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How to write grants for nonprofits organizations like a GURU (NO experience required) – with Teresa Huff

#025 – Today I am speaking with Teresa Huff.  Teresa is a special ed teacher, turned stay at home mom, then turned grant writing guru.  She began her grant writing career working with a team of grant writers, writing big federal grants. She later branched out on her own, working with clients 1 on 1. When she realized she could help more people, she developed online courses.  

“I really liked teaching others because I can only write so many grants and I can only be an expert in so many areas, but I can teach other people to do it. And then they can go out and create a much bigger ripple effect together. That’s why I love doing this now – supporting other nonprofits so they can maximize their impact and teaching grant writers how to do this as well, and to be much more successful to shorten the distance from point A to point B.”

She has worked with over 2,100 students, helping many nonprofits triple their funding. Specifically, she:

  • Works with nonprofits to strategically lay the groundwork for grant readiness;
  • Trains and equips grant writers with the skills they need to be successful; and
  • Connect the dots between the two so we can all maximize our impact.

She has a ton of free resources on her website – https://teresahuff.com/

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Resources

Website

Fast Track to Grant Writer

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

Linkedin

4 Key Takeaways  

#1 BUILD RELATIONSHIP – You’re not talking to dollar signs, you’re not talking to money. You’re talking to people and working with people.

#2 Funders want to see an established nonprofit and typically an established program that they can fund – they don’t want to be your first or last dollar.

#3 Be PATIENT – Grants can take a long time to write and it could take a long time to hear back.

#4 Start small with local foundations.

Show Notes

**Click the time stamp to jump directly to that point in the episode

[2:14] The best place to start
[2:52] Make sure you have a really good foundation
[3:16] You're not talking to money... You're talking to people and working with people.
[4:07] Make sure you have nonprofit status
[4:40] Grant funders don't want to beat your first dollar or your only dollar.
[5:21] They want to see how many more people you can impact with the funds.
[6:26] Generally they'll want to see an established nonprofit and an established program.
[7:27] Have a good plan in place for how are you going to sustain this after the grant funding goes away.
[8:05] Grants usually take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months.
[9:54] Federal grants and really large applications can take over 100 hours.
[10:51] if you've never written grants before, maybe start small, start with some local foundations.
[12:25] Follow the guidelines - NO extra stuff.
[12:48] Should I call the funder?
[16:13] Look for funders in your local community.
[17:10] Don't twist your program to fit the grant.
[19:57] Start with local foundations.
[22:10] Don't get discouraged if you get turned down.
[25:00] The Food Pantry story....
[31:48] The Grant Readiness Check-up.

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GroupFinity

Posted in PodcastTagged community, donation, funder, fundraiser, fundraising, fundraising for nonprofits, grant writing, Grants, group, leader, mission-driven organization, nonprofit, Nonprofit fundraising, nonprofit fundraising during covid, nonprofit fundraising for dummies, nonprofit fundraising in 2020, nonprofit fundraising in the age of coronavirus, organization, predictable, relationship building, volunteer organization

What everyone ought to know about marketing and communications for nonprofit organizations with Kivi Leroux Miller.

#022 – Kivi Leroux Miller is a communication and marketing guru.  She lends her superpower to nonprofits – helping them craft clear, effective, and timely communication to their communities, donors, volunteers, and partners.  

She shares some easy and straightforward steps that we can apply to our own organizations.  
Kivi has several “Rules of 3” that help simplify all of this.  Be sure to stick around until the end to hear them all. 

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Resources

nonprofitmarketingguide.com

Book

4 Key Takeaways  

#1 Be sure you are clear on 1) who you are talking to; 2) what you’re saying to them; and 3) how you plan to deliver that message;

#2 Your community is NOT the entire world – you need to fine tune your target market;

#3 Consistency is more important than frequency; AND

#4 Create a 4-6 editorial calendar.

Show Notes

**Click the time stamp to jump directly to that point in the episode

[2:03] Who are you talking to? What are you saying? How are you saying it?
[3:16] There really is no such thing as the general public.
[4:31] Psychographic NOT Demographics.
[4:57] You have to know who you are talking to.
[7:10] The people who take action are your people.
[7:44] PUT - Personal Useful and Timely.
[9:58] How do you deliver your message to your people?
[11:17] Think about what people are looking for on Google.
[13:20] Consistency is better than frequency.
[15:49] Pace yourself.
[16:39] Figure out your home base.
[17:14] Just because it's a good idea does not mean you need to do it.
[20:00] Create a 4-6 week editorial calendar.
[24:44] ASK, THANK YOU, and REPORT.
[27:27] Make a choice and follow through.

