INDUSTRY INSIGHTS YOUR PEERS ARE READING
You have two missions —a cause mission to change society and a corporate mission to sustain your organization. It’s important to keep clear about these two missions, the tension between them, and the communications resources required for both. MORE
So what kind of images can you use if your mission isn''t related to a smiling child or a playful puppy? Would an on-site photo shoot or a series of pictures of your fieldwork do a good job of illustration your mission? The verdict is in: Donors love puppies and babies. MORE
Can you recite your nonprofit's mission statement? Your nonprofit's mission is vital. Lynn knew they actually needed vision and a mission statement that the community could get behind. But there was nothing that touched the heart in their mission statement. MORE
Examples demonstrating how mission-based nonprofit operations best works when it is used effectively by a nonprofit''s staff and volunteers are difficult to come by. In this post I provide examples demonstrating how mission-based thinking can be used among all people operating a single nonprofit from executive leaders through the ranks to day to day staff or volunteers. The mission statement must be the first and guiding principle. MORE
mission control social media audit social media monitoringI know I sound like a broken record whenever I stress the importance of monitoring social media as a form of business intelligence, so instead I thought I’d share this video with you. MORE
Having a compelling mission is a key to Getting Fully Funded. Watch this short video as I explain what a compelling mission is. MORE
Have you ever read a nonprofit job description that included the words, “Passion for the mission”? “Passion for the mission is a must” has lost its meaning. What if you can do this, but the nonprofit is looking for someone who lives and breathes their mission? MORE
Strategy, Vision, Plan, Mission—these words gauge a strong response from anyone who is listening to them. It is also necessary to have something like a mission that you can use to describe the work that you do. Beyond having a mission and a plan, it seems to me that everything else is repetitive. People often confuse the difference between mission and vision. What are your thoughts on strategy, vision, mission, and planning? MORE
Once you brush away the internal politics, the nasty board member out to get you, the job title or raise you did or didn’t get, and so many other things that can drive you nuts, it all boils down to one simple question: Are you in love with your mission? If you are not in love with your mission, you can’t expect your donors to love it. You’ll never be truly successful without love for your mission. Love your mission, learn to love it, or leave. MORE
Having a compelling mission is a key to Getting Fully Funded. Watch this short video as I explain what a compelling mission is. MORE
I’m thrilled to announce the relaunch of 501 Mission Place ! We started 501 Mission Place because we were tired of seeing our nonprofit friends and colleagues get burned out. Starting 501 Mission Place was our way of drawing a line in the sand and saying, “NO MORE!” MORE
Today I'd like to introduce you to the Mission Paradox Blog of Adam Thurman. The particular post I'd like to direct you to is one that all too many of us need a refresher on from time to time: Talking About Your Mission. His first hint is to "Translate your mission into a language everyone can understand." Whenever I work with a group on a mission statement I fight hard to keep them from filling it with jargon and technical terms that only other nonprofits get. MORE
Too many times, nonprofit Fundraisers get so focused on the money that they forget to communicate about the mission. It’s about fulfilling your organization’s mission. I’ve seen this in direct mail appeals, grant proposals, and major donor visits. . Keep this in mind: it’s not about the money you need. It’s about helping people and changing or saving lives. MORE
We''ve Moved! Update your Reader Now. This feed has moved to: [link] Update your reader now with this changed subscription address to get your latest updates from us. We''ve Moved! Update your Reader Now. This feed has moved to: [link] Update your reader now with this changed subscription address to get your latest updates from us. Content Curation Content Marketing Guest Bloggers Nonprofit Communications #13NTC MORE
Mission Minded won Gold and Silver Brilliance Awards this week for our work on Marin Academy’s Website and Drew School’s Admissions Video in a national competition hosted by InspirED School Marketers. MORE
But missions are better. Missions survive when plans fail, and plans almost always fail. Missions are a dime a dozen. Saving children from poverty is a noble mission. Thousands of nonprofits and NGOs work on this mission. From a donor’s perspective, the mission is a given. So I say missions are great. What do you say … mission or plan? A very short post from Seth Godin, called There’s nothing wrong with a plan. MORE
