Online Donor Patterns: Is Your Nonprofit Prepared?

Google recently released a study to its nonprofit clients of online donor behavior. The study findings include results of a survey completed by 982 people, as well as analysis of online behavior of more than 2 million people who agreed to the tracking. 

The findings indicate some general patterns, including:

• Video plays a tremendous role in capturing online attention. 
• 75% of donors start research of charities they consider gifts to online. 
• 40% of survey respondents conducted nonprofit research on their mobile phones.

Given the wide proliferation of nonprofits online, how does your nonprofit start such a presence without budget or significant available time among volunteers? Some ideas to consider include:
1. Setup a free blog on www.blogger.com or another platform. Post updates on your activities. Try setting a goal of one post per month as you get started.
2. Consider creating a channel for your organization on www.youtube.com. Post links to your videos on your other online locations. 
3. Create a Facebook page for your organization and invite your friends to join it.For more information on the steps involved in creating a page, click here. 
4. If this isn't the right time to add online donations to your mix, consider adding a Contact Us portion to each of your posts where a live person would provide prompt information on how your organization might receive donations (mail, in person pickup, etc.) 

What online patterns are you seeing?
What tools are you using to respond to those online patterns? Share your ideas in the comments section below.

Photo credit above: http://www.flickr.com/photos/z428/

Have you scheduled your nonprofit's 2014 retreat?

We all need to find our ways to effectively retreat from the day to day demands of the world, recharge and refocus. 

For my husband, one way he retreats is to take his motorcycle for long rides. One way I retreat is to explore drawing projects, something I have not done often enough. Our retreats are taken away from our regular work and family demands. Our retreats allow us to reflect and try to be more effective in our lives and careers in the future.

Making time for a retreat is equally important for your nonprofit. 

Your retreat will be most effective if you find a quiet location away from the regular demands of your mission to truly 

How will you effectively move forward with the great work you do in 2014 if you don't set goals and define what progress looks like?

Here are some resource ideas for making your retreat for 2014 planning great: 

• William Moran of the Moran Company offers an excellent Nonprofit Board Retreat Agenda in his Resource Library here. 
• You may replay a Chronicle of Philanthropy discussion on How to Hold a Great Board retreat here. 
• The Canoe Group offers six suggestions to stimulate value at your next board retreat here.

An equally important success factor in your 2014 retreat is incorporating reports on your progress at each 2014 board meeting.

Have you scheduled your retreat yet?

Photo credit above: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stella12/. At Applewood Estate in Flint, Michigan, on retreat with the AAHC Board.