Fundraising
The track record of online fundraising contests is spotty at best, although they are no longer the latest new thing. Allyson Kapin, of Frogloop, rifs on the topic and asks Online Fundraising Contests: Effective or Digital Litter?
I remember distinctly the first time I ever heard of donor research, and my reaction was "What?" I couldn't believe that there were people spending their time poking around in people's lives to see how much money they could donate. I soon learned the worth of prospect research, but the Wall Street Journal seems to question it, judging from an article back in May in its personal finance section. Anne Kadet asks Is Your Favorite Charity Spying on You?. The Chronicle of Philanthropy worries About a Crackdown on Donor Research as a result of such articles. I think a discussion and airing of the issues is healthy.
Almost on cue, Blackbaud has established a blog about prospect research to serve the needs of pros in that field. It should help bring prospect research out of the shadows and motivate people to consider it as a career. There is more than one path in fundraising after all. The recent posts here include an excellent one about marketing planned giving to women.
Social Media
One of the ingredients of successfully using social media, according to The Networked Nonprofit by Beth Kanter and Allison Fine, is the willingness to experiment. Whether you're read the book or not, expand your knowledge with Beth's recent blog post, How To Make Social Media Experiments Fun!
Confused about social media and don't know where to start? Idealware, which helps sort out software issues for nonprofits, has put together The Nonprofit Social Media Decision Guide. A free download, this may be just the starter guide you've been searching for.
I have to say that I'm tiring of all the talk about the Old Spice social media campaign, but Peter Panepento, of The Chronicle of Philanthropy, did such a great take in his Charity Lessons From the Old Spice Guy that I couldn't ignore it. My dad reeked of Old Spice, by the way, and I rather admire the company's attempt to stay relevant for a new generation. It might work.
Social Entrepreneurship
The Ashoka website is a great resource for budding social entrepreneurs as well as old hands. For example, Meera Krishnan has provided a roundup of free tutorials or toolkits designed specifically for social entrepreneurs in Starter Kits for Social Entrepreneurs.
Everyday Doing Good
Nicole Bouchard Boles, author of How to Be an Everyday Philanthropist makes her blog an unending stream of suggestions for doing good and giving with little money and even less time. Her latest post is about recycling your bra! Well, ok, I could do that. But she also often highlights products to buy for good, and profiles great nonprofit organizations. Very worthwhile.
Cause Marketing and CSR
Corporate Social Responsibility took a hit this month when Chrystia Freeland, writing in the Washington Post, asked What's BP's social responsibility?. I thought these questions were put to rest some time ago, but I guess not. I really liked the retort at Philanthrocapitalism, which asked instead, Is CSR Evil?
Springwise, always tracking the newest entrepreneurial ideas, is hot on the trail of a "buy one, donate one" trend in business. They profile the Plus One Movement in With every box of dog food, a meal for a homeless pet, and provides links to profiles of two others, Happy Blankie and Project Little Grey Dress.
Food for Thought
David La Piana writes in the Stanford Social Innovation Review about The Nonprofit Paradox, suggesting that nonprofits are often plagued by the very problems they set out to cure. Apparently having a social mission won't shield a nonprofit from dysfunction in its own house...indeed being focused too intently on that mission, the author suggests, may create that dysfunction.
Jarrett Stevens, in Relevant Magazine, writes about Consumer Compassion, asking "Our commitment to social justice sometimes bleeds into our want to consume products. Is that okay?" He says we are in the "Age of Compassionism," which is a blend of doing good, consumerism, and fashion. Could be.
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