MomsRising Mission. Image credit: https://flic.kr/p/7HCgw9. p/7HCgw9. Hashtags and advocacy go together like peanut butter and jelly. The hashtag distills an issue into an instant, searchable sound bite that can not only travel far, but fast. MORE
The post Thank you for connecting donors with mission appeared first on FundraisingCoach.com. Happy New (fiscal) Year! For many FundraisingCoach.com readers, today - July 1st - is the start of a brand new fiscal year. The amount raised starts at zero but the goals are set higher. MORE
If the mission is a legitimate part of an organization’s identity, that tends to be the case,” he says. Stuart Bunderson… apparently you had to have a J in your first name to be part of this research team … surveyed teams at organizations with a mission-based culture. Having a mission-based organization has great potential to recruit and retain talent,” Bingham said. MORE
Those of us who've made a career of the nonprofit sector do it as part of our personal mission. Mission is what drives us to work long hours for below average wages and next to no benefits. Mission is what makes all of that bearable, and even inspiring. We may occasionally be tempted to look for greener pastures, but we always end up back on our missions. Tags: careers Nonprofit jobs mission MORE
Tags: Board Conflict Culture clash Lean Development Measuring Effectiveness corruption artificially low wages financial reporting fraud fraudulent nonprofits funding fraud inefficiency low wages mission fail mission not accomplished nonprofit failing at its mission nonprofit wages too low poor wages program reporting fraud status quo MORE
Undertaking a mission can be one of the most fulfilling trips in your lifetime; however, many mission trip participants worry about funding their humanitarian and charitable work. The following are 10 mission trip fundraising ideas that can help make your mission dreams a reality: Business sponsorships. Visit local businesses and ask them to sponsor a portion of your mission trip, such as one day’s worth of expenses. Mission trip dinner. MORE
What better time is there to make your mission and work come to life? " With that in mind, here are three easy ways to bring your mission to life at your next event: Live testimonial. Look for opportunities to bring your mission to where your supporters are. This "event in a box" is a great opportunity to get the company on board with your mission and encourage them to build a lasting relationship instead of a one-day program. MORE
We've Moved! Update your Reader Now. This feed has moved to: [link] Update your reader now with this changed subscription address to get your latest updates from us. We've Moved! Update your Reader Now. MORE
We love “Before and After” posts, so I jumped at the chance to get Lindsay Ackerman to share about Mission India’s recent e-newsletter format change. Guest Post by Lindsay Ackerman of Mission India. Lindsay Ackerman. MORE
As a leader at a nonprofit, there are times when I feel out of sync with my colleagues and wonder if I'm too focused on revenue vs. mission. That is why I LOVED The Mission Myth: Building Nonprofit Momentum Through Better Business by Deirdre Maloney. MORE
Editor’s note: I’m pleased to introduce Network for Good’s Chief Giving Officer, Jamie McDonald , as a contributor to The Nonprofit Marketing Blog. Jamie will be sharing her insight on philanthropy and trends in giving, as well as updates from the field. MORE
Take a look at the following mission statements and see if you can guess what’s missing. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a charity mission statement that includes their donors — the very people that provide the funding to fulfill each charity’s mission. MORE
The phrase “mission-driven” pops up frequently. Last week I wrote about a dragon. This week is about a unicorn. No kidding. I’ve written 64 posts for this blog, up to today. It seemed like a good concept. However, I recently had … Continue reading → MORE
In everything that any organization does (for-profit or nonprofit) its mission statement, the clear statement that says what an organization does, for whom, how, and sometimes also why, and where; provides clarity, in the case for nonprofit organizations, for anyone and everyone who either volunteers with, works for, donates to, collaborates with, or considers requesting assistance from a nonprofit. The mission statement provides clarity for everyone about that specific nonprofit. MORE
Our firm has run programs in which we’ve used specific, mission-based asks in place of incentives and have achieved the same results, with lower costs and higher mission awareness. And, it will become increasingly hard to hit “reset” and re-focus your program on mission. MORE
Via Wikipedia Commons Measuring Your Mission Social Media was a hard sell in the beginning because there was no real way to measure its impact. Late last week I ran across these articles and wanted to share them with you. That's changed somewhat with businesses and NGOs measuring things such as Likes and Retweets. But maybe it's time to move on from there. At Medium, Jackie Mahendra asks. MORE
