New from the DMANF Ethics Committee Fundraising Guide for Small Nonprofits€¦ · 07/09/2014 ·...
Transcript of New from the DMANF Ethics Committee Fundraising Guide for Small Nonprofits€¦ · 07/09/2014 ·...
Cover Story 5Letter from the Editor 3
DMANF Policy Scorecard 6
The Undervalued Newsletter 8
Consumer Privacy for Nonprofit Marketers 20
Mobile The Bridge to an Omnichannel Strategy 24
Providing Personalized Fundraising Experiences 28
Special Section The 2012 New York Conference 12
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012
IN THIS ISSUE
OF THE DMA NONPROFIT FEDERATION
New from the DMANF Ethics Committee
Fundraising Guidefor Small Nonprofits
2 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
DMA Nonprofit Federation Advisory Council
Chair
Mr Brian CowartDisabled American Veterans
Vice Chair
Mr Tom HarrisonRuss Reid Company
Staff
DMA Nonprofit Federation1615 L Street NW Suite 1100
Washington DC 20036Phone 2028612427
Fax 2026284383
nonprofitfederationorg
The Journal is published online three timesper year mdash January April and September
Alicia OsgoodManaging Editor
AOsgoodthe-dmaorg
Leslie Oakey Publication Design
leslieoakeycom
NEwS THUrSDAySA bi-weekly round-up of nonprofit-specific news amp information direct to your inbox
Sign up by emailingAOsgoodthe-dmaorg
DMA NoNproFIT FEDErATIoN
DMANF amp AliozDC
MEMbErS oNly
2012 Leadership
Jabneel ldquoJennyrdquo Abreu CMPDirector of Conferences amp Education Programs
Xenia ldquoSennyrdquo Boone Esq Senior Vice President
Alicia OsgoodDirector of Membership amp Communications
Members
Mr Angel AlomaFood For The Poor Inc
Mr Glen A Beasley Arbor Day Foundation
Ms Valerie Beatty American Cancer Society
Ms Jennifer BielatEaster Seals
Ms Mary BoguckiAmergent
Mr Lane BrooksFood amp Water Watch
Mr Ken DawsonEleventy Marketing Group
Mr Nate DrushellInfoCision Management Corp
Mr Steve FroehlichASPCA
Ms Karen GleasonNNE Marketing
Ms Jacqui GrosethUnion Rescue Mission
Ms Kimberly HaywoodMarch of Dimes
Mr Roger Hiyama CDR Fundraising Group
Ms Karin KirchoffMINDset direct
Ms Erika Fry KloehnSave the Children Federation Inc
Ms Gretchen LittlefieldInfogroup
Mr Dennis McCarthyBlackbaud
Ms Shannon McCrackenSpecial Olympics International
Ms Kyla ShawyerOperation Smile
Ms Joan H Smyth DenglerCovenant House
Mr Atul TandonTandon Partners LLC
Ms Kim WalkerMemorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
Ms Kathy WardAmerican Institute for Cancer Research
Ms Trish WilliamsHabitat for Humanity International
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 3
Dear Readers
Save the date The 2013 Washington Nonprofit Conference takes place February 7-8 at the Renaissance Washington DC Downtown Hotel Advance registration is now open For details see Page 7 of this Journal
DMA amp DMANF continue to lead the way in efforts to protect the charitable deduction amp nonprofit postal rate Our success on all fronts is due to an overwhelming response from the
nonprofit dual membership of the DMA amp DMANF on amp off the DMAAction site Thank you amp please keep it up by answering our calls for action via our email member alerts Regardless of what happens with the November elections be ready to answer our calls
Remember that if you received this Journal by way of forward from someone outside your nonprofit or company that your organization or company must have a member-ship (nonprofit organizations) or Corporate Partnership (for-profit agencies amp suppliers) to receive DMA Nonprofit Federation member benefits Visit the membership section of
our website to view pricing amp benefits information
In this edition of the Journal
A special section devoted to the 2012 New York Nonprofit Conference with photos amp Seth ldquoYossirdquo Siegelrsquos informative amp inspirational keynote address
The DMA Nonprofit Federation Ethics Committeersquos Fundraising Ethics Guide for the Small Nonprofit mdash a useful reminder for all nonprofits
Xenia ldquoSennyrdquo Boone Esquirersquos Policy Scorecard
Masterworksrsquo Bob Ball on crafting an Extreme Donor-Focused Newsletter
Epsilonrsquos Bethany Lewis breaks down consumer privacy for nonprofit marketers
The mGive Foundationrsquos Jenifer Snyder Esquire amp Mobile Accordrsquos Cassie Bair on crossing the mobile bridge to an omnichannel approach
Zuri Grouprsquos John Murphy with how getting personal yields big gains
I hope you enjoy this edition of the Journal amp thank you for your continued support of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Warm regards
Managing Editor AOsgoodthe-dmaorg
DMANF membershipnonprofitfederationorgmembership
DMAAAction dmaaactionorg
Letter from the Editor
David Fischer
Matt Annerino John Werner
Britta Schell Elizabeth Francis
Chris Anderson
Special $599 Nonprofit Rate
Use Code NPDM
dma12org
The Global Event forReal-Time Marketers
DMA2012 October 13 ndash 18 2012 Mandalay Bay | Las Vegas
(COME GET YOURS)QUALITY FACE TIME
4 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
1 Be committed to donor satisfaction and responsible environmental community and financial stewardship
2 Clearly honestly and accurately represent our mission Be trans-parent in providing donors information on the use of funds and our leadership team
3 Communicate in a respectful and courteous manner Acknowledge a donorrsquos contributions appropriately and in a timely manner while respecting a donorrsquos right to privacysup1
4 Be accessible via multiple channels (mail email phone and possibly others) and respond to inquiries and complaints in a constructive timely way
5 Maintain appropriate security policies and practices to safeguard donor informationsup2
6 Provide information on our policies about the sharing of personally identifiable information to third-parties for marketing purposes and always honor requests not to have information shared
7 Honor donorsrsquo rights to choose which channels we communicate to them in (direct mail email telemarketing and others) and the frequency of communication
8 When partnering with businesses disclose the percentage or dollar amount of a sale which is a charitable contribution
9 Make a best effort not to solicit to children and abide by parentsrsquo requests to have childrenrsquos names excluded from solicitationssup3
10 Follow the spirit and letter of the law as well as DMArsquos Guidelines for Ethical Business Practice
Fundraising Ethics Guide for the Small NonprofitIn engaging with donors to fulfill our organizationrsquos mission we will
EthICS CoMMIttEE
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 5
NOTES
sup1Read more at irsgovpubirs-pdfp1771pdf or irsgovpubirs-pdfp526pdf
sup2An overview of PCI Security Standards Council definition of PCI compliance pcisecuritystandardsorg security_standardsindexphp
sup3Guidelines for solicitingmarketing to children as outlined by the Childrenrsquos Advertising Review Unit caruorgguidelinesguidelinespdf
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Better Business Bureau Standards for Charitable Accountability
bbborgusstandards-for- charity-accountability
Independent Sector Principles for Good Governance and Ethical Practice (account required to access)
independentsectororgprinciples_guide_summarys=Principles2Guide
Donor Bill of Rights as agreed upon by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP) the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) and the Giving Institute
nonprofitfederationorgsitesdefaultfileswebDonorBillofRightspdf
Standards for Excellence An Ethics and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector Available through this site and others
wvhuborgstandards-excellence-ethics-and-accountability-code-nonprofit-sector
DMA Nonprofit Federation Ethical Guidelines for Fundraising amp Other Nonprofit Communications
nonprofitfederationorgsitesdefaultfilesDMANF20Guidelines20Annot_Cleaned_Feb202012pdf
6 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Xenia ldquoSennyrdquo Boone Esq
Status Nonprofits are successfully preserving the char-itable tax deduction for individuals Donors who itemize their taxes may now write off up to 35 percent of the amount spent on charitable gifts President Obama included a pro-posed limit on the charitable tax deduction in his FY 2011 budget to change the deduction from 35 to 28 for couples making $250000 or on individuals making $200000 stating this would raise $1798 billion over 10 years to help pay for government programs The reduction was part of the plan to help pay for health reform but it did not pass and the Administration again articulated its desire to trim back the deduction during the deficit reduction debate and Super Committee process In January 2012 the Administration took a step back President Obama was clear in his State of the Union address that he will no longer seek a reduction in the amount that high earners may deduct from their taxes for charitable donations However the President also said that those making more than $1 million should be required to pay at least 30 percent of their income in taxes Then in an accompanying document ldquothe Administration will work to ensure that this rule is implemented in a way that is equi-table including not disadvantaging individuals who make large charitable contributionsrdquo While this represents a great step forward deficit reduction proposals are on the table which include changes to the charitable tax deduction One such proposal converts the deduction to a tax credit which would in turn cost the charitable community $108 billion in donations
please help us preserve the charitable tax deduction View our petition at wwwchangeorgpetitionspresident-obama-save-the-charitable-tax-deduction and sign on
DMANF Policy ScorecardThe DMA Nonprofit Federation protects and defends nonprofit fundraising across all marketing channels We preserve the char-itable tax deduction and protect nonprofit postal rates The following is a quick summary of our recent activities on your behalf
Status Nonprofit mailers faced a major rate hike via a reduction in the nonprofit preferred rate discount in Section 403 of HR 2309 a bill by California Rep Darrell Issa Issa chairs the Committee that oversees the USPS The bill stalled as a result of thousands of letters sent by dual DMA amp DMANF members On October 13 2011 the House Oversight and Government Reform (OGR) Committee amended amp passed the Postal Reform Act (HR 2309) out of Committee Section 403 was modi-fied by Chairman Issa based on charitiesrsquo concerns but it is still not supportable The nonprofit rate discount as originally proposed in Section 403 of HR 2309 would have been a 50 percent increase phased in over six years A later Issa version would hold off on a rate increase for 3 years amp then increase nonprofit rates each year by 2 until the nonprofit rate preference is at 80 versus the current law of 60 Issa now says the provision will be removed from the bill entirely mdash good news
we strongly oppose any change to the existing nonprofit rate preference as it does nothing to aid the USpS
To participate in the Federationrsquos grassroots activities email SBoonethe-dmaorg or phone 2028612498
For the latest on issues impacting our sector and the entire marketing space sign up for Direct from Washington by emailing governmentthe-dmaorg
Charitable taxdeduction
Postal legislation and nonprofit mailing rates
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 7
your newsletterdoesnrsquot need to be
the rodney dangerfield
of your fundraising
program
Bob Ball Executive Creative Director Masterworks
8
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 9
Pity the poor newsletterIf there is one component of nonprofit fundraising pro-
grams that is consistently overlooked and undervalued itrsquos the newsletter
Like the late comedian Rodney Dangerfield newsletters ldquodonrsquot get no respectrdquo
All too often the newsletter is just an afterthought Newsletters are not expected to raise a lot of money and all too often they meet those low expectations
Over the years Irsquove seen a lot of different kinds of news-letters from nonprofit organizations Therersquos the No-Ask Newsletter that simply reports accomplishments This type doesnrsquot raise money because it doesnrsquot even try
The No-Ask Newsletter may be of some long-term value by closing the loop with the donor But most of the time this species talks about what the organization has accomplished and how effective it is This information may reinforce pre-vious giving but the No-Ask Newsletter does not motivate immediate new donations
Other newsletters are nothing more than fundraising appeals thinly disguised in newsletter clothing In my expe-rience this type of hard-Ask Newsletter does raise some revenue but in most cases not as effectively as straightfor-ward appeals
Another variety is the institutionally focused Navel-Gazing Newsletter written for insiders
Without the accountability that comes from revenue expectations newsletter strategy becomes fuzzy This leads to one of the worst dangers the loss of audience focus
It is very common for newsletters to attempt to serve many different masters These All-things-to-All-People Newsletters are created for several different audiences in addition to donors For example some organizations use their newsletter to communicate with donors volunteers employees board members and even the general public This desire to be all things to all audiences makes it difficult to effectively focus on any single audience
When the newsletter devolves to this point it usually doesnrsquot make anyone happy and slides into irrelevancy
In recent years my colleagues and I have resolved to do something about this sorry state of the newsletter We started by attacking the problem at the root We decided to reverse the diffused audience focus and create newsletters with an obsessive laser-like focus on donors
The result is the Extreme Donor-Focused Newslet-ter It is aimed squarely at the donor In fact it is all about the donor
This approach assumes donors give because they love to give and love to make a significant difference in the world It combines reporting back about what the donors have accomplished and offers them a clear opportunity to give again
We had considerable inspiration to draw on Back in the 1990s and early 2000s I worked at a feisty little Seattle agency called The Domain Group that preached donor loyalty and started making newsletters raise money In fact in some cases newsletters made more money than appeals
Domain was the subject of an acquisition and is long gone now but that experience lives on today to give hope that newsletters can be better My former Domain col-league Jeff Brooks who writes the blog Future Fundraising Now is a strong advocate for donor focus Long-time fun-draiser and blogger Tom Ahern has also written brilliantly on this topic
The accumulated experience gave me the confidence that it was really possible to build a better newsletter and the inspiration to keep tinkering I wanted to shake off the curse of Rodney Dangerfield once and for all
Then the perfect opportunity to test these theories fell into my lap One of my current clients asked us to test against an internally produced newsletter
This was one of those test situations you dream about Head-to-head A-B panels set up for a statistically valid test and spread over 3 different newsletter mail slots
The internal newsletter was a classic blend of the All-things-to-All-People and the Navel-Gazing News-letters It was aimed at a wide variety of constituents and contained a lot of organizationally focused stories It did ask for donations but not consistently
The results of the test were gratifying with the Extreme Donor-Focused Newsletter showing dramatic improve-ment across the board
419 lift in response 195 lift in average gift 521 lift in revenue
continued
10 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
1 Write to the donor for the donor about the donor This is not objective arms-length journalism This is not the organization talking about itself to organization insiders This is a warm conversation with the donor about the things he or she is most interested in The main point of the newsletter is to share what the donorrsquos giving has done Itrsquos all about him or her
2 Ensure a high ldquoyourdquo quotient The copy is written directly to the donor using the second person singular The most frequent word in the copy and headlines should be ldquoyourdquo Take the time to count the number of times you use ldquoyourdquo and ldquoyourrdquo If you donrsquot have enough rewrite the copy to make sure you have not lost your donor focus
3 touch the heart with strong emotion The newsletter needs to stir the donorrsquos heart Make the donor feel something Tell stories of amazing accomplishment that the donorrsquos generosity helped make possible Use vivid language with strong active verbs and concrete nouns Dramatic emotional photos are worth their weight in gold As Ahern says ldquoA newsletter might be more welcome than an appeal It can bring joy It can bring fun It can take the reader on a journeyrdquo
4 Surprise and delight This is a ldquonewsletterrdquo so it needs to have something new in it Tell the donor something fascinating that he or she does not already know The initial reaction of the donor upon first glance should be a big smile because his or her giving has made something wonderful happen One of the pitfalls of newsletter publishing is falling into a rut One of my favorite fun-draising aphorisms is ldquoYou canrsquot bore anybody into givingrdquo But millions of really boring newsletters are mailed each year Irsquove often seen a great jump in performance of a newsletter immediately after it is given an overhaul and a fresh design But within just a few months performance tends to slip and fall back to the previously level Keeping the newsletter fresh does not mean that you must start from scratch each month Establishing a basic design template for your newsletter is mandatory This not only helps with efficiency but also maintains brand consistency But we also demand that every newsletter be fresh and delightful You can keep it fresh with fresh content Great photos help But you can also mix up the look through the use of color Make sure your brand has a full palette of secondary colors and use them
We followed some simple principles as we created those winning newsletters You can put them into practice with your own designs
TEN prINCIpAlS To CrEATE yoUr owN
extreme donor-focused newsletter
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 11
Bob Ball is the Executive Creative Director of Masterworks He has been trying not to bore donors since 1993
5 Appreciate the donor One of the major themes of the newsletter needs to be how important the donor is ldquoLook at what you have accomplished With your help we can do all this Without your help we will not be able to do itrdquo Look for ways to use the words ldquoThank yourdquo over and over again Itrsquos almost impossible to over-thank donors (And remember this is not merely a report back about what the organization was able to accomplish This is all about what the donor has accomplished through their generosity Whenever you have the opportunity to influence the gathering of photo resource have beneficiaries hold up signs that say ldquoThank Yourdquo That is the most powerful and direct way to close the loop between the donor and the people who are actually being helped
6 Design for readability Remove all unnecessary barriers to readability and com-prehension Use a large readable serif font for body copy Readability studies have shown that serif fonts are superior to sans serif fonts for body copy on the printed page A lot of designers love sans serif fonts because of their clean look and because they are trendy but this is not a matter of taste If you want your body copy to be read and comprehended use a nice serif font All body copy should pass the ldquodollar billrdquo test (You should not be able to lay a dollar bill on any expanse of body copy without touching a headline photo or subhead) No large blocks of reversed out type No busy backgrounds behind copy Make the layout ldquoscannablerdquo with large photos headlines subheads and pull-quotes
7 Motivate another gift Donors love to give and you should not be ashamed to ask them to give again While most of the newsletter space is devoted to thanks and apprecia-tion the newsletter needs to give the donor a way to repeat their charitable behavior This means making a clearly stated offer that donors have supported in the past
8 Make it convenient to give The newsletter should include a response device and a return envelope If online giving is possible the URL for the giving page should be clearly presented in case that is the donorrsquos preferred giving channel
9 Appeal to the most basic donor benefit Giving is joyful I canrsquot emphasize the importance of this simple fact Donors mdash real donors mdash love to give Your faithful loyal donors are the people who give over and over again and keep giving They are not stingy grouches who must be cajoled and manipulated into reluctantly parting with their money No Real donors have discovered the secret of true happiness and all they need is the assurance that their giving is appreciated and effective This key message should be explicitly stated ldquoNothing feels better than when you help When you give to accomplish XYZ you know the joy of making a significant differ-ence in the worldrdquo
10 Refresh and re-engage Nothing about the newsletter should be a chore for the reader The whole publication is a joyful celebration of what the donor has made possible By the time he or she is finished reading the newsletter he or she should be energized and eager to do more
If you follow these 10 principles you will have your own Extreme Donor-Focused Newslet-ter and your fundraising program should enjoy increased revenue and donor retention And whatrsquos more your newsletter will finally get the respect it deserves n
12 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Grand Hyatt New York
Conference attendees
mixed mingled amp noshed
on delicious appetizers
at Butterfield 8
2012 New York Nonprofit Conference
July 25ndash26 2012Grand Hyatt New York
New York NY
Grand Hyatt New York
Conference attendees
mixed mingled amp noshed
on delicious appetizers
at Butterfield 8
(Left to right)
DMA Nonprofit Federation Advisory Council Chair
Brian Cowart of Disabled American Veterans (DAV)
2012 New York Nonprofit Conference Keynote
Speaker Seth ldquoYossirdquo Siegel of Sixpoint Partners
DMA Nonprofit Federation Advisory Council Vice
Chair tom harrison of Russ Reid Company
The Nature Conservancyrsquos Chief Marketing Officer Geof Rochester
amp Director of Membership Fundraising Begontildea Vaacutezquez-Santos
with TNCrsquos Nonprofit Organization of the Year award
Congratulations to The Nature Conservancy
13
14 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Thank you Tom Har-rison for such a lovely introduction The philos-opher who said that there is no praise higher than to be esteemed by those you esteem perfectly captures my reaction I appreci-ate your idea of inviting me mdash someone from outside your industry mdash to speak before your group But it is you Tom and several of your colleagues at Russ Reid who have largely taught me what I know about this industry
It is truly a special plea-sure being with all of you here today and the size of the audience notwithstand-ing getting to meet with you
To some extent I feel like I know many of you in this room To be sure many of you already know me mdash and even more of you knew my father My being here today allows me to close the circle and reciprocate many years of your outreach to me and my father Let me explain
My wife and I have been married for 32 years When we got married we didnrsquot have a lot more than the wedding gifts we had received but from our first days together we shared an interest in learning about charities that could use our support and we often would send in small donations in response to this mailing or that Soon thereafter mdash and this will surprise exactly no one in this room mdash we began getting mailings from more charities and we had the
opportunity to learn about yet more worthy organiza-tions As time interest and available cash allowed we would donate to yet others Then along the way as my business grew we stepped out of the direct mail uni-verse and got involved with a more manageable number of causes as volunteers and a somewhat larger number as donors but directly and in amounts more likely to be the fruit of a call or a meeting or a solicitation over a meal or in our home We still get some mail solicita-tions Some of it is likely the distant tail from donations made long ago and a bit of it may be thanks to gifts made in support of some of our friendsrsquo childrenrsquos walk-a-thon participations or similar creative requests for funds But in the main our mail box no longer has the volume of requests for support that it once did
In my opening remarks I made mention of my father Now if my wife and I have received mail from some of you I can go out on a limb and say that my father got mail from nearly all of you Before I share my fatherrsquos direct mail experience Id like to tell you a bit about him
My father mdash Benjamin Siegel in case you are check-ing to see if his name is in your database mdash was born to immigrant parents here in Manhattan Despite his American birth he spoke
Seth ldquoYossirdquo Siegel
2012 New York Nonprofit Conference
KeynoteAddress
July 25 2012
vvv
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 15
no English until he started kindergarten His child-hood can only be described as hard and deprived with his parents being members of the working poor their entire lives Yet despite their poverty he recalled a blue-and-white tin charity box in his kitchen into which his mother would put a few coins every week late on Friday afternoon before the start of the Jewish Sabbath His parents werenrsquot reli-giously observant but his mother would make a char-itable donation of some kind every week for even poorer Jews living in what is now Israel
I would have to describe my father as angry a lot of the time And Id also have to say that it would be hard to find someone more cynical about institutions and whole professions than my father He thought all doctors were to use his word quacks He thought all lawyers were again to use his word shy-sters He loathed politicians He was dubious about the esteem given to Jewish clergy and I cant believe he had any special regard for the clergy of any other faith He was part of the Greatest Generation and talked his way into World War II after he was rejected on medical grounds and spent most of the war in Europe including landing on Omaha Beach on D-Day Plus 1 And even so he was often dismissive of the thought and planning
of our own military leaders especially what he thought of as the cavalier misuse of troops
Despite his being a one-man protest machine he utterly hated protest move-ments and anything that smacked of them I could go on but I think you get the picture This was a man of complete cynicism seem-ingly trusting no one He made a hard honest living and lived a life with no frills and few vacations Meals out in restaurants were a very special event By any stan-dard by which we measure comfort or luxury my father and mother had few check marks in that imaginary list
But family history aside there was a reason Ive just told you all of this
After my father died in 2004 some many years after my mother and stepmother had both passed away it fell to me to go through his effects and to pack up his things I donrsquot know how many of you here have ever had that task It is a melan-choly one with many small items serving to remind you of moments in the rela-tionship In addition it can be a startling one learning things about your deceased parent and achingly wishing you could have them back for even a few moments to explain what something meant or to ask why they had never told you about some just discovered element of their lives
For me the startling element I discovered was how my father mdash the utter cynic mdash was mdash within his means mdash a philanthropist and donor of a scope that is still remarkable to me You see when I opened the bottom drawer of his dresser the entire drawer was filled with note pads and boxes of seasonal cards from dozens and dozens of charities My first thought standing in his empty bedroom was ldquoTo whom was he planning on writing so many notesrdquo When I opened the next drawer it was filled with per-sonalized mailing labels from dozens of charities mdash possi-bly the same charities I donrsquot know but possibly not mdash but I knew that if he ever got around to sending out all of those notes and cards he would never have to write his return address on any of those envelopes As I con-tinued the packing up in his bedroom kitchen closets and elsewhere I found other institutional gifts from other charities like tote bags mugs umbrellas and so on almost all of them still in their orig-inal packaging
When I cleaned out his small desk I found his checkbook and sat at his desk to go through his check register and other check reg-isters going back years and years There were payments made to credit card compa-nies and utilities and taxes but overwhelmingly the checks were made payable
to one charity after another The amounts mdash as you pro-fessionals would guess from the pads and the pre-printed mailing labels mdash were all small Most of them were for ten dollars some for twenty-five and in a nod to the Jewish mystical belief in the specialness of numbers that are multiples of eigh-teen he had written plenty of checks to Jewish organiza-tions and causes for eighteen and thirty-six dollars
Also remarkable was the range of organizations to which he donated As I mentioned he gave to a broad array of Jewish and pro-Israel organizations but he also gave to commu-nity groups environmental groups hunger organiza-tions veterans groups and health-related organizations including hospitals hospices and disease-focused causes He even gave to animal shelter organizations mdash and he had never had a pet of his own
So how could it be that this most utterly cynical man a man who watched his pennies his whole life could have been a small-scale Roth-schild and Rockefeller in the range and expansiveness of his giving Of course wersquoll never know for sure but in trying to develop an answer to this there are lessons for those of us in this room who care about the not-for-profit world whether profession-ally as communal activists or as donors
continued
16 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
The first two possibili-ties that come to mind that Id like to quickly dismiss are that my father liked the idea that he could get something of value for what may have seemed for free It is possible but my father was a very prac-tical man and at some point he must have realized that well into his 80s he had such an ample supply of holiday cards and return address labels that he would never be able to use up the inventory The other thought was that he simply liked getting mail and he knew how the system worked Send in a check and the one envelope becomes two or three or ten Send in one hundred checks and he had his weekends filled reading through all of the mail he had received during the past week That is possi-ble but my father also died with a significant backlog of unread magazines so Im going to rule that out too
The explanation Ive come up with is that my father may have been a cynic but that he wanted to believe He may have thought most every institution and public figure not worthy of being trusted but he may still have yearned to be able to trust that some others out there cared deeply about society and elements of it and that he wanted to be part of the efforts to make the world a proverbially better place He despised a lot of things gen-erally but seemed to like a lot of things specifically
And from that insight I think there is some very good news for many of you here today I know from Tom Harrison that you are all worried about the crummy economy that shows no sign of quickly returning to robust times And Tom has also shared with me a worry about the viability of the US Postal Service and its ability to offer reduced mailing rates for the fore-seeable future And Tom has also told me that my fatherrsquos generation is dying off and not being quickly replaced by a new demographic cohort that reads mail and sends in money Plus there are environmental ques-tions about harvesting trees for the mailings and some compelling proof that people respond less well to email solicitations than they did to requests delivered via their mail boxes But aside from all of those structural impediments my fatherrsquos behavior offers some very special opportunities for those charities and organi-zations able to reach out and speak personally to the next waves of donors
If my father was a skepti-cal cynical guy in the Ozzie and Harriet 1950s and 60s he was a full generation ahead of where people are today and Id like to take a minute or two to explain what I mean
People today are fright-ened angry cynical even often despairing The
overwhelming feeling is that few institutions are working well Our political system just isnrsquot garnering wide-spread support and in these unsettling times people want leaders and insti-tutions that can fix their problems No matter who wins the presidential elec-tion in November there is little widespread belief we will come together as a society to fix our problems It may happen but people donrsquot believe it And the poll numbers reflect this Pres-ident Obama mdash who came into office on a promise of hope and change and of transformation of our political culture and which initially yielded him an approval rating of 67 mdash has had an approval rating that has been below 50 since November 2009 and is now at 47 If the president has problems in garnering the publicrsquos trust that he can solve their problems Con-gress as an institution is doing far far worse with an approval rating of 23 The US Supreme Court enjoys an approval rating of only 35 These numbers for the president and for the legisla-tive and judicial branches of government actually under-state the problem The poll number of those who call themselves ldquofrustrated or angry with the federal gov-ernmentrdquo comes in at a frightening 79 President Obama may win re-elec-tion but it likely wont be a
unifying election We have a divided government at a polarized partisan moment of utterly different and con-tradictory views of how to solve the problems at hand Given the enormity of the problems mdash from the economy to the deficit to the debt to Iranrsquos nuclear program to the rise of radical Islamism to the rise of China and its likelihood to be a destabilizing force and many many more prob-lems mdash the likelihood our country will be dispirited and detached from politics is larger than it is smaller
Staying with our politi-cal system for just another moment we have another problem Because people are angry and have a near con-stant ldquothrow the bums outrdquo feeling about our elected offi-cials we are going through a period of uncommon insta-bility in our government institutions
Most people believe that incumbents come to office and tend to leave only when they die But it just isnrsquot true Whether because of the Tea Party or because of burn-out by elected officials the level of turnover in Washington is a big and growing problem In just the past five Congres-sional elections which is to say in the past ten years a remarkable 54 of the US Senate has been replaced If that number seems impos-sibly high for institutional stability in the House of Representatives the turnover
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 17
in that same period has been 68 Due to announced retirements and defeats in primaries we already know that in the coming Senate and House to be sworn in next January no fewer than 11 current Senators and 60 current Congressmen and Congresswomen will not be returning mdash and that assumes not a single incum-bent will lose in a single race in the remaining pri-maries and the General Election That means at least a 65 turnover in the US Senate and a more than 80 turnover in the House of Representatives in a mere 12-year period Think of your own organizations and what a turnover of that mag-nitude would mean to your ability to do your institu-tional job let alone having to grapple with many of the enormous challenges I mentioned a moment ago and many others I did not mention Thus the roiling public environment is more likely to stay roiled for some time to come than it is likely to return to some idealized period of harmony
Not to belabor the point but to also make sure that we understand that the problem of popular unease is broader than belief in our national government let me share just a few poll numbers to demonstrate my point Our confidence in hospitals and our doctors is now at 41 which is bad enough but HMOs are at 19 Public
schools have the confidence of only 29 of the people in our country Newspapers taken together have the con-fidence of just 25 of the American people But falling even lower than newspapers TV news comes in at 21 And labor unions banks and major corporations are all tied with the confidence of just one in five Ameri-cans at around 20 Even organized religion falls below the 50 mark at 44
Indeed the only three institutions regularly polled about by Gallup to be above the 50 mark are our police departments at 56 small business at 63 and our fighting men and women in the US military at 75 And finally in what many people believe is the most important general view of how people feel the Right Track Wrong Track poll Rasmussen reports 30 of Americans think our country is on the right track
and 64 believe our country is on the wrong track
In case you werenrsquot a statistics major in college let me boil all of these poll results down to just this one short statement and it is this My father was ahead of his time Just as my father didnrsquot trust or like just about any institution the American people now donrsquot much trust or like any institution with
the exception of police military and
small busi-ness In
nearly every other
case the institu-tion Ive mentioned is at or
near an all-time low since these Gallup Institutional Confidence polls began being conducted in 1973
But I think there is a second key learning from all of this bad news that is actu-ally very good news for some of you but definitely not all of you and that is this Just as my father had very low confidence in government and other mass institutions yet managed to turn himself
into a check-writing ma-chine for many many not-for-profits so too can your organization or your clients The not-so-profound insight is that even the most angry frustrated cynical skeptical misanthrope wants to believe It was true of mis-anthropes when Moliere wrote a play by that name in the 1660s It was true of my father And Id bet a dona-tion to any of your causes that it is true today even with a Right Track Wrong Track poll that has double the number of Wrong Trackers over Right Trackers People want to believe People want to love People know they wont live for forever and people want to see the world better both today in their lifetimes and tomor-row when it is their legacy This is true for mega donors who will be honored at fancy dinners in hotel ballrooms like this and for ten dollar donors who look forward to the return address labels you all will send to them
So with the crummy economy the dicey state of the Postal Service the demo-graphic hump working against low-dollar donors and all of the other problems direct marketers face my money is on the significant success of some of the orga-nizations that are here today Of course the structural challenges make it harder but is it harder today than it was in my grandmotherrsquos
vvvThe not-so-profound insight is that even
the most angry frustrated cynical skeptical
misanthrope wants to believehellipPeople know they
wont live for forever and people want to see the
world better both today in their lifetimes and
tomorrow when it is their legacy
vvv
continued
18 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
walk-up tenement apart-ment in which every Friday afternoon she found a way to donate to people she knew she would never meet who were living in a place she knew she would never see She believed in the enterprise afoot in what is today Israel a place on the other side of the world and she trusted that the coins in her little blue-and-white tin box would be used wisely and honorably All the same must have been true about my father and the many causes to which he wrote those checks And the same is true of millions and millions of people waiting to be touched and to form a connection with a cause larger than themselves a cause they can make their own in a way best thought of as an I-Thou relationship
For those of you unfa-miliar with the phrase I and Thou let me start by telling you it is a concept that changed my life It was coined by the philoso-pher and theologian Martin Buber Despite his being a theologian it is a concept that isnt inherently reli-gious even if it works well in every faith tradition and also works well in a purely secular context It works well for couples who have long been together and remark-ably it works well when soliciting gifts from near-strangers It is an approach to living a happy satisfying life So with that build up let
me tell you about I and Thou and about Martin Buber
Buber was born in Austria but moved to Germany in his teens to pursue his education In the 1920s he wrote his most famous work ldquoI and Thourdquo which although somewhat obscure today helped to establish his reputation as a leading German thinker of his time When the Nazis came to power in 1933 as a Jew he was prohibited from teaching at the uni-versity where he had been a professor and in 1938 just ahead of the start of the mass murder of 90 of Euro-pean Jewry Buber made his way to the British Mandate where he became a professor in Jerusalem When the State of Israel came into being in 1948 Buber was an esteemed philosopher revered by the young nation It is hard to imagine a philosopher having this kind of fame and impact but when he died in 1965 it was the lead news story of the day in Israel and a major story in The New York Times and other world newspapers
According to Buber there are two kinds of rela-tionships I-Thou and I-It The idea underpinning these concepts is best explained by examples as every single person in this room has experienced I-Thou and I-It relationships In an I-Thou relationship we are as one Your destiny is my destiny
even if only for a moment In the I-It relationship the parties are in a transac-tion I have turned the other party into an object to help me to achieve something that I want Indeed we all have I-Thou relationships and I-It relationships all the time mdash and we often have these disparate relationships within moments of each other and often with the very same person If this room were smaller and more inti-mate I could randomly call on anyone and have you give examples of I-Thou and I-It relationships in your own life But Ill use my own life as an example
I love my wife very much I am happy to come home at the end of the workday and to hear about her day and what is new and for her to hear about my day That is an I-Thou moment But while sitting with her my stomach starts to growl I become distracted Im not think-ing about her but about the dinner I know she has prepared Im hungry and want to eat She becomes an object a means to an end an I-It Wersquove all had that expe-rience or one like it
But just because Im getting something I want from her mdash or from anyone mdash doesnrsquot mean it has to be an I-It moment In that exact same scenario it could just as well have been an I-Thou moment by a change in my behavior even
with the same outcome that dinner will be served and my hunger abated Instead of single-mindedly think-ing about food in its place I could have interrupted the conversation to tell her that Im hungry I could have offered to set the table while we keep talking And most importantly I could keep reminding myself that she has spent time and trouble thinking about dinner and preparing it and that I have no entitlement to her having done this and how fortunate I am that she has If I do all of that it is more likely we will have an I-Thou relationship that evening than a transac-tional I-It one
Even with people we love I-Thoursquos and I-Itrsquos flit back and forth across some imaginary spectrum with engagement and other-directedness on one side and selfishness and self-direct-edness on the other We all have instincts for both sides of that spectrum and the challenge is to take the harder path the path where we direct the moment away from ourselves and our selfish wants and needs to that of the person present before us and our shared experience
As I indicated earlier this isnrsquot just true of deep long-lasting relationships It can be true of the waiter who serves you dinner the bellman who helps you with your bags even with a
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 19
passing stranger on a line to get into somewhere Every encounter has the oppor-tunity to be an I-Thou or an I-It and the challenge is for each of us to constantly remind ourselves of the humanity of the person with whom we engage
I and Thou isnrsquot just for people It is also true of believing peoplersquos relation-ship with God and also true of organizations and how they relate to people In my experience Ive found it even true of inanimate objects even if that may take it beyond Buberrsquos own con-ception So how do Martin Buber and his I and Thou relate to you all as direct mar-keters and as fundraisers for your worthy organizations
Everyone knows when they are in an I and Thou moment You feel the link and the joy that comes from the link But people also know when they are being used as a means to an end
when they are the ldquoItrdquo in an I-It relationship People may give you what you want when they are in an I-It rela-tionship with you and you may give your counter-party what they seek too but we all know that feeling of sadness or emptiness within when someone you are with mdash a co-worker a boss a spouse a child even a clerk on the phone at a call center mdash treats you as an object to get some-thing achieved and not as an opportunity to feel your humanity and for you to feel theirs even if for a fleeting moment
And the same Ill say is true about the relationship between a potential donor and your organization Those organizations that stand for somethinghellip Those organizations that donrsquot treat their donors as objects like walking checkbookshellip Those organizations that take the time to engage with their prospects Indeed
those organizations that donrsquot even necessarily start by asking for something it is those organizations who I believe will find a wide universe of people eager to believe and eager to be part of the organizationrsquos mission An I-Thou relation-ship doesnrsquot mean we never ask the other party for some-thing It is about how and when we ask Just as we will have a different outcome with our spouses children and co-workers when we are building off of an I-Thou relationship rather than an I-It so too will we have a different outcome when we approach our donors as part-ners as people we care about exactly as much whether they donate or not It is from that soulful relationship that donors will want to support one organization over an-other and one cause over another no matter how angry or frustrated or cynical they are about the larger world
around them That is how I believe the next genera-tion of donors will come to support many but not all of our organizations
When my father died I had the Postal Service forward his mail to my home address In the nearly eight years since his passing Ive received hundreds of mail-ings maybe more I often open the solicitations to try to get a feel for the kinds of causes and organizations my father would have been spending his time learning about and possibly support-ing So while some recipients of your mailings may think of your output as junk mail I couldnrsquot be more apprecia-tive Each envelope serves to remind me that the cynical side of my father was only a side and that when properly touched even a hard man could respond
Thank you all very much for your attention n
copy 2012 Seth M Siegel Reproduction with authorrsquos consent only All rights reserved
Looking for an agency or supplier to help your organization reachnew heights
Access the DMANFrsquos Directory of Service providers
nonprofitfederationorgcorporate-partnerssearch
20 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Nonprofit organizations face unique marketing chal-lenges Theyrsquore tasked with identifying and reaching the right people at the right time and through
the appropriate channels as well as balancing message appeals with monetary requests all while conveying their mission and cause The rapid expansion of the internet social networking and mobile have placed yet another demand front-and-center for nonprofit organizations mdash con-sumer privacy
Consumers are justly concerned about divulging their personal information They want to know where why and how their information will be used Many are unaware that their personal information is collected in a variety of ways and by a variety of sources both online and offline Common but often misunderstood data practices include third-party ad servers setting cookies retail stores matching names and addresses with phone numbers and marketers sharing customer lists
In todayrsquos complex marketplace how can nonprofit organizations demonstrate to their supporters donors and prospects that they share their concerns and are commit-ted to protecting their privacy The first and most important step is to create a clear privacy policy and communicate it effectively
the Privacy PolicyIf your organization collects uses and or stores personal donor information a privacy policy is critical You must display your privacy policy on your website and strictly abide by it
Privacy policies are structured around Notice and Choice principles They should provide supporters with notice of
how their data is collected used and shared as well as their choices to limit or prevent such practices Your privacy policy should also include information to maintain trans-parency and that clearly describes your organizationrsquos data security practices
Key points every privacy policy should address include
The types of personal information your organization collects This may include name address telephone number email address and credit card or other payment information
How information is secured
How personal information is used and with whom it is shared
How supporters can control the use of their data
How the privacy policy is updated and the effective date of the policy
Letrsquos take a more detailed look at the elements of a privacy policy from a nonprofit organizationrsquos perspective
Collecting personal InformationAs mentioned personal information may include data ele-ments such as name address telephone number email address and payment information It can also include more sensitive information such as gender race religious or politi-cal beliefs health information or other characteristics
The types of personal information collected and the length of retention may be used to enhance your marketing
Consumer PrivacyA Guide for Nonprofit Marketers
Bethany Lewis Privacy Analyst Epsilon
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 21
objectives by creating detailed profiles of supporters but what if that dataprofile was accessed without appropriate permis-sions or used by other organizations for purposes beyond the original intent Inappropriate generalizations might be made about supporters regardless of who has the data and the risk for reputational and other damage increases if that type of data is compromised
For example if a supporter donates to an organization that supports research of a genetic disorder should they be identified as a patient of or at risk for that same disorder Perhaps theyrsquore simply a caretaker for someone suffer-ing from that disorder Similarly if a supporter donates to a religious-based organization could assumptions around political leanings be attributed to them
Protecting information about charitable contributions is critical as is informing supporters how that information will be used which brings us to data security and the sharing of personal information
protecting personal InformationToday every organization is vulnerable when it comes to data security Protecting the personal information of supporters is essential The first line of protection is collecting only the necessary data
While creating supporter profiles evaluate the risks of storing ldquounnecessaryrdquo data especially if an incident exposes the data Set internal policies for how long each category of data collected will be retained and be diligent in deletingdestroying data in a safe and thorough manner based on those policies
Whenever possible encrypt personal data maintained electronically and enhance security on laptops and mobile devices from which supporter data is accessed
Sharing personal InformationBe very clear in your privacy policy when providing infor-mation on the types of third-parties with whom your organization shares data If you share information with third-party service providers disclose this fact and provide a categorized list of these organizations Such organizations may include credit card processors shipping vendors mar-keting analysts or consultants and fulfillment houses
If you share information with other nonprofit organi-zations disclose these practices Also disclose if you share information with marketing cooperatives whose databases are not exclusively nonprofit
Protecting
information
about
charitable
contributions
is critical
continued
22 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
providing ChoiceStudies have shown that modern consumers are more com-fortable sharing personal information with organizations that are clear and upfront about how their information is used and with whom it is shared In fact most people respond positively to organizations who transparently disclose data sharing practices and provide a clear and convenient oppor-tunity to opt-out While a small percentage of individuals will choose to opt-out of data sharing very few supporters will opt-out of all contact with an organization Therefore providing an opportunity to opt-out of sharing data for mar-keting purposes as well as an opt-out for receiving further requests from your organization will aid in retaining your most loyal supporters
Updating the privacy policyClearly state the effective date of your current privacy policy and update it when you make any material changes If you do make material changes to your privacy policy with ret-roactive application to the data you already have stored you may need to obtain express consent from individuals to use their information for new or different purposes Some organizations choose to list what changes were made in a summary history which may be helpful to a supporter reviewing the policy
Pulling It All togetherYour privacy policy should be easy to find read understand and act upon (ie opt-out or modify preferences) It should also be present in each commercial solicitation where per-sonal information is collected regardless of whether that is through postal mailings or on your website
Additional information regarding Notice Choice Trans-parency and other important privacy principles can be found on the DMA website in the Commitment to Consumer Choice and the DMA Guidelines for Ethical Business Practice
At Epsilon we use the following checklist when evaluating a privacy policy
The website has a privacy policy
There is a link to the privacy policy from the websitersquos home page and the link contains the word ldquoprivacyrdquo
The privacy policy states that the organization shares consumer data and personal information (including name address email address and transaction informa-tion) with third-party service providers
The privacy policy states that the organization shares consumer data and personal information with other marketers for their own marketing purposes
The privacy policy provides consumers the chance to opt-out of having their information shared with other marketers
The privacy policy has an ldquoeffectiverdquo date
As mentioned in situations where data is shared with other organizations and marketers transparency is the key Below is sample disclosure language
The personally identifiable information that you provide to us
(such as your name address and email address) and information
about your contribution may be combined with other non-person-
ally identifiable information (such as demographic information and
past contribution history) available from our records and other
sources This information will be used to make our future market-
ing efforts more efficient and relevant This information may also
be shared with our third-party service providers that assist us
with our marketing efforts and with other marketers whose prod-
ucts or services we feel may be of interest to you If you prefer
that we do not share your name and address with other market-
ers please email us at optoutyourorganizationorg
Beyond the Privacy PolicyIn addition to having a robust privacy policy written in concise language and that is easily accessible here are a few other best practices to secure the privacy of your sup-portersrsquo information
Ensure agreements with third-parties who may have access to supportersrsquo personal information adequately address privacy and data security
Suppress personal information in your database when a supporter requests it and do so within a reasonable timeframe
If you must store sensitive information such as credit card or social security numbers as part of your data-base encrypt this information
Train employees and volunteers regularly on the importance of maintaining privacy and security
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 23
Nonprofit Careers e-Bulletin
Your Multi-ChannelRecruiting Tool
Become familiar with data breach notification require-ments and have a response plan and team in place Should you experience a breach disclose to all appro-priate and necessary parties
Monitor the use of your data and address any enti-ties when you become aware that data is being used in a way that violates the law contractual requirements andor the DMArsquos Ethical Guidelines
Respecting and promoting consumer privacy requires a commitment to maintaining balance between the legitimate business needs of your organization and the concerns of individuals about fair information practices Start by taking a look at your current privacy policy Assure its accuracy and adhere to its strategy n
Bethany Lewis As a Privacy Analyst Bethany Lewis supports and educates associates and clients on privacy compliance matters She brings an extensive background in regulatory compliance corporate ethics education and training to her work at Epsilon
ldquoThe recruitment Tool for the Nonprofit Communityrdquo is your source for top flight exposure to top flight candidates and the best A b amp C-level career opportunities out there
Distributed every Tuesday 8 am ET via raquo Email raquo post at wwwnonprofitfederationorg raquo Facebook mdash DMA Nonprofit Federation raquo Twitter mdash DMANF and AliozDC
To view ad submission requirements visit the ldquoFind a Jobrdquo area of the DMA Nonprofit Federation homepage wwwnonprofitfederationorg and click on ldquoHow to postrdquo Ads must be emailed to Aosgoodthe-dmaorg please make sure any ad you submit meets our specifications
Is your nonprofit organization already a dual member of the DMA and DMANF If the answer is lsquoyesrsquo itrsquos FrEE mdash so why not post
Join the over 8000 professionals who already subscribe
Sign up today nonprofitfederationorgpublications careers-e-bulletinsubscribe
DMA Guidelines for Ethical Business Practice
dmaresponsibilityorgGuidelines
24 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Each week I see non-profit organizations walking away from
mobile thinking that com-municating and fundraising with their constituents through the single most used electronic device in history is optional Con-versely we see more and more retailers embracing mobile and the omnichan-nel marketing model because the results are tre-mendous We at mGive think nonprofits benefit when they embrace similar tools and methodologies
What is an omnichan-nel approach and why is it important to non-profit organizations An omnichannel approach is an integrated marketing strat-egy that creates a seamless experience for the donor
It is a customer-centric approach that elevates your supporter loyalty strategies by leveraging cross-channel opportunities For example when a donor drops off goods at their local Epilepsy Foundation they receive a paper receipt to complete Normally once they leave your location you lose any hope of communicating with them again Imagine if when the donor dropped off their goods you offered to send the donor an email version of their receipt You now have a way to engage the supporter through email Now suppose your email receipt offered a web link that drove them to a form to opt-in to your mobile community in order to receive updates via text
Once they opt-in you then have a way to send updates volunteer requests dona-tion reminders and more You may also leverage the fact they are on the mobile phone and send text mes-sages asking supporters to post a photo to Facebook making a donation Having this omnichannel strat-egy in place is especially critical at the end of year because it is an opportune time for organizations to increase membership and raise dollars
So how does an organization create an omnichannel approach that leverages direct mail email online social media live events and mobile to achieve their goals It may be difficult for some orga-nizations to make the
operational shift to an omnichannel model but that doesnrsquot mean you can afford to ignore it Not sure you can get all the steps in place by the time you launch your end of year activities Mobile is the bridge that can help to start that process In fact more and more organizations are relying on their mobile strategy to bridge the gap and engage supporters in this multi-screen world because mobile is the ldquogreat centralizerrdquo of activities ndash where else can you make calls browse the web check email respond to text mes-sages post to social media and more in a truly porta-ble fashion
Before we move on to the tactics that an organiza-tion can take to incorporate
Mobile
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 25
mobile into their existing multi-channel strategies we must tackle one issue If your organization has tried mobile or an omnichan-nel approach in the past and were disappointed or frustrated with your expe-rience try again You were one of the pioneering orga-nizations that comprise the early adopters of those models Lessons learned over the past few years have evolved into success-ful best practices mdash and you get the opportunity to benefit from them As we like to say in honor of the wise Master Yoda ldquoTry not Do or do not There is no tryrdquo We guarantee if imple-mented correctly using mobile in an omnichannel approach can work for your organization
1 Communicate and Integrate mdash Walk Across the Mobile Bridge
Many organizations that I work with have voiced cross-departmental integra-tion as a challenge That is understandable because tra-ditionally departments or channels have been siloed from one another But this disenfranchised model does not result in the seam-less experience that donors are coming to expect In order for a donor experi-ence to be seamless direct mail must complement the organizationrsquos website the organizationrsquos website must complement the mobile campaign social media must complement direct mail and so forth and so on When used together
the communication chan-nels can result in more effective campaigns and bigger numbers
When an organization decides to develop a mobile strategy generally it is one department within that organization that is initially interested That department is a hero because they have just launched a toolset that can be used throughout the organization If you have a mobile program in place for fundraising itrsquos time to talk with your program services department mem-bership team and corporate partner folks and get them in the loop so that you can maximize the omnichannel approach Mobile can be a great catalyst for initiating conversation and guiding organizational integration
Mobile is also a great way to increase the effec-tiveness of existing channels By integrating your direct mail newslet-ter social media online and mobile efforts you can increase response and open rates We have found that if you send a text message to your membership remind-ing them to check their email inboxes you can increase email open rates by 10 or more Addition-ally if you include a mobile number field on your email and paper member-ship forms you can quickly build a mobile community that can turn into repeat donors Once again the most important element besides the actual cross
the Bridge to an omnichannel Approach in time for Year-End Campaigns
continued
Jenifer Snyder Esq Executive Director The mGive Foundation and Cassie Bair Vice President of Marketing Mobile Accord
26 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
channel promotion goes back to this concept of the omnichannel Make the message consistent across all channels They donrsquot have to be identical but they should complement each other and work to create an echo effect
Just about every one of your donors will experience your organization through their mobile device at some point mdash so make sure your message is clear consistent convenient and actionable through mobile in some capacity
2 test Review Adjust Implement Review Adjust mdash and Repeat
Once you have an inte-grated strategy in place itrsquos time to implement Whether the goal is to acquire new donors reactivate lapsed donors and drive donations from existing donors mdash or all three mdash test your cam-paign Take time to review the results and adjust accordingly Then imple-ment full scale confident you are on the right path Regularly review your results adjust your activities and repeat as needed
In preparation for end of year activities take the time in the Fall to tweak your marketing engine for optimal performance Do some zero based plan-ning and try to approach
the supporter experience as if you are the supporter Spend time on every avenue where you can wisely create a seamless experience
Everyone in philan-thropy knows that the majority of all charitable donations are made in the last 2 months of the year Additionally member-ship increases substantially during the last quarter of the year Spend time now identifying opportunities strategies and tactics that work best for you mdash and consider how mobile can be a centralizing point for many of these activities
3 Apply the Winning Methodologies to Your End of Year Appeals
Yoursquove tested tweaked and determined what works best for you Now inte-grate what yoursquove learned into your end of year cam-paigns Determine how your campaign follows stan-dard best practices for end of year appeals and where mobile can help drive that engagement across multiple mediums
Common best practices for end of year campaigns that can include mobile
A Sending multiple asks the final week of the year mdash Make sure text messages are a part of that effort Whether itrsquos a simple call-to-action to text
a donation drives people to a pledge page or some-thing all-together different mobile can help ramp up that seamless experience
B the Art of the ldquothank Yourdquo mdash Thank your sup-porters Use mobile to message supporters your appreciation when they take action through text or drive them to a webpage with a video with a celeb-rity spokesperson giving a thank you message But make sure they know repeatedly that what they do for your cause matters And keep in mind mobile can drive to a strong ldquothank yourdquo experience
C Share Ask Listen mdash Take the opportunity to tell a story ask for feed-back and listen to what your organization is being told Not sure how to do that in mobile Share a link to a news article through text Ask for feedback through social media And listen to what is being said while distilling insights from how supporters respond in order to strengthen your omnichannel approach
4 Continue into 2013 mdash You are set for success
As donors enter the New Year self-improve-ment will often include a
commitment to be a better person volunteer more donate more funds etc Use mobile as a data col-lection tool to help your donors achieve their goal Give them the opportunity to commit to goals pertain-ing to your cause and then become their coach Send monthly reminders of their commitment and words of encouragement Remind them about appointments invite them to share their experience and overall let the donor feel the effect of their selfless promise through all of their activi-ties while using mobile to centralize that community and to drive people to action
We now live in a world where the average person at any given moment is looking at two or more screens It is critical that nonprofit organizations embrace the multi-screen world and adopt the omnichannel or fully integrated model When you create a seam-less giving experience for the everyday philanthropist you will be amazed at the results Walking away from a mobile strategy today is like walking away from the internet in the early 2000s
Mobile is here to stay and it is not an elective component to your orga-nizationrsquos fundraising and engagement strategy Itrsquos an essential part of a successful omnichannel strategy for your end of year activities n
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 27
Jenifer Snyder Esq Executive Director The mGive Foundation
As Executive Director of The mGive Foun-dation Jenifer is dedicated to expanding the scope and reach of the mobile channel for social good She brings years of lead-ership experience in the mobile industry to the position Previously Jenifer was a founder and General Counsel for 9 Squared Inc a mobile content and ser-vices company subsequently acquired by the Zed Group She left Zed in 2007 and started building the mobile channel for social and charitable efforts and later formed The mGive Foundation
Cassie bair Vice president of Marketing Mobile Accord
As Vice President of Marketing for Mobile Accord Cassie is dedicated to educat-ing and empowering nonprofits regarding the power of mobile She combines years of marketing experience in the nonprofit industry with the exciting evolution of the mobile channel for social good Cassie has worked with organizations such as the American Heart Association American Institute of Architects and the American Society of Echocardiography developing integrated and cause marketing cam-paigns and uses that knowledge today with clients to help them maximize their mobile strategy
Name
OrganizationCompany
Address
City State Zip Code
Charge my m Visa m MasterCard m AmEx m Discover
Card Number Expiration Date
Signature
raquo FAX form to 2026284383 (do not email credit card information)
raquo MAIL form to Alicia Osgood Director Membership amp Communications DMA Nonprofit Federation 1615 L Street NW Suite 1100 Washington DC 20036
raquo MAKE ChECKS payable to the DMA Nonprofit Federation
raquo DMA Nonprofit Federation Federal Tax ID Number 13-1810859
News and cutting-edge professional development tips
SUBSCRIBEto the Journal today1year =3 issues
ONLY $35Published digitally in January Apriland September the Journal brings together nonprofit leaders to deliver a standout publication packed with content you can really use
No cost to members
28 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Consumer technology evolves so quickly that nonprof-its are constantly racing to get their organizations using the latest technologies and mediums In fact many of these innovations have had significant impact on the fundrais-ing community While online CRM systems for example spawned database segmentation capabilities the opportu-nity ndash and challenge ndash arose for fundraising professionals to target appeals precisely to donorsrsquo specific interests Lately the emergence and rapid popularity of technologies such as smartphones and social media have forced nonprofits to not only create a presence but essentially compete for shrinking donor funds using these vehicles
The primary focus of nonprofit technology however tends to be inward creating a presence in a particular social media community or simply using the technology on behalf of the organization Examples of this include a nonprofitrsquos Facebook page and Twitter account and mobile-friendly
web sites In todayrsquos competitive fundraising environment though itrsquos not enough for nonprofits to simply use the latest technology Successful fundraisers understand that a nonprofitrsquos relationship with technology needs to take one step beyond itself to focus outward how do your sup-porters and donors want to use technology on behalf of your organization
Donors have technology preferences and habits too While itrsquos great for organizations to have a Facebook page for sup-porters to ldquolikerdquo that offers news and updates for example this doesnrsquot offer an opportunity for donors to appeal to their friends and family on behalf of your nonprofit mdash and certainly doesnrsquot raise money As nonprofits have learned to quickly adapt to changing technology and social media standards the time has come for organizations to evolve the technology they offer to provide donors supporters and par-ticipants with a personalized fundraising experience
Get Personal Providing Supporters with Personalized Fundraising Experiences
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 29
Personalization Means EngagementAt a fundamental level donor personalization in fun-
draising emerged from some of the first online nonprofit fundraising systems Offering supporters the opportunity to send personalized fundraising emails to their friends and family was revolutionary in its time mdash as was offering custom individual and team fundraising web pages
While these technology offerings revolutionized event fundraising donors have become increasingly savvy in the way they interact online mdash and developed strong preferences and dislikes in the types of technology they use They want the technology they know and like to be at their fingertips and are more likely to fundraise and successfully so for your nonprofit if itrsquos made easy and accessible for them
Back to Basics mdash But BetterNonprofits have been so consumed by social media that
they often forget this simple fact participants who use online tools raise six times more than non-users according to Blackbaud In addition 25 percent of the fundraising emails supporters send to their friends result in a donation With the average online gift being $60 nonprofits have motiva-tion not to forget about the basics of online fundraising But in the age of increasing competition for donations nonprof-its that offer a more personalized fundraising experience to supporters may see better results
What does it mean to offer a personalized fundrais-ing experience For online fundraising pages it can mean offering them the opportunity to post pictures videos story content and individual fundraising status updates But itrsquos essentially the personalization options offered behind the scenes mdash in the personal ldquoHeadquartersrdquo page within an online fundraising system mdash that can really maximize fun-draising results
Savvy nonprofits are offering a multitude of ways within their online fundraising systems for supporters to choose to reach out to friends and family Offering more than the email capabilities found standard with most fundraising plat-forms some nonprofits are starting to provide supporters more options in their personal participant ldquoheadquartersrdquo pages to engage those in their network mdash all with the click of a button Opportunities for supporters to personalize their experience could include options to
Send a Facebook message
Tweet their fundraising page
Update their Facebook status
Send a quick email
In addition statistics about their personal fundraising process could tell them
Total emails sent
Visits to their personal fundraising pages
Number of donations
Number of registrations
Average amount raised per email sent
Number of additional emails needed to reach fundraising goal
And because no one participant is the same these per-sonalization options allow the supporter to interact and engage their network on behalf of the nonprofit in ways that are meaningful and comfortable to them
Beyond the Facebook PageThe nonprofit community has taken Facebook by storm as an avenue to engage supporters and attract donors But itrsquos important to look beyond how supporters want to interact with your nonprofit and understand how they want to in-teract with their social network Itrsquos within this framework that supporters choose mdash or choose not mdash to engage their network on your organizationrsquos behalf
So make it easy for them provide them with a variety of ways to use several social media tools to reach out and fund-raise for your nonprofit Let them decide how they fundraise With 845 million monthly active users and 100 billion con-nections Facebook for example provides an excellent platform for nonprofits mdash and their fundraisers mdash to expand fundraising reach In fact Blackbaudrsquos web site states that social media users raise 40 more than non-users But most
continued
John Murphy PresidentCEo and Founder Zuri Group
30 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
organizations make the mistake of relying on participants to send their own appeals and updates or worse provide cum-bersome tools that require multiple logins and steps
Some enthusiastic fundraisers will thrive in this envi-ronment Others wonrsquot Since each supporter is unique itrsquos important to provide several varying opportunities and options so that a personalized fundraising experience can be forged For many fundraisers asking for donations isnrsquot easy All participants want to raise money but many donrsquot feel comfortable asking outside of close friends and family Other fundraisers donrsquot have the time or creativity to regu-larly develop and update personalized Facebook messages Use technology to help overcome these challenges by creat-ing easy ways for them to raise more money using Facebook
To take the effort out of Facebook fundraising remove the discomfort of a direct ldquoaskrdquo and save fundraisers time some nonprofits are offering supporters the option for fun-draising updates that automatically post on their Facebook wall at pre-determined intervals throughout the fundraising season For the right supporter this option removes the dis-comfort of approaching potential donors with a direct ldquoaskrdquo while significantly expanding their fundraising reach
Mobilizing the troopsAccording to a 2011 study consumers spend more time
on mobile applications than on the web In addition Ameri-cans spend 27 hours per day on average socializing on their mobile phones Nonprofits have been hard at work to lever-age the trend toward mobile by creating mobile-friendly web sites and even apps to further engage supporters But what about the mobile interaction that takes place between sup-porters and their friends The key is for nonprofits to make it accessible and easy for fundraisers to use their everyday technologies and devices to fundraise within their own networks By providing fundraising options that enable sup-porters to simply use something they already use such as a smartphone to connect with people they already interact with fundraising becomes a more natural and personalized part of the supporterrsquos day
To provide a more personalized and convenient fun-draising experience some nonprofits are offering mobile fundraising apps that enable supporters to not only use their smartphones to fundraise but to fundraise using multiple technologies within the smartphone mdash such as email text Twitter Facebook and even FaceTime for iPhone users As a result supporters can fundraise for the organization from their homes the train while walking the dog mdash anytime they have their phone
By empowering supporters to personalize their fundrais-ing experience nonprofits that provide mobile fundraising apps help their fundraisers help them These organizations are meeting the needs of on-the-go fundraising participants so they can focus on spreading awareness soliciting dona-tions and thanking donors mdash on their time on their terms In fact itrsquos been reported that fundraising participants using mobile fundraising applications raise 200 more than other participants and bring in 300 more gifts by count that other participants
In addition some mobile fundraising apps are provid-ing further personalization by bringing some of the same features of the personalized online ldquoheadquartersrdquo to the smartphone such as fundraising thermometers and adding donors into their phone address book Pre-written fundrais-ing messages developed specifically for various mediums such as texts Twitter updates and emails can be used Editing personal fundraising pages from the smartphone is likely the next option nonprofits will start offering
the Personalization ChallengeAs nonprofits compete in the race to adopt new technolo-
gies and social media itrsquos important to take a step back and consider your supportersrsquo relationship with those channels Many nonprofits have a Facebook page or group but how are your fundraisers using Facebook Are you making it easy for them to advocate or fundraise for your organization If much of your donor base uses text messaging have you pro-vided easy access and tools for them to text their network on your behalf
Supporters want and frankly need a personalized online experience with your organization Go beyond the bounds of your interactive relationship and consider what would enable your supporter base to have a more personalized fundrais-ing experience mdash and then put those tools at their fingertips They and their network mdash will thank you n
John Murphy is the PresidentCEO and Founder of Zuri Group Zuri Group provides nonprofits with custom technology solutions to meet critical organizational needs such as fundraising using their existing platform For more info visit zurigroupcom
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 31Non-Profit_FullPageAd_OLindd 1 91312 417 PM
32 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
9 Centennial Drive
Peabody MA 01960-7906
Tel 8003707500
wwwamergentcom
c a l l j a c k d o y l e
8 0 0 3 7 0 7 5 0 0
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Sign up for Amergentrsquos e-newsletter
at friendsamergentcomifund or scan qr code
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 33
Looking to Affordably Grow Your Donor Fileand Increase Contributions
We Can HelpWiland Direct is the nationrsquos 1 transactional database for fundraisers
Using our vast transactional data and powerful models Wiland Direct helps fundraisers to
bull Affordably acquire new donors bull Maximize contributions from existing donors bull Reactivate former donorsbull Identify the most likely activists and volunteersbull Convert inquirers petition signers and other ldquowarm leadsrdquo into donors
To learn more please contact John Spencer at 9703106378 or via email at jspencerwilanddirectcom
3034858686 wwwWilandDirectcomCopyright 2012 Wiland Direct All rights reserved
ldquoThe Wiland Direct database has been a solid performer for LLS with higher average gifts and lower cost per dollar raised than most Itrsquos opened up a new acquisition universe particularly important for a mature program Wersquore very pleased with the results and team support from Wilandrdquomdash Bruny Lynch The Leukemia amp Lymphoma Society
34 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
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urce
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ed
direct marketing solutionsyoursquove been looking for
Our award-winning solutions aretailored to find and motivate the people
who support your good work
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amp Executionmdash Analytical Services
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mailschultzwilliamscom SagePRINT SageONLINE SageCARES
C R E AT I V E S E R V I C E S
Got control issuesWho doesnrsquot Maybe itrsquos time to hire a Sage
With 35 years of consumer marketing experience your non-profit can benefit from the best practices wersquove learned from creating thousands of winning promotions both in print and online
Thatrsquos why organizations like National Audubon Society Smithsonian National Geographic have consistently put our creative team to work for them
Want to see for yourself
Contact annesagecommunicationscom or call 508-309-6678 x 1 for a no-obligation quote
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Contact CBA today to find out how we can help yourorganization exceed its goals now and into the future
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For nearly 40 years Carl Bloom Associates has beenhelping non-profits exceed their revenue goals withinnovative strategies and creative that raise moremoney acquire and retain more donors and increasetheir lifetime value
You can support your mission more effectively withCBArsquos ldquosmarterrdquo multi-channel campaigns integrating
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You shouldnrsquot be satisfied meeting your fundraising goals
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Full Service Fundraising gt DonorMember AcquisitionRetention
DMA NF Journal Ad 8-12-365x4625_Layout 1 81312 1014 AM Page 1
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 35
PUT MORE MONEY IN THE HANDS of THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST through innovative fundraisingstrategies and better results
Wersquod love to meet you
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nexusdirectcom
HigH Flying creative tHat gets resultsIntegrated Fundraising Mail Web Email
You want an agency that can deliver powerful high-performance programs Creatively You want an agency that will function as an extension of your own team Seamlessly You want an agency that can cut costs without cutting impact Efficiently You want Newport Creative
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newportcreativecom infonewportcreativecom
36 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
The Only Donor Cooperative Built By Fundraising Marketing Experts
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Maximize revenue and lifetime value with high-value custom models
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Our proprietary data assets and extensive experience in nonprot list services as well as building transactional databases for direct marketers make this a unique product and opportunity for your organization
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For more information contact
Matthew Frattura4028365527 | matthewfratturainfogroupcom
wwwinfogroupcomApogee
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 37
In the era of tweets and texts we help people connect on a human level
TeleForum provides unique opportunities to elicit audience feedback inspire loyalty communicate an idea raise
support and much more It is as simple as making a phone call
To learn more about TeleForum and our other revolutionary products and
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You make a friend for life
From fundraising through direct mail and digital media to integrated marketing solutions to strategic planning and donor relationship management and more we customize a plan just for you
We partner with organizations to help integrate fundraising and marketing strategies for maximum results
When you choose Alpha dog Marketing you do more than just hire an agency
Your purpose matters to us
wwwAlphadogMktgcom8007300668
Get it todaynonprofitfederationorgethics-policy watchdog-resource-centerwatchdog-toolkit
38 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
1
2
3
A
B
C
2 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
DMA Nonprofit Federation Advisory Council
Chair
Mr Brian CowartDisabled American Veterans
Vice Chair
Mr Tom HarrisonRuss Reid Company
Staff
DMA Nonprofit Federation1615 L Street NW Suite 1100
Washington DC 20036Phone 2028612427
Fax 2026284383
nonprofitfederationorg
The Journal is published online three timesper year mdash January April and September
Alicia OsgoodManaging Editor
AOsgoodthe-dmaorg
Leslie Oakey Publication Design
leslieoakeycom
NEwS THUrSDAySA bi-weekly round-up of nonprofit-specific news amp information direct to your inbox
Sign up by emailingAOsgoodthe-dmaorg
DMA NoNproFIT FEDErATIoN
DMANF amp AliozDC
MEMbErS oNly
2012 Leadership
Jabneel ldquoJennyrdquo Abreu CMPDirector of Conferences amp Education Programs
Xenia ldquoSennyrdquo Boone Esq Senior Vice President
Alicia OsgoodDirector of Membership amp Communications
Members
Mr Angel AlomaFood For The Poor Inc
Mr Glen A Beasley Arbor Day Foundation
Ms Valerie Beatty American Cancer Society
Ms Jennifer BielatEaster Seals
Ms Mary BoguckiAmergent
Mr Lane BrooksFood amp Water Watch
Mr Ken DawsonEleventy Marketing Group
Mr Nate DrushellInfoCision Management Corp
Mr Steve FroehlichASPCA
Ms Karen GleasonNNE Marketing
Ms Jacqui GrosethUnion Rescue Mission
Ms Kimberly HaywoodMarch of Dimes
Mr Roger Hiyama CDR Fundraising Group
Ms Karin KirchoffMINDset direct
Ms Erika Fry KloehnSave the Children Federation Inc
Ms Gretchen LittlefieldInfogroup
Mr Dennis McCarthyBlackbaud
Ms Shannon McCrackenSpecial Olympics International
Ms Kyla ShawyerOperation Smile
Ms Joan H Smyth DenglerCovenant House
Mr Atul TandonTandon Partners LLC
Ms Kim WalkerMemorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
