We’ve all seen them: social media pages or websites for grassroots nonprofit agencies that appear to have been designed by a student or a well-intentioned volunteer. As a program director for a community foundation, the most common request I have heard from potential grantees over the past several years is “We wish we could afford to professionally brand and market this grassroots agency.”. MORE
I use the term "grassroots" gifts and grassroots donors instead of small, because "small" doesn't honor the importance and meaning of these crucial supporters. I've just re-read Joan Flanagan's classic The Grassroots Fundraising Book, and she describes it better than anyone. And then she gives clear, complete directions for how to do grassroots fundraising in different ways. MORE
I was asked by co-author, Fred Setterberg , to read and review Grassroots Philanthropy Field Notes of a Maverick Grantmaker by Bill Somerville with Fred Setterberg. The grassroots level of the nonprofit sector is full of passion, people trying to learn all of the 'how to's' of running a nonprofit, and they're the front line. MORE
But I can tell you about my grassroots research. Some Agitator readers might have noticed that I was on vacation recently. However, what some call ‘vacation’, I call ‘field work’ as my visit to the States included very high level strategic and editorial planning with co-editor Craver, as well as some on-the-ground research. I can’t discuss the former … deep corporate secrets and commercial sensitivity, you know. MORE
These two companies help nonprofits mobilize grassroots advocates by providing petition and pledge services to nonprofits. Looking for ways to unite and engage your supporters online for your cause? Sure, you have your website, email list and social channels urging supporters to take action. MORE
Exercise you can do with your board right now: I’ll lay down these various stages of an organization (small grassroots, medium org, large institution) and put down tape on the floor. MORE
Katrin Verclas, whose organization Mobile.Active is funded in part by Surdna Foundation , is working on the use of mobile phones in mobilizing donations from the grassroots. Tags: grassroots fundraising MORE
The Indivisible Guide began as a grassroots effort to support a new and growing resistance. Every successful campaign starts with a moment. Whether you're raising money to build a new school or curing a worldwide epidemic, a single moment drives the need for a campaign. MORE
No really, forget about them. If you’re fundraising for a small nonprofit, you have probably tried, over and over and over again, begging, cajoling, pleading with your board to fundraise. It’s probably causing you no small amount of frustration that they won’t do it. MORE
You can facilitate online fundraising by your nonprofit organization's supporters with a new site called firstgiving.com. This is not simply adding an online donations function to your group's existing web site, but enabling each of your volunteers and donors to set up their own, personal fundraising page. Using the site, individuals choose a cause and quickly create a page where they conduct their campaign. MORE
Buy a virtual glass of lemonade from Lemonadestandforlife.com , sponsored by Volvo, and the money goes to Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation to support families who must travel for their child’s cancer treatments. MORE
I recently worked for a social services organization that had fantastic grassroots support. I’ve worked in three very different fundraising shops in my career and have found that they all have done things very differently and raised very different amounts of money. MORE
We can try grassroots fundraising, but the reason its’ not working so well anymore is because people have less and less money to give you. When we start to address income inequality within our own organizations, we are truly making a difference at the grassroots level. MORE
KFTC doubled membership and tripled grassroots fundraising in three years. “What if the answers to nonprofits’ fundraising challenges were already all around us?” ” – FUNDRAISING BRIGHT SPOTS. Successful fundraising isn’t just about money. It’s about relationships. MORE
Our new name reflects our expanding work to help foundations, nonprofit organizations and grassroots leaders mobilize advocacy networks that will achieve change for the greater good. It’s rare to see an organization change its name and that’s a good thing. Name changes are a delicate matter. Assuming you’ve done a good job of building relationships with supporters, partners and others, your org’s name has equity. MORE
Tags: Grassroots and Events MORE
We take on the most critical issues facing women, mothers, and families by educating the public and mobilizing massive grassroots actions to: Bring the voices and real world experiences of women and mothers straight to our local, state, and nation’s leaders. Image credit: https://flic.kr/p/7HCgw9. MORE
