) 408-1082 so we can get YOU on the Road to Funding Resources that will help you achieve your personal, business, and nonprofit endeavors. 

Nonprofit Teleseminar

Nonprofit E-Book Bundle – On SALE for Only $30.00

Buy All Four Nonprofit E-books for Only $30.00

“How to Start a Nonprofit”

“The Nonprofit Board”

“Nonprofit Sample Templates”

“Fundraising for Nonprofits”

10 Ways to Make Volunteers Happy

Volunteerism has changed and volunteer expectations have evolved. Here are a few things today’s volunteer has a right to expect from you.  When you master these you will have happy volunteers.

1. Be prepared for them

Many of us at some point have worked in the temp world. A common experience is to be sent to an office to work only to find that the office is unprepared. So you sit around trying to look busy when really you are twiddling your thumbs. Don’t let this happen to your volunteers. Volunteers will see you as disorganized and inconsiderate. Don’t bring a volunteer in until you have everything worked out, from the job description to a place to work with proper equipment, to something to do immediately.

2.  Make them feel welcomed

Act as though your volunteer is a guest in your home. Show her around. Introduce him to your staff and other volunteers, have your executive director drop by and say hello and thanks. Don’t let your volunteer feel uncomfortable for a minute. Show that your organization is warm, friendly, helpful, and happy to see your volunteer.

3. Provide good training

Even if the task assigned is a simple one, take the time to explain it, demonstrate it, and mentor the volunteer through the first few hours. Provide a buddy (another volunteer who is experienced), to help the new one.

When training a group of volunteers, be sure to use adult learning techniques such as group involvement. Volunteers don’t want to be lectured to. They want to participate in the training , and be sure to outline clear expectations for your volunteers such as what the job entails and the quality measures that you will use to evaluate their work.

4. Provide interesting work

Most volunteers are willing to roll their sleeves up and do physical labor as long as it is meaningful. Do not use volunteers to do the tasks your staff doesn’t want to do, such as envelope licking and mindless filing. Think of your volunteers as extra staff who are capable of performing complex tasks that utilize their experience and skills. Provide leadership opportunities to those volunteers who are willing and have the time to shoulder more responsibility.

5. Inform volunteers how much time the job will take

Everyone is busier than ever, and many volunteers may only have time for short term assignments. Project-oriented, rather than ongoing, assignments seem to work particularly well. Decide how much time your job will need and include that when you publicize your volunteer position. Will it take 6 hours a week that can be done over three days? Does it need to be done on a weekend? Do you need your volunteer for the summer?

Provide lots of options so that you can appeal to a busy soccer mom as well as the retiree who has more time. Think about offering “alternative” opportunities, such as project-based family volunteering and  microvolunteering or virtual opportunities.

6. They want to be appreciated

Tell your volunteers frequently that they are doing a good job. Although you will want to come up with some creative ways of formally saying thanks, don’t overlook the power of a simple gesture such as taking them to lunch, providing a small gift, or sending a thank you card to their home.

7. Communicate with them well and often

Regular communication is motivating for volunteers, while the lack of it is one of the chief reasons volunteers become dissatisfied. Volunteers like to have a particular person who looks after them. If your organization does not have a volunteer coordinator, be sure to assign someone to be the point person for your volunteers.  Be ready to listen to volunteers and respond to their concerns immediately.

8. Let them know that they are helping to make the world a better place

Let your volunteers know how they are making a difference. Share success stories about your clients and programs. Bring them up-to-date on progress toward your organization’s goals. Let them see your work in action through presentations on the issues by your experts, and by inviting them to provide suggestions about how your work can be done even better.

9. They want to be socially connected

Volunteering is a great way for many people to socialize, so provide the opportunity to do so. Become a matchmaker for friend making. If you think a couple of volunteers would get along well, provide that opportunity by assigning them to do a particular job together.  Invite them to your events, and follow up to encourage them to attend or even provide help in getting there. Invite a volunteer to become an informal social director who might provide outside opportunities for volunteers to get together.

10. Provide a forum for learning

Anyone who is willing to volunteer for an organization is likely to have a healthy curiosity and willingness to try new things. Indeed, many volunteers get involved with causes just so they can learn new skills or about interesting topics and issues. Turning your volunteer job into a mini-educational experience will be highly valued by potential volunteers, and will likely result in some great referrals as your volunteers tell others about their great experience.

**********************

Karmen A. Booker is an Attorney and Nonprofit consultant.  She has a business/nonprofit consulting firm – Compu-Perfect Professional Services, which has been providing the following services for 17 years:

• Business formation (Corporations, Limited Liability Companies (LLC’s) and Nonprofit Organizations)
• Contract Drafting and Reviewing
• Trademark Search and Registration
• Completion of the 501(c)(3) application for nonprofit organizations
• Grant Research and Writing

(Please view my website at http://www.compuperfect.net and Blogsite at www.howtostartanonprofitorganization.wordpress.com

Attorney Karmen A. Booker has developed the  “Nonprofit Sample Template” e-book that provides templates for the following:

• Sample Mission Statements
• Sample Business Plans
• Sample Donor Solicitation Letter
• Sample Thank You Donor Letter
• Sample Press Release
• Sample Letter of Inquiry
• Sample Corporate Donation Letter
• Sample Board Member Application
• Sample Board Member Agreement
• Sample Volunteer Application
• Sample Volunteer Agreement
• AND MORE

This Nonprofit Sample Template is a valuable resource for all Nonprofit Organizations who desire to use effective tools that will undoubtedly help them acquire funding and provide quality services for their target markets.