Ms Kathy WardAmerican Institute for Cancer Research
Ms Trish WilliamsHabitat for Humanity International
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 3
Dear Readers
Save the date The 2013 Washington Nonprofit Conference takes place February 7-8 at the Renaissance Washington DC Downtown Hotel Advance registration is now open For details see Page 7 of this Journal
DMA amp DMANF continue to lead the way in efforts to protect the charitable deduction amp nonprofit postal rate Our success on all fronts is due to an overwhelming response from the
nonprofit dual membership of the DMA amp DMANF on amp off the DMAAction site Thank you amp please keep it up by answering our calls for action via our email member alerts Regardless of what happens with the November elections be ready to answer our calls
Remember that if you received this Journal by way of forward from someone outside your nonprofit or company that your organization or company must have a member-ship (nonprofit organizations) or Corporate Partnership (for-profit agencies amp suppliers) to receive DMA Nonprofit Federation member benefits Visit the membership section of
our website to view pricing amp benefits information
In this edition of the Journal
A special section devoted to the 2012 New York Nonprofit Conference with photos amp Seth ldquoYossirdquo Siegelrsquos informative amp inspirational keynote address
The DMA Nonprofit Federation Ethics Committeersquos Fundraising Ethics Guide for the Small Nonprofit mdash a useful reminder for all nonprofits
Xenia ldquoSennyrdquo Boone Esquirersquos Policy Scorecard
Masterworksrsquo Bob Ball on crafting an Extreme Donor-Focused Newsletter
Epsilonrsquos Bethany Lewis breaks down consumer privacy for nonprofit marketers
The mGive Foundationrsquos Jenifer Snyder Esquire amp Mobile Accordrsquos Cassie Bair on crossing the mobile bridge to an omnichannel approach
Zuri Grouprsquos John Murphy with how getting personal yields big gains
I hope you enjoy this edition of the Journal amp thank you for your continued support of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Warm regards
Managing Editor AOsgoodthe-dmaorg
DMANF membershipnonprofitfederationorgmembership
DMAAAction dmaaactionorg
Letter from the Editor
David Fischer
Matt Annerino John Werner
Britta Schell Elizabeth Francis
Chris Anderson
Special $599 Nonprofit Rate
Use Code NPDM
dma12org
The Global Event forReal-Time Marketers
DMA2012 October 13 ndash 18 2012 Mandalay Bay | Las Vegas
(COME GET YOURS)QUALITY FACE TIME
4 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
1 Be committed to donor satisfaction and responsible environmental community and financial stewardship
2 Clearly honestly and accurately represent our mission Be trans-parent in providing donors information on the use of funds and our leadership team
3 Communicate in a respectful and courteous manner Acknowledge a donorrsquos contributions appropriately and in a timely manner while respecting a donorrsquos right to privacysup1
4 Be accessible via multiple channels (mail email phone and possibly others) and respond to inquiries and complaints in a constructive timely way
5 Maintain appropriate security policies and practices to safeguard donor informationsup2
6 Provide information on our policies about the sharing of personally identifiable information to third-parties for marketing purposes and always honor requests not to have information shared
7 Honor donorsrsquo rights to choose which channels we communicate to them in (direct mail email telemarketing and others) and the frequency of communication
8 When partnering with businesses disclose the percentage or dollar amount of a sale which is a charitable contribution
9 Make a best effort not to solicit to children and abide by parentsrsquo requests to have childrenrsquos names excluded from solicitationssup3
10 Follow the spirit and letter of the law as well as DMArsquos Guidelines for Ethical Business Practice
Fundraising Ethics Guide for the Small NonprofitIn engaging with donors to fulfill our organizationrsquos mission we will
EthICS CoMMIttEE
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 5
NOTES
sup1Read more at irsgovpubirs-pdfp1771pdf or irsgovpubirs-pdfp526pdf
sup2An overview of PCI Security Standards Council definition of PCI compliance pcisecuritystandardsorg security_standardsindexphp
sup3Guidelines for solicitingmarketing to children as outlined by the Childrenrsquos Advertising Review Unit caruorgguidelinesguidelinespdf
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Better Business Bureau Standards for Charitable Accountability
bbborgusstandards-for- charity-accountability
Independent Sector Principles for Good Governance and Ethical Practice (account required to access)
independentsectororgprinciples_guide_summarys=Principles2Guide
Donor Bill of Rights as agreed upon by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP) the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) and the Giving Institute
nonprofitfederationorgsitesdefaultfileswebDonorBillofRightspdf
Standards for Excellence An Ethics and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector Available through this site and others
wvhuborgstandards-excellence-ethics-and-accountability-code-nonprofit-sector
DMA Nonprofit Federation Ethical Guidelines for Fundraising amp Other Nonprofit Communications
nonprofitfederationorgsitesdefaultfilesDMANF20Guidelines20Annot_Cleaned_Feb202012pdf
6 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Xenia ldquoSennyrdquo Boone Esq
Status Nonprofits are successfully preserving the char-itable tax deduction for individuals Donors who itemize their taxes may now write off up to 35 percent of the amount spent on charitable gifts President Obama included a pro-posed limit on the charitable tax deduction in his FY 2011 budget to change the deduction from 35 to 28 for couples making $250000 or on individuals making $200000 stating this would raise $1798 billion over 10 years to help pay for government programs The reduction was part of the plan to help pay for health reform but it did not pass and the Administration again articulated its desire to trim back the deduction during the deficit reduction debate and Super Committee process In January 2012 the Administration took a step back President Obama was clear in his State of the Union address that he will no longer seek a reduction in the amount that high earners may deduct from their taxes for charitable donations However the President also said that those making more than $1 million should be required to pay at least 30 percent of their income in taxes Then in an accompanying document ldquothe Administration will work to ensure that this rule is implemented in a way that is equi-table including not disadvantaging individuals who make large charitable contributionsrdquo While this represents a great step forward deficit reduction proposals are on the table which include changes to the charitable tax deduction One such proposal converts the deduction to a tax credit which would in turn cost the charitable community $108 billion in donations
please help us preserve the charitable tax deduction View our petition at wwwchangeorgpetitionspresident-obama-save-the-charitable-tax-deduction and sign on
DMANF Policy ScorecardThe DMA Nonprofit Federation protects and defends nonprofit fundraising across all marketing channels We preserve the char-itable tax deduction and protect nonprofit postal rates The following is a quick summary of our recent activities on your behalf
Status Nonprofit mailers faced a major rate hike via a reduction in the nonprofit preferred rate discount in Section 403 of HR 2309 a bill by California Rep Darrell Issa Issa chairs the Committee that oversees the USPS The bill stalled as a result of thousands of letters sent by dual DMA amp DMANF members On October 13 2011 the House Oversight and Government Reform (OGR) Committee amended amp passed the Postal Reform Act (HR 2309) out of Committee Section 403 was modi-fied by Chairman Issa based on charitiesrsquo concerns but it is still not supportable The nonprofit rate discount as originally proposed in Section 403 of HR 2309 would have been a 50 percent increase phased in over six years A later Issa version would hold off on a rate increase for 3 years amp then increase nonprofit rates each year by 2 until the nonprofit rate preference is at 80 versus the current law of 60 Issa now says the provision will be removed from the bill entirely mdash good news
we strongly oppose any change to the existing nonprofit rate preference as it does nothing to aid the USpS
To participate in the Federationrsquos grassroots activities email SBoonethe-dmaorg or phone 2028612498
For the latest on issues impacting our sector and the entire marketing space sign up for Direct from Washington by emailing governmentthe-dmaorg
Charitable taxdeduction
Postal legislation and nonprofit mailing rates
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 7
your newsletterdoesnrsquot need to be
the rodney dangerfield
of your fundraising
program
Bob Ball Executive Creative Director Masterworks
8
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 9
Pity the poor newsletterIf there is one component of nonprofit fundraising pro-
grams that is consistently overlooked and undervalued itrsquos the newsletter
Like the late comedian Rodney Dangerfield newsletters ldquodonrsquot get no respectrdquo
All too often the newsletter is just an afterthought Newsletters are not expected to raise a lot of money and all too often they meet those low expectations
Over the years Irsquove seen a lot of different kinds of news-letters from nonprofit organizations Therersquos the No-Ask Newsletter that simply reports accomplishments This type doesnrsquot raise money because it doesnrsquot even try
The No-Ask Newsletter may be of some long-term value by closing the loop with the donor But most of the time this species talks about what the organization has accomplished and how effective it is This information may reinforce pre-vious giving but the No-Ask Newsletter does not motivate immediate new donations
Other newsletters are nothing more than fundraising appeals thinly disguised in newsletter clothing In my expe-rience this type of hard-Ask Newsletter does raise some revenue but in most cases not as effectively as straightfor-ward appeals
Another variety is the institutionally focused Navel-Gazing Newsletter written for insiders
Without the accountability that comes from revenue expectations newsletter strategy becomes fuzzy This leads to one of the worst dangers the loss of audience focus
It is very common for newsletters to attempt to serve many different masters These All-things-to-All-People Newsletters are created for several different audiences in addition to donors For example some organizations use their newsletter to communicate with donors volunteers employees board members and even the general public This desire to be all things to all audiences makes it difficult to effectively focus on any single audience
When the newsletter devolves to this point it usually doesnrsquot make anyone happy and slides into irrelevancy
In recent years my colleagues and I have resolved to do something about this sorry state of the newsletter We started by attacking the problem at the root We decided to reverse the diffused audience focus and create newsletters with an obsessive laser-like focus on donors
The result is the Extreme Donor-Focused Newslet-ter It is aimed squarely at the donor In fact it is all about the donor
This approach assumes donors give because they love to give and love to make a significant difference in the world It combines reporting back about what the donors have accomplished and offers them a clear opportunity to give again
We had considerable inspiration to draw on Back in the 1990s and early 2000s I worked at a feisty little Seattle agency called The Domain Group that preached donor loyalty and started making newsletters raise money In fact in some cases newsletters made more money than appeals
Domain was the subject of an acquisition and is long gone now but that experience lives on today to give hope that newsletters can be better My former Domain col-league Jeff Brooks who writes the blog Future Fundraising Now is a strong advocate for donor focus Long-time fun-draiser and blogger Tom Ahern has also written brilliantly on this topic
The accumulated experience gave me the confidence that it was really possible to build a better newsletter and the inspiration to keep tinkering I wanted to shake off the curse of Rodney Dangerfield once and for all
Then the perfect opportunity to test these theories fell into my lap One of my current clients asked us to test against an internally produced newsletter
This was one of those test situations you dream about Head-to-head A-B panels set up for a statistically valid test and spread over 3 different newsletter mail slots
The internal newsletter was a classic blend of the All-things-to-All-People and the Navel-Gazing News-letters It was aimed at a wide variety of constituents and contained a lot of organizationally focused stories It did ask for donations but not consistently
The results of the test were gratifying with the Extreme Donor-Focused Newsletter showing dramatic improve-ment across the board
419 lift in response 195 lift in average gift 521 lift in revenue
continued
10 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
1 Write to the donor for the donor about the donor This is not objective arms-length journalism This is not the organization talking about itself to organization insiders This is a warm conversation with the donor about the things he or she is most interested in The main point of the newsletter is to share what the donorrsquos giving has done Itrsquos all about him or her
2 Ensure a high ldquoyourdquo quotient The copy is written directly to the donor using the second person singular The most frequent word in the copy and headlines should be ldquoyourdquo Take the time to count the number of times you use ldquoyourdquo and ldquoyourrdquo If you donrsquot have enough rewrite the copy to make sure you have not lost your donor focus
3 touch the heart with strong emotion The newsletter needs to stir the donorrsquos heart Make the donor feel something Tell stories of amazing accomplishment that the donorrsquos generosity helped make possible Use vivid language with strong active verbs and concrete nouns Dramatic emotional photos are worth their weight in gold As Ahern says ldquoA newsletter might be more welcome than an appeal It can bring joy It can bring fun It can take the reader on a journeyrdquo
4 Surprise and delight This is a ldquonewsletterrdquo so it needs to have something new in it Tell the donor something fascinating that he or she does not already know The initial reaction of the donor upon first glance should be a big smile because his or her giving has made something wonderful happen One of the pitfalls of newsletter publishing is falling into a rut One of my favorite fun-draising aphorisms is ldquoYou canrsquot bore anybody into givingrdquo But millions of really boring newsletters are mailed each year Irsquove often seen a great jump in performance of a newsletter immediately after it is given an overhaul and a fresh design But within just a few months performance tends to slip and fall back to the previously level Keeping the newsletter fresh does not mean that you must start from scratch each month Establishing a basic design template for your newsletter is mandatory This not only helps with efficiency but also maintains brand consistency But we also demand that every newsletter be fresh and delightful You can keep it fresh with fresh content Great photos help But you can also mix up the look through the use of color Make sure your brand has a full palette of secondary colors and use them
We followed some simple principles as we created those winning newsletters You can put them into practice with your own designs
TEN prINCIpAlS To CrEATE yoUr owN
extreme donor-focused newsletter
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 11
Bob Ball is the Executive Creative Director of Masterworks He has been trying not to bore donors since 1993
5 Appreciate the donor One of the major themes of the newsletter needs to be how important the donor is ldquoLook at what you have accomplished With your help we can do all this Without your help we will not be able to do itrdquo Look for ways to use the words ldquoThank yourdquo over and over again Itrsquos almost impossible to over-thank donors (And remember this is not merely a report back about what the organization was able to accomplish This is all about what the donor has accomplished through their generosity Whenever you have the opportunity to influence the gathering of photo resource have beneficiaries hold up signs that say ldquoThank Yourdquo That is the most powerful and direct way to close the loop between the donor and the people who are actually being helped
6 Design for readability Remove all unnecessary barriers to readability and com-prehension Use a large readable serif font for body copy Readability studies have shown that serif fonts are superior to sans serif fonts for body copy on the printed page A lot of designers love sans serif fonts because of their clean look and because they are trendy but this is not a matter of taste If you want your body copy to be read and comprehended use a nice serif font All body copy should pass the ldquodollar billrdquo test (You should not be able to lay a dollar bill on any expanse of body copy without touching a headline photo or subhead) No large blocks of reversed out type No busy backgrounds behind copy Make the layout ldquoscannablerdquo with large photos headlines subheads and pull-quotes
7 Motivate another gift Donors love to give and you should not be ashamed to ask them to give again While most of the newsletter space is devoted to thanks and apprecia-tion the newsletter needs to give the donor a way to repeat their charitable behavior This means making a clearly stated offer that donors have supported in the past
8 Make it convenient to give The newsletter should include a response device and a return envelope If online giving is possible the URL for the giving page should be clearly presented in case that is the donorrsquos preferred giving channel
9 Appeal to the most basic donor benefit Giving is joyful I canrsquot emphasize the importance of this simple fact Donors mdash real donors mdash love to give Your faithful loyal donors are the people who give over and over again and keep giving They are not stingy grouches who must be cajoled and manipulated into reluctantly parting with their money No Real donors have discovered the secret of true happiness and all they need is the assurance that their giving is appreciated and effective This key message should be explicitly stated ldquoNothing feels better than when you help When you give to accomplish XYZ you know the joy of making a significant differ-ence in the worldrdquo
10 Refresh and re-engage Nothing about the newsletter should be a chore for the reader The whole publication is a joyful celebration of what the donor has made possible By the time he or she is finished reading the newsletter he or she should be energized and eager to do more
If you follow these 10 principles you will have your own Extreme Donor-Focused Newslet-ter and your fundraising program should enjoy increased revenue and donor retention And whatrsquos more your newsletter will finally get the respect it deserves n
12 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Grand Hyatt New York
Conference attendees
mixed mingled amp noshed
on delicious appetizers
at Butterfield 8
2012 New York Nonprofit Conference
July 25ndash26 2012Grand Hyatt New York
New York NY
Grand Hyatt New York
Conference attendees
mixed mingled amp noshed
on delicious appetizers
at Butterfield 8
(Left to right)
DMA Nonprofit Federation Advisory Council Chair
Brian Cowart of Disabled American Veterans (DAV)
2012 New York Nonprofit Conference Keynote
Speaker Seth ldquoYossirdquo Siegel of Sixpoint Partners
DMA Nonprofit Federation Advisory Council Vice
Chair tom harrison of Russ Reid Company
The Nature Conservancyrsquos Chief Marketing Officer Geof Rochester
amp Director of Membership Fundraising Begontildea Vaacutezquez-Santos
with TNCrsquos Nonprofit Organization of the Year award
Congratulations to The Nature Conservancy
13
14 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Thank you Tom Har-rison for such a lovely introduction The philos-opher who said that there is no praise higher than to be esteemed by those you esteem perfectly captures my reaction I appreci-ate your idea of inviting me mdash someone from outside your industry mdash to speak before your group But it is you Tom and several of your colleagues at Russ Reid who have largely taught me what I know about this industry
It is truly a special plea-sure being with all of you here today and the size of the audience notwithstand-ing getting to meet with you
To some extent I feel like I know many of you in this room To be sure many of you already know me mdash and even more of you knew my father My being here today allows me to close the circle and reciprocate many years of your outreach to me and my father Let me explain
My wife and I have been married for 32 years When we got married we didnrsquot have a lot more than the wedding gifts we had received but from our first days together we shared an interest in learning about charities that could use our support and we often would send in small donations in response to this mailing or that Soon thereafter mdash and this will surprise exactly no one in this room mdash we began getting mailings from more charities and we had the
opportunity to learn about yet more worthy organiza-tions As time interest and available cash allowed we would donate to yet others Then along the way as my business grew we stepped out of the direct mail uni-verse and got involved with a more manageable number of causes as volunteers and a somewhat larger number as donors but directly and in amounts more likely to be the fruit of a call or a meeting or a solicitation over a meal or in our home We still get some mail solicita-tions Some of it is likely the distant tail from donations made long ago and a bit of it may be thanks to gifts made in support of some of our friendsrsquo childrenrsquos walk-a-thon participations or similar creative requests for funds But in the main our mail box no longer has the volume of requests for support that it once did
In my opening remarks I made mention of my father Now if my wife and I have received mail from some of you I can go out on a limb and say that my father got mail from nearly all of you Before I share my fatherrsquos direct mail experience Id like to tell you a bit about him
My father mdash Benjamin Siegel in case you are check-ing to see if his name is in your database mdash was born to immigrant parents here in Manhattan Despite his American birth he spoke
Seth ldquoYossirdquo Siegel
2012 New York Nonprofit Conference
KeynoteAddress
July 25 2012
vvv
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 15
no English until he started kindergarten His child-hood can only be described as hard and deprived with his parents being members of the working poor their entire lives Yet despite their poverty he recalled a blue-and-white tin charity box in his kitchen into which his mother would put a few coins every week late on Friday afternoon before the start of the Jewish Sabbath His parents werenrsquot reli-giously observant but his mother would make a char-itable donation of some kind every week for even poorer Jews living in what is now Israel
I would have to describe my father as angry a lot of the time And Id also have to say that it would be hard to find someone more cynical about institutions and whole professions than my father He thought all doctors were to use his word quacks He thought all lawyers were again to use his word shy-sters He loathed politicians He was dubious about the esteem given to Jewish clergy and I cant believe he had any special regard for the clergy of any other faith He was part of the Greatest Generation and talked his way into World War II after he was rejected on medical grounds and spent most of the war in Europe including landing on Omaha Beach on D-Day Plus 1 And even so he was often dismissive of the thought and planning
of our own military leaders especially what he thought of as the cavalier misuse of troops
Despite his being a one-man protest machine he utterly hated protest move-ments and anything that smacked of them I could go on but I think you get the picture This was a man of complete cynicism seem-ingly trusting no one He made a hard honest living and lived a life with no frills and few vacations Meals out in restaurants were a very special event By any stan-dard by which we measure comfort or luxury my father and mother had few check marks in that imaginary list
But family history aside there was a reason Ive just told you all of this
After my father died in 2004 some many years after my mother and stepmother had both passed away it fell to me to go through his effects and to pack up his things I donrsquot know how many of you here have ever had that task It is a melan-choly one with many small items serving to remind you of moments in the rela-tionship In addition it can be a startling one learning things about your deceased parent and achingly wishing you could have them back for even a few moments to explain what something meant or to ask why they had never told you about some just discovered element of their lives
For me the startling element I discovered was how my father mdash the utter cynic mdash was mdash within his means mdash a philanthropist and donor of a scope that is still remarkable to me You see when I opened the bottom drawer of his dresser the entire drawer was filled with note pads and boxes of seasonal cards from dozens and dozens of charities My first thought standing in his empty bedroom was ldquoTo whom was he planning on writing so many notesrdquo When I opened the next drawer it was filled with per-sonalized mailing labels from dozens of charities mdash possi-bly the same charities I donrsquot know but possibly not mdash but I knew that if he ever got around to sending out all of those notes and cards he would never have to write his return address on any of those envelopes As I con-tinued the packing up in his bedroom kitchen closets and elsewhere I found other institutional gifts from other charities like tote bags mugs umbrellas and so on almost all of them still in their orig-inal packaging
When I cleaned out his small desk I found his checkbook and sat at his desk to go through his check register and other check reg-isters going back years and years There were payments made to credit card compa-nies and utilities and taxes but overwhelmingly the checks were made payable
to one charity after another The amounts mdash as you pro-fessionals would guess from the pads and the pre-printed mailing labels mdash were all small Most of them were for ten dollars some for twenty-five and in a nod to the Jewish mystical belief in the specialness of numbers that are multiples of eigh-teen he had written plenty of checks to Jewish organiza-tions and causes for eighteen and thirty-six dollars
Also remarkable was the range of organizations to which he donated As I mentioned he gave to a broad array of Jewish and pro-Israel organizations but he also gave to commu-nity groups environmental groups hunger organiza-tions veterans groups and health-related organizations including hospitals hospices and disease-focused causes He even gave to animal shelter organizations mdash and he had never had a pet of his own
So how could it be that this most utterly cynical man a man who watched his pennies his whole life could have been a small-scale Roth-schild and Rockefeller in the range and expansiveness of his giving Of course wersquoll never know for sure but in trying to develop an answer to this there are lessons for those of us in this room who care about the not-for-profit world whether profession-ally as communal activists or as donors
continued
16 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
The first two possibili-ties that come to mind that Id like to quickly dismiss are that my father liked the idea that he could get something of value for what may have seemed for free It is possible but my father was a very prac-tical man and at some point he must have realized that well into his 80s he had such an ample supply of holiday cards and return address labels that he would never be able to use up the inventory The other thought was that he simply liked getting mail and he knew how the system worked Send in a check and the one envelope becomes two or three or ten Send in one hundred checks and he had his weekends filled reading through all of the mail he had received during the past week That is possi-ble but my father also died with a significant backlog of unread magazines so Im going to rule that out too
The explanation Ive come up with is that my father may have been a cynic but that he wanted to believe He may have thought most every institution and public figure not worthy of being trusted but he may still have yearned to be able to trust that some others out there cared deeply about society and elements of it and that he wanted to be part of the efforts to make the world a proverbially better place He despised a lot of things gen-erally but seemed to like a lot of things specifically
And from that insight I think there is some very good news for many of you here today I know from Tom Harrison that you are all worried about the crummy economy that shows no sign of quickly returning to robust times And Tom has also shared with me a worry about the viability of the US Postal Service and its ability to offer reduced mailing rates for the fore-seeable future And Tom has also told me that my fatherrsquos generation is dying off and not being quickly replaced by a new demographic cohort that reads mail and sends in money Plus there are environmental ques-tions about harvesting trees for the mailings and some compelling proof that people respond less well to email solicitations than they did to requests delivered via their mail boxes But aside from all of those structural impediments my fatherrsquos behavior offers some very special opportunities for those charities and organi-zations able to reach out and speak personally to the next waves of donors
If my father was a skepti-cal cynical guy in the Ozzie and Harriet 1950s and 60s he was a full generation ahead of where people are today and Id like to take a minute or two to explain what I mean
People today are fright-ened angry cynical even often despairing The
overwhelming feeling is that few institutions are working well Our political system just isnrsquot garnering wide-spread support and in these unsettling times people want leaders and insti-tutions that can fix their problems No matter who wins the presidential elec-tion in November there is little widespread belief we will come together as a society to fix our problems It may happen but people donrsquot believe it And the poll numbers reflect this Pres-ident Obama mdash who came into office on a promise of hope and change and of transformation of our political culture and which initially yielded him an approval rating of 67 mdash has had an approval rating that has been below 50 since November 2009 and is now at 47 If the president has problems in garnering the publicrsquos trust that he can solve their problems Con-gress as an institution is doing far far worse with an approval rating of 23 The US Supreme Court enjoys an approval rating of only 35 These numbers for the president and for the legisla-tive and judicial branches of government actually under-state the problem The poll number of those who call themselves ldquofrustrated or angry with the federal gov-ernmentrdquo comes in at a frightening 79 President Obama may win re-elec-tion but it likely wont be a
unifying election We have a divided government at a polarized partisan moment of utterly different and con-tradictory views of how to solve the problems at hand Given the enormity of the problems mdash from the economy to the deficit to the debt to Iranrsquos nuclear program to the rise of radical Islamism to the rise of China and its likelihood to be a destabilizing force and many many more prob-lems mdash the likelihood our country will be dispirited and detached from politics is larger than it is smaller
Staying with our politi-cal system for just another moment we have another problem Because people are angry and have a near con-stant ldquothrow the bums outrdquo feeling about our elected offi-cials we are going through a period of uncommon insta-bility in our government institutions
Most people believe that incumbents come to office and tend to leave only when they die But it just isnrsquot true Whether because of the Tea Party or because of burn-out by elected officials the level of turnover in Washington is a big and growing problem In just the past five Congres-sional elections which is to say in the past ten years a remarkable 54 of the US Senate has been replaced If that number seems impos-sibly high for institutional stability in the House of Representatives the turnover
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 17
in that same period has been 68 Due to announced retirements and defeats in primaries we already know that in the coming Senate and House to be sworn in next January no fewer than 11 current Senators and 60 current Congressmen and Congresswomen will not be returning mdash and that assumes not a single incum-bent will lose in a single race in the remaining pri-maries and the General Election That means at least a 65 turnover in the US Senate and a more than 80 turnover in the House of Representatives in a mere 12-year period Think of your own organizations and what a turnover of that mag-nitude would mean to your ability to do your institu-tional job let alone having to grapple with many of the enormous challenges I mentioned a moment ago and many others I did not mention Thus the roiling public environment is more likely to stay roiled for some time to come than it is likely to return to some idealized period of harmony
Not to belabor the point but to also make sure that we understand that the problem of popular unease is broader than belief in our national government let me share just a few poll numbers to demonstrate my point Our confidence in hospitals and our doctors is now at 41 which is bad enough but HMOs are at 19 Public
schools have the confidence of only 29 of the people in our country Newspapers taken together have the con-fidence of just 25 of the American people But falling even lower than newspapers TV news comes in at 21 And labor unions banks and major corporations are all tied with the confidence of just one in five Ameri-cans at around 20 Even organized religion falls below the 50 mark at 44
Indeed the only three institutions regularly polled about by Gallup to be above the 50 mark are our police departments at 56 small business at 63 and our fighting men and women in the US military at 75 And finally in what many people believe is the most important general view of how people feel the Right Track Wrong Track poll Rasmussen reports 30 of Americans think our country is on the right track
and 64 believe our country is on the wrong track
In case you werenrsquot a statistics major in college let me boil all of these poll results down to just this one short statement and it is this My father was ahead of his time Just as my father didnrsquot trust or like just about any institution the American people now donrsquot much trust or like any institution with
the exception of police military and
small busi-ness In
nearly every other
case the institu-tion Ive mentioned is at or
near an all-time low since these Gallup Institutional Confidence polls began being conducted in 1973
But I think there is a second key learning from all of this bad news that is actu-ally very good news for some of you but definitely not all of you and that is this Just as my father had very low confidence in government and other mass institutions yet managed to turn himself
into a check-writing ma-chine for many many not-for-profits so too can your organization or your clients The not-so-profound insight is that even the most angry frustrated cynical skeptical misanthrope wants to believe It was true of mis-anthropes when Moliere wrote a play by that name in the 1660s It was true of my father And Id bet a dona-tion to any of your causes that it is true today even with a Right Track Wrong Track poll that has double the number of Wrong Trackers over Right Trackers People want to believe People want to love People know they wont live for forever and people want to see the world better both today in their lifetimes and tomor-row when it is their legacy This is true for mega donors who will be honored at fancy dinners in hotel ballrooms like this and for ten dollar donors who look forward to the return address labels you all will send to them
So with the crummy economy the dicey state of the Postal Service the demo-graphic hump working against low-dollar donors and all of the other problems direct marketers face my money is on the significant success of some of the orga-nizations that are here today Of course the structural challenges make it harder but is it harder today than it was in my grandmotherrsquos
vvvThe not-so-profound insight is that even
the most angry frustrated cynical skeptical
misanthrope wants to believehellipPeople know they
wont live for forever and people want to see the
world better both today in their lifetimes and
tomorrow when it is their legacy
vvv
continued
18 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
walk-up tenement apart-ment in which every Friday afternoon she found a way to donate to people she knew she would never meet who were living in a place she knew she would never see She believed in the enterprise afoot in what is today Israel a place on the other side of the world and she trusted that the coins in her little blue-and-white tin box would be used wisely and honorably All the same must have been true about my father and the many causes to which he wrote those checks And the same is true of millions and millions of people waiting to be touched and to form a connection with a cause larger than themselves a cause they can make their own in a way best thought of as an I-Thou relationship
For those of you unfa-miliar with the phrase I and Thou let me start by telling you it is a concept that changed my life It was coined by the philoso-pher and theologian Martin Buber Despite his being a theologian it is a concept that isnt inherently reli-gious even if it works well in every faith tradition and also works well in a purely secular context It works well for couples who have long been together and remark-ably it works well when soliciting gifts from near-strangers It is an approach to living a happy satisfying life So with that build up let
me tell you about I and Thou and about Martin Buber
Buber was born in Austria but moved to Germany in his teens to pursue his education In the 1920s he wrote his most famous work ldquoI and Thourdquo which although somewhat obscure today helped to establish his reputation as a leading German thinker of his time When the Nazis came to power in 1933 as a Jew he was prohibited from teaching at the uni-versity where he had been a professor and in 1938 just ahead of the start of the mass murder of 90 of Euro-pean Jewry Buber made his way to the British Mandate where he became a professor in Jerusalem When the State of Israel came into being in 1948 Buber was an esteemed philosopher revered by the young nation It is hard to imagine a philosopher having this kind of fame and impact but when he died in 1965 it was the lead news story of the day in Israel and a major story in The New York Times and other world newspapers
According to Buber there are two kinds of rela-tionships I-Thou and I-It The idea underpinning these concepts is best explained by examples as every single person in this room has experienced I-Thou and I-It relationships In an I-Thou relationship we are as one Your destiny is my destiny
even if only for a moment In the I-It relationship the parties are in a transac-tion I have turned the other party into an object to help me to achieve something that I want Indeed we all have I-Thou relationships and I-It relationships all the time mdash and we often have these disparate relationships within moments of each other and often with the very same person If this room were smaller and more inti-mate I could randomly call on anyone and have you give examples of I-Thou and I-It relationships in your own life But Ill use my own life as an example
I love my wife very much I am happy to come home at the end of the workday and to hear about her day and what is new and for her to hear about my day That is an I-Thou moment But while sitting with her my stomach starts to growl I become distracted Im not think-ing about her but about the dinner I know she has prepared Im hungry and want to eat She becomes an object a means to an end an I-It Wersquove all had that expe-rience or one like it
But just because Im getting something I want from her mdash or from anyone mdash doesnrsquot mean it has to be an I-It moment In that exact same scenario it could just as well have been an I-Thou moment by a change in my behavior even
with the same outcome that dinner will be served and my hunger abated Instead of single-mindedly think-ing about food in its place I could have interrupted the conversation to tell her that Im hungry I could have offered to set the table while we keep talking And most importantly I could keep reminding myself that she has spent time and trouble thinking about dinner and preparing it and that I have no entitlement to her having done this and how fortunate I am that she has If I do all of that it is more likely we will have an I-Thou relationship that evening than a transac-tional I-It one
Even with people we love I-Thoursquos and I-Itrsquos flit back and forth across some imaginary spectrum with engagement and other-directedness on one side and selfishness and self-direct-edness on the other We all have instincts for both sides of that spectrum and the challenge is to take the harder path the path where we direct the moment away from ourselves and our selfish wants and needs to that of the person present before us and our shared experience
As I indicated earlier this isnrsquot just true of deep long-lasting relationships It can be true of the waiter who serves you dinner the bellman who helps you with your bags even with a
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 19
passing stranger on a line to get into somewhere Every encounter has the oppor-tunity to be an I-Thou or an I-It and the challenge is for each of us to constantly remind ourselves of the humanity of the person with whom we engage
I and Thou isnrsquot just for people It is also true of believing peoplersquos relation-ship with God and also true of organizations and how they relate to people In my experience Ive found it even true of inanimate objects even if that may take it beyond Buberrsquos own con-ception So how do Martin Buber and his I and Thou relate to you all as direct mar-keters and as fundraisers for your worthy organizations
Everyone knows when they are in an I and Thou moment You feel the link and the joy that comes from the link But people also know when they are being used as a means to an end
when they are the ldquoItrdquo in an I-It relationship People may give you what you want when they are in an I-It rela-tionship with you and you may give your counter-party what they seek too but we all know that feeling of sadness or emptiness within when someone you are with mdash a co-worker a boss a spouse a child even a clerk on the phone at a call center mdash treats you as an object to get some-thing achieved and not as an opportunity to feel your humanity and for you to feel theirs even if for a fleeting moment
And the same Ill say is true about the relationship between a potential donor and your organization Those organizations that stand for somethinghellip Those organizations that donrsquot treat their donors as objects like walking checkbookshellip Those organizations that take the time to engage with their prospects Indeed
those organizations that donrsquot even necessarily start by asking for something it is those organizations who I believe will find a wide universe of people eager to believe and eager to be part of the organizationrsquos mission An I-Thou relation-ship doesnrsquot mean we never ask the other party for some-thing It is about how and when we ask Just as we will have a different outcome with our spouses children and co-workers when we are building off of an I-Thou relationship rather than an I-It so too will we have a different outcome when we approach our donors as part-ners as people we care about exactly as much whether they donate or not It is from that soulful relationship that donors will want to support one organization over an-other and one cause over another no matter how angry or frustrated or cynical they are about the larger world
around them That is how I believe the next genera-tion of donors will come to support many but not all of our organizations
When my father died I had the Postal Service forward his mail to my home address In the nearly eight years since his passing Ive received hundreds of mail-ings maybe more I often open the solicitations to try to get a feel for the kinds of causes and organizations my father would have been spending his time learning about and possibly support-ing So while some recipients of your mailings may think of your output as junk mail I couldnrsquot be more apprecia-tive Each envelope serves to remind me that the cynical side of my father was only a side and that when properly touched even a hard man could respond
Thank you all very much for your attention n
copy 2012 Seth M Siegel Reproduction with authorrsquos consent only All rights reserved
Looking for an agency or supplier to help your organization reachnew heights
Access the DMANFrsquos Directory of Service providers
nonprofitfederationorgcorporate-partnerssearch
20 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Nonprofit organizations face unique marketing chal-lenges Theyrsquore tasked with identifying and reaching the right people at the right time and through
the appropriate channels as well as balancing message appeals with monetary requests all while conveying their mission and cause The rapid expansion of the internet social networking and mobile have placed yet another demand front-and-center for nonprofit organizations mdash con-sumer privacy
Consumers are justly concerned about divulging their personal information They want to know where why and how their information will be used Many are unaware that their personal information is collected in a variety of ways and by a variety of sources both online and offline Common but often misunderstood data practices include third-party ad servers setting cookies retail stores matching names and addresses with phone numbers and marketers sharing customer lists
In todayrsquos complex marketplace how can nonprofit organizations demonstrate to their supporters donors and prospects that they share their concerns and are commit-ted to protecting their privacy The first and most important step is to create a clear privacy policy and communicate it effectively
the Privacy PolicyIf your organization collects uses and or stores personal donor information a privacy policy is critical You must display your privacy policy on your website and strictly abide by it
Privacy policies are structured around Notice and Choice principles They should provide supporters with notice of
how their data is collected used and shared as well as their choices to limit or prevent such practices Your privacy policy should also include information to maintain trans-parency and that clearly describes your organizationrsquos data security practices
Key points every privacy policy should address include
The types of personal information your organization collects This may include name address telephone number email address and credit card or other payment information
How information is secured
How personal information is used and with whom it is shared
How supporters can control the use of their data
How the privacy policy is updated and the effective date of the policy
Letrsquos take a more detailed look at the elements of a privacy policy from a nonprofit organizationrsquos perspective
Collecting personal InformationAs mentioned personal information may include data ele-ments such as name address telephone number email address and payment information It can also include more sensitive information such as gender race religious or politi-cal beliefs health information or other characteristics
The types of personal information collected and the length of retention may be used to enhance your marketing
Consumer PrivacyA Guide for Nonprofit Marketers
Bethany Lewis Privacy Analyst Epsilon
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 21
objectives by creating detailed profiles of supporters but what if that dataprofile was accessed without appropriate permis-sions or used by other organizations for purposes beyond the original intent Inappropriate generalizations might be made about supporters regardless of who has the data and the risk for reputational and other damage increases if that type of data is compromised
For example if a supporter donates to an organization that supports research of a genetic disorder should they be identified as a patient of or at risk for that same disorder Perhaps theyrsquore simply a caretaker for someone suffer-ing from that disorder Similarly if a supporter donates to a religious-based organization could assumptions around political leanings be attributed to them
Protecting information about charitable contributions is critical as is informing supporters how that information will be used which brings us to data security and the sharing of personal information
protecting personal InformationToday every organization is vulnerable when it comes to data security Protecting the personal information of supporters is essential The first line of protection is collecting only the necessary data
While creating supporter profiles evaluate the risks of storing ldquounnecessaryrdquo data especially if an incident exposes the data Set internal policies for how long each category of data collected will be retained and be diligent in deletingdestroying data in a safe and thorough manner based on those policies
Whenever possible encrypt personal data maintained electronically and enhance security on laptops and mobile devices from which supporter data is accessed
Sharing personal InformationBe very clear in your privacy policy when providing infor-mation on the types of third-parties with whom your organization shares data If you share information with third-party service providers disclose this fact and provide a categorized list of these organizations Such organizations may include credit card processors shipping vendors mar-keting analysts or consultants and fulfillment houses
If you share information with other nonprofit organi-zations disclose these practices Also disclose if you share information with marketing cooperatives whose databases are not exclusively nonprofit
Protecting
information
about
charitable
contributions
is critical
continued
22 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
providing ChoiceStudies have shown that modern consumers are more com-fortable sharing personal information with organizations that are clear and upfront about how their information is used and with whom it is shared In fact most people respond positively to organizations who transparently disclose data sharing practices and provide a clear and convenient oppor-tunity to opt-out While a small percentage of individuals will choose to opt-out of data sharing very few supporters will opt-out of all contact with an organization Therefore providing an opportunity to opt-out of sharing data for mar-keting purposes as well as an opt-out for receiving further requests from your organization will aid in retaining your most loyal supporters
Updating the privacy policyClearly state the effective date of your current privacy policy and update it when you make any material changes If you do make material changes to your privacy policy with ret-roactive application to the data you already have stored you may need to obtain express consent from individuals to use their information for new or different purposes Some organizations choose to list what changes were made in a summary history which may be helpful to a supporter reviewing the policy
Pulling It All togetherYour privacy policy should be easy to find read understand and act upon (ie opt-out or modify preferences) It should also be present in each commercial solicitation where per-sonal information is collected regardless of whether that is through postal mailings or on your website
Additional information regarding Notice Choice Trans-parency and other important privacy principles can be found on the DMA website in the Commitment to Consumer Choice and the DMA Guidelines for Ethical Business Practice
At Epsilon we use the following checklist when evaluating a privacy policy
The website has a privacy policy
There is a link to the privacy policy from the websitersquos home page and the link contains the word ldquoprivacyrdquo
The privacy policy states that the organization shares consumer data and personal information (including name address email address and transaction informa-tion) with third-party service providers
The privacy policy states that the organization shares consumer data and personal information with other marketers for their own marketing purposes
The privacy policy provides consumers the chance to opt-out of having their information shared with other marketers
The privacy policy has an ldquoeffectiverdquo date
As mentioned in situations where data is shared with other organizations and marketers transparency is the key Below is sample disclosure language
The personally identifiable information that you provide to us
(such as your name address and email address) and information
about your contribution may be combined with other non-person-
ally identifiable information (such as demographic information and
past contribution history) available from our records and other
sources This information will be used to make our future market-
ing efforts more efficient and relevant This information may also
be shared with our third-party service providers that assist us
with our marketing efforts and with other marketers whose prod-
ucts or services we feel may be of interest to you If you prefer
that we do not share your name and address with other market-
ers please email us at optoutyourorganizationorg
Beyond the Privacy PolicyIn addition to having a robust privacy policy written in concise language and that is easily accessible here are a few other best practices to secure the privacy of your sup-portersrsquo information
Ensure agreements with third-parties who may have access to supportersrsquo personal information adequately address privacy and data security
Suppress personal information in your database when a supporter requests it and do so within a reasonable timeframe
If you must store sensitive information such as credit card or social security numbers as part of your data-base encrypt this information
Train employees and volunteers regularly on the importance of maintaining privacy and security
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 23
Nonprofit Careers e-Bulletin
Your Multi-ChannelRecruiting Tool
Become familiar with data breach notification require-ments and have a response plan and team in place Should you experience a breach disclose to all appro-priate and necessary parties
Monitor the use of your data and address any enti-ties when you become aware that data is being used in a way that violates the law contractual requirements andor the DMArsquos Ethical Guidelines
Respecting and promoting consumer privacy requires a commitment to maintaining balance between the legitimate business needs of your organization and the concerns of individuals about fair information practices Start by taking a look at your current privacy policy Assure its accuracy and adhere to its strategy n
Bethany Lewis As a Privacy Analyst Bethany Lewis supports and educates associates and clients on privacy compliance matters She brings an extensive background in regulatory compliance corporate ethics education and training to her work at Epsilon
ldquoThe recruitment Tool for the Nonprofit Communityrdquo is your source for top flight exposure to top flight candidates and the best A b amp C-level career opportunities out there
Distributed every Tuesday 8 am ET via raquo Email raquo post at wwwnonprofitfederationorg raquo Facebook mdash DMA Nonprofit Federation raquo Twitter mdash DMANF and AliozDC
To view ad submission requirements visit the ldquoFind a Jobrdquo area of the DMA Nonprofit Federation homepage wwwnonprofitfederationorg and click on ldquoHow to postrdquo Ads must be emailed to Aosgoodthe-dmaorg please make sure any ad you submit meets our specifications
Is your nonprofit organization already a dual member of the DMA and DMANF If the answer is lsquoyesrsquo itrsquos FrEE mdash so why not post
Join the over 8000 professionals who already subscribe
Sign up today nonprofitfederationorgpublications careers-e-bulletinsubscribe
DMA Guidelines for Ethical Business Practice
dmaresponsibilityorgGuidelines
24 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Each week I see non-profit organizations walking away from
mobile thinking that com-municating and fundraising with their constituents through the single most used electronic device in history is optional Con-versely we see more and more retailers embracing mobile and the omnichan-nel marketing model because the results are tre-mendous We at mGive think nonprofits benefit when they embrace similar tools and methodologies
What is an omnichan-nel approach and why is it important to non-profit organizations An omnichannel approach is an integrated marketing strat-egy that creates a seamless experience for the donor
It is a customer-centric approach that elevates your supporter loyalty strategies by leveraging cross-channel opportunities For example when a donor drops off goods at their local Epilepsy Foundation they receive a paper receipt to complete Normally once they leave your location you lose any hope of communicating with them again Imagine if when the donor dropped off their goods you offered to send the donor an email version of their receipt You now have a way to engage the supporter through email Now suppose your email receipt offered a web link that drove them to a form to opt-in to your mobile community in order to receive updates via text
Once they opt-in you then have a way to send updates volunteer requests dona-tion reminders and more You may also leverage the fact they are on the mobile phone and send text mes-sages asking supporters to post a photo to Facebook making a donation Having this omnichannel strat-egy in place is especially critical at the end of year because it is an opportune time for organizations to increase membership and raise dollars
So how does an organization create an omnichannel approach that leverages direct mail email online social media live events and mobile to achieve their goals It may be difficult for some orga-nizations to make the
operational shift to an omnichannel model but that doesnrsquot mean you can afford to ignore it Not sure you can get all the steps in place by the time you launch your end of year activities Mobile is the bridge that can help to start that process In fact more and more organizations are relying on their mobile strategy to bridge the gap and engage supporters in this multi-screen world because mobile is the ldquogreat centralizerrdquo of activities ndash where else can you make calls browse the web check email respond to text mes-sages post to social media and more in a truly porta-ble fashion
Before we move on to the tactics that an organiza-tion can take to incorporate
Mobile
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 25
mobile into their existing multi-channel strategies we must tackle one issue If your organization has tried mobile or an omnichan-nel approach in the past and were disappointed or frustrated with your expe-rience try again You were one of the pioneering orga-nizations that comprise the early adopters of those models Lessons learned over the past few years have evolved into success-ful best practices mdash and you get the opportunity to benefit from them As we like to say in honor of the wise Master Yoda ldquoTry not Do or do not There is no tryrdquo We guarantee if imple-mented correctly using mobile in an omnichannel approach can work for your organization
1 Communicate and Integrate mdash Walk Across the Mobile Bridge
Many organizations that I work with have voiced cross-departmental integra-tion as a challenge That is understandable because tra-ditionally departments or channels have been siloed from one another But this disenfranchised model does not result in the seam-less experience that donors are coming to expect In order for a donor experi-ence to be seamless direct mail must complement the organizationrsquos website the organizationrsquos website must complement the mobile campaign social media must complement direct mail and so forth and so on When used together
the communication chan-nels can result in more effective campaigns and bigger numbers
When an organization decides to develop a mobile strategy generally it is one department within that organization that is initially interested That department is a hero because they have just launched a toolset that can be used throughout the organization If you have a mobile program in place for fundraising itrsquos time to talk with your program services department mem-bership team and corporate partner folks and get them in the loop so that you can maximize the omnichannel approach Mobile can be a great catalyst for initiating conversation and guiding organizational integration
Mobile is also a great way to increase the effec-tiveness of existing channels By integrating your direct mail newslet-ter social media online and mobile efforts you can increase response and open rates We have found that if you send a text message to your membership remind-ing them to check their email inboxes you can increase email open rates by 10 or more Addition-ally if you include a mobile number field on your email and paper member-ship forms you can quickly build a mobile community that can turn into repeat donors Once again the most important element besides the actual cross
the Bridge to an omnichannel Approach in time for Year-End Campaigns
continued
Jenifer Snyder Esq Executive Director The mGive Foundation and Cassie Bair Vice President of Marketing Mobile Accord
26 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
channel promotion goes back to this concept of the omnichannel Make the message consistent across all channels They donrsquot have to be identical but they should complement each other and work to create an echo effect
Just about every one of your donors will experience your organization through their mobile device at some point mdash so make sure your message is clear consistent convenient and actionable through mobile in some capacity
2 test Review Adjust Implement Review Adjust mdash and Repeat
Once you have an inte-grated strategy in place itrsquos time to implement Whether the goal is to acquire new donors reactivate lapsed donors and drive donations from existing donors mdash or all three mdash test your cam-paign Take time to review the results and adjust accordingly Then imple-ment full scale confident you are on the right path Regularly review your results adjust your activities and repeat as needed
In preparation for end of year activities take the time in the Fall to tweak your marketing engine for optimal performance Do some zero based plan-ning and try to approach
the supporter experience as if you are the supporter Spend time on every avenue where you can wisely create a seamless experience
Everyone in philan-thropy knows that the majority of all charitable donations are made in the last 2 months of the year Additionally member-ship increases substantially during the last quarter of the year Spend time now identifying opportunities strategies and tactics that work best for you mdash and consider how mobile can be a centralizing point for many of these activities
3 Apply the Winning Methodologies to Your End of Year Appeals
Yoursquove tested tweaked and determined what works best for you Now inte-grate what yoursquove learned into your end of year cam-paigns Determine how your campaign follows stan-dard best practices for end of year appeals and where mobile can help drive that engagement across multiple mediums
Common best practices for end of year campaigns that can include mobile
A Sending multiple asks the final week of the year mdash Make sure text messages are a part of that effort Whether itrsquos a simple call-to-action to text
a donation drives people to a pledge page or some-thing all-together different mobile can help ramp up that seamless experience
B the Art of the ldquothank Yourdquo mdash Thank your sup-porters Use mobile to message supporters your appreciation when they take action through text or drive them to a webpage with a video with a celeb-rity spokesperson giving a thank you message But make sure they know repeatedly that what they do for your cause matters And keep in mind mobile can drive to a strong ldquothank yourdquo experience
C Share Ask Listen mdash Take the opportunity to tell a story ask for feed-back and listen to what your organization is being told Not sure how to do that in mobile Share a link to a news article through text Ask for feedback through social media And listen to what is being said while distilling insights from how supporters respond in order to strengthen your omnichannel approach
4 Continue into 2013 mdash You are set for success
As donors enter the New Year self-improve-ment will often include a
commitment to be a better person volunteer more donate more funds etc Use mobile as a data col-lection tool to help your donors achieve their goal Give them the opportunity to commit to goals pertain-ing to your cause and then become their coach Send monthly reminders of their commitment and words of encouragement Remind them about appointments invite them to share their experience and overall let the donor feel the effect of their selfless promise through all of their activi-ties while using mobile to centralize that community and to drive people to action
We now live in a world where the average person at any given moment is looking at two or more screens It is critical that nonprofit organizations embrace the multi-screen world and adopt the omnichannel or fully integrated model When you create a seam-less giving experience for the everyday philanthropist you will be amazed at the results Walking away from a mobile strategy today is like walking away from the internet in the early 2000s
Mobile is here to stay and it is not an elective component to your orga-nizationrsquos fundraising and engagement strategy Itrsquos an essential part of a successful omnichannel strategy for your end of year activities n
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 27
Jenifer Snyder Esq Executive Director The mGive Foundation
As Executive Director of The mGive Foun-dation Jenifer is dedicated to expanding the scope and reach of the mobile channel for social good She brings years of lead-ership experience in the mobile industry to the position Previously Jenifer was a founder and General Counsel for 9 Squared Inc a mobile content and ser-vices company subsequently acquired by the Zed Group She left Zed in 2007 and started building the mobile channel for social and charitable efforts and later formed The mGive Foundation
Cassie bair Vice president of Marketing Mobile Accord
As Vice President of Marketing for Mobile Accord Cassie is dedicated to educat-ing and empowering nonprofits regarding the power of mobile She combines years of marketing experience in the nonprofit industry with the exciting evolution of the mobile channel for social good Cassie has worked with organizations such as the American Heart Association American Institute of Architects and the American Society of Echocardiography developing integrated and cause marketing cam-paigns and uses that knowledge today with clients to help them maximize their mobile strategy
Name
OrganizationCompany
Address
City State Zip Code
Charge my m Visa m MasterCard m AmEx m Discover
Card Number Expiration Date
Signature
raquo FAX form to 2026284383 (do not email credit card information)
raquo MAIL form to Alicia Osgood Director Membership amp Communications DMA Nonprofit Federation 1615 L Street NW Suite 1100 Washington DC 20036
raquo MAKE ChECKS payable to the DMA Nonprofit Federation
raquo DMA Nonprofit Federation Federal Tax ID Number 13-1810859
News and cutting-edge professional development tips
SUBSCRIBEto the Journal today1year =3 issues
ONLY $35Published digitally in January Apriland September the Journal brings together nonprofit leaders to deliver a standout publication packed with content you can really use
No cost to members
28 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Consumer technology evolves so quickly that nonprof-its are constantly racing to get their organizations using the latest technologies and mediums In fact many of these innovations have had significant impact on the fundrais-ing community While online CRM systems for example spawned database segmentation capabilities the opportu-nity ndash and challenge ndash arose for fundraising professionals to target appeals precisely to donorsrsquo specific interests Lately the emergence and rapid popularity of technologies such as smartphones and social media have forced nonprofits to not only create a presence but essentially compete for shrinking donor funds using these vehicles
The primary focus of nonprofit technology however tends to be inward creating a presence in a particular social media community or simply using the technology on behalf of the organization Examples of this include a nonprofitrsquos Facebook page and Twitter account and mobile-friendly
web sites In todayrsquos competitive fundraising environment though itrsquos not enough for nonprofits to simply use the latest technology Successful fundraisers understand that a nonprofitrsquos relationship with technology needs to take one step beyond itself to focus outward how do your sup-porters and donors want to use technology on behalf of your organization
Donors have technology preferences and habits too While itrsquos great for organizations to have a Facebook page for sup-porters to ldquolikerdquo that offers news and updates for example this doesnrsquot offer an opportunity for donors to appeal to their friends and family on behalf of your nonprofit mdash and certainly doesnrsquot raise money As nonprofits have learned to quickly adapt to changing technology and social media standards the time has come for organizations to evolve the technology they offer to provide donors supporters and par-ticipants with a personalized fundraising experience
Get Personal Providing Supporters with Personalized Fundraising Experiences
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 29
Personalization Means EngagementAt a fundamental level donor personalization in fun-
draising emerged from some of the first online nonprofit fundraising systems Offering supporters the opportunity to send personalized fundraising emails to their friends and family was revolutionary in its time mdash as was offering custom individual and team fundraising web pages
While these technology offerings revolutionized event fundraising donors have become increasingly savvy in the way they interact online mdash and developed strong preferences and dislikes in the types of technology they use They want the technology they know and like to be at their fingertips and are more likely to fundraise and successfully so for your nonprofit if itrsquos made easy and accessible for them
Back to Basics mdash But BetterNonprofits have been so consumed by social media that
they often forget this simple fact participants who use online tools raise six times more than non-users according to Blackbaud In addition 25 percent of the fundraising emails supporters send to their friends result in a donation With the average online gift being $60 nonprofits have motiva-tion not to forget about the basics of online fundraising But in the age of increasing competition for donations nonprof-its that offer a more personalized fundraising experience to supporters may see better results
What does it mean to offer a personalized fundrais-ing experience For online fundraising pages it can mean offering them the opportunity to post pictures videos story content and individual fundraising status updates But itrsquos essentially the personalization options offered behind the scenes mdash in the personal ldquoHeadquartersrdquo page within an online fundraising system mdash that can really maximize fun-draising results
Savvy nonprofits are offering a multitude of ways within their online fundraising systems for supporters to choose to reach out to friends and family Offering more than the email capabilities found standard with most fundraising plat-forms some nonprofits are starting to provide supporters more options in their personal participant ldquoheadquartersrdquo pages to engage those in their network mdash all with the click of a button Opportunities for supporters to personalize their experience could include options to
Send a Facebook message
Tweet their fundraising page
Update their Facebook status
Send a quick email
In addition statistics about their personal fundraising process could tell them
Total emails sent
Visits to their personal fundraising pages
Number of donations
Number of registrations
Average amount raised per email sent
Number of additional emails needed to reach fundraising goal
And because no one participant is the same these per-sonalization options allow the supporter to interact and engage their network on behalf of the nonprofit in ways that are meaningful and comfortable to them
Beyond the Facebook PageThe nonprofit community has taken Facebook by storm as an avenue to engage supporters and attract donors But itrsquos important to look beyond how supporters want to interact with your nonprofit and understand how they want to in-teract with their social network Itrsquos within this framework that supporters choose mdash or choose not mdash to engage their network on your organizationrsquos behalf
So make it easy for them provide them with a variety of ways to use several social media tools to reach out and fund-raise for your nonprofit Let them decide how they fundraise With 845 million monthly active users and 100 billion con-nections Facebook for example provides an excellent platform for nonprofits mdash and their fundraisers mdash to expand fundraising reach In fact Blackbaudrsquos web site states that social media users raise 40 more than non-users But most
continued
John Murphy PresidentCEo and Founder Zuri Group
30 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
organizations make the mistake of relying on participants to send their own appeals and updates or worse provide cum-bersome tools that require multiple logins and steps
Some enthusiastic fundraisers will thrive in this envi-ronment Others wonrsquot Since each supporter is unique itrsquos important to provide several varying opportunities and options so that a personalized fundraising experience can be forged For many fundraisers asking for donations isnrsquot easy All participants want to raise money but many donrsquot feel comfortable asking outside of close friends and family Other fundraisers donrsquot have the time or creativity to regu-larly develop and update personalized Facebook messages Use technology to help overcome these challenges by creat-ing easy ways for them to raise more money using Facebook
To take the effort out of Facebook fundraising remove the discomfort of a direct ldquoaskrdquo and save fundraisers time some nonprofits are offering supporters the option for fun-draising updates that automatically post on their Facebook wall at pre-determined intervals throughout the fundraising season For the right supporter this option removes the dis-comfort of approaching potential donors with a direct ldquoaskrdquo while significantly expanding their fundraising reach
Mobilizing the troopsAccording to a 2011 study consumers spend more time
on mobile applications than on the web In addition Ameri-cans spend 27 hours per day on average socializing on their mobile phones Nonprofits have been hard at work to lever-age the trend toward mobile by creating mobile-friendly web sites and even apps to further engage supporters But what about the mobile interaction that takes place between sup-porters and their friends The key is for nonprofits to make it accessible and easy for fundraisers to use their everyday technologies and devices to fundraise within their own networks By providing fundraising options that enable sup-porters to simply use something they already use such as a smartphone to connect with people they already interact with fundraising becomes a more natural and personalized part of the supporterrsquos day
To provide a more personalized and convenient fun-draising experience some nonprofits are offering mobile fundraising apps that enable supporters to not only use their smartphones to fundraise but to fundraise using multiple technologies within the smartphone mdash such as email text Twitter Facebook and even FaceTime for iPhone users As a result supporters can fundraise for the organization from their homes the train while walking the dog mdash anytime they have their phone
By empowering supporters to personalize their fundrais-ing experience nonprofits that provide mobile fundraising apps help their fundraisers help them These organizations are meeting the needs of on-the-go fundraising participants so they can focus on spreading awareness soliciting dona-tions and thanking donors mdash on their time on their terms In fact itrsquos been reported that fundraising participants using mobile fundraising applications raise 200 more than other participants and bring in 300 more gifts by count that other participants
In addition some mobile fundraising apps are provid-ing further personalization by bringing some of the same features of the personalized online ldquoheadquartersrdquo to the smartphone such as fundraising thermometers and adding donors into their phone address book Pre-written fundrais-ing messages developed specifically for various mediums such as texts Twitter updates and emails can be used Editing personal fundraising pages from the smartphone is likely the next option nonprofits will start offering
the Personalization ChallengeAs nonprofits compete in the race to adopt new technolo-
gies and social media itrsquos important to take a step back and consider your supportersrsquo relationship with those channels Many nonprofits have a Facebook page or group but how are your fundraisers using Facebook Are you making it easy for them to advocate or fundraise for your organization If much of your donor base uses text messaging have you pro-vided easy access and tools for them to text their network on your behalf
Supporters want and frankly need a personalized online experience with your organization Go beyond the bounds of your interactive relationship and consider what would enable your supporter base to have a more personalized fundrais-ing experience mdash and then put those tools at their fingertips They and their network mdash will thank you n
John Murphy is the PresidentCEO and Founder of Zuri Group Zuri Group provides nonprofits with custom technology solutions to meet critical organizational needs such as fundraising using their existing platform For more info visit zurigroupcom
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 31Non-Profit_FullPageAd_OLindd 1 91312 417 PM
32 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
9 Centennial Drive
Peabody MA 01960-7906
Tel 8003707500
wwwamergentcom
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Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 33
Looking to Affordably Grow Your Donor Fileand Increase Contributions
We Can HelpWiland Direct is the nationrsquos 1 transactional database for fundraisers
Using our vast transactional data and powerful models Wiland Direct helps fundraisers to
bull Affordably acquire new donors bull Maximize contributions from existing donors bull Reactivate former donorsbull Identify the most likely activists and volunteersbull Convert inquirers petition signers and other ldquowarm leadsrdquo into donors
To learn more please contact John Spencer at 9703106378 or via email at jspencerwilanddirectcom
3034858686 wwwWilandDirectcomCopyright 2012 Wiland Direct All rights reserved
ldquoThe Wiland Direct database has been a solid performer for LLS with higher average gifts and lower cost per dollar raised than most Itrsquos opened up a new acquisition universe particularly important for a mature program Wersquore very pleased with the results and team support from Wilandrdquomdash Bruny Lynch The Leukemia amp Lymphoma Society
34 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
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Contact annesagecommunicationscom or call 508-309-6678 x 1 for a no-obligation quote
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Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 35
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36 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
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Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 37
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Get it todaynonprofitfederationorgethics-policy watchdog-resource-centerwatchdog-toolkit
38 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
1
2
3
A
B
C
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 3
Dear Readers
Save the date The 2013 Washington Nonprofit Conference takes place February 7-8 at the Renaissance Washington DC Downtown Hotel Advance registration is now open For details see Page 7 of this Journal
DMA amp DMANF continue to lead the way in efforts to protect the charitable deduction amp nonprofit postal rate Our success on all fronts is due to an overwhelming response from the
nonprofit dual membership of the DMA amp DMANF on amp off the DMAAction site Thank you amp please keep it up by answering our calls for action via our email member alerts Regardless of what happens with the November elections be ready to answer our calls
Remember that if you received this Journal by way of forward from someone outside your nonprofit or company that your organization or company must have a member-ship (nonprofit organizations) or Corporate Partnership (for-profit agencies amp suppliers) to receive DMA Nonprofit Federation member benefits Visit the membership section of
our website to view pricing amp benefits information
In this edition of the Journal
A special section devoted to the 2012 New York Nonprofit Conference with photos amp Seth ldquoYossirdquo Siegelrsquos informative amp inspirational keynote address
The DMA Nonprofit Federation Ethics Committeersquos Fundraising Ethics Guide for the Small Nonprofit mdash a useful reminder for all nonprofits
Xenia ldquoSennyrdquo Boone Esquirersquos Policy Scorecard
Masterworksrsquo Bob Ball on crafting an Extreme Donor-Focused Newsletter
Epsilonrsquos Bethany Lewis breaks down consumer privacy for nonprofit marketers
The mGive Foundationrsquos Jenifer Snyder Esquire amp Mobile Accordrsquos Cassie Bair on crossing the mobile bridge to an omnichannel approach
Zuri Grouprsquos John Murphy with how getting personal yields big gains
I hope you enjoy this edition of the Journal amp thank you for your continued support of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Warm regards
Managing Editor AOsgoodthe-dmaorg
DMANF membershipnonprofitfederationorgmembership
DMAAAction dmaaactionorg
Letter from the Editor
David Fischer
Matt Annerino John Werner
Britta Schell Elizabeth Francis
Chris Anderson
Special $599 Nonprofit Rate
Use Code NPDM
dma12org
The Global Event forReal-Time Marketers
DMA2012 October 13 ndash 18 2012 Mandalay Bay | Las Vegas
(COME GET YOURS)QUALITY FACE TIME
4 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
1 Be committed to donor satisfaction and responsible environmental community and financial stewardship
2 Clearly honestly and accurately represent our mission Be trans-parent in providing donors information on the use of funds and our leadership team
3 Communicate in a respectful and courteous manner Acknowledge a donorrsquos contributions appropriately and in a timely manner while respecting a donorrsquos right to privacysup1
4 Be accessible via multiple channels (mail email phone and possibly others) and respond to inquiries and complaints in a constructive timely way
5 Maintain appropriate security policies and practices to safeguard donor informationsup2
6 Provide information on our policies about the sharing of personally identifiable information to third-parties for marketing purposes and always honor requests not to have information shared
7 Honor donorsrsquo rights to choose which channels we communicate to them in (direct mail email telemarketing and others) and the frequency of communication
8 When partnering with businesses disclose the percentage or dollar amount of a sale which is a charitable contribution
9 Make a best effort not to solicit to children and abide by parentsrsquo requests to have childrenrsquos names excluded from solicitationssup3
10 Follow the spirit and letter of the law as well as DMArsquos Guidelines for Ethical Business Practice
Fundraising Ethics Guide for the Small NonprofitIn engaging with donors to fulfill our organizationrsquos mission we will
EthICS CoMMIttEE
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 5
NOTES
sup1Read more at irsgovpubirs-pdfp1771pdf or irsgovpubirs-pdfp526pdf
sup2An overview of PCI Security Standards Council definition of PCI compliance pcisecuritystandardsorg security_standardsindexphp
sup3Guidelines for solicitingmarketing to children as outlined by the Childrenrsquos Advertising Review Unit caruorgguidelinesguidelinespdf
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Better Business Bureau Standards for Charitable Accountability
bbborgusstandards-for- charity-accountability
Independent Sector Principles for Good Governance and Ethical Practice (account required to access)
independentsectororgprinciples_guide_summarys=Principles2Guide
Donor Bill of Rights as agreed upon by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP) the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) and the Giving Institute
nonprofitfederationorgsitesdefaultfileswebDonorBillofRightspdf
Standards for Excellence An Ethics and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector Available through this site and others
wvhuborgstandards-excellence-ethics-and-accountability-code-nonprofit-sector
DMA Nonprofit Federation Ethical Guidelines for Fundraising amp Other Nonprofit Communications
nonprofitfederationorgsitesdefaultfilesDMANF20Guidelines20Annot_Cleaned_Feb202012pdf
6 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Xenia ldquoSennyrdquo Boone Esq
Status Nonprofits are successfully preserving the char-itable tax deduction for individuals Donors who itemize their taxes may now write off up to 35 percent of the amount spent on charitable gifts President Obama included a pro-posed limit on the charitable tax deduction in his FY 2011 budget to change the deduction from 35 to 28 for couples making $250000 or on individuals making $200000 stating this would raise $1798 billion over 10 years to help pay for government programs The reduction was part of the plan to help pay for health reform but it did not pass and the Administration again articulated its desire to trim back the deduction during the deficit reduction debate and Super Committee process In January 2012 the Administration took a step back President Obama was clear in his State of the Union address that he will no longer seek a reduction in the amount that high earners may deduct from their taxes for charitable donations However the President also said that those making more than $1 million should be required to pay at least 30 percent of their income in taxes Then in an accompanying document ldquothe Administration will work to ensure that this rule is implemented in a way that is equi-table including not disadvantaging individuals who make large charitable contributionsrdquo While this represents a great step forward deficit reduction proposals are on the table which include changes to the charitable tax deduction One such proposal converts the deduction to a tax credit which would in turn cost the charitable community $108 billion in donations
please help us preserve the charitable tax deduction View our petition at wwwchangeorgpetitionspresident-obama-save-the-charitable-tax-deduction and sign on
DMANF Policy ScorecardThe DMA Nonprofit Federation protects and defends nonprofit fundraising across all marketing channels We preserve the char-itable tax deduction and protect nonprofit postal rates The following is a quick summary of our recent activities on your behalf