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GroupFinity

Posted in PodcastTagged 501c3, communication, community, leader, Marketing, mission-driven organization, newsletter, nonprofit, organization, social media, volunteer organization

How to build effective community partnerships:  Kristine Ensor shows you how to find the right partners to put your small nonprofit on a path to financial stability.

#021 – Kristine Ensor is an experienced and successful fundraiser and freelance writer.  

She has figured out the power of community partnerships to drive long-term support.  The great news is YOU can do what Kristine has done!  Anyone can.  You just have to put in the work of finding the right partners and then cultivate those relationships.

Kristine gives some great insight on just how to do that.  Collaborating with a few good partners can free you from the stress of dialing for new dollars every year.

Be sure to stick around until the end to hear Kristine’s first-hand account about how one volunteer day unexpectedly turned into years of financial and board support from the local office of a national cable tv provider.

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Resources

Kristine Ensor – Linkedin

Donorbox

4 Key Takeaways  

#1 Companies look for partners who actually do the work for the causes they believe in;

#2 Networking is ESSENTIAL – relationship building is at the core of building strong partnerships; 

#3 Participating with your local chamber of commerce is GREAT way to meet potential partners; AND

#4 Don’t stop after you’ve received a check – sit down with your partners periodically and find out what is working for them and figure out how you can provide more value to them.

Show Notes

**Click the time stamp to jump directly to that point in the episode

[3:00] The FIRST step in identifying community partnerships.
[5:42] Companies look for nonprofits with expertise in the causes they care about.
[6:22] Get clear on WHY you want a community partnership WHAT you can offer the partner.
[6:48] It's all about relationships.
[8:35] Who do you know and who do they know....
[9:48] Looking for grants....
[11:04] Start a networking database.
[12:13] Networking is essential.
[13:05] Chamber groups LOVE nonprofits.
[15:51] If both sides are excited, that is a sign of a good partnership.
[16:08] Communication is key.
[17:22] Bring solutions instead of just asking for a check.
[17:45] Get testimonials when you do good work.
[19:33] Do regular reviews with your partners to ensure objectives are being met.
[21:03] You have to be ok cutting loose if it's not a good fit.
[22:13] Comcast Cares Days

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GroupFinity

Posted in PodcastTagged 501c3, community, community partnerships, donation, donors, fundraising, group, leader, mission-driven organization, nonprofit, organization, volunteer organization

SEO for Nonprofits: You don’t have to be a SEO professional to know why SEO is so important for the online success of your nonprofit organization – Dave Evans.

#020 – Dave Evans, founder of Impact SEO. Dave got his Search Engine Optimization foundation by working for a SEO guru and then several startups. He now shares his deep knowledge of SEO with mission-driven organizations making a positive impact in their communities.  

His mission is to help impact organizations reach more people and communicate their mission more effectively.  He shows them how to get found on the crowded internet.

Dave does a great job of laying out why it’s so important for organizations to have a thoughtful SEO strategy.  AND it does not have to be hard.  Most of us can do this.

Be sure to check out Dave’s FREE guide – “How to apply for Google Ad Grant”

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Resources

Impact SEO

FREE RESOURCE: How to Apply for Google Ad Grant

4 Key Takeaways  

#1 Focus on 3 pillars: Trajectory, Foundation, and Compound Interest;

#2 You have be clear on what your organization does and who you serve before you can make sure that message is clear on your website; 

#3 Produce relevant content so someone searching for what you do will find you; AND

#4 Non-profits can apply for a Google Ad Grant – $10,000 per month in ad spend.