GET YOUR COPY TODAY ON SALE for ONLY $9.99 Just click on the link below – http://howtostartanonprofitorganization.wordpress.com/2012/08/16/nonprofit-sample-template/

Digital Volunteers

If volunteering is on your list of New Year’s resolutions but your time is short, cyberservice may be the answer.  You can become an online volunteer.

Fit Your Schedule

Net Aid.org connects people with organizations focused on fighting poverty. The site lists volunteer jobs that can be done from your own PC and often on your own time.

While the time people have to volunteer is declining, virtual volunteering offers a way for people to adapt volunteering to their schedules. As access to the Internet expands, more people are signing up.

Pearls of Africa is run entirely by online volunteers who research and develop programs,

Virtual Volunteers

World Computer Exchange, based in Massachusetts, relies on virtual volunteers in its mission to bring computers to schools in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Since it was founded in October 1999, the organization has helped 676 schools and almost 256,000 students go online.

Virtual volunteering is growing within the United States.  VolunteerMatch, links volunteers with more than 23,000 organizations offering about 40,000 volunteer opportunities.

Online Mentors

One of these groups is NetMentors, which offers online career development for teenagers. It serves as a virtual career counselor with expertise on 70 different careers. With about 800 mentors, the group has counseled 1000 students entirely through its Web

Using technology, NetMentors is a vehicle for students to get in contact with individuals they wouldn’t normally have access to.

**********************

Karmen A. Booker is an Attorney and Nonprofit consultant.  She has a business/nonprofit consulting firm – Compu-Perfect Professional Services, which has been providing the following services for 17 years:

• Business formation (Corporations, Limited Liability Companies (LLC’s) and Nonprofit Organizations)
• Contract Drafting and Reviewing
• Trademark Search and Registration
• Completion of the 501(c)(3) application for nonprofit organizations
• Grant Research and Writing

(Please view my website at http://www.compuperfect.net and Blogsite at www.howtostartanonprofitorganization.wordpress.com

Attorney Karmen A. Booker has developed the  “Nonprofit Sample Template” e-book that provides templates for the following:

• Sample Mission Statements
• Sample Business Plans
• Sample Donor Solicitation Letter
• Sample Thank You Donor Letter
• Sample Press Release
• Sample Letter of Inquiry
• Sample Corporate Donation Letter
• Sample Board Member Application
• Sample Board Member Agreement
• Sample Volunteer Application
• Sample Volunteer Agreement
• AND MORE

This Nonprofit Sample Template is a valuable resource for all Nonprofit Organizations who desire to use effective tools that will undoubtedly help them acquire funding and provide quality services for their target markets.

GET YOUR COPY TODAY ON SALE for ONLY $9.99 Just click on the link below – http://howtostartanonprofitorganization.wordpress.com/2012/08/16/nonprofit-sample-template/

Work-at-Home Moms and Volunteering

Moms are often called on to volunteer their time. They help out at schools, religious and community organizations.  Work-at-home moms may be able to volunteer time more freely than those working in offices, depending on their careers.

Volunteering sets a great example for children, can be an opportunity to make friends, helps add to or sharpen you professional skills, and most importantly, does some good in the world.

Following is a list of things to consider before volunteering your time and talents:

• Carefully think out a volunteer commitment.

Whether it’s a one-time event or an ongoing commitment, know what you’re getting into. Ask questions about the duration and the timing of the commitment. Then consider: How will this work with your family’s schedule and your professional work? How much “take home” work will there be?

• Do what you enjoy

There are so many places to volunteer one’s time; there’s no reason for you do something you don’t like. But sometimes a friend will ask you to join her cause, and for friendship or a desire to help, you find yourself saddled with something you don’t like.  However, there are many different types of volunteer jobs within most organizations. While some hands-on types like to work up a sweat for their favorite non-profit, others might prefer fundraising or committee work.

• Get the kids involved

Volunteering with your kids can be a great bonding experience. All the reasons to volunteer that are good for you (making friends, learning skills, etc.) are good for children as well. But when it’s not practical to volunteer with your kids, make them feel part of your team. They are giving up time with you, so take time to tell about what you did and why. Show them that you appreciate their interest and sacrifice.

• Act professionally

Just like at work and at home, when you volunteer, people are counting on you to show up on time and do your best. Also ask for training or help when needed. If you don’t know how to do something but would like to try, request help from a veteran volunteer rather than trying to figure it out on your own.

• Exit gracefully

If you decide to stop volunteering because your home or work life changes, or its not what you wanted, give notice just like you would a job. If possible, help find a replacement. But be firm.

NOTE:  When using volunteers, make sure they complete an Application and a volunteer Agreement.   Attorney Booker has developed a Nonprofit Sample Template that contains many templates, including but not limited to:  Sample Volunteer Application and Sample Volunteer Agreement that you can customize.  Other templates included are:

• Sample Mission Statements
• Sample Business Plans
• Sample Donor Solicitation Letter
• Sample Thank You Donor Letter
• Sample Press Release
• Sample Letter of Inquiry
• Sample Corporate Donation Letter
• Sample Board Member Application
• Sample Board Member Agreement
• AND MORE

This Nonprofit Sample Template is a valuable resource for all Nonprofit Organizations who desire to use effective tools that will undoubtedly help them acquire funding and provide quality services for their target markets.

GET YOUR COPY TODAY ON SALE for ONLY $9.99 Just click on the link below – http://howtostartanonprofitorganization.wordpress.com/2012/08/16/nonprofit-sample-template/