Good Works Grapevine

Happy 4th of July week everyone! Some great workshops this week – then a fabulous 3-day weekend! ENJOY!

• June 30 – The Economic Downturn and Corporate Giving: What Grant Seekers Need to Know – Philanthropy.com (Free)
• June 30 – Trends in Corporate Philanthropy: How is the Downturn Affecting Charitable Giving by U.S. Companies- Philanthropy.com (Free)
• June 30 – Writing RFPs That Work! – NTEN ($30 for Members / $60 for Nonmembers)
• July 1 – Nonprofits Are Embracing Social Networks – NTEN (Free)

Incredible line-up of webinars for this week. Check out the free “You’re All a-Twitter!” workshop from NTEN on Wednesday! Good stuff!

• June 16 – Grooming the Next Generation of Nonprofit Leaders: An Intergenerational Discussion – Philanthropy.com (Free)
• June 16 – Webinar: E-Newsletter Makeovers: How to Get Your E-Newsletter into Better Shape (Ticket Info: $35)
• June 17 – Online Seminar: Considering Social Media for Your Organization – Idealware.org ($40)
• June 17 – You’re All a-Twitter! – NTEN (Free)
• June 17 – Email Analysis and Follow Up – NTEN ($30 for Members / $60 for Nonmembers)
• June 17 – Webinar: New strategies for changing times: Five ways board members can help your organization survive and thrive – Philanthropy Journal ($20 PJ subscribers | $30 Non PJ subscribers)
• June 17 – Webinar: Saying Thanks: Writing Thank-You Notes That Inspire Future Gifts (Tickets $35)
• June 18 – Online Seminar: Optimizing Your Website for Search Engines – Idealware.org ($40)
• June 19 – Optimizing Your Google Grants Ads and Keywords – NTEN ($30 for Members / $60 for Nonmembers)
  

Great seminars this week – check ‘em out!!

• June 2 – Webinar: How Nonprofit Organizations Can Successfully Use Twitter and Flickr ($40)
• June 2 – Promoting Causes on Online Social Networks- Philanthropy.com (Free)
• June 3 – Webinar Series: Stop Sending Email and Start Running Email Campaigns – NTEN ($75 for Members / $150 for Non-members)
• June 3 – Email Campaign Anatomy & Planning – NTEN ($30 for Members / $60 for Nonmembers)
  
• June 4 – Webinar: Nonprofit Writing Stinks! How to Bring Your Writing Back to Life – Nonprofit Marketing Guide ($35)
• June 4 – Idealware Online Seminar: Getting Started with Online Conferencing and Seminar Tools – Idealware.org ($40)
• June 5 – Setting Goals and Setting Yourself Up for Success – NTEN ($30 for Members / $60 for Nonmembers)
• June 5 – Google Grants Advanced Series: Maximizing Your Google Grant To Meet Your Organization’s Goals – NTEN ($100 for Members / $200 for Nonmembers)
  

There are a ton of GREAT webinars at little or no cost this week. Professional development is a hugely important part of growth, not only for you but for your business. If you have some time, sign up!

• May 12 – Starting a Nonprofit Group: What You Need to Know – Philanthropy.com (Free)
• May 12 – Webinar: Getting Your Nonprofit Started with Social Media – Nonprofit Marketing Guide ($35)
• May 13 – CMS Roundtable: Which Solution is Right for You? – NTEN (Free)
  
• May 13 – Make the Most of your Microsoft Software Donation – TechSoup (Free)
• May 13 – Idealware Online Seminar: Comparing Open Source CMSs: WordPress, Joomla, Drupal and Plone  – Idealware.org ($40)
• May 13 – Using Facebook Pages for Social Good – NTEN ($30)
• May 14 – An Analysis of Online Messaging, Fundraising and Advocacy Metrics for Nonprofit Organizations – NTEN (Free)
• May 14 – Setting Your Organization Up for Success with Your Google Grant – NTEN ($30 for Members / $60 for Nonmembers)
• May 14 – Webinar: More than pretty pictures – How to craft your fundraising message – Philanthropy Journal ($20 PJ subscribers | $30 Non PJ subscribers)
• May 15 – Accessing Free Online Management Resources – Nonprofit Maine (Members: $35, Nonmembers: $70)

Rainy days and Mondays…aren’t going to get me down this week! There are a bunch of great free (or almost free) webinars this week so take advantage!

