4 Ways To Use Pinterest To Encourage Corporate Volunteerism
Now this I can totally get my head around! A great way to navigate folks to your organizations' websites!
If you have Pinterest followers, they are more than likely your friends or at least people with similar interests...you have a built-in network. Pin pics of your events for them to see. They go to your charity website and they become stakeholders. Genius. Why didn't I think of this...
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Top 4 Online Fundraising Tactics Your Nonprofit Can't Live Without
Top 4 Online Fundraising Tactics Your Nonprofit Can't Live Without
Interesting Top 4...some of it applies to the small groups with which I work. Take from this what you will, perhaps even download the entire report. Keep in mind that your organizations are unique...one size doesn't always fit all.
Interesting Top 4...some of it applies to the small groups with which I work. Take from this what you will, perhaps even download the entire report. Keep in mind that your organizations are unique...one size doesn't always fit all.
The Notebook
The last boss I had in the nonprofit PR world was fantastic,
but obsessive. Obsessive about
documentation. She told all of us with
whom she worked about her messy divorce.
She vehemently regretted not having proof of, well, whatever it was she
knew was not good about her former husband. Her penance for this
mistake was to make everyone around her write down everything…print out every
email…save every fax and confirmation…document time and date of phone
conversations…create timelines for events…and then put it all in two notebooks,
one to keep and one to give the client.
Our ginormous notebooks were stuff of PR legend.
Yesterday I handed off another notebook, finishing off a
project and passing it on to the next volunteer. Isn’t there something really
satisfying about handing this material item off that signifies the immaterial work
you’ve put in to a project? For a
list-maker like myself, I enjoy organizing the different aspect of a project
and putting the sheets behind a neat little tab. Having a timeline in the front with what the
unsuspecting victim next in line for your job will be doing for the next 12
months of their life. Printing out
emails that prove that this person was a gem to work with, and that person was
a jerk - so watch out.
I think there is something unique in the volunteer notebook –
a sense of “what’s mine is yours.” Like
I said before, in my professional experience we kept a copy of the notebook for
our firm and one went to the client – a very benevolent gesture as the client
could literally take the notebook and recreate what we did. However, in the world of volunteerism that’s
what we do every day. We take on a job
for a while, make sure we package it up nicely, and share with the next one in
line. Not to say that we don’t keep
something ourselves because we grow in our abilities and talents and quite
often learn something new. I just
believe that the giving isn’t just in the project to which we dedicate
ourselves, it’s also in the generosity of giving lessons learned on to others who are giving
of themselves.
It was a moment of contentment to hand over that notebook
yesterday. But (let me hear you all say,
“Amen!”) I’ve got three new ones I’m working on today….
Friday, May 25, 2012
A backstory
One thing I've learned about writing this blog is...well...I'm really bad at writing this blog. I've dabbled over the last few months, but a new volunteer opportunity has opened the flood gates of ideas...ideas I want to share. So, let me begin by going back.
I hope the purpose of this blog will be to share concepts, commiserate with others, and (the honest reason we all volunteer) to make our world a better place. OK, that last one's a little cliche, but come on...you know it's true. I guess someone might want to know just what volunteer roles I've played. So, read on if you want to know if I have any street-cred in this volunteering thing, if you want to see if any of my ideas might apply to you (hey, steal away on the ideas...that's why I'm sharing, after all!), or if you're just looking to kill time (and, really, isn't that a little part of why we all read blogs anyway?!?).
I've served on the Board of Directors for two community orchestras, a children's theater program, an arts council, a historic preservation commission, and a downtown community center. I've held pretty much every office in a social service organization over the last ten years, including president. One of my greatest joys (and the reason for consuming lots of Sudefed, Advil, and coffee before and during meetings...and an occasional glass of wine after the meetings) has been leading a group of Girl Scouts who are now in line for their Gold Award.
The bar-none, absolutely most important work I've done has been in my daughter's schools. Best advice given to me for volunteering in a school: working in the library because you see every child and every teacher. So I did, and have for eight years plus was Literacy chair (how I became a librarian wannabe!). I've been student and teacher appreciation chairs, ran fundraisers and a dance, and was a two-term PTO president. I've served on two Political Action Committees (my only foray into the political arena) for referendums for operating funds for our public schools (one lost, the recent one succeeded). That was the most heart-wrenching volunteer work I've ever done...you need to have a backbone of steel to stick your neck into politics, even school politics.