Status Nonprofit mailers faced a major rate hike via a reduction in the nonprofit preferred rate discount in Section 403 of HR 2309 a bill by California Rep Darrell Issa Issa chairs the Committee that oversees the USPS The bill stalled as a result of thousands of letters sent by dual DMA amp DMANF members On October 13 2011 the House Oversight and Government Reform (OGR) Committee amended amp passed the Postal Reform Act (HR 2309) out of Committee Section 403 was modi-fied by Chairman Issa based on charitiesrsquo concerns but it is still not supportable The nonprofit rate discount as originally proposed in Section 403 of HR 2309 would have been a 50 percent increase phased in over six years A later Issa version would hold off on a rate increase for 3 years amp then increase nonprofit rates each year by 2 until the nonprofit rate preference is at 80 versus the current law of 60 Issa now says the provision will be removed from the bill entirely mdash good news
we strongly oppose any change to the existing nonprofit rate preference as it does nothing to aid the USpS
To participate in the Federationrsquos grassroots activities email SBoonethe-dmaorg or phone 2028612498
For the latest on issues impacting our sector and the entire marketing space sign up for Direct from Washington by emailing governmentthe-dmaorg
Charitable taxdeduction
Postal legislation and nonprofit mailing rates
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 7
your newsletterdoesnrsquot need to be
the rodney dangerfield
of your fundraising
program
Bob Ball Executive Creative Director Masterworks
8
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 9
Pity the poor newsletterIf there is one component of nonprofit fundraising pro-
grams that is consistently overlooked and undervalued itrsquos the newsletter
Like the late comedian Rodney Dangerfield newsletters ldquodonrsquot get no respectrdquo
All too often the newsletter is just an afterthought Newsletters are not expected to raise a lot of money and all too often they meet those low expectations
Over the years Irsquove seen a lot of different kinds of news-letters from nonprofit organizations Therersquos the No-Ask Newsletter that simply reports accomplishments This type doesnrsquot raise money because it doesnrsquot even try
The No-Ask Newsletter may be of some long-term value by closing the loop with the donor But most of the time this species talks about what the organization has accomplished and how effective it is This information may reinforce pre-vious giving but the No-Ask Newsletter does not motivate immediate new donations
Other newsletters are nothing more than fundraising appeals thinly disguised in newsletter clothing In my expe-rience this type of hard-Ask Newsletter does raise some revenue but in most cases not as effectively as straightfor-ward appeals
Another variety is the institutionally focused Navel-Gazing Newsletter written for insiders
Without the accountability that comes from revenue expectations newsletter strategy becomes fuzzy This leads to one of the worst dangers the loss of audience focus
It is very common for newsletters to attempt to serve many different masters These All-things-to-All-People Newsletters are created for several different audiences in addition to donors For example some organizations use their newsletter to communicate with donors volunteers employees board members and even the general public This desire to be all things to all audiences makes it difficult to effectively focus on any single audience
When the newsletter devolves to this point it usually doesnrsquot make anyone happy and slides into irrelevancy
In recent years my colleagues and I have resolved to do something about this sorry state of the newsletter We started by attacking the problem at the root We decided to reverse the diffused audience focus and create newsletters with an obsessive laser-like focus on donors
The result is the Extreme Donor-Focused Newslet-ter It is aimed squarely at the donor In fact it is all about the donor
This approach assumes donors give because they love to give and love to make a significant difference in the world It combines reporting back about what the donors have accomplished and offers them a clear opportunity to give again
We had considerable inspiration to draw on Back in the 1990s and early 2000s I worked at a feisty little Seattle agency called The Domain Group that preached donor loyalty and started making newsletters raise money In fact in some cases newsletters made more money than appeals
Domain was the subject of an acquisition and is long gone now but that experience lives on today to give hope that newsletters can be better My former Domain col-league Jeff Brooks who writes the blog Future Fundraising Now is a strong advocate for donor focus Long-time fun-draiser and blogger Tom Ahern has also written brilliantly on this topic
The accumulated experience gave me the confidence that it was really possible to build a better newsletter and the inspiration to keep tinkering I wanted to shake off the curse of Rodney Dangerfield once and for all
Then the perfect opportunity to test these theories fell into my lap One of my current clients asked us to test against an internally produced newsletter
This was one of those test situations you dream about Head-to-head A-B panels set up for a statistically valid test and spread over 3 different newsletter mail slots
The internal newsletter was a classic blend of the All-things-to-All-People and the Navel-Gazing News-letters It was aimed at a wide variety of constituents and contained a lot of organizationally focused stories It did ask for donations but not consistently
The results of the test were gratifying with the Extreme Donor-Focused Newsletter showing dramatic improve-ment across the board
419 lift in response 195 lift in average gift 521 lift in revenue
continued
10 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
1 Write to the donor for the donor about the donor This is not objective arms-length journalism This is not the organization talking about itself to organization insiders This is a warm conversation with the donor about the things he or she is most interested in The main point of the newsletter is to share what the donorrsquos giving has done Itrsquos all about him or her
2 Ensure a high ldquoyourdquo quotient The copy is written directly to the donor using the second person singular The most frequent word in the copy and headlines should be ldquoyourdquo Take the time to count the number of times you use ldquoyourdquo and ldquoyourrdquo If you donrsquot have enough rewrite the copy to make sure you have not lost your donor focus
3 touch the heart with strong emotion The newsletter needs to stir the donorrsquos heart Make the donor feel something Tell stories of amazing accomplishment that the donorrsquos generosity helped make possible Use vivid language with strong active verbs and concrete nouns Dramatic emotional photos are worth their weight in gold As Ahern says ldquoA newsletter might be more welcome than an appeal It can bring joy It can bring fun It can take the reader on a journeyrdquo
4 Surprise and delight This is a ldquonewsletterrdquo so it needs to have something new in it Tell the donor something fascinating that he or she does not already know The initial reaction of the donor upon first glance should be a big smile because his or her giving has made something wonderful happen One of the pitfalls of newsletter publishing is falling into a rut One of my favorite fun-draising aphorisms is ldquoYou canrsquot bore anybody into givingrdquo But millions of really boring newsletters are mailed each year Irsquove often seen a great jump in performance of a newsletter immediately after it is given an overhaul and a fresh design But within just a few months performance tends to slip and fall back to the previously level Keeping the newsletter fresh does not mean that you must start from scratch each month Establishing a basic design template for your newsletter is mandatory This not only helps with efficiency but also maintains brand consistency But we also demand that every newsletter be fresh and delightful You can keep it fresh with fresh content Great photos help But you can also mix up the look through the use of color Make sure your brand has a full palette of secondary colors and use them
We followed some simple principles as we created those winning newsletters You can put them into practice with your own designs
TEN prINCIpAlS To CrEATE yoUr owN
extreme donor-focused newsletter
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 11
Bob Ball is the Executive Creative Director of Masterworks He has been trying not to bore donors since 1993
5 Appreciate the donor One of the major themes of the newsletter needs to be how important the donor is ldquoLook at what you have accomplished With your help we can do all this Without your help we will not be able to do itrdquo Look for ways to use the words ldquoThank yourdquo over and over again Itrsquos almost impossible to over-thank donors (And remember this is not merely a report back about what the organization was able to accomplish This is all about what the donor has accomplished through their generosity Whenever you have the opportunity to influence the gathering of photo resource have beneficiaries hold up signs that say ldquoThank Yourdquo That is the most powerful and direct way to close the loop between the donor and the people who are actually being helped
6 Design for readability Remove all unnecessary barriers to readability and com-prehension Use a large readable serif font for body copy Readability studies have shown that serif fonts are superior to sans serif fonts for body copy on the printed page A lot of designers love sans serif fonts because of their clean look and because they are trendy but this is not a matter of taste If you want your body copy to be read and comprehended use a nice serif font All body copy should pass the ldquodollar billrdquo test (You should not be able to lay a dollar bill on any expanse of body copy without touching a headline photo or subhead) No large blocks of reversed out type No busy backgrounds behind copy Make the layout ldquoscannablerdquo with large photos headlines subheads and pull-quotes
7 Motivate another gift Donors love to give and you should not be ashamed to ask them to give again While most of the newsletter space is devoted to thanks and apprecia-tion the newsletter needs to give the donor a way to repeat their charitable behavior This means making a clearly stated offer that donors have supported in the past
8 Make it convenient to give The newsletter should include a response device and a return envelope If online giving is possible the URL for the giving page should be clearly presented in case that is the donorrsquos preferred giving channel
9 Appeal to the most basic donor benefit Giving is joyful I canrsquot emphasize the importance of this simple fact Donors mdash real donors mdash love to give Your faithful loyal donors are the people who give over and over again and keep giving They are not stingy grouches who must be cajoled and manipulated into reluctantly parting with their money No Real donors have discovered the secret of true happiness and all they need is the assurance that their giving is appreciated and effective This key message should be explicitly stated ldquoNothing feels better than when you help When you give to accomplish XYZ you know the joy of making a significant differ-ence in the worldrdquo
10 Refresh and re-engage Nothing about the newsletter should be a chore for the reader The whole publication is a joyful celebration of what the donor has made possible By the time he or she is finished reading the newsletter he or she should be energized and eager to do more
If you follow these 10 principles you will have your own Extreme Donor-Focused Newslet-ter and your fundraising program should enjoy increased revenue and donor retention And whatrsquos more your newsletter will finally get the respect it deserves n
12 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Grand Hyatt New York
Conference attendees
mixed mingled amp noshed
on delicious appetizers
at Butterfield 8
2012 New York Nonprofit Conference
July 25ndash26 2012Grand Hyatt New York
New York NY
Grand Hyatt New York
Conference attendees
mixed mingled amp noshed
on delicious appetizers
at Butterfield 8
(Left to right)
DMA Nonprofit Federation Advisory Council Chair
Brian Cowart of Disabled American Veterans (DAV)
2012 New York Nonprofit Conference Keynote
Speaker Seth ldquoYossirdquo Siegel of Sixpoint Partners
DMA Nonprofit Federation Advisory Council Vice
Chair tom harrison of Russ Reid Company
The Nature Conservancyrsquos Chief Marketing Officer Geof Rochester
amp Director of Membership Fundraising Begontildea Vaacutezquez-Santos
with TNCrsquos Nonprofit Organization of the Year award
Congratulations to The Nature Conservancy
13
14 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Thank you Tom Har-rison for such a lovely introduction The philos-opher who said that there is no praise higher than to be esteemed by those you esteem perfectly captures my reaction I appreci-ate your idea of inviting me mdash someone from outside your industry mdash to speak before your group But it is you Tom and several of your colleagues at Russ Reid who have largely taught me what I know about this industry
It is truly a special plea-sure being with all of you here today and the size of the audience notwithstand-ing getting to meet with you
To some extent I feel like I know many of you in this room To be sure many of you already know me mdash and even more of you knew my father My being here today allows me to close the circle and reciprocate many years of your outreach to me and my father Let me explain
My wife and I have been married for 32 years When we got married we didnrsquot have a lot more than the wedding gifts we had received but from our first days together we shared an interest in learning about charities that could use our support and we often would send in small donations in response to this mailing or that Soon thereafter mdash and this will surprise exactly no one in this room mdash we began getting mailings from more charities and we had the
opportunity to learn about yet more worthy organiza-tions As time interest and available cash allowed we would donate to yet others Then along the way as my business grew we stepped out of the direct mail uni-verse and got involved with a more manageable number of causes as volunteers and a somewhat larger number as donors but directly and in amounts more likely to be the fruit of a call or a meeting or a solicitation over a meal or in our home We still get some mail solicita-tions Some of it is likely the distant tail from donations made long ago and a bit of it may be thanks to gifts made in support of some of our friendsrsquo childrenrsquos walk-a-thon participations or similar creative requests for funds But in the main our mail box no longer has the volume of requests for support that it once did
In my opening remarks I made mention of my father Now if my wife and I have received mail from some of you I can go out on a limb and say that my father got mail from nearly all of you Before I share my fatherrsquos direct mail experience Id like to tell you a bit about him
My father mdash Benjamin Siegel in case you are check-ing to see if his name is in your database mdash was born to immigrant parents here in Manhattan Despite his American birth he spoke
Seth ldquoYossirdquo Siegel
2012 New York Nonprofit Conference
KeynoteAddress
July 25 2012
vvv
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 15
no English until he started kindergarten His child-hood can only be described as hard and deprived with his parents being members of the working poor their entire lives Yet despite their poverty he recalled a blue-and-white tin charity box in his kitchen into which his mother would put a few coins every week late on Friday afternoon before the start of the Jewish Sabbath His parents werenrsquot reli-giously observant but his mother would make a char-itable donation of some kind every week for even poorer Jews living in what is now Israel
I would have to describe my father as angry a lot of the time And Id also have to say that it would be hard to find someone more cynical about institutions and whole professions than my father He thought all doctors were to use his word quacks He thought all lawyers were again to use his word shy-sters He loathed politicians He was dubious about the esteem given to Jewish clergy and I cant believe he had any special regard for the clergy of any other faith He was part of the Greatest Generation and talked his way into World War II after he was rejected on medical grounds and spent most of the war in Europe including landing on Omaha Beach on D-Day Plus 1 And even so he was often dismissive of the thought and planning
of our own military leaders especially what he thought of as the cavalier misuse of troops
Despite his being a one-man protest machine he utterly hated protest move-ments and anything that smacked of them I could go on but I think you get the picture This was a man of complete cynicism seem-ingly trusting no one He made a hard honest living and lived a life with no frills and few vacations Meals out in restaurants were a very special event By any stan-dard by which we measure comfort or luxury my father and mother had few check marks in that imaginary list
But family history aside there was a reason Ive just told you all of this
After my father died in 2004 some many years after my mother and stepmother had both passed away it fell to me to go through his effects and to pack up his things I donrsquot know how many of you here have ever had that task It is a melan-choly one with many small items serving to remind you of moments in the rela-tionship In addition it can be a startling one learning things about your deceased parent and achingly wishing you could have them back for even a few moments to explain what something meant or to ask why they had never told you about some just discovered element of their lives
For me the startling element I discovered was how my father mdash the utter cynic mdash was mdash within his means mdash a philanthropist and donor of a scope that is still remarkable to me You see when I opened the bottom drawer of his dresser the entire drawer was filled with note pads and boxes of seasonal cards from dozens and dozens of charities My first thought standing in his empty bedroom was ldquoTo whom was he planning on writing so many notesrdquo When I opened the next drawer it was filled with per-sonalized mailing labels from dozens of charities mdash possi-bly the same charities I donrsquot know but possibly not mdash but I knew that if he ever got around to sending out all of those notes and cards he would never have to write his return address on any of those envelopes As I con-tinued the packing up in his bedroom kitchen closets and elsewhere I found other institutional gifts from other charities like tote bags mugs umbrellas and so on almost all of them still in their orig-inal packaging
When I cleaned out his small desk I found his checkbook and sat at his desk to go through his check register and other check reg-isters going back years and years There were payments made to credit card compa-nies and utilities and taxes but overwhelmingly the checks were made payable
to one charity after another The amounts mdash as you pro-fessionals would guess from the pads and the pre-printed mailing labels mdash were all small Most of them were for ten dollars some for twenty-five and in a nod to the Jewish mystical belief in the specialness of numbers that are multiples of eigh-teen he had written plenty of checks to Jewish organiza-tions and causes for eighteen and thirty-six dollars
Also remarkable was the range of organizations to which he donated As I mentioned he gave to a broad array of Jewish and pro-Israel organizations but he also gave to commu-nity groups environmental groups hunger organiza-tions veterans groups and health-related organizations including hospitals hospices and disease-focused causes He even gave to animal shelter organizations mdash and he had never had a pet of his own
So how could it be that this most utterly cynical man a man who watched his pennies his whole life could have been a small-scale Roth-schild and Rockefeller in the range and expansiveness of his giving Of course wersquoll never know for sure but in trying to develop an answer to this there are lessons for those of us in this room who care about the not-for-profit world whether profession-ally as communal activists or as donors
continued
16 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
The first two possibili-ties that come to mind that Id like to quickly dismiss are that my father liked the idea that he could get something of value for what may have seemed for free It is possible but my father was a very prac-tical man and at some point he must have realized that well into his 80s he had such an ample supply of holiday cards and return address labels that he would never be able to use up the inventory The other thought was that he simply liked getting mail and he knew how the system worked Send in a check and the one envelope becomes two or three or ten Send in one hundred checks and he had his weekends filled reading through all of the mail he had received during the past week That is possi-ble but my father also died with a significant backlog of unread magazines so Im going to rule that out too
The explanation Ive come up with is that my father may have been a cynic but that he wanted to believe He may have thought most every institution and public figure not worthy of being trusted but he may still have yearned to be able to trust that some others out there cared deeply about society and elements of it and that he wanted to be part of the efforts to make the world a proverbially better place He despised a lot of things gen-erally but seemed to like a lot of things specifically
And from that insight I think there is some very good news for many of you here today I know from Tom Harrison that you are all worried about the crummy economy that shows no sign of quickly returning to robust times And Tom has also shared with me a worry about the viability of the US Postal Service and its ability to offer reduced mailing rates for the fore-seeable future And Tom has also told me that my fatherrsquos generation is dying off and not being quickly replaced by a new demographic cohort that reads mail and sends in money Plus there are environmental ques-tions about harvesting trees for the mailings and some compelling proof that people respond less well to email solicitations than they did to requests delivered via their mail boxes But aside from all of those structural impediments my fatherrsquos behavior offers some very special opportunities for those charities and organi-zations able to reach out and speak personally to the next waves of donors
If my father was a skepti-cal cynical guy in the Ozzie and Harriet 1950s and 60s he was a full generation ahead of where people are today and Id like to take a minute or two to explain what I mean
People today are fright-ened angry cynical even often despairing The
overwhelming feeling is that few institutions are working well Our political system just isnrsquot garnering wide-spread support and in these unsettling times people want leaders and insti-tutions that can fix their problems No matter who wins the presidential elec-tion in November there is little widespread belief we will come together as a society to fix our problems It may happen but people donrsquot believe it And the poll numbers reflect this Pres-ident Obama mdash who came into office on a promise of hope and change and of transformation of our political culture and which initially yielded him an approval rating of 67 mdash has had an approval rating that has been below 50 since November 2009 and is now at 47 If the president has problems in garnering the publicrsquos trust that he can solve their problems Con-gress as an institution is doing far far worse with an approval rating of 23 The US Supreme Court enjoys an approval rating of only 35 These numbers for the president and for the legisla-tive and judicial branches of government actually under-state the problem The poll number of those who call themselves ldquofrustrated or angry with the federal gov-ernmentrdquo comes in at a frightening 79 President Obama may win re-elec-tion but it likely wont be a
unifying election We have a divided government at a polarized partisan moment of utterly different and con-tradictory views of how to solve the problems at hand Given the enormity of the problems mdash from the economy to the deficit to the debt to Iranrsquos nuclear program to the rise of radical Islamism to the rise of China and its likelihood to be a destabilizing force and many many more prob-lems mdash the likelihood our country will be dispirited and detached from politics is larger than it is smaller
Staying with our politi-cal system for just another moment we have another problem Because people are angry and have a near con-stant ldquothrow the bums outrdquo feeling about our elected offi-cials we are going through a period of uncommon insta-bility in our government institutions
Most people believe that incumbents come to office and tend to leave only when they die But it just isnrsquot true Whether because of the Tea Party or because of burn-out by elected officials the level of turnover in Washington is a big and growing problem In just the past five Congres-sional elections which is to say in the past ten years a remarkable 54 of the US Senate has been replaced If that number seems impos-sibly high for institutional stability in the House of Representatives the turnover
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 17
in that same period has been 68 Due to announced retirements and defeats in primaries we already know that in the coming Senate and House to be sworn in next January no fewer than 11 current Senators and 60 current Congressmen and Congresswomen will not be returning mdash and that assumes not a single incum-bent will lose in a single race in the remaining pri-maries and the General Election That means at least a 65 turnover in the US Senate and a more than 80 turnover in the House of Representatives in a mere 12-year period Think of your own organizations and what a turnover of that mag-nitude would mean to your ability to do your institu-tional job let alone having to grapple with many of the enormous challenges I mentioned a moment ago and many others I did not mention Thus the roiling public environment is more likely to stay roiled for some time to come than it is likely to return to some idealized period of harmony
Not to belabor the point but to also make sure that we understand that the problem of popular unease is broader than belief in our national government let me share just a few poll numbers to demonstrate my point Our confidence in hospitals and our doctors is now at 41 which is bad enough but HMOs are at 19 Public
schools have the confidence of only 29 of the people in our country Newspapers taken together have the con-fidence of just 25 of the American people But falling even lower than newspapers TV news comes in at 21 And labor unions banks and major corporations are all tied with the confidence of just one in five Ameri-cans at around 20 Even organized religion falls below the 50 mark at 44
Indeed the only three institutions regularly polled about by Gallup to be above the 50 mark are our police departments at 56 small business at 63 and our fighting men and women in the US military at 75 And finally in what many people believe is the most important general view of how people feel the Right Track Wrong Track poll Rasmussen reports 30 of Americans think our country is on the right track
and 64 believe our country is on the wrong track
In case you werenrsquot a statistics major in college let me boil all of these poll results down to just this one short statement and it is this My father was ahead of his time Just as my father didnrsquot trust or like just about any institution the American people now donrsquot much trust or like any institution with
the exception of police military and
small busi-ness In
nearly every other
case the institu-tion Ive mentioned is at or
near an all-time low since these Gallup Institutional Confidence polls began being conducted in 1973
But I think there is a second key learning from all of this bad news that is actu-ally very good news for some of you but definitely not all of you and that is this Just as my father had very low confidence in government and other mass institutions yet managed to turn himself
into a check-writing ma-chine for many many not-for-profits so too can your organization or your clients The not-so-profound insight is that even the most angry frustrated cynical skeptical misanthrope wants to believe It was true of mis-anthropes when Moliere wrote a play by that name in the 1660s It was true of my father And Id bet a dona-tion to any of your causes that it is true today even with a Right Track Wrong Track poll that has double the number of Wrong Trackers over Right Trackers People want to believe People want to love People know they wont live for forever and people want to see the world better both today in their lifetimes and tomor-row when it is their legacy This is true for mega donors who will be honored at fancy dinners in hotel ballrooms like this and for ten dollar donors who look forward to the return address labels you all will send to them
So with the crummy economy the dicey state of the Postal Service the demo-graphic hump working against low-dollar donors and all of the other problems direct marketers face my money is on the significant success of some of the orga-nizations that are here today Of course the structural challenges make it harder but is it harder today than it was in my grandmotherrsquos
vvvThe not-so-profound insight is that even
the most angry frustrated cynical skeptical
misanthrope wants to believehellipPeople know they
wont live for forever and people want to see the
world better both today in their lifetimes and
tomorrow when it is their legacy
vvv
continued
18 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
walk-up tenement apart-ment in which every Friday afternoon she found a way to donate to people she knew she would never meet who were living in a place she knew she would never see She believed in the enterprise afoot in what is today Israel a place on the other side of the world and she trusted that the coins in her little blue-and-white tin box would be used wisely and honorably All the same must have been true about my father and the many causes to which he wrote those checks And the same is true of millions and millions of people waiting to be touched and to form a connection with a cause larger than themselves a cause they can make their own in a way best thought of as an I-Thou relationship
For those of you unfa-miliar with the phrase I and Thou let me start by telling you it is a concept that changed my life It was coined by the philoso-pher and theologian Martin Buber Despite his being a theologian it is a concept that isnt inherently reli-gious even if it works well in every faith tradition and also works well in a purely secular context It works well for couples who have long been together and remark-ably it works well when soliciting gifts from near-strangers It is an approach to living a happy satisfying life So with that build up let
me tell you about I and Thou and about Martin Buber
Buber was born in Austria but moved to Germany in his teens to pursue his education In the 1920s he wrote his most famous work ldquoI and Thourdquo which although somewhat obscure today helped to establish his reputation as a leading German thinker of his time When the Nazis came to power in 1933 as a Jew he was prohibited from teaching at the uni-versity where he had been a professor and in 1938 just ahead of the start of the mass murder of 90 of Euro-pean Jewry Buber made his way to the British Mandate where he became a professor in Jerusalem When the State of Israel came into being in 1948 Buber was an esteemed philosopher revered by the young nation It is hard to imagine a philosopher having this kind of fame and impact but when he died in 1965 it was the lead news story of the day in Israel and a major story in The New York Times and other world newspapers
According to Buber there are two kinds of rela-tionships I-Thou and I-It The idea underpinning these concepts is best explained by examples as every single person in this room has experienced I-Thou and I-It relationships In an I-Thou relationship we are as one Your destiny is my destiny
even if only for a moment In the I-It relationship the parties are in a transac-tion I have turned the other party into an object to help me to achieve something that I want Indeed we all have I-Thou relationships and I-It relationships all the time mdash and we often have these disparate relationships within moments of each other and often with the very same person If this room were smaller and more inti-mate I could randomly call on anyone and have you give examples of I-Thou and I-It relationships in your own life But Ill use my own life as an example
I love my wife very much I am happy to come home at the end of the workday and to hear about her day and what is new and for her to hear about my day That is an I-Thou moment But while sitting with her my stomach starts to growl I become distracted Im not think-ing about her but about the dinner I know she has prepared Im hungry and want to eat She becomes an object a means to an end an I-It Wersquove all had that expe-rience or one like it
But just because Im getting something I want from her mdash or from anyone mdash doesnrsquot mean it has to be an I-It moment In that exact same scenario it could just as well have been an I-Thou moment by a change in my behavior even
with the same outcome that dinner will be served and my hunger abated Instead of single-mindedly think-ing about food in its place I could have interrupted the conversation to tell her that Im hungry I could have offered to set the table while we keep talking And most importantly I could keep reminding myself that she has spent time and trouble thinking about dinner and preparing it and that I have no entitlement to her having done this and how fortunate I am that she has If I do all of that it is more likely we will have an I-Thou relationship that evening than a transac-tional I-It one
Even with people we love I-Thoursquos and I-Itrsquos flit back and forth across some imaginary spectrum with engagement and other-directedness on one side and selfishness and self-direct-edness on the other We all have instincts for both sides of that spectrum and the challenge is to take the harder path the path where we direct the moment away from ourselves and our selfish wants and needs to that of the person present before us and our shared experience
As I indicated earlier this isnrsquot just true of deep long-lasting relationships It can be true of the waiter who serves you dinner the bellman who helps you with your bags even with a
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 19
passing stranger on a line to get into somewhere Every encounter has the oppor-tunity to be an I-Thou or an I-It and the challenge is for each of us to constantly remind ourselves of the humanity of the person with whom we engage
I and Thou isnrsquot just for people It is also true of believing peoplersquos relation-ship with God and also true of organizations and how they relate to people In my experience Ive found it even true of inanimate objects even if that may take it beyond Buberrsquos own con-ception So how do Martin Buber and his I and Thou relate to you all as direct mar-keters and as fundraisers for your worthy organizations
Everyone knows when they are in an I and Thou moment You feel the link and the joy that comes from the link But people also know when they are being used as a means to an end
when they are the ldquoItrdquo in an I-It relationship People may give you what you want when they are in an I-It rela-tionship with you and you may give your counter-party what they seek too but we all know that feeling of sadness or emptiness within when someone you are with mdash a co-worker a boss a spouse a child even a clerk on the phone at a call center mdash treats you as an object to get some-thing achieved and not as an opportunity to feel your humanity and for you to feel theirs even if for a fleeting moment
And the same Ill say is true about the relationship between a potential donor and your organization Those organizations that stand for somethinghellip Those organizations that donrsquot treat their donors as objects like walking checkbookshellip Those organizations that take the time to engage with their prospects Indeed
those organizations that donrsquot even necessarily start by asking for something it is those organizations who I believe will find a wide universe of people eager to believe and eager to be part of the organizationrsquos mission An I-Thou relation-ship doesnrsquot mean we never ask the other party for some-thing It is about how and when we ask Just as we will have a different outcome with our spouses children and co-workers when we are building off of an I-Thou relationship rather than an I-It so too will we have a different outcome when we approach our donors as part-ners as people we care about exactly as much whether they donate or not It is from that soulful relationship that donors will want to support one organization over an-other and one cause over another no matter how angry or frustrated or cynical they are about the larger world
around them That is how I believe the next genera-tion of donors will come to support many but not all of our organizations
When my father died I had the Postal Service forward his mail to my home address In the nearly eight years since his passing Ive received hundreds of mail-ings maybe more I often open the solicitations to try to get a feel for the kinds of causes and organizations my father would have been spending his time learning about and possibly support-ing So while some recipients of your mailings may think of your output as junk mail I couldnrsquot be more apprecia-tive Each envelope serves to remind me that the cynical side of my father was only a side and that when properly touched even a hard man could respond
Thank you all very much for your attention n
copy 2012 Seth M Siegel Reproduction with authorrsquos consent only All rights reserved
Looking for an agency or supplier to help your organization reachnew heights
Access the DMANFrsquos Directory of Service providers
nonprofitfederationorgcorporate-partnerssearch
20 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Nonprofit organizations face unique marketing chal-lenges Theyrsquore tasked with identifying and reaching the right people at the right time and through
the appropriate channels as well as balancing message appeals with monetary requests all while conveying their mission and cause The rapid expansion of the internet social networking and mobile have placed yet another demand front-and-center for nonprofit organizations mdash con-sumer privacy
Consumers are justly concerned about divulging their personal information They want to know where why and how their information will be used Many are unaware that their personal information is collected in a variety of ways and by a variety of sources both online and offline Common but often misunderstood data practices include third-party ad servers setting cookies retail stores matching names and addresses with phone numbers and marketers sharing customer lists
In todayrsquos complex marketplace how can nonprofit organizations demonstrate to their supporters donors and prospects that they share their concerns and are commit-ted to protecting their privacy The first and most important step is to create a clear privacy policy and communicate it effectively
the Privacy PolicyIf your organization collects uses and or stores personal donor information a privacy policy is critical You must display your privacy policy on your website and strictly abide by it
Privacy policies are structured around Notice and Choice principles They should provide supporters with notice of
how their data is collected used and shared as well as their choices to limit or prevent such practices Your privacy policy should also include information to maintain trans-parency and that clearly describes your organizationrsquos data security practices
Key points every privacy policy should address include
The types of personal information your organization collects This may include name address telephone number email address and credit card or other payment information
How information is secured
How personal information is used and with whom it is shared
How supporters can control the use of their data
How the privacy policy is updated and the effective date of the policy
Letrsquos take a more detailed look at the elements of a privacy policy from a nonprofit organizationrsquos perspective
Collecting personal InformationAs mentioned personal information may include data ele-ments such as name address telephone number email address and payment information It can also include more sensitive information such as gender race religious or politi-cal beliefs health information or other characteristics
The types of personal information collected and the length of retention may be used to enhance your marketing
Consumer PrivacyA Guide for Nonprofit Marketers
Bethany Lewis Privacy Analyst Epsilon
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 21
objectives by creating detailed profiles of supporters but what if that dataprofile was accessed without appropriate permis-sions or used by other organizations for purposes beyond the original intent Inappropriate generalizations might be made about supporters regardless of who has the data and the risk for reputational and other damage increases if that type of data is compromised
For example if a supporter donates to an organization that supports research of a genetic disorder should they be identified as a patient of or at risk for that same disorder Perhaps theyrsquore simply a caretaker for someone suffer-ing from that disorder Similarly if a supporter donates to a religious-based organization could assumptions around political leanings be attributed to them
Protecting information about charitable contributions is critical as is informing supporters how that information will be used which brings us to data security and the sharing of personal information
protecting personal InformationToday every organization is vulnerable when it comes to data security Protecting the personal information of supporters is essential The first line of protection is collecting only the necessary data
While creating supporter profiles evaluate the risks of storing ldquounnecessaryrdquo data especially if an incident exposes the data Set internal policies for how long each category of data collected will be retained and be diligent in deletingdestroying data in a safe and thorough manner based on those policies
Whenever possible encrypt personal data maintained electronically and enhance security on laptops and mobile devices from which supporter data is accessed
Sharing personal InformationBe very clear in your privacy policy when providing infor-mation on the types of third-parties with whom your organization shares data If you share information with third-party service providers disclose this fact and provide a categorized list of these organizations Such organizations may include credit card processors shipping vendors mar-keting analysts or consultants and fulfillment houses
If you share information with other nonprofit organi-zations disclose these practices Also disclose if you share information with marketing cooperatives whose databases are not exclusively nonprofit
Protecting
information
about
charitable
contributions
is critical
continued
22 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
providing ChoiceStudies have shown that modern consumers are more com-fortable sharing personal information with organizations that are clear and upfront about how their information is used and with whom it is shared In fact most people respond positively to organizations who transparently disclose data sharing practices and provide a clear and convenient oppor-tunity to opt-out While a small percentage of individuals will choose to opt-out of data sharing very few supporters will opt-out of all contact with an organization Therefore providing an opportunity to opt-out of sharing data for mar-keting purposes as well as an opt-out for receiving further requests from your organization will aid in retaining your most loyal supporters
Updating the privacy policyClearly state the effective date of your current privacy policy and update it when you make any material changes If you do make material changes to your privacy policy with ret-roactive application to the data you already have stored you may need to obtain express consent from individuals to use their information for new or different purposes Some organizations choose to list what changes were made in a summary history which may be helpful to a supporter reviewing the policy
Pulling It All togetherYour privacy policy should be easy to find read understand and act upon (ie opt-out or modify preferences) It should also be present in each commercial solicitation where per-sonal information is collected regardless of whether that is through postal mailings or on your website
Additional information regarding Notice Choice Trans-parency and other important privacy principles can be found on the DMA website in the Commitment to Consumer Choice and the DMA Guidelines for Ethical Business Practice
At Epsilon we use the following checklist when evaluating a privacy policy
The website has a privacy policy
There is a link to the privacy policy from the websitersquos home page and the link contains the word ldquoprivacyrdquo
The privacy policy states that the organization shares consumer data and personal information (including name address email address and transaction informa-tion) with third-party service providers
The privacy policy states that the organization shares consumer data and personal information with other marketers for their own marketing purposes
The privacy policy provides consumers the chance to opt-out of having their information shared with other marketers
The privacy policy has an ldquoeffectiverdquo date
As mentioned in situations where data is shared with other organizations and marketers transparency is the key Below is sample disclosure language
The personally identifiable information that you provide to us
(such as your name address and email address) and information
about your contribution may be combined with other non-person-
ally identifiable information (such as demographic information and
past contribution history) available from our records and other
sources This information will be used to make our future market-
ing efforts more efficient and relevant This information may also
be shared with our third-party service providers that assist us
with our marketing efforts and with other marketers whose prod-
ucts or services we feel may be of interest to you If you prefer
that we do not share your name and address with other market-
ers please email us at optoutyourorganizationorg
Beyond the Privacy PolicyIn addition to having a robust privacy policy written in concise language and that is easily accessible here are a few other best practices to secure the privacy of your sup-portersrsquo information
Ensure agreements with third-parties who may have access to supportersrsquo personal information adequately address privacy and data security
Suppress personal information in your database when a supporter requests it and do so within a reasonable timeframe
If you must store sensitive information such as credit card or social security numbers as part of your data-base encrypt this information
Train employees and volunteers regularly on the importance of maintaining privacy and security
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 23
Nonprofit Careers e-Bulletin
Your Multi-ChannelRecruiting Tool
Become familiar with data breach notification require-ments and have a response plan and team in place Should you experience a breach disclose to all appro-priate and necessary parties
Monitor the use of your data and address any enti-ties when you become aware that data is being used in a way that violates the law contractual requirements andor the DMArsquos Ethical Guidelines
Respecting and promoting consumer privacy requires a commitment to maintaining balance between the legitimate business needs of your organization and the concerns of individuals about fair information practices Start by taking a look at your current privacy policy Assure its accuracy and adhere to its strategy n
Bethany Lewis As a Privacy Analyst Bethany Lewis supports and educates associates and clients on privacy compliance matters She brings an extensive background in regulatory compliance corporate ethics education and training to her work at Epsilon
ldquoThe recruitment Tool for the Nonprofit Communityrdquo is your source for top flight exposure to top flight candidates and the best A b amp C-level career opportunities out there
Distributed every Tuesday 8 am ET via raquo Email raquo post at wwwnonprofitfederationorg raquo Facebook mdash DMA Nonprofit Federation raquo Twitter mdash DMANF and AliozDC
To view ad submission requirements visit the ldquoFind a Jobrdquo area of the DMA Nonprofit Federation homepage wwwnonprofitfederationorg and click on ldquoHow to postrdquo Ads must be emailed to Aosgoodthe-dmaorg please make sure any ad you submit meets our specifications
Is your nonprofit organization already a dual member of the DMA and DMANF If the answer is lsquoyesrsquo itrsquos FrEE mdash so why not post
Join the over 8000 professionals who already subscribe
Sign up today nonprofitfederationorgpublications careers-e-bulletinsubscribe
DMA Guidelines for Ethical Business Practice
dmaresponsibilityorgGuidelines
24 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Each week I see non-profit organizations walking away from
mobile thinking that com-municating and fundraising with their constituents through the single most used electronic device in history is optional Con-versely we see more and more retailers embracing mobile and the omnichan-nel marketing model because the results are tre-mendous We at mGive think nonprofits benefit when they embrace similar tools and methodologies
What is an omnichan-nel approach and why is it important to non-profit organizations An omnichannel approach is an integrated marketing strat-egy that creates a seamless experience for the donor
It is a customer-centric approach that elevates your supporter loyalty strategies by leveraging cross-channel opportunities For example when a donor drops off goods at their local Epilepsy Foundation they receive a paper receipt to complete Normally once they leave your location you lose any hope of communicating with them again Imagine if when the donor dropped off their goods you offered to send the donor an email version of their receipt You now have a way to engage the supporter through email Now suppose your email receipt offered a web link that drove them to a form to opt-in to your mobile community in order to receive updates via text
Once they opt-in you then have a way to send updates volunteer requests dona-tion reminders and more You may also leverage the fact they are on the mobile phone and send text mes-sages asking supporters to post a photo to Facebook making a donation Having this omnichannel strat-egy in place is especially critical at the end of year because it is an opportune time for organizations to increase membership and raise dollars
So how does an organization create an omnichannel approach that leverages direct mail email online social media live events and mobile to achieve their goals It may be difficult for some orga-nizations to make the
operational shift to an omnichannel model but that doesnrsquot mean you can afford to ignore it Not sure you can get all the steps in place by the time you launch your end of year activities Mobile is the bridge that can help to start that process In fact more and more organizations are relying on their mobile strategy to bridge the gap and engage supporters in this multi-screen world because mobile is the ldquogreat centralizerrdquo of activities ndash where else can you make calls browse the web check email respond to text mes-sages post to social media and more in a truly porta-ble fashion
Before we move on to the tactics that an organiza-tion can take to incorporate
Mobile
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 25
mobile into their existing multi-channel strategies we must tackle one issue If your organization has tried mobile or an omnichan-nel approach in the past and were disappointed or frustrated with your expe-rience try again You were one of the pioneering orga-nizations that comprise the early adopters of those models Lessons learned over the past few years have evolved into success-ful best practices mdash and you get the opportunity to benefit from them As we like to say in honor of the wise Master Yoda ldquoTry not Do or do not There is no tryrdquo We guarantee if imple-mented correctly using mobile in an omnichannel approach can work for your organization
1 Communicate and Integrate mdash Walk Across the Mobile Bridge
Many organizations that I work with have voiced cross-departmental integra-tion as a challenge That is understandable because tra-ditionally departments or channels have been siloed from one another But this disenfranchised model does not result in the seam-less experience that donors are coming to expect In order for a donor experi-ence to be seamless direct mail must complement the organizationrsquos website the organizationrsquos website must complement the mobile campaign social media must complement direct mail and so forth and so on When used together
the communication chan-nels can result in more effective campaigns and bigger numbers
When an organization decides to develop a mobile strategy generally it is one department within that organization that is initially interested That department is a hero because they have just launched a toolset that can be used throughout the organization If you have a mobile program in place for fundraising itrsquos time to talk with your program services department mem-bership team and corporate partner folks and get them in the loop so that you can maximize the omnichannel approach Mobile can be a great catalyst for initiating conversation and guiding organizational integration
Mobile is also a great way to increase the effec-tiveness of existing channels By integrating your direct mail newslet-ter social media online and mobile efforts you can increase response and open rates We have found that if you send a text message to your membership remind-ing them to check their email inboxes you can increase email open rates by 10 or more Addition-ally if you include a mobile number field on your email and paper member-ship forms you can quickly build a mobile community that can turn into repeat donors Once again the most important element besides the actual cross
the Bridge to an omnichannel Approach in time for Year-End Campaigns
continued
Jenifer Snyder Esq Executive Director The mGive Foundation and Cassie Bair Vice President of Marketing Mobile Accord
26 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
channel promotion goes back to this concept of the omnichannel Make the message consistent across all channels They donrsquot have to be identical but they should complement each other and work to create an echo effect
Just about every one of your donors will experience your organization through their mobile device at some point mdash so make sure your message is clear consistent convenient and actionable through mobile in some capacity
2 test Review Adjust Implement Review Adjust mdash and Repeat
Once you have an inte-grated strategy in place itrsquos time to implement Whether the goal is to acquire new donors reactivate lapsed donors and drive donations from existing donors mdash or all three mdash test your cam-paign Take time to review the results and adjust accordingly Then imple-ment full scale confident you are on the right path Regularly review your results adjust your activities and repeat as needed
In preparation for end of year activities take the time in the Fall to tweak your marketing engine for optimal performance Do some zero based plan-ning and try to approach
the supporter experience as if you are the supporter Spend time on every avenue where you can wisely create a seamless experience
Everyone in philan-thropy knows that the majority of all charitable donations are made in the last 2 months of the year Additionally member-ship increases substantially during the last quarter of the year Spend time now identifying opportunities strategies and tactics that work best for you mdash and consider how mobile can be a centralizing point for many of these activities
3 Apply the Winning Methodologies to Your End of Year Appeals
Yoursquove tested tweaked and determined what works best for you Now inte-grate what yoursquove learned into your end of year cam-paigns Determine how your campaign follows stan-dard best practices for end of year appeals and where mobile can help drive that engagement across multiple mediums
Common best practices for end of year campaigns that can include mobile
A Sending multiple asks the final week of the year mdash Make sure text messages are a part of that effort Whether itrsquos a simple call-to-action to text
a donation drives people to a pledge page or some-thing all-together different mobile can help ramp up that seamless experience
B the Art of the ldquothank Yourdquo mdash Thank your sup-porters Use mobile to message supporters your appreciation when they take action through text or drive them to a webpage with a video with a celeb-rity spokesperson giving a thank you message But make sure they know repeatedly that what they do for your cause matters And keep in mind mobile can drive to a strong ldquothank yourdquo experience
C Share Ask Listen mdash Take the opportunity to tell a story ask for feed-back and listen to what your organization is being told Not sure how to do that in mobile Share a link to a news article through text Ask for feedback through social media And listen to what is being said while distilling insights from how supporters respond in order to strengthen your omnichannel approach
4 Continue into 2013 mdash You are set for success
As donors enter the New Year self-improve-ment will often include a
commitment to be a better person volunteer more donate more funds etc Use mobile as a data col-lection tool to help your donors achieve their goal Give them the opportunity to commit to goals pertain-ing to your cause and then become their coach Send monthly reminders of their commitment and words of encouragement Remind them about appointments invite them to share their experience and overall let the donor feel the effect of their selfless promise through all of their activi-ties while using mobile to centralize that community and to drive people to action
We now live in a world where the average person at any given moment is looking at two or more screens It is critical that nonprofit organizations embrace the multi-screen world and adopt the omnichannel or fully integrated model When you create a seam-less giving experience for the everyday philanthropist you will be amazed at the results Walking away from a mobile strategy today is like walking away from the internet in the early 2000s
Mobile is here to stay and it is not an elective component to your orga-nizationrsquos fundraising and engagement strategy Itrsquos an essential part of a successful omnichannel strategy for your end of year activities n
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 27
Jenifer Snyder Esq Executive Director The mGive Foundation
As Executive Director of The mGive Foun-dation Jenifer is dedicated to expanding the scope and reach of the mobile channel for social good She brings years of lead-ership experience in the mobile industry to the position Previously Jenifer was a founder and General Counsel for 9 Squared Inc a mobile content and ser-vices company subsequently acquired by the Zed Group She left Zed in 2007 and started building the mobile channel for social and charitable efforts and later formed The mGive Foundation
Cassie bair Vice president of Marketing Mobile Accord
As Vice President of Marketing for Mobile Accord Cassie is dedicated to educat-ing and empowering nonprofits regarding the power of mobile She combines years of marketing experience in the nonprofit industry with the exciting evolution of the mobile channel for social good Cassie has worked with organizations such as the American Heart Association American Institute of Architects and the American Society of Echocardiography developing integrated and cause marketing cam-paigns and uses that knowledge today with clients to help them maximize their mobile strategy
Name
OrganizationCompany
Address
City State Zip Code
Charge my m Visa m MasterCard m AmEx m Discover
Card Number Expiration Date
Signature
raquo FAX form to 2026284383 (do not email credit card information)
raquo MAIL form to Alicia Osgood Director Membership amp Communications DMA Nonprofit Federation 1615 L Street NW Suite 1100 Washington DC 20036
raquo MAKE ChECKS payable to the DMA Nonprofit Federation
raquo DMA Nonprofit Federation Federal Tax ID Number 13-1810859
News and cutting-edge professional development tips
SUBSCRIBEto the Journal today1year =3 issues
ONLY $35Published digitally in January Apriland September the Journal brings together nonprofit leaders to deliver a standout publication packed with content you can really use
No cost to members
28 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Consumer technology evolves so quickly that nonprof-its are constantly racing to get their organizations using the latest technologies and mediums In fact many of these innovations have had significant impact on the fundrais-ing community While online CRM systems for example spawned database segmentation capabilities the opportu-nity ndash and challenge ndash arose for fundraising professionals to target appeals precisely to donorsrsquo specific interests Lately the emergence and rapid popularity of technologies such as smartphones and social media have forced nonprofits to not only create a presence but essentially compete for shrinking donor funds using these vehicles
The primary focus of nonprofit technology however tends to be inward creating a presence in a particular social media community or simply using the technology on behalf of the organization Examples of this include a nonprofitrsquos Facebook page and Twitter account and mobile-friendly
web sites In todayrsquos competitive fundraising environment though itrsquos not enough for nonprofits to simply use the latest technology Successful fundraisers understand that a nonprofitrsquos relationship with technology needs to take one step beyond itself to focus outward how do your sup-porters and donors want to use technology on behalf of your organization
Donors have technology preferences and habits too While itrsquos great for organizations to have a Facebook page for sup-porters to ldquolikerdquo that offers news and updates for example this doesnrsquot offer an opportunity for donors to appeal to their friends and family on behalf of your nonprofit mdash and certainly doesnrsquot raise money As nonprofits have learned to quickly adapt to changing technology and social media standards the time has come for organizations to evolve the technology they offer to provide donors supporters and par-ticipants with a personalized fundraising experience
Get Personal Providing Supporters with Personalized Fundraising Experiences
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 29
Personalization Means EngagementAt a fundamental level donor personalization in fun-
draising emerged from some of the first online nonprofit fundraising systems Offering supporters the opportunity to send personalized fundraising emails to their friends and family was revolutionary in its time mdash as was offering custom individual and team fundraising web pages
While these technology offerings revolutionized event fundraising donors have become increasingly savvy in the way they interact online mdash and developed strong preferences and dislikes in the types of technology they use They want the technology they know and like to be at their fingertips and are more likely to fundraise and successfully so for your nonprofit if itrsquos made easy and accessible for them
Back to Basics mdash But BetterNonprofits have been so consumed by social media that
they often forget this simple fact participants who use online tools raise six times more than non-users according to Blackbaud In addition 25 percent of the fundraising emails supporters send to their friends result in a donation With the average online gift being $60 nonprofits have motiva-tion not to forget about the basics of online fundraising But in the age of increasing competition for donations nonprof-its that offer a more personalized fundraising experience to supporters may see better results
What does it mean to offer a personalized fundrais-ing experience For online fundraising pages it can mean offering them the opportunity to post pictures videos story content and individual fundraising status updates But itrsquos essentially the personalization options offered behind the scenes mdash in the personal ldquoHeadquartersrdquo page within an online fundraising system mdash that can really maximize fun-draising results
Savvy nonprofits are offering a multitude of ways within their online fundraising systems for supporters to choose to reach out to friends and family Offering more than the email capabilities found standard with most fundraising plat-forms some nonprofits are starting to provide supporters more options in their personal participant ldquoheadquartersrdquo pages to engage those in their network mdash all with the click of a button Opportunities for supporters to personalize their experience could include options to
Send a Facebook message
Tweet their fundraising page
Update their Facebook status
Send a quick email
In addition statistics about their personal fundraising process could tell them
Total emails sent
Visits to their personal fundraising pages
Number of donations
Number of registrations
Average amount raised per email sent
Number of additional emails needed to reach fundraising goal
And because no one participant is the same these per-sonalization options allow the supporter to interact and engage their network on behalf of the nonprofit in ways that are meaningful and comfortable to them
Beyond the Facebook PageThe nonprofit community has taken Facebook by storm as an avenue to engage supporters and attract donors But itrsquos important to look beyond how supporters want to interact with your nonprofit and understand how they want to in-teract with their social network Itrsquos within this framework that supporters choose mdash or choose not mdash to engage their network on your organizationrsquos behalf
So make it easy for them provide them with a variety of ways to use several social media tools to reach out and fund-raise for your nonprofit Let them decide how they fundraise With 845 million monthly active users and 100 billion con-nections Facebook for example provides an excellent platform for nonprofits mdash and their fundraisers mdash to expand fundraising reach In fact Blackbaudrsquos web site states that social media users raise 40 more than non-users But most
continued
John Murphy PresidentCEo and Founder Zuri Group
30 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
organizations make the mistake of relying on participants to send their own appeals and updates or worse provide cum-bersome tools that require multiple logins and steps
Some enthusiastic fundraisers will thrive in this envi-ronment Others wonrsquot Since each supporter is unique itrsquos important to provide several varying opportunities and options so that a personalized fundraising experience can be forged For many fundraisers asking for donations isnrsquot easy All participants want to raise money but many donrsquot feel comfortable asking outside of close friends and family Other fundraisers donrsquot have the time or creativity to regu-larly develop and update personalized Facebook messages Use technology to help overcome these challenges by creat-ing easy ways for them to raise more money using Facebook
To take the effort out of Facebook fundraising remove the discomfort of a direct ldquoaskrdquo and save fundraisers time some nonprofits are offering supporters the option for fun-draising updates that automatically post on their Facebook wall at pre-determined intervals throughout the fundraising season For the right supporter this option removes the dis-comfort of approaching potential donors with a direct ldquoaskrdquo while significantly expanding their fundraising reach
Mobilizing the troopsAccording to a 2011 study consumers spend more time
on mobile applications than on the web In addition Ameri-cans spend 27 hours per day on average socializing on their mobile phones Nonprofits have been hard at work to lever-age the trend toward mobile by creating mobile-friendly web sites and even apps to further engage supporters But what about the mobile interaction that takes place between sup-porters and their friends The key is for nonprofits to make it accessible and easy for fundraisers to use their everyday technologies and devices to fundraise within their own networks By providing fundraising options that enable sup-porters to simply use something they already use such as a smartphone to connect with people they already interact with fundraising becomes a more natural and personalized part of the supporterrsquos day
To provide a more personalized and convenient fun-draising experience some nonprofits are offering mobile fundraising apps that enable supporters to not only use their smartphones to fundraise but to fundraise using multiple technologies within the smartphone mdash such as email text Twitter Facebook and even FaceTime for iPhone users As a result supporters can fundraise for the organization from their homes the train while walking the dog mdash anytime they have their phone
By empowering supporters to personalize their fundrais-ing experience nonprofits that provide mobile fundraising apps help their fundraisers help them These organizations are meeting the needs of on-the-go fundraising participants so they can focus on spreading awareness soliciting dona-tions and thanking donors mdash on their time on their terms In fact itrsquos been reported that fundraising participants using mobile fundraising applications raise 200 more than other participants and bring in 300 more gifts by count that other participants
In addition some mobile fundraising apps are provid-ing further personalization by bringing some of the same features of the personalized online ldquoheadquartersrdquo to the smartphone such as fundraising thermometers and adding donors into their phone address book Pre-written fundrais-ing messages developed specifically for various mediums such as texts Twitter updates and emails can be used Editing personal fundraising pages from the smartphone is likely the next option nonprofits will start offering
the Personalization ChallengeAs nonprofits compete in the race to adopt new technolo-
gies and social media itrsquos important to take a step back and consider your supportersrsquo relationship with those channels Many nonprofits have a Facebook page or group but how are your fundraisers using Facebook Are you making it easy for them to advocate or fundraise for your organization If much of your donor base uses text messaging have you pro-vided easy access and tools for them to text their network on your behalf
Supporters want and frankly need a personalized online experience with your organization Go beyond the bounds of your interactive relationship and consider what would enable your supporter base to have a more personalized fundrais-ing experience mdash and then put those tools at their fingertips They and their network mdash will thank you n
John Murphy is the PresidentCEO and Founder of Zuri Group Zuri Group provides nonprofits with custom technology solutions to meet critical organizational needs such as fundraising using their existing platform For more info visit zurigroupcom
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 31Non-Profit_FullPageAd_OLindd 1 91312 417 PM
32 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
9 Centennial Drive
Peabody MA 01960-7906
Tel 8003707500
wwwamergentcom
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Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 33
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We Can HelpWiland Direct is the nationrsquos 1 transactional database for fundraisers
Using our vast transactional data and powerful models Wiland Direct helps fundraisers to
bull Affordably acquire new donors bull Maximize contributions from existing donors bull Reactivate former donorsbull Identify the most likely activists and volunteersbull Convert inquirers petition signers and other ldquowarm leadsrdquo into donors
To learn more please contact John Spencer at 9703106378 or via email at jspencerwilanddirectcom
3034858686 wwwWilandDirectcomCopyright 2012 Wiland Direct All rights reserved
ldquoThe Wiland Direct database has been a solid performer for LLS with higher average gifts and lower cost per dollar raised than most Itrsquos opened up a new acquisition universe particularly important for a mature program Wersquore very pleased with the results and team support from Wilandrdquomdash Bruny Lynch The Leukemia amp Lymphoma Society
34 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
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Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 35
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36 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
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Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 37
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38 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
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dma12org
The Global Event forReal-Time Marketers
DMA2012 October 13 ndash 18 2012 Mandalay Bay | Las Vegas
(COME GET YOURS)QUALITY FACE TIME
4 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
1 Be committed to donor satisfaction and responsible environmental community and financial stewardship
2 Clearly honestly and accurately represent our mission Be trans-parent in providing donors information on the use of funds and our leadership team
3 Communicate in a respectful and courteous manner Acknowledge a donorrsquos contributions appropriately and in a timely manner while respecting a donorrsquos right to privacysup1
4 Be accessible via multiple channels (mail email phone and possibly others) and respond to inquiries and complaints in a constructive timely way
5 Maintain appropriate security policies and practices to safeguard donor informationsup2
6 Provide information on our policies about the sharing of personally identifiable information to third-parties for marketing purposes and always honor requests not to have information shared
7 Honor donorsrsquo rights to choose which channels we communicate to them in (direct mail email telemarketing and others) and the frequency of communication
8 When partnering with businesses disclose the percentage or dollar amount of a sale which is a charitable contribution
9 Make a best effort not to solicit to children and abide by parentsrsquo requests to have childrenrsquos names excluded from solicitationssup3
10 Follow the spirit and letter of the law as well as DMArsquos Guidelines for Ethical Business Practice
Fundraising Ethics Guide for the Small NonprofitIn engaging with donors to fulfill our organizationrsquos mission we will
EthICS CoMMIttEE
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 5
NOTES
sup1Read more at irsgovpubirs-pdfp1771pdf or irsgovpubirs-pdfp526pdf
sup2An overview of PCI Security Standards Council definition of PCI compliance pcisecuritystandardsorg security_standardsindexphp
sup3Guidelines for solicitingmarketing to children as outlined by the Childrenrsquos Advertising Review Unit caruorgguidelinesguidelinespdf
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Better Business Bureau Standards for Charitable Accountability
bbborgusstandards-for- charity-accountability
Independent Sector Principles for Good Governance and Ethical Practice (account required to access)
independentsectororgprinciples_guide_summarys=Principles2Guide
Donor Bill of Rights as agreed upon by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP) the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) and the Giving Institute
nonprofitfederationorgsitesdefaultfileswebDonorBillofRightspdf
Standards for Excellence An Ethics and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector Available through this site and others
wvhuborgstandards-excellence-ethics-and-accountability-code-nonprofit-sector
DMA Nonprofit Federation Ethical Guidelines for Fundraising amp Other Nonprofit Communications
nonprofitfederationorgsitesdefaultfilesDMANF20Guidelines20Annot_Cleaned_Feb202012pdf
6 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Xenia ldquoSennyrdquo Boone Esq
Status Nonprofits are successfully preserving the char-itable tax deduction for individuals Donors who itemize their taxes may now write off up to 35 percent of the amount spent on charitable gifts President Obama included a pro-posed limit on the charitable tax deduction in his FY 2011 budget to change the deduction from 35 to 28 for couples making $250000 or on individuals making $200000 stating this would raise $1798 billion over 10 years to help pay for government programs The reduction was part of the plan to help pay for health reform but it did not pass and the Administration again articulated its desire to trim back the deduction during the deficit reduction debate and Super Committee process In January 2012 the Administration took a step back President Obama was clear in his State of the Union address that he will no longer seek a reduction in the amount that high earners may deduct from their taxes for charitable donations However the President also said that those making more than $1 million should be required to pay at least 30 percent of their income in taxes Then in an accompanying document ldquothe Administration will work to ensure that this rule is implemented in a way that is equi-table including not disadvantaging individuals who make large charitable contributionsrdquo While this represents a great step forward deficit reduction proposals are on the table which include changes to the charitable tax deduction One such proposal converts the deduction to a tax credit which would in turn cost the charitable community $108 billion in donations
please help us preserve the charitable tax deduction View our petition at wwwchangeorgpetitionspresident-obama-save-the-charitable-tax-deduction and sign on
DMANF Policy ScorecardThe DMA Nonprofit Federation protects and defends nonprofit fundraising across all marketing channels We preserve the char-itable tax deduction and protect nonprofit postal rates The following is a quick summary of our recent activities on your behalf
Status Nonprofit mailers faced a major rate hike via a reduction in the nonprofit preferred rate discount in Section 403 of HR 2309 a bill by California Rep Darrell Issa Issa chairs the Committee that oversees the USPS The bill stalled as a result of thousands of letters sent by dual DMA amp DMANF members On October 13 2011 the House Oversight and Government Reform (OGR) Committee amended amp passed the Postal Reform Act (HR 2309) out of Committee Section 403 was modi-fied by Chairman Issa based on charitiesrsquo concerns but it is still not supportable The nonprofit rate discount as originally proposed in Section 403 of HR 2309 would have been a 50 percent increase phased in over six years A later Issa version would hold off on a rate increase for 3 years amp then increase nonprofit rates each year by 2 until the nonprofit rate preference is at 80 versus the current law of 60 Issa now says the provision will be removed from the bill entirely mdash good news
we strongly oppose any change to the existing nonprofit rate preference as it does nothing to aid the USpS
To participate in the Federationrsquos grassroots activities email SBoonethe-dmaorg or phone 2028612498
For the latest on issues impacting our sector and the entire marketing space sign up for Direct from Washington by emailing governmentthe-dmaorg
Charitable taxdeduction
Postal legislation and nonprofit mailing rates
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 7
your newsletterdoesnrsquot need to be
the rodney dangerfield
of your fundraising
program
Bob Ball Executive Creative Director Masterworks
8
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 9
Pity the poor newsletterIf there is one component of nonprofit fundraising pro-
grams that is consistently overlooked and undervalued itrsquos the newsletter
Like the late comedian Rodney Dangerfield newsletters ldquodonrsquot get no respectrdquo
All too often the newsletter is just an afterthought Newsletters are not expected to raise a lot of money and all too often they meet those low expectations
Over the years Irsquove seen a lot of different kinds of news-letters from nonprofit organizations Therersquos the No-Ask Newsletter that simply reports accomplishments This type doesnrsquot raise money because it doesnrsquot even try
The No-Ask Newsletter may be of some long-term value by closing the loop with the donor But most of the time this species talks about what the organization has accomplished and how effective it is This information may reinforce pre-vious giving but the No-Ask Newsletter does not motivate immediate new donations
Other newsletters are nothing more than fundraising appeals thinly disguised in newsletter clothing In my expe-rience this type of hard-Ask Newsletter does raise some revenue but in most cases not as effectively as straightfor-ward appeals
Another variety is the institutionally focused Navel-Gazing Newsletter written for insiders
Without the accountability that comes from revenue expectations newsletter strategy becomes fuzzy This leads to one of the worst dangers the loss of audience focus
It is very common for newsletters to attempt to serve many different masters These All-things-to-All-People Newsletters are created for several different audiences in addition to donors For example some organizations use their newsletter to communicate with donors volunteers employees board members and even the general public This desire to be all things to all audiences makes it difficult to effectively focus on any single audience
When the newsletter devolves to this point it usually doesnrsquot make anyone happy and slides into irrelevancy
In recent years my colleagues and I have resolved to do something about this sorry state of the newsletter We started by attacking the problem at the root We decided to reverse the diffused audience focus and create newsletters with an obsessive laser-like focus on donors
The result is the Extreme Donor-Focused Newslet-ter It is aimed squarely at the donor In fact it is all about the donor
This approach assumes donors give because they love to give and love to make a significant difference in the world It combines reporting back about what the donors have accomplished and offers them a clear opportunity to give again
We had considerable inspiration to draw on Back in the 1990s and early 2000s I worked at a feisty little Seattle agency called The Domain Group that preached donor loyalty and started making newsletters raise money In fact in some cases newsletters made more money than appeals
Domain was the subject of an acquisition and is long gone now but that experience lives on today to give hope that newsletters can be better My former Domain col-league Jeff Brooks who writes the blog Future Fundraising Now is a strong advocate for donor focus Long-time fun-draiser and blogger Tom Ahern has also written brilliantly on this topic
The accumulated experience gave me the confidence that it was really possible to build a better newsletter and the inspiration to keep tinkering I wanted to shake off the curse of Rodney Dangerfield once and for all
Then the perfect opportunity to test these theories fell into my lap One of my current clients asked us to test against an internally produced newsletter
This was one of those test situations you dream about Head-to-head A-B panels set up for a statistically valid test and spread over 3 different newsletter mail slots
The internal newsletter was a classic blend of the All-things-to-All-People and the Navel-Gazing News-letters It was aimed at a wide variety of constituents and contained a lot of organizationally focused stories It did ask for donations but not consistently
The results of the test were gratifying with the Extreme Donor-Focused Newsletter showing dramatic improve-ment across the board
419 lift in response 195 lift in average gift 521 lift in revenue
continued
10 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
1 Write to the donor for the donor about the donor This is not objective arms-length journalism This is not the organization talking about itself to organization insiders This is a warm conversation with the donor about the things he or she is most interested in The main point of the newsletter is to share what the donorrsquos giving has done Itrsquos all about him or her
2 Ensure a high ldquoyourdquo quotient The copy is written directly to the donor using the second person singular The most frequent word in the copy and headlines should be ldquoyourdquo Take the time to count the number of times you use ldquoyourdquo and ldquoyourrdquo If you donrsquot have enough rewrite the copy to make sure you have not lost your donor focus
3 touch the heart with strong emotion The newsletter needs to stir the donorrsquos heart Make the donor feel something Tell stories of amazing accomplishment that the donorrsquos generosity helped make possible Use vivid language with strong active verbs and concrete nouns Dramatic emotional photos are worth their weight in gold As Ahern says ldquoA newsletter might be more welcome than an appeal It can bring joy It can bring fun It can take the reader on a journeyrdquo
4 Surprise and delight This is a ldquonewsletterrdquo so it needs to have something new in it Tell the donor something fascinating that he or she does not already know The initial reaction of the donor upon first glance should be a big smile because his or her giving has made something wonderful happen One of the pitfalls of newsletter publishing is falling into a rut One of my favorite fun-draising aphorisms is ldquoYou canrsquot bore anybody into givingrdquo But millions of really boring newsletters are mailed each year Irsquove often seen a great jump in performance of a newsletter immediately after it is given an overhaul and a fresh design But within just a few months performance tends to slip and fall back to the previously level Keeping the newsletter fresh does not mean that you must start from scratch each month Establishing a basic design template for your newsletter is mandatory This not only helps with efficiency but also maintains brand consistency But we also demand that every newsletter be fresh and delightful You can keep it fresh with fresh content Great photos help But you can also mix up the look through the use of color Make sure your brand has a full palette of secondary colors and use them
We followed some simple principles as we created those winning newsletters You can put them into practice with your own designs
TEN prINCIpAlS To CrEATE yoUr owN
extreme donor-focused newsletter
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 11
Bob Ball is the Executive Creative Director of Masterworks He has been trying not to bore donors since 1993
5 Appreciate the donor One of the major themes of the newsletter needs to be how important the donor is ldquoLook at what you have accomplished With your help we can do all this Without your help we will not be able to do itrdquo Look for ways to use the words ldquoThank yourdquo over and over again Itrsquos almost impossible to over-thank donors (And remember this is not merely a report back about what the organization was able to accomplish This is all about what the donor has accomplished through their generosity Whenever you have the opportunity to influence the gathering of photo resource have beneficiaries hold up signs that say ldquoThank Yourdquo That is the most powerful and direct way to close the loop between the donor and the people who are actually being helped
6 Design for readability Remove all unnecessary barriers to readability and com-prehension Use a large readable serif font for body copy Readability studies have shown that serif fonts are superior to sans serif fonts for body copy on the printed page A lot of designers love sans serif fonts because of their clean look and because they are trendy but this is not a matter of taste If you want your body copy to be read and comprehended use a nice serif font All body copy should pass the ldquodollar billrdquo test (You should not be able to lay a dollar bill on any expanse of body copy without touching a headline photo or subhead) No large blocks of reversed out type No busy backgrounds behind copy Make the layout ldquoscannablerdquo with large photos headlines subheads and pull-quotes
7 Motivate another gift Donors love to give and you should not be ashamed to ask them to give again While most of the newsletter space is devoted to thanks and apprecia-tion the newsletter needs to give the donor a way to repeat their charitable behavior This means making a clearly stated offer that donors have supported in the past