Over the seven years that we’ve done the Nonprofit Communications Trends Report , we’ve seen few significant differences between nonprofits with different missions. Will the way an arts organization approaches its communications work vary significantly from a social service agency? MORE
Having a compelling mission is a key to Getting Fully Funded. Watch this short video as I explain what a compelling mission is. MORE
Last week my time was completely eaten up by a event for a small nonprofit I volunteer for, which was why there was no new post. The event came together like a couple of rain-swollen rivers at a confluence. I was in charge of printed materials and signage and when I’ve done this stuff in the past, I generally have a few weeks to get it all together. This time, I pretty much got my marching MORE
Satisfaction at materially advancing your nonprofit’s mission? Think about the last time you secured a really major gift, or completed an especially productive direct mail or email campaign. When you left the meeting or put the phone down or read the response data, what was your dominant feeling? A warm glow from helping the donor(s) achieve their goals? Pride in your own fundraising prowess? Each of these is legitimate to celebrate. MORE
From the spring of 2013, when we began our branding engagement, through June of 2014, when we launched our new web site, a group of us at Children’s Council of San Francisco got to know our colleagues at Mission Minded quite well. And Children’s Council derived a number of benefits from that work. We have […]. MORE
Zach Hochstadt is a founding partner of Mission Minded , a branding firm working exclusively with nonprofit organizations, with offices in San Francisco and Denver. You can learn more about Zach, Mission Minded, and nonprofit branding by reviewing Mission Minded’s free training guides. MORE
“What dragons?” ” you ask. The dragon is a form of pressure. It makes some nonprofit administrators become too focused on advancing themselves and defending their turf. That’s how the dragon keeps their nonprofit from accomplishing its goals. MORE
I mentioned on Friday that one of the four trends in fundraising is to learn how to merchandise your mission. Again, finding discrete ways to merchandise your mission may bring new donors into the fold. MORE
Do you work for your non-profit because you believe in the mission of the organization or because it is a good opportunity for you? Mission keeps the direction clear and gives you another reason to get out of bed. Having mission can clarify and motivate you to do the work that you do. MORE
I often get questions like this one from D ei rdre : " As an organization with a mission that is a bit more abstract than, say, feeding hungry children or saving whales, we often struggle to make our work concrete. Describe your mission as a destination. . She could have described her mission in ways that focused on the building or the philosophy. Give your mission a pulse. . MORE
A new initiative from the California Association of Nonprofits (aka CalNonprofits ) is the Vote With Your Mission virtual campaign. To not speak out when we must, and vote when we can, is to contribute to the very problems our missions seek to redress. Yes, it is, and CalNonprofits has conveniently included a legal FAQ on the Vote With Your Mission website. If you're involved with a California nonprofit, I hope you'll sign on at the Vote With Your Mission home page. MORE
A sneak peek at early responses (1,025 so far) to our Nonprofit Messages Survey shows a startling fact— 75% of nonprofit organizations like yours use their mission statement to communicate with external audiences. Most mission statements just aren’t ready for prime time. MORE
Mission Related Topics 
iMarketSmart
MAY 17, 2017
Take a look at the following mission statements and see if you can guess what’s missing. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a charity mission statement that includes their donors — the very people that provide the funding to fulfill each charity’s mission.
iMarketSmart
DECEMBER 8, 2017
Once you brush away the internal politics, the nasty board member out to get you, the job title or raise you did or didn’t get, and so many other things that can drive you nuts, it all boils down to one simple question: Are you in love with your mission? If you are not in love with your mission, you can’t expect your donors to love it. You’ll never be truly successful without love for your mission. Love your mission, learn to love it, or leave.
A Small Change
NOVEMBER 25, 2014
Do you work for your non-profit because you believe in the mission of the organization or because it is a good opportunity for you? Mission keeps the direction clear and gives you another reason to get out of bed. Having mission can clarify and motivate you to do the work that you do.