Grassroots movements in crisis. In grassroots movements, nonprofits that allow anyone to help, and which spread authority out over anyone who wants to be involved, allow movements to respond quickly to any situation. In this economic downturn, how are you responding? MORE
Grassroots and Events Guest Posts & ReviewsDonor cultivation is part art, part science. At its most basic, donor cultivation (and prospect cultivation, for that matter), centers on communication: staying in touch with your donors and prospects to build a relationship of trust and mutual interest. Big gifts, small gifts, recurring gifts, bequests… they rarely just “happen.” Most are the result of an ongoing process of cultivation and dialogue. MORE
A national launch fueled through grassroots evangelists for “premiere night” with watch parties through already-built church networks. I wrote this post about a year ago and just re-discovered it this past weekend while doing some blog maintenance and wondered--why did I never post this? MORE
They play up the “strong foundation” and grassroots value , which continues to inform their work today. photo credit: armadillo444 via photopin cc. Storytelling has been receiving a lot of press lately, as a content marketing tool and as an effective way to engage audiences on social media. MORE
Tags: Grassroots and Events MORE
This is the title of a great eBook by Andy Robinson from the Institute for Conservation Leadership, available for free here. MORE
A fellow grassroots supporter has promised to match, dollar for dollar, whatever you can chip in today. Photo Credit: https://flic.kr/p/aPY4K8. p/aPY4K8. Stuck trying to find new ways to describe your matching gift campaign? Never fear! MORE
What can this grassroots-turned-national social media campaign teach nonprofits about using social media and inspiring passion in supporters? Social Media Strategy #SaveMarketBasket grassroots social media Market Basket social media campaign social media success MORE
if your group is a community-based, grassroots, or otherwise smaller-than-the-Red Cross-kind-of-organization. Tags: fundraising strategy grassroots fundraising The math works out nicely, I admit. But the work it takes to secure gifts from so many individuals rarely does. MORE
Taking a few minutes to do a little Spring cleaning of my e-mail inbox, I stumbled upon this super-sweet idea—calling the smallest-amount grassroots donors to check in. Suggested by Hildy Gottleib , a Tucson-based consultant to nonprofits, small businesses and first nations tribes, the idea makes sense for anti-burnout of us development folks and it makes sense for honest care and feeding of donors. It's a modest strategy that values what's valuable. MORE
Planned Parenthood’s triumph comes from these strengths: Ready and waiting : PP was experienced in crisis management and had already mobilized a strong team of grassroots advocates. Susan G. Komen for the Cure (Komen) has done it again. Three strikes you’re out, Komen! MORE
No sooner did I do that than my first email pitch arrived from Trump’s son Eric, opening with these lines: “My father is truly honored and humbled by the grassroots. Given that today’s buzz is probably focused on last night’s final US presidential candidate debate, I thought I’d stick to a political theme. MORE
Tags: Conflict Finding a job Fundraising Keeping a job Leadership Rank at Work corruption CFRE development development assistant development associate Development Director envelope stuffer events director getting a job getting a job in fundraising grant researcher grantwriter graphic designer grassroots fundraising journal job descriptions kim klein major gifts officer marketing director MPA nonprofit career octothorpe outreach coordinatior small shop twitter volunteer coordinator MORE
Tags: Grassroots and Events MORE
Grassroots Fundraising Journal and GIFT (Grassroots Institute for Fundraising Training) recently merged and the conference "Raising Change" in San Francisco this weekend brought together about 600 people to network, challenge, commiserate, teach, and support each other. MORE
The nonprofit sector - from the local grassroots organization to international NGOs - is the primary organizing mechanism by which individuals, regardless of their position in society or their level of political and economic power, come together as We to solve the problems our communities face. MORE
Here’s my resource list! I would like to keep it growing! Can you comment at the bottom with your favorite twitter friends, blogs, books, or other resources? Twitter If you’re looking for people to follow, may I suggest: @wildwomanfund/funders (This is a list: I followed all of the top 100 foundations on Foundation [.]. MORE