8 Make it convenient to give The newsletter should include a response device and a return envelope If online giving is possible the URL for the giving page should be clearly presented in case that is the donorrsquos preferred giving channel
9 Appeal to the most basic donor benefit Giving is joyful I canrsquot emphasize the importance of this simple fact Donors mdash real donors mdash love to give Your faithful loyal donors are the people who give over and over again and keep giving They are not stingy grouches who must be cajoled and manipulated into reluctantly parting with their money No Real donors have discovered the secret of true happiness and all they need is the assurance that their giving is appreciated and effective This key message should be explicitly stated ldquoNothing feels better than when you help When you give to accomplish XYZ you know the joy of making a significant differ-ence in the worldrdquo
10 Refresh and re-engage Nothing about the newsletter should be a chore for the reader The whole publication is a joyful celebration of what the donor has made possible By the time he or she is finished reading the newsletter he or she should be energized and eager to do more
If you follow these 10 principles you will have your own Extreme Donor-Focused Newslet-ter and your fundraising program should enjoy increased revenue and donor retention And whatrsquos more your newsletter will finally get the respect it deserves n
12 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Grand Hyatt New York
Conference attendees
mixed mingled amp noshed
on delicious appetizers
at Butterfield 8
2012 New York Nonprofit Conference
July 25ndash26 2012Grand Hyatt New York
New York NY
Grand Hyatt New York
Conference attendees
mixed mingled amp noshed
on delicious appetizers
at Butterfield 8
(Left to right)
DMA Nonprofit Federation Advisory Council Chair
Brian Cowart of Disabled American Veterans (DAV)
2012 New York Nonprofit Conference Keynote
Speaker Seth ldquoYossirdquo Siegel of Sixpoint Partners
DMA Nonprofit Federation Advisory Council Vice
Chair tom harrison of Russ Reid Company
The Nature Conservancyrsquos Chief Marketing Officer Geof Rochester
amp Director of Membership Fundraising Begontildea Vaacutezquez-Santos
with TNCrsquos Nonprofit Organization of the Year award
Congratulations to The Nature Conservancy
13
14 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Thank you Tom Har-rison for such a lovely introduction The philos-opher who said that there is no praise higher than to be esteemed by those you esteem perfectly captures my reaction I appreci-ate your idea of inviting me mdash someone from outside your industry mdash to speak before your group But it is you Tom and several of your colleagues at Russ Reid who have largely taught me what I know about this industry
It is truly a special plea-sure being with all of you here today and the size of the audience notwithstand-ing getting to meet with you
To some extent I feel like I know many of you in this room To be sure many of you already know me mdash and even more of you knew my father My being here today allows me to close the circle and reciprocate many years of your outreach to me and my father Let me explain
My wife and I have been married for 32 years When we got married we didnrsquot have a lot more than the wedding gifts we had received but from our first days together we shared an interest in learning about charities that could use our support and we often would send in small donations in response to this mailing or that Soon thereafter mdash and this will surprise exactly no one in this room mdash we began getting mailings from more charities and we had the
opportunity to learn about yet more worthy organiza-tions As time interest and available cash allowed we would donate to yet others Then along the way as my business grew we stepped out of the direct mail uni-verse and got involved with a more manageable number of causes as volunteers and a somewhat larger number as donors but directly and in amounts more likely to be the fruit of a call or a meeting or a solicitation over a meal or in our home We still get some mail solicita-tions Some of it is likely the distant tail from donations made long ago and a bit of it may be thanks to gifts made in support of some of our friendsrsquo childrenrsquos walk-a-thon participations or similar creative requests for funds But in the main our mail box no longer has the volume of requests for support that it once did
In my opening remarks I made mention of my father Now if my wife and I have received mail from some of you I can go out on a limb and say that my father got mail from nearly all of you Before I share my fatherrsquos direct mail experience Id like to tell you a bit about him
My father mdash Benjamin Siegel in case you are check-ing to see if his name is in your database mdash was born to immigrant parents here in Manhattan Despite his American birth he spoke
Seth ldquoYossirdquo Siegel
2012 New York Nonprofit Conference
KeynoteAddress
July 25 2012
vvv
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 15
no English until he started kindergarten His child-hood can only be described as hard and deprived with his parents being members of the working poor their entire lives Yet despite their poverty he recalled a blue-and-white tin charity box in his kitchen into which his mother would put a few coins every week late on Friday afternoon before the start of the Jewish Sabbath His parents werenrsquot reli-giously observant but his mother would make a char-itable donation of some kind every week for even poorer Jews living in what is now Israel
I would have to describe my father as angry a lot of the time And Id also have to say that it would be hard to find someone more cynical about institutions and whole professions than my father He thought all doctors were to use his word quacks He thought all lawyers were again to use his word shy-sters He loathed politicians He was dubious about the esteem given to Jewish clergy and I cant believe he had any special regard for the clergy of any other faith He was part of the Greatest Generation and talked his way into World War II after he was rejected on medical grounds and spent most of the war in Europe including landing on Omaha Beach on D-Day Plus 1 And even so he was often dismissive of the thought and planning
of our own military leaders especially what he thought of as the cavalier misuse of troops
Despite his being a one-man protest machine he utterly hated protest move-ments and anything that smacked of them I could go on but I think you get the picture This was a man of complete cynicism seem-ingly trusting no one He made a hard honest living and lived a life with no frills and few vacations Meals out in restaurants were a very special event By any stan-dard by which we measure comfort or luxury my father and mother had few check marks in that imaginary list
But family history aside there was a reason Ive just told you all of this
After my father died in 2004 some many years after my mother and stepmother had both passed away it fell to me to go through his effects and to pack up his things I donrsquot know how many of you here have ever had that task It is a melan-choly one with many small items serving to remind you of moments in the rela-tionship In addition it can be a startling one learning things about your deceased parent and achingly wishing you could have them back for even a few moments to explain what something meant or to ask why they had never told you about some just discovered element of their lives
For me the startling element I discovered was how my father mdash the utter cynic mdash was mdash within his means mdash a philanthropist and donor of a scope that is still remarkable to me You see when I opened the bottom drawer of his dresser the entire drawer was filled with note pads and boxes of seasonal cards from dozens and dozens of charities My first thought standing in his empty bedroom was ldquoTo whom was he planning on writing so many notesrdquo When I opened the next drawer it was filled with per-sonalized mailing labels from dozens of charities mdash possi-bly the same charities I donrsquot know but possibly not mdash but I knew that if he ever got around to sending out all of those notes and cards he would never have to write his return address on any of those envelopes As I con-tinued the packing up in his bedroom kitchen closets and elsewhere I found other institutional gifts from other charities like tote bags mugs umbrellas and so on almost all of them still in their orig-inal packaging
When I cleaned out his small desk I found his checkbook and sat at his desk to go through his check register and other check reg-isters going back years and years There were payments made to credit card compa-nies and utilities and taxes but overwhelmingly the checks were made payable
to one charity after another The amounts mdash as you pro-fessionals would guess from the pads and the pre-printed mailing labels mdash were all small Most of them were for ten dollars some for twenty-five and in a nod to the Jewish mystical belief in the specialness of numbers that are multiples of eigh-teen he had written plenty of checks to Jewish organiza-tions and causes for eighteen and thirty-six dollars
Also remarkable was the range of organizations to which he donated As I mentioned he gave to a broad array of Jewish and pro-Israel organizations but he also gave to commu-nity groups environmental groups hunger organiza-tions veterans groups and health-related organizations including hospitals hospices and disease-focused causes He even gave to animal shelter organizations mdash and he had never had a pet of his own
So how could it be that this most utterly cynical man a man who watched his pennies his whole life could have been a small-scale Roth-schild and Rockefeller in the range and expansiveness of his giving Of course wersquoll never know for sure but in trying to develop an answer to this there are lessons for those of us in this room who care about the not-for-profit world whether profession-ally as communal activists or as donors
continued
16 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
The first two possibili-ties that come to mind that Id like to quickly dismiss are that my father liked the idea that he could get something of value for what may have seemed for free It is possible but my father was a very prac-tical man and at some point he must have realized that well into his 80s he had such an ample supply of holiday cards and return address labels that he would never be able to use up the inventory The other thought was that he simply liked getting mail and he knew how the system worked Send in a check and the one envelope becomes two or three or ten Send in one hundred checks and he had his weekends filled reading through all of the mail he had received during the past week That is possi-ble but my father also died with a significant backlog of unread magazines so Im going to rule that out too
The explanation Ive come up with is that my father may have been a cynic but that he wanted to believe He may have thought most every institution and public figure not worthy of being trusted but he may still have yearned to be able to trust that some others out there cared deeply about society and elements of it and that he wanted to be part of the efforts to make the world a proverbially better place He despised a lot of things gen-erally but seemed to like a lot of things specifically
And from that insight I think there is some very good news for many of you here today I know from Tom Harrison that you are all worried about the crummy economy that shows no sign of quickly returning to robust times And Tom has also shared with me a worry about the viability of the US Postal Service and its ability to offer reduced mailing rates for the fore-seeable future And Tom has also told me that my fatherrsquos generation is dying off and not being quickly replaced by a new demographic cohort that reads mail and sends in money Plus there are environmental ques-tions about harvesting trees for the mailings and some compelling proof that people respond less well to email solicitations than they did to requests delivered via their mail boxes But aside from all of those structural impediments my fatherrsquos behavior offers some very special opportunities for those charities and organi-zations able to reach out and speak personally to the next waves of donors
If my father was a skepti-cal cynical guy in the Ozzie and Harriet 1950s and 60s he was a full generation ahead of where people are today and Id like to take a minute or two to explain what I mean
People today are fright-ened angry cynical even often despairing The
overwhelming feeling is that few institutions are working well Our political system just isnrsquot garnering wide-spread support and in these unsettling times people want leaders and insti-tutions that can fix their problems No matter who wins the presidential elec-tion in November there is little widespread belief we will come together as a society to fix our problems It may happen but people donrsquot believe it And the poll numbers reflect this Pres-ident Obama mdash who came into office on a promise of hope and change and of transformation of our political culture and which initially yielded him an approval rating of 67 mdash has had an approval rating that has been below 50 since November 2009 and is now at 47 If the president has problems in garnering the publicrsquos trust that he can solve their problems Con-gress as an institution is doing far far worse with an approval rating of 23 The US Supreme Court enjoys an approval rating of only 35 These numbers for the president and for the legisla-tive and judicial branches of government actually under-state the problem The poll number of those who call themselves ldquofrustrated or angry with the federal gov-ernmentrdquo comes in at a frightening 79 President Obama may win re-elec-tion but it likely wont be a
unifying election We have a divided government at a polarized partisan moment of utterly different and con-tradictory views of how to solve the problems at hand Given the enormity of the problems mdash from the economy to the deficit to the debt to Iranrsquos nuclear program to the rise of radical Islamism to the rise of China and its likelihood to be a destabilizing force and many many more prob-lems mdash the likelihood our country will be dispirited and detached from politics is larger than it is smaller
Staying with our politi-cal system for just another moment we have another problem Because people are angry and have a near con-stant ldquothrow the bums outrdquo feeling about our elected offi-cials we are going through a period of uncommon insta-bility in our government institutions
Most people believe that incumbents come to office and tend to leave only when they die But it just isnrsquot true Whether because of the Tea Party or because of burn-out by elected officials the level of turnover in Washington is a big and growing problem In just the past five Congres-sional elections which is to say in the past ten years a remarkable 54 of the US Senate has been replaced If that number seems impos-sibly high for institutional stability in the House of Representatives the turnover
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 17
in that same period has been 68 Due to announced retirements and defeats in primaries we already know that in the coming Senate and House to be sworn in next January no fewer than 11 current Senators and 60 current Congressmen and Congresswomen will not be returning mdash and that assumes not a single incum-bent will lose in a single race in the remaining pri-maries and the General Election That means at least a 65 turnover in the US Senate and a more than 80 turnover in the House of Representatives in a mere 12-year period Think of your own organizations and what a turnover of that mag-nitude would mean to your ability to do your institu-tional job let alone having to grapple with many of the enormous challenges I mentioned a moment ago and many others I did not mention Thus the roiling public environment is more likely to stay roiled for some time to come than it is likely to return to some idealized period of harmony
Not to belabor the point but to also make sure that we understand that the problem of popular unease is broader than belief in our national government let me share just a few poll numbers to demonstrate my point Our confidence in hospitals and our doctors is now at 41 which is bad enough but HMOs are at 19 Public
schools have the confidence of only 29 of the people in our country Newspapers taken together have the con-fidence of just 25 of the American people But falling even lower than newspapers TV news comes in at 21 And labor unions banks and major corporations are all tied with the confidence of just one in five Ameri-cans at around 20 Even organized religion falls below the 50 mark at 44
Indeed the only three institutions regularly polled about by Gallup to be above the 50 mark are our police departments at 56 small business at 63 and our fighting men and women in the US military at 75 And finally in what many people believe is the most important general view of how people feel the Right Track Wrong Track poll Rasmussen reports 30 of Americans think our country is on the right track
and 64 believe our country is on the wrong track
In case you werenrsquot a statistics major in college let me boil all of these poll results down to just this one short statement and it is this My father was ahead of his time Just as my father didnrsquot trust or like just about any institution the American people now donrsquot much trust or like any institution with
the exception of police military and
small busi-ness In
nearly every other
case the institu-tion Ive mentioned is at or
near an all-time low since these Gallup Institutional Confidence polls began being conducted in 1973
But I think there is a second key learning from all of this bad news that is actu-ally very good news for some of you but definitely not all of you and that is this Just as my father had very low confidence in government and other mass institutions yet managed to turn himself
into a check-writing ma-chine for many many not-for-profits so too can your organization or your clients The not-so-profound insight is that even the most angry frustrated cynical skeptical misanthrope wants to believe It was true of mis-anthropes when Moliere wrote a play by that name in the 1660s It was true of my father And Id bet a dona-tion to any of your causes that it is true today even with a Right Track Wrong Track poll that has double the number of Wrong Trackers over Right Trackers People want to believe People want to love People know they wont live for forever and people want to see the world better both today in their lifetimes and tomor-row when it is their legacy This is true for mega donors who will be honored at fancy dinners in hotel ballrooms like this and for ten dollar donors who look forward to the return address labels you all will send to them
So with the crummy economy the dicey state of the Postal Service the demo-graphic hump working against low-dollar donors and all of the other problems direct marketers face my money is on the significant success of some of the orga-nizations that are here today Of course the structural challenges make it harder but is it harder today than it was in my grandmotherrsquos
vvvThe not-so-profound insight is that even
the most angry frustrated cynical skeptical
misanthrope wants to believehellipPeople know they
wont live for forever and people want to see the
world better both today in their lifetimes and
tomorrow when it is their legacy
vvv
continued
18 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
walk-up tenement apart-ment in which every Friday afternoon she found a way to donate to people she knew she would never meet who were living in a place she knew she would never see She believed in the enterprise afoot in what is today Israel a place on the other side of the world and she trusted that the coins in her little blue-and-white tin box would be used wisely and honorably All the same must have been true about my father and the many causes to which he wrote those checks And the same is true of millions and millions of people waiting to be touched and to form a connection with a cause larger than themselves a cause they can make their own in a way best thought of as an I-Thou relationship
For those of you unfa-miliar with the phrase I and Thou let me start by telling you it is a concept that changed my life It was coined by the philoso-pher and theologian Martin Buber Despite his being a theologian it is a concept that isnt inherently reli-gious even if it works well in every faith tradition and also works well in a purely secular context It works well for couples who have long been together and remark-ably it works well when soliciting gifts from near-strangers It is an approach to living a happy satisfying life So with that build up let
me tell you about I and Thou and about Martin Buber
Buber was born in Austria but moved to Germany in his teens to pursue his education In the 1920s he wrote his most famous work ldquoI and Thourdquo which although somewhat obscure today helped to establish his reputation as a leading German thinker of his time When the Nazis came to power in 1933 as a Jew he was prohibited from teaching at the uni-versity where he had been a professor and in 1938 just ahead of the start of the mass murder of 90 of Euro-pean Jewry Buber made his way to the British Mandate where he became a professor in Jerusalem When the State of Israel came into being in 1948 Buber was an esteemed philosopher revered by the young nation It is hard to imagine a philosopher having this kind of fame and impact but when he died in 1965 it was the lead news story of the day in Israel and a major story in The New York Times and other world newspapers
According to Buber there are two kinds of rela-tionships I-Thou and I-It The idea underpinning these concepts is best explained by examples as every single person in this room has experienced I-Thou and I-It relationships In an I-Thou relationship we are as one Your destiny is my destiny
even if only for a moment In the I-It relationship the parties are in a transac-tion I have turned the other party into an object to help me to achieve something that I want Indeed we all have I-Thou relationships and I-It relationships all the time mdash and we often have these disparate relationships within moments of each other and often with the very same person If this room were smaller and more inti-mate I could randomly call on anyone and have you give examples of I-Thou and I-It relationships in your own life But Ill use my own life as an example
I love my wife very much I am happy to come home at the end of the workday and to hear about her day and what is new and for her to hear about my day That is an I-Thou moment But while sitting with her my stomach starts to growl I become distracted Im not think-ing about her but about the dinner I know she has prepared Im hungry and want to eat She becomes an object a means to an end an I-It Wersquove all had that expe-rience or one like it
But just because Im getting something I want from her mdash or from anyone mdash doesnrsquot mean it has to be an I-It moment In that exact same scenario it could just as well have been an I-Thou moment by a change in my behavior even
with the same outcome that dinner will be served and my hunger abated Instead of single-mindedly think-ing about food in its place I could have interrupted the conversation to tell her that Im hungry I could have offered to set the table while we keep talking And most importantly I could keep reminding myself that she has spent time and trouble thinking about dinner and preparing it and that I have no entitlement to her having done this and how fortunate I am that she has If I do all of that it is more likely we will have an I-Thou relationship that evening than a transac-tional I-It one
Even with people we love I-Thoursquos and I-Itrsquos flit back and forth across some imaginary spectrum with engagement and other-directedness on one side and selfishness and self-direct-edness on the other We all have instincts for both sides of that spectrum and the challenge is to take the harder path the path where we direct the moment away from ourselves and our selfish wants and needs to that of the person present before us and our shared experience
As I indicated earlier this isnrsquot just true of deep long-lasting relationships It can be true of the waiter who serves you dinner the bellman who helps you with your bags even with a
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 19
passing stranger on a line to get into somewhere Every encounter has the oppor-tunity to be an I-Thou or an I-It and the challenge is for each of us to constantly remind ourselves of the humanity of the person with whom we engage
I and Thou isnrsquot just for people It is also true of believing peoplersquos relation-ship with God and also true of organizations and how they relate to people In my experience Ive found it even true of inanimate objects even if that may take it beyond Buberrsquos own con-ception So how do Martin Buber and his I and Thou relate to you all as direct mar-keters and as fundraisers for your worthy organizations
Everyone knows when they are in an I and Thou moment You feel the link and the joy that comes from the link But people also know when they are being used as a means to an end
when they are the ldquoItrdquo in an I-It relationship People may give you what you want when they are in an I-It rela-tionship with you and you may give your counter-party what they seek too but we all know that feeling of sadness or emptiness within when someone you are with mdash a co-worker a boss a spouse a child even a clerk on the phone at a call center mdash treats you as an object to get some-thing achieved and not as an opportunity to feel your humanity and for you to feel theirs even if for a fleeting moment
And the same Ill say is true about the relationship between a potential donor and your organization Those organizations that stand for somethinghellip Those organizations that donrsquot treat their donors as objects like walking checkbookshellip Those organizations that take the time to engage with their prospects Indeed
those organizations that donrsquot even necessarily start by asking for something it is those organizations who I believe will find a wide universe of people eager to believe and eager to be part of the organizationrsquos mission An I-Thou relation-ship doesnrsquot mean we never ask the other party for some-thing It is about how and when we ask Just as we will have a different outcome with our spouses children and co-workers when we are building off of an I-Thou relationship rather than an I-It so too will we have a different outcome when we approach our donors as part-ners as people we care about exactly as much whether they donate or not It is from that soulful relationship that donors will want to support one organization over an-other and one cause over another no matter how angry or frustrated or cynical they are about the larger world
around them That is how I believe the next genera-tion of donors will come to support many but not all of our organizations
When my father died I had the Postal Service forward his mail to my home address In the nearly eight years since his passing Ive received hundreds of mail-ings maybe more I often open the solicitations to try to get a feel for the kinds of causes and organizations my father would have been spending his time learning about and possibly support-ing So while some recipients of your mailings may think of your output as junk mail I couldnrsquot be more apprecia-tive Each envelope serves to remind me that the cynical side of my father was only a side and that when properly touched even a hard man could respond
Thank you all very much for your attention n
copy 2012 Seth M Siegel Reproduction with authorrsquos consent only All rights reserved
Looking for an agency or supplier to help your organization reachnew heights
Access the DMANFrsquos Directory of Service providers
nonprofitfederationorgcorporate-partnerssearch
20 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Nonprofit organizations face unique marketing chal-lenges Theyrsquore tasked with identifying and reaching the right people at the right time and through
the appropriate channels as well as balancing message appeals with monetary requests all while conveying their mission and cause The rapid expansion of the internet social networking and mobile have placed yet another demand front-and-center for nonprofit organizations mdash con-sumer privacy
Consumers are justly concerned about divulging their personal information They want to know where why and how their information will be used Many are unaware that their personal information is collected in a variety of ways and by a variety of sources both online and offline Common but often misunderstood data practices include third-party ad servers setting cookies retail stores matching names and addresses with phone numbers and marketers sharing customer lists
In todayrsquos complex marketplace how can nonprofit organizations demonstrate to their supporters donors and prospects that they share their concerns and are commit-ted to protecting their privacy The first and most important step is to create a clear privacy policy and communicate it effectively
the Privacy PolicyIf your organization collects uses and or stores personal donor information a privacy policy is critical You must display your privacy policy on your website and strictly abide by it
Privacy policies are structured around Notice and Choice principles They should provide supporters with notice of
how their data is collected used and shared as well as their choices to limit or prevent such practices Your privacy policy should also include information to maintain trans-parency and that clearly describes your organizationrsquos data security practices
Key points every privacy policy should address include
The types of personal information your organization collects This may include name address telephone number email address and credit card or other payment information
How information is secured
How personal information is used and with whom it is shared
How supporters can control the use of their data
How the privacy policy is updated and the effective date of the policy
Letrsquos take a more detailed look at the elements of a privacy policy from a nonprofit organizationrsquos perspective
Collecting personal InformationAs mentioned personal information may include data ele-ments such as name address telephone number email address and payment information It can also include more sensitive information such as gender race religious or politi-cal beliefs health information or other characteristics
The types of personal information collected and the length of retention may be used to enhance your marketing
Consumer PrivacyA Guide for Nonprofit Marketers
Bethany Lewis Privacy Analyst Epsilon
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 21
objectives by creating detailed profiles of supporters but what if that dataprofile was accessed without appropriate permis-sions or used by other organizations for purposes beyond the original intent Inappropriate generalizations might be made about supporters regardless of who has the data and the risk for reputational and other damage increases if that type of data is compromised
For example if a supporter donates to an organization that supports research of a genetic disorder should they be identified as a patient of or at risk for that same disorder Perhaps theyrsquore simply a caretaker for someone suffer-ing from that disorder Similarly if a supporter donates to a religious-based organization could assumptions around political leanings be attributed to them
Protecting information about charitable contributions is critical as is informing supporters how that information will be used which brings us to data security and the sharing of personal information
protecting personal InformationToday every organization is vulnerable when it comes to data security Protecting the personal information of supporters is essential The first line of protection is collecting only the necessary data
While creating supporter profiles evaluate the risks of storing ldquounnecessaryrdquo data especially if an incident exposes the data Set internal policies for how long each category of data collected will be retained and be diligent in deletingdestroying data in a safe and thorough manner based on those policies
Whenever possible encrypt personal data maintained electronically and enhance security on laptops and mobile devices from which supporter data is accessed
Sharing personal InformationBe very clear in your privacy policy when providing infor-mation on the types of third-parties with whom your organization shares data If you share information with third-party service providers disclose this fact and provide a categorized list of these organizations Such organizations may include credit card processors shipping vendors mar-keting analysts or consultants and fulfillment houses
If you share information with other nonprofit organi-zations disclose these practices Also disclose if you share information with marketing cooperatives whose databases are not exclusively nonprofit
Protecting
information
about
charitable
contributions
is critical
continued
22 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
providing ChoiceStudies have shown that modern consumers are more com-fortable sharing personal information with organizations that are clear and upfront about how their information is used and with whom it is shared In fact most people respond positively to organizations who transparently disclose data sharing practices and provide a clear and convenient oppor-tunity to opt-out While a small percentage of individuals will choose to opt-out of data sharing very few supporters will opt-out of all contact with an organization Therefore providing an opportunity to opt-out of sharing data for mar-keting purposes as well as an opt-out for receiving further requests from your organization will aid in retaining your most loyal supporters
Updating the privacy policyClearly state the effective date of your current privacy policy and update it when you make any material changes If you do make material changes to your privacy policy with ret-roactive application to the data you already have stored you may need to obtain express consent from individuals to use their information for new or different purposes Some organizations choose to list what changes were made in a summary history which may be helpful to a supporter reviewing the policy
Pulling It All togetherYour privacy policy should be easy to find read understand and act upon (ie opt-out or modify preferences) It should also be present in each commercial solicitation where per-sonal information is collected regardless of whether that is through postal mailings or on your website
Additional information regarding Notice Choice Trans-parency and other important privacy principles can be found on the DMA website in the Commitment to Consumer Choice and the DMA Guidelines for Ethical Business Practice
At Epsilon we use the following checklist when evaluating a privacy policy
The website has a privacy policy
There is a link to the privacy policy from the websitersquos home page and the link contains the word ldquoprivacyrdquo
The privacy policy states that the organization shares consumer data and personal information (including name address email address and transaction informa-tion) with third-party service providers
The privacy policy states that the organization shares consumer data and personal information with other marketers for their own marketing purposes
The privacy policy provides consumers the chance to opt-out of having their information shared with other marketers
The privacy policy has an ldquoeffectiverdquo date
As mentioned in situations where data is shared with other organizations and marketers transparency is the key Below is sample disclosure language
The personally identifiable information that you provide to us
(such as your name address and email address) and information
about your contribution may be combined with other non-person-
ally identifiable information (such as demographic information and
past contribution history) available from our records and other
sources This information will be used to make our future market-
ing efforts more efficient and relevant This information may also
be shared with our third-party service providers that assist us
with our marketing efforts and with other marketers whose prod-
ucts or services we feel may be of interest to you If you prefer
that we do not share your name and address with other market-
ers please email us at optoutyourorganizationorg
Beyond the Privacy PolicyIn addition to having a robust privacy policy written in concise language and that is easily accessible here are a few other best practices to secure the privacy of your sup-portersrsquo information
Ensure agreements with third-parties who may have access to supportersrsquo personal information adequately address privacy and data security
Suppress personal information in your database when a supporter requests it and do so within a reasonable timeframe
If you must store sensitive information such as credit card or social security numbers as part of your data-base encrypt this information
Train employees and volunteers regularly on the importance of maintaining privacy and security
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 23
Nonprofit Careers e-Bulletin
Your Multi-ChannelRecruiting Tool
Become familiar with data breach notification require-ments and have a response plan and team in place Should you experience a breach disclose to all appro-priate and necessary parties
Monitor the use of your data and address any enti-ties when you become aware that data is being used in a way that violates the law contractual requirements andor the DMArsquos Ethical Guidelines
Respecting and promoting consumer privacy requires a commitment to maintaining balance between the legitimate business needs of your organization and the concerns of individuals about fair information practices Start by taking a look at your current privacy policy Assure its accuracy and adhere to its strategy n
Bethany Lewis As a Privacy Analyst Bethany Lewis supports and educates associates and clients on privacy compliance matters She brings an extensive background in regulatory compliance corporate ethics education and training to her work at Epsilon
ldquoThe recruitment Tool for the Nonprofit Communityrdquo is your source for top flight exposure to top flight candidates and the best A b amp C-level career opportunities out there
Distributed every Tuesday 8 am ET via raquo Email raquo post at wwwnonprofitfederationorg raquo Facebook mdash DMA Nonprofit Federation raquo Twitter mdash DMANF and AliozDC
To view ad submission requirements visit the ldquoFind a Jobrdquo area of the DMA Nonprofit Federation homepage wwwnonprofitfederationorg and click on ldquoHow to postrdquo Ads must be emailed to Aosgoodthe-dmaorg please make sure any ad you submit meets our specifications
Is your nonprofit organization already a dual member of the DMA and DMANF If the answer is lsquoyesrsquo itrsquos FrEE mdash so why not post
Join the over 8000 professionals who already subscribe
Sign up today nonprofitfederationorgpublications careers-e-bulletinsubscribe
DMA Guidelines for Ethical Business Practice
dmaresponsibilityorgGuidelines
24 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Each week I see non-profit organizations walking away from
mobile thinking that com-municating and fundraising with their constituents through the single most used electronic device in history is optional Con-versely we see more and more retailers embracing mobile and the omnichan-nel marketing model because the results are tre-mendous We at mGive think nonprofits benefit when they embrace similar tools and methodologies
What is an omnichan-nel approach and why is it important to non-profit organizations An omnichannel approach is an integrated marketing strat-egy that creates a seamless experience for the donor
It is a customer-centric approach that elevates your supporter loyalty strategies by leveraging cross-channel opportunities For example when a donor drops off goods at their local Epilepsy Foundation they receive a paper receipt to complete Normally once they leave your location you lose any hope of communicating with them again Imagine if when the donor dropped off their goods you offered to send the donor an email version of their receipt You now have a way to engage the supporter through email Now suppose your email receipt offered a web link that drove them to a form to opt-in to your mobile community in order to receive updates via text
Once they opt-in you then have a way to send updates volunteer requests dona-tion reminders and more You may also leverage the fact they are on the mobile phone and send text mes-sages asking supporters to post a photo to Facebook making a donation Having this omnichannel strat-egy in place is especially critical at the end of year because it is an opportune time for organizations to increase membership and raise dollars
So how does an organization create an omnichannel approach that leverages direct mail email online social media live events and mobile to achieve their goals It may be difficult for some orga-nizations to make the
operational shift to an omnichannel model but that doesnrsquot mean you can afford to ignore it Not sure you can get all the steps in place by the time you launch your end of year activities Mobile is the bridge that can help to start that process In fact more and more organizations are relying on their mobile strategy to bridge the gap and engage supporters in this multi-screen world because mobile is the ldquogreat centralizerrdquo of activities ndash where else can you make calls browse the web check email respond to text mes-sages post to social media and more in a truly porta-ble fashion
Before we move on to the tactics that an organiza-tion can take to incorporate
Mobile
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 25
mobile into their existing multi-channel strategies we must tackle one issue If your organization has tried mobile or an omnichan-nel approach in the past and were disappointed or frustrated with your expe-rience try again You were one of the pioneering orga-nizations that comprise the early adopters of those models Lessons learned over the past few years have evolved into success-ful best practices mdash and you get the opportunity to benefit from them As we like to say in honor of the wise Master Yoda ldquoTry not Do or do not There is no tryrdquo We guarantee if imple-mented correctly using mobile in an omnichannel approach can work for your organization
1 Communicate and Integrate mdash Walk Across the Mobile Bridge
Many organizations that I work with have voiced cross-departmental integra-tion as a challenge That is understandable because tra-ditionally departments or channels have been siloed from one another But this disenfranchised model does not result in the seam-less experience that donors are coming to expect In order for a donor experi-ence to be seamless direct mail must complement the organizationrsquos website the organizationrsquos website must complement the mobile campaign social media must complement direct mail and so forth and so on When used together
the communication chan-nels can result in more effective campaigns and bigger numbers
When an organization decides to develop a mobile strategy generally it is one department within that organization that is initially interested That department is a hero because they have just launched a toolset that can be used throughout the organization If you have a mobile program in place for fundraising itrsquos time to talk with your program services department mem-bership team and corporate partner folks and get them in the loop so that you can maximize the omnichannel approach Mobile can be a great catalyst for initiating conversation and guiding organizational integration
Mobile is also a great way to increase the effec-tiveness of existing channels By integrating your direct mail newslet-ter social media online and mobile efforts you can increase response and open rates We have found that if you send a text message to your membership remind-ing them to check their email inboxes you can increase email open rates by 10 or more Addition-ally if you include a mobile number field on your email and paper member-ship forms you can quickly build a mobile community that can turn into repeat donors Once again the most important element besides the actual cross
the Bridge to an omnichannel Approach in time for Year-End Campaigns
continued
Jenifer Snyder Esq Executive Director The mGive Foundation and Cassie Bair Vice President of Marketing Mobile Accord
26 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
channel promotion goes back to this concept of the omnichannel Make the message consistent across all channels They donrsquot have to be identical but they should complement each other and work to create an echo effect
Just about every one of your donors will experience your organization through their mobile device at some point mdash so make sure your message is clear consistent convenient and actionable through mobile in some capacity
2 test Review Adjust Implement Review Adjust mdash and Repeat
Once you have an inte-grated strategy in place itrsquos time to implement Whether the goal is to acquire new donors reactivate lapsed donors and drive donations from existing donors mdash or all three mdash test your cam-paign Take time to review the results and adjust accordingly Then imple-ment full scale confident you are on the right path Regularly review your results adjust your activities and repeat as needed
In preparation for end of year activities take the time in the Fall to tweak your marketing engine for optimal performance Do some zero based plan-ning and try to approach
the supporter experience as if you are the supporter Spend time on every avenue where you can wisely create a seamless experience
Everyone in philan-thropy knows that the majority of all charitable donations are made in the last 2 months of the year Additionally member-ship increases substantially during the last quarter of the year Spend time now identifying opportunities strategies and tactics that work best for you mdash and consider how mobile can be a centralizing point for many of these activities
3 Apply the Winning Methodologies to Your End of Year Appeals
Yoursquove tested tweaked and determined what works best for you Now inte-grate what yoursquove learned into your end of year cam-paigns Determine how your campaign follows stan-dard best practices for end of year appeals and where mobile can help drive that engagement across multiple mediums
Common best practices for end of year campaigns that can include mobile
A Sending multiple asks the final week of the year mdash Make sure text messages are a part of that effort Whether itrsquos a simple call-to-action to text
a donation drives people to a pledge page or some-thing all-together different mobile can help ramp up that seamless experience
B the Art of the ldquothank Yourdquo mdash Thank your sup-porters Use mobile to message supporters your appreciation when they take action through text or drive them to a webpage with a video with a celeb-rity spokesperson giving a thank you message But make sure they know repeatedly that what they do for your cause matters And keep in mind mobile can drive to a strong ldquothank yourdquo experience
C Share Ask Listen mdash Take the opportunity to tell a story ask for feed-back and listen to what your organization is being told Not sure how to do that in mobile Share a link to a news article through text Ask for feedback through social media And listen to what is being said while distilling insights from how supporters respond in order to strengthen your omnichannel approach
4 Continue into 2013 mdash You are set for success
As donors enter the New Year self-improve-ment will often include a
commitment to be a better person volunteer more donate more funds etc Use mobile as a data col-lection tool to help your donors achieve their goal Give them the opportunity to commit to goals pertain-ing to your cause and then become their coach Send monthly reminders of their commitment and words of encouragement Remind them about appointments invite them to share their experience and overall let the donor feel the effect of their selfless promise through all of their activi-ties while using mobile to centralize that community and to drive people to action
We now live in a world where the average person at any given moment is looking at two or more screens It is critical that nonprofit organizations embrace the multi-screen world and adopt the omnichannel or fully integrated model When you create a seam-less giving experience for the everyday philanthropist you will be amazed at the results Walking away from a mobile strategy today is like walking away from the internet in the early 2000s
Mobile is here to stay and it is not an elective component to your orga-nizationrsquos fundraising and engagement strategy Itrsquos an essential part of a successful omnichannel strategy for your end of year activities n
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 27
Jenifer Snyder Esq Executive Director The mGive Foundation
As Executive Director of The mGive Foun-dation Jenifer is dedicated to expanding the scope and reach of the mobile channel for social good She brings years of lead-ership experience in the mobile industry to the position Previously Jenifer was a founder and General Counsel for 9 Squared Inc a mobile content and ser-vices company subsequently acquired by the Zed Group She left Zed in 2007 and started building the mobile channel for social and charitable efforts and later formed The mGive Foundation
Cassie bair Vice president of Marketing Mobile Accord
As Vice President of Marketing for Mobile Accord Cassie is dedicated to educat-ing and empowering nonprofits regarding the power of mobile She combines years of marketing experience in the nonprofit industry with the exciting evolution of the mobile channel for social good Cassie has worked with organizations such as the American Heart Association American Institute of Architects and the American Society of Echocardiography developing integrated and cause marketing cam-paigns and uses that knowledge today with clients to help them maximize their mobile strategy
Name
OrganizationCompany
Address
City State Zip Code
Charge my m Visa m MasterCard m AmEx m Discover
Card Number Expiration Date
Signature
raquo FAX form to 2026284383 (do not email credit card information)
raquo MAIL form to Alicia Osgood Director Membership amp Communications DMA Nonprofit Federation 1615 L Street NW Suite 1100 Washington DC 20036
raquo MAKE ChECKS payable to the DMA Nonprofit Federation
raquo DMA Nonprofit Federation Federal Tax ID Number 13-1810859
News and cutting-edge professional development tips
SUBSCRIBEto the Journal today1year =3 issues
ONLY $35Published digitally in January Apriland September the Journal brings together nonprofit leaders to deliver a standout publication packed with content you can really use
No cost to members
28 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Consumer technology evolves so quickly that nonprof-its are constantly racing to get their organizations using the latest technologies and mediums In fact many of these innovations have had significant impact on the fundrais-ing community While online CRM systems for example spawned database segmentation capabilities the opportu-nity ndash and challenge ndash arose for fundraising professionals to target appeals precisely to donorsrsquo specific interests Lately the emergence and rapid popularity of technologies such as smartphones and social media have forced nonprofits to not only create a presence but essentially compete for shrinking donor funds using these vehicles
The primary focus of nonprofit technology however tends to be inward creating a presence in a particular social media community or simply using the technology on behalf of the organization Examples of this include a nonprofitrsquos Facebook page and Twitter account and mobile-friendly
web sites In todayrsquos competitive fundraising environment though itrsquos not enough for nonprofits to simply use the latest technology Successful fundraisers understand that a nonprofitrsquos relationship with technology needs to take one step beyond itself to focus outward how do your sup-porters and donors want to use technology on behalf of your organization
Donors have technology preferences and habits too While itrsquos great for organizations to have a Facebook page for sup-porters to ldquolikerdquo that offers news and updates for example this doesnrsquot offer an opportunity for donors to appeal to their friends and family on behalf of your nonprofit mdash and certainly doesnrsquot raise money As nonprofits have learned to quickly adapt to changing technology and social media standards the time has come for organizations to evolve the technology they offer to provide donors supporters and par-ticipants with a personalized fundraising experience
Get Personal Providing Supporters with Personalized Fundraising Experiences
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 29
Personalization Means EngagementAt a fundamental level donor personalization in fun-
draising emerged from some of the first online nonprofit fundraising systems Offering supporters the opportunity to send personalized fundraising emails to their friends and family was revolutionary in its time mdash as was offering custom individual and team fundraising web pages
While these technology offerings revolutionized event fundraising donors have become increasingly savvy in the way they interact online mdash and developed strong preferences and dislikes in the types of technology they use They want the technology they know and like to be at their fingertips and are more likely to fundraise and successfully so for your nonprofit if itrsquos made easy and accessible for them
Back to Basics mdash But BetterNonprofits have been so consumed by social media that
they often forget this simple fact participants who use online tools raise six times more than non-users according to Blackbaud In addition 25 percent of the fundraising emails supporters send to their friends result in a donation With the average online gift being $60 nonprofits have motiva-tion not to forget about the basics of online fundraising But in the age of increasing competition for donations nonprof-its that offer a more personalized fundraising experience to supporters may see better results
What does it mean to offer a personalized fundrais-ing experience For online fundraising pages it can mean offering them the opportunity to post pictures videos story content and individual fundraising status updates But itrsquos essentially the personalization options offered behind the scenes mdash in the personal ldquoHeadquartersrdquo page within an online fundraising system mdash that can really maximize fun-draising results
Savvy nonprofits are offering a multitude of ways within their online fundraising systems for supporters to choose to reach out to friends and family Offering more than the email capabilities found standard with most fundraising plat-forms some nonprofits are starting to provide supporters more options in their personal participant ldquoheadquartersrdquo pages to engage those in their network mdash all with the click of a button Opportunities for supporters to personalize their experience could include options to
Send a Facebook message
Tweet their fundraising page
Update their Facebook status
Send a quick email
In addition statistics about their personal fundraising process could tell them
Total emails sent
Visits to their personal fundraising pages
Number of donations
Number of registrations
Average amount raised per email sent
Number of additional emails needed to reach fundraising goal
And because no one participant is the same these per-sonalization options allow the supporter to interact and engage their network on behalf of the nonprofit in ways that are meaningful and comfortable to them
Beyond the Facebook PageThe nonprofit community has taken Facebook by storm as an avenue to engage supporters and attract donors But itrsquos important to look beyond how supporters want to interact with your nonprofit and understand how they want to in-teract with their social network Itrsquos within this framework that supporters choose mdash or choose not mdash to engage their network on your organizationrsquos behalf
So make it easy for them provide them with a variety of ways to use several social media tools to reach out and fund-raise for your nonprofit Let them decide how they fundraise With 845 million monthly active users and 100 billion con-nections Facebook for example provides an excellent platform for nonprofits mdash and their fundraisers mdash to expand fundraising reach In fact Blackbaudrsquos web site states that social media users raise 40 more than non-users But most
continued
John Murphy PresidentCEo and Founder Zuri Group
30 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
organizations make the mistake of relying on participants to send their own appeals and updates or worse provide cum-bersome tools that require multiple logins and steps
Some enthusiastic fundraisers will thrive in this envi-ronment Others wonrsquot Since each supporter is unique itrsquos important to provide several varying opportunities and options so that a personalized fundraising experience can be forged For many fundraisers asking for donations isnrsquot easy All participants want to raise money but many donrsquot feel comfortable asking outside of close friends and family Other fundraisers donrsquot have the time or creativity to regu-larly develop and update personalized Facebook messages Use technology to help overcome these challenges by creat-ing easy ways for them to raise more money using Facebook
To take the effort out of Facebook fundraising remove the discomfort of a direct ldquoaskrdquo and save fundraisers time some nonprofits are offering supporters the option for fun-draising updates that automatically post on their Facebook wall at pre-determined intervals throughout the fundraising season For the right supporter this option removes the dis-comfort of approaching potential donors with a direct ldquoaskrdquo while significantly expanding their fundraising reach
Mobilizing the troopsAccording to a 2011 study consumers spend more time
on mobile applications than on the web In addition Ameri-cans spend 27 hours per day on average socializing on their mobile phones Nonprofits have been hard at work to lever-age the trend toward mobile by creating mobile-friendly web sites and even apps to further engage supporters But what about the mobile interaction that takes place between sup-porters and their friends The key is for nonprofits to make it accessible and easy for fundraisers to use their everyday technologies and devices to fundraise within their own networks By providing fundraising options that enable sup-porters to simply use something they already use such as a smartphone to connect with people they already interact with fundraising becomes a more natural and personalized part of the supporterrsquos day
To provide a more personalized and convenient fun-draising experience some nonprofits are offering mobile fundraising apps that enable supporters to not only use their smartphones to fundraise but to fundraise using multiple technologies within the smartphone mdash such as email text Twitter Facebook and even FaceTime for iPhone users As a result supporters can fundraise for the organization from their homes the train while walking the dog mdash anytime they have their phone
By empowering supporters to personalize their fundrais-ing experience nonprofits that provide mobile fundraising apps help their fundraisers help them These organizations are meeting the needs of on-the-go fundraising participants so they can focus on spreading awareness soliciting dona-tions and thanking donors mdash on their time on their terms In fact itrsquos been reported that fundraising participants using mobile fundraising applications raise 200 more than other participants and bring in 300 more gifts by count that other participants
In addition some mobile fundraising apps are provid-ing further personalization by bringing some of the same features of the personalized online ldquoheadquartersrdquo to the smartphone such as fundraising thermometers and adding donors into their phone address book Pre-written fundrais-ing messages developed specifically for various mediums such as texts Twitter updates and emails can be used Editing personal fundraising pages from the smartphone is likely the next option nonprofits will start offering
the Personalization ChallengeAs nonprofits compete in the race to adopt new technolo-
gies and social media itrsquos important to take a step back and consider your supportersrsquo relationship with those channels Many nonprofits have a Facebook page or group but how are your fundraisers using Facebook Are you making it easy for them to advocate or fundraise for your organization If much of your donor base uses text messaging have you pro-vided easy access and tools for them to text their network on your behalf
Supporters want and frankly need a personalized online experience with your organization Go beyond the bounds of your interactive relationship and consider what would enable your supporter base to have a more personalized fundrais-ing experience mdash and then put those tools at their fingertips They and their network mdash will thank you n
John Murphy is the PresidentCEO and Founder of Zuri Group Zuri Group provides nonprofits with custom technology solutions to meet critical organizational needs such as fundraising using their existing platform For more info visit zurigroupcom
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 31Non-Profit_FullPageAd_OLindd 1 91312 417 PM
32 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
9 Centennial Drive
Peabody MA 01960-7906
Tel 8003707500
wwwamergentcom
c a l l j a c k d o y l e
8 0 0 3 7 0 7 5 0 0
s t r a t e g i c d i r e c t
m a r k e t i n g
f l e x i b l e d a t a b a s e s o l u t i o n
m u l t i - y e a r
c u t t i n g - e d g e
a n a l y t i c s
a w a r d - w i n n i n g
c r e a t i v e
n e e d n e w f u n d r a i s i n g s o l u t i o n s
m u l t i - c h a n n e l
c a m p a i g n s
i n t e g r a t e d
p r e d i c t i v e m o d e l s
Sign up for Amergentrsquos e-newsletter
at friendsamergentcomifund or scan qr code
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 33
Looking to Affordably Grow Your Donor Fileand Increase Contributions
We Can HelpWiland Direct is the nationrsquos 1 transactional database for fundraisers
Using our vast transactional data and powerful models Wiland Direct helps fundraisers to
bull Affordably acquire new donors bull Maximize contributions from existing donors bull Reactivate former donorsbull Identify the most likely activists and volunteersbull Convert inquirers petition signers and other ldquowarm leadsrdquo into donors
To learn more please contact John Spencer at 9703106378 or via email at jspencerwilanddirectcom
3034858686 wwwWilandDirectcomCopyright 2012 Wiland Direct All rights reserved
ldquoThe Wiland Direct database has been a solid performer for LLS with higher average gifts and lower cost per dollar raised than most Itrsquos opened up a new acquisition universe particularly important for a mature program Wersquore very pleased with the results and team support from Wilandrdquomdash Bruny Lynch The Leukemia amp Lymphoma Society
34 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
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urce
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direct marketing solutionsyoursquove been looking for
Our award-winning solutions aretailored to find and motivate the people
who support your good work
SampW Directmdash Direct Mailmdash Online amp Offline
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Got control issuesWho doesnrsquot Maybe itrsquos time to hire a Sage
With 35 years of consumer marketing experience your non-profit can benefit from the best practices wersquove learned from creating thousands of winning promotions both in print and online
Thatrsquos why organizations like National Audubon Society Smithsonian National Geographic have consistently put our creative team to work for them
Want to see for yourself
Contact annesagecommunicationscom or call 508-309-6678 x 1 for a no-obligation quote
914-761-2800partnershipcarlbloomcom
Contact CBA today to find out how we can help yourorganization exceed its goals now and into the future
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For nearly 40 years Carl Bloom Associates has beenhelping non-profits exceed their revenue goals withinnovative strategies and creative that raise moremoney acquire and retain more donors and increasetheir lifetime value
You can support your mission more effectively withCBArsquos ldquosmarterrdquo multi-channel campaigns integrating
bull Direct Mailbull Telephonebull Email
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You shouldnrsquot be satisfied meeting your fundraising goals
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Full Service Fundraising gt DonorMember AcquisitionRetention
DMA NF Journal Ad 8-12-365x4625_Layout 1 81312 1014 AM Page 1
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 35
PUT MORE MONEY IN THE HANDS of THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST through innovative fundraisingstrategies and better results
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HigH Flying creative tHat gets resultsIntegrated Fundraising Mail Web Email
You want an agency that can deliver powerful high-performance programs Creatively You want an agency that will function as an extension of your own team Seamlessly You want an agency that can cut costs without cutting impact Efficiently You want Newport Creative
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newportcreativecom infonewportcreativecom
36 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
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For more information contact
Matthew Frattura4028365527 | matthewfratturainfogroupcom
wwwinfogroupcomApogee
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 37
In the era of tweets and texts we help people connect on a human level
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From fundraising through direct mail and digital media to integrated marketing solutions to strategic planning and donor relationship management and more we customize a plan just for you
We partner with organizations to help integrate fundraising and marketing strategies for maximum results
When you choose Alpha dog Marketing you do more than just hire an agency
Your purpose matters to us
wwwAlphadogMktgcom8007300668
Get it todaynonprofitfederationorgethics-policy watchdog-resource-centerwatchdog-toolkit
38 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
1
2
3
A
B
C
1 Be committed to donor satisfaction and responsible environmental community and financial stewardship
2 Clearly honestly and accurately represent our mission Be trans-parent in providing donors information on the use of funds and our leadership team
3 Communicate in a respectful and courteous manner Acknowledge a donorrsquos contributions appropriately and in a timely manner while respecting a donorrsquos right to privacysup1
4 Be accessible via multiple channels (mail email phone and possibly others) and respond to inquiries and complaints in a constructive timely way
5 Maintain appropriate security policies and practices to safeguard donor informationsup2
6 Provide information on our policies about the sharing of personally identifiable information to third-parties for marketing purposes and always honor requests not to have information shared
7 Honor donorsrsquo rights to choose which channels we communicate to them in (direct mail email telemarketing and others) and the frequency of communication
8 When partnering with businesses disclose the percentage or dollar amount of a sale which is a charitable contribution
9 Make a best effort not to solicit to children and abide by parentsrsquo requests to have childrenrsquos names excluded from solicitationssup3
10 Follow the spirit and letter of the law as well as DMArsquos Guidelines for Ethical Business Practice
Fundraising Ethics Guide for the Small NonprofitIn engaging with donors to fulfill our organizationrsquos mission we will
EthICS CoMMIttEE
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 5
NOTES
sup1Read more at irsgovpubirs-pdfp1771pdf or irsgovpubirs-pdfp526pdf
sup2An overview of PCI Security Standards Council definition of PCI compliance pcisecuritystandardsorg security_standardsindexphp
sup3Guidelines for solicitingmarketing to children as outlined by the Childrenrsquos Advertising Review Unit caruorgguidelinesguidelinespdf
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Better Business Bureau Standards for Charitable Accountability
bbborgusstandards-for- charity-accountability
Independent Sector Principles for Good Governance and Ethical Practice (account required to access)
independentsectororgprinciples_guide_summarys=Principles2Guide
Donor Bill of Rights as agreed upon by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP) the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) and the Giving Institute
nonprofitfederationorgsitesdefaultfileswebDonorBillofRightspdf
Standards for Excellence An Ethics and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector Available through this site and others
wvhuborgstandards-excellence-ethics-and-accountability-code-nonprofit-sector
DMA Nonprofit Federation Ethical Guidelines for Fundraising amp Other Nonprofit Communications
nonprofitfederationorgsitesdefaultfilesDMANF20Guidelines20Annot_Cleaned_Feb202012pdf
6 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Xenia ldquoSennyrdquo Boone Esq
Status Nonprofits are successfully preserving the char-itable tax deduction for individuals Donors who itemize their taxes may now write off up to 35 percent of the amount spent on charitable gifts President Obama included a pro-posed limit on the charitable tax deduction in his FY 2011 budget to change the deduction from 35 to 28 for couples making $250000 or on individuals making $200000 stating this would raise $1798 billion over 10 years to help pay for government programs The reduction was part of the plan to help pay for health reform but it did not pass and the Administration again articulated its desire to trim back the deduction during the deficit reduction debate and Super Committee process In January 2012 the Administration took a step back President Obama was clear in his State of the Union address that he will no longer seek a reduction in the amount that high earners may deduct from their taxes for charitable donations However the President also said that those making more than $1 million should be required to pay at least 30 percent of their income in taxes Then in an accompanying document ldquothe Administration will work to ensure that this rule is implemented in a way that is equi-table including not disadvantaging individuals who make large charitable contributionsrdquo While this represents a great step forward deficit reduction proposals are on the table which include changes to the charitable tax deduction One such proposal converts the deduction to a tax credit which would in turn cost the charitable community $108 billion in donations
please help us preserve the charitable tax deduction View our petition at wwwchangeorgpetitionspresident-obama-save-the-charitable-tax-deduction and sign on
DMANF Policy ScorecardThe DMA Nonprofit Federation protects and defends nonprofit fundraising across all marketing channels We preserve the char-itable tax deduction and protect nonprofit postal rates The following is a quick summary of our recent activities on your behalf
Status Nonprofit mailers faced a major rate hike via a reduction in the nonprofit preferred rate discount in Section 403 of HR 2309 a bill by California Rep Darrell Issa Issa chairs the Committee that oversees the USPS The bill stalled as a result of thousands of letters sent by dual DMA amp DMANF members On October 13 2011 the House Oversight and Government Reform (OGR) Committee amended amp passed the Postal Reform Act (HR 2309) out of Committee Section 403 was modi-fied by Chairman Issa based on charitiesrsquo concerns but it is still not supportable The nonprofit rate discount as originally proposed in Section 403 of HR 2309 would have been a 50 percent increase phased in over six years A later Issa version would hold off on a rate increase for 3 years amp then increase nonprofit rates each year by 2 until the nonprofit rate preference is at 80 versus the current law of 60 Issa now says the provision will be removed from the bill entirely mdash good news
we strongly oppose any change to the existing nonprofit rate preference as it does nothing to aid the USpS
To participate in the Federationrsquos grassroots activities email SBoonethe-dmaorg or phone 2028612498
For the latest on issues impacting our sector and the entire marketing space sign up for Direct from Washington by emailing governmentthe-dmaorg
Charitable taxdeduction
Postal legislation and nonprofit mailing rates
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 7
your newsletterdoesnrsquot need to be
the rodney dangerfield
of your fundraising
program
Bob Ball Executive Creative Director Masterworks
8
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 9
Pity the poor newsletterIf there is one component of nonprofit fundraising pro-
grams that is consistently overlooked and undervalued itrsquos the newsletter
Like the late comedian Rodney Dangerfield newsletters ldquodonrsquot get no respectrdquo
All too often the newsletter is just an afterthought Newsletters are not expected to raise a lot of money and all too often they meet those low expectations
Over the years Irsquove seen a lot of different kinds of news-letters from nonprofit organizations Therersquos the No-Ask Newsletter that simply reports accomplishments This type doesnrsquot raise money because it doesnrsquot even try
The No-Ask Newsletter may be of some long-term value by closing the loop with the donor But most of the time this species talks about what the organization has accomplished and how effective it is This information may reinforce pre-vious giving but the No-Ask Newsletter does not motivate immediate new donations
Other newsletters are nothing more than fundraising appeals thinly disguised in newsletter clothing In my expe-rience this type of hard-Ask Newsletter does raise some revenue but in most cases not as effectively as straightfor-ward appeals
Another variety is the institutionally focused Navel-Gazing Newsletter written for insiders
Without the accountability that comes from revenue expectations newsletter strategy becomes fuzzy This leads to one of the worst dangers the loss of audience focus
It is very common for newsletters to attempt to serve many different masters These All-things-to-All-People Newsletters are created for several different audiences in addition to donors For example some organizations use their newsletter to communicate with donors volunteers employees board members and even the general public This desire to be all things to all audiences makes it difficult to effectively focus on any single audience
When the newsletter devolves to this point it usually doesnrsquot make anyone happy and slides into irrelevancy
In recent years my colleagues and I have resolved to do something about this sorry state of the newsletter We started by attacking the problem at the root We decided to reverse the diffused audience focus and create newsletters with an obsessive laser-like focus on donors
The result is the Extreme Donor-Focused Newslet-ter It is aimed squarely at the donor In fact it is all about the donor
This approach assumes donors give because they love to give and love to make a significant difference in the world It combines reporting back about what the donors have accomplished and offers them a clear opportunity to give again
We had considerable inspiration to draw on Back in the 1990s and early 2000s I worked at a feisty little Seattle agency called The Domain Group that preached donor loyalty and started making newsletters raise money In fact in some cases newsletters made more money than appeals
Domain was the subject of an acquisition and is long gone now but that experience lives on today to give hope that newsletters can be better My former Domain col-league Jeff Brooks who writes the blog Future Fundraising Now is a strong advocate for donor focus Long-time fun-draiser and blogger Tom Ahern has also written brilliantly on this topic
The accumulated experience gave me the confidence that it was really possible to build a better newsletter and the inspiration to keep tinkering I wanted to shake off the curse of Rodney Dangerfield once and for all
Then the perfect opportunity to test these theories fell into my lap One of my current clients asked us to test against an internally produced newsletter
This was one of those test situations you dream about Head-to-head A-B panels set up for a statistically valid test and spread over 3 different newsletter mail slots
The internal newsletter was a classic blend of the All-things-to-All-People and the Navel-Gazing News-letters It was aimed at a wide variety of constituents and contained a lot of organizationally focused stories It did ask for donations but not consistently
The results of the test were gratifying with the Extreme Donor-Focused Newsletter showing dramatic improve-ment across the board
419 lift in response 195 lift in average gift 521 lift in revenue
continued
10 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
1 Write to the donor for the donor about the donor This is not objective arms-length journalism This is not the organization talking about itself to organization insiders This is a warm conversation with the donor about the things he or she is most interested in The main point of the newsletter is to share what the donorrsquos giving has done Itrsquos all about him or her
2 Ensure a high ldquoyourdquo quotient The copy is written directly to the donor using the second person singular The most frequent word in the copy and headlines should be ldquoyourdquo Take the time to count the number of times you use ldquoyourdquo and ldquoyourrdquo If you donrsquot have enough rewrite the copy to make sure you have not lost your donor focus
3 touch the heart with strong emotion The newsletter needs to stir the donorrsquos heart Make the donor feel something Tell stories of amazing accomplishment that the donorrsquos generosity helped make possible Use vivid language with strong active verbs and concrete nouns Dramatic emotional photos are worth their weight in gold As Ahern says ldquoA newsletter might be more welcome than an appeal It can bring joy It can bring fun It can take the reader on a journeyrdquo
4 Surprise and delight This is a ldquonewsletterrdquo so it needs to have something new in it Tell the donor something fascinating that he or she does not already know The initial reaction of the donor upon first glance should be a big smile because his or her giving has made something wonderful happen One of the pitfalls of newsletter publishing is falling into a rut One of my favorite fun-draising aphorisms is ldquoYou canrsquot bore anybody into givingrdquo But millions of really boring newsletters are mailed each year Irsquove often seen a great jump in performance of a newsletter immediately after it is given an overhaul and a fresh design But within just a few months performance tends to slip and fall back to the previously level Keeping the newsletter fresh does not mean that you must start from scratch each month Establishing a basic design template for your newsletter is mandatory This not only helps with efficiency but also maintains brand consistency But we also demand that every newsletter be fresh and delightful You can keep it fresh with fresh content Great photos help But you can also mix up the look through the use of color Make sure your brand has a full palette of secondary colors and use them
We followed some simple principles as we created those winning newsletters You can put them into practice with your own designs
TEN prINCIpAlS To CrEATE yoUr owN
extreme donor-focused newsletter
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 11
Bob Ball is the Executive Creative Director of Masterworks He has been trying not to bore donors since 1993
5 Appreciate the donor One of the major themes of the newsletter needs to be how important the donor is ldquoLook at what you have accomplished With your help we can do all this Without your help we will not be able to do itrdquo Look for ways to use the words ldquoThank yourdquo over and over again Itrsquos almost impossible to over-thank donors (And remember this is not merely a report back about what the organization was able to accomplish This is all about what the donor has accomplished through their generosity Whenever you have the opportunity to influence the gathering of photo resource have beneficiaries hold up signs that say ldquoThank Yourdquo That is the most powerful and direct way to close the loop between the donor and the people who are actually being helped
6 Design for readability Remove all unnecessary barriers to readability and com-prehension Use a large readable serif font for body copy Readability studies have shown that serif fonts are superior to sans serif fonts for body copy on the printed page A lot of designers love sans serif fonts because of their clean look and because they are trendy but this is not a matter of taste If you want your body copy to be read and comprehended use a nice serif font All body copy should pass the ldquodollar billrdquo test (You should not be able to lay a dollar bill on any expanse of body copy without touching a headline photo or subhead) No large blocks of reversed out type No busy backgrounds behind copy Make the layout ldquoscannablerdquo with large photos headlines subheads and pull-quotes
7 Motivate another gift Donors love to give and you should not be ashamed to ask them to give again While most of the newsletter space is devoted to thanks and apprecia-tion the newsletter needs to give the donor a way to repeat their charitable behavior This means making a clearly stated offer that donors have supported in the past
8 Make it convenient to give The newsletter should include a response device and a return envelope If online giving is possible the URL for the giving page should be clearly presented in case that is the donorrsquos preferred giving channel
9 Appeal to the most basic donor benefit Giving is joyful I canrsquot emphasize the importance of this simple fact Donors mdash real donors mdash love to give Your faithful loyal donors are the people who give over and over again and keep giving They are not stingy grouches who must be cajoled and manipulated into reluctantly parting with their money No Real donors have discovered the secret of true happiness and all they need is the assurance that their giving is appreciated and effective This key message should be explicitly stated ldquoNothing feels better than when you help When you give to accomplish XYZ you know the joy of making a significant differ-ence in the worldrdquo
10 Refresh and re-engage Nothing about the newsletter should be a chore for the reader The whole publication is a joyful celebration of what the donor has made possible By the time he or she is finished reading the newsletter he or she should be energized and eager to do more
If you follow these 10 principles you will have your own Extreme Donor-Focused Newslet-ter and your fundraising program should enjoy increased revenue and donor retention And whatrsquos more your newsletter will finally get the respect it deserves n
12 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Grand Hyatt New York
Conference attendees
mixed mingled amp noshed
on delicious appetizers
at Butterfield 8
2012 New York Nonprofit Conference
July 25ndash26 2012Grand Hyatt New York
New York NY
Grand Hyatt New York
Conference attendees
mixed mingled amp noshed
on delicious appetizers
at Butterfield 8
(Left to right)
DMA Nonprofit Federation Advisory Council Chair
Brian Cowart of Disabled American Veterans (DAV)
2012 New York Nonprofit Conference Keynote
Speaker Seth ldquoYossirdquo Siegel of Sixpoint Partners
DMA Nonprofit Federation Advisory Council Vice
Chair tom harrison of Russ Reid Company
The Nature Conservancyrsquos Chief Marketing Officer Geof Rochester
amp Director of Membership Fundraising Begontildea Vaacutezquez-Santos
with TNCrsquos Nonprofit Organization of the Year award
Congratulations to The Nature Conservancy
13
14 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Thank you Tom Har-rison for such a lovely introduction The philos-opher who said that there is no praise higher than to be esteemed by those you esteem perfectly captures my reaction I appreci-ate your idea of inviting me mdash someone from outside your industry mdash to speak before your group But it is you Tom and several of your colleagues at Russ Reid who have largely taught me what I know about this industry
It is truly a special plea-sure being with all of you here today and the size of the audience notwithstand-ing getting to meet with you
To some extent I feel like I know many of you in this room To be sure many of you already know me mdash and even more of you knew my father My being here today allows me to close the circle and reciprocate many years of your outreach to me and my father Let me explain
My wife and I have been married for 32 years When we got married we didnrsquot have a lot more than the wedding gifts we had received but from our first days together we shared an interest in learning about charities that could use our support and we often would send in small donations in response to this mailing or that Soon thereafter mdash and this will surprise exactly no one in this room mdash we began getting mailings from more charities and we had the
opportunity to learn about yet more worthy organiza-tions As time interest and available cash allowed we would donate to yet others Then along the way as my business grew we stepped out of the direct mail uni-verse and got involved with a more manageable number of causes as volunteers and a somewhat larger number as donors but directly and in amounts more likely to be the fruit of a call or a meeting or a solicitation over a meal or in our home We still get some mail solicita-tions Some of it is likely the distant tail from donations made long ago and a bit of it may be thanks to gifts made in support of some of our friendsrsquo childrenrsquos walk-a-thon participations or similar creative requests for funds But in the main our mail box no longer has the volume of requests for support that it once did
In my opening remarks I made mention of my father Now if my wife and I have received mail from some of you I can go out on a limb and say that my father got mail from nearly all of you Before I share my fatherrsquos direct mail experience Id like to tell you a bit about him
My father mdash Benjamin Siegel in case you are check-ing to see if his name is in your database mdash was born to immigrant parents here in Manhattan Despite his American birth he spoke
Seth ldquoYossirdquo Siegel
2012 New York Nonprofit Conference
KeynoteAddress
July 25 2012
vvv
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 15
no English until he started kindergarten His child-hood can only be described as hard and deprived with his parents being members of the working poor their entire lives Yet despite their poverty he recalled a blue-and-white tin charity box in his kitchen into which his mother would put a few coins every week late on Friday afternoon before the start of the Jewish Sabbath His parents werenrsquot reli-giously observant but his mother would make a char-itable donation of some kind every week for even poorer Jews living in what is now Israel
I would have to describe my father as angry a lot of the time And Id also have to say that it would be hard to find someone more cynical about institutions and whole professions than my father He thought all doctors were to use his word quacks He thought all lawyers were again to use his word shy-sters He loathed politicians He was dubious about the esteem given to Jewish clergy and I cant believe he had any special regard for the clergy of any other faith He was part of the Greatest Generation and talked his way into World War II after he was rejected on medical grounds and spent most of the war in Europe including landing on Omaha Beach on D-Day Plus 1 And even so he was often dismissive of the thought and planning
of our own military leaders especially what he thought of as the cavalier misuse of troops
Despite his being a one-man protest machine he utterly hated protest move-ments and anything that smacked of them I could go on but I think you get the picture This was a man of complete cynicism seem-ingly trusting no one He made a hard honest living and lived a life with no frills and few vacations Meals out in restaurants were a very special event By any stan-dard by which we measure comfort or luxury my father and mother had few check marks in that imaginary list
But family history aside there was a reason Ive just told you all of this
