A mission statement is an integral part of any organization. It is your opportunity to define the firm’s goals, values and purpose. The best mission statements explain what the organization does for its recipients, its donors, its community, and for the world.A large majority of mission statements are laden with hollow phrases that do not adequately describe their unique organization. People often write mission statements out of obligation, failing to understand the purpose and value of a well written piece.A mission statement, when well developed, is a formidable tool to communicate to...

In Part 1 of our social media series we spoke of the marketing tool in a corporation and/or a non-profit. We asked questions including, what is it? How does it relate to your organization? What is the value? What function does it serve?In Part 2, as we moved past fundamentals, we unpacked the magic of social media. We considered what makes it so special, why it's so vital, how it will help the organization, and on which areas of engagement it focuses.In our third and final part of the social media for non-profits series, we will look at conditions and characteristics that are necessary for...

Last week we spoke of social media in a corporation and/or a non-profit. What is it? How does it relate to your organization? What is its value? What function does it serve?This week, as we move beyond the fundamentals, we can unpack a little bit of the magic of social media. What makes it so special? Why is it so vital? How will it help your organization? On what areas of engagement does it focus? The Magic of Social Media Social media allows people to connect with one another in a multitude of ways - from social networks, to blogs, to public forums. People from around the world can,...

Social media marketing can be used to efficiently communicate a message to countless potential donors at high levels of engagement and low costs. What separates social media from other forms of media are two factors:  1 - It can be personalized. Rather than broadcasting a message to thousands of unnecessary users - say with direct response for example - an organization can use social media to directly target relevant users that are interested in their particular cause. You can search for #hashtags to follow trends and see what users are talking about something that your organization is...

On Saturday, April 25th, an earthquake struck Nepal. Kathmandu, the nation's capital city, has been overcome by shattered temples and toppled houses. Many citizens have paid their last respects to loved ones taken by the horrible natural disaster. Photo courtesy of pbs.org To date, over 7,300 people have been reported dead and more than 12,000 people are injured (Al Jazeera, May 3). Eight million people across the country have been affected, including one million children who desperately need assistance.  This is just a snapshot of statistics, barely illustrating the scale of the...

In the world of the public sector there are three overarching types of philanthropy: Traditional philanthropy Venture philanthropy Catalytic philanthropy So what differentiates them? Traditional philanthropy is the type with which you're most familiar. This stream of philanthropy is concerned with which organizations an individual or firm chooses to support and how much time/money to donate to them. Individual non-profits are funded by donors and are responsible for implementing change. But what about the other two types?  Venture philanthropy has become more popular in the...

Furthermore, times are changing, and each generation adapts to these changes different and at different paces. It's important for charities to take note of trends and make the proper adjustments to cater to the majority. A better understanding of donors leads to a better charity. So how do donors today like to give?Money:Though donors give in many different ways, ranging from gifts of time, expertise, and treasure, monetary contributions seem to dominate today's charitable pie.Donating money is an act in which participation rises steadily with age. For instance, 50% of Gen Y donors make cash...

Did you know that the average American non-profit organization loses seventy percent of donors after the first gift? Or that there is only a 10-15% chance that a donor will make five consecutive charitable contributions? These statistics show just how tough it is for organizations to retain donors and how the public sector isn't going about it in the right way. The notion that it costs much more to secure a new customer than to retain an old one, which is fully understood in the corporate world, has somehow been lost in the public sector. If a non-profit organization is to build a...

There is one question common to all donors regardless of their age, sex, race, or socioeconomic background."How is my donation actually helping to make a difference?" A study conducted by Blackbaud research group showed that fifty-five percent of Gen Y and forty-four percent of Gen X say that seeing the direct impact of their contribution has a significant bearing on their decision to donate money. Baby Boomer and the Civic generation place far less importance on tangible, visible results; however, twenty-eight percent and thirty-four percent respectively still said it would...

Atul Tandon is an entrepreneur, humanitarian, author and adviser. He has worked in the consumer banking, e-commerce, humanitarian relief and development industries. In 2009, he was named one of the top fundraisers in the USA, and was a leading voice behind the worldwide ONE campaign.For two years, Atul Tandon was the Executive Director for United Way and its International Network comprising forty-one countries. He provided guidance and leadership to United Way's global network, including the advancement of the organization's fund-raising objectives. In 2011, Tandon launched a global advisory...