Social Media Bird Brain

MARCH 6, 2013

HIPAA barriers healthcare social communication Small nonprofit medicineI don't know that I've mentioned it here, but I serve as a volunteer on the Santa Cruz County Emergency Medical Care Commission, which advises our County Supervisors on emergency healthcare issues. I got interested in this area when my late husband was going through a lot of hospital visits, some of which involved ambulances and helicopters. I've continued to volunteer (as the consumer.

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Barriers Communications Social Healthcare 112

Getting Attention

FEBRUARY 20, 2014

Welcome to guest blogger Joleen Ong, who is the Marketing & Publications Director at NTEN —the community of nonprofit professionals who put technology to work for their causes. Successful integrated marketing goes beyond the communications products you put out there in the world. Don’t forget your internal process.

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Barriers Marketing Opinions Solution 211

SocialButterfly

MARCH 29, 2010

When, what they really need from us, is to help them remove the barriers blocking them from changing themselves.&#. Tags: Quote of the Week barriers change choices decisions empowerment perspective Quote Most of you have never met or read anything from the person with this week’s quote–but she is one of the most insightful people I know and has an authentic, strong, persistent heart for serving others. She is my mom–the woman I call the original SocialButterfly.

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Barriers Flickr Behavior Test 100

The Agitator

MAY 4, 2014

Last week, in Overcoming Barriers to Growth , I previewed the DMA Nonprofit Federation’s Leadership Summit by the same name that kicks off this Wednesday. A year ago we reported on Adrian Sargeant’s and Jen Shang’s remarkable study — Great Fundraising — revealing steps organizations must take to increase income 2, 3 or even 4 times.

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Barriers Federal Income Studies 66

The Agitator

APRIL 27, 2014

If measured by the number of organizations, the nonprofit sector is growing quickly in the US. Up a whopping 47% over the past decade. But, if measured by the share of national income representing private giving to nonprofits, there’s been a decrease of 11%. A smaller pie and more mouths to feed is a recipe for disaster. Yet, status quo thinking tends to dominate. There’s no question that the growth curve can be bent, but only with a willingness to do business in a much different manner.

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Barriers Measure Income Business 61

The Agitator

SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

Several hundred new Agitator readers have come on board since I first launched the ‘Barriers to Growth’ series back in May. While Tom and our Chief Global Financial Officer debate the eBook, I’ve decided to simply list and summarize the 10 Barriers to Growth in hopes that it will benefit new readers, remind longer-term readers and agitate all. Here’s a summary of all 10 Barriers along with a link for those particular barriers in which you’re most interested.

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Barriers Global Link List 70

Mission Paradox Blog

MARCH 16, 2011

I like to think about it as a barrier breaker. My job is to identify and remove barriers that separate the people from the art.    Some of the barriers are obvious, price, description of programming, etc. Other barriers, like an overly complicated subscription order form, are less obvious. Either way, I need to identify the barriers and do what I can to remove them.

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Barriers Paper Price Pricing 36

The Agitator

JUNE 10, 2014

I decided to call out this thorny barrier to growth because I’m not alone in observing a dangerous pattern that’s emerging. A lot of what I’m about to say here will seem offensive to fundraising agencies and insensitive to their problems. I mean to be neither. Higher fees, lost respect, absence of serious innovation – all are trends that manifest themselves in the anger, frustration and angst expressed by clients over their agencies.

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Barriers Agency Trends Fundraising 60

The Agitator

MAY 18, 2014

Alfred Sloan was the General Motors Chair and CEO who led GM from the 1920s through the ‘50s and grew it to become largest corporation on Earth at the time. In a board meeting at GM, Sloan asked the board about an important decision: “I take it that everyone is in basic agreement about this decision?” Everyone nodded yes. Sloan’s response: “Then I suggest we postpone the decision. Until we have some disagreement, we don’t understand the problem.”

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Barriers Government Political Corporate 72

The Agitator

JULY 14, 2014

I’m convinced that a major barrier to most nonprofits’ growth is that there is little understanding of an organization’s true potential. As a result, far too many organizations and their consultants set their sights far too low, settling for the average given in a benchmark like Giving USA , which year after year, for the past 20 years, has estimated the growth of giving at 2% of Gross Domestic Product. The first of the Easy Excuses arises from benchmarking.