The more nontraditional school volunteer role I've had was a result of the first, lost referendum. A "gang of seven" moms with communication experience took it upon ourselves to improve the school district's image. Not PR spin, mind you, it was getting the good news out there that was not getting to stakeholders. My role continues today working with and vetting social media that can help parents and students as well as our little community to understand modern public education.
OK, so that's my last 15 years of working without getting paid. When the community needs you, who needs to get paid for all this stuff....
I hope the purpose of this blog will be to share concepts, commiserate with others, and (the honest reason we all volunteer) to make our world a better place. OK, that last one's a little cliche, but come on...you know it's true. I guess someone might want to know just what volunteer roles I've played. So, read on if you want to know if I have any street-cred in this volunteering thing, if you want to see if any of my ideas might apply to you (hey, steal away on the ideas...that's why I'm sharing, after all!), or if you're just looking to kill time (and, really, isn't that a little part of why we all read blogs anyway?!?).
I've served on the Board of Directors for two community orchestras, a children's theater program, an arts council, a historic preservation commission, and a downtown community center. I've held pretty much every office in a social service organization over the last ten years, including president. One of my greatest joys (and the reason for consuming lots of Sudefed, Advil, and coffee before and during meetings...and an occasional glass of wine after the meetings) has been leading a group of Girl Scouts who are now in line for their Gold Award.
The bar-none, absolutely most important work I've done has been in my daughter's schools. Best advice given to me for volunteering in a school: working in the library because you see every child and every teacher. So I did, and have for eight years plus was Literacy chair (how I became a librarian wannabe!). I've been student and teacher appreciation chairs, ran fundraisers and a dance, and was a two-term PTO president. I've served on two Political Action Committees (my only foray into the political arena) for referendums for operating funds for our public schools (one lost, the recent one succeeded). That was the most heart-wrenching volunteer work I've ever done...you need to have a backbone of steel to stick your neck into politics, even school politics.
The more nontraditional school volunteer role I've had was a result of the first, lost referendum. A "gang of seven" moms with communication experience took it upon ourselves to improve the school district's image. Not PR spin, mind you, it was getting the good news out there that was not getting to stakeholders. My role continues today working with and vetting social media that can help parents and students as well as our little community to understand modern public education.
OK, so that's my last 15 years of working without getting paid. When the community needs you, who needs to get paid for all this stuff....
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
RSVP
I'll give you the ending of the story at the start: teach your children to RSVP.
Today was the Christmas party for the social service organization with which I work. I love this group. We are on the ground making a difference in the lives of preschool children and seniors...working hard and not looking for recognition. THAT is what is important, here.
However....
I offered last May to have the Christmas party at my house. Good news...decorations are up and the house looks awesome. Bad news...nothing else is done. Volunteeroholics, heed my warning: do not, under any circumstances, offer to have a holiday party for any organization! You know how it is...no one has signed up, so you feel bad, and you put your name on the blank line. Don't do it in December. Take February....that's a nice, calm month.
Last time I had the group over was two years ago, and we had 60 people. That's a lot of brunch stratas. This time, the days kept creeping closer to the party with no indication of how many will arrive. We send out a monthly newsletter....it clearly stated that I was the host, but...an oversight of mine...we didn't say RSVP. We sent a follow-up email saying RSVP regrets only. Only three women did. So, with an organization of 35 active members and a list of associate members around 100, I had no idea what to expect.
So, back to the beginning of the post. The take-away is to teach your children to RSVP. We had food for 60 but 28 attended. Five stratas are going to the community center tomorrow for our seniors, so all is well. The kicker....my husband was so upset that I didn't keep one of the casseroles for dinner that I had to make another one for tonight's dinner. If I never see another strata again, I'll be a happy girl.
Today was the Christmas party for the social service organization with which I work. I love this group. We are on the ground making a difference in the lives of preschool children and seniors...working hard and not looking for recognition. THAT is what is important, here.
However....
I offered last May to have the Christmas party at my house. Good news...decorations are up and the house looks awesome. Bad news...nothing else is done. Volunteeroholics, heed my warning: do not, under any circumstances, offer to have a holiday party for any organization! You know how it is...no one has signed up, so you feel bad, and you put your name on the blank line. Don't do it in December. Take February....that's a nice, calm month.
