In this day and age we are inundated with bizarre holidays. Each day is offered up as a celebration of the wacky or mundane, the educational or even just plain silly. While many of these holidays pass by unobserved, the holiday taking place today (the first Friday in August) is being celebrated in over 200 cities around the globe. International Beer Day has gathered people together since 2008 to enjoy the delights of beer over great conversation, raise a glass to the dedicated men and women who brew and serve the beloved beverage, and bring the world together by celebrating beers of all nations and cultures. Whether you’re raising a glass in the U.S., France or Sweden, we say “Cheers!” “Santé!” and “Skål!” to each of you. But before you start organizing your after-work happy hour, check out these five nonprofit headlines from the news this week.
1. Give the People What They Want!
When it comes to delivering personalized and relevant messages to donors and potential donors, nonprofits are lagging behind their peers in the for-profit sector. According to the 2017 Consumer Email Habits Report, a touch of personalization goes a long way in the realm of nonprofit email marketing. The report goes on to state that four out of five consumers want a bit of individualization in the emails they receive from nonprofit organizations. Aside from creating an opportunity for interaction, personalized emails allow for a greater variety of content and calls to action that resonate greater with patrons. Is your nonprofit sending its supporters what they want? Click on the link above to find out how you can better leverage technology to send more personally relevant emails.
2. Nonprofit Leaders, Please Stand Up
We are living in an era of political instability. Weekly calls to representatives to either advocate or oppose legislature have become the new norm, and those who sit on nonprofit boards are feeling the pull. But how can you as a board member successfully advocate on behalf of the populations you serve? Check out the above link from Nonprofit Quarterly to discover which tactics are at your disposal, and how to use your distinct individual and professional backgrounds to positively engage with legislators while staying within the bounds of IRS rules and regs.
3. Serial Reciprocity: Friends with Benefits
“With great power comes great responsibility.” While this famous quote can be traced back to 1793 during the period of the French Revolution, it is as relevant today in the world of corporate social responsibility (CSR). Using one's power for the good of the community and expecting nothing in return is not without reward, however, as companies’ good deeds are often accompanied by positive PR. This inspires organizations to focus less on gaining clients and creating favorable headlines, and more on helping people and encouraging others to do the same. Follow the Forbes article linked above to discover three ways your organization can employ and benefit from the ripple effect of serial reciprocity.
4. How Not to Treat Your Volunteers
Volunteers are often the backbone of mission-based organizations. Without volunteers many nonprofits would not be able to successfully carry out programs, fundraise or serve their communities. Over the years, however, a number of nonprofits have neglected, or gone as far as to dissolve their volunteer groups once they began to weigh in on organizational matters. Volunteers invest time and passion into the organizations they serve, and the dismissal of dedicated supporters is almost never a good move. The above link from Nonprofit Quarterly provides a more detailed analysis of a case that illustrates how not to treat your volunteers.
Procrastination affects 20 percent of the population, but in the nonprofit world of tax filings, grant applications and donor communications, there is no room for missed deadlines. The recently held 10th Procrastination Research Conference (yep, this is a real thing) gathered participants to discuss the subject and its serious consequences. There are many lessons nonprofits can learn from research on procrastination—a problem that could potentially lead to the loss of tax status, suspended contracts or worse. Take a look at the linked article to learn what researchers have to say about the topic of procrastination and its toll.
That’s it for this week’s Friday Five! We’re perusing flights to Prague, but may have to settle for an ice-cold Czech Pilsner instead. See you next week!
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