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Barriers Benchmark USA Average 78

The Agitator

JUNE 1, 2014

Stagnant organizations are generally marked by lousy boards and clueless, or worse, arrogant CEOs. Without the leadership of an engaged, aware and willing-to-learn CEO you might as well forget about growth. Because there’s likely to be no serious investment funds made available … no radical organizational change, led from the top, to break down silos … no willingness to clean house and replace the barnacles of complacency with a new, can-do, must grow mindset.

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Barriers Rate Organization Organic 66

The Agitator

MAY 11, 2014

There’s no question that the shortage of investment funds for fundraising is perceived as a principal barrier to growth. That sentiment was voiced by many attending the DMANF Leadership Summit last week, and it’s certainly a reason offered in a lot of the comments and email from Agitator readers. The solution to this problem may lie within your organization itself. Most charities have significant reserves. Which is no bad thing in and of itself.

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Barriers Solution Charity Question 77

The Agitator

JULY 29, 2014

Look no further than how strategy is typically thought of by most nonprofits and their consultants and you’ll quickly understand why poor or no strategy is a major barrier to growth. First, what a meaningful strategy that leads to growth is NOT. Strategy that leads to growth is NOT asking three different copywriters to draft three versions of a renewal series. Strategy that leads to growth is NOT offering a client 100 PowerPoint slides at yet another quarterly or monthly review session.

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Barriers Strategy Forecast Lead 79

The Agitator

JULY 21, 2014

Of the more than 1 million nonprofits in the U.S., nearly 75% post annual revenues below $500,000. This leaves little or no room for the ‘science’ part of fundraising, like data analytics and predictive modeling. Organizations with higher revenue can afford the analytics and technology essential to fostering growth in today’s markets. But what about small nonprofits – the preponderance of groups in our sector? Other sectors have faced similar dilemmas and challenges.

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Barriers Analytics Brand Branding 59

The Agitator

JULY 21, 2014

Of the more than 1 million nonprofits in the U.S., nearly 75% post annual revenues below $500,000. This leaves little or no room for the ‘science’ part of fundraising, like data analytics and predictive modeling. Organizations with higher revenue can afford the analytics and technology essential to fostering growth in today’s markets. But what about small nonprofits – the preponderance of groups in our sector? Other sectors have faced similar dilemmas and challenges.

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Barriers Analytics Brand Branding 59

The Agitator

JUNE 18, 2014

You’d think a $300 billion industry like ours would have empirically based standards and practices readily available and accessible to all. After all, most sectors — ranging from apple growers to doctors and hospitals, and even zoos — have them. Fundraising doesn’t. What we do have is mass of accumulated tribal wisdom, often conflicting, seldom empirically based.

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Best Practices Best Practice Barriers Practices 75

The Agitator

OCTOBER 20, 2009

According to a 15-question survey Convio conducted between September 2008 and October 2008 of 60 nonprofits, the most common response regarding their organization’s top barrier to success was insufficient staff. Other barriers to online success noted by those surveyed were lack of coordination, lack of education of online marketing, database issues, integration of different Web tools/technologies and intradepartmental issues.

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Barriers Online Fundraising October Online 54

The Agitator

JULY 29, 2014

Look no further than how strategy is typically thought of by most nonprofits and their consultants and youll quickly understand why poor or no strategy is a major barrier to growth. First, what a meaningful strategy that leads to growth is NOT. Strategy that leads to growth is NOT asking three different copywriters to draft three versions of a renewal series. Strategy that leads to growth is NOT offering a client 100 PowerPoint slides at yet another quarterly or monthly review session.

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Barriers Forecast Strategy Lead 43

The Agitator

AUGUST 31, 2017

There’s no question that solid recordkeeping and donor processing systems form an essential foundation for successful monthly giving programs. And, given today’s ready availability of off-the-shelf CRM software and flexible payment processors much-feared complexity of managing monthly giving programs is no longer a valid excuse for jumping in.

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CRM Barriers Process Software 43

Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog

MARCH 6, 2019

Barriers that they must overcome. How they get beyond those barriers. In most cases, your nonprofit won’t appear in the story until Act 3 and then you are typically just part of the supporting cast that helps the main character get over those barriers. A few weeks ago I shared Why Stories Are Important for Nonprofits and promised some more ideas on how to actually write those stories.

