Donors giving continuously without having to be asked more than once is a fundraiser’s dream come true. Plus, sustaining donors save precious resources. But it is easy to forget about these donors.

It seems like every chief fundraiser and board struggle with whose role fundraising really is. But rather than constantly asking that question, why not consider easy ways that the board can reach out to donors with the help of the chief fundraiser?

Yesterday, I received this card in the mail. Kinship Partners is a small nonprofit organization in Central Minnesota that matches volunteer adult mentors with youth in need. A few years ago, HBH assisted them with developing their “Bridge Builders” donor program. My husband and I became Bridge Builders about six months ago.

This card and postage cost Kinship very little money, but of course did require some planning and coordination. Its value is in its creative execution and the power of the personal touch. Wow. All of these board members care enough about Kinship’s mission and their donors to sign their name on not only my card, but for all of their “Bridge Builders.” 

What simple ways can your board engage with personally thanking your sustaining donors?

~Katrina

The Aliveness Project works with people who are positive.  That is, HIV+.  Did you think the dreaded AIDS was cured?  I’m sad to tell you that in Minnesota alone, more than 7,000 people – men, women, gay and straight, are HIV+.  It is alarming that the number of youth diagnosed is increasing.  The Aliveness Project, which started in 1985, provides free holistic programs that serve mind, body and spirit.  Read more about it here.

The Aliveness Project is a new client relationship for HBH Consultants and we are pleased to be involved. We started by conducting an assessment that led to a campaign plan for the final year of The Aliveness Project’s Positive Impact Capital Campaign, including a communications plan and video which we are excited to reveal soon.

The new building at 3808 Nicollet Ave.

The campaign isn’t done yet – about $900,000 remains to be raised, but today, spirits are indeed positive at The Aliveness Project.

-Dianne Hennes

*top photo courtesy of The Aliveness Project

I can’t say I have pinpointed the all-encompassing description for what innovation in the social sector truly is, but I can tell you I know it when I see it.

For some innovation is about collaboration. Others consider technology as the be-all-end-all tool for innovation. And while its true that innovation and technology go together like strawberries and shortcake, real social innovation, in my mind is about applying a new, effective and creative solution to a problem.

In my short time as a consultant, I’ve been honored to work with many creative leaders in organizations of all shapes and sizes.

Here are 7 characteristics that I believe are needed, in order for an organization to fully realize its potential for innovation.

1. Visionary Leadership. While not all ideas should come from one person, the tone for what is acceptable and encouraged is often set by a CEO or board chair

2. Acceptance of Failure. Fear of failure is the enemy of innovation. True innovation comes from an acceptance of failure. It doesn’t mean we don’t try our hardest. It just means that we aren’t shamed when something doesn’t go exactly as planned.

3. Humor. Laughter is good for us emotionally and physically and a culture of fun attracts the best and brightest thinkers.

4. Curiosity. Without curiosity, we wouldn’t have any modern inventions.

5. Agility. When people take risks, sometimes the outcome isn’t always desirable. The ability to see what needs to be done, and do it quickly, whether in a crisis or every day work, leaves the door open for innovation.

6. Bottom-up ideas. Good ideas are born at all levels. Ask for input from everyone. Give them freedom.

7. Youth-like thinking. As adults we are conditioned to immediately stifle good ideas. Youth-like thinking means never using the “that will never work” or “we’ve tried that before” excuses. Adults don’t have all the answers. Re-learn what it means to “think like a kid.”

If you are interested in reading about how to foster a culture of innovation within your organization, check out “Innovate the Pixar Way,” Business Lessons from the World’s Most Creative Corpoate Playground. It is a glimpse into the Pixar culture that will leave you brimming with ideas!

I recently re-read the quote: “culture eats strategy for breakfast.” And I couldn’t agree more. While strategy is important, it doesn’t drive creativity. Sometimes, innovation is about closing our eyes and jumping in with both feet. If you have worked to create a strong culture of openness that invites everyone’s ideas, then I believe that innovation will follow.

photo credit: Peter E. Lee via photopin cc

Reaching Out, Connecting Within

Wednesday, May 15 

9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Best Western Kelly Inn – St. Cloud

HBH is a sponsor along with the Initiative Foundation, Central Minnesota Community Foundation, and Mutual of America.

This event is designed to be a “summit” in the truest sense, as nonprofit leaders from throughout Minnesota gather to tackle tough challenges, identify key trends, and move toward opportunities to work better, together. This year’s summit will equip you with new tools to prepare for leadership transition, to foster deep discussion among your staff and board, to rethink partnering possibilities, and to leverage your time and energy.

