Recommended Reading for Your 2012 Fundraising: Laura Fredricks, "The Ask"

As you work on moving your mission forward in 2012, you may be the type of person who finds value in reading more about the areas in which you would like to grow. If so, I highly recommend, "The Ask: How to Ask for Support for Your Nonprofit Cause, Creative Project, or Business Venture," by Laura Fredricks. 

You may learn more about Laura and the inspiration she is by clicking here. If she's speaking in your area, don't miss her!

In summary, Laura's book goes into clear detail about making the case for an investment in your mission, selecting the right people, at the right time, in the right location to make the ask, handling the wide array of responses to your ask and planning on the right follow up.

I especially encourage you to review the section about money attitudes, both introspectively and among your nonprofit's target market. How our thoughts about money shape the fundraising work that we do is one of the most under discussed yet critically important aspects of fundraising, in my opinion. 

Happy reading! If you have read, end up reading, or have other favorite books that make for great fundraising reading, please share your thoughts in the comments be

You may purchase Laura's latest version of the book by visiting the Amazon Affiliate link here: 

Small But Tough: A Bridgespan Group Study of Nonprofits in Rural America

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The Bridgespan Group recently completed a study of their clients and the IRS Form 990s of many other small rural nonprofits.

The study, titled Small But Tough:Nonprofits in Rural America explored four questions:
 

1. What does the nonprofit sector look like in rural areas? Is it bigger, smaller, healthier or weaker than its urban counterpart?

2. What are the underlying elements that influence the ability of nonprofits to serve in rural America?

3. How can nonprofits increase their impact in rural areas and best address the unique challenges and opportunities presented by their communities?

4. What are the implications of those findings for rural nonprofits and those who work with and fund them?

The study goes on to explore challenges and strategies in these areas:

• Spending
• Financial health
• Funding
• Leadership 
• Distance
• Coordination, collaboration and affiliation

Many of you dedicate your heart and soul to your rural nonprofit work. Thank you for the difference you make! You may read the full study and learn more about how you compare with your colleagues by clicking here.

What are your thoughts? Share in the comments below or contact FlashPoint Fundraising to discuss directly. 

Make it a great week!

Now is a Great Time to Offer a Community Report

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You're wrapped up protecting your community 2011. You stood ready for whatever emergency the pager called you to throughout the holidays. Your call number for the year is back to a low number. How do you report your impact to your community?

Consider a brief written report to your community highlighting your 2011 impact and plans for 2012. The report may be delivered in any combination of formats, including:

• A presentation to your City Council or Fire Board
• A letter to the editor in your local newspaper
• An online submission to any area media or community site that allows user-generated content
• Your Facebook page or Twitter account
• Your website
• A mailing to every address in your district as budget may allow 
• A printed piece to have available during station tours and your community meal in 2012

Some content ideas for your community report include: 

• Number of calls responded to in 2011. Don't forget any mutual aid calls or other needs that might not be in your official call total like setting storm watch.
• Time dedicated to training in 2011.
• Total active number of volunteers.
• Total volunteer time given to calls and training in 2011. Use conservative estimates.
• Express time commitment in a format that makes sense to your reader. For example, readers will understand "six round the clock weeks dedicated to the community" more than they will understand "1,008 hours given"
• If you conducted supplemental fundraising activities in 2011, explain in detail how that support strengthened your mission and your community.
• Make sure the entire report focuses on your reader and your community by using words like "you" and "our."
• If you have a testimonial from a grateful service recipient, get permission to include it in your report.
• Carefully select a small number of photos for effect if your report format allows.
• Thank the reader for making your 2011 results possible. Remind them how honored you are to stand ready for whatever the pager calls you to in 2012.

What works well in your community with annual reports? 

Share your experiences in the comments section below.

FlashPoint offers communication services to assist with annual report preparation. Contact us for further details.

The Spirit of the Season: Your Holiday Appeal Letter

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Everywhere you look, the landscape truly reflects the holiday spirit. The holidays are filled with opportunity to connect with the charitable spirits of your donors, supporters and community members. Many nonprofits receive a significant percentage of their gifts at holiday time through outreach with those to whom they are naturally connected.


The fundraising software firm Conivo recently released a survey forecasting holiday giving in the United States to exceed $48 billion this year. For more details on the survey, click here.

Whether you quickly put it together now or plan for it in 2012, consider a direct mail campaign close to the holidays. 

Potential message points for your direct mail letter include:

• A highlight of calls responded to and volunteer time committed in 2011
• Any stories from satisfied service recipients, with their permission of course
• Specific information on how funds donated will be used
• A reminder of how you are always ready to respond to the greatest emergency need, even if it comes in the middle of the holidays
• If contacting your entire tax base, information on how you've carefully allocated the "mandatory" gift of tax support 

Potential recipients of your letter include:

• Current and past donors and supporters
• Current and retired members
• Grateful service recipients
• Anyone in your coverage area

If you embark on a holiday campaign, make sure you are properly equipped to:

• Track every detail carefully
• Promptly and personally thank all donors for their forever impact on your mission
• Include your tax ID number for donor receipts for tax purposes if you are an IRS-recognized 501 (c) (3) nonprofit
• Use the current year's results as a building block to make next year's campaign even more effective. This should include the ability to thank a specific donor for an exact gift amount this year in future years

What has your experience been with holiday campaigns? 

Thanks for the good you do all year long!