Show Notes

**Click the time stamp to jump directly to that point in the episode

[3:11] 3 Pillars: Trajectory.
[3:50] 3 Pillars: Fundation.
[4:35] 3 Pillars: Compound Interest.
[5:15] SEO is central to the 3 Pillars.
[6:42] Your website should communicate as though a board member is sitting down with someone one-on-one.
[8:28] You have to be clear on what you do yourself before you can make that message clear on your website.
[9:15] You want to find the people that are ready to join your cause.
[9:48] You don't want to make it a challenge for someone to donate.
[10:11] The problem is most people just don't know what steps they could take right now.
[11:40] If your website is not clear, you are missing opportunities.
[14:45] You want to be in a position where someone actively searching for you or your organization finds you.
[15:42] If you want to change your trajectory, then you need to know who you're trying to reach.
[16:24] Developing relevant content will get you to the top of Google searches.
[18:15] Raising awareness for what you do.
[19:58] Speak to the needs of your target audience.
[21:10] Google Keyword Planner.
[21:50] What organizations get wrong is NOT making decisions from data.
[24:49] Google Ad Grant.
[26:37] Qualifications for Google Ad Grant.
[27:08] FREE RESOURCE: Google Ad Grant Guide.
[29:12] Client went from 20 sessions per month to 20,000 after taking Dave's advice.
[30:54] Dave's website audits.
[32:08] I want to help change the organizations' trajectory.
[33:09] What changes do you see staying with us in a post COVID world?

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GroupFinity

Posted in PodcastTagged 501c3, community, content, digital marketing, funnel, Google Ad Grant, group, leader, mission-driven organization, Nonprofit marketing, nonprofit SEO, nonprofit SEO in the age of coronavirus, organization, Search Engine Optimization for nonprofits, SEO, SEO during covid, SEO for dummies, volunteer organization

Now you can boost your nonprofit’s fundraising without being a fundraising professional – Cindy Wagman tells us how.

#019 – Cindy is the Founder, President, and CEO of The Good Partnership.  Her specialty is working with small organizations.  In fact, her personal mission is “to help smaller organizations learn how to fundraise and better their systems and be more impactful”.

Cindy shows us how effective fundraising starts with mindset and habits.  Instead of viewing fundraising as a necessary evil, something you dread doing, turn it into something you feel good about.  By changing your mindset and then repeating the right habits, you can be much more effective.

Be sure to check out https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/ to learn more about Cindy’s work.

Cindy offers her Flipside Fundraising course a couple of times per year.  Click on the link in the show notes to learn more.

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Resources

The Good Partnership

Sign up for Cindy’s Flipside Fundraising Course

Apply for a Flipside Fundraising Scholarships

Flipside Fundraising Webinar – April 15th

4 Key Takeaways  

#1 Don’t throw an event, if you don’t have a committee that can sell tickets and do sponsorships, because it’s not worth your time;

#2 Automating some things or even improving your systems incrementally, can have a HUGE impact on your organization’s time; 

#3 the best fundraisers are deeply curious; AND

#4 Best source of information about your donors is directly from them. In this episode, Cindy shares her secret around the “Yellow Brick Road of Yesses”!

Show Notes

**Click the time stamp to jump directly to that point in the episode

[2:15] We need to redefine what we think of as fundraising.
[3:07] Most smaller organizations don't really know what fundraising looks like when it's aligned for them.
[3:26] I call that a large size fits all approach
[4:19] Sometimes they can or should do the same things and sometimes they really shouldn't.
[4:43] Don't throw an event if you don't have a committee that can sell tickets and do sponsorships
[5:25] I call that the fundraising iceberg.
[6:57] Organizations have terrible systems. We're so afraid to invest in technology.
[7:18] We need a plan.
[8:33] Get everyone on the same office software.
[9:15] Where are we currently spending time?
[9:38] You have to understand what the problem is to find a solution.
[10:14] If you automate some systems, the impact on your organization's time is huge.
[12:45] Mindset change comes from a lot of different places.
[14:45] Clarity - you have to have a really clear sense of what it would be like if things were different.
[16:23] The best fundraisers are deeply curious.
[17:17] You have to understand how they think about it and why it matters to them in their words.
[18:23] We always assume who has and does not have money.
[19:29] I turned what was going to be a $250k ask into a $3MM donation.
[19:59] The Yellow Brick Road of Yesses.
[20:38] Best source of information about your donors is directly from them.
[23:22] I still always think that as you get started, you still need to have some conversations.
[25:22] What you're doing is building these relationships and getting to know and understand people.
[25:50] Most people in our sector see fundraising as a necessary evil.
[31:42] if we can do the work and get over those initial hurdles, our communities are going to benefit.
[0:01]