Please visit the summit’s website http://www.minnesotanonprofits.org/greatermn-summit to learn more about the keynote from James Toscano and schedule for the day. You may also contact Christa Otteson, Regional Coordinator, Minnesota Council of Nonprofits COtteson@minnesotanonprofits.org for further information.

Bob, Dianne, and Katrina will all be on hand and hope to see you there!

In the nonprofit world, we have a tendency to focus on our organization and how wonderful it is in our external marketing. We assume that people want to help people, and nonprofits help people, so people will give to our nonprofit.

So, when our direct mail response rates steadily decline and no one hands over their checking account routing number to join our monthly giving club, we become discouraged and sometimes downright upset: why doesn’t anyone care about (insert your mission here)?!

The truth is, people ARE generous. 8 or 9 (depending in the study you reference) out of 10 Americans DO give to charity.

However, your organization is only one of 1.5 million registered nonprofits in the United States. And don’t forget about the corporate behemoths that are competing for their pocketbooks with advertising campaigns that remind you just how little your marketing budget really is.

So what are key messages anyways?

Key messages provide a framework for your nonprofit communications. They are a series of short, memorable, well constructed messages that tell people      what the problem is, how your nonprofit is helping and how they can get involved. Your key message framework is your organization’s story.

Why are key messages so difficult to construct?

Developing strong key messages is difficult because it requires a macro view of your organization and its place in the world. That’s why often times, it is helpful to have a consulting firm like HBH or a group of volunteers assist you in writing them. Notice I used the word “crafting” in the title of this blog post. That’s because developing key messages isn’t something you do in just an hour.

How should key messages be used?

Every organization should have a set of key messages that guides the development of content–whether it is your CEO’s gala speech, a case statement or a fundraising video–a simple, flexible framework will take the pain out of content development and ensure that your messages are memorable and inspire the desired action in your audience.

Why you should care about key messages

People don’t take time to try to understand something that’s complex or riddled with jargon. If they can’t make sense of it in 5 seconds, they leave it, often never to return. Memorable key messages are sticky, likely to ignite action. Nonprofits with strong messaging often do well on social media because their messages are clear, concise, and always consistent.

How to create key messages

When you begin to develop key messages, consider following the problem, solution, action framework. You’ll notice many nonprofit videos will follow this framework. Let’s use Mercy Corps and their video about the ongoing Syria crisis as an example.

1. Define the problem. The war in Syria has killed 70,000 people and displaced 1 million people. 

2. Present a solution. The Mercy Corps helps refugees by expanding water distribution, preparing families for winter, and creating safe places for children.

3. Call the audience to act. You can give to Mercy Corps to alleviate suffering for refugees that have fled their homes.

While you’ll likely need to expand on these messages with more information and specific calls to action, using a framework like this is a simple, yet effective way to organize your messaging and ignite interest in your cause.

Do you have key messages for your organization? If so, how have they helped you?

-Katrina

While it’s tempting to invest time and resources in tactics, it’s important to remember that tactics must be carefully chosen to expedite an organization’s mission, not other way around.  Plan with mission in mind, and then choose the tools that fit.  An effective web site and social media platform, for example, must fit with the culture of the organization and reflect its mission.

In a recent example of a mission-driven capital fundraising effort, a wise volunteer reminded her committee that it wasn’t their proposed new building that was the subject of the organization’s capital campaign; it was the mission that could happen inside that new building once it was completed. We agree.

How has your organization addressed this question?

Some of us have released our creativity, but most of us have not. Even people who are paid for their creative work on a day-to-day basis struggle with fully embracing their creative potential.

Nonprofits by nature are creative because they are a creative solution to a societal need. Nonprofits of all sizes are on a shoestring budget, and unlike in the corporate world, most can’t afford to pay other people to invent solutions for them.

From the desk of my former college professor, Bill Meissner

Donors like creative programs and are drawn to organizations that aren’t afraid to show their personality.

Intentionally setting the stage for creative thinking and collaboration will help your nonprofit’s team develop creative ways of delivering services and getting your message out there.

Here are a few ways to foster a culture of creativity: 

1) Make crayons and color markers available during meetings when brainstorming is needed.

2) Get people playing with language. Ask them to write metaphors or similes or haiku. Creative writing stretches your brain in unimaginable ways.

3) Encourage staff to walk or bike to work. Or if that’s not possible, encourage them to spend time outdoors during their break. Fresh air clears the mind.

4) Get people moving during meetings and break people into small groups whenever possible.

5) Consider letting people create or reinvent their own job titles. (scary, I know!)

