Using Social Media For Social Good

Social media has opened so many new doors for charities and nonprofits, but using these tools the wrong way can just as easily alienate potential donors. The key is having a social strategy before you sign up for that Twitter or Facebook account. Here are a few tips to help you connect, and stay connected, with donors and advocates of your cause.

Don’t forget who you are talking to. When you launch a new campaign it’s important to speak organically and keep inter-office jargon off the web. Put out an easy-going vibe and don’t get preachy.

Support your cause with real world evidence. Post links to news stories or blog posts that highlight your cause. For instance, if you work for a food bank association, why not link to a news article or feature story that will help potential supporters. An objective, third party way to highlight your cause will gain a lot more traction than simply posting constant links to your own organization’s website.

Keep it positive. Overly-emotional appeals may attract some donors, but most of us don’t want anyone taking a cheap tug at our heartstrings. Focus on the positive things your organization is doing and a lot more people will want to become involved.

When you get off on the right foot, you create the opportunity for lasting peer-to-peer relationships between your organization and donors. When donors feel passionately about an organization, they’ll be much more likely to spread your cause to their friends. Do it right and you’ll be surprised by the number of people willing to engage.

Charities with the best ad campaigns

The most important way to lure donors to a charity is through great ad campaigns. Some of the most successful charities have great public relation services that explain and entertain donors at the same time. Below is a list of a few charities who campaign well.

1. Flora-proactiv – is a charity launched in 1999 to raise awareness about cholesterol. They use extensive Public relations about the George Institute to raise awareness of the cause as well as the charity itself. They use television and print to get their point across.

2. Earth Hour – Australians were motivated to turn off their power for one hour. It resulted in a decrease of energy use of ten point two percent. They motivated people by using digital communications such as television and radio and it is listed as one of the most successful campaigns in history.

3.You Can Speak Out Now – this charity had two objectives, to encourage people to visit their cyber mentoring website and to encourage media and corporate sponsors to give space and funds to the project. The campaign consisted of a young girl sewing her mouth shut it showed on you tube and had over 220,000 views the main message was beat bullying. It has had a huge impact and has been shown in cinema and on billboards throughout the United States. The mentoring website experienced an increase in its use and the amount of young people taking part in the program.

There are many campaigns that have made a huge impact through their public relations and have made a great turnover in the rate of donors just by having attractive campaigns.

How Much to Give

Booker T. Washington once said, “If you want to lift yourself up, lift someone else up.” This statement is as true today as it was then. Not only is charitable giving a necessary part of society, it’s also a fantastic way to make yourself feel better. The fantastic thing about philanthropy is that it doesn’t have to be about writing a big check.

Where the Money Goes

People often wonder where the money they give to charities will go. That depends largely on the charity. Goodwill Industries, for example, uses the money to help people get training they need so they can get good jobs, and keep those jobs. The Humane Society uses the money to provide care, and hopefully find homes, for the hundreds of thousands of unwanted animals that are dumped on their steps every year. Your local church uses the money for an amazing range of things. Many churches help people pay their rent when they are unemployed and struggling, for instance. Some also provide assistance for struggling families who need help buying school supplies for their children. Churches are also well known for sending funding overseas to help missionaries in third world countries.

Other than Money

Money is always preferred, as it can be used to cover administrative expenses and other operating expenses. But there are many ways to be charitable. Donate your old glasses when you get a new pair. Give old blankets and bedding to homeless shelters and even animal shelters. Pick up canned food on sale and add it to your church’s food pantry. When renovating a house and pulling off fixtures that are still in excellent condition, consider Habitat for Humanity. The next time your local school is having a bake sale, send in some brownies or cookies. Donate gently used coats and gloves to Coats for Kids. Take your unwanted household items to Goodwill so they can resell them and add money to their cause. There are always charitable drives going on right in your area, and most of them require nothing more than giving gently used items to a charity rather than throwing them out.