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GroupFinity

Posted in PodcastTagged community, coronavirus, coronavirus crisis, covid-19, donation, fundraiser, fundraising, fundraising for nonprofits, group, leader, mission-driven organization, nonprofit, Nonprofit fundraising, nonprofit fundraising during covid, nonprofit fundraising for dummies, nonprofit fundraising in 2020, nonprofit fundraising in the age of coronavirus, organization, predictable, profitable fundraising, relationship building, volunteer organization

How to build deeper relationships with your donors and boost your nonprofit fundraising in 2021 so you can build stable donation streams for years to come – Dwight Adkins.

#018 – Dwight works at Swaim Strategies where he helps nonprofits maximize fundraising.  His superpower is relationship building.  He has been building and cultivating relationships his entire life.  Dwight believes “relationships are the key to life and the more you invest in relationships, the more enriched life will be.”

2021 is NOT a time to relax. Spend the year investing in your donor relationships. Reach out to donors and figure out how you can add value to them.  Even if people or companies can’t give this year, cultivating relationships now will set you up for future giving when they are in a position to give again. 

Dwight walks us through 1) why this is important AND 2) how to do it.  He gives us some great tips on how to develop authentic, deep, and mutually beneficial relationships.  You need to commit to it, but the good news is, these are skills most of us already use in our personal lives.

Be sure to check out swaimstrategies.com to learn more about Dwight’s work.

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Resources

Swaim Strategies

4 Key Takeaways  

#1 The fundamentals of development are the same as those in relationship building, listen to the donor and ask genuine questions;

#2 Treat them the same way you want to be treated; listen to their priorities; 

#3 It’s easier to cultivate and steward an existing donor relationship than to go out & get a new donor; AND

#4 The most reliable and recession-proof types of gifts are from individual donors, not corporations.

Show Notes

**Click the time stamp to jump directly to that point in the episode

[2:22] The fundamentals of development are relationship building and listening to the donor.
[2:45] Don't only talk to your donor when you want something.
[3:06] Treat them the same way you want to be treated - listen to what's going on in their world.
[3:50] Don't act like you are less than when asking for donations.
[4:30] Confidence shows the donor you are serious.
[5:50] It's easier to cultivate and steward a current donor than to go out and get a new one.
[6:23] You don't want to be asking for something every time you talk to your donors.
[7:55] When you don't ask, you are making the decision for the donor.
[9:40] Ask your corporate donors to introduce you to their counterparts.
[10:18] There's an art and a science to development - the art is relationship building.
[12:11] Most large companies show their giving priorities on their website.
[13:05] Most large companies list their Community Affairs Officer on their website.
[13:30] The most reliable and recession proof types of gifts are individual donors.
[13:50] If a corporate donor has a bad year, is bought, or goes out of business, you have a problem.
[14:49] Maintain a large prospect pool.
[15:55] Don't underestimate the value of the local bank branch
[17:04] As for communication, one size does not fit all.
[17:49] Consider an umbrella sponsorship proposal.
[18:49] You don't need an immediate answer.
[21:06] You need to come to the meeting with an opinion and agenda.
[21:18] Do your homework and know what is important to them.
[21:57] Kiss of Death - Asking for money in the 1st meeting.
[22:34] Donors' situations are dynamic so you should be ready for change.
[23:45] Make sure you are in touch with your contact in December.
[26:35] Figure out if the company matches employee donations.
[27:03] Board member to board member asking is oftentimes successful.
[27:45] Don't rely on the obvious donors or businesses.
[28:27] Always be prospecting and curious about who can support you.

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GroupFinity

Posted in PodcastTagged community, coronavirus, coronavirus crisis, covid-19, donation, fundraiser, fundraising, fundraising for nonprofits, group, leader, mission-driven organization, nonprofit, Nonprofit fundraising, nonprofit fundraising during covid, nonprofit fundraising for dummies, nonprofit fundraising in 2020, nonprofit fundraising in the age of coronavirus, organization, predictable, profitable fundraising, relationship building, volunteer organization

What every nonprofit leader should know about nonprofit fundraising compliance when their fundraising solicitations cross state lines with Ashleigh Allione and Cristina Vessels from Venable LLP

#017 – Today’s interview is with Ashleigh Allione and Cristina Vessels, two lawyers from Venable LLP’s Nonprofit Practice. Ashleigh and Cristina advise nonprofit clients on all aspects of fundraising-related matters, including those stemming from the federal tax laws and states’ charitable solicitation laws. They are here today to talk to us about what nonprofits should know about state charitable solicitation compliance and how to navigate these rules.