6) Install an office chalkboard and post a new “what if?’ question every week that people can respond to. Then take photos of each board to document the responses and use them to spark conversations during staff meetings.

7) Never underestimate the impact of an environment. Not all nonprofits can afford custom designed work spaces like Pixar, but you can encourage staff  to personalize their own spaces, whether through wall paint colors, art or a sleek stapler design. Imagine if you gave each staff member $25 and told them to spend it on something that inspires them for their office. How would they react?

When kicking around new ideas, don’t use the phrase “we tried that in 1992 and it didn’t work…..” Today is a new day, with new people and an entirely different environment.

9) Give everyone a chance to brainstorm freely when presented with a new opportunity or challenge. Let staff weigh in and don’t judge ideas or their feasibility–just ask them to contribute and get it down on paper or a whiteboard.

10) Play with lighting–use more lamps, colored bulbs and less fluorescent lighting.

11) Tell stories about your children and grandchildren. What is the latest animated film you’ve enjoyed?

12) Circulate links to organizations that are pushing the limits and case studies that inspire you. Or something unrelated to work, like this mind bending ball dropping experiment.

13) Reward people for sharing their ideas. One of the biggest barriers to creative sharing and collaboration is the “what will people think of me?” fear. A culture that welcomes new ideas, but recognizes that all of them won’t be implemented, is one where people feel safe sharing and innovation is birthed.

14) Ring a large bell, send out a mass text or find another creative way to alert the office when something exciting has happened, or when a solution has been found.

15) Encourage self-management. Set shared goals. Check in often. Celebrate progress. Micromanagement is the enemy of creative expression.

Employees whose ideas are valued are happier and are likely more productive as a result. And nonprofit leaders who are mindful of this will not only be well-loved, but will establish a culture of creativity.

First off, we all felt “called” to do this important work. Because of the tragic events that led to the formation of the center, we considered it an honor to be associated with this constructive and pioneering response. Secondly, we had the highest degree of respect for Don, whom we had all known previously, and this soon carried over to us newbies when we jelled as a team. Thirdly, we were extremely energized by the work. We were literally creating the programs as we went along, often crafting the agenda for a community meeting days/hours before convening the group. We leaned heavily upon one another and appreciated the particular expertise each brought to the table. The final and most important factor was Don’s leadership style. His focus was on the big picture and outcomes. He empowered us to do our jobs while always making himself available for counsel or coaching. He was a true “servant leader.” This fostered a high degree of trust that permeated the organization. And it was fun!

I hope you are blessed to have work that is meaningful, challenging, and rewarding!

- Bob

Minnesota Winter - Photo from the Road

In a recent Facebook post, we suggested taking a look at UnderDeveloped: A National Study of Challenges Facing Nonprofit Fundraising, a joint project of CompassPoint and the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund.   If you read the complete study, and I hope you will take the time to do that, you’ll probably start to think about how your organization could improve its culture of philanthropy (and I hope you do that, too!)  Here are some simple ways to start:

• As my mentor Kay Sprinkel Grace says, everyone in an organization can be an Ambassador, an Advocate, and/or an Asker.  (Check out her books and bio at http://www.kaygrace.org/books.html).  This means EVERYONE – phone answerers, program staff, kitchen workers, volunteers, executives, board members… think customer-service.
• Decide what your organization’s key messages are, based on your mission and goals, and make sure everyone knows and believes in them.  Comfort with mission is the key to easy conversation, i.e., being an ambassador for your organization.
• Make a culture of philanthropy easy and fun in your organization and communicate effectively internally as well as externally.  Quickly acknowledge when someone does something that advances your organization’s mission.  Ring a bell.  Post a photo on Facebook.  Give credit.  Share chocolate.

How is your organization developing a culture of philanthropy?  We’d love to hear.

–Dianne

Who: World Wildlife Fund: “How a Prairie Fire in the Great Northern Planes…”
Form: Online story
So What? Helps you understand a complex partnership and how the work of the World Wildlife Fund impacts animals.
Visit: www.wwf.org

Who: TOMS
Form: Annual Report
So What? Explains the purpose of TOMS, why shoes are important and how TOMS is fitting shoes on children around the world.
Visit: www.toms.com

Who: charity: water. “Will the Beautiful Women of the World Please Stand Up”
Form: Online story
So What? Take a journey with a charity:water staff, learn how clean water goes beyond basic human health.
Visit: www.charitywater.org

source: charity:water

Thanks to everyone who came out! We were humbled by your talent and energized by your enthusiasm.

-Katrina