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Storytelling Barriers Amazon Creative 185

Fundraising Report Card

JULY 10, 2018

The biggest barrier to entry that I have discovered over the past 4 years isn’t being unsure what to measure, or having access to information. No, it is a lack of organizational culture that supports this new way of thinking. The post 3 Steps to Build a Data-Driven Organizational Culture appeared first on Fundraising Report Card. Culture

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Barriers Cards Measure Build 40

Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog

OCTOBER 15, 2019

On today’s Video Strategy for Nonprofits webinar, I organized my presentation around the barriers that are holding nonprofits back from fully embracing video as the superior communications channel that it is for so many different marketing goals. The amount of time that it takes to produce videos was the biggest barrier among today’s webinar participants.

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Video Barriers Software Practices 149

A Small Change

APRIL 22, 2015

There can often be barriers to accessing decision makers to pitch the ideas listed above, but often times our Champions can be the very folks to overcome these barriers and develop partnerships. We’ve had some great responses and feedback on our recent post about finding and cultivating Champions for our agencies, and how their throwing a party can be an effective and fun way to acquire new donors.

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Business Barriers Agency Satisfaction 122

EveryAction

JUNE 6, 2018

The organization also operates a Mental Health Fund for Queer and Trans People of Color, which provides financial assistance in order to increase access to mental health support and address the economic barriers many queer and trans people of color face within the healthcare system. June is observed as LGBTQ Pride month to commemorate the June 1969 Stonewall Riots and celebrate the vibrant and diverse LGBTQ community.

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Organization Organic Oklahoma Legal 219

The Agitator

JULY 15, 2014

In Part 7 of our Barriers to Growth series, I noted that the inability or unwillingness to take a hard and realistic look at an organization’s fundraising potential represents a significant barrier to meaningful growth.

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Barriers Best Practices Best Practice Practices 82

J Campbell Social Marketing

JULY 25, 2017

What barriers may we face in getting this story out publicly? What’s it like being on the other side of the barrier? Last week’s lesson in Storytelling Summer School detailed the 5 types of stories you need to actively collect and share about your nonprofit and it’s impact. (If If you didn’t grab the free Story Collection Worksheet , grab it here.). Over in the Facebook Group , Storytelling Superstar Amelia Leggett jumped right in!

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Summer How To Barriers Distribution 183

Getting Attention

JULY 17, 2019

I urge you to push through these barriers; it’s worth it. Learn how to ask, train, and support your team in this free webinar on July 23. Register now. We all have an incredible resource right in front of us — our colleagues, board, donors, volunteers, and members. Just as you discuss your work and affiliations with your friends, family, and colleagues, these messengers share information on your organization’s focus and programs.

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Getting Attention

OCTOBER 31, 2018

Every election season is a barrier to connection, with people overwhelmed by 24/7 messages from multiple campaigns via multiple channels. But connecting this fall—through the noise of so many contentious midterm elections—is particularly tough. That’s a real concern as we plunge into Giving Tuesday and Year-End.

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Barriers Relevance Rules Spot 155

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MARCH 24, 2011

But there has to be a Barrier that keeps the hero from getting to the goal right away or else it's not very compelling. This introduces the barriers or obstacles the protagonist faces). There could be several barriers). Storytelling is the single most powerful communications tool you have available, bar none. But many good causes tend to have problems telling good stories even though people have been communicating through stories for thousands of years. .

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Storytelling Best Barriers Best Practices 188

iMarketSmart

DECEMBER 1, 2014

By allowing an exchange of stories you break through barriers with your donors (barriers you might not have been able to penetrate otherwise). I get it! I get it! Tell stories! There’s been a lot of talk about storytelling for fundraising recently. Just a few weeks ago lots of folks even attended a Nonprofit Storytelling Conference. The reason I say, “I get it!” ” is (first) because telling stories to generate revenue is not a new concept.

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Storytelling Exchange Barriers Fundraising 187

EveryAction

OCTOBER 9, 2018

Talk openly about the barriers your nonprofit faces and how their volunteer help could help propel your mission forward. If you work at a nonprofit, you know what it feels like to have too much on your plate. You are eager to be as effective as possible, but you can’t do it all by yourself. A thriving volunteer program can help maximize your organization’s impact.

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Guide Program Automation Training 204

Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog

OCTOBER 15, 2020

While it might seem like a great way to engage potential donors, a calculator is actually a barrier, since it suggests that Planned Giving is complicated. Tony Martignetti. Today Tony Martignetti joins us to talk about marketing your bequests program. Kristina. Guest Post by Tony Martignetti.

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Getting Attention

NOVEMBER 26, 2012

But… The way many organizations discuss their causes, approach and impact is a huge barrier to connecting. It’s a simple equation, at least theoretically. Your goal is to change how people perceive, think, and give or act around your issue or cause. Connection is the lubricant for those changes. You have to connect to convince and convert. Is this getting in your way?