A lot of groups assume they are exempt, but that may not be the case.  Each case is different.  Exemptions depend on the type of organization and type of activity.  You need to check on your individual situation.  

Some organizations try to handle this on their own.  It can be a little tricky, however, so it is good to know professionals that can help us when we need it.

You can find them at venable.com

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Resources

Ashleigh Allione, Esq. Bio

Cristina Vessels, Esq. Bio

Fundraising in a virtual world during COVID-19

Does my nonprofit really have to register before asking for money?

Avoiding Fundraising Pitfalls: Keeping Your Nonprofit Compliant When Working with Paid Fundraising Professionals

Cause-Related Marketing, Sweepstakes, Raffles, and Other Charitable Promotions: Being Creative and Compliant

NOLO – Nonprofits

4 Key Takeaways  

#1 If you solicit funds outside of your state, you may need to register in those states;

#2 You need to dedicated someone to this so you don’t miss anything; 

#3 Late compliance is better than NO compliance; AND

#4 Once you register in a state, continue to report annually – don’t turn it off and on.

Show Notes

**Click the time stamp to jump directly to that point in the episode

[2:40] 40 states have charitable solicitation laws.
[3:20] Each state has base line ground rules.
[4:00] What is a solicitation?
[4:50] Registration is mostly required before solicitation occurs.
[5:20] Who do I register with?
[7:27] You should register in the state where you are formed.
[9:48] The solicitation is regulated, NOT the receipt.
[10:27] The Charleston Principle.
[12:10] Analysis to figure out if you need to register with certain states due to online solicitation.
[17:50] How do people keep track of all of this?
[18:50] You need 1 person dedicated to tracking compliance.
[19:45] There might be an exemption based on the nature of the organization or nature of activities.
[22:00] How do I determine if I need to do an analysis on a particular state?
[25:40] School may be exempt.
[27:15] NOLO series.
[28:20] What happens if you fail to register?
[31:22] Regulators may take your organization's size into consideration if found to be out of compliance.
[32:20] Late compliance is better than no compliance at all.
[33:20] What does registration look like?
[34:24] Not overly complicated.
[35:38] You should be mindful of your fundraising and of these laws.
[37:33] Do I need to be registered nationwide?
[38:50] There should be a balance with practical considerations.
[42:00] Once you register, you have an obligation to continue.
[42:27] Turning it off and on every year is NOT practical.

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Posted in PodcastTagged 501(c)3, cause, community, donation, fundraiser, fundraising, group, impact, leader, mission-driven organization, non profit registration, nonprofit, nonprofit compliance, organization, tax exempt, volunteer organization

Learn the little known secrets about how Facebook Fundraisers for nonprofits work from the Nonprofit Fixer – Sean Kosofsky.

#016 – Sean Kosofsky is the Nonprofit Fixer.  He has cracked the code on how nonprofits can improve fundraising with facebook fundraisers.  He shares some of his little known secrets with us in this interview.

Sean says that if you have 500+ Facebook friends, you can raise $1,000.  If 10 people in your organization do this, you can raise $10,000.  It only takes a month

One secret is you have to do the work.  The good news is, you likely already have the skills to do this.  If you know how to post on Facebook you can do this.

Be sure to check out his website to access nonprofitfixer.com to learn all 8 of his secrets.

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Resources

The Nonprofit Fixer

8 Expert Tips for Raising $10k+ With Facebook Fundraisers

Brian Nash

4 Key Takeaways  

#1 People are FAR more likely to give, if someone they know and like asks them;

#2 Get people willing to do it, have them invite their Facebook friends, and post daily; 

#3 You will be surprised by the people who donate; AND

#4 Don’t assume someone doesn’t have money to give – don’t be both the buyer and the seller.