Wild Woman Fundraising
JANUARY 29, 2013
Have you ever read a nonprofit job description that included the words, “Passion for the mission”? “Passion for the mission is a must” has lost its meaning. What if you can do this, but the nonprofit is looking for someone who lives and breathes their mission?
Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog
JANUARY 10, 2013
We've Moved! Update your Reader Now. This feed has moved to: [link] Update your reader now with this changed subscription address to get your latest updates from us. We've Moved! Update your Reader Now.
Social Media Bird Brain
MAY 6, 2015
Via Wikipedia Commons Measuring Your Mission Social Media was a hard sell in the beginning because there was no real way to measure its impact. Late last week I ran across these articles and wanted to share them with you. That's changed somewhat with businesses and NGOs measuring things such as Likes and Retweets. But maybe it's time to move on from there. At Medium, Jackie Mahendra asks.
Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog
JANUARY 24, 2017
Over the seven years that we’ve done the Nonprofit Communications Trends Report , we’ve seen few significant differences between nonprofits with different missions. Will the way an arts organization approaches its communications work vary significantly from a social service agency?
Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog
JULY 21, 2015
We love “Before and After” posts, so I jumped at the chance to get Lindsay Ackerman to share about Mission India’s recent e-newsletter format change. Guest Post by Lindsay Ackerman of Mission India. Lindsay Ackerman.
Get Fully Funded
SEPTEMBER 24, 2011
Having a compelling mission is a key to Getting Fully Funded. Watch this short video as I explain what a compelling mission is.
Get Fully Funded
SEPTEMBER 24, 2011
Having a compelling mission is a key to Getting Fully Funded. Watch this short video as I explain what a compelling mission is.
Get Fully Funded
SEPTEMBER 24, 2011
Having a compelling mission is a key to Getting Fully Funded. Watch this short video as I explain what a compelling mission is.
Getting Attention
JUNE 4, 2012
A sneak peek at early responses (1,025 so far) to our Nonprofit Messages Survey shows a startling fact— 75% of nonprofit organizations like yours use their mission statement to communicate with external audiences. Most mission statements just aren’t ready for prime time.
Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog
MARCH 18, 2015
MomsRising Mission. Image credit: https://flic.kr/p/7HCgw9. p/7HCgw9. Hashtags and advocacy go together like peanut butter and jelly. The hashtag distills an issue into an instant, searchable sound bite that can not only travel far, but fast.
Fundraising Coach
MAY 23, 2016
Can you recite your nonprofit's mission statement? Your nonprofit's mission is vital. Lynn knew they actually needed vision and a mission statement that the community could get behind. But there was nothing that touched the heart in their mission statement.
Mission Minded
NOVEMBER 30, 2016
Mission Minded won Gold and Silver Brilliance Awards this week for our work on Marin Academy’s Website and Drew School’s Admissions Video in a national competition hosted by InspirED School Marketers.
Fundraising 123
MAY 6, 2013
I often get questions like this one from D ei rdre : " As an organization with a mission that is a bit more abstract than, say, feeding hungry children or saving whales, we often struggle to make our work concrete. Describe your mission as a destination. . She could have described her mission in ways that focused on the building or the philosophy. Give your mission a pulse. .
ImpactMax
AUGUST 11, 2009
You have two missions —a cause mission to change society and a corporate mission to sustain your organization. It’s important to keep clear about these two missions, the tension between them, and the communications resources required for both.
NonProfit Branding
APRIL 10, 2012
The phrase “mission-driven” pops up frequently. Last week I wrote about a dragon. This week is about a unicorn. No kidding. I’ve written 64 posts for this blog, up to today. It seemed like a good concept. However, I recently had … Continue reading →
Non Profit Marketing 360
AUGUST 31, 2011
Zach Hochstadt is a founding partner of Mission Minded , a branding firm working exclusively with nonprofit organizations, with offices in San Francisco and Denver. You can learn more about Zach, Mission Minded, and nonprofit branding by reviewing Mission Minded’s free training guides.