Your Time

One thing that people often don’t consider is donating their time. Many organizations find that the money coming in is acceptable, but they don’t have enough volunteers to put it to good use. Volunteer to serve meals at the local soup kitchen. Talk to your church about volunteer opportunities in the area. You don’t have to be a Goodwill employee to go in and help sort donations. Visit the local animal shelter and walk dogs. Offer your time to help tutor students who are struggling with reading or math.

How Much to Give

This is incredibly personal, and nearly impossible to answer. How much to give depends largely on what you’re comfortable with. Many churches recommend tithing ten percent, to help cover their own expenses, as well as covering the charitable aspect. Some churches ask only for the equivalent of one hours pay a week, whatever that may be in your case. Here is the bottom line: there is no such thing as too small a donation. There are roughly 396 thousand people living in the city of Cleveland. Imagine for a moment that every person gave one single dollar to the local soup kitchen, now think about how many more meals that kitchen could provide. Obviously, giving more is always better. But if all you can afford at the moment is a dollar, then give that dollar and know that it will combine with other dollars to become a very powerful force.

Grant Writing Tips

Tens of thousands of grants are awarded each year to deserving nonprofit organizations that need additional funding to support new or existing programs. A nonprofit organization, no matter its size or mission, may receive grants from a wide variety of sources, including private foundations, large public companies, or governmental agencies. These steps can help a nonprofit director or fundraiser start the grant writing process.

Granters are unlikely to award funding to a nonprofit without a solid mission and demonstrated need. Any nonprofit seeking funding should have a well-developed mission statement, organizational goals, and identified need.

Understand Types of Funding

Grant funding is divided into three types:
1. Project Grants are awarded in support of a very specific program or project.
2. Start-up Grants are for new nonprofits.
3. Building Grants provide funding for the purchase, construction, or renovation of facilities, which may include equipment or technology purchases.
4. Operating Grants provide largely unrestricted funding and are the most challenging form of funding to obtain.

Determine the Type and Amount of Funding Needed

Before beginning the grant writing process, nonprofits should identify the type or types of funding needed. A grant proposal will need to include very specific requested funding amounts based on documented needs. Building grants will need to be substantiated with price estimates or quotes. For each type of funding, items like employee salaries and benefits, utilities, office costs, transportation, and other like costs may be included, depending on the funder’s requirements. Create a complete outline of funding types and specific monetary needs.

Identify Granters

Grant funding comes from many sources and can be a challenge to identify. One way to begin is to search for funders based on the nonprofit’s location, services, mission, and population served.
• Find foundations or companies that are headquartered in the city, county, state, or region that the nonprofit serves. Even small, local companies may award grants.
• Focus on funders that have a connection with the nonprofit’s services. For example, a nonprofit that provides technology training may approach technology companies or government agencies focused on technology for funding.
• If a nonprofit’s mission is religious, political, social, or environmental in nature, the organization may want to seek funding from likeminded sources.
• Nonprofits that serve a specific population may identify funders with a connection. For example, nonprofits that serve children may contact baby product manufacturers and distributors.

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What Is Fashion Philanthropy?

Some businesses make philanthropy the core of their existence. One such place is doing just that is called Fashion Philanthropy. The company pledges 10 percent or more of their sales to charity.

So far, the operation has raised more than $163,000 dollars in four years. Located in Franklin, Tennessee, the store sells high end fashion and accessories as well as designer jewelry and gifts.

So far, the shop has raised money for the Southern Sudan Project, an organization dedicated to building a sustainable community in southern Sedan. Already, the group has built a water well and supported a medical mission.

Philanthropy Fashion also helped raise $30,000 for the Hands and Feet Project. That group was started in Haiti in 2004 and serves orphaned children in Haiti and other poor countries. The headquarters narrowly escaped devastation when the 2010 quake struck.

The shop is just one of many businesses making philanthropy a big part of their organization. One of the most successful examples of this is (Red) which has gained the support of some of the most iconic brands, including Converse, Apple, Gap and plenty of others.

These companies donate 50 percent of profit from their (Red) products to the Global Fund to fight HIV and AIDS. The program first launched in 2006 and has raised more than $160 million.