After my father died in 2004 some many years after my mother and stepmother had both passed away it fell to me to go through his effects and to pack up his things I donrsquot know how many of you here have ever had that task It is a melan-choly one with many small items serving to remind you of moments in the rela-tionship In addition it can be a startling one learning things about your deceased parent and achingly wishing you could have them back for even a few moments to explain what something meant or to ask why they had never told you about some just discovered element of their lives
For me the startling element I discovered was how my father mdash the utter cynic mdash was mdash within his means mdash a philanthropist and donor of a scope that is still remarkable to me You see when I opened the bottom drawer of his dresser the entire drawer was filled with note pads and boxes of seasonal cards from dozens and dozens of charities My first thought standing in his empty bedroom was ldquoTo whom was he planning on writing so many notesrdquo When I opened the next drawer it was filled with per-sonalized mailing labels from dozens of charities mdash possi-bly the same charities I donrsquot know but possibly not mdash but I knew that if he ever got around to sending out all of those notes and cards he would never have to write his return address on any of those envelopes As I con-tinued the packing up in his bedroom kitchen closets and elsewhere I found other institutional gifts from other charities like tote bags mugs umbrellas and so on almost all of them still in their orig-inal packaging
When I cleaned out his small desk I found his checkbook and sat at his desk to go through his check register and other check reg-isters going back years and years There were payments made to credit card compa-nies and utilities and taxes but overwhelmingly the checks were made payable
to one charity after another The amounts mdash as you pro-fessionals would guess from the pads and the pre-printed mailing labels mdash were all small Most of them were for ten dollars some for twenty-five and in a nod to the Jewish mystical belief in the specialness of numbers that are multiples of eigh-teen he had written plenty of checks to Jewish organiza-tions and causes for eighteen and thirty-six dollars
Also remarkable was the range of organizations to which he donated As I mentioned he gave to a broad array of Jewish and pro-Israel organizations but he also gave to commu-nity groups environmental groups hunger organiza-tions veterans groups and health-related organizations including hospitals hospices and disease-focused causes He even gave to animal shelter organizations mdash and he had never had a pet of his own
So how could it be that this most utterly cynical man a man who watched his pennies his whole life could have been a small-scale Roth-schild and Rockefeller in the range and expansiveness of his giving Of course wersquoll never know for sure but in trying to develop an answer to this there are lessons for those of us in this room who care about the not-for-profit world whether profession-ally as communal activists or as donors
continued
16 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
The first two possibili-ties that come to mind that Id like to quickly dismiss are that my father liked the idea that he could get something of value for what may have seemed for free It is possible but my father was a very prac-tical man and at some point he must have realized that well into his 80s he had such an ample supply of holiday cards and return address labels that he would never be able to use up the inventory The other thought was that he simply liked getting mail and he knew how the system worked Send in a check and the one envelope becomes two or three or ten Send in one hundred checks and he had his weekends filled reading through all of the mail he had received during the past week That is possi-ble but my father also died with a significant backlog of unread magazines so Im going to rule that out too
The explanation Ive come up with is that my father may have been a cynic but that he wanted to believe He may have thought most every institution and public figure not worthy of being trusted but he may still have yearned to be able to trust that some others out there cared deeply about society and elements of it and that he wanted to be part of the efforts to make the world a proverbially better place He despised a lot of things gen-erally but seemed to like a lot of things specifically
And from that insight I think there is some very good news for many of you here today I know from Tom Harrison that you are all worried about the crummy economy that shows no sign of quickly returning to robust times And Tom has also shared with me a worry about the viability of the US Postal Service and its ability to offer reduced mailing rates for the fore-seeable future And Tom has also told me that my fatherrsquos generation is dying off and not being quickly replaced by a new demographic cohort that reads mail and sends in money Plus there are environmental ques-tions about harvesting trees for the mailings and some compelling proof that people respond less well to email solicitations than they did to requests delivered via their mail boxes But aside from all of those structural impediments my fatherrsquos behavior offers some very special opportunities for those charities and organi-zations able to reach out and speak personally to the next waves of donors
If my father was a skepti-cal cynical guy in the Ozzie and Harriet 1950s and 60s he was a full generation ahead of where people are today and Id like to take a minute or two to explain what I mean
People today are fright-ened angry cynical even often despairing The
overwhelming feeling is that few institutions are working well Our political system just isnrsquot garnering wide-spread support and in these unsettling times people want leaders and insti-tutions that can fix their problems No matter who wins the presidential elec-tion in November there is little widespread belief we will come together as a society to fix our problems It may happen but people donrsquot believe it And the poll numbers reflect this Pres-ident Obama mdash who came into office on a promise of hope and change and of transformation of our political culture and which initially yielded him an approval rating of 67 mdash has had an approval rating that has been below 50 since November 2009 and is now at 47 If the president has problems in garnering the publicrsquos trust that he can solve their problems Con-gress as an institution is doing far far worse with an approval rating of 23 The US Supreme Court enjoys an approval rating of only 35 These numbers for the president and for the legisla-tive and judicial branches of government actually under-state the problem The poll number of those who call themselves ldquofrustrated or angry with the federal gov-ernmentrdquo comes in at a frightening 79 President Obama may win re-elec-tion but it likely wont be a
unifying election We have a divided government at a polarized partisan moment of utterly different and con-tradictory views of how to solve the problems at hand Given the enormity of the problems mdash from the economy to the deficit to the debt to Iranrsquos nuclear program to the rise of radical Islamism to the rise of China and its likelihood to be a destabilizing force and many many more prob-lems mdash the likelihood our country will be dispirited and detached from politics is larger than it is smaller
Staying with our politi-cal system for just another moment we have another problem Because people are angry and have a near con-stant ldquothrow the bums outrdquo feeling about our elected offi-cials we are going through a period of uncommon insta-bility in our government institutions
Most people believe that incumbents come to office and tend to leave only when they die But it just isnrsquot true Whether because of the Tea Party or because of burn-out by elected officials the level of turnover in Washington is a big and growing problem In just the past five Congres-sional elections which is to say in the past ten years a remarkable 54 of the US Senate has been replaced If that number seems impos-sibly high for institutional stability in the House of Representatives the turnover
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 17
in that same period has been 68 Due to announced retirements and defeats in primaries we already know that in the coming Senate and House to be sworn in next January no fewer than 11 current Senators and 60 current Congressmen and Congresswomen will not be returning mdash and that assumes not a single incum-bent will lose in a single race in the remaining pri-maries and the General Election That means at least a 65 turnover in the US Senate and a more than 80 turnover in the House of Representatives in a mere 12-year period Think of your own organizations and what a turnover of that mag-nitude would mean to your ability to do your institu-tional job let alone having to grapple with many of the enormous challenges I mentioned a moment ago and many others I did not mention Thus the roiling public environment is more likely to stay roiled for some time to come than it is likely to return to some idealized period of harmony
Not to belabor the point but to also make sure that we understand that the problem of popular unease is broader than belief in our national government let me share just a few poll numbers to demonstrate my point Our confidence in hospitals and our doctors is now at 41 which is bad enough but HMOs are at 19 Public
schools have the confidence of only 29 of the people in our country Newspapers taken together have the con-fidence of just 25 of the American people But falling even lower than newspapers TV news comes in at 21 And labor unions banks and major corporations are all tied with the confidence of just one in five Ameri-cans at around 20 Even organized religion falls below the 50 mark at 44
Indeed the only three institutions regularly polled about by Gallup to be above the 50 mark are our police departments at 56 small business at 63 and our fighting men and women in the US military at 75 And finally in what many people believe is the most important general view of how people feel the Right Track Wrong Track poll Rasmussen reports 30 of Americans think our country is on the right track
and 64 believe our country is on the wrong track
In case you werenrsquot a statistics major in college let me boil all of these poll results down to just this one short statement and it is this My father was ahead of his time Just as my father didnrsquot trust or like just about any institution the American people now donrsquot much trust or like any institution with
the exception of police military and
small busi-ness In
nearly every other
case the institu-tion Ive mentioned is at or
near an all-time low since these Gallup Institutional Confidence polls began being conducted in 1973
But I think there is a second key learning from all of this bad news that is actu-ally very good news for some of you but definitely not all of you and that is this Just as my father had very low confidence in government and other mass institutions yet managed to turn himself
into a check-writing ma-chine for many many not-for-profits so too can your organization or your clients The not-so-profound insight is that even the most angry frustrated cynical skeptical misanthrope wants to believe It was true of mis-anthropes when Moliere wrote a play by that name in the 1660s It was true of my father And Id bet a dona-tion to any of your causes that it is true today even with a Right Track Wrong Track poll that has double the number of Wrong Trackers over Right Trackers People want to believe People want to love People know they wont live for forever and people want to see the world better both today in their lifetimes and tomor-row when it is their legacy This is true for mega donors who will be honored at fancy dinners in hotel ballrooms like this and for ten dollar donors who look forward to the return address labels you all will send to them
So with the crummy economy the dicey state of the Postal Service the demo-graphic hump working against low-dollar donors and all of the other problems direct marketers face my money is on the significant success of some of the orga-nizations that are here today Of course the structural challenges make it harder but is it harder today than it was in my grandmotherrsquos
vvvThe not-so-profound insight is that even
the most angry frustrated cynical skeptical
misanthrope wants to believehellipPeople know they
wont live for forever and people want to see the
world better both today in their lifetimes and
tomorrow when it is their legacy
vvv
continued
18 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
walk-up tenement apart-ment in which every Friday afternoon she found a way to donate to people she knew she would never meet who were living in a place she knew she would never see She believed in the enterprise afoot in what is today Israel a place on the other side of the world and she trusted that the coins in her little blue-and-white tin box would be used wisely and honorably All the same must have been true about my father and the many causes to which he wrote those checks And the same is true of millions and millions of people waiting to be touched and to form a connection with a cause larger than themselves a cause they can make their own in a way best thought of as an I-Thou relationship
For those of you unfa-miliar with the phrase I and Thou let me start by telling you it is a concept that changed my life It was coined by the philoso-pher and theologian Martin Buber Despite his being a theologian it is a concept that isnt inherently reli-gious even if it works well in every faith tradition and also works well in a purely secular context It works well for couples who have long been together and remark-ably it works well when soliciting gifts from near-strangers It is an approach to living a happy satisfying life So with that build up let
me tell you about I and Thou and about Martin Buber
Buber was born in Austria but moved to Germany in his teens to pursue his education In the 1920s he wrote his most famous work ldquoI and Thourdquo which although somewhat obscure today helped to establish his reputation as a leading German thinker of his time When the Nazis came to power in 1933 as a Jew he was prohibited from teaching at the uni-versity where he had been a professor and in 1938 just ahead of the start of the mass murder of 90 of Euro-pean Jewry Buber made his way to the British Mandate where he became a professor in Jerusalem When the State of Israel came into being in 1948 Buber was an esteemed philosopher revered by the young nation It is hard to imagine a philosopher having this kind of fame and impact but when he died in 1965 it was the lead news story of the day in Israel and a major story in The New York Times and other world newspapers
According to Buber there are two kinds of rela-tionships I-Thou and I-It The idea underpinning these concepts is best explained by examples as every single person in this room has experienced I-Thou and I-It relationships In an I-Thou relationship we are as one Your destiny is my destiny
even if only for a moment In the I-It relationship the parties are in a transac-tion I have turned the other party into an object to help me to achieve something that I want Indeed we all have I-Thou relationships and I-It relationships all the time mdash and we often have these disparate relationships within moments of each other and often with the very same person If this room were smaller and more inti-mate I could randomly call on anyone and have you give examples of I-Thou and I-It relationships in your own life But Ill use my own life as an example
I love my wife very much I am happy to come home at the end of the workday and to hear about her day and what is new and for her to hear about my day That is an I-Thou moment But while sitting with her my stomach starts to growl I become distracted Im not think-ing about her but about the dinner I know she has prepared Im hungry and want to eat She becomes an object a means to an end an I-It Wersquove all had that expe-rience or one like it
But just because Im getting something I want from her mdash or from anyone mdash doesnrsquot mean it has to be an I-It moment In that exact same scenario it could just as well have been an I-Thou moment by a change in my behavior even
with the same outcome that dinner will be served and my hunger abated Instead of single-mindedly think-ing about food in its place I could have interrupted the conversation to tell her that Im hungry I could have offered to set the table while we keep talking And most importantly I could keep reminding myself that she has spent time and trouble thinking about dinner and preparing it and that I have no entitlement to her having done this and how fortunate I am that she has If I do all of that it is more likely we will have an I-Thou relationship that evening than a transac-tional I-It one
Even with people we love I-Thoursquos and I-Itrsquos flit back and forth across some imaginary spectrum with engagement and other-directedness on one side and selfishness and self-direct-edness on the other We all have instincts for both sides of that spectrum and the challenge is to take the harder path the path where we direct the moment away from ourselves and our selfish wants and needs to that of the person present before us and our shared experience
As I indicated earlier this isnrsquot just true of deep long-lasting relationships It can be true of the waiter who serves you dinner the bellman who helps you with your bags even with a
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 19
passing stranger on a line to get into somewhere Every encounter has the oppor-tunity to be an I-Thou or an I-It and the challenge is for each of us to constantly remind ourselves of the humanity of the person with whom we engage
I and Thou isnrsquot just for people It is also true of believing peoplersquos relation-ship with God and also true of organizations and how they relate to people In my experience Ive found it even true of inanimate objects even if that may take it beyond Buberrsquos own con-ception So how do Martin Buber and his I and Thou relate to you all as direct mar-keters and as fundraisers for your worthy organizations
Everyone knows when they are in an I and Thou moment You feel the link and the joy that comes from the link But people also know when they are being used as a means to an end
when they are the ldquoItrdquo in an I-It relationship People may give you what you want when they are in an I-It rela-tionship with you and you may give your counter-party what they seek too but we all know that feeling of sadness or emptiness within when someone you are with mdash a co-worker a boss a spouse a child even a clerk on the phone at a call center mdash treats you as an object to get some-thing achieved and not as an opportunity to feel your humanity and for you to feel theirs even if for a fleeting moment
And the same Ill say is true about the relationship between a potential donor and your organization Those organizations that stand for somethinghellip Those organizations that donrsquot treat their donors as objects like walking checkbookshellip Those organizations that take the time to engage with their prospects Indeed
those organizations that donrsquot even necessarily start by asking for something it is those organizations who I believe will find a wide universe of people eager to believe and eager to be part of the organizationrsquos mission An I-Thou relation-ship doesnrsquot mean we never ask the other party for some-thing It is about how and when we ask Just as we will have a different outcome with our spouses children and co-workers when we are building off of an I-Thou relationship rather than an I-It so too will we have a different outcome when we approach our donors as part-ners as people we care about exactly as much whether they donate or not It is from that soulful relationship that donors will want to support one organization over an-other and one cause over another no matter how angry or frustrated or cynical they are about the larger world
around them That is how I believe the next genera-tion of donors will come to support many but not all of our organizations
When my father died I had the Postal Service forward his mail to my home address In the nearly eight years since his passing Ive received hundreds of mail-ings maybe more I often open the solicitations to try to get a feel for the kinds of causes and organizations my father would have been spending his time learning about and possibly support-ing So while some recipients of your mailings may think of your output as junk mail I couldnrsquot be more apprecia-tive Each envelope serves to remind me that the cynical side of my father was only a side and that when properly touched even a hard man could respond
Thank you all very much for your attention n
copy 2012 Seth M Siegel Reproduction with authorrsquos consent only All rights reserved
Looking for an agency or supplier to help your organization reachnew heights
Access the DMANFrsquos Directory of Service providers
nonprofitfederationorgcorporate-partnerssearch
20 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Nonprofit organizations face unique marketing chal-lenges Theyrsquore tasked with identifying and reaching the right people at the right time and through
the appropriate channels as well as balancing message appeals with monetary requests all while conveying their mission and cause The rapid expansion of the internet social networking and mobile have placed yet another demand front-and-center for nonprofit organizations mdash con-sumer privacy
Consumers are justly concerned about divulging their personal information They want to know where why and how their information will be used Many are unaware that their personal information is collected in a variety of ways and by a variety of sources both online and offline Common but often misunderstood data practices include third-party ad servers setting cookies retail stores matching names and addresses with phone numbers and marketers sharing customer lists
In todayrsquos complex marketplace how can nonprofit organizations demonstrate to their supporters donors and prospects that they share their concerns and are commit-ted to protecting their privacy The first and most important step is to create a clear privacy policy and communicate it effectively
the Privacy PolicyIf your organization collects uses and or stores personal donor information a privacy policy is critical You must display your privacy policy on your website and strictly abide by it
Privacy policies are structured around Notice and Choice principles They should provide supporters with notice of
how their data is collected used and shared as well as their choices to limit or prevent such practices Your privacy policy should also include information to maintain trans-parency and that clearly describes your organizationrsquos data security practices
Key points every privacy policy should address include
The types of personal information your organization collects This may include name address telephone number email address and credit card or other payment information
How information is secured
How personal information is used and with whom it is shared
How supporters can control the use of their data
How the privacy policy is updated and the effective date of the policy
Letrsquos take a more detailed look at the elements of a privacy policy from a nonprofit organizationrsquos perspective
Collecting personal InformationAs mentioned personal information may include data ele-ments such as name address telephone number email address and payment information It can also include more sensitive information such as gender race religious or politi-cal beliefs health information or other characteristics
The types of personal information collected and the length of retention may be used to enhance your marketing
Consumer PrivacyA Guide for Nonprofit Marketers
Bethany Lewis Privacy Analyst Epsilon
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 21
objectives by creating detailed profiles of supporters but what if that dataprofile was accessed without appropriate permis-sions or used by other organizations for purposes beyond the original intent Inappropriate generalizations might be made about supporters regardless of who has the data and the risk for reputational and other damage increases if that type of data is compromised
For example if a supporter donates to an organization that supports research of a genetic disorder should they be identified as a patient of or at risk for that same disorder Perhaps theyrsquore simply a caretaker for someone suffer-ing from that disorder Similarly if a supporter donates to a religious-based organization could assumptions around political leanings be attributed to them
Protecting information about charitable contributions is critical as is informing supporters how that information will be used which brings us to data security and the sharing of personal information
protecting personal InformationToday every organization is vulnerable when it comes to data security Protecting the personal information of supporters is essential The first line of protection is collecting only the necessary data
While creating supporter profiles evaluate the risks of storing ldquounnecessaryrdquo data especially if an incident exposes the data Set internal policies for how long each category of data collected will be retained and be diligent in deletingdestroying data in a safe and thorough manner based on those policies
Whenever possible encrypt personal data maintained electronically and enhance security on laptops and mobile devices from which supporter data is accessed
Sharing personal InformationBe very clear in your privacy policy when providing infor-mation on the types of third-parties with whom your organization shares data If you share information with third-party service providers disclose this fact and provide a categorized list of these organizations Such organizations may include credit card processors shipping vendors mar-keting analysts or consultants and fulfillment houses
If you share information with other nonprofit organi-zations disclose these practices Also disclose if you share information with marketing cooperatives whose databases are not exclusively nonprofit
Protecting
information
about
charitable
contributions
is critical
continued
22 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
providing ChoiceStudies have shown that modern consumers are more com-fortable sharing personal information with organizations that are clear and upfront about how their information is used and with whom it is shared In fact most people respond positively to organizations who transparently disclose data sharing practices and provide a clear and convenient oppor-tunity to opt-out While a small percentage of individuals will choose to opt-out of data sharing very few supporters will opt-out of all contact with an organization Therefore providing an opportunity to opt-out of sharing data for mar-keting purposes as well as an opt-out for receiving further requests from your organization will aid in retaining your most loyal supporters
Updating the privacy policyClearly state the effective date of your current privacy policy and update it when you make any material changes If you do make material changes to your privacy policy with ret-roactive application to the data you already have stored you may need to obtain express consent from individuals to use their information for new or different purposes Some organizations choose to list what changes were made in a summary history which may be helpful to a supporter reviewing the policy
Pulling It All togetherYour privacy policy should be easy to find read understand and act upon (ie opt-out or modify preferences) It should also be present in each commercial solicitation where per-sonal information is collected regardless of whether that is through postal mailings or on your website
Additional information regarding Notice Choice Trans-parency and other important privacy principles can be found on the DMA website in the Commitment to Consumer Choice and the DMA Guidelines for Ethical Business Practice
At Epsilon we use the following checklist when evaluating a privacy policy
The website has a privacy policy
There is a link to the privacy policy from the websitersquos home page and the link contains the word ldquoprivacyrdquo
The privacy policy states that the organization shares consumer data and personal information (including name address email address and transaction informa-tion) with third-party service providers
The privacy policy states that the organization shares consumer data and personal information with other marketers for their own marketing purposes
The privacy policy provides consumers the chance to opt-out of having their information shared with other marketers
The privacy policy has an ldquoeffectiverdquo date
As mentioned in situations where data is shared with other organizations and marketers transparency is the key Below is sample disclosure language
The personally identifiable information that you provide to us
(such as your name address and email address) and information
about your contribution may be combined with other non-person-
ally identifiable information (such as demographic information and
past contribution history) available from our records and other
sources This information will be used to make our future market-
ing efforts more efficient and relevant This information may also
be shared with our third-party service providers that assist us
with our marketing efforts and with other marketers whose prod-
ucts or services we feel may be of interest to you If you prefer
that we do not share your name and address with other market-
ers please email us at optoutyourorganizationorg
Beyond the Privacy PolicyIn addition to having a robust privacy policy written in concise language and that is easily accessible here are a few other best practices to secure the privacy of your sup-portersrsquo information
Ensure agreements with third-parties who may have access to supportersrsquo personal information adequately address privacy and data security
Suppress personal information in your database when a supporter requests it and do so within a reasonable timeframe
If you must store sensitive information such as credit card or social security numbers as part of your data-base encrypt this information
Train employees and volunteers regularly on the importance of maintaining privacy and security
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 23
Nonprofit Careers e-Bulletin
Your Multi-ChannelRecruiting Tool
Become familiar with data breach notification require-ments and have a response plan and team in place Should you experience a breach disclose to all appro-priate and necessary parties
Monitor the use of your data and address any enti-ties when you become aware that data is being used in a way that violates the law contractual requirements andor the DMArsquos Ethical Guidelines
Respecting and promoting consumer privacy requires a commitment to maintaining balance between the legitimate business needs of your organization and the concerns of individuals about fair information practices Start by taking a look at your current privacy policy Assure its accuracy and adhere to its strategy n
Bethany Lewis As a Privacy Analyst Bethany Lewis supports and educates associates and clients on privacy compliance matters She brings an extensive background in regulatory compliance corporate ethics education and training to her work at Epsilon
ldquoThe recruitment Tool for the Nonprofit Communityrdquo is your source for top flight exposure to top flight candidates and the best A b amp C-level career opportunities out there
Distributed every Tuesday 8 am ET via raquo Email raquo post at wwwnonprofitfederationorg raquo Facebook mdash DMA Nonprofit Federation raquo Twitter mdash DMANF and AliozDC
To view ad submission requirements visit the ldquoFind a Jobrdquo area of the DMA Nonprofit Federation homepage wwwnonprofitfederationorg and click on ldquoHow to postrdquo Ads must be emailed to Aosgoodthe-dmaorg please make sure any ad you submit meets our specifications
Is your nonprofit organization already a dual member of the DMA and DMANF If the answer is lsquoyesrsquo itrsquos FrEE mdash so why not post
Join the over 8000 professionals who already subscribe
Sign up today nonprofitfederationorgpublications careers-e-bulletinsubscribe
DMA Guidelines for Ethical Business Practice
dmaresponsibilityorgGuidelines
24 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Each week I see non-profit organizations walking away from
mobile thinking that com-municating and fundraising with their constituents through the single most used electronic device in history is optional Con-versely we see more and more retailers embracing mobile and the omnichan-nel marketing model because the results are tre-mendous We at mGive think nonprofits benefit when they embrace similar tools and methodologies
What is an omnichan-nel approach and why is it important to non-profit organizations An omnichannel approach is an integrated marketing strat-egy that creates a seamless experience for the donor
It is a customer-centric approach that elevates your supporter loyalty strategies by leveraging cross-channel opportunities For example when a donor drops off goods at their local Epilepsy Foundation they receive a paper receipt to complete Normally once they leave your location you lose any hope of communicating with them again Imagine if when the donor dropped off their goods you offered to send the donor an email version of their receipt You now have a way to engage the supporter through email Now suppose your email receipt offered a web link that drove them to a form to opt-in to your mobile community in order to receive updates via text
Once they opt-in you then have a way to send updates volunteer requests dona-tion reminders and more You may also leverage the fact they are on the mobile phone and send text mes-sages asking supporters to post a photo to Facebook making a donation Having this omnichannel strat-egy in place is especially critical at the end of year because it is an opportune time for organizations to increase membership and raise dollars
So how does an organization create an omnichannel approach that leverages direct mail email online social media live events and mobile to achieve their goals It may be difficult for some orga-nizations to make the
operational shift to an omnichannel model but that doesnrsquot mean you can afford to ignore it Not sure you can get all the steps in place by the time you launch your end of year activities Mobile is the bridge that can help to start that process In fact more and more organizations are relying on their mobile strategy to bridge the gap and engage supporters in this multi-screen world because mobile is the ldquogreat centralizerrdquo of activities ndash where else can you make calls browse the web check email respond to text mes-sages post to social media and more in a truly porta-ble fashion
Before we move on to the tactics that an organiza-tion can take to incorporate
Mobile
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 25
mobile into their existing multi-channel strategies we must tackle one issue If your organization has tried mobile or an omnichan-nel approach in the past and were disappointed or frustrated with your expe-rience try again You were one of the pioneering orga-nizations that comprise the early adopters of those models Lessons learned over the past few years have evolved into success-ful best practices mdash and you get the opportunity to benefit from them As we like to say in honor of the wise Master Yoda ldquoTry not Do or do not There is no tryrdquo We guarantee if imple-mented correctly using mobile in an omnichannel approach can work for your organization
1 Communicate and Integrate mdash Walk Across the Mobile Bridge
Many organizations that I work with have voiced cross-departmental integra-tion as a challenge That is understandable because tra-ditionally departments or channels have been siloed from one another But this disenfranchised model does not result in the seam-less experience that donors are coming to expect In order for a donor experi-ence to be seamless direct mail must complement the organizationrsquos website the organizationrsquos website must complement the mobile campaign social media must complement direct mail and so forth and so on When used together
the communication chan-nels can result in more effective campaigns and bigger numbers
When an organization decides to develop a mobile strategy generally it is one department within that organization that is initially interested That department is a hero because they have just launched a toolset that can be used throughout the organization If you have a mobile program in place for fundraising itrsquos time to talk with your program services department mem-bership team and corporate partner folks and get them in the loop so that you can maximize the omnichannel approach Mobile can be a great catalyst for initiating conversation and guiding organizational integration
Mobile is also a great way to increase the effec-tiveness of existing channels By integrating your direct mail newslet-ter social media online and mobile efforts you can increase response and open rates We have found that if you send a text message to your membership remind-ing them to check their email inboxes you can increase email open rates by 10 or more Addition-ally if you include a mobile number field on your email and paper member-ship forms you can quickly build a mobile community that can turn into repeat donors Once again the most important element besides the actual cross
the Bridge to an omnichannel Approach in time for Year-End Campaigns
continued
Jenifer Snyder Esq Executive Director The mGive Foundation and Cassie Bair Vice President of Marketing Mobile Accord
26 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
channel promotion goes back to this concept of the omnichannel Make the message consistent across all channels They donrsquot have to be identical but they should complement each other and work to create an echo effect
Just about every one of your donors will experience your organization through their mobile device at some point mdash so make sure your message is clear consistent convenient and actionable through mobile in some capacity
2 test Review Adjust Implement Review Adjust mdash and Repeat
Once you have an inte-grated strategy in place itrsquos time to implement Whether the goal is to acquire new donors reactivate lapsed donors and drive donations from existing donors mdash or all three mdash test your cam-paign Take time to review the results and adjust accordingly Then imple-ment full scale confident you are on the right path Regularly review your results adjust your activities and repeat as needed
In preparation for end of year activities take the time in the Fall to tweak your marketing engine for optimal performance Do some zero based plan-ning and try to approach
the supporter experience as if you are the supporter Spend time on every avenue where you can wisely create a seamless experience
Everyone in philan-thropy knows that the majority of all charitable donations are made in the last 2 months of the year Additionally member-ship increases substantially during the last quarter of the year Spend time now identifying opportunities strategies and tactics that work best for you mdash and consider how mobile can be a centralizing point for many of these activities
3 Apply the Winning Methodologies to Your End of Year Appeals
Yoursquove tested tweaked and determined what works best for you Now inte-grate what yoursquove learned into your end of year cam-paigns Determine how your campaign follows stan-dard best practices for end of year appeals and where mobile can help drive that engagement across multiple mediums
Common best practices for end of year campaigns that can include mobile
A Sending multiple asks the final week of the year mdash Make sure text messages are a part of that effort Whether itrsquos a simple call-to-action to text
a donation drives people to a pledge page or some-thing all-together different mobile can help ramp up that seamless experience
B the Art of the ldquothank Yourdquo mdash Thank your sup-porters Use mobile to message supporters your appreciation when they take action through text or drive them to a webpage with a video with a celeb-rity spokesperson giving a thank you message But make sure they know repeatedly that what they do for your cause matters And keep in mind mobile can drive to a strong ldquothank yourdquo experience
C Share Ask Listen mdash Take the opportunity to tell a story ask for feed-back and listen to what your organization is being told Not sure how to do that in mobile Share a link to a news article through text Ask for feedback through social media And listen to what is being said while distilling insights from how supporters respond in order to strengthen your omnichannel approach
4 Continue into 2013 mdash You are set for success
As donors enter the New Year self-improve-ment will often include a
commitment to be a better person volunteer more donate more funds etc Use mobile as a data col-lection tool to help your donors achieve their goal Give them the opportunity to commit to goals pertain-ing to your cause and then become their coach Send monthly reminders of their commitment and words of encouragement Remind them about appointments invite them to share their experience and overall let the donor feel the effect of their selfless promise through all of their activi-ties while using mobile to centralize that community and to drive people to action
We now live in a world where the average person at any given moment is looking at two or more screens It is critical that nonprofit organizations embrace the multi-screen world and adopt the omnichannel or fully integrated model When you create a seam-less giving experience for the everyday philanthropist you will be amazed at the results Walking away from a mobile strategy today is like walking away from the internet in the early 2000s
Mobile is here to stay and it is not an elective component to your orga-nizationrsquos fundraising and engagement strategy Itrsquos an essential part of a successful omnichannel strategy for your end of year activities n
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 27
Jenifer Snyder Esq Executive Director The mGive Foundation
As Executive Director of The mGive Foun-dation Jenifer is dedicated to expanding the scope and reach of the mobile channel for social good She brings years of lead-ership experience in the mobile industry to the position Previously Jenifer was a founder and General Counsel for 9 Squared Inc a mobile content and ser-vices company subsequently acquired by the Zed Group She left Zed in 2007 and started building the mobile channel for social and charitable efforts and later formed The mGive Foundation
Cassie bair Vice president of Marketing Mobile Accord
As Vice President of Marketing for Mobile Accord Cassie is dedicated to educat-ing and empowering nonprofits regarding the power of mobile She combines years of marketing experience in the nonprofit industry with the exciting evolution of the mobile channel for social good Cassie has worked with organizations such as the American Heart Association American Institute of Architects and the American Society of Echocardiography developing integrated and cause marketing cam-paigns and uses that knowledge today with clients to help them maximize their mobile strategy
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OrganizationCompany
Address
City State Zip Code
Charge my m Visa m MasterCard m AmEx m Discover
Card Number Expiration Date
Signature
raquo FAX form to 2026284383 (do not email credit card information)
raquo MAIL form to Alicia Osgood Director Membership amp Communications DMA Nonprofit Federation 1615 L Street NW Suite 1100 Washington DC 20036
raquo MAKE ChECKS payable to the DMA Nonprofit Federation
raquo DMA Nonprofit Federation Federal Tax ID Number 13-1810859
News and cutting-edge professional development tips
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ONLY $35Published digitally in January Apriland September the Journal brings together nonprofit leaders to deliver a standout publication packed with content you can really use
No cost to members
28 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Consumer technology evolves so quickly that nonprof-its are constantly racing to get their organizations using the latest technologies and mediums In fact many of these innovations have had significant impact on the fundrais-ing community While online CRM systems for example spawned database segmentation capabilities the opportu-nity ndash and challenge ndash arose for fundraising professionals to target appeals precisely to donorsrsquo specific interests Lately the emergence and rapid popularity of technologies such as smartphones and social media have forced nonprofits to not only create a presence but essentially compete for shrinking donor funds using these vehicles
The primary focus of nonprofit technology however tends to be inward creating a presence in a particular social media community or simply using the technology on behalf of the organization Examples of this include a nonprofitrsquos Facebook page and Twitter account and mobile-friendly
web sites In todayrsquos competitive fundraising environment though itrsquos not enough for nonprofits to simply use the latest technology Successful fundraisers understand that a nonprofitrsquos relationship with technology needs to take one step beyond itself to focus outward how do your sup-porters and donors want to use technology on behalf of your organization
Donors have technology preferences and habits too While itrsquos great for organizations to have a Facebook page for sup-porters to ldquolikerdquo that offers news and updates for example this doesnrsquot offer an opportunity for donors to appeal to their friends and family on behalf of your nonprofit mdash and certainly doesnrsquot raise money As nonprofits have learned to quickly adapt to changing technology and social media standards the time has come for organizations to evolve the technology they offer to provide donors supporters and par-ticipants with a personalized fundraising experience
Get Personal Providing Supporters with Personalized Fundraising Experiences
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 29
Personalization Means EngagementAt a fundamental level donor personalization in fun-
draising emerged from some of the first online nonprofit fundraising systems Offering supporters the opportunity to send personalized fundraising emails to their friends and family was revolutionary in its time mdash as was offering custom individual and team fundraising web pages
While these technology offerings revolutionized event fundraising donors have become increasingly savvy in the way they interact online mdash and developed strong preferences and dislikes in the types of technology they use They want the technology they know and like to be at their fingertips and are more likely to fundraise and successfully so for your nonprofit if itrsquos made easy and accessible for them
Back to Basics mdash But BetterNonprofits have been so consumed by social media that
they often forget this simple fact participants who use online tools raise six times more than non-users according to Blackbaud In addition 25 percent of the fundraising emails supporters send to their friends result in a donation With the average online gift being $60 nonprofits have motiva-tion not to forget about the basics of online fundraising But in the age of increasing competition for donations nonprof-its that offer a more personalized fundraising experience to supporters may see better results
What does it mean to offer a personalized fundrais-ing experience For online fundraising pages it can mean offering them the opportunity to post pictures videos story content and individual fundraising status updates But itrsquos essentially the personalization options offered behind the scenes mdash in the personal ldquoHeadquartersrdquo page within an online fundraising system mdash that can really maximize fun-draising results
Savvy nonprofits are offering a multitude of ways within their online fundraising systems for supporters to choose to reach out to friends and family Offering more than the email capabilities found standard with most fundraising plat-forms some nonprofits are starting to provide supporters more options in their personal participant ldquoheadquartersrdquo pages to engage those in their network mdash all with the click of a button Opportunities for supporters to personalize their experience could include options to
Send a Facebook message
Tweet their fundraising page
Update their Facebook status
Send a quick email
In addition statistics about their personal fundraising process could tell them
Total emails sent
Visits to their personal fundraising pages
Number of donations
Number of registrations
Average amount raised per email sent
Number of additional emails needed to reach fundraising goal
And because no one participant is the same these per-sonalization options allow the supporter to interact and engage their network on behalf of the nonprofit in ways that are meaningful and comfortable to them
Beyond the Facebook PageThe nonprofit community has taken Facebook by storm as an avenue to engage supporters and attract donors But itrsquos important to look beyond how supporters want to interact with your nonprofit and understand how they want to in-teract with their social network Itrsquos within this framework that supporters choose mdash or choose not mdash to engage their network on your organizationrsquos behalf
So make it easy for them provide them with a variety of ways to use several social media tools to reach out and fund-raise for your nonprofit Let them decide how they fundraise With 845 million monthly active users and 100 billion con-nections Facebook for example provides an excellent platform for nonprofits mdash and their fundraisers mdash to expand fundraising reach In fact Blackbaudrsquos web site states that social media users raise 40 more than non-users But most
continued
John Murphy PresidentCEo and Founder Zuri Group
30 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
organizations make the mistake of relying on participants to send their own appeals and updates or worse provide cum-bersome tools that require multiple logins and steps
Some enthusiastic fundraisers will thrive in this envi-ronment Others wonrsquot Since each supporter is unique itrsquos important to provide several varying opportunities and options so that a personalized fundraising experience can be forged For many fundraisers asking for donations isnrsquot easy All participants want to raise money but many donrsquot feel comfortable asking outside of close friends and family Other fundraisers donrsquot have the time or creativity to regu-larly develop and update personalized Facebook messages Use technology to help overcome these challenges by creat-ing easy ways for them to raise more money using Facebook
To take the effort out of Facebook fundraising remove the discomfort of a direct ldquoaskrdquo and save fundraisers time some nonprofits are offering supporters the option for fun-draising updates that automatically post on their Facebook wall at pre-determined intervals throughout the fundraising season For the right supporter this option removes the dis-comfort of approaching potential donors with a direct ldquoaskrdquo while significantly expanding their fundraising reach
Mobilizing the troopsAccording to a 2011 study consumers spend more time
on mobile applications than on the web In addition Ameri-cans spend 27 hours per day on average socializing on their mobile phones Nonprofits have been hard at work to lever-age the trend toward mobile by creating mobile-friendly web sites and even apps to further engage supporters But what about the mobile interaction that takes place between sup-porters and their friends The key is for nonprofits to make it accessible and easy for fundraisers to use their everyday technologies and devices to fundraise within their own networks By providing fundraising options that enable sup-porters to simply use something they already use such as a smartphone to connect with people they already interact with fundraising becomes a more natural and personalized part of the supporterrsquos day
To provide a more personalized and convenient fun-draising experience some nonprofits are offering mobile fundraising apps that enable supporters to not only use their smartphones to fundraise but to fundraise using multiple technologies within the smartphone mdash such as email text Twitter Facebook and even FaceTime for iPhone users As a result supporters can fundraise for the organization from their homes the train while walking the dog mdash anytime they have their phone
By empowering supporters to personalize their fundrais-ing experience nonprofits that provide mobile fundraising apps help their fundraisers help them These organizations are meeting the needs of on-the-go fundraising participants so they can focus on spreading awareness soliciting dona-tions and thanking donors mdash on their time on their terms In fact itrsquos been reported that fundraising participants using mobile fundraising applications raise 200 more than other participants and bring in 300 more gifts by count that other participants
In addition some mobile fundraising apps are provid-ing further personalization by bringing some of the same features of the personalized online ldquoheadquartersrdquo to the smartphone such as fundraising thermometers and adding donors into their phone address book Pre-written fundrais-ing messages developed specifically for various mediums such as texts Twitter updates and emails can be used Editing personal fundraising pages from the smartphone is likely the next option nonprofits will start offering
the Personalization ChallengeAs nonprofits compete in the race to adopt new technolo-
gies and social media itrsquos important to take a step back and consider your supportersrsquo relationship with those channels Many nonprofits have a Facebook page or group but how are your fundraisers using Facebook Are you making it easy for them to advocate or fundraise for your organization If much of your donor base uses text messaging have you pro-vided easy access and tools for them to text their network on your behalf
Supporters want and frankly need a personalized online experience with your organization Go beyond the bounds of your interactive relationship and consider what would enable your supporter base to have a more personalized fundrais-ing experience mdash and then put those tools at their fingertips They and their network mdash will thank you n
John Murphy is the PresidentCEO and Founder of Zuri Group Zuri Group provides nonprofits with custom technology solutions to meet critical organizational needs such as fundraising using their existing platform For more info visit zurigroupcom
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 31Non-Profit_FullPageAd_OLindd 1 91312 417 PM
32 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
9 Centennial Drive
Peabody MA 01960-7906
Tel 8003707500
wwwamergentcom
c a l l j a c k d o y l e
8 0 0 3 7 0 7 5 0 0
s t r a t e g i c d i r e c t
m a r k e t i n g
f l e x i b l e d a t a b a s e s o l u t i o n
m u l t i - y e a r
c u t t i n g - e d g e
a n a l y t i c s
a w a r d - w i n n i n g
c r e a t i v e
n e e d n e w f u n d r a i s i n g s o l u t i o n s
m u l t i - c h a n n e l
c a m p a i g n s
i n t e g r a t e d
p r e d i c t i v e m o d e l s
Sign up for Amergentrsquos e-newsletter
at friendsamergentcomifund or scan qr code
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 33
Looking to Affordably Grow Your Donor Fileand Increase Contributions
We Can HelpWiland Direct is the nationrsquos 1 transactional database for fundraisers
Using our vast transactional data and powerful models Wiland Direct helps fundraisers to
bull Affordably acquire new donors bull Maximize contributions from existing donors bull Reactivate former donorsbull Identify the most likely activists and volunteersbull Convert inquirers petition signers and other ldquowarm leadsrdquo into donors
To learn more please contact John Spencer at 9703106378 or via email at jspencerwilanddirectcom
3034858686 wwwWilandDirectcomCopyright 2012 Wiland Direct All rights reserved
ldquoThe Wiland Direct database has been a solid performer for LLS with higher average gifts and lower cost per dollar raised than most Itrsquos opened up a new acquisition universe particularly important for a mature program Wersquore very pleased with the results and team support from Wilandrdquomdash Bruny Lynch The Leukemia amp Lymphoma Society
34 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
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direct marketing solutionsyoursquove been looking for
Our award-winning solutions aretailored to find and motivate the people
who support your good work
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Got control issuesWho doesnrsquot Maybe itrsquos time to hire a Sage
With 35 years of consumer marketing experience your non-profit can benefit from the best practices wersquove learned from creating thousands of winning promotions both in print and online
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Want to see for yourself
Contact annesagecommunicationscom or call 508-309-6678 x 1 for a no-obligation quote
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For nearly 40 years Carl Bloom Associates has beenhelping non-profits exceed their revenue goals withinnovative strategies and creative that raise moremoney acquire and retain more donors and increasetheir lifetime value
You can support your mission more effectively withCBArsquos ldquosmarterrdquo multi-channel campaigns integrating
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DMA NF Journal Ad 8-12-365x4625_Layout 1 81312 1014 AM Page 1
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 35
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36 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
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For more information contact
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wwwinfogroupcomApogee
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 37
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Get it todaynonprofitfederationorgethics-policy watchdog-resource-centerwatchdog-toolkit
38 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
1
2
3
A
B
C
6 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Xenia ldquoSennyrdquo Boone Esq
Status Nonprofits are successfully preserving the char-itable tax deduction for individuals Donors who itemize their taxes may now write off up to 35 percent of the amount spent on charitable gifts President Obama included a pro-posed limit on the charitable tax deduction in his FY 2011 budget to change the deduction from 35 to 28 for couples making $250000 or on individuals making $200000 stating this would raise $1798 billion over 10 years to help pay for government programs The reduction was part of the plan to help pay for health reform but it did not pass and the Administration again articulated its desire to trim back the deduction during the deficit reduction debate and Super Committee process In January 2012 the Administration took a step back President Obama was clear in his State of the Union address that he will no longer seek a reduction in the amount that high earners may deduct from their taxes for charitable donations However the President also said that those making more than $1 million should be required to pay at least 30 percent of their income in taxes Then in an accompanying document ldquothe Administration will work to ensure that this rule is implemented in a way that is equi-table including not disadvantaging individuals who make large charitable contributionsrdquo While this represents a great step forward deficit reduction proposals are on the table which include changes to the charitable tax deduction One such proposal converts the deduction to a tax credit which would in turn cost the charitable community $108 billion in donations
please help us preserve the charitable tax deduction View our petition at wwwchangeorgpetitionspresident-obama-save-the-charitable-tax-deduction and sign on
DMANF Policy ScorecardThe DMA Nonprofit Federation protects and defends nonprofit fundraising across all marketing channels We preserve the char-itable tax deduction and protect nonprofit postal rates The following is a quick summary of our recent activities on your behalf
Status Nonprofit mailers faced a major rate hike via a reduction in the nonprofit preferred rate discount in Section 403 of HR 2309 a bill by California Rep Darrell Issa Issa chairs the Committee that oversees the USPS The bill stalled as a result of thousands of letters sent by dual DMA amp DMANF members On October 13 2011 the House Oversight and Government Reform (OGR) Committee amended amp passed the Postal Reform Act (HR 2309) out of Committee Section 403 was modi-fied by Chairman Issa based on charitiesrsquo concerns but it is still not supportable The nonprofit rate discount as originally proposed in Section 403 of HR 2309 would have been a 50 percent increase phased in over six years A later Issa version would hold off on a rate increase for 3 years amp then increase nonprofit rates each year by 2 until the nonprofit rate preference is at 80 versus the current law of 60 Issa now says the provision will be removed from the bill entirely mdash good news
we strongly oppose any change to the existing nonprofit rate preference as it does nothing to aid the USpS
To participate in the Federationrsquos grassroots activities email SBoonethe-dmaorg or phone 2028612498
For the latest on issues impacting our sector and the entire marketing space sign up for Direct from Washington by emailing governmentthe-dmaorg
Charitable taxdeduction
Postal legislation and nonprofit mailing rates
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 7
your newsletterdoesnrsquot need to be
the rodney dangerfield
of your fundraising
program
Bob Ball Executive Creative Director Masterworks
8
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 9
Pity the poor newsletterIf there is one component of nonprofit fundraising pro-
grams that is consistently overlooked and undervalued itrsquos the newsletter
Like the late comedian Rodney Dangerfield newsletters ldquodonrsquot get no respectrdquo
All too often the newsletter is just an afterthought Newsletters are not expected to raise a lot of money and all too often they meet those low expectations
Over the years Irsquove seen a lot of different kinds of news-letters from nonprofit organizations Therersquos the No-Ask Newsletter that simply reports accomplishments This type doesnrsquot raise money because it doesnrsquot even try
The No-Ask Newsletter may be of some long-term value by closing the loop with the donor But most of the time this species talks about what the organization has accomplished and how effective it is This information may reinforce pre-vious giving but the No-Ask Newsletter does not motivate immediate new donations
Other newsletters are nothing more than fundraising appeals thinly disguised in newsletter clothing In my expe-rience this type of hard-Ask Newsletter does raise some revenue but in most cases not as effectively as straightfor-ward appeals
Another variety is the institutionally focused Navel-Gazing Newsletter written for insiders
Without the accountability that comes from revenue expectations newsletter strategy becomes fuzzy This leads to one of the worst dangers the loss of audience focus
It is very common for newsletters to attempt to serve many different masters These All-things-to-All-People Newsletters are created for several different audiences in addition to donors For example some organizations use their newsletter to communicate with donors volunteers employees board members and even the general public This desire to be all things to all audiences makes it difficult to effectively focus on any single audience
When the newsletter devolves to this point it usually doesnrsquot make anyone happy and slides into irrelevancy
In recent years my colleagues and I have resolved to do something about this sorry state of the newsletter We started by attacking the problem at the root We decided to reverse the diffused audience focus and create newsletters with an obsessive laser-like focus on donors
The result is the Extreme Donor-Focused Newslet-ter It is aimed squarely at the donor In fact it is all about the donor
This approach assumes donors give because they love to give and love to make a significant difference in the world It combines reporting back about what the donors have accomplished and offers them a clear opportunity to give again
We had considerable inspiration to draw on Back in the 1990s and early 2000s I worked at a feisty little Seattle agency called The Domain Group that preached donor loyalty and started making newsletters raise money In fact in some cases newsletters made more money than appeals
Domain was the subject of an acquisition and is long gone now but that experience lives on today to give hope that newsletters can be better My former Domain col-league Jeff Brooks who writes the blog Future Fundraising Now is a strong advocate for donor focus Long-time fun-draiser and blogger Tom Ahern has also written brilliantly on this topic
The accumulated experience gave me the confidence that it was really possible to build a better newsletter and the inspiration to keep tinkering I wanted to shake off the curse of Rodney Dangerfield once and for all
Then the perfect opportunity to test these theories fell into my lap One of my current clients asked us to test against an internally produced newsletter
This was one of those test situations you dream about Head-to-head A-B panels set up for a statistically valid test and spread over 3 different newsletter mail slots
The internal newsletter was a classic blend of the All-things-to-All-People and the Navel-Gazing News-letters It was aimed at a wide variety of constituents and contained a lot of organizationally focused stories It did ask for donations but not consistently
The results of the test were gratifying with the Extreme Donor-Focused Newsletter showing dramatic improve-ment across the board
419 lift in response 195 lift in average gift 521 lift in revenue
continued
10 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
1 Write to the donor for the donor about the donor This is not objective arms-length journalism This is not the organization talking about itself to organization insiders This is a warm conversation with the donor about the things he or she is most interested in The main point of the newsletter is to share what the donorrsquos giving has done Itrsquos all about him or her
2 Ensure a high ldquoyourdquo quotient The copy is written directly to the donor using the second person singular The most frequent word in the copy and headlines should be ldquoyourdquo Take the time to count the number of times you use ldquoyourdquo and ldquoyourrdquo If you donrsquot have enough rewrite the copy to make sure you have not lost your donor focus
3 touch the heart with strong emotion The newsletter needs to stir the donorrsquos heart Make the donor feel something Tell stories of amazing accomplishment that the donorrsquos generosity helped make possible Use vivid language with strong active verbs and concrete nouns Dramatic emotional photos are worth their weight in gold As Ahern says ldquoA newsletter might be more welcome than an appeal It can bring joy It can bring fun It can take the reader on a journeyrdquo
4 Surprise and delight This is a ldquonewsletterrdquo so it needs to have something new in it Tell the donor something fascinating that he or she does not already know The initial reaction of the donor upon first glance should be a big smile because his or her giving has made something wonderful happen One of the pitfalls of newsletter publishing is falling into a rut One of my favorite fun-draising aphorisms is ldquoYou canrsquot bore anybody into givingrdquo But millions of really boring newsletters are mailed each year Irsquove often seen a great jump in performance of a newsletter immediately after it is given an overhaul and a fresh design But within just a few months performance tends to slip and fall back to the previously level Keeping the newsletter fresh does not mean that you must start from scratch each month Establishing a basic design template for your newsletter is mandatory This not only helps with efficiency but also maintains brand consistency But we also demand that every newsletter be fresh and delightful You can keep it fresh with fresh content Great photos help But you can also mix up the look through the use of color Make sure your brand has a full palette of secondary colors and use them
We followed some simple principles as we created those winning newsletters You can put them into practice with your own designs
TEN prINCIpAlS To CrEATE yoUr owN
extreme donor-focused newsletter
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 11
Bob Ball is the Executive Creative Director of Masterworks He has been trying not to bore donors since 1993
5 Appreciate the donor One of the major themes of the newsletter needs to be how important the donor is ldquoLook at what you have accomplished With your help we can do all this Without your help we will not be able to do itrdquo Look for ways to use the words ldquoThank yourdquo over and over again Itrsquos almost impossible to over-thank donors (And remember this is not merely a report back about what the organization was able to accomplish This is all about what the donor has accomplished through their generosity Whenever you have the opportunity to influence the gathering of photo resource have beneficiaries hold up signs that say ldquoThank Yourdquo That is the most powerful and direct way to close the loop between the donor and the people who are actually being helped
6 Design for readability Remove all unnecessary barriers to readability and com-prehension Use a large readable serif font for body copy Readability studies have shown that serif fonts are superior to sans serif fonts for body copy on the printed page A lot of designers love sans serif fonts because of their clean look and because they are trendy but this is not a matter of taste If you want your body copy to be read and comprehended use a nice serif font All body copy should pass the ldquodollar billrdquo test (You should not be able to lay a dollar bill on any expanse of body copy without touching a headline photo or subhead) No large blocks of reversed out type No busy backgrounds behind copy Make the layout ldquoscannablerdquo with large photos headlines subheads and pull-quotes
7 Motivate another gift Donors love to give and you should not be ashamed to ask them to give again While most of the newsletter space is devoted to thanks and apprecia-tion the newsletter needs to give the donor a way to repeat their charitable behavior This means making a clearly stated offer that donors have supported in the past
8 Make it convenient to give The newsletter should include a response device and a return envelope If online giving is possible the URL for the giving page should be clearly presented in case that is the donorrsquos preferred giving channel
9 Appeal to the most basic donor benefit Giving is joyful I canrsquot emphasize the importance of this simple fact Donors mdash real donors mdash love to give Your faithful loyal donors are the people who give over and over again and keep giving They are not stingy grouches who must be cajoled and manipulated into reluctantly parting with their money No Real donors have discovered the secret of true happiness and all they need is the assurance that their giving is appreciated and effective This key message should be explicitly stated ldquoNothing feels better than when you help When you give to accomplish XYZ you know the joy of making a significant differ-ence in the worldrdquo
10 Refresh and re-engage Nothing about the newsletter should be a chore for the reader The whole publication is a joyful celebration of what the donor has made possible By the time he or she is finished reading the newsletter he or she should be energized and eager to do more
If you follow these 10 principles you will have your own Extreme Donor-Focused Newslet-ter and your fundraising program should enjoy increased revenue and donor retention And whatrsquos more your newsletter will finally get the respect it deserves n
12 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Grand Hyatt New York
Conference attendees
mixed mingled amp noshed
on delicious appetizers
at Butterfield 8
2012 New York Nonprofit Conference
July 25ndash26 2012Grand Hyatt New York
New York NY
Grand Hyatt New York
Conference attendees
mixed mingled amp noshed
on delicious appetizers
at Butterfield 8
(Left to right)
DMA Nonprofit Federation Advisory Council Chair
Brian Cowart of Disabled American Veterans (DAV)
2012 New York Nonprofit Conference Keynote
Speaker Seth ldquoYossirdquo Siegel of Sixpoint Partners
DMA Nonprofit Federation Advisory Council Vice
Chair tom harrison of Russ Reid Company
The Nature Conservancyrsquos Chief Marketing Officer Geof Rochester
amp Director of Membership Fundraising Begontildea Vaacutezquez-Santos
with TNCrsquos Nonprofit Organization of the Year award
Congratulations to The Nature Conservancy
13
14 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Thank you Tom Har-rison for such a lovely introduction The philos-opher who said that there is no praise higher than to be esteemed by those you esteem perfectly captures my reaction I appreci-ate your idea of inviting me mdash someone from outside your industry mdash to speak before your group But it is you Tom and several of your colleagues at Russ Reid who have largely taught me what I know about this industry
It is truly a special plea-sure being with all of you here today and the size of the audience notwithstand-ing getting to meet with you
To some extent I feel like I know many of you in this room To be sure many of you already know me mdash and even more of you knew my father My being here today allows me to close the circle and reciprocate many years of your outreach to me and my father Let me explain
My wife and I have been married for 32 years When we got married we didnrsquot have a lot more than the wedding gifts we had received but from our first days together we shared an interest in learning about charities that could use our support and we often would send in small donations in response to this mailing or that Soon thereafter mdash and this will surprise exactly no one in this room mdash we began getting mailings from more charities and we had the
opportunity to learn about yet more worthy organiza-tions As time interest and available cash allowed we would donate to yet others Then along the way as my business grew we stepped out of the direct mail uni-verse and got involved with a more manageable number of causes as volunteers and a somewhat larger number as donors but directly and in amounts more likely to be the fruit of a call or a meeting or a solicitation over a meal or in our home We still get some mail solicita-tions Some of it is likely the distant tail from donations made long ago and a bit of it may be thanks to gifts made in support of some of our friendsrsquo childrenrsquos walk-a-thon participations or similar creative requests for funds But in the main our mail box no longer has the volume of requests for support that it once did
In my opening remarks I made mention of my father Now if my wife and I have received mail from some of you I can go out on a limb and say that my father got mail from nearly all of you Before I share my fatherrsquos direct mail experience Id like to tell you a bit about him
My father mdash Benjamin Siegel in case you are check-ing to see if his name is in your database mdash was born to immigrant parents here in Manhattan Despite his American birth he spoke
Seth ldquoYossirdquo Siegel
2012 New York Nonprofit Conference
KeynoteAddress
July 25 2012
vvv
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 15
no English until he started kindergarten His child-hood can only be described as hard and deprived with his parents being members of the working poor their entire lives Yet despite their poverty he recalled a blue-and-white tin charity box in his kitchen into which his mother would put a few coins every week late on Friday afternoon before the start of the Jewish Sabbath His parents werenrsquot reli-giously observant but his mother would make a char-itable donation of some kind every week for even poorer Jews living in what is now Israel
I would have to describe my father as angry a lot of the time And Id also have to say that it would be hard to find someone more cynical about institutions and whole professions than my father He thought all doctors were to use his word quacks He thought all lawyers were again to use his word shy-sters He loathed politicians He was dubious about the esteem given to Jewish clergy and I cant believe he had any special regard for the clergy of any other faith He was part of the Greatest Generation and talked his way into World War II after he was rejected on medical grounds and spent most of the war in Europe including landing on Omaha Beach on D-Day Plus 1 And even so he was often dismissive of the thought and planning
of our own military leaders especially what he thought of as the cavalier misuse of troops
Despite his being a one-man protest machine he utterly hated protest move-ments and anything that smacked of them I could go on but I think you get the picture This was a man of complete cynicism seem-ingly trusting no one He made a hard honest living and lived a life with no frills and few vacations Meals out in restaurants were a very special event By any stan-dard by which we measure comfort or luxury my father and mother had few check marks in that imaginary list
But family history aside there was a reason Ive just told you all of this
After my father died in 2004 some many years after my mother and stepmother had both passed away it fell to me to go through his effects and to pack up his things I donrsquot know how many of you here have ever had that task It is a melan-choly one with many small items serving to remind you of moments in the rela-tionship In addition it can be a startling one learning things about your deceased parent and achingly wishing you could have them back for even a few moments to explain what something meant or to ask why they had never told you about some just discovered element of their lives
For me the startling element I discovered was how my father mdash the utter cynic mdash was mdash within his means mdash a philanthropist and donor of a scope that is still remarkable to me You see when I opened the bottom drawer of his dresser the entire drawer was filled with note pads and boxes of seasonal cards from dozens and dozens of charities My first thought standing in his empty bedroom was ldquoTo whom was he planning on writing so many notesrdquo When I opened the next drawer it was filled with per-sonalized mailing labels from dozens of charities mdash possi-bly the same charities I donrsquot know but possibly not mdash but I knew that if he ever got around to sending out all of those notes and cards he would never have to write his return address on any of those envelopes As I con-tinued the packing up in his bedroom kitchen closets and elsewhere I found other institutional gifts from other charities like tote bags mugs umbrellas and so on almost all of them still in their orig-inal packaging
When I cleaned out his small desk I found his checkbook and sat at his desk to go through his check register and other check reg-isters going back years and years There were payments made to credit card compa-nies and utilities and taxes but overwhelmingly the checks were made payable
to one charity after another The amounts mdash as you pro-fessionals would guess from the pads and the pre-printed mailing labels mdash were all small Most of them were for ten dollars some for twenty-five and in a nod to the Jewish mystical belief in the specialness of numbers that are multiples of eigh-teen he had written plenty of checks to Jewish organiza-tions and causes for eighteen and thirty-six dollars
Also remarkable was the range of organizations to which he donated As I mentioned he gave to a broad array of Jewish and pro-Israel organizations but he also gave to commu-nity groups environmental groups hunger organiza-tions veterans groups and health-related organizations including hospitals hospices and disease-focused causes He even gave to animal shelter organizations mdash and he had never had a pet of his own
So how could it be that this most utterly cynical man a man who watched his pennies his whole life could have been a small-scale Roth-schild and Rockefeller in the range and expansiveness of his giving Of course wersquoll never know for sure but in trying to develop an answer to this there are lessons for those of us in this room who care about the not-for-profit world whether profession-ally as communal activists or as donors
continued
16 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
The first two possibili-ties that come to mind that Id like to quickly dismiss are that my father liked the idea that he could get something of value for what may have seemed for free It is possible but my father was a very prac-tical man and at some point he must have realized that well into his 80s he had such an ample supply of holiday cards and return address labels that he would never be able to use up the inventory The other thought was that he simply liked getting mail and he knew how the system worked Send in a check and the one envelope becomes two or three or ten Send in one hundred checks and he had his weekends filled reading through all of the mail he had received during the past week That is possi-ble but my father also died with a significant backlog of unread magazines so Im going to rule that out too
The explanation Ive come up with is that my father may have been a cynic but that he wanted to believe He may have thought most every institution and public figure not worthy of being trusted but he may still have yearned to be able to trust that some others out there cared deeply about society and elements of it and that he wanted to be part of the efforts to make the world a proverbially better place He despised a lot of things gen-erally but seemed to like a lot of things specifically
And from that insight I think there is some very good news for many of you here today I know from Tom Harrison that you are all worried about the crummy economy that shows no sign of quickly returning to robust times And Tom has also shared with me a worry about the viability of the US Postal Service and its ability to offer reduced mailing rates for the fore-seeable future And Tom has also told me that my fatherrsquos generation is dying off and not being quickly replaced by a new demographic cohort that reads mail and sends in money Plus there are environmental ques-tions about harvesting trees for the mailings and some compelling proof that people respond less well to email solicitations than they did to requests delivered via their mail boxes But aside from all of those structural impediments my fatherrsquos behavior offers some very special opportunities for those charities and organi-zations able to reach out and speak personally to the next waves of donors
If my father was a skepti-cal cynical guy in the Ozzie and Harriet 1950s and 60s he was a full generation ahead of where people are today and Id like to take a minute or two to explain what I mean
People today are fright-ened angry cynical even often despairing The
overwhelming feeling is that few institutions are working well Our political system just isnrsquot garnering wide-spread support and in these unsettling times people want leaders and insti-tutions that can fix their problems No matter who wins the presidential elec-tion in November there is little widespread belief we will come together as a society to fix our problems It may happen but people donrsquot believe it And the poll numbers reflect this Pres-ident Obama mdash who came into office on a promise of hope and change and of transformation of our political culture and which initially yielded him an approval rating of 67 mdash has had an approval rating that has been below 50 since November 2009 and is now at 47 If the president has problems in garnering the publicrsquos trust that he can solve their problems Con-gress as an institution is doing far far worse with an approval rating of 23 The US Supreme Court enjoys an approval rating of only 35 These numbers for the president and for the legisla-tive and judicial branches of government actually under-state the problem The poll number of those who call themselves ldquofrustrated or angry with the federal gov-ernmentrdquo comes in at a frightening 79 President Obama may win re-elec-tion but it likely wont be a
unifying election We have a divided government at a polarized partisan moment of utterly different and con-tradictory views of how to solve the problems at hand Given the enormity of the problems mdash from the economy to the deficit to the debt to Iranrsquos nuclear program to the rise of radical Islamism to the rise of China and its likelihood to be a destabilizing force and many many more prob-lems mdash the likelihood our country will be dispirited and detached from politics is larger than it is smaller
Staying with our politi-cal system for just another moment we have another problem Because people are angry and have a near con-stant ldquothrow the bums outrdquo feeling about our elected offi-cials we are going through a period of uncommon insta-bility in our government institutions
Most people believe that incumbents come to office and tend to leave only when they die But it just isnrsquot true Whether because of the Tea Party or because of burn-out by elected officials the level of turnover in Washington is a big and growing problem In just the past five Congres-sional elections which is to say in the past ten years a remarkable 54 of the US Senate has been replaced If that number seems impos-sibly high for institutional stability in the House of Representatives the turnover
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 17
in that same period has been 68 Due to announced retirements and defeats in primaries we already know that in the coming Senate and House to be sworn in next January no fewer than 11 current Senators and 60 current Congressmen and Congresswomen will not be returning mdash and that assumes not a single incum-bent will lose in a single race in the remaining pri-maries and the General Election That means at least a 65 turnover in the US Senate and a more than 80 turnover in the House of Representatives in a mere 12-year period Think of your own organizations and what a turnover of that mag-nitude would mean to your ability to do your institu-tional job let alone having to grapple with many of the enormous challenges I mentioned a moment ago and many others I did not mention Thus the roiling public environment is more likely to stay roiled for some time to come than it is likely to return to some idealized period of harmony
Not to belabor the point but to also make sure that we understand that the problem of popular unease is broader than belief in our national government let me share just a few poll numbers to demonstrate my point Our confidence in hospitals and our doctors is now at 41 which is bad enough but HMOs are at 19 Public
schools have the confidence of only 29 of the people in our country Newspapers taken together have the con-fidence of just 25 of the American people But falling even lower than newspapers TV news comes in at 21 And labor unions banks and major corporations are all tied with the confidence of just one in five Ameri-cans at around 20 Even organized religion falls below the 50 mark at 44
Indeed the only three institutions regularly polled about by Gallup to be above the 50 mark are our police departments at 56 small business at 63 and our fighting men and women in the US military at 75 And finally in what many people believe is the most important general view of how people feel the Right Track Wrong Track poll Rasmussen reports 30 of Americans think our country is on the right track
and 64 believe our country is on the wrong track
In case you werenrsquot a statistics major in college let me boil all of these poll results down to just this one short statement and it is this My father was ahead of his time Just as my father didnrsquot trust or like just about any institution the American people now donrsquot much trust or like any institution with
the exception of police military and
small busi-ness In
nearly every other
case the institu-tion Ive mentioned is at or
near an all-time low since these Gallup Institutional Confidence polls began being conducted in 1973
But I think there is a second key learning from all of this bad news that is actu-ally very good news for some of you but definitely not all of you and that is this Just as my father had very low confidence in government and other mass institutions yet managed to turn himself
into a check-writing ma-chine for many many not-for-profits so too can your organization or your clients The not-so-profound insight is that even the most angry frustrated cynical skeptical misanthrope wants to believe It was true of mis-anthropes when Moliere wrote a play by that name in the 1660s It was true of my father And Id bet a dona-tion to any of your causes that it is true today even with a Right Track Wrong Track poll that has double the number of Wrong Trackers over Right Trackers People want to believe People want to love People know they wont live for forever and people want to see the world better both today in their lifetimes and tomor-row when it is their legacy This is true for mega donors who will be honored at fancy dinners in hotel ballrooms like this and for ten dollar donors who look forward to the return address labels you all will send to them