• May 5 – Your New Nonprofit Marketing Job: Getting Off to the Right Start- Philanthropy.com (Free)
• May 6 – Telegreen Your Organization: Work Remotely- TechSoup (Free)
• May 6 – Webinar: Successful Nonprofit Websites: Making Your Site Work for You – Nonprofit Marketing Guide.com ($35)
• May 6 – Idealware Online Seminar: Building An Effective Email List – Idealware.org ($40)
• May 6 – Nonprofits Are Embracing Social Networks: Industry Survey Reveals 74.2% of Nonprofits Have a Presence on Facebook – NTEN (Free)

Be sure to share your favorite events in a comment.

There are some great workshops this week on MySpace, fundraising and web analytics! Take some time to improve your own skill set and take at least one class per week. Most are free (or almost free) and will not only give you valuable information but will also give you that kick in the pants you need to get motivated! Have fun!

• April 14 – Webinar: How Nonprofit Organizations Can Successfully Use MySpace
  
• April 14 – Meaningful Reporting: A Holistic Approach to Reporting Across Multiple Systems (NTEN) – $30/Members $60/Non-Members
• April 14 – Live Chat: Grant Writing Strategies for a Tough Economy – Philanthropy.com
• April 15 – Getting Started with Social Media Tools (TechSoup) – FREE
• April 16 – Fundraising for Community Technology(Communities Connect – FREE
• April 16 – Webinar: Online Writing – Dos and Don’ts of Writing for the Web and Email – $35
• April 16 – Idealware Online Seminar: Introduction to Website Analytics (Idealware.org) – $40
• April 16 – International Philanthropy in a Time of Recession (Philanthropy.com) – FREE
• April 17 – NTC 2009 Orientation Call (NTEN) – FREE

Happy Monday, folks! Here is this week’s round-up of online webinars for nonprofits. I hope that you take away something that helps your org do what you do – better!

• April 7 – Webinar: How Nonprofit Organizations Can Successfully Use Facebook and YouTube – $40
• April 7 – Webinar: Nonprofit fundraising in tough times – Using Web 2.0 & Social Media to build your funding prowess (Philanthropy Journal) – $20/Subscribers $30/Non-Subscribers
• April 7 – What Should a Website Cost? (Network for Good) – FREE
• April 7 – Meaningful Reporting: How to Understand Your Data and Use it to Drive Better Fundraising Results (NTEN) – $30/Members $60/Non-Members
• April  8 – Product Spotlight: Why Do You Need Fundraising Software? (NTEN) – FREE
• April 8 – Idealware Online Seminar: Getting Started with Online Donations (Idealware.org) – $40

I’ll be taking Dec. 22 (oooo…that’s today) through Jan. 7 off for Christmas and a vacation to FL to visit with family. I am going to do my darndest to post a little something everyday to keep you interested. There are a lot of good webinars and educational series coming up in 2009, so I’ll let you know about those as well.

For now, I wanted to let you know about a fantastic series that NTEN and TechSoup Global are presenting in late January, early February called Social Media and Storytelling.

The topics are relevant and it looks like a great series for folks still getting their feet wet. The first webinar is called Building Blocks and is on January 21. Register today!

Every morning I wake up to about 500+ posts of some sort or another to read, so I decided to pass out a little link luv today to a few of my favorite bloggers.