A reader had a great comment in responds to my grassroots fundraising post. Politics & Motivation grassroots fundraising solicitation letter There seems to be a fear in the traditional non-profit world in telling donors too much, or in revealing too much about your organization. I think there was a time when donors asked fewer questions and demanded less accountability. MORE
Deadline: December 15, 2009 Applications Invited for American Hiking Society's 2010 National Trails Fund The American Hiking Society 's National Trails Fund is the only privately supported national grants program that provides funding to grassroots organizations working to establish, protect, and maintain foot trails in the United States. From The Foundation Center. MORE
Robin Dixon is the Communications Officer at Firelight Foundation , which works to improve vulnerable children’s lives in sub-Saharan Africa through grassroots philanthropy. She’s a strategist and writer who’s in love with video and grassroots media. MORE
You will have some donors that want to and need to be cultivated in a grassroots and annual fund way. Tags: Campaigns & Solicitations Grassroots and Events We only have so much time every day as development professionals, so we need to make sure our time is well used. When do you send out a letter, and when do you meet with someone in person? MORE
Raise More Money: The Best of the Grassroots Fundraising Journal By Kim Klein and Stephanie Roth. This is full of articles about fundraising, gleaned from The Grassroots Fundraising Journal over a period of several years. MORE
We need XX grassroots supporters to chip in by midnight to meet our urgent goal. Photo Credit: https://flic.kr/p/79pL7r. p/79pL7r. Want to squeeze more mileage from a great fundraising or advocacy email? Send it again. MORE
Since then I’ve read books she’s written and edited, and I can wholeheartedly recommend them all, especially “GIFT, the Best of the Grassroots Fundraising Journal&#. Kim Klein. OMG I am so excited! Kim Klein, my first fundraising heroine, has answered my interview questions! MORE
If you want more tips on how to get millions in grassroots donations, follow @wildwomanfund on twitter! Do you have a process-oriented approach to nurturing donors? Do you have a way for people to refer friends to you? If not, why not? MORE
Grassroots Related Topics Cause Related Marketing
JANUARY 21, 2011
Buy a virtual glass of lemonade from Lemonadestandforlife.com , sponsored by Volvo, and the money goes to Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation to support families who must travel for their child’s cancer treatments.
J Campbell Social Marketing
JULY 31, 2014
What can this grassroots-turned-national social media campaign teach nonprofits about using social media and inspiring passion in supporters? Social Media Strategy #SaveMarketBasket grassroots social media Market Basket social media campaign social media success
Wild Woman Fundraising
AUGUST 24, 2011
We can try grassroots fundraising, but the reason its’ not working so well anymore is because people have less and less money to give you. When we start to address income inequality within our own organizations, we are truly making a difference at the grassroots level.
Wild Woman Fundraising
OCTOBER 6, 2010
If you want more tips on how to get millions in grassroots donations, follow @wildwomanfund on twitter! Do you have a process-oriented approach to nurturing donors? Do you have a way for people to refer friends to you? If not, why not?
Fundraising Breakthroughs
FEBRUARY 18, 2008
Katrin Verclas, whose organization Mobile.Active is funded in part by Surdna Foundation , is working on the use of mobile phones in mobilizing donations from the grassroots. Tags: grassroots fundraising
Mission Minded
SEPTEMBER 16, 2009
A Small Change
MARCH 11, 2014
A reader had a great comment in responds to my grassroots fundraising post. Politics & Motivation grassroots fundraising solicitation letter There seems to be a fear in the traditional non-profit world in telling donors too much, or in revealing too much about your organization. I think there was a time when donors asked fewer questions and demanded less accountability.
Getting Attention
MAY 8, 2014
We’ve all seen them: social media pages or websites for grassroots nonprofit agencies that appear to have been designed by a student or a well-intentioned volunteer. As a program director for a community foundation, the most common request I have heard from potential grantees over the past several years is “We wish we could afford to professionally brand and market this grassroots agency.”.
Fundraising Breakthroughs
APRIL 10, 2005
Taking a few minutes to do a little Spring cleaning of my e-mail inbox, I stumbled upon this super-sweet idea—calling the smallest-amount grassroots donors to check in. Suggested by Hildy Gottleib , a Tucson-based consultant to nonprofits, small businesses and first nations tribes, the idea makes sense for anti-burnout of us development folks and it makes sense for honest care and feeding of donors. It's a modest strategy that values what's valuable.