So with the crummy economy the dicey state of the Postal Service the demo-graphic hump working against low-dollar donors and all of the other problems direct marketers face my money is on the significant success of some of the orga-nizations that are here today Of course the structural challenges make it harder but is it harder today than it was in my grandmotherrsquos
vvvThe not-so-profound insight is that even
the most angry frustrated cynical skeptical
misanthrope wants to believehellipPeople know they
wont live for forever and people want to see the
world better both today in their lifetimes and
tomorrow when it is their legacy
vvv
continued
18 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
walk-up tenement apart-ment in which every Friday afternoon she found a way to donate to people she knew she would never meet who were living in a place she knew she would never see She believed in the enterprise afoot in what is today Israel a place on the other side of the world and she trusted that the coins in her little blue-and-white tin box would be used wisely and honorably All the same must have been true about my father and the many causes to which he wrote those checks And the same is true of millions and millions of people waiting to be touched and to form a connection with a cause larger than themselves a cause they can make their own in a way best thought of as an I-Thou relationship
For those of you unfa-miliar with the phrase I and Thou let me start by telling you it is a concept that changed my life It was coined by the philoso-pher and theologian Martin Buber Despite his being a theologian it is a concept that isnt inherently reli-gious even if it works well in every faith tradition and also works well in a purely secular context It works well for couples who have long been together and remark-ably it works well when soliciting gifts from near-strangers It is an approach to living a happy satisfying life So with that build up let
me tell you about I and Thou and about Martin Buber
Buber was born in Austria but moved to Germany in his teens to pursue his education In the 1920s he wrote his most famous work ldquoI and Thourdquo which although somewhat obscure today helped to establish his reputation as a leading German thinker of his time When the Nazis came to power in 1933 as a Jew he was prohibited from teaching at the uni-versity where he had been a professor and in 1938 just ahead of the start of the mass murder of 90 of Euro-pean Jewry Buber made his way to the British Mandate where he became a professor in Jerusalem When the State of Israel came into being in 1948 Buber was an esteemed philosopher revered by the young nation It is hard to imagine a philosopher having this kind of fame and impact but when he died in 1965 it was the lead news story of the day in Israel and a major story in The New York Times and other world newspapers
According to Buber there are two kinds of rela-tionships I-Thou and I-It The idea underpinning these concepts is best explained by examples as every single person in this room has experienced I-Thou and I-It relationships In an I-Thou relationship we are as one Your destiny is my destiny
even if only for a moment In the I-It relationship the parties are in a transac-tion I have turned the other party into an object to help me to achieve something that I want Indeed we all have I-Thou relationships and I-It relationships all the time mdash and we often have these disparate relationships within moments of each other and often with the very same person If this room were smaller and more inti-mate I could randomly call on anyone and have you give examples of I-Thou and I-It relationships in your own life But Ill use my own life as an example
I love my wife very much I am happy to come home at the end of the workday and to hear about her day and what is new and for her to hear about my day That is an I-Thou moment But while sitting with her my stomach starts to growl I become distracted Im not think-ing about her but about the dinner I know she has prepared Im hungry and want to eat She becomes an object a means to an end an I-It Wersquove all had that expe-rience or one like it
But just because Im getting something I want from her mdash or from anyone mdash doesnrsquot mean it has to be an I-It moment In that exact same scenario it could just as well have been an I-Thou moment by a change in my behavior even
with the same outcome that dinner will be served and my hunger abated Instead of single-mindedly think-ing about food in its place I could have interrupted the conversation to tell her that Im hungry I could have offered to set the table while we keep talking And most importantly I could keep reminding myself that she has spent time and trouble thinking about dinner and preparing it and that I have no entitlement to her having done this and how fortunate I am that she has If I do all of that it is more likely we will have an I-Thou relationship that evening than a transac-tional I-It one
Even with people we love I-Thoursquos and I-Itrsquos flit back and forth across some imaginary spectrum with engagement and other-directedness on one side and selfishness and self-direct-edness on the other We all have instincts for both sides of that spectrum and the challenge is to take the harder path the path where we direct the moment away from ourselves and our selfish wants and needs to that of the person present before us and our shared experience
As I indicated earlier this isnrsquot just true of deep long-lasting relationships It can be true of the waiter who serves you dinner the bellman who helps you with your bags even with a
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 19
passing stranger on a line to get into somewhere Every encounter has the oppor-tunity to be an I-Thou or an I-It and the challenge is for each of us to constantly remind ourselves of the humanity of the person with whom we engage
I and Thou isnrsquot just for people It is also true of believing peoplersquos relation-ship with God and also true of organizations and how they relate to people In my experience Ive found it even true of inanimate objects even if that may take it beyond Buberrsquos own con-ception So how do Martin Buber and his I and Thou relate to you all as direct mar-keters and as fundraisers for your worthy organizations
Everyone knows when they are in an I and Thou moment You feel the link and the joy that comes from the link But people also know when they are being used as a means to an end
when they are the ldquoItrdquo in an I-It relationship People may give you what you want when they are in an I-It rela-tionship with you and you may give your counter-party what they seek too but we all know that feeling of sadness or emptiness within when someone you are with mdash a co-worker a boss a spouse a child even a clerk on the phone at a call center mdash treats you as an object to get some-thing achieved and not as an opportunity to feel your humanity and for you to feel theirs even if for a fleeting moment
And the same Ill say is true about the relationship between a potential donor and your organization Those organizations that stand for somethinghellip Those organizations that donrsquot treat their donors as objects like walking checkbookshellip Those organizations that take the time to engage with their prospects Indeed
those organizations that donrsquot even necessarily start by asking for something it is those organizations who I believe will find a wide universe of people eager to believe and eager to be part of the organizationrsquos mission An I-Thou relation-ship doesnrsquot mean we never ask the other party for some-thing It is about how and when we ask Just as we will have a different outcome with our spouses children and co-workers when we are building off of an I-Thou relationship rather than an I-It so too will we have a different outcome when we approach our donors as part-ners as people we care about exactly as much whether they donate or not It is from that soulful relationship that donors will want to support one organization over an-other and one cause over another no matter how angry or frustrated or cynical they are about the larger world
around them That is how I believe the next genera-tion of donors will come to support many but not all of our organizations
When my father died I had the Postal Service forward his mail to my home address In the nearly eight years since his passing Ive received hundreds of mail-ings maybe more I often open the solicitations to try to get a feel for the kinds of causes and organizations my father would have been spending his time learning about and possibly support-ing So while some recipients of your mailings may think of your output as junk mail I couldnrsquot be more apprecia-tive Each envelope serves to remind me that the cynical side of my father was only a side and that when properly touched even a hard man could respond
Thank you all very much for your attention n
copy 2012 Seth M Siegel Reproduction with authorrsquos consent only All rights reserved
Looking for an agency or supplier to help your organization reachnew heights
Access the DMANFrsquos Directory of Service providers
nonprofitfederationorgcorporate-partnerssearch
20 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Nonprofit organizations face unique marketing chal-lenges Theyrsquore tasked with identifying and reaching the right people at the right time and through
the appropriate channels as well as balancing message appeals with monetary requests all while conveying their mission and cause The rapid expansion of the internet social networking and mobile have placed yet another demand front-and-center for nonprofit organizations mdash con-sumer privacy
Consumers are justly concerned about divulging their personal information They want to know where why and how their information will be used Many are unaware that their personal information is collected in a variety of ways and by a variety of sources both online and offline Common but often misunderstood data practices include third-party ad servers setting cookies retail stores matching names and addresses with phone numbers and marketers sharing customer lists
In todayrsquos complex marketplace how can nonprofit organizations demonstrate to their supporters donors and prospects that they share their concerns and are commit-ted to protecting their privacy The first and most important step is to create a clear privacy policy and communicate it effectively
the Privacy PolicyIf your organization collects uses and or stores personal donor information a privacy policy is critical You must display your privacy policy on your website and strictly abide by it
Privacy policies are structured around Notice and Choice principles They should provide supporters with notice of
how their data is collected used and shared as well as their choices to limit or prevent such practices Your privacy policy should also include information to maintain trans-parency and that clearly describes your organizationrsquos data security practices
Key points every privacy policy should address include
The types of personal information your organization collects This may include name address telephone number email address and credit card or other payment information
How information is secured
How personal information is used and with whom it is shared
How supporters can control the use of their data
How the privacy policy is updated and the effective date of the policy
Letrsquos take a more detailed look at the elements of a privacy policy from a nonprofit organizationrsquos perspective
Collecting personal InformationAs mentioned personal information may include data ele-ments such as name address telephone number email address and payment information It can also include more sensitive information such as gender race religious or politi-cal beliefs health information or other characteristics
The types of personal information collected and the length of retention may be used to enhance your marketing
Consumer PrivacyA Guide for Nonprofit Marketers
Bethany Lewis Privacy Analyst Epsilon
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 21
objectives by creating detailed profiles of supporters but what if that dataprofile was accessed without appropriate permis-sions or used by other organizations for purposes beyond the original intent Inappropriate generalizations might be made about supporters regardless of who has the data and the risk for reputational and other damage increases if that type of data is compromised
For example if a supporter donates to an organization that supports research of a genetic disorder should they be identified as a patient of or at risk for that same disorder Perhaps theyrsquore simply a caretaker for someone suffer-ing from that disorder Similarly if a supporter donates to a religious-based organization could assumptions around political leanings be attributed to them
Protecting information about charitable contributions is critical as is informing supporters how that information will be used which brings us to data security and the sharing of personal information
protecting personal InformationToday every organization is vulnerable when it comes to data security Protecting the personal information of supporters is essential The first line of protection is collecting only the necessary data
While creating supporter profiles evaluate the risks of storing ldquounnecessaryrdquo data especially if an incident exposes the data Set internal policies for how long each category of data collected will be retained and be diligent in deletingdestroying data in a safe and thorough manner based on those policies
Whenever possible encrypt personal data maintained electronically and enhance security on laptops and mobile devices from which supporter data is accessed
Sharing personal InformationBe very clear in your privacy policy when providing infor-mation on the types of third-parties with whom your organization shares data If you share information with third-party service providers disclose this fact and provide a categorized list of these organizations Such organizations may include credit card processors shipping vendors mar-keting analysts or consultants and fulfillment houses
If you share information with other nonprofit organi-zations disclose these practices Also disclose if you share information with marketing cooperatives whose databases are not exclusively nonprofit
Protecting
information
about
charitable
contributions
is critical
continued
22 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
providing ChoiceStudies have shown that modern consumers are more com-fortable sharing personal information with organizations that are clear and upfront about how their information is used and with whom it is shared In fact most people respond positively to organizations who transparently disclose data sharing practices and provide a clear and convenient oppor-tunity to opt-out While a small percentage of individuals will choose to opt-out of data sharing very few supporters will opt-out of all contact with an organization Therefore providing an opportunity to opt-out of sharing data for mar-keting purposes as well as an opt-out for receiving further requests from your organization will aid in retaining your most loyal supporters
Updating the privacy policyClearly state the effective date of your current privacy policy and update it when you make any material changes If you do make material changes to your privacy policy with ret-roactive application to the data you already have stored you may need to obtain express consent from individuals to use their information for new or different purposes Some organizations choose to list what changes were made in a summary history which may be helpful to a supporter reviewing the policy
Pulling It All togetherYour privacy policy should be easy to find read understand and act upon (ie opt-out or modify preferences) It should also be present in each commercial solicitation where per-sonal information is collected regardless of whether that is through postal mailings or on your website
Additional information regarding Notice Choice Trans-parency and other important privacy principles can be found on the DMA website in the Commitment to Consumer Choice and the DMA Guidelines for Ethical Business Practice
At Epsilon we use the following checklist when evaluating a privacy policy
The website has a privacy policy
There is a link to the privacy policy from the websitersquos home page and the link contains the word ldquoprivacyrdquo
The privacy policy states that the organization shares consumer data and personal information (including name address email address and transaction informa-tion) with third-party service providers
The privacy policy states that the organization shares consumer data and personal information with other marketers for their own marketing purposes
The privacy policy provides consumers the chance to opt-out of having their information shared with other marketers
The privacy policy has an ldquoeffectiverdquo date
As mentioned in situations where data is shared with other organizations and marketers transparency is the key Below is sample disclosure language
The personally identifiable information that you provide to us
(such as your name address and email address) and information
about your contribution may be combined with other non-person-
ally identifiable information (such as demographic information and
past contribution history) available from our records and other
sources This information will be used to make our future market-
ing efforts more efficient and relevant This information may also
be shared with our third-party service providers that assist us
with our marketing efforts and with other marketers whose prod-
ucts or services we feel may be of interest to you If you prefer
that we do not share your name and address with other market-
ers please email us at optoutyourorganizationorg
Beyond the Privacy PolicyIn addition to having a robust privacy policy written in concise language and that is easily accessible here are a few other best practices to secure the privacy of your sup-portersrsquo information
Ensure agreements with third-parties who may have access to supportersrsquo personal information adequately address privacy and data security
Suppress personal information in your database when a supporter requests it and do so within a reasonable timeframe
If you must store sensitive information such as credit card or social security numbers as part of your data-base encrypt this information
Train employees and volunteers regularly on the importance of maintaining privacy and security
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 23
Nonprofit Careers e-Bulletin
Your Multi-ChannelRecruiting Tool
Become familiar with data breach notification require-ments and have a response plan and team in place Should you experience a breach disclose to all appro-priate and necessary parties
Monitor the use of your data and address any enti-ties when you become aware that data is being used in a way that violates the law contractual requirements andor the DMArsquos Ethical Guidelines
Respecting and promoting consumer privacy requires a commitment to maintaining balance between the legitimate business needs of your organization and the concerns of individuals about fair information practices Start by taking a look at your current privacy policy Assure its accuracy and adhere to its strategy n
Bethany Lewis As a Privacy Analyst Bethany Lewis supports and educates associates and clients on privacy compliance matters She brings an extensive background in regulatory compliance corporate ethics education and training to her work at Epsilon
ldquoThe recruitment Tool for the Nonprofit Communityrdquo is your source for top flight exposure to top flight candidates and the best A b amp C-level career opportunities out there
Distributed every Tuesday 8 am ET via raquo Email raquo post at wwwnonprofitfederationorg raquo Facebook mdash DMA Nonprofit Federation raquo Twitter mdash DMANF and AliozDC
To view ad submission requirements visit the ldquoFind a Jobrdquo area of the DMA Nonprofit Federation homepage wwwnonprofitfederationorg and click on ldquoHow to postrdquo Ads must be emailed to Aosgoodthe-dmaorg please make sure any ad you submit meets our specifications
Is your nonprofit organization already a dual member of the DMA and DMANF If the answer is lsquoyesrsquo itrsquos FrEE mdash so why not post
Join the over 8000 professionals who already subscribe
Sign up today nonprofitfederationorgpublications careers-e-bulletinsubscribe
DMA Guidelines for Ethical Business Practice
dmaresponsibilityorgGuidelines
24 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Each week I see non-profit organizations walking away from
mobile thinking that com-municating and fundraising with their constituents through the single most used electronic device in history is optional Con-versely we see more and more retailers embracing mobile and the omnichan-nel marketing model because the results are tre-mendous We at mGive think nonprofits benefit when they embrace similar tools and methodologies
What is an omnichan-nel approach and why is it important to non-profit organizations An omnichannel approach is an integrated marketing strat-egy that creates a seamless experience for the donor
It is a customer-centric approach that elevates your supporter loyalty strategies by leveraging cross-channel opportunities For example when a donor drops off goods at their local Epilepsy Foundation they receive a paper receipt to complete Normally once they leave your location you lose any hope of communicating with them again Imagine if when the donor dropped off their goods you offered to send the donor an email version of their receipt You now have a way to engage the supporter through email Now suppose your email receipt offered a web link that drove them to a form to opt-in to your mobile community in order to receive updates via text
Once they opt-in you then have a way to send updates volunteer requests dona-tion reminders and more You may also leverage the fact they are on the mobile phone and send text mes-sages asking supporters to post a photo to Facebook making a donation Having this omnichannel strat-egy in place is especially critical at the end of year because it is an opportune time for organizations to increase membership and raise dollars
So how does an organization create an omnichannel approach that leverages direct mail email online social media live events and mobile to achieve their goals It may be difficult for some orga-nizations to make the
operational shift to an omnichannel model but that doesnrsquot mean you can afford to ignore it Not sure you can get all the steps in place by the time you launch your end of year activities Mobile is the bridge that can help to start that process In fact more and more organizations are relying on their mobile strategy to bridge the gap and engage supporters in this multi-screen world because mobile is the ldquogreat centralizerrdquo of activities ndash where else can you make calls browse the web check email respond to text mes-sages post to social media and more in a truly porta-ble fashion
Before we move on to the tactics that an organiza-tion can take to incorporate
Mobile
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 25
mobile into their existing multi-channel strategies we must tackle one issue If your organization has tried mobile or an omnichan-nel approach in the past and were disappointed or frustrated with your expe-rience try again You were one of the pioneering orga-nizations that comprise the early adopters of those models Lessons learned over the past few years have evolved into success-ful best practices mdash and you get the opportunity to benefit from them As we like to say in honor of the wise Master Yoda ldquoTry not Do or do not There is no tryrdquo We guarantee if imple-mented correctly using mobile in an omnichannel approach can work for your organization
1 Communicate and Integrate mdash Walk Across the Mobile Bridge
Many organizations that I work with have voiced cross-departmental integra-tion as a challenge That is understandable because tra-ditionally departments or channels have been siloed from one another But this disenfranchised model does not result in the seam-less experience that donors are coming to expect In order for a donor experi-ence to be seamless direct mail must complement the organizationrsquos website the organizationrsquos website must complement the mobile campaign social media must complement direct mail and so forth and so on When used together
the communication chan-nels can result in more effective campaigns and bigger numbers
When an organization decides to develop a mobile strategy generally it is one department within that organization that is initially interested That department is a hero because they have just launched a toolset that can be used throughout the organization If you have a mobile program in place for fundraising itrsquos time to talk with your program services department mem-bership team and corporate partner folks and get them in the loop so that you can maximize the omnichannel approach Mobile can be a great catalyst for initiating conversation and guiding organizational integration
Mobile is also a great way to increase the effec-tiveness of existing channels By integrating your direct mail newslet-ter social media online and mobile efforts you can increase response and open rates We have found that if you send a text message to your membership remind-ing them to check their email inboxes you can increase email open rates by 10 or more Addition-ally if you include a mobile number field on your email and paper member-ship forms you can quickly build a mobile community that can turn into repeat donors Once again the most important element besides the actual cross
the Bridge to an omnichannel Approach in time for Year-End Campaigns
continued
Jenifer Snyder Esq Executive Director The mGive Foundation and Cassie Bair Vice President of Marketing Mobile Accord
26 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
channel promotion goes back to this concept of the omnichannel Make the message consistent across all channels They donrsquot have to be identical but they should complement each other and work to create an echo effect
Just about every one of your donors will experience your organization through their mobile device at some point mdash so make sure your message is clear consistent convenient and actionable through mobile in some capacity
2 test Review Adjust Implement Review Adjust mdash and Repeat
Once you have an inte-grated strategy in place itrsquos time to implement Whether the goal is to acquire new donors reactivate lapsed donors and drive donations from existing donors mdash or all three mdash test your cam-paign Take time to review the results and adjust accordingly Then imple-ment full scale confident you are on the right path Regularly review your results adjust your activities and repeat as needed
In preparation for end of year activities take the time in the Fall to tweak your marketing engine for optimal performance Do some zero based plan-ning and try to approach
the supporter experience as if you are the supporter Spend time on every avenue where you can wisely create a seamless experience
Everyone in philan-thropy knows that the majority of all charitable donations are made in the last 2 months of the year Additionally member-ship increases substantially during the last quarter of the year Spend time now identifying opportunities strategies and tactics that work best for you mdash and consider how mobile can be a centralizing point for many of these activities
3 Apply the Winning Methodologies to Your End of Year Appeals
Yoursquove tested tweaked and determined what works best for you Now inte-grate what yoursquove learned into your end of year cam-paigns Determine how your campaign follows stan-dard best practices for end of year appeals and where mobile can help drive that engagement across multiple mediums
Common best practices for end of year campaigns that can include mobile
A Sending multiple asks the final week of the year mdash Make sure text messages are a part of that effort Whether itrsquos a simple call-to-action to text
a donation drives people to a pledge page or some-thing all-together different mobile can help ramp up that seamless experience
B the Art of the ldquothank Yourdquo mdash Thank your sup-porters Use mobile to message supporters your appreciation when they take action through text or drive them to a webpage with a video with a celeb-rity spokesperson giving a thank you message But make sure they know repeatedly that what they do for your cause matters And keep in mind mobile can drive to a strong ldquothank yourdquo experience
C Share Ask Listen mdash Take the opportunity to tell a story ask for feed-back and listen to what your organization is being told Not sure how to do that in mobile Share a link to a news article through text Ask for feedback through social media And listen to what is being said while distilling insights from how supporters respond in order to strengthen your omnichannel approach
4 Continue into 2013 mdash You are set for success
As donors enter the New Year self-improve-ment will often include a
commitment to be a better person volunteer more donate more funds etc Use mobile as a data col-lection tool to help your donors achieve their goal Give them the opportunity to commit to goals pertain-ing to your cause and then become their coach Send monthly reminders of their commitment and words of encouragement Remind them about appointments invite them to share their experience and overall let the donor feel the effect of their selfless promise through all of their activi-ties while using mobile to centralize that community and to drive people to action
We now live in a world where the average person at any given moment is looking at two or more screens It is critical that nonprofit organizations embrace the multi-screen world and adopt the omnichannel or fully integrated model When you create a seam-less giving experience for the everyday philanthropist you will be amazed at the results Walking away from a mobile strategy today is like walking away from the internet in the early 2000s
Mobile is here to stay and it is not an elective component to your orga-nizationrsquos fundraising and engagement strategy Itrsquos an essential part of a successful omnichannel strategy for your end of year activities n
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 27
Jenifer Snyder Esq Executive Director The mGive Foundation
As Executive Director of The mGive Foun-dation Jenifer is dedicated to expanding the scope and reach of the mobile channel for social good She brings years of lead-ership experience in the mobile industry to the position Previously Jenifer was a founder and General Counsel for 9 Squared Inc a mobile content and ser-vices company subsequently acquired by the Zed Group She left Zed in 2007 and started building the mobile channel for social and charitable efforts and later formed The mGive Foundation
Cassie bair Vice president of Marketing Mobile Accord
As Vice President of Marketing for Mobile Accord Cassie is dedicated to educat-ing and empowering nonprofits regarding the power of mobile She combines years of marketing experience in the nonprofit industry with the exciting evolution of the mobile channel for social good Cassie has worked with organizations such as the American Heart Association American Institute of Architects and the American Society of Echocardiography developing integrated and cause marketing cam-paigns and uses that knowledge today with clients to help them maximize their mobile strategy
Name
OrganizationCompany
Address
City State Zip Code
Charge my m Visa m MasterCard m AmEx m Discover
Card Number Expiration Date
Signature
raquo FAX form to 2026284383 (do not email credit card information)
raquo MAIL form to Alicia Osgood Director Membership amp Communications DMA Nonprofit Federation 1615 L Street NW Suite 1100 Washington DC 20036
raquo MAKE ChECKS payable to the DMA Nonprofit Federation
raquo DMA Nonprofit Federation Federal Tax ID Number 13-1810859
News and cutting-edge professional development tips
SUBSCRIBEto the Journal today1year =3 issues
ONLY $35Published digitally in January Apriland September the Journal brings together nonprofit leaders to deliver a standout publication packed with content you can really use
No cost to members
28 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Consumer technology evolves so quickly that nonprof-its are constantly racing to get their organizations using the latest technologies and mediums In fact many of these innovations have had significant impact on the fundrais-ing community While online CRM systems for example spawned database segmentation capabilities the opportu-nity ndash and challenge ndash arose for fundraising professionals to target appeals precisely to donorsrsquo specific interests Lately the emergence and rapid popularity of technologies such as smartphones and social media have forced nonprofits to not only create a presence but essentially compete for shrinking donor funds using these vehicles
The primary focus of nonprofit technology however tends to be inward creating a presence in a particular social media community or simply using the technology on behalf of the organization Examples of this include a nonprofitrsquos Facebook page and Twitter account and mobile-friendly
web sites In todayrsquos competitive fundraising environment though itrsquos not enough for nonprofits to simply use the latest technology Successful fundraisers understand that a nonprofitrsquos relationship with technology needs to take one step beyond itself to focus outward how do your sup-porters and donors want to use technology on behalf of your organization
Donors have technology preferences and habits too While itrsquos great for organizations to have a Facebook page for sup-porters to ldquolikerdquo that offers news and updates for example this doesnrsquot offer an opportunity for donors to appeal to their friends and family on behalf of your nonprofit mdash and certainly doesnrsquot raise money As nonprofits have learned to quickly adapt to changing technology and social media standards the time has come for organizations to evolve the technology they offer to provide donors supporters and par-ticipants with a personalized fundraising experience
Get Personal Providing Supporters with Personalized Fundraising Experiences
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 29
Personalization Means EngagementAt a fundamental level donor personalization in fun-
draising emerged from some of the first online nonprofit fundraising systems Offering supporters the opportunity to send personalized fundraising emails to their friends and family was revolutionary in its time mdash as was offering custom individual and team fundraising web pages
While these technology offerings revolutionized event fundraising donors have become increasingly savvy in the way they interact online mdash and developed strong preferences and dislikes in the types of technology they use They want the technology they know and like to be at their fingertips and are more likely to fundraise and successfully so for your nonprofit if itrsquos made easy and accessible for them
Back to Basics mdash But BetterNonprofits have been so consumed by social media that
they often forget this simple fact participants who use online tools raise six times more than non-users according to Blackbaud In addition 25 percent of the fundraising emails supporters send to their friends result in a donation With the average online gift being $60 nonprofits have motiva-tion not to forget about the basics of online fundraising But in the age of increasing competition for donations nonprof-its that offer a more personalized fundraising experience to supporters may see better results
What does it mean to offer a personalized fundrais-ing experience For online fundraising pages it can mean offering them the opportunity to post pictures videos story content and individual fundraising status updates But itrsquos essentially the personalization options offered behind the scenes mdash in the personal ldquoHeadquartersrdquo page within an online fundraising system mdash that can really maximize fun-draising results
Savvy nonprofits are offering a multitude of ways within their online fundraising systems for supporters to choose to reach out to friends and family Offering more than the email capabilities found standard with most fundraising plat-forms some nonprofits are starting to provide supporters more options in their personal participant ldquoheadquartersrdquo pages to engage those in their network mdash all with the click of a button Opportunities for supporters to personalize their experience could include options to
Send a Facebook message
Tweet their fundraising page
Update their Facebook status
Send a quick email
In addition statistics about their personal fundraising process could tell them
Total emails sent
Visits to their personal fundraising pages
Number of donations
Number of registrations
Average amount raised per email sent
Number of additional emails needed to reach fundraising goal
And because no one participant is the same these per-sonalization options allow the supporter to interact and engage their network on behalf of the nonprofit in ways that are meaningful and comfortable to them
Beyond the Facebook PageThe nonprofit community has taken Facebook by storm as an avenue to engage supporters and attract donors But itrsquos important to look beyond how supporters want to interact with your nonprofit and understand how they want to in-teract with their social network Itrsquos within this framework that supporters choose mdash or choose not mdash to engage their network on your organizationrsquos behalf
So make it easy for them provide them with a variety of ways to use several social media tools to reach out and fund-raise for your nonprofit Let them decide how they fundraise With 845 million monthly active users and 100 billion con-nections Facebook for example provides an excellent platform for nonprofits mdash and their fundraisers mdash to expand fundraising reach In fact Blackbaudrsquos web site states that social media users raise 40 more than non-users But most
continued
John Murphy PresidentCEo and Founder Zuri Group
30 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
organizations make the mistake of relying on participants to send their own appeals and updates or worse provide cum-bersome tools that require multiple logins and steps
Some enthusiastic fundraisers will thrive in this envi-ronment Others wonrsquot Since each supporter is unique itrsquos important to provide several varying opportunities and options so that a personalized fundraising experience can be forged For many fundraisers asking for donations isnrsquot easy All participants want to raise money but many donrsquot feel comfortable asking outside of close friends and family Other fundraisers donrsquot have the time or creativity to regu-larly develop and update personalized Facebook messages Use technology to help overcome these challenges by creat-ing easy ways for them to raise more money using Facebook
To take the effort out of Facebook fundraising remove the discomfort of a direct ldquoaskrdquo and save fundraisers time some nonprofits are offering supporters the option for fun-draising updates that automatically post on their Facebook wall at pre-determined intervals throughout the fundraising season For the right supporter this option removes the dis-comfort of approaching potential donors with a direct ldquoaskrdquo while significantly expanding their fundraising reach
Mobilizing the troopsAccording to a 2011 study consumers spend more time
on mobile applications than on the web In addition Ameri-cans spend 27 hours per day on average socializing on their mobile phones Nonprofits have been hard at work to lever-age the trend toward mobile by creating mobile-friendly web sites and even apps to further engage supporters But what about the mobile interaction that takes place between sup-porters and their friends The key is for nonprofits to make it accessible and easy for fundraisers to use their everyday technologies and devices to fundraise within their own networks By providing fundraising options that enable sup-porters to simply use something they already use such as a smartphone to connect with people they already interact with fundraising becomes a more natural and personalized part of the supporterrsquos day
To provide a more personalized and convenient fun-draising experience some nonprofits are offering mobile fundraising apps that enable supporters to not only use their smartphones to fundraise but to fundraise using multiple technologies within the smartphone mdash such as email text Twitter Facebook and even FaceTime for iPhone users As a result supporters can fundraise for the organization from their homes the train while walking the dog mdash anytime they have their phone
By empowering supporters to personalize their fundrais-ing experience nonprofits that provide mobile fundraising apps help their fundraisers help them These organizations are meeting the needs of on-the-go fundraising participants so they can focus on spreading awareness soliciting dona-tions and thanking donors mdash on their time on their terms In fact itrsquos been reported that fundraising participants using mobile fundraising applications raise 200 more than other participants and bring in 300 more gifts by count that other participants
In addition some mobile fundraising apps are provid-ing further personalization by bringing some of the same features of the personalized online ldquoheadquartersrdquo to the smartphone such as fundraising thermometers and adding donors into their phone address book Pre-written fundrais-ing messages developed specifically for various mediums such as texts Twitter updates and emails can be used Editing personal fundraising pages from the smartphone is likely the next option nonprofits will start offering
the Personalization ChallengeAs nonprofits compete in the race to adopt new technolo-
gies and social media itrsquos important to take a step back and consider your supportersrsquo relationship with those channels Many nonprofits have a Facebook page or group but how are your fundraisers using Facebook Are you making it easy for them to advocate or fundraise for your organization If much of your donor base uses text messaging have you pro-vided easy access and tools for them to text their network on your behalf
Supporters want and frankly need a personalized online experience with your organization Go beyond the bounds of your interactive relationship and consider what would enable your supporter base to have a more personalized fundrais-ing experience mdash and then put those tools at their fingertips They and their network mdash will thank you n
John Murphy is the PresidentCEO and Founder of Zuri Group Zuri Group provides nonprofits with custom technology solutions to meet critical organizational needs such as fundraising using their existing platform For more info visit zurigroupcom
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 31Non-Profit_FullPageAd_OLindd 1 91312 417 PM
32 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
9 Centennial Drive
Peabody MA 01960-7906
Tel 8003707500
wwwamergentcom
c a l l j a c k d o y l e
8 0 0 3 7 0 7 5 0 0
s t r a t e g i c d i r e c t
m a r k e t i n g
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m u l t i - y e a r
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a w a r d - w i n n i n g
c r e a t i v e
n e e d n e w f u n d r a i s i n g s o l u t i o n s
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i n t e g r a t e d
p r e d i c t i v e m o d e l s
Sign up for Amergentrsquos e-newsletter
at friendsamergentcomifund or scan qr code
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 33
Looking to Affordably Grow Your Donor Fileand Increase Contributions
We Can HelpWiland Direct is the nationrsquos 1 transactional database for fundraisers
Using our vast transactional data and powerful models Wiland Direct helps fundraisers to
bull Affordably acquire new donors bull Maximize contributions from existing donors bull Reactivate former donorsbull Identify the most likely activists and volunteersbull Convert inquirers petition signers and other ldquowarm leadsrdquo into donors
To learn more please contact John Spencer at 9703106378 or via email at jspencerwilanddirectcom
3034858686 wwwWilandDirectcomCopyright 2012 Wiland Direct All rights reserved
ldquoThe Wiland Direct database has been a solid performer for LLS with higher average gifts and lower cost per dollar raised than most Itrsquos opened up a new acquisition universe particularly important for a mature program Wersquore very pleased with the results and team support from Wilandrdquomdash Bruny Lynch The Leukemia amp Lymphoma Society
34 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
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urce
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direct marketing solutionsyoursquove been looking for
Our award-winning solutions aretailored to find and motivate the people
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Got control issuesWho doesnrsquot Maybe itrsquos time to hire a Sage
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Want to see for yourself
Contact annesagecommunicationscom or call 508-309-6678 x 1 for a no-obligation quote
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For nearly 40 years Carl Bloom Associates has beenhelping non-profits exceed their revenue goals withinnovative strategies and creative that raise moremoney acquire and retain more donors and increasetheir lifetime value
You can support your mission more effectively withCBArsquos ldquosmarterrdquo multi-channel campaigns integrating
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DMA NF Journal Ad 8-12-365x4625_Layout 1 81312 1014 AM Page 1
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 35
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36 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
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For more information contact
Matthew Frattura4028365527 | matthewfratturainfogroupcom
wwwinfogroupcomApogee
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 37
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Get it todaynonprofitfederationorgethics-policy watchdog-resource-centerwatchdog-toolkit
38 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
1
2
3
A
B
C
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 7
your newsletterdoesnrsquot need to be
the rodney dangerfield
of your fundraising
program
Bob Ball Executive Creative Director Masterworks
8
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 9
Pity the poor newsletterIf there is one component of nonprofit fundraising pro-
grams that is consistently overlooked and undervalued itrsquos the newsletter
Like the late comedian Rodney Dangerfield newsletters ldquodonrsquot get no respectrdquo
All too often the newsletter is just an afterthought Newsletters are not expected to raise a lot of money and all too often they meet those low expectations
Over the years Irsquove seen a lot of different kinds of news-letters from nonprofit organizations Therersquos the No-Ask Newsletter that simply reports accomplishments This type doesnrsquot raise money because it doesnrsquot even try
The No-Ask Newsletter may be of some long-term value by closing the loop with the donor But most of the time this species talks about what the organization has accomplished and how effective it is This information may reinforce pre-vious giving but the No-Ask Newsletter does not motivate immediate new donations
Other newsletters are nothing more than fundraising appeals thinly disguised in newsletter clothing In my expe-rience this type of hard-Ask Newsletter does raise some revenue but in most cases not as effectively as straightfor-ward appeals
Another variety is the institutionally focused Navel-Gazing Newsletter written for insiders
Without the accountability that comes from revenue expectations newsletter strategy becomes fuzzy This leads to one of the worst dangers the loss of audience focus
It is very common for newsletters to attempt to serve many different masters These All-things-to-All-People Newsletters are created for several different audiences in addition to donors For example some organizations use their newsletter to communicate with donors volunteers employees board members and even the general public This desire to be all things to all audiences makes it difficult to effectively focus on any single audience
When the newsletter devolves to this point it usually doesnrsquot make anyone happy and slides into irrelevancy
In recent years my colleagues and I have resolved to do something about this sorry state of the newsletter We started by attacking the problem at the root We decided to reverse the diffused audience focus and create newsletters with an obsessive laser-like focus on donors
The result is the Extreme Donor-Focused Newslet-ter It is aimed squarely at the donor In fact it is all about the donor
This approach assumes donors give because they love to give and love to make a significant difference in the world It combines reporting back about what the donors have accomplished and offers them a clear opportunity to give again
We had considerable inspiration to draw on Back in the 1990s and early 2000s I worked at a feisty little Seattle agency called The Domain Group that preached donor loyalty and started making newsletters raise money In fact in some cases newsletters made more money than appeals
Domain was the subject of an acquisition and is long gone now but that experience lives on today to give hope that newsletters can be better My former Domain col-league Jeff Brooks who writes the blog Future Fundraising Now is a strong advocate for donor focus Long-time fun-draiser and blogger Tom Ahern has also written brilliantly on this topic
The accumulated experience gave me the confidence that it was really possible to build a better newsletter and the inspiration to keep tinkering I wanted to shake off the curse of Rodney Dangerfield once and for all
Then the perfect opportunity to test these theories fell into my lap One of my current clients asked us to test against an internally produced newsletter
This was one of those test situations you dream about Head-to-head A-B panels set up for a statistically valid test and spread over 3 different newsletter mail slots
The internal newsletter was a classic blend of the All-things-to-All-People and the Navel-Gazing News-letters It was aimed at a wide variety of constituents and contained a lot of organizationally focused stories It did ask for donations but not consistently
The results of the test were gratifying with the Extreme Donor-Focused Newsletter showing dramatic improve-ment across the board
419 lift in response 195 lift in average gift 521 lift in revenue
continued
10 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
1 Write to the donor for the donor about the donor This is not objective arms-length journalism This is not the organization talking about itself to organization insiders This is a warm conversation with the donor about the things he or she is most interested in The main point of the newsletter is to share what the donorrsquos giving has done Itrsquos all about him or her
2 Ensure a high ldquoyourdquo quotient The copy is written directly to the donor using the second person singular The most frequent word in the copy and headlines should be ldquoyourdquo Take the time to count the number of times you use ldquoyourdquo and ldquoyourrdquo If you donrsquot have enough rewrite the copy to make sure you have not lost your donor focus
3 touch the heart with strong emotion The newsletter needs to stir the donorrsquos heart Make the donor feel something Tell stories of amazing accomplishment that the donorrsquos generosity helped make possible Use vivid language with strong active verbs and concrete nouns Dramatic emotional photos are worth their weight in gold As Ahern says ldquoA newsletter might be more welcome than an appeal It can bring joy It can bring fun It can take the reader on a journeyrdquo
4 Surprise and delight This is a ldquonewsletterrdquo so it needs to have something new in it Tell the donor something fascinating that he or she does not already know The initial reaction of the donor upon first glance should be a big smile because his or her giving has made something wonderful happen One of the pitfalls of newsletter publishing is falling into a rut One of my favorite fun-draising aphorisms is ldquoYou canrsquot bore anybody into givingrdquo But millions of really boring newsletters are mailed each year Irsquove often seen a great jump in performance of a newsletter immediately after it is given an overhaul and a fresh design But within just a few months performance tends to slip and fall back to the previously level Keeping the newsletter fresh does not mean that you must start from scratch each month Establishing a basic design template for your newsletter is mandatory This not only helps with efficiency but also maintains brand consistency But we also demand that every newsletter be fresh and delightful You can keep it fresh with fresh content Great photos help But you can also mix up the look through the use of color Make sure your brand has a full palette of secondary colors and use them
We followed some simple principles as we created those winning newsletters You can put them into practice with your own designs
TEN prINCIpAlS To CrEATE yoUr owN
extreme donor-focused newsletter
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 11
Bob Ball is the Executive Creative Director of Masterworks He has been trying not to bore donors since 1993
5 Appreciate the donor One of the major themes of the newsletter needs to be how important the donor is ldquoLook at what you have accomplished With your help we can do all this Without your help we will not be able to do itrdquo Look for ways to use the words ldquoThank yourdquo over and over again Itrsquos almost impossible to over-thank donors (And remember this is not merely a report back about what the organization was able to accomplish This is all about what the donor has accomplished through their generosity Whenever you have the opportunity to influence the gathering of photo resource have beneficiaries hold up signs that say ldquoThank Yourdquo That is the most powerful and direct way to close the loop between the donor and the people who are actually being helped
6 Design for readability Remove all unnecessary barriers to readability and com-prehension Use a large readable serif font for body copy Readability studies have shown that serif fonts are superior to sans serif fonts for body copy on the printed page A lot of designers love sans serif fonts because of their clean look and because they are trendy but this is not a matter of taste If you want your body copy to be read and comprehended use a nice serif font All body copy should pass the ldquodollar billrdquo test (You should not be able to lay a dollar bill on any expanse of body copy without touching a headline photo or subhead) No large blocks of reversed out type No busy backgrounds behind copy Make the layout ldquoscannablerdquo with large photos headlines subheads and pull-quotes
7 Motivate another gift Donors love to give and you should not be ashamed to ask them to give again While most of the newsletter space is devoted to thanks and apprecia-tion the newsletter needs to give the donor a way to repeat their charitable behavior This means making a clearly stated offer that donors have supported in the past
8 Make it convenient to give The newsletter should include a response device and a return envelope If online giving is possible the URL for the giving page should be clearly presented in case that is the donorrsquos preferred giving channel
9 Appeal to the most basic donor benefit Giving is joyful I canrsquot emphasize the importance of this simple fact Donors mdash real donors mdash love to give Your faithful loyal donors are the people who give over and over again and keep giving They are not stingy grouches who must be cajoled and manipulated into reluctantly parting with their money No Real donors have discovered the secret of true happiness and all they need is the assurance that their giving is appreciated and effective This key message should be explicitly stated ldquoNothing feels better than when you help When you give to accomplish XYZ you know the joy of making a significant differ-ence in the worldrdquo
10 Refresh and re-engage Nothing about the newsletter should be a chore for the reader The whole publication is a joyful celebration of what the donor has made possible By the time he or she is finished reading the newsletter he or she should be energized and eager to do more
If you follow these 10 principles you will have your own Extreme Donor-Focused Newslet-ter and your fundraising program should enjoy increased revenue and donor retention And whatrsquos more your newsletter will finally get the respect it deserves n
12 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Grand Hyatt New York
Conference attendees
mixed mingled amp noshed
on delicious appetizers
at Butterfield 8
2012 New York Nonprofit Conference
July 25ndash26 2012Grand Hyatt New York
New York NY
Grand Hyatt New York
Conference attendees
mixed mingled amp noshed
on delicious appetizers
at Butterfield 8
(Left to right)
DMA Nonprofit Federation Advisory Council Chair
Brian Cowart of Disabled American Veterans (DAV)
2012 New York Nonprofit Conference Keynote
Speaker Seth ldquoYossirdquo Siegel of Sixpoint Partners
DMA Nonprofit Federation Advisory Council Vice
Chair tom harrison of Russ Reid Company
The Nature Conservancyrsquos Chief Marketing Officer Geof Rochester
amp Director of Membership Fundraising Begontildea Vaacutezquez-Santos
with TNCrsquos Nonprofit Organization of the Year award
Congratulations to The Nature Conservancy
13
14 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Thank you Tom Har-rison for such a lovely introduction The philos-opher who said that there is no praise higher than to be esteemed by those you esteem perfectly captures my reaction I appreci-ate your idea of inviting me mdash someone from outside your industry mdash to speak before your group But it is you Tom and several of your colleagues at Russ Reid who have largely taught me what I know about this industry
It is truly a special plea-sure being with all of you here today and the size of the audience notwithstand-ing getting to meet with you
To some extent I feel like I know many of you in this room To be sure many of you already know me mdash and even more of you knew my father My being here today allows me to close the circle and reciprocate many years of your outreach to me and my father Let me explain
My wife and I have been married for 32 years When we got married we didnrsquot have a lot more than the wedding gifts we had received but from our first days together we shared an interest in learning about charities that could use our support and we often would send in small donations in response to this mailing or that Soon thereafter mdash and this will surprise exactly no one in this room mdash we began getting mailings from more charities and we had the
opportunity to learn about yet more worthy organiza-tions As time interest and available cash allowed we would donate to yet others Then along the way as my business grew we stepped out of the direct mail uni-verse and got involved with a more manageable number of causes as volunteers and a somewhat larger number as donors but directly and in amounts more likely to be the fruit of a call or a meeting or a solicitation over a meal or in our home We still get some mail solicita-tions Some of it is likely the distant tail from donations made long ago and a bit of it may be thanks to gifts made in support of some of our friendsrsquo childrenrsquos walk-a-thon participations or similar creative requests for funds But in the main our mail box no longer has the volume of requests for support that it once did
In my opening remarks I made mention of my father Now if my wife and I have received mail from some of you I can go out on a limb and say that my father got mail from nearly all of you Before I share my fatherrsquos direct mail experience Id like to tell you a bit about him
My father mdash Benjamin Siegel in case you are check-ing to see if his name is in your database mdash was born to immigrant parents here in Manhattan Despite his American birth he spoke
Seth ldquoYossirdquo Siegel
2012 New York Nonprofit Conference
KeynoteAddress
July 25 2012
vvv
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 15
no English until he started kindergarten His child-hood can only be described as hard and deprived with his parents being members of the working poor their entire lives Yet despite their poverty he recalled a blue-and-white tin charity box in his kitchen into which his mother would put a few coins every week late on Friday afternoon before the start of the Jewish Sabbath His parents werenrsquot reli-giously observant but his mother would make a char-itable donation of some kind every week for even poorer Jews living in what is now Israel
I would have to describe my father as angry a lot of the time And Id also have to say that it would be hard to find someone more cynical about institutions and whole professions than my father He thought all doctors were to use his word quacks He thought all lawyers were again to use his word shy-sters He loathed politicians He was dubious about the esteem given to Jewish clergy and I cant believe he had any special regard for the clergy of any other faith He was part of the Greatest Generation and talked his way into World War II after he was rejected on medical grounds and spent most of the war in Europe including landing on Omaha Beach on D-Day Plus 1 And even so he was often dismissive of the thought and planning
of our own military leaders especially what he thought of as the cavalier misuse of troops
Despite his being a one-man protest machine he utterly hated protest move-ments and anything that smacked of them I could go on but I think you get the picture This was a man of complete cynicism seem-ingly trusting no one He made a hard honest living and lived a life with no frills and few vacations Meals out in restaurants were a very special event By any stan-dard by which we measure comfort or luxury my father and mother had few check marks in that imaginary list
But family history aside there was a reason Ive just told you all of this
After my father died in 2004 some many years after my mother and stepmother had both passed away it fell to me to go through his effects and to pack up his things I donrsquot know how many of you here have ever had that task It is a melan-choly one with many small items serving to remind you of moments in the rela-tionship In addition it can be a startling one learning things about your deceased parent and achingly wishing you could have them back for even a few moments to explain what something meant or to ask why they had never told you about some just discovered element of their lives
For me the startling element I discovered was how my father mdash the utter cynic mdash was mdash within his means mdash a philanthropist and donor of a scope that is still remarkable to me You see when I opened the bottom drawer of his dresser the entire drawer was filled with note pads and boxes of seasonal cards from dozens and dozens of charities My first thought standing in his empty bedroom was ldquoTo whom was he planning on writing so many notesrdquo When I opened the next drawer it was filled with per-sonalized mailing labels from dozens of charities mdash possi-bly the same charities I donrsquot know but possibly not mdash but I knew that if he ever got around to sending out all of those notes and cards he would never have to write his return address on any of those envelopes As I con-tinued the packing up in his bedroom kitchen closets and elsewhere I found other institutional gifts from other charities like tote bags mugs umbrellas and so on almost all of them still in their orig-inal packaging
When I cleaned out his small desk I found his checkbook and sat at his desk to go through his check register and other check reg-isters going back years and years There were payments made to credit card compa-nies and utilities and taxes but overwhelmingly the checks were made payable
to one charity after another The amounts mdash as you pro-fessionals would guess from the pads and the pre-printed mailing labels mdash were all small Most of them were for ten dollars some for twenty-five and in a nod to the Jewish mystical belief in the specialness of numbers that are multiples of eigh-teen he had written plenty of checks to Jewish organiza-tions and causes for eighteen and thirty-six dollars
Also remarkable was the range of organizations to which he donated As I mentioned he gave to a broad array of Jewish and pro-Israel organizations but he also gave to commu-nity groups environmental groups hunger organiza-tions veterans groups and health-related organizations including hospitals hospices and disease-focused causes He even gave to animal shelter organizations mdash and he had never had a pet of his own
So how could it be that this most utterly cynical man a man who watched his pennies his whole life could have been a small-scale Roth-schild and Rockefeller in the range and expansiveness of his giving Of course wersquoll never know for sure but in trying to develop an answer to this there are lessons for those of us in this room who care about the not-for-profit world whether profession-ally as communal activists or as donors
continued
16 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
The first two possibili-ties that come to mind that Id like to quickly dismiss are that my father liked the idea that he could get something of value for what may have seemed for free It is possible but my father was a very prac-tical man and at some point he must have realized that well into his 80s he had such an ample supply of holiday cards and return address labels that he would never be able to use up the inventory The other thought was that he simply liked getting mail and he knew how the system worked Send in a check and the one envelope becomes two or three or ten Send in one hundred checks and he had his weekends filled reading through all of the mail he had received during the past week That is possi-ble but my father also died with a significant backlog of unread magazines so Im going to rule that out too
The explanation Ive come up with is that my father may have been a cynic but that he wanted to believe He may have thought most every institution and public figure not worthy of being trusted but he may still have yearned to be able to trust that some others out there cared deeply about society and elements of it and that he wanted to be part of the efforts to make the world a proverbially better place He despised a lot of things gen-erally but seemed to like a lot of things specifically
And from that insight I think there is some very good news for many of you here today I know from Tom Harrison that you are all worried about the crummy economy that shows no sign of quickly returning to robust times And Tom has also shared with me a worry about the viability of the US Postal Service and its ability to offer reduced mailing rates for the fore-seeable future And Tom has also told me that my fatherrsquos generation is dying off and not being quickly replaced by a new demographic cohort that reads mail and sends in money Plus there are environmental ques-tions about harvesting trees for the mailings and some compelling proof that people respond less well to email solicitations than they did to requests delivered via their mail boxes But aside from all of those structural impediments my fatherrsquos behavior offers some very special opportunities for those charities and organi-zations able to reach out and speak personally to the next waves of donors
If my father was a skepti-cal cynical guy in the Ozzie and Harriet 1950s and 60s he was a full generation ahead of where people are today and Id like to take a minute or two to explain what I mean
People today are fright-ened angry cynical even often despairing The
overwhelming feeling is that few institutions are working well Our political system just isnrsquot garnering wide-spread support and in these unsettling times people want leaders and insti-tutions that can fix their problems No matter who wins the presidential elec-tion in November there is little widespread belief we will come together as a society to fix our problems It may happen but people donrsquot believe it And the poll numbers reflect this Pres-ident Obama mdash who came into office on a promise of hope and change and of transformation of our political culture and which initially yielded him an approval rating of 67 mdash has had an approval rating that has been below 50 since November 2009 and is now at 47 If the president has problems in garnering the publicrsquos trust that he can solve their problems Con-gress as an institution is doing far far worse with an approval rating of 23 The US Supreme Court enjoys an approval rating of only 35 These numbers for the president and for the legisla-tive and judicial branches of government actually under-state the problem The poll number of those who call themselves ldquofrustrated or angry with the federal gov-ernmentrdquo comes in at a frightening 79 President Obama may win re-elec-tion but it likely wont be a
unifying election We have a divided government at a polarized partisan moment of utterly different and con-tradictory views of how to solve the problems at hand Given the enormity of the problems mdash from the economy to the deficit to the debt to Iranrsquos nuclear program to the rise of radical Islamism to the rise of China and its likelihood to be a destabilizing force and many many more prob-lems mdash the likelihood our country will be dispirited and detached from politics is larger than it is smaller
Staying with our politi-cal system for just another moment we have another problem Because people are angry and have a near con-stant ldquothrow the bums outrdquo feeling about our elected offi-cials we are going through a period of uncommon insta-bility in our government institutions
Most people believe that incumbents come to office and tend to leave only when they die But it just isnrsquot true Whether because of the Tea Party or because of burn-out by elected officials the level of turnover in Washington is a big and growing problem In just the past five Congres-sional elections which is to say in the past ten years a remarkable 54 of the US Senate has been replaced If that number seems impos-sibly high for institutional stability in the House of Representatives the turnover
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 17
in that same period has been 68 Due to announced retirements and defeats in primaries we already know that in the coming Senate and House to be sworn in next January no fewer than 11 current Senators and 60 current Congressmen and Congresswomen will not be returning mdash and that assumes not a single incum-bent will lose in a single race in the remaining pri-maries and the General Election That means at least a 65 turnover in the US Senate and a more than 80 turnover in the House of Representatives in a mere 12-year period Think of your own organizations and what a turnover of that mag-nitude would mean to your ability to do your institu-tional job let alone having to grapple with many of the enormous challenges I mentioned a moment ago and many others I did not mention Thus the roiling public environment is more likely to stay roiled for some time to come than it is likely to return to some idealized period of harmony
Not to belabor the point but to also make sure that we understand that the problem of popular unease is broader than belief in our national government let me share just a few poll numbers to demonstrate my point Our confidence in hospitals and our doctors is now at 41 which is bad enough but HMOs are at 19 Public
schools have the confidence of only 29 of the people in our country Newspapers taken together have the con-fidence of just 25 of the American people But falling even lower than newspapers TV news comes in at 21 And labor unions banks and major corporations are all tied with the confidence of just one in five Ameri-cans at around 20 Even organized religion falls below the 50 mark at 44
Indeed the only three institutions regularly polled about by Gallup to be above the 50 mark are our police departments at 56 small business at 63 and our fighting men and women in the US military at 75 And finally in what many people believe is the most important general view of how people feel the Right Track Wrong Track poll Rasmussen reports 30 of Americans think our country is on the right track
and 64 believe our country is on the wrong track
In case you werenrsquot a statistics major in college let me boil all of these poll results down to just this one short statement and it is this My father was ahead of his time Just as my father didnrsquot trust or like just about any institution the American people now donrsquot much trust or like any institution with
the exception of police military and
small busi-ness In
nearly every other
case the institu-tion Ive mentioned is at or
near an all-time low since these Gallup Institutional Confidence polls began being conducted in 1973
But I think there is a second key learning from all of this bad news that is actu-ally very good news for some of you but definitely not all of you and that is this Just as my father had very low confidence in government and other mass institutions yet managed to turn himself
into a check-writing ma-chine for many many not-for-profits so too can your organization or your clients The not-so-profound insight is that even the most angry frustrated cynical skeptical misanthrope wants to believe It was true of mis-anthropes when Moliere wrote a play by that name in the 1660s It was true of my father And Id bet a dona-tion to any of your causes that it is true today even with a Right Track Wrong Track poll that has double the number of Wrong Trackers over Right Trackers People want to believe People want to love People know they wont live for forever and people want to see the world better both today in their lifetimes and tomor-row when it is their legacy This is true for mega donors who will be honored at fancy dinners in hotel ballrooms like this and for ten dollar donors who look forward to the return address labels you all will send to them
So with the crummy economy the dicey state of the Postal Service the demo-graphic hump working against low-dollar donors and all of the other problems direct marketers face my money is on the significant success of some of the orga-nizations that are here today Of course the structural challenges make it harder but is it harder today than it was in my grandmotherrsquos
vvvThe not-so-profound insight is that even
the most angry frustrated cynical skeptical
misanthrope wants to believehellipPeople know they
wont live for forever and people want to see the
world better both today in their lifetimes and
tomorrow when it is their legacy
vvv
continued
18 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
walk-up tenement apart-ment in which every Friday afternoon she found a way to donate to people she knew she would never meet who were living in a place she knew she would never see She believed in the enterprise afoot in what is today Israel a place on the other side of the world and she trusted that the coins in her little blue-and-white tin box would be used wisely and honorably All the same must have been true about my father and the many causes to which he wrote those checks And the same is true of millions and millions of people waiting to be touched and to form a connection with a cause larger than themselves a cause they can make their own in a way best thought of as an I-Thou relationship
For those of you unfa-miliar with the phrase I and Thou let me start by telling you it is a concept that changed my life It was coined by the philoso-pher and theologian Martin Buber Despite his being a theologian it is a concept that isnt inherently reli-gious even if it works well in every faith tradition and also works well in a purely secular context It works well for couples who have long been together and remark-ably it works well when soliciting gifts from near-strangers It is an approach to living a happy satisfying life So with that build up let
me tell you about I and Thou and about Martin Buber
Buber was born in Austria but moved to Germany in his teens to pursue his education In the 1920s he wrote his most famous work ldquoI and Thourdquo which although somewhat obscure today helped to establish his reputation as a leading German thinker of his time When the Nazis came to power in 1933 as a Jew he was prohibited from teaching at the uni-versity where he had been a professor and in 1938 just ahead of the start of the mass murder of 90 of Euro-pean Jewry Buber made his way to the British Mandate where he became a professor in Jerusalem When the State of Israel came into being in 1948 Buber was an esteemed philosopher revered by the young nation It is hard to imagine a philosopher having this kind of fame and impact but when he died in 1965 it was the lead news story of the day in Israel and a major story in The New York Times and other world newspapers
According to Buber there are two kinds of rela-tionships I-Thou and I-It The idea underpinning these concepts is best explained by examples as every single person in this room has experienced I-Thou and I-It relationships In an I-Thou relationship we are as one Your destiny is my destiny
even if only for a moment In the I-It relationship the parties are in a transac-tion I have turned the other party into an object to help me to achieve something that I want Indeed we all have I-Thou relationships and I-It relationships all the time mdash and we often have these disparate relationships within moments of each other and often with the very same person If this room were smaller and more inti-mate I could randomly call on anyone and have you give examples of I-Thou and I-It relationships in your own life But Ill use my own life as an example
I love my wife very much I am happy to come home at the end of the workday and to hear about her day and what is new and for her to hear about my day That is an I-Thou moment But while sitting with her my stomach starts to growl I become distracted Im not think-ing about her but about the dinner I know she has prepared Im hungry and want to eat She becomes an object a means to an end an I-It Wersquove all had that expe-rience or one like it
But just because Im getting something I want from her mdash or from anyone mdash doesnrsquot mean it has to be an I-It moment In that exact same scenario it could just as well have been an I-Thou moment by a change in my behavior even
with the same outcome that dinner will be served and my hunger abated Instead of single-mindedly think-ing about food in its place I could have interrupted the conversation to tell her that Im hungry I could have offered to set the table while we keep talking And most importantly I could keep reminding myself that she has spent time and trouble thinking about dinner and preparing it and that I have no entitlement to her having done this and how fortunate I am that she has If I do all of that it is more likely we will have an I-Thou relationship that evening than a transac-tional I-It one
Even with people we love I-Thoursquos and I-Itrsquos flit back and forth across some imaginary spectrum with engagement and other-directedness on one side and selfishness and self-direct-edness on the other We all have instincts for both sides of that spectrum and the challenge is to take the harder path the path where we direct the moment away from ourselves and our selfish wants and needs to that of the person present before us and our shared experience
As I indicated earlier this isnrsquot just true of deep long-lasting relationships It can be true of the waiter who serves you dinner the bellman who helps you with your bags even with a
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 19
passing stranger on a line to get into somewhere Every encounter has the oppor-tunity to be an I-Thou or an I-It and the challenge is for each of us to constantly remind ourselves of the humanity of the person with whom we engage
I and Thou isnrsquot just for people It is also true of believing peoplersquos relation-ship with God and also true of organizations and how they relate to people In my experience Ive found it even true of inanimate objects even if that may take it beyond Buberrsquos own con-ception So how do Martin Buber and his I and Thou relate to you all as direct mar-keters and as fundraisers for your worthy organizations
Everyone knows when they are in an I and Thou moment You feel the link and the joy that comes from the link But people also know when they are being used as a means to an end
when they are the ldquoItrdquo in an I-It relationship People may give you what you want when they are in an I-It rela-tionship with you and you may give your counter-party what they seek too but we all know that feeling of sadness or emptiness within when someone you are with mdash a co-worker a boss a spouse a child even a clerk on the phone at a call center mdash treats you as an object to get some-thing achieved and not as an opportunity to feel your humanity and for you to feel theirs even if for a fleeting moment
And the same Ill say is true about the relationship between a potential donor and your organization Those organizations that stand for somethinghellip Those organizations that donrsquot treat their donors as objects like walking checkbookshellip Those organizations that take the time to engage with their prospects Indeed
those organizations that donrsquot even necessarily start by asking for something it is those organizations who I believe will find a wide universe of people eager to believe and eager to be part of the organizationrsquos mission An I-Thou relation-ship doesnrsquot mean we never ask the other party for some-thing It is about how and when we ask Just as we will have a different outcome with our spouses children and co-workers when we are building off of an I-Thou relationship rather than an I-It so too will we have a different outcome when we approach our donors as part-ners as people we care about exactly as much whether they donate or not It is from that soulful relationship that donors will want to support one organization over an-other and one cause over another no matter how angry or frustrated or cynical they are about the larger world
around them That is how I believe the next genera-tion of donors will come to support many but not all of our organizations
When my father died I had the Postal Service forward his mail to my home address In the nearly eight years since his passing Ive received hundreds of mail-ings maybe more I often open the solicitations to try to get a feel for the kinds of causes and organizations my father would have been spending his time learning about and possibly support-ing So while some recipients of your mailings may think of your output as junk mail I couldnrsquot be more apprecia-tive Each envelope serves to remind me that the cynical side of my father was only a side and that when properly touched even a hard man could respond
Thank you all very much for your attention n
copy 2012 Seth M Siegel Reproduction with authorrsquos consent only All rights reserved
Looking for an agency or supplier to help your organization reachnew heights
Access the DMANFrsquos Directory of Service providers
nonprofitfederationorgcorporate-partnerssearch
20 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Nonprofit organizations face unique marketing chal-lenges Theyrsquore tasked with identifying and reaching the right people at the right time and through
the appropriate channels as well as balancing message appeals with monetary requests all while conveying their mission and cause The rapid expansion of the internet social networking and mobile have placed yet another demand front-and-center for nonprofit organizations mdash con-sumer privacy
Consumers are justly concerned about divulging their personal information They want to know where why and how their information will be used Many are unaware that their personal information is collected in a variety of ways and by a variety of sources both online and offline Common but often misunderstood data practices include third-party ad servers setting cookies retail stores matching names and addresses with phone numbers and marketers sharing customer lists
In todayrsquos complex marketplace how can nonprofit organizations demonstrate to their supporters donors and prospects that they share their concerns and are commit-ted to protecting their privacy The first and most important step is to create a clear privacy policy and communicate it effectively
the Privacy PolicyIf your organization collects uses and or stores personal donor information a privacy policy is critical You must display your privacy policy on your website and strictly abide by it
Privacy policies are structured around Notice and Choice principles They should provide supporters with notice of
how their data is collected used and shared as well as their choices to limit or prevent such practices Your privacy policy should also include information to maintain trans-parency and that clearly describes your organizationrsquos data security practices
Key points every privacy policy should address include
The types of personal information your organization collects This may include name address telephone number email address and credit card or other payment information
How information is secured
How personal information is used and with whom it is shared
How supporters can control the use of their data
How the privacy policy is updated and the effective date of the policy
Letrsquos take a more detailed look at the elements of a privacy policy from a nonprofit organizationrsquos perspective
Collecting personal InformationAs mentioned personal information may include data ele-ments such as name address telephone number email address and payment information It can also include more sensitive information such as gender race religious or politi-cal beliefs health information or other characteristics
The types of personal information collected and the length of retention may be used to enhance your marketing
Consumer PrivacyA Guide for Nonprofit Marketers
Bethany Lewis Privacy Analyst Epsilon
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 21
objectives by creating detailed profiles of supporters but what if that dataprofile was accessed without appropriate permis-sions or used by other organizations for purposes beyond the original intent Inappropriate generalizations might be made about supporters regardless of who has the data and the risk for reputational and other damage increases if that type of data is compromised
For example if a supporter donates to an organization that supports research of a genetic disorder should they be identified as a patient of or at risk for that same disorder Perhaps theyrsquore simply a caretaker for someone suffer-ing from that disorder Similarly if a supporter donates to a religious-based organization could assumptions around political leanings be attributed to them
Protecting information about charitable contributions is critical as is informing supporters how that information will be used which brings us to data security and the sharing of personal information
protecting personal InformationToday every organization is vulnerable when it comes to data security Protecting the personal information of supporters is essential The first line of protection is collecting only the necessary data
While creating supporter profiles evaluate the risks of storing ldquounnecessaryrdquo data especially if an incident exposes the data Set internal policies for how long each category of data collected will be retained and be diligent in deletingdestroying data in a safe and thorough manner based on those policies
Whenever possible encrypt personal data maintained electronically and enhance security on laptops and mobile devices from which supporter data is accessed
Sharing personal InformationBe very clear in your privacy policy when providing infor-mation on the types of third-parties with whom your organization shares data If you share information with third-party service providers disclose this fact and provide a categorized list of these organizations Such organizations may include credit card processors shipping vendors mar-keting analysts or consultants and fulfillment houses
If you share information with other nonprofit organi-zations disclose these practices Also disclose if you share information with marketing cooperatives whose databases are not exclusively nonprofit
Protecting
information
about
charitable
contributions
is critical
continued
22 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
providing ChoiceStudies have shown that modern consumers are more com-fortable sharing personal information with organizations that are clear and upfront about how their information is used and with whom it is shared In fact most people respond positively to organizations who transparently disclose data sharing practices and provide a clear and convenient oppor-tunity to opt-out While a small percentage of individuals will choose to opt-out of data sharing very few supporters will opt-out of all contact with an organization Therefore providing an opportunity to opt-out of sharing data for mar-keting purposes as well as an opt-out for receiving further requests from your organization will aid in retaining your most loyal supporters