Show Notes

**Click the time stamp to jump directly to that point in the episode

[2:53] Facebook has billions for nonprofits.
[3:10] Facebook has cracked the code. It is a giant database of billions of users.
[3:31] Peer to Peer Fundraising.
[3:45] People are FAR more likely to give or do something if someone the know and like asks them.
[4:24] 501(c)(3) organizations get the lowest fees.
[5:19] Sean made $20k in the first time he did this.
[5:37] It is like a Facebook event. You have to have i) a start date; ii) end date; and iii) invite your friends.
[5:56] Biggest mistake is that people only post to their own page.
[6:32] If you invite all of your friends, they will see your posts.
[7:21] #1 reason people give is because they were asked.
[7:31] The best fundraisers are the ones with a daily ask.
[8:09] No one goes to Go Fund Me 10x a day, but they go to Facebook constantly.
[9:18] What are the fees?
[10:06] Facebook's fees are nominal, maybe 2% or lower.
[11:09] Biggest day of giving on Facebook for giving is Giving Tuesday.
[11:37] Run your fundraiser for 2 to 4 weeks to create momentum.
[11:55] 30 sample Facebook posts.
[12:27] CEO - Chief of Enthusiasm and Optimism.
[12:53] You don't need any fancy graphics, just pictures and links.
[13:43] Organizations don't need followers. Individuals run the fundraisers.
[14:26] All that matters is you have individuals with their own friend groups
[14:32] The sweet spot is to get people with 500+ Facebook friends. They should be able to raise $500 - $1,000 each.
[16:10] You could be doing this year round.
[17:05] You will be surprised by who donates.
[17:45] Invite every single friend - let them decide if they want to give or not.
[19:05] Post once a day for 30 days.
[19:15] It is faster/easier to invite friends on a mobile device than a computer.
[20:12] Just spend a minute a day for 30 days.
[20:18] Invite all your friends on Day 1.
[21:24] Most people with 500 friends can raise $1,000 in 30 days.
[22:18] One group raised $100 million in a couple of months.
[23:40] One group had 28 fundraisers that raised $25k in 25 days.
[24:34] Get people willing to do it, have them invite all their FB friends, and post once a day. That's it!
[25:15] One board member went from raising $250 to $2k in weeks, satisfying her annual board commitment.
[26:14] It costs nothing to run a Facebook Fundraiser.
[27:32] Don't assume who does not have money to give.
[27:52] Don't be the buyer and the seller.
[28:30] You owe it to the people you serve to continue raising funds.
[30:04] 2021 is going to be rough for in person events.
[30:24] Sean's friend Brian Nash raised money via a live stream cabaret event.
[33:17] All 8 tips / 30 sample posts / Guide

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Posted in PodcastTagged community, coronavirus, coronavirus crisis, covid-19, donation, Facebook fundraiser, fundraiser, fundraising, group, leader, mission-driven organization, nonprofit, organization, profitable fundraisers, shelter at home, social distance, volunteer organization

What every small nonprofit leader should know about keeping their organization in compliance and in good standing. Nonprofit lawyer Ellis Carter teaches us how to do just that.

#015 – Ellis is a nonprofit lawyer.  She started the Charity Lawyer Blog to help nonprofits make sense of compliance and legal matters.  Her motto is Nonprofit Law Simplified and that’s just what she did in this interview.  

She simplified a number of nonprofit legal and compliance requirements that a lot of small groups struggle with.    

We talk about compliance requirements around:

-getting your 501c3 started;

-how to register with your state; AND 

-what you need to do every year going forward to stay in compliance.

We also talked a good deal about when it makes sense to get a fiscal sponsor.

Be sure to check out her website to access her registration guide, which is summarized by state.

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Resources

Caritas Law Group

Charity Lawyer Blog

How to start a nonprofit

Charitable Solicitation Registration by State

Charitable Solicitation and Professional Fundraiser Registration

4 Key Takeaways  

#1 Many groups misinterpret registration exemptions;

#2 There are filing requirements for almost all organizations, even if you have no revenue; 

#3 Just because you are a nonprofit does not mean you are tax exempt; AND

#4 Small groups that intend on getting government grants, may consider getting a financial sponsor.