Seeking Grant Money Today
NOVEMBER 22, 2009
Deadline: December 15, 2009 Applications Invited for American Hiking Society's 2010 National Trails Fund The American Hiking Society 's National Trails Fund is the only privately supported national grants program that provides funding to grassroots organizations working to establish, protect, and maintain foot trails in the United States. From The Foundation Center.
Fundraising Breakthroughs
JANUARY 17, 2006
I use the term "grassroots" gifts and grassroots donors instead of small, because "small" doesn't honor the importance and meaning of these crucial supporters. I've just re-read Joan Flanagan's classic The Grassroots Fundraising Book, and she describes it better than anyone. And then she gives clear, complete directions for how to do grassroots fundraising in different ways.
EveryAction
FEBRUARY 21, 2017
The Indivisible Guide began as a grassroots effort to support a new and growing resistance. Every successful campaign starts with a moment. Whether you're raising money to build a new school or curing a worldwide epidemic, a single moment drives the need for a campaign.
Nonprofit Consultant Blog
OCTOBER 15, 2012
The nonprofit sector - from the local grassroots organization to international NGOs - is the primary organizing mechanism by which individuals, regardless of their position in society or their level of political and economic power, come together as We to solve the problems our communities face.
Seeking Grant Money Today
MARCH 13, 2008
I was asked by co-author, Fred Setterberg , to read and review Grassroots Philanthropy Field Notes of a Maverick Grantmaker by Bill Somerville with Fred Setterberg. The grassroots level of the nonprofit sector is full of passion, people trying to learn all of the 'how to's' of running a nonprofit, and they're the front line.
Nonprofit Marketing Blog
AUGUST 13, 2010
This is the title of a great eBook by Andy Robinson from the Institute for Conservation Leadership, available for free here.
Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog
OCTOBER 1, 2015
We need XX grassroots supporters to chip in by midnight to meet our urgent goal. Photo Credit: https://flic.kr/p/79pL7r. p/79pL7r. Want to squeeze more mileage from a great fundraising or advocacy email? Send it again.
Wild Woman Fundraising
JULY 20, 2016
Exercise you can do with your board right now: I’ll lay down these various stages of an organization (small grassroots, medium org, large institution) and put down tape on the floor.
A Small Change
DECEMBER 8, 2010
Grassroots and Events Guest Posts & ReviewsDonor cultivation is part art, part science. At its most basic, donor cultivation (and prospect cultivation, for that matter), centers on communication: staying in touch with your donors and prospects to build a relationship of trust and mutual interest. Big gifts, small gifts, recurring gifts, bequests… they rarely just “happen.” Most are the result of an ongoing process of cultivation and dialogue.
Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog
NOVEMBER 19, 2014
A fellow grassroots supporter has promised to match, dollar for dollar, whatever you can chip in today. Photo Credit: https://flic.kr/p/aPY4K8. p/aPY4K8. Stuck trying to find new ways to describe your matching gift campaign? Never fear!
Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog
MARCH 18, 2015
We take on the most critical issues facing women, mothers, and families by educating the public and mobilizing massive grassroots actions to: Bring the voices and real world experiences of women and mothers straight to our local, state, and nation’s leaders. Image credit: https://flic.kr/p/7HCgw9.
Nonprofit Consultant Blog
AUGUST 23, 2006
You can facilitate online fundraising by your nonprofit organization's supporters with a new site called firstgiving.com. This is not simply adding an online donations function to your group's existing web site, but enabling each of your volunteers and donors to set up their own, personal fundraising page. Using the site, individuals choose a cause and quickly create a page where they conduct their campaign.
Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog
APRIL 21, 2016
KFTC doubled membership and tripled grassroots fundraising in three years. “What if the answers to nonprofits’ fundraising challenges were already all around us?” ” – FUNDRAISING BRIGHT SPOTS. Successful fundraising isn’t just about money. It’s about relationships.
SocialButterfly
AUGUST 1, 2010
A national launch fueled through grassroots evangelists for “premiere night” with watch parties through already-built church networks. I wrote this post about a year ago and just re-discovered it this past weekend while doing some blog maintenance and wondered--why did I never post this?
