Engagement Increasing on Social Media

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Recently, Sage Nonprofit Solutions released a Q1 2012 Nonprofit Insights report. The report explores survey responses on social media engagement from 600 nonprofit customers A few highlights:

• Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn are the top utilized social media sights.
• 84% of organizations are using social media. 73% of the organizations surveyed rank social media as "very" or "somewhat" important to their mission.
• 87% of organizations are sharing stories visually on Facebook. 63% are sharing the same on YouTube.
• 46% of organizations  are using social media for fundraising efforts.
• 46% of organizations are "very" or "somewhat" satisfied with their social media efforts. These tend to be organizations that have developed a measurement plan.

Sage also received survey responses from 361 customers on email marketing use.  A few highlights:

• 45% of survey respondents are not conducting any email marketing.
• Events and year-end campaigns were the most common reasons listed for nonprofit email marketing. 
• For those who are, the following were cites as top email marketing objectives:
• Keeping supporters informed
• Attracting and retaining donors
• Driving online donations

You may find the full Sage Q1 2012 Nonprofit Insights report here. Sage Words is a nonprofit insight blog available here.

What's your take?

Links Beyond the FlashPoint Blog

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Would you like additional fundraising resources and links beyond this weekly FlashPoint blog? Here are five ideas for you:

1. Like www.Facebook.com/FlashPointFundraising. This page is updated with fundraising stories and links often.

2. Sign up for an array of regular emails from the NonProfit Times on the topic(s) that interest(s) you here.

3. Send an email to FlashPoint Fundraising with the subject "AFP" to be added to the list of events and activities available from the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Eastern Iowa Chapter. AFP Eastern Iowa focuses on Benton, Cedar, Iowa, Johnson, Jones, Linn and Washington counties.

4.  If you use Twitter, follow the #fundraising hashtag for links, ideas and resources worldwide.

5. Use the Sign Up free, orange colored box in the upper right hand corner of The Agitator website to add an insightful, fundraising research based email to your inbox. 

What are your favorite fundraising links? Share them in the comments section below.

Giving USA Reflects on 2011 Giving

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Last month, Giving USA released its 2011 report on giving for the United States.  You may download the free executive summary for your own review here.  The full report is available for purchase here.

Overall, nonprofits are still making up ground from a nationwide decline in giving that started with the recession. Do you feel like this is the case with your nonprofit?

Overall giving to nonprofits  in the United States was $298.4 billion in 2011, a 0.9% increase over 2010, when adjusted for inflation. 

The sources of that $298.4 billion in giving in 2011 were:

• 73% from individuals
• 14% from foundations
• 8% from bequests (also the source with the largest increase over 2010 giving, 8.8%)
• 5% from corporations

How does your fundraising source picture compare to the Giving USA source information outlined above? 

My take away items from this report include:

1. Current times remain an excellent opportunity for cultivation and demonstrating results to donors.

2. A focus on individual donors in fundraising efforts still makes sense.

3. Given tighter pocketbooks, this also may be a time to reinforce how giving doesn't have to impact today's cash flow. A forever impact can be made with a bequest.

What's your take?

A Simple Step for Legacy Facilitation

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Many organizations have been given an ultimate honor by being remember with a bequest in a donor's will. What a legacy for the donor to leave! 

Have you developed sample bequest language for those who might request it?

This simple step can facilitate legacies for your organization and mission by making the process seamless for your donors. The details to achieve this step may include:

1. Working with a local attorney to develop a bequest language sample that offers donor flexibility. Basics like the exact name of your organization can be unintentionally overlooked without this suggested language to help donors plan. Remember that many legacy donors will be looking for an organization that is an IRS-recognized 501 (c) (3).

2. Providing this information to professionals in your area who typically help people plan their estates. If possible, do so in person and provide a brief overview of current activities of your organization. You may also consider providing this information to your current donors and volunteers.

3. Considering connecting with organizations with national expertise in planned giving. Examples include:

• Leave a Legacy 
• Living Legacies 
• Stelter Group

4. Knowing that if you are notified in advance of bequest plans, this represents and excellent opportunity to keep this donor informed of your mission and impact. It also includes knowing that in many cases, it is the donor's preference that your organization is made away of their ultimate gift only after their passing. Since this is the donor's gift, this is the donor's choice to make.

What legacy stories do you have to share? Use the comments field below to share the impact of donors who have honored you with a legacy.

Standards of Excellence in Fundraising

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Whatever your level of fundraising activity and success, there are two standards of excellence worthy of keeping in mind at all times and in all of your efforts.

The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), an international network of 30,000 members with a 50 year history, offers a Donor Bill of Rights and Code of Ethics as two critical standards of excellence. 

The AFP Donor Bill of Rights is an important expression of keeping donors at the heart of all your fundraising efforts.

The AFP Code of Ethical Principles and Standards is the second standard of excellence offered to guide you through the shades of gray that can come up in the industry.

Both standards of excellence are at the core of membership in AFP. AFP offers many membership categories, the details of which are available here. 

There may be a local AFP chapter in your area that offers programming and networking opportunities. You may search for an AFP chapter near you here. 

What works for you in terms of connecting, sharing and learning with others focused on fundraising?