Don Akchin

Show your loyal donors they are more to you than just ATM machines. Help them feel part of the enterprise. Consultant and blogger Nancy Schwartz shares three good examples of nonprofits who take their fans behind the scenes.There are many other creative ways to engage supporters – and in these tough times, having passionate donors and advocates is more important than ever. Contact me to discuss how we can build more engagement among your community of supporters. Photo by Gary Brockman, Moon & Star Photography

Okay, we’re in a recession. So what? We’ve lived through them before. Somehow the world keeps turning. Meanwhile, people who depend on us need us more than ever, and many people want to help. So cheer up, roll up your sleeves, and look at the bright side: At least we have a President who speaks in complete sentences.

Ever wonder whether advertisements on search engines work? This brief case study from the National Women’s Law Center explains what they did, how they did it, and how well it fared.

Social media consultant and blogger Mack Collier offers some clear thinking about social media in two recent posts. One notes that social media channels are not for selling but can create value for your customers/constituents. The second expands on the great virtue of social media for building relationships.

Social media consultant and blogger Mack Collier offers some clear thinking about social media in two recent posts. One notes that social media channels are not for selling but can create value for your customers/constituents. The second expands on the great virtue of social media for building relationships.

President Barack Obama’s fanatic attachment to his BlackBerry was priceless free publicity for the wireless device. Blogger Jeff Brooks reveals how ad execs would have mangled the moment with less-than-credible cleverness. (Photo credit: Andrew Zhang)

If you need a model approach to fundraising, says Allyson Kapin, take two cues from the Obama Campaign: don’t ignore small donors, and help them feel they’re part of a movement.

A report last week from the Pew Internet and American Life Project found that larger percentages of bifocal-wearing Ancient Americans (a.k.a. Baby Boomers and their parents) are using the Internet than ever before. Although the Millennial Generation (ages 18 to 32) and their younger sibs dominate the world of online videos, blogs and social networking, the older generations are more likely to buy something online or use online banking. Email use is high across all generations. Read the full report.(Photo Credit: Marjan Hols)

Best wishes to all for a successful and prosperous year. May the new year be everything that 2008 was not. But meanwhile, we’re already seven days into 2009, so what have you done this year to improve your marketing and communications? Let’s get cracking already! (And do call as you take on your biggest communications challenges. We’d love to discuss them.)

Those still wondering about all the fuss over “Web 2.0” and social media are apparently in good company. To help hapless corporate marketers, the Wall Street Journal offers some basic principles of the new phenom.How’s this for mainstream: 40 million Americans contribute to social networking sites, says a research study.

A study on wealthy donors to charity reveals that only 6% feel their gifts make a significant impact on society. Blogger Jeff Brooks argues that somebody in charge of communications must not be doing their job.

The Communications Network has published Are We There Yet? A Communications Evaluation Guide. You can download a free copy of the step-by-step handbook here.

I have tried for months to maintain that one social medium, Twitter, is a total waste of time. But the “microblogging” service that lets you monitor the latest doings and musings of hundreds of people, minute-by-minute, in snippets of 140-characters or less, has become a monster. Current estimates are between 5 and 10 million registered users, with projected growth to 20 million this year. So maybe, just maybe, there are good ways to use it before you develop a crippling addiction.

Trying to cut back on your printing budget with more email publications? Blogger Kivi Miller has sound advice on what print features do not compute online.

Network for Good has created a free e-book for online fundraisers on how to get through the economic doldrums.

I have tried for months to maintain that one social medium, Twitter, is a total waste of time. But the “microblogging” service that lets you monitor the latest doings and musings of hundreds of people, minute-by-minute, in snippets of 140-characters or less, has become a monster. Current estimates are between 5 and 10 million registered users, with projected growth to 20 million this year. So maybe, just maybe, there are good ways to use it before you develop a crippling addiction.

Convio salutes its most innovative clients – most of them nonprofit organizations – each year at an annual conference. Check out the 2008 winners for inspiration in implementing web sites, email campaigns, online advocacy, special events fundraising and other categories.

Cause Communications has developed a Communications Effectiveness Index to identify the habits of highly successful nonprofit communicators. It’s based on survey research across a broad spectrum, and should provoke thought at the very least.

The Knight Foundation offers a step-by-step guide to creating a media plan and crafting good press releases, available free as an online workshop.

Now that the smoke has cleared, dozens of commentaries purport to explain how the election was won and what it means. Here’s my own nomination for most cogent assessment, a post from a Harvard Business blog.

This little nugget in a fund-raising letter from Jewish Funds for Justice took my breath away. The letter was making the case that the organization’s past investments position it to create dramatic change today: “I’ll leave you with one example. “In 1987, a new organizer approached Jewish Fund for Justice. He sought a grant to support his group’s work securing employment and educational opportunities for low-income residents on the Far South Side of Chicago. We made a $5,000 investment in his grassroots organizing work. Twenty-one years later, on November 4th, 2008, that organizer was elected President of the United States.” Not everybody can claim they started a man on the road to the White House, but can you cite your organization’s investments that made a difference for someone?

This little nugget in a fund-raising letter from Jewish Funds for Justice took my breath away. The letter was making the case that the organization’s past investments position it to create dramatic change today: “I’ll leave you with one example. “In 1987, a new organizer approached Jewish Fund for Justice. He sought a grant to support his group’s work securing employment and educational opportunities for low-income residents on the Far South Side of Chicago. We made a $5,000 investment in his grassroots organizing work. Twenty-one years later, on November 4th, 2008, that organizer was elected President of the United States.” Not everybody can claim they started a man on the road to the White House, but can you cite your organization’s investments that made a difference for someone?

Convio salutes its most innovative clients – most of them nonprofit organizations – each year at an annual conference. Check out the 2008 winners for inspiration in implementing web sites, email campaigns, online advocacy, special events fundraising and other categories.

Cause Communications has developed a Communications Effectiveness Index to identify the habits of highly successful nonprofit communicators. It’s based on survey research across a broad spectrum, and should provoke thought at the very least.

The Knight Foundation offers a step-by-step guide to creating a media plan and crafting good press releases, available free as an online workshop.