The Agitator
AUGUST 19, 2015
But I can tell you about my grassroots research. Some Agitator readers might have noticed that I was on vacation recently. However, what some call ‘vacation’, I call ‘field work’ as my visit to the States included very high level strategic and editorial planning with co-editor Craver, as well as some on-the-ground research. I can’t discuss the former … deep corporate secrets and commercial sensitivity, you know.
J Campbell Social Marketing
MARCH 25, 2014
They play up the “strong foundation” and grassroots value , which continues to inform their work today. photo credit: armadillo444 via photopin cc. Storytelling has been receiving a lot of press lately, as a content marketing tool and as an effective way to engage audiences on social media.
The Agitator
OCTOBER 19, 2016
No sooner did I do that than my first email pitch arrived from Trump’s son Eric, opening with these lines: “My father is truly honored and humbled by the grassroots. Given that today’s buzz is probably focused on last night’s final US presidential candidate debate, I thought I’d stick to a political theme.
Wild Woman Fundraising
JANUARY 23, 2010
Grassroots movements in crisis. In grassroots movements, nonprofits that allow anyone to help, and which spread authority out over anyone who wants to be involved, allow movements to respond quickly to any situation. In this economic downturn, how are you responding?
Wild Woman Fundraising
MAY 18, 2010
Tags: Conflict Finding a job Fundraising Keeping a job Leadership Rank at Work corruption CFRE development development assistant development associate Development Director envelope stuffer events director getting a job getting a job in fundraising grant researcher grantwriter graphic designer grassroots fundraising journal job descriptions kim klein major gifts officer marketing director MPA nonprofit career octothorpe outreach coordinatior small shop twitter volunteer coordinator
Wild Woman Fundraising
MAY 26, 2010
Here’s my resource list! I would like to keep it growing! Can you comment at the bottom with your favorite twitter friends, blogs, books, or other resources? Twitter If you’re looking for people to follow, may I suggest: @wildwomanfund/funders (This is a list: I followed all of the top 100 foundations on Foundation [.].
Wild Woman Fundraising
JANUARY 26, 2011
No really, forget about them. If you’re fundraising for a small nonprofit, you have probably tried, over and over and over again, begging, cajoling, pleading with your board to fundraise. It’s probably causing you no small amount of frustration that they won’t do it.
A Small Change
MAY 27, 2014
I recently worked for a social services organization that had fantastic grassroots support. I’ve worked in three very different fundraising shops in my career and have found that they all have done things very differently and raised very different amounts of money.
Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog
JUNE 18, 2012
Robin Dixon is the Communications Officer at Firelight Foundation , which works to improve vulnerable children’s lives in sub-Saharan Africa through grassroots philanthropy. She’s a strategist and writer who’s in love with video and grassroots media.
Wild Woman Fundraising
FEBRUARY 17, 2011
Raise More Money: The Best of the Grassroots Fundraising Journal By Kim Klein and Stephanie Roth. This is full of articles about fundraising, gleaned from The Grassroots Fundraising Journal over a period of several years.
Getting Attention
FEBRUARY 2, 2012
Planned Parenthood’s triumph comes from these strengths: Ready and waiting : PP was experienced in crisis management and had already mobilized a strong team of grassroots advocates. Susan G. Komen for the Cure (Komen) has done it again. Three strikes you’re out, Komen!
Getting Attention
OCTOBER 1, 2013
Our new name reflects our expanding work to help foundations, nonprofit organizations and grassroots leaders mobilize advocacy networks that will achieve change for the greater good. It’s rare to see an organization change its name and that’s a good thing. Name changes are a delicate matter. Assuming you’ve done a good job of building relationships with supporters, partners and others, your org’s name has equity.
A Small Change
SEPTEMBER 23, 2009
You will have some donors that want to and need to be cultivated in a grassroots and annual fund way. Tags: Campaigns & Solicitations Grassroots and Events We only have so much time every day as development professionals, so we need to make sure our time is well used. When do you send out a letter, and when do you meet with someone in person?
Fundraising Breakthroughs
JULY 6, 2007
if your group is a community-based, grassroots, or otherwise smaller-than-the-Red Cross-kind-of-organization. Tags: fundraising strategy grassroots fundraising The math works out nicely, I admit. But the work it takes to secure gifts from so many individuals rarely does.
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