• Marketing Misfit Blog – Mayra Ruiz is a wonderful lady with a fresh, strategic take on all things marketing.
• Inkthinker | Freelance Writing Blog – Kristen King does a great job with this blog for writers…and she throws in great contests and stories about her dogs.
• Chrisbrogan.com – Chris Brogan is a visionary in the social media space and is an all around nice, accessible guy. If you are the least bit interested in social media or marketing, check out this blog.
• NTEN - I love NTEN. In my opinion, if you are a non-profit, you should immediately run – don’t walk – and join NTEN. Membership is extremely reasonable, the people are fantastic and you will get so much information about nonprofits and technology you won’t know what to do with it all. And…if you sign-up, be sure to tell them that Beth Bates sent ya as I’ll get my renewal for free. Hey – what’s a little harmless promotion?
• FrogLoop – I really like Care2’s Frogloop blog although I do wish they would update it more often. Great resources for nonprofits as well as new initatives.
• Zen and the Art of Nonprofit Technology – I met Michelle at NTC 2008 and she is a fabulous resource for all things open source.
• The Responsible Marketing Blog – I just enjoy this blog. Patrick Byers does a great job of putting a socially concious spin on everyday happenings and products.
• Happenings, Advice and Other Technology Thoughts! – This blog by my friend, Shashi Bellamkonda, is chocked full of great thoughts, ideas and resources on technology.
• Pop Candy – OK, I get one guilty pleasure. I love USA TODAY’s Pop Candy blog by Whitney Matheson. She is incredible clever and witty and shares my obscure sense of humor. Live it. Learn it. Love it. POP CANDY.
• Basic Instructions – OK, two guilty pleasures. Basic instructions is HILARIOUS.

Today I participated in a great discussion on NTEN.org with Sue Cline about non-profit communications and whether its better to look like you need the money or have a more professional image. This is a question that I get asked a lot and is often the topic of much discussion among our board. There are two viewpoints that I see.

1) If you look too professional, potential donors may not want to donate because you don’t look like you need the money or worse – they wonder where the money is going.

2) If you look too “mom & pop”, donors may not take your organization seriously or worse – they wonder where the money is going (or in this case – how is it being managed).

I went to a Best Friends conference several years ago where this topic was discussed as it pertained to animal welfare organizations. Best Friends has a full-color, VERY slick magazine, a professional website, multiple print fundraising drives – you get the picture. As an organization, they made the decision to spend the money to give their org a professional, clean image. Ironically, there was very little fallout and they are one of the most well-funded animal welfare organizations in the country.

GoodDogz.org has been a grassroots organization for five years, yet we’ve always been able to convey a professional image while not spending loads of money. Here are a few tips that may help your organization make the most of your resources:

• Recruit volunteers that have the skills you need. If you need a new website, find a web designer that is interested in your cause. If you need print materials, find a graphic designer that can help you create a template for your print collateral.
• Work with the business community. Seek out members of the local community that can donate or cut you a deal on printing, legal services, accounting, PR help, etc. If they like your message, its likely they will help. It never hurts to ask and I’ve been told NO many times. But that should never stop you from asking.
• Look for cheap online resources. We paid an arm and a leg for our first business cards by using a local business that didn’t want to help us out. By searching online, we’ve been able to find great deals on printing, promotional materials, etc. Also check out Craigslist for high ticket items like trade show booths, computers, etc.
• Find sponsors. If you need a new website or printed materials, look for a sponsor that will pay for the service in return for promotional considerations. I built GoodDogz.org on sponsorships. Not only do you get what you need, but you also make valuable relationships with business owners.
• Most important – execution is key. It doesn’t matter how nice your newsletter looks – if your organization doesn’t present itself in a professional manner, you will not be taken seriously. It seems so simple, but I see so many non-profits fall apart on execution. Return phone calls and emails promptly. Take the time to ensure that your message is clear and is part of everything you distribute. If you host events, be sure that volunteers, participants, sponsors and exhibitors are well taken care of. Go that extra mile. In the long run, people (and potential donors) remember how they were treated by your organization before they recall the color of your website.