Updating the privacy policyClearly state the effective date of your current privacy policy and update it when you make any material changes If you do make material changes to your privacy policy with ret-roactive application to the data you already have stored you may need to obtain express consent from individuals to use their information for new or different purposes Some organizations choose to list what changes were made in a summary history which may be helpful to a supporter reviewing the policy
Pulling It All togetherYour privacy policy should be easy to find read understand and act upon (ie opt-out or modify preferences) It should also be present in each commercial solicitation where per-sonal information is collected regardless of whether that is through postal mailings or on your website
Additional information regarding Notice Choice Trans-parency and other important privacy principles can be found on the DMA website in the Commitment to Consumer Choice and the DMA Guidelines for Ethical Business Practice
At Epsilon we use the following checklist when evaluating a privacy policy
The website has a privacy policy
There is a link to the privacy policy from the websitersquos home page and the link contains the word ldquoprivacyrdquo
The privacy policy states that the organization shares consumer data and personal information (including name address email address and transaction informa-tion) with third-party service providers
The privacy policy states that the organization shares consumer data and personal information with other marketers for their own marketing purposes
The privacy policy provides consumers the chance to opt-out of having their information shared with other marketers
The privacy policy has an ldquoeffectiverdquo date
As mentioned in situations where data is shared with other organizations and marketers transparency is the key Below is sample disclosure language
The personally identifiable information that you provide to us
(such as your name address and email address) and information
about your contribution may be combined with other non-person-
ally identifiable information (such as demographic information and
past contribution history) available from our records and other
sources This information will be used to make our future market-
ing efforts more efficient and relevant This information may also
be shared with our third-party service providers that assist us
with our marketing efforts and with other marketers whose prod-
ucts or services we feel may be of interest to you If you prefer
that we do not share your name and address with other market-
ers please email us at optoutyourorganizationorg
Beyond the Privacy PolicyIn addition to having a robust privacy policy written in concise language and that is easily accessible here are a few other best practices to secure the privacy of your sup-portersrsquo information
Ensure agreements with third-parties who may have access to supportersrsquo personal information adequately address privacy and data security
Suppress personal information in your database when a supporter requests it and do so within a reasonable timeframe
If you must store sensitive information such as credit card or social security numbers as part of your data-base encrypt this information
Train employees and volunteers regularly on the importance of maintaining privacy and security
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 23
Nonprofit Careers e-Bulletin
Your Multi-ChannelRecruiting Tool
Become familiar with data breach notification require-ments and have a response plan and team in place Should you experience a breach disclose to all appro-priate and necessary parties
Monitor the use of your data and address any enti-ties when you become aware that data is being used in a way that violates the law contractual requirements andor the DMArsquos Ethical Guidelines
Respecting and promoting consumer privacy requires a commitment to maintaining balance between the legitimate business needs of your organization and the concerns of individuals about fair information practices Start by taking a look at your current privacy policy Assure its accuracy and adhere to its strategy n
Bethany Lewis As a Privacy Analyst Bethany Lewis supports and educates associates and clients on privacy compliance matters She brings an extensive background in regulatory compliance corporate ethics education and training to her work at Epsilon
ldquoThe recruitment Tool for the Nonprofit Communityrdquo is your source for top flight exposure to top flight candidates and the best A b amp C-level career opportunities out there
Distributed every Tuesday 8 am ET via raquo Email raquo post at wwwnonprofitfederationorg raquo Facebook mdash DMA Nonprofit Federation raquo Twitter mdash DMANF and AliozDC
To view ad submission requirements visit the ldquoFind a Jobrdquo area of the DMA Nonprofit Federation homepage wwwnonprofitfederationorg and click on ldquoHow to postrdquo Ads must be emailed to Aosgoodthe-dmaorg please make sure any ad you submit meets our specifications
Is your nonprofit organization already a dual member of the DMA and DMANF If the answer is lsquoyesrsquo itrsquos FrEE mdash so why not post
Join the over 8000 professionals who already subscribe
Sign up today nonprofitfederationorgpublications careers-e-bulletinsubscribe
DMA Guidelines for Ethical Business Practice
dmaresponsibilityorgGuidelines
24 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Each week I see non-profit organizations walking away from
mobile thinking that com-municating and fundraising with their constituents through the single most used electronic device in history is optional Con-versely we see more and more retailers embracing mobile and the omnichan-nel marketing model because the results are tre-mendous We at mGive think nonprofits benefit when they embrace similar tools and methodologies
What is an omnichan-nel approach and why is it important to non-profit organizations An omnichannel approach is an integrated marketing strat-egy that creates a seamless experience for the donor
It is a customer-centric approach that elevates your supporter loyalty strategies by leveraging cross-channel opportunities For example when a donor drops off goods at their local Epilepsy Foundation they receive a paper receipt to complete Normally once they leave your location you lose any hope of communicating with them again Imagine if when the donor dropped off their goods you offered to send the donor an email version of their receipt You now have a way to engage the supporter through email Now suppose your email receipt offered a web link that drove them to a form to opt-in to your mobile community in order to receive updates via text
Once they opt-in you then have a way to send updates volunteer requests dona-tion reminders and more You may also leverage the fact they are on the mobile phone and send text mes-sages asking supporters to post a photo to Facebook making a donation Having this omnichannel strat-egy in place is especially critical at the end of year because it is an opportune time for organizations to increase membership and raise dollars
So how does an organization create an omnichannel approach that leverages direct mail email online social media live events and mobile to achieve their goals It may be difficult for some orga-nizations to make the
operational shift to an omnichannel model but that doesnrsquot mean you can afford to ignore it Not sure you can get all the steps in place by the time you launch your end of year activities Mobile is the bridge that can help to start that process In fact more and more organizations are relying on their mobile strategy to bridge the gap and engage supporters in this multi-screen world because mobile is the ldquogreat centralizerrdquo of activities ndash where else can you make calls browse the web check email respond to text mes-sages post to social media and more in a truly porta-ble fashion
Before we move on to the tactics that an organiza-tion can take to incorporate
Mobile
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 25
mobile into their existing multi-channel strategies we must tackle one issue If your organization has tried mobile or an omnichan-nel approach in the past and were disappointed or frustrated with your expe-rience try again You were one of the pioneering orga-nizations that comprise the early adopters of those models Lessons learned over the past few years have evolved into success-ful best practices mdash and you get the opportunity to benefit from them As we like to say in honor of the wise Master Yoda ldquoTry not Do or do not There is no tryrdquo We guarantee if imple-mented correctly using mobile in an omnichannel approach can work for your organization
1 Communicate and Integrate mdash Walk Across the Mobile Bridge
Many organizations that I work with have voiced cross-departmental integra-tion as a challenge That is understandable because tra-ditionally departments or channels have been siloed from one another But this disenfranchised model does not result in the seam-less experience that donors are coming to expect In order for a donor experi-ence to be seamless direct mail must complement the organizationrsquos website the organizationrsquos website must complement the mobile campaign social media must complement direct mail and so forth and so on When used together
the communication chan-nels can result in more effective campaigns and bigger numbers
When an organization decides to develop a mobile strategy generally it is one department within that organization that is initially interested That department is a hero because they have just launched a toolset that can be used throughout the organization If you have a mobile program in place for fundraising itrsquos time to talk with your program services department mem-bership team and corporate partner folks and get them in the loop so that you can maximize the omnichannel approach Mobile can be a great catalyst for initiating conversation and guiding organizational integration
Mobile is also a great way to increase the effec-tiveness of existing channels By integrating your direct mail newslet-ter social media online and mobile efforts you can increase response and open rates We have found that if you send a text message to your membership remind-ing them to check their email inboxes you can increase email open rates by 10 or more Addition-ally if you include a mobile number field on your email and paper member-ship forms you can quickly build a mobile community that can turn into repeat donors Once again the most important element besides the actual cross
the Bridge to an omnichannel Approach in time for Year-End Campaigns
continued
Jenifer Snyder Esq Executive Director The mGive Foundation and Cassie Bair Vice President of Marketing Mobile Accord
26 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
channel promotion goes back to this concept of the omnichannel Make the message consistent across all channels They donrsquot have to be identical but they should complement each other and work to create an echo effect
Just about every one of your donors will experience your organization through their mobile device at some point mdash so make sure your message is clear consistent convenient and actionable through mobile in some capacity
2 test Review Adjust Implement Review Adjust mdash and Repeat
Once you have an inte-grated strategy in place itrsquos time to implement Whether the goal is to acquire new donors reactivate lapsed donors and drive donations from existing donors mdash or all three mdash test your cam-paign Take time to review the results and adjust accordingly Then imple-ment full scale confident you are on the right path Regularly review your results adjust your activities and repeat as needed
In preparation for end of year activities take the time in the Fall to tweak your marketing engine for optimal performance Do some zero based plan-ning and try to approach
the supporter experience as if you are the supporter Spend time on every avenue where you can wisely create a seamless experience
Everyone in philan-thropy knows that the majority of all charitable donations are made in the last 2 months of the year Additionally member-ship increases substantially during the last quarter of the year Spend time now identifying opportunities strategies and tactics that work best for you mdash and consider how mobile can be a centralizing point for many of these activities
3 Apply the Winning Methodologies to Your End of Year Appeals
Yoursquove tested tweaked and determined what works best for you Now inte-grate what yoursquove learned into your end of year cam-paigns Determine how your campaign follows stan-dard best practices for end of year appeals and where mobile can help drive that engagement across multiple mediums
Common best practices for end of year campaigns that can include mobile
A Sending multiple asks the final week of the year mdash Make sure text messages are a part of that effort Whether itrsquos a simple call-to-action to text
a donation drives people to a pledge page or some-thing all-together different mobile can help ramp up that seamless experience
B the Art of the ldquothank Yourdquo mdash Thank your sup-porters Use mobile to message supporters your appreciation when they take action through text or drive them to a webpage with a video with a celeb-rity spokesperson giving a thank you message But make sure they know repeatedly that what they do for your cause matters And keep in mind mobile can drive to a strong ldquothank yourdquo experience
C Share Ask Listen mdash Take the opportunity to tell a story ask for feed-back and listen to what your organization is being told Not sure how to do that in mobile Share a link to a news article through text Ask for feedback through social media And listen to what is being said while distilling insights from how supporters respond in order to strengthen your omnichannel approach
4 Continue into 2013 mdash You are set for success
As donors enter the New Year self-improve-ment will often include a
commitment to be a better person volunteer more donate more funds etc Use mobile as a data col-lection tool to help your donors achieve their goal Give them the opportunity to commit to goals pertain-ing to your cause and then become their coach Send monthly reminders of their commitment and words of encouragement Remind them about appointments invite them to share their experience and overall let the donor feel the effect of their selfless promise through all of their activi-ties while using mobile to centralize that community and to drive people to action
We now live in a world where the average person at any given moment is looking at two or more screens It is critical that nonprofit organizations embrace the multi-screen world and adopt the omnichannel or fully integrated model When you create a seam-less giving experience for the everyday philanthropist you will be amazed at the results Walking away from a mobile strategy today is like walking away from the internet in the early 2000s
Mobile is here to stay and it is not an elective component to your orga-nizationrsquos fundraising and engagement strategy Itrsquos an essential part of a successful omnichannel strategy for your end of year activities n
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 27
Jenifer Snyder Esq Executive Director The mGive Foundation
As Executive Director of The mGive Foun-dation Jenifer is dedicated to expanding the scope and reach of the mobile channel for social good She brings years of lead-ership experience in the mobile industry to the position Previously Jenifer was a founder and General Counsel for 9 Squared Inc a mobile content and ser-vices company subsequently acquired by the Zed Group She left Zed in 2007 and started building the mobile channel for social and charitable efforts and later formed The mGive Foundation
Cassie bair Vice president of Marketing Mobile Accord
As Vice President of Marketing for Mobile Accord Cassie is dedicated to educat-ing and empowering nonprofits regarding the power of mobile She combines years of marketing experience in the nonprofit industry with the exciting evolution of the mobile channel for social good Cassie has worked with organizations such as the American Heart Association American Institute of Architects and the American Society of Echocardiography developing integrated and cause marketing cam-paigns and uses that knowledge today with clients to help them maximize their mobile strategy
Name
OrganizationCompany
Address
City State Zip Code
Charge my m Visa m MasterCard m AmEx m Discover
Card Number Expiration Date
Signature
raquo FAX form to 2026284383 (do not email credit card information)
raquo MAIL form to Alicia Osgood Director Membership amp Communications DMA Nonprofit Federation 1615 L Street NW Suite 1100 Washington DC 20036
raquo MAKE ChECKS payable to the DMA Nonprofit Federation
raquo DMA Nonprofit Federation Federal Tax ID Number 13-1810859
News and cutting-edge professional development tips
SUBSCRIBEto the Journal today1year =3 issues
ONLY $35Published digitally in January Apriland September the Journal brings together nonprofit leaders to deliver a standout publication packed with content you can really use
No cost to members
28 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Consumer technology evolves so quickly that nonprof-its are constantly racing to get their organizations using the latest technologies and mediums In fact many of these innovations have had significant impact on the fundrais-ing community While online CRM systems for example spawned database segmentation capabilities the opportu-nity ndash and challenge ndash arose for fundraising professionals to target appeals precisely to donorsrsquo specific interests Lately the emergence and rapid popularity of technologies such as smartphones and social media have forced nonprofits to not only create a presence but essentially compete for shrinking donor funds using these vehicles
The primary focus of nonprofit technology however tends to be inward creating a presence in a particular social media community or simply using the technology on behalf of the organization Examples of this include a nonprofitrsquos Facebook page and Twitter account and mobile-friendly
web sites In todayrsquos competitive fundraising environment though itrsquos not enough for nonprofits to simply use the latest technology Successful fundraisers understand that a nonprofitrsquos relationship with technology needs to take one step beyond itself to focus outward how do your sup-porters and donors want to use technology on behalf of your organization
Donors have technology preferences and habits too While itrsquos great for organizations to have a Facebook page for sup-porters to ldquolikerdquo that offers news and updates for example this doesnrsquot offer an opportunity for donors to appeal to their friends and family on behalf of your nonprofit mdash and certainly doesnrsquot raise money As nonprofits have learned to quickly adapt to changing technology and social media standards the time has come for organizations to evolve the technology they offer to provide donors supporters and par-ticipants with a personalized fundraising experience
Get Personal Providing Supporters with Personalized Fundraising Experiences
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 29
Personalization Means EngagementAt a fundamental level donor personalization in fun-
draising emerged from some of the first online nonprofit fundraising systems Offering supporters the opportunity to send personalized fundraising emails to their friends and family was revolutionary in its time mdash as was offering custom individual and team fundraising web pages
While these technology offerings revolutionized event fundraising donors have become increasingly savvy in the way they interact online mdash and developed strong preferences and dislikes in the types of technology they use They want the technology they know and like to be at their fingertips and are more likely to fundraise and successfully so for your nonprofit if itrsquos made easy and accessible for them
Back to Basics mdash But BetterNonprofits have been so consumed by social media that
they often forget this simple fact participants who use online tools raise six times more than non-users according to Blackbaud In addition 25 percent of the fundraising emails supporters send to their friends result in a donation With the average online gift being $60 nonprofits have motiva-tion not to forget about the basics of online fundraising But in the age of increasing competition for donations nonprof-its that offer a more personalized fundraising experience to supporters may see better results
What does it mean to offer a personalized fundrais-ing experience For online fundraising pages it can mean offering them the opportunity to post pictures videos story content and individual fundraising status updates But itrsquos essentially the personalization options offered behind the scenes mdash in the personal ldquoHeadquartersrdquo page within an online fundraising system mdash that can really maximize fun-draising results
Savvy nonprofits are offering a multitude of ways within their online fundraising systems for supporters to choose to reach out to friends and family Offering more than the email capabilities found standard with most fundraising plat-forms some nonprofits are starting to provide supporters more options in their personal participant ldquoheadquartersrdquo pages to engage those in their network mdash all with the click of a button Opportunities for supporters to personalize their experience could include options to
Send a Facebook message
Tweet their fundraising page
Update their Facebook status
Send a quick email
In addition statistics about their personal fundraising process could tell them
Total emails sent
Visits to their personal fundraising pages
Number of donations
Number of registrations
Average amount raised per email sent
Number of additional emails needed to reach fundraising goal
And because no one participant is the same these per-sonalization options allow the supporter to interact and engage their network on behalf of the nonprofit in ways that are meaningful and comfortable to them
Beyond the Facebook PageThe nonprofit community has taken Facebook by storm as an avenue to engage supporters and attract donors But itrsquos important to look beyond how supporters want to interact with your nonprofit and understand how they want to in-teract with their social network Itrsquos within this framework that supporters choose mdash or choose not mdash to engage their network on your organizationrsquos behalf
So make it easy for them provide them with a variety of ways to use several social media tools to reach out and fund-raise for your nonprofit Let them decide how they fundraise With 845 million monthly active users and 100 billion con-nections Facebook for example provides an excellent platform for nonprofits mdash and their fundraisers mdash to expand fundraising reach In fact Blackbaudrsquos web site states that social media users raise 40 more than non-users But most
continued
John Murphy PresidentCEo and Founder Zuri Group
30 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
organizations make the mistake of relying on participants to send their own appeals and updates or worse provide cum-bersome tools that require multiple logins and steps
Some enthusiastic fundraisers will thrive in this envi-ronment Others wonrsquot Since each supporter is unique itrsquos important to provide several varying opportunities and options so that a personalized fundraising experience can be forged For many fundraisers asking for donations isnrsquot easy All participants want to raise money but many donrsquot feel comfortable asking outside of close friends and family Other fundraisers donrsquot have the time or creativity to regu-larly develop and update personalized Facebook messages Use technology to help overcome these challenges by creat-ing easy ways for them to raise more money using Facebook
To take the effort out of Facebook fundraising remove the discomfort of a direct ldquoaskrdquo and save fundraisers time some nonprofits are offering supporters the option for fun-draising updates that automatically post on their Facebook wall at pre-determined intervals throughout the fundraising season For the right supporter this option removes the dis-comfort of approaching potential donors with a direct ldquoaskrdquo while significantly expanding their fundraising reach
Mobilizing the troopsAccording to a 2011 study consumers spend more time
on mobile applications than on the web In addition Ameri-cans spend 27 hours per day on average socializing on their mobile phones Nonprofits have been hard at work to lever-age the trend toward mobile by creating mobile-friendly web sites and even apps to further engage supporters But what about the mobile interaction that takes place between sup-porters and their friends The key is for nonprofits to make it accessible and easy for fundraisers to use their everyday technologies and devices to fundraise within their own networks By providing fundraising options that enable sup-porters to simply use something they already use such as a smartphone to connect with people they already interact with fundraising becomes a more natural and personalized part of the supporterrsquos day
To provide a more personalized and convenient fun-draising experience some nonprofits are offering mobile fundraising apps that enable supporters to not only use their smartphones to fundraise but to fundraise using multiple technologies within the smartphone mdash such as email text Twitter Facebook and even FaceTime for iPhone users As a result supporters can fundraise for the organization from their homes the train while walking the dog mdash anytime they have their phone
By empowering supporters to personalize their fundrais-ing experience nonprofits that provide mobile fundraising apps help their fundraisers help them These organizations are meeting the needs of on-the-go fundraising participants so they can focus on spreading awareness soliciting dona-tions and thanking donors mdash on their time on their terms In fact itrsquos been reported that fundraising participants using mobile fundraising applications raise 200 more than other participants and bring in 300 more gifts by count that other participants
In addition some mobile fundraising apps are provid-ing further personalization by bringing some of the same features of the personalized online ldquoheadquartersrdquo to the smartphone such as fundraising thermometers and adding donors into their phone address book Pre-written fundrais-ing messages developed specifically for various mediums such as texts Twitter updates and emails can be used Editing personal fundraising pages from the smartphone is likely the next option nonprofits will start offering
the Personalization ChallengeAs nonprofits compete in the race to adopt new technolo-
gies and social media itrsquos important to take a step back and consider your supportersrsquo relationship with those channels Many nonprofits have a Facebook page or group but how are your fundraisers using Facebook Are you making it easy for them to advocate or fundraise for your organization If much of your donor base uses text messaging have you pro-vided easy access and tools for them to text their network on your behalf
Supporters want and frankly need a personalized online experience with your organization Go beyond the bounds of your interactive relationship and consider what would enable your supporter base to have a more personalized fundrais-ing experience mdash and then put those tools at their fingertips They and their network mdash will thank you n
John Murphy is the PresidentCEO and Founder of Zuri Group Zuri Group provides nonprofits with custom technology solutions to meet critical organizational needs such as fundraising using their existing platform For more info visit zurigroupcom
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 31Non-Profit_FullPageAd_OLindd 1 91312 417 PM
32 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
9 Centennial Drive
Peabody MA 01960-7906
Tel 8003707500
wwwamergentcom
c a l l j a c k d o y l e
8 0 0 3 7 0 7 5 0 0
s t r a t e g i c d i r e c t
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m u l t i - y e a r
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a w a r d - w i n n i n g
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n e e d n e w f u n d r a i s i n g s o l u t i o n s
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Sign up for Amergentrsquos e-newsletter
at friendsamergentcomifund or scan qr code
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 33
Looking to Affordably Grow Your Donor Fileand Increase Contributions
We Can HelpWiland Direct is the nationrsquos 1 transactional database for fundraisers
Using our vast transactional data and powerful models Wiland Direct helps fundraisers to
bull Affordably acquire new donors bull Maximize contributions from existing donors bull Reactivate former donorsbull Identify the most likely activists and volunteersbull Convert inquirers petition signers and other ldquowarm leadsrdquo into donors
To learn more please contact John Spencer at 9703106378 or via email at jspencerwilanddirectcom
3034858686 wwwWilandDirectcomCopyright 2012 Wiland Direct All rights reserved
ldquoThe Wiland Direct database has been a solid performer for LLS with higher average gifts and lower cost per dollar raised than most Itrsquos opened up a new acquisition universe particularly important for a mature program Wersquore very pleased with the results and team support from Wilandrdquomdash Bruny Lynch The Leukemia amp Lymphoma Society
34 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
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urce
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direct marketing solutionsyoursquove been looking for
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Want to see for yourself
Contact annesagecommunicationscom or call 508-309-6678 x 1 for a no-obligation quote
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You can support your mission more effectively withCBArsquos ldquosmarterrdquo multi-channel campaigns integrating
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Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 35
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36 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
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wwwinfogroupcomApogee
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 37
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Get it todaynonprofitfederationorgethics-policy watchdog-resource-centerwatchdog-toolkit
38 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
1
2
3
A
B
C
your newsletterdoesnrsquot need to be
the rodney dangerfield
of your fundraising
program
Bob Ball Executive Creative Director Masterworks
8
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 9
Pity the poor newsletterIf there is one component of nonprofit fundraising pro-
grams that is consistently overlooked and undervalued itrsquos the newsletter
Like the late comedian Rodney Dangerfield newsletters ldquodonrsquot get no respectrdquo
All too often the newsletter is just an afterthought Newsletters are not expected to raise a lot of money and all too often they meet those low expectations
Over the years Irsquove seen a lot of different kinds of news-letters from nonprofit organizations Therersquos the No-Ask Newsletter that simply reports accomplishments This type doesnrsquot raise money because it doesnrsquot even try
The No-Ask Newsletter may be of some long-term value by closing the loop with the donor But most of the time this species talks about what the organization has accomplished and how effective it is This information may reinforce pre-vious giving but the No-Ask Newsletter does not motivate immediate new donations
Other newsletters are nothing more than fundraising appeals thinly disguised in newsletter clothing In my expe-rience this type of hard-Ask Newsletter does raise some revenue but in most cases not as effectively as straightfor-ward appeals
Another variety is the institutionally focused Navel-Gazing Newsletter written for insiders
Without the accountability that comes from revenue expectations newsletter strategy becomes fuzzy This leads to one of the worst dangers the loss of audience focus
It is very common for newsletters to attempt to serve many different masters These All-things-to-All-People Newsletters are created for several different audiences in addition to donors For example some organizations use their newsletter to communicate with donors volunteers employees board members and even the general public This desire to be all things to all audiences makes it difficult to effectively focus on any single audience
When the newsletter devolves to this point it usually doesnrsquot make anyone happy and slides into irrelevancy
In recent years my colleagues and I have resolved to do something about this sorry state of the newsletter We started by attacking the problem at the root We decided to reverse the diffused audience focus and create newsletters with an obsessive laser-like focus on donors
The result is the Extreme Donor-Focused Newslet-ter It is aimed squarely at the donor In fact it is all about the donor
This approach assumes donors give because they love to give and love to make a significant difference in the world It combines reporting back about what the donors have accomplished and offers them a clear opportunity to give again
We had considerable inspiration to draw on Back in the 1990s and early 2000s I worked at a feisty little Seattle agency called The Domain Group that preached donor loyalty and started making newsletters raise money In fact in some cases newsletters made more money than appeals
Domain was the subject of an acquisition and is long gone now but that experience lives on today to give hope that newsletters can be better My former Domain col-league Jeff Brooks who writes the blog Future Fundraising Now is a strong advocate for donor focus Long-time fun-draiser and blogger Tom Ahern has also written brilliantly on this topic
The accumulated experience gave me the confidence that it was really possible to build a better newsletter and the inspiration to keep tinkering I wanted to shake off the curse of Rodney Dangerfield once and for all
Then the perfect opportunity to test these theories fell into my lap One of my current clients asked us to test against an internally produced newsletter
This was one of those test situations you dream about Head-to-head A-B panels set up for a statistically valid test and spread over 3 different newsletter mail slots
The internal newsletter was a classic blend of the All-things-to-All-People and the Navel-Gazing News-letters It was aimed at a wide variety of constituents and contained a lot of organizationally focused stories It did ask for donations but not consistently
The results of the test were gratifying with the Extreme Donor-Focused Newsletter showing dramatic improve-ment across the board
419 lift in response 195 lift in average gift 521 lift in revenue
continued
10 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
1 Write to the donor for the donor about the donor This is not objective arms-length journalism This is not the organization talking about itself to organization insiders This is a warm conversation with the donor about the things he or she is most interested in The main point of the newsletter is to share what the donorrsquos giving has done Itrsquos all about him or her
2 Ensure a high ldquoyourdquo quotient The copy is written directly to the donor using the second person singular The most frequent word in the copy and headlines should be ldquoyourdquo Take the time to count the number of times you use ldquoyourdquo and ldquoyourrdquo If you donrsquot have enough rewrite the copy to make sure you have not lost your donor focus
3 touch the heart with strong emotion The newsletter needs to stir the donorrsquos heart Make the donor feel something Tell stories of amazing accomplishment that the donorrsquos generosity helped make possible Use vivid language with strong active verbs and concrete nouns Dramatic emotional photos are worth their weight in gold As Ahern says ldquoA newsletter might be more welcome than an appeal It can bring joy It can bring fun It can take the reader on a journeyrdquo
4 Surprise and delight This is a ldquonewsletterrdquo so it needs to have something new in it Tell the donor something fascinating that he or she does not already know The initial reaction of the donor upon first glance should be a big smile because his or her giving has made something wonderful happen One of the pitfalls of newsletter publishing is falling into a rut One of my favorite fun-draising aphorisms is ldquoYou canrsquot bore anybody into givingrdquo But millions of really boring newsletters are mailed each year Irsquove often seen a great jump in performance of a newsletter immediately after it is given an overhaul and a fresh design But within just a few months performance tends to slip and fall back to the previously level Keeping the newsletter fresh does not mean that you must start from scratch each month Establishing a basic design template for your newsletter is mandatory This not only helps with efficiency but also maintains brand consistency But we also demand that every newsletter be fresh and delightful You can keep it fresh with fresh content Great photos help But you can also mix up the look through the use of color Make sure your brand has a full palette of secondary colors and use them
We followed some simple principles as we created those winning newsletters You can put them into practice with your own designs
TEN prINCIpAlS To CrEATE yoUr owN
extreme donor-focused newsletter
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 11
Bob Ball is the Executive Creative Director of Masterworks He has been trying not to bore donors since 1993
5 Appreciate the donor One of the major themes of the newsletter needs to be how important the donor is ldquoLook at what you have accomplished With your help we can do all this Without your help we will not be able to do itrdquo Look for ways to use the words ldquoThank yourdquo over and over again Itrsquos almost impossible to over-thank donors (And remember this is not merely a report back about what the organization was able to accomplish This is all about what the donor has accomplished through their generosity Whenever you have the opportunity to influence the gathering of photo resource have beneficiaries hold up signs that say ldquoThank Yourdquo That is the most powerful and direct way to close the loop between the donor and the people who are actually being helped
6 Design for readability Remove all unnecessary barriers to readability and com-prehension Use a large readable serif font for body copy Readability studies have shown that serif fonts are superior to sans serif fonts for body copy on the printed page A lot of designers love sans serif fonts because of their clean look and because they are trendy but this is not a matter of taste If you want your body copy to be read and comprehended use a nice serif font All body copy should pass the ldquodollar billrdquo test (You should not be able to lay a dollar bill on any expanse of body copy without touching a headline photo or subhead) No large blocks of reversed out type No busy backgrounds behind copy Make the layout ldquoscannablerdquo with large photos headlines subheads and pull-quotes
7 Motivate another gift Donors love to give and you should not be ashamed to ask them to give again While most of the newsletter space is devoted to thanks and apprecia-tion the newsletter needs to give the donor a way to repeat their charitable behavior This means making a clearly stated offer that donors have supported in the past
8 Make it convenient to give The newsletter should include a response device and a return envelope If online giving is possible the URL for the giving page should be clearly presented in case that is the donorrsquos preferred giving channel
9 Appeal to the most basic donor benefit Giving is joyful I canrsquot emphasize the importance of this simple fact Donors mdash real donors mdash love to give Your faithful loyal donors are the people who give over and over again and keep giving They are not stingy grouches who must be cajoled and manipulated into reluctantly parting with their money No Real donors have discovered the secret of true happiness and all they need is the assurance that their giving is appreciated and effective This key message should be explicitly stated ldquoNothing feels better than when you help When you give to accomplish XYZ you know the joy of making a significant differ-ence in the worldrdquo
10 Refresh and re-engage Nothing about the newsletter should be a chore for the reader The whole publication is a joyful celebration of what the donor has made possible By the time he or she is finished reading the newsletter he or she should be energized and eager to do more
If you follow these 10 principles you will have your own Extreme Donor-Focused Newslet-ter and your fundraising program should enjoy increased revenue and donor retention And whatrsquos more your newsletter will finally get the respect it deserves n
12 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Grand Hyatt New York
Conference attendees
mixed mingled amp noshed
on delicious appetizers
at Butterfield 8
2012 New York Nonprofit Conference
July 25ndash26 2012Grand Hyatt New York
New York NY
Grand Hyatt New York
Conference attendees
mixed mingled amp noshed
on delicious appetizers
at Butterfield 8
(Left to right)
DMA Nonprofit Federation Advisory Council Chair
Brian Cowart of Disabled American Veterans (DAV)
2012 New York Nonprofit Conference Keynote
Speaker Seth ldquoYossirdquo Siegel of Sixpoint Partners
DMA Nonprofit Federation Advisory Council Vice
Chair tom harrison of Russ Reid Company
The Nature Conservancyrsquos Chief Marketing Officer Geof Rochester
amp Director of Membership Fundraising Begontildea Vaacutezquez-Santos
with TNCrsquos Nonprofit Organization of the Year award
Congratulations to The Nature Conservancy
13
14 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Thank you Tom Har-rison for such a lovely introduction The philos-opher who said that there is no praise higher than to be esteemed by those you esteem perfectly captures my reaction I appreci-ate your idea of inviting me mdash someone from outside your industry mdash to speak before your group But it is you Tom and several of your colleagues at Russ Reid who have largely taught me what I know about this industry
It is truly a special plea-sure being with all of you here today and the size of the audience notwithstand-ing getting to meet with you
To some extent I feel like I know many of you in this room To be sure many of you already know me mdash and even more of you knew my father My being here today allows me to close the circle and reciprocate many years of your outreach to me and my father Let me explain
My wife and I have been married for 32 years When we got married we didnrsquot have a lot more than the wedding gifts we had received but from our first days together we shared an interest in learning about charities that could use our support and we often would send in small donations in response to this mailing or that Soon thereafter mdash and this will surprise exactly no one in this room mdash we began getting mailings from more charities and we had the
opportunity to learn about yet more worthy organiza-tions As time interest and available cash allowed we would donate to yet others Then along the way as my business grew we stepped out of the direct mail uni-verse and got involved with a more manageable number of causes as volunteers and a somewhat larger number as donors but directly and in amounts more likely to be the fruit of a call or a meeting or a solicitation over a meal or in our home We still get some mail solicita-tions Some of it is likely the distant tail from donations made long ago and a bit of it may be thanks to gifts made in support of some of our friendsrsquo childrenrsquos walk-a-thon participations or similar creative requests for funds But in the main our mail box no longer has the volume of requests for support that it once did
In my opening remarks I made mention of my father Now if my wife and I have received mail from some of you I can go out on a limb and say that my father got mail from nearly all of you Before I share my fatherrsquos direct mail experience Id like to tell you a bit about him
My father mdash Benjamin Siegel in case you are check-ing to see if his name is in your database mdash was born to immigrant parents here in Manhattan Despite his American birth he spoke
Seth ldquoYossirdquo Siegel
2012 New York Nonprofit Conference
KeynoteAddress
July 25 2012
vvv
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 15
no English until he started kindergarten His child-hood can only be described as hard and deprived with his parents being members of the working poor their entire lives Yet despite their poverty he recalled a blue-and-white tin charity box in his kitchen into which his mother would put a few coins every week late on Friday afternoon before the start of the Jewish Sabbath His parents werenrsquot reli-giously observant but his mother would make a char-itable donation of some kind every week for even poorer Jews living in what is now Israel
I would have to describe my father as angry a lot of the time And Id also have to say that it would be hard to find someone more cynical about institutions and whole professions than my father He thought all doctors were to use his word quacks He thought all lawyers were again to use his word shy-sters He loathed politicians He was dubious about the esteem given to Jewish clergy and I cant believe he had any special regard for the clergy of any other faith He was part of the Greatest Generation and talked his way into World War II after he was rejected on medical grounds and spent most of the war in Europe including landing on Omaha Beach on D-Day Plus 1 And even so he was often dismissive of the thought and planning
of our own military leaders especially what he thought of as the cavalier misuse of troops
Despite his being a one-man protest machine he utterly hated protest move-ments and anything that smacked of them I could go on but I think you get the picture This was a man of complete cynicism seem-ingly trusting no one He made a hard honest living and lived a life with no frills and few vacations Meals out in restaurants were a very special event By any stan-dard by which we measure comfort or luxury my father and mother had few check marks in that imaginary list
But family history aside there was a reason Ive just told you all of this
After my father died in 2004 some many years after my mother and stepmother had both passed away it fell to me to go through his effects and to pack up his things I donrsquot know how many of you here have ever had that task It is a melan-choly one with many small items serving to remind you of moments in the rela-tionship In addition it can be a startling one learning things about your deceased parent and achingly wishing you could have them back for even a few moments to explain what something meant or to ask why they had never told you about some just discovered element of their lives
For me the startling element I discovered was how my father mdash the utter cynic mdash was mdash within his means mdash a philanthropist and donor of a scope that is still remarkable to me You see when I opened the bottom drawer of his dresser the entire drawer was filled with note pads and boxes of seasonal cards from dozens and dozens of charities My first thought standing in his empty bedroom was ldquoTo whom was he planning on writing so many notesrdquo When I opened the next drawer it was filled with per-sonalized mailing labels from dozens of charities mdash possi-bly the same charities I donrsquot know but possibly not mdash but I knew that if he ever got around to sending out all of those notes and cards he would never have to write his return address on any of those envelopes As I con-tinued the packing up in his bedroom kitchen closets and elsewhere I found other institutional gifts from other charities like tote bags mugs umbrellas and so on almost all of them still in their orig-inal packaging
When I cleaned out his small desk I found his checkbook and sat at his desk to go through his check register and other check reg-isters going back years and years There were payments made to credit card compa-nies and utilities and taxes but overwhelmingly the checks were made payable
to one charity after another The amounts mdash as you pro-fessionals would guess from the pads and the pre-printed mailing labels mdash were all small Most of them were for ten dollars some for twenty-five and in a nod to the Jewish mystical belief in the specialness of numbers that are multiples of eigh-teen he had written plenty of checks to Jewish organiza-tions and causes for eighteen and thirty-six dollars
Also remarkable was the range of organizations to which he donated As I mentioned he gave to a broad array of Jewish and pro-Israel organizations but he also gave to commu-nity groups environmental groups hunger organiza-tions veterans groups and health-related organizations including hospitals hospices and disease-focused causes He even gave to animal shelter organizations mdash and he had never had a pet of his own
So how could it be that this most utterly cynical man a man who watched his pennies his whole life could have been a small-scale Roth-schild and Rockefeller in the range and expansiveness of his giving Of course wersquoll never know for sure but in trying to develop an answer to this there are lessons for those of us in this room who care about the not-for-profit world whether profession-ally as communal activists or as donors
continued
16 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
The first two possibili-ties that come to mind that Id like to quickly dismiss are that my father liked the idea that he could get something of value for what may have seemed for free It is possible but my father was a very prac-tical man and at some point he must have realized that well into his 80s he had such an ample supply of holiday cards and return address labels that he would never be able to use up the inventory The other thought was that he simply liked getting mail and he knew how the system worked Send in a check and the one envelope becomes two or three or ten Send in one hundred checks and he had his weekends filled reading through all of the mail he had received during the past week That is possi-ble but my father also died with a significant backlog of unread magazines so Im going to rule that out too
The explanation Ive come up with is that my father may have been a cynic but that he wanted to believe He may have thought most every institution and public figure not worthy of being trusted but he may still have yearned to be able to trust that some others out there cared deeply about society and elements of it and that he wanted to be part of the efforts to make the world a proverbially better place He despised a lot of things gen-erally but seemed to like a lot of things specifically
And from that insight I think there is some very good news for many of you here today I know from Tom Harrison that you are all worried about the crummy economy that shows no sign of quickly returning to robust times And Tom has also shared with me a worry about the viability of the US Postal Service and its ability to offer reduced mailing rates for the fore-seeable future And Tom has also told me that my fatherrsquos generation is dying off and not being quickly replaced by a new demographic cohort that reads mail and sends in money Plus there are environmental ques-tions about harvesting trees for the mailings and some compelling proof that people respond less well to email solicitations than they did to requests delivered via their mail boxes But aside from all of those structural impediments my fatherrsquos behavior offers some very special opportunities for those charities and organi-zations able to reach out and speak personally to the next waves of donors
If my father was a skepti-cal cynical guy in the Ozzie and Harriet 1950s and 60s he was a full generation ahead of where people are today and Id like to take a minute or two to explain what I mean
People today are fright-ened angry cynical even often despairing The
overwhelming feeling is that few institutions are working well Our political system just isnrsquot garnering wide-spread support and in these unsettling times people want leaders and insti-tutions that can fix their problems No matter who wins the presidential elec-tion in November there is little widespread belief we will come together as a society to fix our problems It may happen but people donrsquot believe it And the poll numbers reflect this Pres-ident Obama mdash who came into office on a promise of hope and change and of transformation of our political culture and which initially yielded him an approval rating of 67 mdash has had an approval rating that has been below 50 since November 2009 and is now at 47 If the president has problems in garnering the publicrsquos trust that he can solve their problems Con-gress as an institution is doing far far worse with an approval rating of 23 The US Supreme Court enjoys an approval rating of only 35 These numbers for the president and for the legisla-tive and judicial branches of government actually under-state the problem The poll number of those who call themselves ldquofrustrated or angry with the federal gov-ernmentrdquo comes in at a frightening 79 President Obama may win re-elec-tion but it likely wont be a
unifying election We have a divided government at a polarized partisan moment of utterly different and con-tradictory views of how to solve the problems at hand Given the enormity of the problems mdash from the economy to the deficit to the debt to Iranrsquos nuclear program to the rise of radical Islamism to the rise of China and its likelihood to be a destabilizing force and many many more prob-lems mdash the likelihood our country will be dispirited and detached from politics is larger than it is smaller
Staying with our politi-cal system for just another moment we have another problem Because people are angry and have a near con-stant ldquothrow the bums outrdquo feeling about our elected offi-cials we are going through a period of uncommon insta-bility in our government institutions
Most people believe that incumbents come to office and tend to leave only when they die But it just isnrsquot true Whether because of the Tea Party or because of burn-out by elected officials the level of turnover in Washington is a big and growing problem In just the past five Congres-sional elections which is to say in the past ten years a remarkable 54 of the US Senate has been replaced If that number seems impos-sibly high for institutional stability in the House of Representatives the turnover
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 17
in that same period has been 68 Due to announced retirements and defeats in primaries we already know that in the coming Senate and House to be sworn in next January no fewer than 11 current Senators and 60 current Congressmen and Congresswomen will not be returning mdash and that assumes not a single incum-bent will lose in a single race in the remaining pri-maries and the General Election That means at least a 65 turnover in the US Senate and a more than 80 turnover in the House of Representatives in a mere 12-year period Think of your own organizations and what a turnover of that mag-nitude would mean to your ability to do your institu-tional job let alone having to grapple with many of the enormous challenges I mentioned a moment ago and many others I did not mention Thus the roiling public environment is more likely to stay roiled for some time to come than it is likely to return to some idealized period of harmony
Not to belabor the point but to also make sure that we understand that the problem of popular unease is broader than belief in our national government let me share just a few poll numbers to demonstrate my point Our confidence in hospitals and our doctors is now at 41 which is bad enough but HMOs are at 19 Public
schools have the confidence of only 29 of the people in our country Newspapers taken together have the con-fidence of just 25 of the American people But falling even lower than newspapers TV news comes in at 21 And labor unions banks and major corporations are all tied with the confidence of just one in five Ameri-cans at around 20 Even organized religion falls below the 50 mark at 44
Indeed the only three institutions regularly polled about by Gallup to be above the 50 mark are our police departments at 56 small business at 63 and our fighting men and women in the US military at 75 And finally in what many people believe is the most important general view of how people feel the Right Track Wrong Track poll Rasmussen reports 30 of Americans think our country is on the right track
and 64 believe our country is on the wrong track
In case you werenrsquot a statistics major in college let me boil all of these poll results down to just this one short statement and it is this My father was ahead of his time Just as my father didnrsquot trust or like just about any institution the American people now donrsquot much trust or like any institution with
the exception of police military and
small busi-ness In
nearly every other
case the institu-tion Ive mentioned is at or
near an all-time low since these Gallup Institutional Confidence polls began being conducted in 1973
But I think there is a second key learning from all of this bad news that is actu-ally very good news for some of you but definitely not all of you and that is this Just as my father had very low confidence in government and other mass institutions yet managed to turn himself
into a check-writing ma-chine for many many not-for-profits so too can your organization or your clients The not-so-profound insight is that even the most angry frustrated cynical skeptical misanthrope wants to believe It was true of mis-anthropes when Moliere wrote a play by that name in the 1660s It was true of my father And Id bet a dona-tion to any of your causes that it is true today even with a Right Track Wrong Track poll that has double the number of Wrong Trackers over Right Trackers People want to believe People want to love People know they wont live for forever and people want to see the world better both today in their lifetimes and tomor-row when it is their legacy This is true for mega donors who will be honored at fancy dinners in hotel ballrooms like this and for ten dollar donors who look forward to the return address labels you all will send to them
So with the crummy economy the dicey state of the Postal Service the demo-graphic hump working against low-dollar donors and all of the other problems direct marketers face my money is on the significant success of some of the orga-nizations that are here today Of course the structural challenges make it harder but is it harder today than it was in my grandmotherrsquos
vvvThe not-so-profound insight is that even
the most angry frustrated cynical skeptical
misanthrope wants to believehellipPeople know they
wont live for forever and people want to see the
world better both today in their lifetimes and
tomorrow when it is their legacy
vvv
continued
18 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
walk-up tenement apart-ment in which every Friday afternoon she found a way to donate to people she knew she would never meet who were living in a place she knew she would never see She believed in the enterprise afoot in what is today Israel a place on the other side of the world and she trusted that the coins in her little blue-and-white tin box would be used wisely and honorably All the same must have been true about my father and the many causes to which he wrote those checks And the same is true of millions and millions of people waiting to be touched and to form a connection with a cause larger than themselves a cause they can make their own in a way best thought of as an I-Thou relationship
For those of you unfa-miliar with the phrase I and Thou let me start by telling you it is a concept that changed my life It was coined by the philoso-pher and theologian Martin Buber Despite his being a theologian it is a concept that isnt inherently reli-gious even if it works well in every faith tradition and also works well in a purely secular context It works well for couples who have long been together and remark-ably it works well when soliciting gifts from near-strangers It is an approach to living a happy satisfying life So with that build up let
me tell you about I and Thou and about Martin Buber
Buber was born in Austria but moved to Germany in his teens to pursue his education In the 1920s he wrote his most famous work ldquoI and Thourdquo which although somewhat obscure today helped to establish his reputation as a leading German thinker of his time When the Nazis came to power in 1933 as a Jew he was prohibited from teaching at the uni-versity where he had been a professor and in 1938 just ahead of the start of the mass murder of 90 of Euro-pean Jewry Buber made his way to the British Mandate where he became a professor in Jerusalem When the State of Israel came into being in 1948 Buber was an esteemed philosopher revered by the young nation It is hard to imagine a philosopher having this kind of fame and impact but when he died in 1965 it was the lead news story of the day in Israel and a major story in The New York Times and other world newspapers
According to Buber there are two kinds of rela-tionships I-Thou and I-It The idea underpinning these concepts is best explained by examples as every single person in this room has experienced I-Thou and I-It relationships In an I-Thou relationship we are as one Your destiny is my destiny
even if only for a moment In the I-It relationship the parties are in a transac-tion I have turned the other party into an object to help me to achieve something that I want Indeed we all have I-Thou relationships and I-It relationships all the time mdash and we often have these disparate relationships within moments of each other and often with the very same person If this room were smaller and more inti-mate I could randomly call on anyone and have you give examples of I-Thou and I-It relationships in your own life But Ill use my own life as an example
I love my wife very much I am happy to come home at the end of the workday and to hear about her day and what is new and for her to hear about my day That is an I-Thou moment But while sitting with her my stomach starts to growl I become distracted Im not think-ing about her but about the dinner I know she has prepared Im hungry and want to eat She becomes an object a means to an end an I-It Wersquove all had that expe-rience or one like it
But just because Im getting something I want from her mdash or from anyone mdash doesnrsquot mean it has to be an I-It moment In that exact same scenario it could just as well have been an I-Thou moment by a change in my behavior even
with the same outcome that dinner will be served and my hunger abated Instead of single-mindedly think-ing about food in its place I could have interrupted the conversation to tell her that Im hungry I could have offered to set the table while we keep talking And most importantly I could keep reminding myself that she has spent time and trouble thinking about dinner and preparing it and that I have no entitlement to her having done this and how fortunate I am that she has If I do all of that it is more likely we will have an I-Thou relationship that evening than a transac-tional I-It one
Even with people we love I-Thoursquos and I-Itrsquos flit back and forth across some imaginary spectrum with engagement and other-directedness on one side and selfishness and self-direct-edness on the other We all have instincts for both sides of that spectrum and the challenge is to take the harder path the path where we direct the moment away from ourselves and our selfish wants and needs to that of the person present before us and our shared experience
As I indicated earlier this isnrsquot just true of deep long-lasting relationships It can be true of the waiter who serves you dinner the bellman who helps you with your bags even with a
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 19
passing stranger on a line to get into somewhere Every encounter has the oppor-tunity to be an I-Thou or an I-It and the challenge is for each of us to constantly remind ourselves of the humanity of the person with whom we engage
I and Thou isnrsquot just for people It is also true of believing peoplersquos relation-ship with God and also true of organizations and how they relate to people In my experience Ive found it even true of inanimate objects even if that may take it beyond Buberrsquos own con-ception So how do Martin Buber and his I and Thou relate to you all as direct mar-keters and as fundraisers for your worthy organizations
Everyone knows when they are in an I and Thou moment You feel the link and the joy that comes from the link But people also know when they are being used as a means to an end
when they are the ldquoItrdquo in an I-It relationship People may give you what you want when they are in an I-It rela-tionship with you and you may give your counter-party what they seek too but we all know that feeling of sadness or emptiness within when someone you are with mdash a co-worker a boss a spouse a child even a clerk on the phone at a call center mdash treats you as an object to get some-thing achieved and not as an opportunity to feel your humanity and for you to feel theirs even if for a fleeting moment
And the same Ill say is true about the relationship between a potential donor and your organization Those organizations that stand for somethinghellip Those organizations that donrsquot treat their donors as objects like walking checkbookshellip Those organizations that take the time to engage with their prospects Indeed
those organizations that donrsquot even necessarily start by asking for something it is those organizations who I believe will find a wide universe of people eager to believe and eager to be part of the organizationrsquos mission An I-Thou relation-ship doesnrsquot mean we never ask the other party for some-thing It is about how and when we ask Just as we will have a different outcome with our spouses children and co-workers when we are building off of an I-Thou relationship rather than an I-It so too will we have a different outcome when we approach our donors as part-ners as people we care about exactly as much whether they donate or not It is from that soulful relationship that donors will want to support one organization over an-other and one cause over another no matter how angry or frustrated or cynical they are about the larger world
around them That is how I believe the next genera-tion of donors will come to support many but not all of our organizations
When my father died I had the Postal Service forward his mail to my home address In the nearly eight years since his passing Ive received hundreds of mail-ings maybe more I often open the solicitations to try to get a feel for the kinds of causes and organizations my father would have been spending his time learning about and possibly support-ing So while some recipients of your mailings may think of your output as junk mail I couldnrsquot be more apprecia-tive Each envelope serves to remind me that the cynical side of my father was only a side and that when properly touched even a hard man could respond
Thank you all very much for your attention n
copy 2012 Seth M Siegel Reproduction with authorrsquos consent only All rights reserved
Looking for an agency or supplier to help your organization reachnew heights
Access the DMANFrsquos Directory of Service providers
nonprofitfederationorgcorporate-partnerssearch
20 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Nonprofit organizations face unique marketing chal-lenges Theyrsquore tasked with identifying and reaching the right people at the right time and through
the appropriate channels as well as balancing message appeals with monetary requests all while conveying their mission and cause The rapid expansion of the internet social networking and mobile have placed yet another demand front-and-center for nonprofit organizations mdash con-sumer privacy
Consumers are justly concerned about divulging their personal information They want to know where why and how their information will be used Many are unaware that their personal information is collected in a variety of ways and by a variety of sources both online and offline Common but often misunderstood data practices include third-party ad servers setting cookies retail stores matching names and addresses with phone numbers and marketers sharing customer lists
In todayrsquos complex marketplace how can nonprofit organizations demonstrate to their supporters donors and prospects that they share their concerns and are commit-ted to protecting their privacy The first and most important step is to create a clear privacy policy and communicate it effectively
the Privacy PolicyIf your organization collects uses and or stores personal donor information a privacy policy is critical You must display your privacy policy on your website and strictly abide by it
Privacy policies are structured around Notice and Choice principles They should provide supporters with notice of
how their data is collected used and shared as well as their choices to limit or prevent such practices Your privacy policy should also include information to maintain trans-parency and that clearly describes your organizationrsquos data security practices
Key points every privacy policy should address include
The types of personal information your organization collects This may include name address telephone number email address and credit card or other payment information
How information is secured
How personal information is used and with whom it is shared
How supporters can control the use of their data
How the privacy policy is updated and the effective date of the policy
Letrsquos take a more detailed look at the elements of a privacy policy from a nonprofit organizationrsquos perspective
Collecting personal InformationAs mentioned personal information may include data ele-ments such as name address telephone number email address and payment information It can also include more sensitive information such as gender race religious or politi-cal beliefs health information or other characteristics
The types of personal information collected and the length of retention may be used to enhance your marketing
Consumer PrivacyA Guide for Nonprofit Marketers
Bethany Lewis Privacy Analyst Epsilon
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 21
objectives by creating detailed profiles of supporters but what if that dataprofile was accessed without appropriate permis-sions or used by other organizations for purposes beyond the original intent Inappropriate generalizations might be made about supporters regardless of who has the data and the risk for reputational and other damage increases if that type of data is compromised
For example if a supporter donates to an organization that supports research of a genetic disorder should they be identified as a patient of or at risk for that same disorder Perhaps theyrsquore simply a caretaker for someone suffer-ing from that disorder Similarly if a supporter donates to a religious-based organization could assumptions around political leanings be attributed to them
Protecting information about charitable contributions is critical as is informing supporters how that information will be used which brings us to data security and the sharing of personal information
protecting personal InformationToday every organization is vulnerable when it comes to data security Protecting the personal information of supporters is essential The first line of protection is collecting only the necessary data
While creating supporter profiles evaluate the risks of storing ldquounnecessaryrdquo data especially if an incident exposes the data Set internal policies for how long each category of data collected will be retained and be diligent in deletingdestroying data in a safe and thorough manner based on those policies
Whenever possible encrypt personal data maintained electronically and enhance security on laptops and mobile devices from which supporter data is accessed
Sharing personal InformationBe very clear in your privacy policy when providing infor-mation on the types of third-parties with whom your organization shares data If you share information with third-party service providers disclose this fact and provide a categorized list of these organizations Such organizations may include credit card processors shipping vendors mar-keting analysts or consultants and fulfillment houses
If you share information with other nonprofit organi-zations disclose these practices Also disclose if you share information with marketing cooperatives whose databases are not exclusively nonprofit
Protecting
information
about
charitable
contributions
is critical
continued
22 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
providing ChoiceStudies have shown that modern consumers are more com-fortable sharing personal information with organizations that are clear and upfront about how their information is used and with whom it is shared In fact most people respond positively to organizations who transparently disclose data sharing practices and provide a clear and convenient oppor-tunity to opt-out While a small percentage of individuals will choose to opt-out of data sharing very few supporters will opt-out of all contact with an organization Therefore providing an opportunity to opt-out of sharing data for mar-keting purposes as well as an opt-out for receiving further requests from your organization will aid in retaining your most loyal supporters
Updating the privacy policyClearly state the effective date of your current privacy policy and update it when you make any material changes If you do make material changes to your privacy policy with ret-roactive application to the data you already have stored you may need to obtain express consent from individuals to use their information for new or different purposes Some organizations choose to list what changes were made in a summary history which may be helpful to a supporter reviewing the policy
Pulling It All togetherYour privacy policy should be easy to find read understand and act upon (ie opt-out or modify preferences) It should also be present in each commercial solicitation where per-sonal information is collected regardless of whether that is through postal mailings or on your website
Additional information regarding Notice Choice Trans-parency and other important privacy principles can be found on the DMA website in the Commitment to Consumer Choice and the DMA Guidelines for Ethical Business Practice
At Epsilon we use the following checklist when evaluating a privacy policy
The website has a privacy policy
There is a link to the privacy policy from the websitersquos home page and the link contains the word ldquoprivacyrdquo
The privacy policy states that the organization shares consumer data and personal information (including name address email address and transaction informa-tion) with third-party service providers
The privacy policy states that the organization shares consumer data and personal information with other marketers for their own marketing purposes
The privacy policy provides consumers the chance to opt-out of having their information shared with other marketers
The privacy policy has an ldquoeffectiverdquo date
As mentioned in situations where data is shared with other organizations and marketers transparency is the key Below is sample disclosure language
The personally identifiable information that you provide to us
(such as your name address and email address) and information
about your contribution may be combined with other non-person-
ally identifiable information (such as demographic information and
past contribution history) available from our records and other
sources This information will be used to make our future market-
ing efforts more efficient and relevant This information may also
be shared with our third-party service providers that assist us
with our marketing efforts and with other marketers whose prod-
ucts or services we feel may be of interest to you If you prefer
that we do not share your name and address with other market-
ers please email us at optoutyourorganizationorg
Beyond the Privacy PolicyIn addition to having a robust privacy policy written in concise language and that is easily accessible here are a few other best practices to secure the privacy of your sup-portersrsquo information
Ensure agreements with third-parties who may have access to supportersrsquo personal information adequately address privacy and data security
Suppress personal information in your database when a supporter requests it and do so within a reasonable timeframe
If you must store sensitive information such as credit card or social security numbers as part of your data-base encrypt this information
Train employees and volunteers regularly on the importance of maintaining privacy and security
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 23
Nonprofit Careers e-Bulletin
Your Multi-ChannelRecruiting Tool
Become familiar with data breach notification require-ments and have a response plan and team in place Should you experience a breach disclose to all appro-priate and necessary parties
Monitor the use of your data and address any enti-ties when you become aware that data is being used in a way that violates the law contractual requirements andor the DMArsquos Ethical Guidelines
Respecting and promoting consumer privacy requires a commitment to maintaining balance between the legitimate business needs of your organization and the concerns of individuals about fair information practices Start by taking a look at your current privacy policy Assure its accuracy and adhere to its strategy n
Bethany Lewis As a Privacy Analyst Bethany Lewis supports and educates associates and clients on privacy compliance matters She brings an extensive background in regulatory compliance corporate ethics education and training to her work at Epsilon
ldquoThe recruitment Tool for the Nonprofit Communityrdquo is your source for top flight exposure to top flight candidates and the best A b amp C-level career opportunities out there
Distributed every Tuesday 8 am ET via raquo Email raquo post at wwwnonprofitfederationorg raquo Facebook mdash DMA Nonprofit Federation raquo Twitter mdash DMANF and AliozDC
To view ad submission requirements visit the ldquoFind a Jobrdquo area of the DMA Nonprofit Federation homepage wwwnonprofitfederationorg and click on ldquoHow to postrdquo Ads must be emailed to Aosgoodthe-dmaorg please make sure any ad you submit meets our specifications
Is your nonprofit organization already a dual member of the DMA and DMANF If the answer is lsquoyesrsquo itrsquos FrEE mdash so why not post
Join the over 8000 professionals who already subscribe
Sign up today nonprofitfederationorgpublications careers-e-bulletinsubscribe
DMA Guidelines for Ethical Business Practice
dmaresponsibilityorgGuidelines
24 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Each week I see non-profit organizations walking away from
mobile thinking that com-municating and fundraising with their constituents through the single most used electronic device in history is optional Con-versely we see more and more retailers embracing mobile and the omnichan-nel marketing model because the results are tre-mendous We at mGive think nonprofits benefit when they embrace similar tools and methodologies
What is an omnichan-nel approach and why is it important to non-profit organizations An omnichannel approach is an integrated marketing strat-egy that creates a seamless experience for the donor
It is a customer-centric approach that elevates your supporter loyalty strategies by leveraging cross-channel opportunities For example when a donor drops off goods at their local Epilepsy Foundation they receive a paper receipt to complete Normally once they leave your location you lose any hope of communicating with them again Imagine if when the donor dropped off their goods you offered to send the donor an email version of their receipt You now have a way to engage the supporter through email Now suppose your email receipt offered a web link that drove them to a form to opt-in to your mobile community in order to receive updates via text
Once they opt-in you then have a way to send updates volunteer requests dona-tion reminders and more You may also leverage the fact they are on the mobile phone and send text mes-sages asking supporters to post a photo to Facebook making a donation Having this omnichannel strat-egy in place is especially critical at the end of year because it is an opportune time for organizations to increase membership and raise dollars
So how does an organization create an omnichannel approach that leverages direct mail email online social media live events and mobile to achieve their goals It may be difficult for some orga-nizations to make the
operational shift to an omnichannel model but that doesnrsquot mean you can afford to ignore it Not sure you can get all the steps in place by the time you launch your end of year activities Mobile is the bridge that can help to start that process In fact more and more organizations are relying on their mobile strategy to bridge the gap and engage supporters in this multi-screen world because mobile is the ldquogreat centralizerrdquo of activities ndash where else can you make calls browse the web check email respond to text mes-sages post to social media and more in a truly porta-ble fashion
Before we move on to the tactics that an organiza-tion can take to incorporate
Mobile
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 25
mobile into their existing multi-channel strategies we must tackle one issue If your organization has tried mobile or an omnichan-nel approach in the past and were disappointed or frustrated with your expe-rience try again You were one of the pioneering orga-nizations that comprise the early adopters of those models Lessons learned over the past few years have evolved into success-ful best practices mdash and you get the opportunity to benefit from them As we like to say in honor of the wise Master Yoda ldquoTry not Do or do not There is no tryrdquo We guarantee if imple-mented correctly using mobile in an omnichannel approach can work for your organization
1 Communicate and Integrate mdash Walk Across the Mobile Bridge
Many organizations that I work with have voiced cross-departmental integra-tion as a challenge That is understandable because tra-ditionally departments or channels have been siloed from one another But this disenfranchised model does not result in the seam-less experience that donors are coming to expect In order for a donor experi-ence to be seamless direct mail must complement the organizationrsquos website the organizationrsquos website must complement the mobile campaign social media must complement direct mail and so forth and so on When used together
the communication chan-nels can result in more effective campaigns and bigger numbers
When an organization decides to develop a mobile strategy generally it is one department within that organization that is initially interested That department is a hero because they have just launched a toolset that can be used throughout the organization If you have a mobile program in place for fundraising itrsquos time to talk with your program services department mem-bership team and corporate partner folks and get them in the loop so that you can maximize the omnichannel approach Mobile can be a great catalyst for initiating conversation and guiding organizational integration
Mobile is also a great way to increase the effec-tiveness of existing channels By integrating your direct mail newslet-ter social media online and mobile efforts you can increase response and open rates We have found that if you send a text message to your membership remind-ing them to check their email inboxes you can increase email open rates by 10 or more Addition-ally if you include a mobile number field on your email and paper member-ship forms you can quickly build a mobile community that can turn into repeat donors Once again the most important element besides the actual cross
the Bridge to an omnichannel Approach in time for Year-End Campaigns
continued
Jenifer Snyder Esq Executive Director The mGive Foundation and Cassie Bair Vice President of Marketing Mobile Accord
26 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
channel promotion goes back to this concept of the omnichannel Make the message consistent across all channels They donrsquot have to be identical but they should complement each other and work to create an echo effect
Just about every one of your donors will experience your organization through their mobile device at some point mdash so make sure your message is clear consistent convenient and actionable through mobile in some capacity
2 test Review Adjust Implement Review Adjust mdash and Repeat
Once you have an inte-grated strategy in place itrsquos time to implement Whether the goal is to acquire new donors reactivate lapsed donors and drive donations from existing donors mdash or all three mdash test your cam-paign Take time to review the results and adjust accordingly Then imple-ment full scale confident you are on the right path Regularly review your results adjust your activities and repeat as needed
In preparation for end of year activities take the time in the Fall to tweak your marketing engine for optimal performance Do some zero based plan-ning and try to approach
the supporter experience as if you are the supporter Spend time on every avenue where you can wisely create a seamless experience
Everyone in philan-thropy knows that the majority of all charitable donations are made in the last 2 months of the year Additionally member-ship increases substantially during the last quarter of the year Spend time now identifying opportunities strategies and tactics that work best for you mdash and consider how mobile can be a centralizing point for many of these activities
3 Apply the Winning Methodologies to Your End of Year Appeals
Yoursquove tested tweaked and determined what works best for you Now inte-grate what yoursquove learned into your end of year cam-paigns Determine how your campaign follows stan-dard best practices for end of year appeals and where mobile can help drive that engagement across multiple mediums
Common best practices for end of year campaigns that can include mobile
A Sending multiple asks the final week of the year mdash Make sure text messages are a part of that effort Whether itrsquos a simple call-to-action to text
a donation drives people to a pledge page or some-thing all-together different mobile can help ramp up that seamless experience
B the Art of the ldquothank Yourdquo mdash Thank your sup-porters Use mobile to message supporters your appreciation when they take action through text or drive them to a webpage with a video with a celeb-rity spokesperson giving a thank you message But make sure they know repeatedly that what they do for your cause matters And keep in mind mobile can drive to a strong ldquothank yourdquo experience
C Share Ask Listen mdash Take the opportunity to tell a story ask for feed-back and listen to what your organization is being told Not sure how to do that in mobile Share a link to a news article through text Ask for feedback through social media And listen to what is being said while distilling insights from how supporters respond in order to strengthen your omnichannel approach
4 Continue into 2013 mdash You are set for success
As donors enter the New Year self-improve-ment will often include a
commitment to be a better person volunteer more donate more funds etc Use mobile as a data col-lection tool to help your donors achieve their goal Give them the opportunity to commit to goals pertain-ing to your cause and then become their coach Send monthly reminders of their commitment and words of encouragement Remind them about appointments invite them to share their experience and overall let the donor feel the effect of their selfless promise through all of their activi-ties while using mobile to centralize that community and to drive people to action
We now live in a world where the average person at any given moment is looking at two or more screens It is critical that nonprofit organizations embrace the multi-screen world and adopt the omnichannel or fully integrated model When you create a seam-less giving experience for the everyday philanthropist you will be amazed at the results Walking away from a mobile strategy today is like walking away from the internet in the early 2000s
Mobile is here to stay and it is not an elective component to your orga-nizationrsquos fundraising and engagement strategy Itrsquos an essential part of a successful omnichannel strategy for your end of year activities n
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 27
Jenifer Snyder Esq Executive Director The mGive Foundation
