Originally a fortress built in 1190, the Louvre was converted into a royal residence for the French monarchy in 1364. Almost every subsequent king extended the Louvre and its grounds, as well as the crown’s art collection. In 1793, the French Monarchy left Paris for the Palace of Versailles, and the Musée du Louvre opened its doors to the public with a mere 537 paintings on display. Today, the Louvre is the largest museum in the world, housing 380,000 pieces of art—of which only 35,000 are on exhibit. The Louvre welcomes approximately 9.3 million visitors per year (70% of whom are tourists) who come from all over the globe to gaze at the museum’s extensive art galleries, which span 6th century BC to the 19th century. Before you start daydreaming about the City of Light and all of its wonders, check out these five nonprofit headlines from the news this week.
1. Can Nonprofits Write Legislation?
An article from the Nonprofit Quarterly suggests that it is possible. If nonprofit organizations are careful when using tax-exempt dollars to promote legislation, they need not be fearful. Nonprofit advocates can take their lead from lobbyists and draft legislative solutions to societal issues. Bills in the public arena can generate support and shed light on areas of concern. Additionally, the abundance of for-profit and nonprofit law firms with legislative drafting experience means that even the smallest nonprofit organizations have access to expertise in this area. Is your nonprofit interested in crafting legislation? Click on the link above to find out how you can write legislation and frame issues to fit your organization’s needs while maintaining your tax exemption.
2. Nonprofits, Paid Social is Your Friend
Social marketing is constantly fluctuating. While social networks such as Facebook and Instagram have a good grasp on how to advertise through their network, fundraisers need to understand how they, too, can engage audiences tactically and enthusiastically. At the 2017 Bridge to Integrated Marketing and Fundraising Conference, social media and marketing experts discussed key ways nonprofits can use social insights and the implementation of targeting and ad types to effectively fuel paid social strategies. Check out the above link from The NonProfit Times to discover which tactics can be successfully utilized by your nonprofit.
Research shows that teenagers have career preferences that correlate directly to their gender—as many young people distance themselves from certain academic subjects as a result of peer pressure and preconceptions from parents, teachers and other role models. The Forbes article linked above provides more information regarding these studies and the recent push to engage young girls to take an interest in science, technology, engineering, math, and medicine (STEM) careers. The article also provides examples of how nonprofits can help to address this issue. Follow the link above to find three ways your organization can begin to tackle preconceptions girls and their communities may have regarding STEM careers.
4. Nonprofits, Follow Your Dreams
Many nonprofit organizations begin with a dream. But is that enough? According to an article in The NonProfit Times, dreams need to be big, expansive and enduring, but must also communicate an easy-to-understand “why.” It is not adequate for an organization to market its own credibility—instead, organizations are branding the promises that they make. Organizations choose to focus on the “why” or the “what” of their work or the “how” they are doing it. It is the “why,” however, that sets successful fundraisers apart. Is your nonprofit considering an objective or dream to pursue? The link above provides three vital questions your organization should answer as well as additional recommendations to consider.
5. Millennials: Donors of the Future
The Millennial Generation, having recently surpassed baby boomers as the largest generation in America, stands strong with numbers well above 75 million. That being said, it is no surprise that nonprofit organizations are employing tremendous efforts in determining how best to engage this group. According to the Boston Consulting Group, Millennials are nearing their “peak spending years,” for which nonprofits are competing in the form of donations. Attracting Millennials to your nonprofit is pivotal to the sustainability of your organization. Does your nonprofit have a plan for how to connect with Millennials? Take a look at the linked article to learn effective ways to engage with this generation.
That’s it for this week’s Friday Five! Don’t mind us, we’re just brushing up on our Français. “À la semaine prochaine!” See you next week!
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