Comments on: Raising Money & Awareness – One Click at a Time http://www.equityblog.org/2008/05/05/raising-money-awareness-%e2%80%93-one-click-at-a-time/ A Community of Voices. A Movement for Change. Fri, 04 Jul 2008 00:32:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Sandra Whisler http://www.equityblog.org/2008/05/05/raising-money-awareness-%e2%80%93-one-click-at-a-time/#comment-64 Sandra Whisler Thu, 08 May 2008 17:52:50 +0000 http://www.equityblog.org/2008/05/05/raising-money-awareness-%e2%80%93-one-click-at-a-time/#comment-64 And the great thing about using online technologies to create awareness, build relationships, and raise money is that it no longer requires people with computer science degrees on staff. Nor does it require huge technology acquisition budgets. You do need staff who are web literate and willing to learn new approaches, but there are lots of services out there that you can use to help build these capacities for your npo. From the big ones like Convio and Kintera to open source programs that provide for single functionalities, you can do a lot with people time, and not much money. The most important lesson, I think, is that there needs to be ongoing staff time and input. It's not a matter of "getting it done" and then going on automatic pilot, the way you used to be able to do with a direct mail progrm for 12 or 18 months. It takes constant refreshing, updating, and improvements to make a direct mail strategy work. Oh, and did I mention outreach and marketing, so that your audience knows about and uses your online capacities? If you don't know where to start, I suggest www.techsoup.org, which has lots of information on how to plan, start, and carry out online campaigns for nonprofits . So don't wait til the next budget cycle; empower one of your employees to start working on web-based technologies NOW. Cheers, Sandra Whisler, DFO, PolicyLink And the great thing about using online technologies to create awareness, build relationships, and raise money is that it no longer requires people with computer science degrees on staff. Nor does it require huge technology acquisition budgets. You do need staff who are web literate and willing to learn new approaches, but there are lots of services out there that you can use to help build these capacities for your npo. From the big ones like Convio and Kintera to open source programs that provide for single functionalities, you can do a lot with people time, and not much money.

The most important lesson, I think, is that there needs to be ongoing staff time and input. It’s not a matter of “getting it done” and then going on automatic pilot, the way you used to be able to do with a direct mail progrm for 12 or 18 months. It takes constant refreshing, updating, and improvements to make a direct mail strategy work. Oh, and did I mention outreach and marketing, so that your audience knows about and uses your online capacities? If you don’t know where to start, I suggest http://www.techsoup.org, which has lots of information on how to plan, start, and carry out online campaigns for nonprofits .

So don’t wait til the next budget cycle; empower one of your employees to start working on web-based technologies NOW. Cheers, Sandra Whisler, DFO, PolicyLink

]]> By: Austin Chu http://www.equityblog.org/2008/05/05/raising-money-awareness-%e2%80%93-one-click-at-a-time/#comment-63 Austin Chu Wed, 07 May 2008 20:05:15 +0000 http://www.equityblog.org/2008/05/05/raising-money-awareness-%e2%80%93-one-click-at-a-time/#comment-63 Great post. NGO and Non-profits really have to take advantage of the social network technologies. The reach is greater across the board, and it's relatively inexpensive. There is more credibility online now than there were just a few years ago. If an organization can't win the online environment, it may be difficult to win the offline crowd. More people are converting online and it's where we have to reach to get their *cough* money. Great post. NGO and Non-profits really have to take advantage of the social network technologies. The reach is greater across the board, and it’s relatively inexpensive. There is more credibility online now than there were just a few years ago. If an organization can’t win the online environment, it may be difficult to win the offline crowd. More people are converting online and it’s where we have to reach to get their *cough* money.

]]> By: Michael Hoffman http://www.equityblog.org/2008/05/05/raising-money-awareness-%e2%80%93-one-click-at-a-time/#comment-62 Michael Hoffman Tue, 06 May 2008 04:10:23 +0000 http://www.equityblog.org/2008/05/05/raising-money-awareness-%e2%80%93-one-click-at-a-time/#comment-62 Glenda - Thanks for the mention. A really terrific blog you have here. The potential online is huge for connecting people to causes. The context really is the fragmentation of media more generally and the decreasing impact of traditional advertising. This gives aggressive organizations willing to join the online conversation a way to grow and is a danger sign for the larger more bureaucratic charities. Glenda - Thanks for the mention. A really terrific blog you have here.

The potential online is huge for connecting people to causes. The context really is the fragmentation of media more generally and the decreasing impact of traditional advertising. This gives aggressive organizations willing to join the online conversation a way to grow and is a danger sign for the larger more bureaucratic charities.

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