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Help New Jersey Barriers Conference 163

Selfish Giving

MAY 23, 2017

Whirlpool is fighting against education inequality by installing washers and dryers in schools to remove this barrier to attendance, and give students the confidence they need and deserve to get through class each day. Today on CauseTalk Radio , Megan and I talk to Alison McArthur , Community Achieves Coordinator for Metro Nashville Public Schools about the The Whirlpool Care Counts laundry program.

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Nashville Barriers Radio Class 59

The Agitator

JUNE 16, 2016

Chapter 9 of my book, Retention Fundraising: the art and science of keeping your donors for life, focuses on ‘Barriers to Retention’ The top two barriers? The real killers? #1: 1: Silos and #2: False Attribution. Silos. Those who work in organizations with more than one department are familiar with silos. The online personnel do little to coordinate with the offline folks. Major gift officers look down on direct mail fundraisers and vice versa.

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Barriers Direct Mail Mail Service 59

The Agitator

MARCH 8, 2017

In Part 8 of The Agitator’s Barriers To Growth series I cited “Insufficient Collaboration” as one of the principal barriers. Of the more than 1 million nonprofits in the U.S., nearly 75% post annual revenues below $500,000. I noted that “this leaves little or no room for the ‘science’ part of fundraising like data analytics, predictive modeling and other higher cost skills that can aid in growth.” ” “It shouldn’t be this way,” I lamented.

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Barriers Cost Mission Tools 52

A Small Change

APRIL 1, 2015

The main character’s older brother was an incredibly gifted designer and built a relentless, multi-functional, adaptive, and engaging robot whose only barrier preventing his unceasing efforts to complete his mission was – limited battery life. I recently saw Big Hero 6 with my daughter at her school’s movie night. It was awesome.

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Urgency Barriers Agency Prospect 135

Getting Attention

JULY 28, 2015

not enough time) is the barrier to impact I hear most frequently from you guys. Please tell us what you’re doing to strengthen supporter relationships, and what’s in your way. Thanks! Read Part 1 here. Thanks to these fabulous folks in the field for sharing their right-now paths to stronger relationships with supporters, and what’s getting in their way! The greatest challenge Kathleen Kennedy faces in building relationships and keeping them strong. “

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Relationship Satisfaction Barriers Template 161

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APRIL 24, 2014

Do you know the barriers to communicating with your audience? As you start using content marketing to capture the hearts of your nonprofit supporters, remember to stay true to your organization with the four Rs: Be real, relevant, realistic, and, most importantly, rewarding! Here''s how: 1. Be real. When you''re talking about your nonprofit or cause, are you being real?

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Relevance Content Barriers Summer 154

Getting Attention

OCTOBER 25, 2011

All too frequently the barrier to a sufficient budget is that your colleagues (staff and leadership) don’t understand what communications really is, what it can accomplish and what it takes to do it really well. What’s the barrier to getting the budget you need to achieve approved marketing goals? Dive into this second installment in my series to learn how to get what it takes to fund your nonprofit marketing plan. You’ll find Part One here.

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Budget Marketing Budget Barriers Goal 144

Getting Attention

FEBRUARY 3, 2016

Include a realistic budget (what it will take), and clear roles and responsibilities, and you’ll be likely to bust through these barriers to real marketing impact. Proof Points : Research findings to use when advocating for the marketing approaches you know are right. Talk about a perennial challenge! Inadequate time and budget remain the two primary hurdles to nonprofits’ marketing impact.

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Barriers Budget Survey Trends 116

The Agitator

AUGUST 17, 2015

Without question the greatest barrier to great fundraising is a lousy board. Of course issues like staff quality, the necessary funds for investment, proper organizational structure, etc. are important. But none is more important than a board. Because at the end of the day it is the board that ultimately determines the quality and culture of the organization. Whether it will be mediocre or magnificent.

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Barriers Philanthropy Course Develop 77

Getting Attention

OCTOBER 26, 2016

There is a way to move past this seemingly insurmountable barrier—Launch a team of messengers to be your nonprofit’s ambassadors for year end (and beyond). We’re in count down to year-end fundraising season, with its relentless pressure and never-ending to-dos. Are you banging your head against the wall yet? Joking aside, it may seem like your team’s hard work and limited resources won’t be enough. Yet you know how much you could bring in, if only…. Good news!

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Guinea Barriers Fundraising Fundraiser 175