Show Notes

**Click the time stamp to jump directly to that point in the episode

[2:50] If you do not file for 3 years, your status will be revoked.
[3:22] Once you start soliciting funds in other states, you could trigger registration in those states.
[3:46] Compliance issues may arise if you hire people.
[4:55] Many groups misinterpret the registration exemptions.
[6:00] You have to apply to the IRS for tax exemption.
[7:05] You must register in your state of domicile.
[7:25] What if you're a chapter?
[8:38] Group exemption.
[10:10] Nonprofit vs Tax Exempt.
[12:12] Is it easy to get re-instated your status is revoked?
[12:50] Everyone needs to file, even if you have no revenue.
[15:35] Can just start over with a new name?
[17:28] Is Fiscal Sponsorship right for my organization?
[24:38] Legal checkup.
[25:08] Messy compliance can be a smoke screen for fraud.
[26:03] Small groups that intend on getting government money should consider getting a Financial Sponsor.
[28:40] Board needs to look for red flags.
[29:20] Why Ellis started the Charity Lawyer Blog

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Posted in PodcastTagged 501(c)3, cause, community, donation, financial sponsor, fundraiser, fundraising, group, impact, leader, mission-driven organization, non profit registration, nonprofit, nonprofit compliance, organization, sponsorship, tax exempt, volunteer organization

How to create an effective nonprofit marketing plan that speaks to your members and donors and gets them to engage more.  Marketing Activist Lindsay Lashell tells us what works and what does not.

#014 – Lindsay LaShell is a self described “marketing activist”.  Her mission is to help organizations increase justice, equity, and sustainability by making their marketing more effective.

Lindsay shares with us how important it is to be clear on what our audience wants from us and deliver that.

It is ok for there to be a whole bunch of people who are NOT your people.  Any marketing strategy that is set up to say we don’t want to alienate anybody, is going to do a terrible job of connecting with the right people.

Lindsay is running a Pro Bono Marketing Bootcamp in December.  If your organization’s budget was less than $200k in 2019, you are welcome to apply and snag a free spot.

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Resources

Diamond and Branch

Marketing Bootcamp

Trello

5 Key Takeaways  

#1 A marketing plan is vital because it lets you know where you’re making the most impact;

#2 Your easiest donor is an existing donor and your 2nd easiest donor is a referral from an existing donor; 

#3 If you truly believe the thing you are doing is valuable, you should have no problem offering new people (eg new members & donors) a unique way to get involved;

#4 Put your people at the center of everything you do; AND

#5 If you understand your people correctly, they will connect to your messaging.

Show Notes

**Click the time stamp to jump directly to that point in the episode

[2:30] A marketing plan will allow for consistency and efficiency.
[2:54] Who do we need to talk to? Where do we need to talk to them? What do they need to hear from us?
[3:32] The marketing plan tells you where you're making the most impact.
[4:13] Does that 1 tweet a day help you?
[4:47] We click and engage with the things that are most meaningful to us.
[4:55] Don't blame users for not engaging with your content.
[7:08] Put them at the center.
[7:25] Consider their journey.
[8:20] What do they care about? Why should they care about your organization?
[8:45] What language do they use to recommend you?
[10:04] You're competing with other interests, including Netflix.
[10:43] Be a flywheel vs a skateboard.
[12:25] Your campaign would be more effective if it kept your donors' attention all year long.
[12:45] Communication depends on your audience.
[14:27] Newsletters are good if you are super clear on what your audience wants from it.
[15:06] Good marketers empathize with their audience.
[17:00] You need to know who you're NOT for to know who you are for.
[18:40] Get within 1 degree of the people who can help you on social media.
[22:56] Brand Pillars.
[24:46] If you ask someone for their impression of your organization, what will they say?
[25:15] If you understand your people correctly, they will connect to your message.
[25:50] How to figure our your brand pillars.
[28:30] Should we focus on getting referrals?
[29:40] Your 2nd easiest donor is referral from an existing donor.
[30:35] If you believe the thing you're doing is valuable, you're offering them a unique way to get involved.
[31:53] Pro Bono Marketing Bootcamp

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Posted in PodcastTagged cause, communication, community, digital marketing, donation, fundraiser, fundraising, group, impact, leader, marketer, Marketing, marketing bootcamp, marketing campaign, marketing framework, marketing plan, mission-driven organization, nonprofit, organization, social media, strategic marketing, volunteer organization
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