Marketing for Nonprofits
APRIL 8, 2012
As a leader at a nonprofit, there are times when I feel out of sync with my colleagues and wonder if I'm too focused on revenue vs. mission. That is why I LOVED The Mission Myth: Building Nonprofit Momentum Through Better Business by Deirdre Maloney.
NonProfit Branding
APRIL 3, 2012
“What dragons?” ” you ask. The dragon is a form of pressure. It makes some nonprofit administrators become too focused on advancing themselves and defending their turf. That’s how the dragon keeps their nonprofit from accomplishing its goals.
Nonprofit Consultant Blog
MAY 2, 2012
A new initiative from the California Association of Nonprofits (aka CalNonprofits ) is the Vote With Your Mission virtual campaign. To not speak out when we must, and vote when we can, is to contribute to the very problems our missions seek to redress. Yes, it is, and CalNonprofits has conveniently included a legal FAQ on the Vote With Your Mission website. If you're involved with a California nonprofit, I hope you'll sign on at the Vote With Your Mission home page.
Get Fully Funded
SEPTEMBER 11, 2011
Too many times, nonprofit Fundraisers get so focused on the money that they forget to communicate about the mission. It’s about fulfilling your organization’s mission. I’ve seen this in direct mail appeals, grant proposals, and major donor visits. . Keep this in mind: it’s not about the money you need. It’s about helping people and changing or saving lives.
Fundraising 123
JULY 16, 2013
So what kind of images can you use if your mission isn''t related to a smiling child or a playful puppy? Would an on-site photo shoot or a series of pictures of your fieldwork do a good job of illustration your mission? The verdict is in: Donors love puppies and babies.
A Small Change
SEPTEMBER 13, 2010
Strategy, Vision, Plan, Mission—these words gauge a strong response from anyone who is listening to them. It is also necessary to have something like a mission that you can use to describe the work that you do. Beyond having a mission and a plan, it seems to me that everything else is repetitive. People often confuse the difference between mission and vision. What are your thoughts on strategy, vision, mission, and planning?
Fundraising Coach
JULY 1, 2015
The post Thank you for connecting donors with mission appeared first on FundraisingCoach.com. Happy New (fiscal) Year! For many FundraisingCoach.com readers, today - July 1st - is the start of a brand new fiscal year. The amount raised starts at zero but the goals are set higher.
The Agitator
NOVEMBER 22, 2011
But missions are better. Missions survive when plans fail, and plans almost always fail. Missions are a dime a dozen. Saving children from poverty is a noble mission. Thousands of nonprofits and NGOs work on this mission. From a donor’s perspective, the mission is a given. So I say missions are great. What do you say … mission or plan? A very short post from Seth Godin, called There’s nothing wrong with a plan.
Social Media Bird Brain
OCTOBER 14, 2010
Last week my time was completely eaten up by a event for a small nonprofit I volunteer for, which was why there was no new post. The event came together like a couple of rain-swollen rivers at a confluence. I was in charge of printed materials and signage and when I’ve done this stuff in the past, I generally have a few weeks to get it all together. This time, I pretty much got my marching
Wild Woman Fundraising
APRIL 14, 2010
Tags: Board Conflict Culture clash Lean Development Measuring Effectiveness corruption artificially low wages financial reporting fraud fraudulent nonprofits funding fraud inefficiency low wages mission fail mission not accomplished nonprofit failing at its mission nonprofit wages too low poor wages program reporting fraud status quo
Nonprofit Consultant Blog
OCTOBER 24, 2007
Today I'd like to introduce you to the Mission Paradox Blog of Adam Thurman. The particular post I'd like to direct you to is one that all too many of us need a refresher on from time to time: Talking About Your Mission. His first hint is to "Translate your mission into a language everyone can understand." Whenever I work with a group on a mission statement I fight hard to keep them from filling it with jargon and technical terms that only other nonprofits get.
Nonprofit Marketing Blog
JULY 1, 2014
Editor’s note: I’m pleased to introduce Network for Good’s Chief Giving Officer, Jamie McDonald , as a contributor to The Nonprofit Marketing Blog. Jamie will be sharing her insight on philanthropy and trends in giving, as well as updates from the field.