Last time I had the group over was two years ago, and we had 60 people. That's a lot of brunch stratas. This time, the days kept creeping closer to the party with no indication of how many will arrive. We send out a monthly newsletter....it clearly stated that I was the host, but...an oversight of mine...we didn't say RSVP. We sent a follow-up email saying RSVP regrets only. Only three women did. So, with an organization of 35 active members and a list of associate members around 100, I had no idea what to expect.
So, back to the beginning of the post. The take-away is to teach your children to RSVP. We had food for 60 but 28 attended. Five stratas are going to the community center tomorrow for our seniors, so all is well. The kicker....my husband was so upset that I didn't keep one of the casseroles for dinner that I had to make another one for tonight's dinner. If I never see another strata again, I'll be a happy girl.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
So...it took me 5 years to get this done.
Yes, my in-law's 50th wedding anniversary was in 2007. So, shoot me. I've been busy...working in the school library, feeding hungry seniors, teaching underservered preschoolers, fighting for a referendum for our school, serving as PTO president FOREVER....
It struck me as odd and, yes, even rude when my in-laws asked if I ever developed the pictures from their anniversary party. Well, I could have just handed them the CD's, but really...do you think they'd know what to do with them? They haven't figured out the digital camera and printer we got them for Christmas two years ago.
Thank goodness for the conveniences of the internet. Shutterfly...here are the pictures, put them in a book for me. Oh, and have that delivered to my home before Christmas, if you don't mind. Now, I can get back to wrapping gifts for the preschoolers at the Community Center. I love my in-laws, but these kiddos need clothes more than the picture book. Sometimes we all just need to let go and spend our time on the things (and the people) who really need us most.
It struck me as odd and, yes, even rude when my in-laws asked if I ever developed the pictures from their anniversary party. Well, I could have just handed them the CD's, but really...do you think they'd know what to do with them? They haven't figured out the digital camera and printer we got them for Christmas two years ago.
Thank goodness for the conveniences of the internet. Shutterfly...here are the pictures, put them in a book for me. Oh, and have that delivered to my home before Christmas, if you don't mind. Now, I can get back to wrapping gifts for the preschoolers at the Community Center. I love my in-laws, but these kiddos need clothes more than the picture book. Sometimes we all just need to let go and spend our time on the things (and the people) who really need us most.
Click here to view this photo book larger
Build your own high-quality photo books at Shutterfly.com.
The Christmas Card....in between all the other commitments
Is it really possible to get it all done at holidays? No. After years of trying to out-do myself on our Christmas card, I gave in to the make-it-online set.
What pushed me over the edge is that last year I nearly gave myself ulcers trying to come up with something new. I finally realized (although my husband hasn't) that this pressure to perform beyond regular holiday standards was put upon myself (well, and my husband...he loves hearing the praises of "how clever you all are!"). I don't need praise...I need time.
I actually analyzed my 2010 holiday card collection. Of the 114 cards we receive, this is how they break down:
51 were made online or in the store (Shutterfly, Walgreens, Walmart, Tiny Prints, etc.)
41 were store-bought cards (33 families just signed their name...no updates, pictures of info)
14 were cards with newsletters
6 were home-made
2 came via email
So, does this mean anything? To be honest, I cherish everyone of those cards because there is a person or a family who took either 10 seconds or 10 hours to tell me that I am a friend. I'm thankful for the newsletters and pictures to know how my friends are doing, but the act of contacting me at all is a gift. Christmas cards are a hand reaching out to say, "I want to be in your life again this year." What a blessing.
What pushed me over the edge is that last year I nearly gave myself ulcers trying to come up with something new. I finally realized (although my husband hasn't) that this pressure to perform beyond regular holiday standards was put upon myself (well, and my husband...he loves hearing the praises of "how clever you all are!"). I don't need praise...I need time.
I actually analyzed my 2010 holiday card collection. Of the 114 cards we receive, this is how they break down:
51 were made online or in the store (Shutterfly, Walgreens, Walmart, Tiny Prints, etc.)
41 were store-bought cards (33 families just signed their name...no updates, pictures of info)
14 were cards with newsletters
6 were home-made
2 came via email
So, does this mean anything? To be honest, I cherish everyone of those cards because there is a person or a family who took either 10 seconds or 10 hours to tell me that I am a friend. I'm thankful for the newsletters and pictures to know how my friends are doing, but the act of contacting me at all is a gift. Christmas cards are a hand reaching out to say, "I want to be in your life again this year." What a blessing.
Classic Lime 5x7 folded card
Click here to browse our modern collection of invitations.
View the entire collection of cards.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)