The Agitator
OCTOBER 19, 2017
Satisfaction at materially advancing your nonprofit’s mission? Think about the last time you secured a really major gift, or completed an especially productive direct mail or email campaign. When you left the meeting or put the phone down or read the response data, what was your dominant feeling? A warm glow from helping the donor(s) achieve their goals? Pride in your own fundraising prowess? Each of these is legitimate to celebrate.
Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog
APRIL 30, 2013
We''ve Moved! Update your Reader Now. This feed has moved to: [link] Update your reader now with this changed subscription address to get your latest updates from us. We''ve Moved! Update your Reader Now. This feed has moved to: [link] Update your reader now with this changed subscription address to get your latest updates from us. Content Curation Content Marketing Guest Bloggers Nonprofit Communications #13NTC
Nonprofit Consultant Blog
MAY 20, 2009
Those of us who've made a career of the nonprofit sector do it as part of our personal mission. Mission is what drives us to work long hours for below average wages and next to no benefits. Mission is what makes all of that bearable, and even inspiring. We may occasionally be tempted to look for greener pastures, but we always end up back on our missions. Tags: careers Nonprofit jobs mission
Marketing for Nonprofits
AUGUST 16, 2011
I mentioned on Friday that one of the four trends in fundraising is to learn how to merchandise your mission. Again, finding discrete ways to merchandise your mission may bring new donors into the fold.
Seeking Grant Money Today
SEPTEMBER 6, 2009
In everything that any organization does (for-profit or nonprofit) its mission statement, the clear statement that says what an organization does, for whom, how, and sometimes also why, and where; provides clarity, in the case for nonprofit organizations, for anyone and everyone who either volunteers with, works for, donates to, collaborates with, or considers requesting assistance from a nonprofit. The mission statement provides clarity for everyone about that specific nonprofit.
Cause Related Marketing
JUNE 3, 2013
If the mission is a legitimate part of an organization’s identity, that tends to be the case,” he says. Stuart Bunderson… apparently you had to have a J in your first name to be part of this research team … surveyed teams at organizations with a mission-based culture. Having a mission-based organization has great potential to recruit and retain talent,” Bingham said.
Fundraiser Ideas
DECEMBER 27, 2011
Undertaking a mission can be one of the most fulfilling trips in your lifetime; however, many mission trip participants worry about funding their humanitarian and charitable work. The following are 10 mission trip fundraising ideas that can help make your mission dreams a reality: Business sponsorships. Visit local businesses and ask them to sponsor a portion of your mission trip, such as one day’s worth of expenses. Mission trip dinner.
Nonprofit Marketing Blog
AUGUST 17, 2012
Our firm has run programs in which we’ve used specific, mission-based asks in place of incentives and have achieved the same results, with lower costs and higher mission awareness. And, it will become increasingly hard to hit “reset” and re-focus your program on mission.
Fundraising Coach
SEPTEMBER 26, 2011
I’m thrilled to announce the relaunch of 501 Mission Place ! We started 501 Mission Place because we were tired of seeing our nonprofit friends and colleagues get burned out. Starting 501 Mission Place was our way of drawing a line in the sand and saying, “NO MORE!”
Fundraising 123
OCTOBER 27, 2009
What better time is there to make your mission and work come to life? " With that in mind, here are three easy ways to bring your mission to life at your next event: Live testimonial. Look for opportunities to bring your mission to where your supporters are. This "event in a box" is a great opportunity to get the company on board with your mission and encourage them to build a lasting relationship instead of a one-day program.
Mission Minded
NOVEMBER 6, 2014
From the spring of 2013, when we began our branding engagement, through June of 2014, when we launched our new web site, a group of us at Children’s Council of San Francisco got to know our colleagues at Mission Minded quite well. And Children’s Council derived a number of benefits from that work. We have […].
Seeking Grant Money Today
JULY 16, 2013
Examples demonstrating how mission-based nonprofit operations best works when it is used effectively by a nonprofit''s staff and volunteers are difficult to come by. In this post I provide examples demonstrating how mission-based thinking can be used among all people operating a single nonprofit from executive leaders through the ranks to day to day staff or volunteers. The mission statement must be the first and guiding principle.
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