As Executive Director of The mGive Foun-dation Jenifer is dedicated to expanding the scope and reach of the mobile channel for social good She brings years of lead-ership experience in the mobile industry to the position Previously Jenifer was a founder and General Counsel for 9 Squared Inc a mobile content and ser-vices company subsequently acquired by the Zed Group She left Zed in 2007 and started building the mobile channel for social and charitable efforts and later formed The mGive Foundation
Cassie bair Vice president of Marketing Mobile Accord
As Vice President of Marketing for Mobile Accord Cassie is dedicated to educat-ing and empowering nonprofits regarding the power of mobile She combines years of marketing experience in the nonprofit industry with the exciting evolution of the mobile channel for social good Cassie has worked with organizations such as the American Heart Association American Institute of Architects and the American Society of Echocardiography developing integrated and cause marketing cam-paigns and uses that knowledge today with clients to help them maximize their mobile strategy
Name
OrganizationCompany
Address
City State Zip Code
Charge my m Visa m MasterCard m AmEx m Discover
Card Number Expiration Date
Signature
raquo FAX form to 2026284383 (do not email credit card information)
raquo MAIL form to Alicia Osgood Director Membership amp Communications DMA Nonprofit Federation 1615 L Street NW Suite 1100 Washington DC 20036
raquo MAKE ChECKS payable to the DMA Nonprofit Federation
raquo DMA Nonprofit Federation Federal Tax ID Number 13-1810859
News and cutting-edge professional development tips
SUBSCRIBEto the Journal today1year =3 issues
ONLY $35Published digitally in January Apriland September the Journal brings together nonprofit leaders to deliver a standout publication packed with content you can really use
No cost to members
28 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Consumer technology evolves so quickly that nonprof-its are constantly racing to get their organizations using the latest technologies and mediums In fact many of these innovations have had significant impact on the fundrais-ing community While online CRM systems for example spawned database segmentation capabilities the opportu-nity ndash and challenge ndash arose for fundraising professionals to target appeals precisely to donorsrsquo specific interests Lately the emergence and rapid popularity of technologies such as smartphones and social media have forced nonprofits to not only create a presence but essentially compete for shrinking donor funds using these vehicles
The primary focus of nonprofit technology however tends to be inward creating a presence in a particular social media community or simply using the technology on behalf of the organization Examples of this include a nonprofitrsquos Facebook page and Twitter account and mobile-friendly
web sites In todayrsquos competitive fundraising environment though itrsquos not enough for nonprofits to simply use the latest technology Successful fundraisers understand that a nonprofitrsquos relationship with technology needs to take one step beyond itself to focus outward how do your sup-porters and donors want to use technology on behalf of your organization
Donors have technology preferences and habits too While itrsquos great for organizations to have a Facebook page for sup-porters to ldquolikerdquo that offers news and updates for example this doesnrsquot offer an opportunity for donors to appeal to their friends and family on behalf of your nonprofit mdash and certainly doesnrsquot raise money As nonprofits have learned to quickly adapt to changing technology and social media standards the time has come for organizations to evolve the technology they offer to provide donors supporters and par-ticipants with a personalized fundraising experience
Get Personal Providing Supporters with Personalized Fundraising Experiences
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 29
Personalization Means EngagementAt a fundamental level donor personalization in fun-
draising emerged from some of the first online nonprofit fundraising systems Offering supporters the opportunity to send personalized fundraising emails to their friends and family was revolutionary in its time mdash as was offering custom individual and team fundraising web pages
While these technology offerings revolutionized event fundraising donors have become increasingly savvy in the way they interact online mdash and developed strong preferences and dislikes in the types of technology they use They want the technology they know and like to be at their fingertips and are more likely to fundraise and successfully so for your nonprofit if itrsquos made easy and accessible for them
Back to Basics mdash But BetterNonprofits have been so consumed by social media that
they often forget this simple fact participants who use online tools raise six times more than non-users according to Blackbaud In addition 25 percent of the fundraising emails supporters send to their friends result in a donation With the average online gift being $60 nonprofits have motiva-tion not to forget about the basics of online fundraising But in the age of increasing competition for donations nonprof-its that offer a more personalized fundraising experience to supporters may see better results
What does it mean to offer a personalized fundrais-ing experience For online fundraising pages it can mean offering them the opportunity to post pictures videos story content and individual fundraising status updates But itrsquos essentially the personalization options offered behind the scenes mdash in the personal ldquoHeadquartersrdquo page within an online fundraising system mdash that can really maximize fun-draising results
Savvy nonprofits are offering a multitude of ways within their online fundraising systems for supporters to choose to reach out to friends and family Offering more than the email capabilities found standard with most fundraising plat-forms some nonprofits are starting to provide supporters more options in their personal participant ldquoheadquartersrdquo pages to engage those in their network mdash all with the click of a button Opportunities for supporters to personalize their experience could include options to
Send a Facebook message
Tweet their fundraising page
Update their Facebook status
Send a quick email
In addition statistics about their personal fundraising process could tell them
Total emails sent
Visits to their personal fundraising pages
Number of donations
Number of registrations
Average amount raised per email sent
Number of additional emails needed to reach fundraising goal
And because no one participant is the same these per-sonalization options allow the supporter to interact and engage their network on behalf of the nonprofit in ways that are meaningful and comfortable to them
Beyond the Facebook PageThe nonprofit community has taken Facebook by storm as an avenue to engage supporters and attract donors But itrsquos important to look beyond how supporters want to interact with your nonprofit and understand how they want to in-teract with their social network Itrsquos within this framework that supporters choose mdash or choose not mdash to engage their network on your organizationrsquos behalf
So make it easy for them provide them with a variety of ways to use several social media tools to reach out and fund-raise for your nonprofit Let them decide how they fundraise With 845 million monthly active users and 100 billion con-nections Facebook for example provides an excellent platform for nonprofits mdash and their fundraisers mdash to expand fundraising reach In fact Blackbaudrsquos web site states that social media users raise 40 more than non-users But most
continued
John Murphy PresidentCEo and Founder Zuri Group
30 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
organizations make the mistake of relying on participants to send their own appeals and updates or worse provide cum-bersome tools that require multiple logins and steps
Some enthusiastic fundraisers will thrive in this envi-ronment Others wonrsquot Since each supporter is unique itrsquos important to provide several varying opportunities and options so that a personalized fundraising experience can be forged For many fundraisers asking for donations isnrsquot easy All participants want to raise money but many donrsquot feel comfortable asking outside of close friends and family Other fundraisers donrsquot have the time or creativity to regu-larly develop and update personalized Facebook messages Use technology to help overcome these challenges by creat-ing easy ways for them to raise more money using Facebook
To take the effort out of Facebook fundraising remove the discomfort of a direct ldquoaskrdquo and save fundraisers time some nonprofits are offering supporters the option for fun-draising updates that automatically post on their Facebook wall at pre-determined intervals throughout the fundraising season For the right supporter this option removes the dis-comfort of approaching potential donors with a direct ldquoaskrdquo while significantly expanding their fundraising reach
Mobilizing the troopsAccording to a 2011 study consumers spend more time
on mobile applications than on the web In addition Ameri-cans spend 27 hours per day on average socializing on their mobile phones Nonprofits have been hard at work to lever-age the trend toward mobile by creating mobile-friendly web sites and even apps to further engage supporters But what about the mobile interaction that takes place between sup-porters and their friends The key is for nonprofits to make it accessible and easy for fundraisers to use their everyday technologies and devices to fundraise within their own networks By providing fundraising options that enable sup-porters to simply use something they already use such as a smartphone to connect with people they already interact with fundraising becomes a more natural and personalized part of the supporterrsquos day
To provide a more personalized and convenient fun-draising experience some nonprofits are offering mobile fundraising apps that enable supporters to not only use their smartphones to fundraise but to fundraise using multiple technologies within the smartphone mdash such as email text Twitter Facebook and even FaceTime for iPhone users As a result supporters can fundraise for the organization from their homes the train while walking the dog mdash anytime they have their phone
By empowering supporters to personalize their fundrais-ing experience nonprofits that provide mobile fundraising apps help their fundraisers help them These organizations are meeting the needs of on-the-go fundraising participants so they can focus on spreading awareness soliciting dona-tions and thanking donors mdash on their time on their terms In fact itrsquos been reported that fundraising participants using mobile fundraising applications raise 200 more than other participants and bring in 300 more gifts by count that other participants
In addition some mobile fundraising apps are provid-ing further personalization by bringing some of the same features of the personalized online ldquoheadquartersrdquo to the smartphone such as fundraising thermometers and adding donors into their phone address book Pre-written fundrais-ing messages developed specifically for various mediums such as texts Twitter updates and emails can be used Editing personal fundraising pages from the smartphone is likely the next option nonprofits will start offering
the Personalization ChallengeAs nonprofits compete in the race to adopt new technolo-
gies and social media itrsquos important to take a step back and consider your supportersrsquo relationship with those channels Many nonprofits have a Facebook page or group but how are your fundraisers using Facebook Are you making it easy for them to advocate or fundraise for your organization If much of your donor base uses text messaging have you pro-vided easy access and tools for them to text their network on your behalf
Supporters want and frankly need a personalized online experience with your organization Go beyond the bounds of your interactive relationship and consider what would enable your supporter base to have a more personalized fundrais-ing experience mdash and then put those tools at their fingertips They and their network mdash will thank you n
John Murphy is the PresidentCEO and Founder of Zuri Group Zuri Group provides nonprofits with custom technology solutions to meet critical organizational needs such as fundraising using their existing platform For more info visit zurigroupcom
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 31Non-Profit_FullPageAd_OLindd 1 91312 417 PM
32 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
9 Centennial Drive
Peabody MA 01960-7906
Tel 8003707500
wwwamergentcom
c a l l j a c k d o y l e
8 0 0 3 7 0 7 5 0 0
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at friendsamergentcomifund or scan qr code
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 33
Looking to Affordably Grow Your Donor Fileand Increase Contributions
We Can HelpWiland Direct is the nationrsquos 1 transactional database for fundraisers
Using our vast transactional data and powerful models Wiland Direct helps fundraisers to
bull Affordably acquire new donors bull Maximize contributions from existing donors bull Reactivate former donorsbull Identify the most likely activists and volunteersbull Convert inquirers petition signers and other ldquowarm leadsrdquo into donors
To learn more please contact John Spencer at 9703106378 or via email at jspencerwilanddirectcom
3034858686 wwwWilandDirectcomCopyright 2012 Wiland Direct All rights reserved
ldquoThe Wiland Direct database has been a solid performer for LLS with higher average gifts and lower cost per dollar raised than most Itrsquos opened up a new acquisition universe particularly important for a mature program Wersquore very pleased with the results and team support from Wilandrdquomdash Bruny Lynch The Leukemia amp Lymphoma Society
34 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
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Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 35
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36 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
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Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 37
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38 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
1
2
3
A
B
C
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 9
Pity the poor newsletterIf there is one component of nonprofit fundraising pro-
grams that is consistently overlooked and undervalued itrsquos the newsletter
Like the late comedian Rodney Dangerfield newsletters ldquodonrsquot get no respectrdquo
All too often the newsletter is just an afterthought Newsletters are not expected to raise a lot of money and all too often they meet those low expectations
Over the years Irsquove seen a lot of different kinds of news-letters from nonprofit organizations Therersquos the No-Ask Newsletter that simply reports accomplishments This type doesnrsquot raise money because it doesnrsquot even try
The No-Ask Newsletter may be of some long-term value by closing the loop with the donor But most of the time this species talks about what the organization has accomplished and how effective it is This information may reinforce pre-vious giving but the No-Ask Newsletter does not motivate immediate new donations
Other newsletters are nothing more than fundraising appeals thinly disguised in newsletter clothing In my expe-rience this type of hard-Ask Newsletter does raise some revenue but in most cases not as effectively as straightfor-ward appeals
Another variety is the institutionally focused Navel-Gazing Newsletter written for insiders
Without the accountability that comes from revenue expectations newsletter strategy becomes fuzzy This leads to one of the worst dangers the loss of audience focus
It is very common for newsletters to attempt to serve many different masters These All-things-to-All-People Newsletters are created for several different audiences in addition to donors For example some organizations use their newsletter to communicate with donors volunteers employees board members and even the general public This desire to be all things to all audiences makes it difficult to effectively focus on any single audience
When the newsletter devolves to this point it usually doesnrsquot make anyone happy and slides into irrelevancy
In recent years my colleagues and I have resolved to do something about this sorry state of the newsletter We started by attacking the problem at the root We decided to reverse the diffused audience focus and create newsletters with an obsessive laser-like focus on donors
The result is the Extreme Donor-Focused Newslet-ter It is aimed squarely at the donor In fact it is all about the donor
This approach assumes donors give because they love to give and love to make a significant difference in the world It combines reporting back about what the donors have accomplished and offers them a clear opportunity to give again
We had considerable inspiration to draw on Back in the 1990s and early 2000s I worked at a feisty little Seattle agency called The Domain Group that preached donor loyalty and started making newsletters raise money In fact in some cases newsletters made more money than appeals
Domain was the subject of an acquisition and is long gone now but that experience lives on today to give hope that newsletters can be better My former Domain col-league Jeff Brooks who writes the blog Future Fundraising Now is a strong advocate for donor focus Long-time fun-draiser and blogger Tom Ahern has also written brilliantly on this topic
The accumulated experience gave me the confidence that it was really possible to build a better newsletter and the inspiration to keep tinkering I wanted to shake off the curse of Rodney Dangerfield once and for all
Then the perfect opportunity to test these theories fell into my lap One of my current clients asked us to test against an internally produced newsletter
This was one of those test situations you dream about Head-to-head A-B panels set up for a statistically valid test and spread over 3 different newsletter mail slots
The internal newsletter was a classic blend of the All-things-to-All-People and the Navel-Gazing News-letters It was aimed at a wide variety of constituents and contained a lot of organizationally focused stories It did ask for donations but not consistently
The results of the test were gratifying with the Extreme Donor-Focused Newsletter showing dramatic improve-ment across the board
419 lift in response 195 lift in average gift 521 lift in revenue
continued
10 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
1 Write to the donor for the donor about the donor This is not objective arms-length journalism This is not the organization talking about itself to organization insiders This is a warm conversation with the donor about the things he or she is most interested in The main point of the newsletter is to share what the donorrsquos giving has done Itrsquos all about him or her
2 Ensure a high ldquoyourdquo quotient The copy is written directly to the donor using the second person singular The most frequent word in the copy and headlines should be ldquoyourdquo Take the time to count the number of times you use ldquoyourdquo and ldquoyourrdquo If you donrsquot have enough rewrite the copy to make sure you have not lost your donor focus
3 touch the heart with strong emotion The newsletter needs to stir the donorrsquos heart Make the donor feel something Tell stories of amazing accomplishment that the donorrsquos generosity helped make possible Use vivid language with strong active verbs and concrete nouns Dramatic emotional photos are worth their weight in gold As Ahern says ldquoA newsletter might be more welcome than an appeal It can bring joy It can bring fun It can take the reader on a journeyrdquo
4 Surprise and delight This is a ldquonewsletterrdquo so it needs to have something new in it Tell the donor something fascinating that he or she does not already know The initial reaction of the donor upon first glance should be a big smile because his or her giving has made something wonderful happen One of the pitfalls of newsletter publishing is falling into a rut One of my favorite fun-draising aphorisms is ldquoYou canrsquot bore anybody into givingrdquo But millions of really boring newsletters are mailed each year Irsquove often seen a great jump in performance of a newsletter immediately after it is given an overhaul and a fresh design But within just a few months performance tends to slip and fall back to the previously level Keeping the newsletter fresh does not mean that you must start from scratch each month Establishing a basic design template for your newsletter is mandatory This not only helps with efficiency but also maintains brand consistency But we also demand that every newsletter be fresh and delightful You can keep it fresh with fresh content Great photos help But you can also mix up the look through the use of color Make sure your brand has a full palette of secondary colors and use them
We followed some simple principles as we created those winning newsletters You can put them into practice with your own designs
TEN prINCIpAlS To CrEATE yoUr owN
extreme donor-focused newsletter
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 11
Bob Ball is the Executive Creative Director of Masterworks He has been trying not to bore donors since 1993
5 Appreciate the donor One of the major themes of the newsletter needs to be how important the donor is ldquoLook at what you have accomplished With your help we can do all this Without your help we will not be able to do itrdquo Look for ways to use the words ldquoThank yourdquo over and over again Itrsquos almost impossible to over-thank donors (And remember this is not merely a report back about what the organization was able to accomplish This is all about what the donor has accomplished through their generosity Whenever you have the opportunity to influence the gathering of photo resource have beneficiaries hold up signs that say ldquoThank Yourdquo That is the most powerful and direct way to close the loop between the donor and the people who are actually being helped
6 Design for readability Remove all unnecessary barriers to readability and com-prehension Use a large readable serif font for body copy Readability studies have shown that serif fonts are superior to sans serif fonts for body copy on the printed page A lot of designers love sans serif fonts because of their clean look and because they are trendy but this is not a matter of taste If you want your body copy to be read and comprehended use a nice serif font All body copy should pass the ldquodollar billrdquo test (You should not be able to lay a dollar bill on any expanse of body copy without touching a headline photo or subhead) No large blocks of reversed out type No busy backgrounds behind copy Make the layout ldquoscannablerdquo with large photos headlines subheads and pull-quotes
7 Motivate another gift Donors love to give and you should not be ashamed to ask them to give again While most of the newsletter space is devoted to thanks and apprecia-tion the newsletter needs to give the donor a way to repeat their charitable behavior This means making a clearly stated offer that donors have supported in the past
8 Make it convenient to give The newsletter should include a response device and a return envelope If online giving is possible the URL for the giving page should be clearly presented in case that is the donorrsquos preferred giving channel
9 Appeal to the most basic donor benefit Giving is joyful I canrsquot emphasize the importance of this simple fact Donors mdash real donors mdash love to give Your faithful loyal donors are the people who give over and over again and keep giving They are not stingy grouches who must be cajoled and manipulated into reluctantly parting with their money No Real donors have discovered the secret of true happiness and all they need is the assurance that their giving is appreciated and effective This key message should be explicitly stated ldquoNothing feels better than when you help When you give to accomplish XYZ you know the joy of making a significant differ-ence in the worldrdquo
10 Refresh and re-engage Nothing about the newsletter should be a chore for the reader The whole publication is a joyful celebration of what the donor has made possible By the time he or she is finished reading the newsletter he or she should be energized and eager to do more
If you follow these 10 principles you will have your own Extreme Donor-Focused Newslet-ter and your fundraising program should enjoy increased revenue and donor retention And whatrsquos more your newsletter will finally get the respect it deserves n
12 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Grand Hyatt New York
Conference attendees
mixed mingled amp noshed
on delicious appetizers
at Butterfield 8
2012 New York Nonprofit Conference
July 25ndash26 2012Grand Hyatt New York
New York NY
Grand Hyatt New York
Conference attendees
mixed mingled amp noshed
on delicious appetizers
at Butterfield 8
(Left to right)
DMA Nonprofit Federation Advisory Council Chair
Brian Cowart of Disabled American Veterans (DAV)
2012 New York Nonprofit Conference Keynote
Speaker Seth ldquoYossirdquo Siegel of Sixpoint Partners
DMA Nonprofit Federation Advisory Council Vice
Chair tom harrison of Russ Reid Company
The Nature Conservancyrsquos Chief Marketing Officer Geof Rochester
amp Director of Membership Fundraising Begontildea Vaacutezquez-Santos
with TNCrsquos Nonprofit Organization of the Year award
Congratulations to The Nature Conservancy
13
14 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Thank you Tom Har-rison for such a lovely introduction The philos-opher who said that there is no praise higher than to be esteemed by those you esteem perfectly captures my reaction I appreci-ate your idea of inviting me mdash someone from outside your industry mdash to speak before your group But it is you Tom and several of your colleagues at Russ Reid who have largely taught me what I know about this industry
It is truly a special plea-sure being with all of you here today and the size of the audience notwithstand-ing getting to meet with you
To some extent I feel like I know many of you in this room To be sure many of you already know me mdash and even more of you knew my father My being here today allows me to close the circle and reciprocate many years of your outreach to me and my father Let me explain
My wife and I have been married for 32 years When we got married we didnrsquot have a lot more than the wedding gifts we had received but from our first days together we shared an interest in learning about charities that could use our support and we often would send in small donations in response to this mailing or that Soon thereafter mdash and this will surprise exactly no one in this room mdash we began getting mailings from more charities and we had the
opportunity to learn about yet more worthy organiza-tions As time interest and available cash allowed we would donate to yet others Then along the way as my business grew we stepped out of the direct mail uni-verse and got involved with a more manageable number of causes as volunteers and a somewhat larger number as donors but directly and in amounts more likely to be the fruit of a call or a meeting or a solicitation over a meal or in our home We still get some mail solicita-tions Some of it is likely the distant tail from donations made long ago and a bit of it may be thanks to gifts made in support of some of our friendsrsquo childrenrsquos walk-a-thon participations or similar creative requests for funds But in the main our mail box no longer has the volume of requests for support that it once did
In my opening remarks I made mention of my father Now if my wife and I have received mail from some of you I can go out on a limb and say that my father got mail from nearly all of you Before I share my fatherrsquos direct mail experience Id like to tell you a bit about him
My father mdash Benjamin Siegel in case you are check-ing to see if his name is in your database mdash was born to immigrant parents here in Manhattan Despite his American birth he spoke
Seth ldquoYossirdquo Siegel
2012 New York Nonprofit Conference
KeynoteAddress
July 25 2012
vvv
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 15
no English until he started kindergarten His child-hood can only be described as hard and deprived with his parents being members of the working poor their entire lives Yet despite their poverty he recalled a blue-and-white tin charity box in his kitchen into which his mother would put a few coins every week late on Friday afternoon before the start of the Jewish Sabbath His parents werenrsquot reli-giously observant but his mother would make a char-itable donation of some kind every week for even poorer Jews living in what is now Israel
I would have to describe my father as angry a lot of the time And Id also have to say that it would be hard to find someone more cynical about institutions and whole professions than my father He thought all doctors were to use his word quacks He thought all lawyers were again to use his word shy-sters He loathed politicians He was dubious about the esteem given to Jewish clergy and I cant believe he had any special regard for the clergy of any other faith He was part of the Greatest Generation and talked his way into World War II after he was rejected on medical grounds and spent most of the war in Europe including landing on Omaha Beach on D-Day Plus 1 And even so he was often dismissive of the thought and planning
of our own military leaders especially what he thought of as the cavalier misuse of troops
Despite his being a one-man protest machine he utterly hated protest move-ments and anything that smacked of them I could go on but I think you get the picture This was a man of complete cynicism seem-ingly trusting no one He made a hard honest living and lived a life with no frills and few vacations Meals out in restaurants were a very special event By any stan-dard by which we measure comfort or luxury my father and mother had few check marks in that imaginary list
But family history aside there was a reason Ive just told you all of this
After my father died in 2004 some many years after my mother and stepmother had both passed away it fell to me to go through his effects and to pack up his things I donrsquot know how many of you here have ever had that task It is a melan-choly one with many small items serving to remind you of moments in the rela-tionship In addition it can be a startling one learning things about your deceased parent and achingly wishing you could have them back for even a few moments to explain what something meant or to ask why they had never told you about some just discovered element of their lives
For me the startling element I discovered was how my father mdash the utter cynic mdash was mdash within his means mdash a philanthropist and donor of a scope that is still remarkable to me You see when I opened the bottom drawer of his dresser the entire drawer was filled with note pads and boxes of seasonal cards from dozens and dozens of charities My first thought standing in his empty bedroom was ldquoTo whom was he planning on writing so many notesrdquo When I opened the next drawer it was filled with per-sonalized mailing labels from dozens of charities mdash possi-bly the same charities I donrsquot know but possibly not mdash but I knew that if he ever got around to sending out all of those notes and cards he would never have to write his return address on any of those envelopes As I con-tinued the packing up in his bedroom kitchen closets and elsewhere I found other institutional gifts from other charities like tote bags mugs umbrellas and so on almost all of them still in their orig-inal packaging
When I cleaned out his small desk I found his checkbook and sat at his desk to go through his check register and other check reg-isters going back years and years There were payments made to credit card compa-nies and utilities and taxes but overwhelmingly the checks were made payable
to one charity after another The amounts mdash as you pro-fessionals would guess from the pads and the pre-printed mailing labels mdash were all small Most of them were for ten dollars some for twenty-five and in a nod to the Jewish mystical belief in the specialness of numbers that are multiples of eigh-teen he had written plenty of checks to Jewish organiza-tions and causes for eighteen and thirty-six dollars
Also remarkable was the range of organizations to which he donated As I mentioned he gave to a broad array of Jewish and pro-Israel organizations but he also gave to commu-nity groups environmental groups hunger organiza-tions veterans groups and health-related organizations including hospitals hospices and disease-focused causes He even gave to animal shelter organizations mdash and he had never had a pet of his own
So how could it be that this most utterly cynical man a man who watched his pennies his whole life could have been a small-scale Roth-schild and Rockefeller in the range and expansiveness of his giving Of course wersquoll never know for sure but in trying to develop an answer to this there are lessons for those of us in this room who care about the not-for-profit world whether profession-ally as communal activists or as donors
continued
16 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
The first two possibili-ties that come to mind that Id like to quickly dismiss are that my father liked the idea that he could get something of value for what may have seemed for free It is possible but my father was a very prac-tical man and at some point he must have realized that well into his 80s he had such an ample supply of holiday cards and return address labels that he would never be able to use up the inventory The other thought was that he simply liked getting mail and he knew how the system worked Send in a check and the one envelope becomes two or three or ten Send in one hundred checks and he had his weekends filled reading through all of the mail he had received during the past week That is possi-ble but my father also died with a significant backlog of unread magazines so Im going to rule that out too
The explanation Ive come up with is that my father may have been a cynic but that he wanted to believe He may have thought most every institution and public figure not worthy of being trusted but he may still have yearned to be able to trust that some others out there cared deeply about society and elements of it and that he wanted to be part of the efforts to make the world a proverbially better place He despised a lot of things gen-erally but seemed to like a lot of things specifically
And from that insight I think there is some very good news for many of you here today I know from Tom Harrison that you are all worried about the crummy economy that shows no sign of quickly returning to robust times And Tom has also shared with me a worry about the viability of the US Postal Service and its ability to offer reduced mailing rates for the fore-seeable future And Tom has also told me that my fatherrsquos generation is dying off and not being quickly replaced by a new demographic cohort that reads mail and sends in money Plus there are environmental ques-tions about harvesting trees for the mailings and some compelling proof that people respond less well to email solicitations than they did to requests delivered via their mail boxes But aside from all of those structural impediments my fatherrsquos behavior offers some very special opportunities for those charities and organi-zations able to reach out and speak personally to the next waves of donors
If my father was a skepti-cal cynical guy in the Ozzie and Harriet 1950s and 60s he was a full generation ahead of where people are today and Id like to take a minute or two to explain what I mean
People today are fright-ened angry cynical even often despairing The
overwhelming feeling is that few institutions are working well Our political system just isnrsquot garnering wide-spread support and in these unsettling times people want leaders and insti-tutions that can fix their problems No matter who wins the presidential elec-tion in November there is little widespread belief we will come together as a society to fix our problems It may happen but people donrsquot believe it And the poll numbers reflect this Pres-ident Obama mdash who came into office on a promise of hope and change and of transformation of our political culture and which initially yielded him an approval rating of 67 mdash has had an approval rating that has been below 50 since November 2009 and is now at 47 If the president has problems in garnering the publicrsquos trust that he can solve their problems Con-gress as an institution is doing far far worse with an approval rating of 23 The US Supreme Court enjoys an approval rating of only 35 These numbers for the president and for the legisla-tive and judicial branches of government actually under-state the problem The poll number of those who call themselves ldquofrustrated or angry with the federal gov-ernmentrdquo comes in at a frightening 79 President Obama may win re-elec-tion but it likely wont be a
unifying election We have a divided government at a polarized partisan moment of utterly different and con-tradictory views of how to solve the problems at hand Given the enormity of the problems mdash from the economy to the deficit to the debt to Iranrsquos nuclear program to the rise of radical Islamism to the rise of China and its likelihood to be a destabilizing force and many many more prob-lems mdash the likelihood our country will be dispirited and detached from politics is larger than it is smaller
Staying with our politi-cal system for just another moment we have another problem Because people are angry and have a near con-stant ldquothrow the bums outrdquo feeling about our elected offi-cials we are going through a period of uncommon insta-bility in our government institutions
Most people believe that incumbents come to office and tend to leave only when they die But it just isnrsquot true Whether because of the Tea Party or because of burn-out by elected officials the level of turnover in Washington is a big and growing problem In just the past five Congres-sional elections which is to say in the past ten years a remarkable 54 of the US Senate has been replaced If that number seems impos-sibly high for institutional stability in the House of Representatives the turnover
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 17
in that same period has been 68 Due to announced retirements and defeats in primaries we already know that in the coming Senate and House to be sworn in next January no fewer than 11 current Senators and 60 current Congressmen and Congresswomen will not be returning mdash and that assumes not a single incum-bent will lose in a single race in the remaining pri-maries and the General Election That means at least a 65 turnover in the US Senate and a more than 80 turnover in the House of Representatives in a mere 12-year period Think of your own organizations and what a turnover of that mag-nitude would mean to your ability to do your institu-tional job let alone having to grapple with many of the enormous challenges I mentioned a moment ago and many others I did not mention Thus the roiling public environment is more likely to stay roiled for some time to come than it is likely to return to some idealized period of harmony
Not to belabor the point but to also make sure that we understand that the problem of popular unease is broader than belief in our national government let me share just a few poll numbers to demonstrate my point Our confidence in hospitals and our doctors is now at 41 which is bad enough but HMOs are at 19 Public
schools have the confidence of only 29 of the people in our country Newspapers taken together have the con-fidence of just 25 of the American people But falling even lower than newspapers TV news comes in at 21 And labor unions banks and major corporations are all tied with the confidence of just one in five Ameri-cans at around 20 Even organized religion falls below the 50 mark at 44
Indeed the only three institutions regularly polled about by Gallup to be above the 50 mark are our police departments at 56 small business at 63 and our fighting men and women in the US military at 75 And finally in what many people believe is the most important general view of how people feel the Right Track Wrong Track poll Rasmussen reports 30 of Americans think our country is on the right track
and 64 believe our country is on the wrong track
In case you werenrsquot a statistics major in college let me boil all of these poll results down to just this one short statement and it is this My father was ahead of his time Just as my father didnrsquot trust or like just about any institution the American people now donrsquot much trust or like any institution with
the exception of police military and
small busi-ness In
nearly every other
case the institu-tion Ive mentioned is at or
near an all-time low since these Gallup Institutional Confidence polls began being conducted in 1973
But I think there is a second key learning from all of this bad news that is actu-ally very good news for some of you but definitely not all of you and that is this Just as my father had very low confidence in government and other mass institutions yet managed to turn himself
into a check-writing ma-chine for many many not-for-profits so too can your organization or your clients The not-so-profound insight is that even the most angry frustrated cynical skeptical misanthrope wants to believe It was true of mis-anthropes when Moliere wrote a play by that name in the 1660s It was true of my father And Id bet a dona-tion to any of your causes that it is true today even with a Right Track Wrong Track poll that has double the number of Wrong Trackers over Right Trackers People want to believe People want to love People know they wont live for forever and people want to see the world better both today in their lifetimes and tomor-row when it is their legacy This is true for mega donors who will be honored at fancy dinners in hotel ballrooms like this and for ten dollar donors who look forward to the return address labels you all will send to them
So with the crummy economy the dicey state of the Postal Service the demo-graphic hump working against low-dollar donors and all of the other problems direct marketers face my money is on the significant success of some of the orga-nizations that are here today Of course the structural challenges make it harder but is it harder today than it was in my grandmotherrsquos
vvvThe not-so-profound insight is that even
the most angry frustrated cynical skeptical
misanthrope wants to believehellipPeople know they
wont live for forever and people want to see the
world better both today in their lifetimes and
tomorrow when it is their legacy
vvv
continued
18 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
walk-up tenement apart-ment in which every Friday afternoon she found a way to donate to people she knew she would never meet who were living in a place she knew she would never see She believed in the enterprise afoot in what is today Israel a place on the other side of the world and she trusted that the coins in her little blue-and-white tin box would be used wisely and honorably All the same must have been true about my father and the many causes to which he wrote those checks And the same is true of millions and millions of people waiting to be touched and to form a connection with a cause larger than themselves a cause they can make their own in a way best thought of as an I-Thou relationship
For those of you unfa-miliar with the phrase I and Thou let me start by telling you it is a concept that changed my life It was coined by the philoso-pher and theologian Martin Buber Despite his being a theologian it is a concept that isnt inherently reli-gious even if it works well in every faith tradition and also works well in a purely secular context It works well for couples who have long been together and remark-ably it works well when soliciting gifts from near-strangers It is an approach to living a happy satisfying life So with that build up let
me tell you about I and Thou and about Martin Buber
Buber was born in Austria but moved to Germany in his teens to pursue his education In the 1920s he wrote his most famous work ldquoI and Thourdquo which although somewhat obscure today helped to establish his reputation as a leading German thinker of his time When the Nazis came to power in 1933 as a Jew he was prohibited from teaching at the uni-versity where he had been a professor and in 1938 just ahead of the start of the mass murder of 90 of Euro-pean Jewry Buber made his way to the British Mandate where he became a professor in Jerusalem When the State of Israel came into being in 1948 Buber was an esteemed philosopher revered by the young nation It is hard to imagine a philosopher having this kind of fame and impact but when he died in 1965 it was the lead news story of the day in Israel and a major story in The New York Times and other world newspapers
According to Buber there are two kinds of rela-tionships I-Thou and I-It The idea underpinning these concepts is best explained by examples as every single person in this room has experienced I-Thou and I-It relationships In an I-Thou relationship we are as one Your destiny is my destiny
even if only for a moment In the I-It relationship the parties are in a transac-tion I have turned the other party into an object to help me to achieve something that I want Indeed we all have I-Thou relationships and I-It relationships all the time mdash and we often have these disparate relationships within moments of each other and often with the very same person If this room were smaller and more inti-mate I could randomly call on anyone and have you give examples of I-Thou and I-It relationships in your own life But Ill use my own life as an example
I love my wife very much I am happy to come home at the end of the workday and to hear about her day and what is new and for her to hear about my day That is an I-Thou moment But while sitting with her my stomach starts to growl I become distracted Im not think-ing about her but about the dinner I know she has prepared Im hungry and want to eat She becomes an object a means to an end an I-It Wersquove all had that expe-rience or one like it
But just because Im getting something I want from her mdash or from anyone mdash doesnrsquot mean it has to be an I-It moment In that exact same scenario it could just as well have been an I-Thou moment by a change in my behavior even
with the same outcome that dinner will be served and my hunger abated Instead of single-mindedly think-ing about food in its place I could have interrupted the conversation to tell her that Im hungry I could have offered to set the table while we keep talking And most importantly I could keep reminding myself that she has spent time and trouble thinking about dinner and preparing it and that I have no entitlement to her having done this and how fortunate I am that she has If I do all of that it is more likely we will have an I-Thou relationship that evening than a transac-tional I-It one
Even with people we love I-Thoursquos and I-Itrsquos flit back and forth across some imaginary spectrum with engagement and other-directedness on one side and selfishness and self-direct-edness on the other We all have instincts for both sides of that spectrum and the challenge is to take the harder path the path where we direct the moment away from ourselves and our selfish wants and needs to that of the person present before us and our shared experience
As I indicated earlier this isnrsquot just true of deep long-lasting relationships It can be true of the waiter who serves you dinner the bellman who helps you with your bags even with a
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 19
passing stranger on a line to get into somewhere Every encounter has the oppor-tunity to be an I-Thou or an I-It and the challenge is for each of us to constantly remind ourselves of the humanity of the person with whom we engage
I and Thou isnrsquot just for people It is also true of believing peoplersquos relation-ship with God and also true of organizations and how they relate to people In my experience Ive found it even true of inanimate objects even if that may take it beyond Buberrsquos own con-ception So how do Martin Buber and his I and Thou relate to you all as direct mar-keters and as fundraisers for your worthy organizations
Everyone knows when they are in an I and Thou moment You feel the link and the joy that comes from the link But people also know when they are being used as a means to an end
when they are the ldquoItrdquo in an I-It relationship People may give you what you want when they are in an I-It rela-tionship with you and you may give your counter-party what they seek too but we all know that feeling of sadness or emptiness within when someone you are with mdash a co-worker a boss a spouse a child even a clerk on the phone at a call center mdash treats you as an object to get some-thing achieved and not as an opportunity to feel your humanity and for you to feel theirs even if for a fleeting moment
And the same Ill say is true about the relationship between a potential donor and your organization Those organizations that stand for somethinghellip Those organizations that donrsquot treat their donors as objects like walking checkbookshellip Those organizations that take the time to engage with their prospects Indeed
those organizations that donrsquot even necessarily start by asking for something it is those organizations who I believe will find a wide universe of people eager to believe and eager to be part of the organizationrsquos mission An I-Thou relation-ship doesnrsquot mean we never ask the other party for some-thing It is about how and when we ask Just as we will have a different outcome with our spouses children and co-workers when we are building off of an I-Thou relationship rather than an I-It so too will we have a different outcome when we approach our donors as part-ners as people we care about exactly as much whether they donate or not It is from that soulful relationship that donors will want to support one organization over an-other and one cause over another no matter how angry or frustrated or cynical they are about the larger world
around them That is how I believe the next genera-tion of donors will come to support many but not all of our organizations
When my father died I had the Postal Service forward his mail to my home address In the nearly eight years since his passing Ive received hundreds of mail-ings maybe more I often open the solicitations to try to get a feel for the kinds of causes and organizations my father would have been spending his time learning about and possibly support-ing So while some recipients of your mailings may think of your output as junk mail I couldnrsquot be more apprecia-tive Each envelope serves to remind me that the cynical side of my father was only a side and that when properly touched even a hard man could respond
Thank you all very much for your attention n
copy 2012 Seth M Siegel Reproduction with authorrsquos consent only All rights reserved
Looking for an agency or supplier to help your organization reachnew heights
Access the DMANFrsquos Directory of Service providers
nonprofitfederationorgcorporate-partnerssearch
20 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Nonprofit organizations face unique marketing chal-lenges Theyrsquore tasked with identifying and reaching the right people at the right time and through
the appropriate channels as well as balancing message appeals with monetary requests all while conveying their mission and cause The rapid expansion of the internet social networking and mobile have placed yet another demand front-and-center for nonprofit organizations mdash con-sumer privacy
Consumers are justly concerned about divulging their personal information They want to know where why and how their information will be used Many are unaware that their personal information is collected in a variety of ways and by a variety of sources both online and offline Common but often misunderstood data practices include third-party ad servers setting cookies retail stores matching names and addresses with phone numbers and marketers sharing customer lists
In todayrsquos complex marketplace how can nonprofit organizations demonstrate to their supporters donors and prospects that they share their concerns and are commit-ted to protecting their privacy The first and most important step is to create a clear privacy policy and communicate it effectively
the Privacy PolicyIf your organization collects uses and or stores personal donor information a privacy policy is critical You must display your privacy policy on your website and strictly abide by it
Privacy policies are structured around Notice and Choice principles They should provide supporters with notice of
how their data is collected used and shared as well as their choices to limit or prevent such practices Your privacy policy should also include information to maintain trans-parency and that clearly describes your organizationrsquos data security practices
Key points every privacy policy should address include
The types of personal information your organization collects This may include name address telephone number email address and credit card or other payment information
How information is secured
How personal information is used and with whom it is shared
How supporters can control the use of their data
How the privacy policy is updated and the effective date of the policy
Letrsquos take a more detailed look at the elements of a privacy policy from a nonprofit organizationrsquos perspective
Collecting personal InformationAs mentioned personal information may include data ele-ments such as name address telephone number email address and payment information It can also include more sensitive information such as gender race religious or politi-cal beliefs health information or other characteristics
The types of personal information collected and the length of retention may be used to enhance your marketing
Consumer PrivacyA Guide for Nonprofit Marketers
Bethany Lewis Privacy Analyst Epsilon
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 21
objectives by creating detailed profiles of supporters but what if that dataprofile was accessed without appropriate permis-sions or used by other organizations for purposes beyond the original intent Inappropriate generalizations might be made about supporters regardless of who has the data and the risk for reputational and other damage increases if that type of data is compromised
For example if a supporter donates to an organization that supports research of a genetic disorder should they be identified as a patient of or at risk for that same disorder Perhaps theyrsquore simply a caretaker for someone suffer-ing from that disorder Similarly if a supporter donates to a religious-based organization could assumptions around political leanings be attributed to them
Protecting information about charitable contributions is critical as is informing supporters how that information will be used which brings us to data security and the sharing of personal information
protecting personal InformationToday every organization is vulnerable when it comes to data security Protecting the personal information of supporters is essential The first line of protection is collecting only the necessary data
While creating supporter profiles evaluate the risks of storing ldquounnecessaryrdquo data especially if an incident exposes the data Set internal policies for how long each category of data collected will be retained and be diligent in deletingdestroying data in a safe and thorough manner based on those policies
Whenever possible encrypt personal data maintained electronically and enhance security on laptops and mobile devices from which supporter data is accessed
Sharing personal InformationBe very clear in your privacy policy when providing infor-mation on the types of third-parties with whom your organization shares data If you share information with third-party service providers disclose this fact and provide a categorized list of these organizations Such organizations may include credit card processors shipping vendors mar-keting analysts or consultants and fulfillment houses
If you share information with other nonprofit organi-zations disclose these practices Also disclose if you share information with marketing cooperatives whose databases are not exclusively nonprofit
Protecting
information
about
charitable
contributions
is critical
continued
22 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
providing ChoiceStudies have shown that modern consumers are more com-fortable sharing personal information with organizations that are clear and upfront about how their information is used and with whom it is shared In fact most people respond positively to organizations who transparently disclose data sharing practices and provide a clear and convenient oppor-tunity to opt-out While a small percentage of individuals will choose to opt-out of data sharing very few supporters will opt-out of all contact with an organization Therefore providing an opportunity to opt-out of sharing data for mar-keting purposes as well as an opt-out for receiving further requests from your organization will aid in retaining your most loyal supporters
Updating the privacy policyClearly state the effective date of your current privacy policy and update it when you make any material changes If you do make material changes to your privacy policy with ret-roactive application to the data you already have stored you may need to obtain express consent from individuals to use their information for new or different purposes Some organizations choose to list what changes were made in a summary history which may be helpful to a supporter reviewing the policy
Pulling It All togetherYour privacy policy should be easy to find read understand and act upon (ie opt-out or modify preferences) It should also be present in each commercial solicitation where per-sonal information is collected regardless of whether that is through postal mailings or on your website
Additional information regarding Notice Choice Trans-parency and other important privacy principles can be found on the DMA website in the Commitment to Consumer Choice and the DMA Guidelines for Ethical Business Practice
At Epsilon we use the following checklist when evaluating a privacy policy
The website has a privacy policy
There is a link to the privacy policy from the websitersquos home page and the link contains the word ldquoprivacyrdquo
The privacy policy states that the organization shares consumer data and personal information (including name address email address and transaction informa-tion) with third-party service providers
The privacy policy states that the organization shares consumer data and personal information with other marketers for their own marketing purposes
The privacy policy provides consumers the chance to opt-out of having their information shared with other marketers
The privacy policy has an ldquoeffectiverdquo date
As mentioned in situations where data is shared with other organizations and marketers transparency is the key Below is sample disclosure language
The personally identifiable information that you provide to us
(such as your name address and email address) and information
about your contribution may be combined with other non-person-
ally identifiable information (such as demographic information and
past contribution history) available from our records and other
sources This information will be used to make our future market-
ing efforts more efficient and relevant This information may also
be shared with our third-party service providers that assist us
with our marketing efforts and with other marketers whose prod-
ucts or services we feel may be of interest to you If you prefer
that we do not share your name and address with other market-
ers please email us at optoutyourorganizationorg
Beyond the Privacy PolicyIn addition to having a robust privacy policy written in concise language and that is easily accessible here are a few other best practices to secure the privacy of your sup-portersrsquo information
Ensure agreements with third-parties who may have access to supportersrsquo personal information adequately address privacy and data security
Suppress personal information in your database when a supporter requests it and do so within a reasonable timeframe
If you must store sensitive information such as credit card or social security numbers as part of your data-base encrypt this information
Train employees and volunteers regularly on the importance of maintaining privacy and security
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 23
Nonprofit Careers e-Bulletin
Your Multi-ChannelRecruiting Tool
Become familiar with data breach notification require-ments and have a response plan and team in place Should you experience a breach disclose to all appro-priate and necessary parties
Monitor the use of your data and address any enti-ties when you become aware that data is being used in a way that violates the law contractual requirements andor the DMArsquos Ethical Guidelines
Respecting and promoting consumer privacy requires a commitment to maintaining balance between the legitimate business needs of your organization and the concerns of individuals about fair information practices Start by taking a look at your current privacy policy Assure its accuracy and adhere to its strategy n
Bethany Lewis As a Privacy Analyst Bethany Lewis supports and educates associates and clients on privacy compliance matters She brings an extensive background in regulatory compliance corporate ethics education and training to her work at Epsilon
ldquoThe recruitment Tool for the Nonprofit Communityrdquo is your source for top flight exposure to top flight candidates and the best A b amp C-level career opportunities out there
Distributed every Tuesday 8 am ET via raquo Email raquo post at wwwnonprofitfederationorg raquo Facebook mdash DMA Nonprofit Federation raquo Twitter mdash DMANF and AliozDC
To view ad submission requirements visit the ldquoFind a Jobrdquo area of the DMA Nonprofit Federation homepage wwwnonprofitfederationorg and click on ldquoHow to postrdquo Ads must be emailed to Aosgoodthe-dmaorg please make sure any ad you submit meets our specifications
Is your nonprofit organization already a dual member of the DMA and DMANF If the answer is lsquoyesrsquo itrsquos FrEE mdash so why not post
Join the over 8000 professionals who already subscribe
Sign up today nonprofitfederationorgpublications careers-e-bulletinsubscribe
DMA Guidelines for Ethical Business Practice
dmaresponsibilityorgGuidelines
24 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Each week I see non-profit organizations walking away from
mobile thinking that com-municating and fundraising with their constituents through the single most used electronic device in history is optional Con-versely we see more and more retailers embracing mobile and the omnichan-nel marketing model because the results are tre-mendous We at mGive think nonprofits benefit when they embrace similar tools and methodologies
What is an omnichan-nel approach and why is it important to non-profit organizations An omnichannel approach is an integrated marketing strat-egy that creates a seamless experience for the donor
It is a customer-centric approach that elevates your supporter loyalty strategies by leveraging cross-channel opportunities For example when a donor drops off goods at their local Epilepsy Foundation they receive a paper receipt to complete Normally once they leave your location you lose any hope of communicating with them again Imagine if when the donor dropped off their goods you offered to send the donor an email version of their receipt You now have a way to engage the supporter through email Now suppose your email receipt offered a web link that drove them to a form to opt-in to your mobile community in order to receive updates via text
Once they opt-in you then have a way to send updates volunteer requests dona-tion reminders and more You may also leverage the fact they are on the mobile phone and send text mes-sages asking supporters to post a photo to Facebook making a donation Having this omnichannel strat-egy in place is especially critical at the end of year because it is an opportune time for organizations to increase membership and raise dollars
So how does an organization create an omnichannel approach that leverages direct mail email online social media live events and mobile to achieve their goals It may be difficult for some orga-nizations to make the
operational shift to an omnichannel model but that doesnrsquot mean you can afford to ignore it Not sure you can get all the steps in place by the time you launch your end of year activities Mobile is the bridge that can help to start that process In fact more and more organizations are relying on their mobile strategy to bridge the gap and engage supporters in this multi-screen world because mobile is the ldquogreat centralizerrdquo of activities ndash where else can you make calls browse the web check email respond to text mes-sages post to social media and more in a truly porta-ble fashion
Before we move on to the tactics that an organiza-tion can take to incorporate
Mobile
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 25
mobile into their existing multi-channel strategies we must tackle one issue If your organization has tried mobile or an omnichan-nel approach in the past and were disappointed or frustrated with your expe-rience try again You were one of the pioneering orga-nizations that comprise the early adopters of those models Lessons learned over the past few years have evolved into success-ful best practices mdash and you get the opportunity to benefit from them As we like to say in honor of the wise Master Yoda ldquoTry not Do or do not There is no tryrdquo We guarantee if imple-mented correctly using mobile in an omnichannel approach can work for your organization
1 Communicate and Integrate mdash Walk Across the Mobile Bridge
Many organizations that I work with have voiced cross-departmental integra-tion as a challenge That is understandable because tra-ditionally departments or channels have been siloed from one another But this disenfranchised model does not result in the seam-less experience that donors are coming to expect In order for a donor experi-ence to be seamless direct mail must complement the organizationrsquos website the organizationrsquos website must complement the mobile campaign social media must complement direct mail and so forth and so on When used together
the communication chan-nels can result in more effective campaigns and bigger numbers
When an organization decides to develop a mobile strategy generally it is one department within that organization that is initially interested That department is a hero because they have just launched a toolset that can be used throughout the organization If you have a mobile program in place for fundraising itrsquos time to talk with your program services department mem-bership team and corporate partner folks and get them in the loop so that you can maximize the omnichannel approach Mobile can be a great catalyst for initiating conversation and guiding organizational integration
Mobile is also a great way to increase the effec-tiveness of existing channels By integrating your direct mail newslet-ter social media online and mobile efforts you can increase response and open rates We have found that if you send a text message to your membership remind-ing them to check their email inboxes you can increase email open rates by 10 or more Addition-ally if you include a mobile number field on your email and paper member-ship forms you can quickly build a mobile community that can turn into repeat donors Once again the most important element besides the actual cross
the Bridge to an omnichannel Approach in time for Year-End Campaigns
continued
Jenifer Snyder Esq Executive Director The mGive Foundation and Cassie Bair Vice President of Marketing Mobile Accord
26 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
channel promotion goes back to this concept of the omnichannel Make the message consistent across all channels They donrsquot have to be identical but they should complement each other and work to create an echo effect
Just about every one of your donors will experience your organization through their mobile device at some point mdash so make sure your message is clear consistent convenient and actionable through mobile in some capacity
2 test Review Adjust Implement Review Adjust mdash and Repeat
Once you have an inte-grated strategy in place itrsquos time to implement Whether the goal is to acquire new donors reactivate lapsed donors and drive donations from existing donors mdash or all three mdash test your cam-paign Take time to review the results and adjust accordingly Then imple-ment full scale confident you are on the right path Regularly review your results adjust your activities and repeat as needed
In preparation for end of year activities take the time in the Fall to tweak your marketing engine for optimal performance Do some zero based plan-ning and try to approach
the supporter experience as if you are the supporter Spend time on every avenue where you can wisely create a seamless experience
Everyone in philan-thropy knows that the majority of all charitable donations are made in the last 2 months of the year Additionally member-ship increases substantially during the last quarter of the year Spend time now identifying opportunities strategies and tactics that work best for you mdash and consider how mobile can be a centralizing point for many of these activities
3 Apply the Winning Methodologies to Your End of Year Appeals
Yoursquove tested tweaked and determined what works best for you Now inte-grate what yoursquove learned into your end of year cam-paigns Determine how your campaign follows stan-dard best practices for end of year appeals and where mobile can help drive that engagement across multiple mediums
Common best practices for end of year campaigns that can include mobile
A Sending multiple asks the final week of the year mdash Make sure text messages are a part of that effort Whether itrsquos a simple call-to-action to text
a donation drives people to a pledge page or some-thing all-together different mobile can help ramp up that seamless experience
B the Art of the ldquothank Yourdquo mdash Thank your sup-porters Use mobile to message supporters your appreciation when they take action through text or drive them to a webpage with a video with a celeb-rity spokesperson giving a thank you message But make sure they know repeatedly that what they do for your cause matters And keep in mind mobile can drive to a strong ldquothank yourdquo experience
C Share Ask Listen mdash Take the opportunity to tell a story ask for feed-back and listen to what your organization is being told Not sure how to do that in mobile Share a link to a news article through text Ask for feedback through social media And listen to what is being said while distilling insights from how supporters respond in order to strengthen your omnichannel approach
4 Continue into 2013 mdash You are set for success
As donors enter the New Year self-improve-ment will often include a
commitment to be a better person volunteer more donate more funds etc Use mobile as a data col-lection tool to help your donors achieve their goal Give them the opportunity to commit to goals pertain-ing to your cause and then become their coach Send monthly reminders of their commitment and words of encouragement Remind them about appointments invite them to share their experience and overall let the donor feel the effect of their selfless promise through all of their activi-ties while using mobile to centralize that community and to drive people to action
We now live in a world where the average person at any given moment is looking at two or more screens It is critical that nonprofit organizations embrace the multi-screen world and adopt the omnichannel or fully integrated model When you create a seam-less giving experience for the everyday philanthropist you will be amazed at the results Walking away from a mobile strategy today is like walking away from the internet in the early 2000s
Mobile is here to stay and it is not an elective component to your orga-nizationrsquos fundraising and engagement strategy Itrsquos an essential part of a successful omnichannel strategy for your end of year activities n
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 27
Jenifer Snyder Esq Executive Director The mGive Foundation
As Executive Director of The mGive Foun-dation Jenifer is dedicated to expanding the scope and reach of the mobile channel for social good She brings years of lead-ership experience in the mobile industry to the position Previously Jenifer was a founder and General Counsel for 9 Squared Inc a mobile content and ser-vices company subsequently acquired by the Zed Group She left Zed in 2007 and started building the mobile channel for social and charitable efforts and later formed The mGive Foundation
Cassie bair Vice president of Marketing Mobile Accord
As Vice President of Marketing for Mobile Accord Cassie is dedicated to educat-ing and empowering nonprofits regarding the power of mobile She combines years of marketing experience in the nonprofit industry with the exciting evolution of the mobile channel for social good Cassie has worked with organizations such as the American Heart Association American Institute of Architects and the American Society of Echocardiography developing integrated and cause marketing cam-paigns and uses that knowledge today with clients to help them maximize their mobile strategy
Name
OrganizationCompany
Address
City State Zip Code
Charge my m Visa m MasterCard m AmEx m Discover
Card Number Expiration Date
Signature
raquo FAX form to 2026284383 (do not email credit card information)
raquo MAIL form to Alicia Osgood Director Membership amp Communications DMA Nonprofit Federation 1615 L Street NW Suite 1100 Washington DC 20036
raquo MAKE ChECKS payable to the DMA Nonprofit Federation
raquo DMA Nonprofit Federation Federal Tax ID Number 13-1810859
News and cutting-edge professional development tips
SUBSCRIBEto the Journal today1year =3 issues
ONLY $35Published digitally in January Apriland September the Journal brings together nonprofit leaders to deliver a standout publication packed with content you can really use
No cost to members
28 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Consumer technology evolves so quickly that nonprof-its are constantly racing to get their organizations using the latest technologies and mediums In fact many of these innovations have had significant impact on the fundrais-ing community While online CRM systems for example spawned database segmentation capabilities the opportu-nity ndash and challenge ndash arose for fundraising professionals to target appeals precisely to donorsrsquo specific interests Lately the emergence and rapid popularity of technologies such as smartphones and social media have forced nonprofits to not only create a presence but essentially compete for shrinking donor funds using these vehicles
The primary focus of nonprofit technology however tends to be inward creating a presence in a particular social media community or simply using the technology on behalf of the organization Examples of this include a nonprofitrsquos Facebook page and Twitter account and mobile-friendly
web sites In todayrsquos competitive fundraising environment though itrsquos not enough for nonprofits to simply use the latest technology Successful fundraisers understand that a nonprofitrsquos relationship with technology needs to take one step beyond itself to focus outward how do your sup-porters and donors want to use technology on behalf of your organization
Donors have technology preferences and habits too While itrsquos great for organizations to have a Facebook page for sup-porters to ldquolikerdquo that offers news and updates for example this doesnrsquot offer an opportunity for donors to appeal to their friends and family on behalf of your nonprofit mdash and certainly doesnrsquot raise money As nonprofits have learned to quickly adapt to changing technology and social media standards the time has come for organizations to evolve the technology they offer to provide donors supporters and par-ticipants with a personalized fundraising experience
Get Personal Providing Supporters with Personalized Fundraising Experiences
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 29
Personalization Means EngagementAt a fundamental level donor personalization in fun-
draising emerged from some of the first online nonprofit fundraising systems Offering supporters the opportunity to send personalized fundraising emails to their friends and family was revolutionary in its time mdash as was offering custom individual and team fundraising web pages
While these technology offerings revolutionized event fundraising donors have become increasingly savvy in the way they interact online mdash and developed strong preferences and dislikes in the types of technology they use They want the technology they know and like to be at their fingertips and are more likely to fundraise and successfully so for your nonprofit if itrsquos made easy and accessible for them
Back to Basics mdash But BetterNonprofits have been so consumed by social media that
they often forget this simple fact participants who use online tools raise six times more than non-users according to Blackbaud In addition 25 percent of the fundraising emails supporters send to their friends result in a donation With the average online gift being $60 nonprofits have motiva-tion not to forget about the basics of online fundraising But in the age of increasing competition for donations nonprof-its that offer a more personalized fundraising experience to supporters may see better results
What does it mean to offer a personalized fundrais-ing experience For online fundraising pages it can mean offering them the opportunity to post pictures videos story content and individual fundraising status updates But itrsquos essentially the personalization options offered behind the scenes mdash in the personal ldquoHeadquartersrdquo page within an online fundraising system mdash that can really maximize fun-draising results
Savvy nonprofits are offering a multitude of ways within their online fundraising systems for supporters to choose to reach out to friends and family Offering more than the email capabilities found standard with most fundraising plat-forms some nonprofits are starting to provide supporters more options in their personal participant ldquoheadquartersrdquo pages to engage those in their network mdash all with the click of a button Opportunities for supporters to personalize their experience could include options to
Send a Facebook message
Tweet their fundraising page
Update their Facebook status
Send a quick email
In addition statistics about their personal fundraising process could tell them
Total emails sent
Visits to their personal fundraising pages
Number of donations
Number of registrations
Average amount raised per email sent
Number of additional emails needed to reach fundraising goal
And because no one participant is the same these per-sonalization options allow the supporter to interact and engage their network on behalf of the nonprofit in ways that are meaningful and comfortable to them
Beyond the Facebook PageThe nonprofit community has taken Facebook by storm as an avenue to engage supporters and attract donors But itrsquos important to look beyond how supporters want to interact with your nonprofit and understand how they want to in-teract with their social network Itrsquos within this framework that supporters choose mdash or choose not mdash to engage their network on your organizationrsquos behalf
So make it easy for them provide them with a variety of ways to use several social media tools to reach out and fund-raise for your nonprofit Let them decide how they fundraise With 845 million monthly active users and 100 billion con-nections Facebook for example provides an excellent platform for nonprofits mdash and their fundraisers mdash to expand fundraising reach In fact Blackbaudrsquos web site states that social media users raise 40 more than non-users But most
continued
John Murphy PresidentCEo and Founder Zuri Group
30 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
organizations make the mistake of relying on participants to send their own appeals and updates or worse provide cum-bersome tools that require multiple logins and steps
Some enthusiastic fundraisers will thrive in this envi-ronment Others wonrsquot Since each supporter is unique itrsquos important to provide several varying opportunities and options so that a personalized fundraising experience can be forged For many fundraisers asking for donations isnrsquot easy All participants want to raise money but many donrsquot feel comfortable asking outside of close friends and family Other fundraisers donrsquot have the time or creativity to regu-larly develop and update personalized Facebook messages Use technology to help overcome these challenges by creat-ing easy ways for them to raise more money using Facebook
To take the effort out of Facebook fundraising remove the discomfort of a direct ldquoaskrdquo and save fundraisers time some nonprofits are offering supporters the option for fun-draising updates that automatically post on their Facebook wall at pre-determined intervals throughout the fundraising season For the right supporter this option removes the dis-comfort of approaching potential donors with a direct ldquoaskrdquo while significantly expanding their fundraising reach
Mobilizing the troopsAccording to a 2011 study consumers spend more time
on mobile applications than on the web In addition Ameri-cans spend 27 hours per day on average socializing on their mobile phones Nonprofits have been hard at work to lever-age the trend toward mobile by creating mobile-friendly web sites and even apps to further engage supporters But what about the mobile interaction that takes place between sup-porters and their friends The key is for nonprofits to make it accessible and easy for fundraisers to use their everyday technologies and devices to fundraise within their own networks By providing fundraising options that enable sup-porters to simply use something they already use such as a smartphone to connect with people they already interact with fundraising becomes a more natural and personalized part of the supporterrsquos day
To provide a more personalized and convenient fun-draising experience some nonprofits are offering mobile fundraising apps that enable supporters to not only use their smartphones to fundraise but to fundraise using multiple technologies within the smartphone mdash such as email text Twitter Facebook and even FaceTime for iPhone users As a result supporters can fundraise for the organization from their homes the train while walking the dog mdash anytime they have their phone
By empowering supporters to personalize their fundrais-ing experience nonprofits that provide mobile fundraising apps help their fundraisers help them These organizations are meeting the needs of on-the-go fundraising participants so they can focus on spreading awareness soliciting dona-tions and thanking donors mdash on their time on their terms In fact itrsquos been reported that fundraising participants using mobile fundraising applications raise 200 more than other participants and bring in 300 more gifts by count that other participants
In addition some mobile fundraising apps are provid-ing further personalization by bringing some of the same features of the personalized online ldquoheadquartersrdquo to the smartphone such as fundraising thermometers and adding donors into their phone address book Pre-written fundrais-ing messages developed specifically for various mediums such as texts Twitter updates and emails can be used Editing personal fundraising pages from the smartphone is likely the next option nonprofits will start offering
the Personalization ChallengeAs nonprofits compete in the race to adopt new technolo-
gies and social media itrsquos important to take a step back and consider your supportersrsquo relationship with those channels Many nonprofits have a Facebook page or group but how are your fundraisers using Facebook Are you making it easy for them to advocate or fundraise for your organization If much of your donor base uses text messaging have you pro-vided easy access and tools for them to text their network on your behalf
Supporters want and frankly need a personalized online experience with your organization Go beyond the bounds of your interactive relationship and consider what would enable your supporter base to have a more personalized fundrais-ing experience mdash and then put those tools at their fingertips They and their network mdash will thank you n
John Murphy is the PresidentCEO and Founder of Zuri Group Zuri Group provides nonprofits with custom technology solutions to meet critical organizational needs such as fundraising using their existing platform For more info visit zurigroupcom
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 31Non-Profit_FullPageAd_OLindd 1 91312 417 PM
32 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
9 Centennial Drive
Peabody MA 01960-7906
Tel 8003707500
wwwamergentcom
c a l l j a c k d o y l e
8 0 0 3 7 0 7 5 0 0
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Sign up for Amergentrsquos e-newsletter
at friendsamergentcomifund or scan qr code
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 33
Looking to Affordably Grow Your Donor Fileand Increase Contributions
We Can HelpWiland Direct is the nationrsquos 1 transactional database for fundraisers
Using our vast transactional data and powerful models Wiland Direct helps fundraisers to
bull Affordably acquire new donors bull Maximize contributions from existing donors bull Reactivate former donorsbull Identify the most likely activists and volunteersbull Convert inquirers petition signers and other ldquowarm leadsrdquo into donors
To learn more please contact John Spencer at 9703106378 or via email at jspencerwilanddirectcom
3034858686 wwwWilandDirectcomCopyright 2012 Wiland Direct All rights reserved
ldquoThe Wiland Direct database has been a solid performer for LLS with higher average gifts and lower cost per dollar raised than most Itrsquos opened up a new acquisition universe particularly important for a mature program Wersquore very pleased with the results and team support from Wilandrdquomdash Bruny Lynch The Leukemia amp Lymphoma Society
34 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
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Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 35
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36 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
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Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 37
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Get it todaynonprofitfederationorgethics-policy watchdog-resource-centerwatchdog-toolkit
38 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
1
2
3
A
B
C
10 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
1 Write to the donor for the donor about the donor This is not objective arms-length journalism This is not the organization talking about itself to organization insiders This is a warm conversation with the donor about the things he or she is most interested in The main point of the newsletter is to share what the donorrsquos giving has done Itrsquos all about him or her
2 Ensure a high ldquoyourdquo quotient The copy is written directly to the donor using the second person singular The most frequent word in the copy and headlines should be ldquoyourdquo Take the time to count the number of times you use ldquoyourdquo and ldquoyourrdquo If you donrsquot have enough rewrite the copy to make sure you have not lost your donor focus
3 touch the heart with strong emotion The newsletter needs to stir the donorrsquos heart Make the donor feel something Tell stories of amazing accomplishment that the donorrsquos generosity helped make possible Use vivid language with strong active verbs and concrete nouns Dramatic emotional photos are worth their weight in gold As Ahern says ldquoA newsletter might be more welcome than an appeal It can bring joy It can bring fun It can take the reader on a journeyrdquo
4 Surprise and delight This is a ldquonewsletterrdquo so it needs to have something new in it Tell the donor something fascinating that he or she does not already know The initial reaction of the donor upon first glance should be a big smile because his or her giving has made something wonderful happen One of the pitfalls of newsletter publishing is falling into a rut One of my favorite fun-draising aphorisms is ldquoYou canrsquot bore anybody into givingrdquo But millions of really boring newsletters are mailed each year Irsquove often seen a great jump in performance of a newsletter immediately after it is given an overhaul and a fresh design But within just a few months performance tends to slip and fall back to the previously level Keeping the newsletter fresh does not mean that you must start from scratch each month Establishing a basic design template for your newsletter is mandatory This not only helps with efficiency but also maintains brand consistency But we also demand that every newsletter be fresh and delightful You can keep it fresh with fresh content Great photos help But you can also mix up the look through the use of color Make sure your brand has a full palette of secondary colors and use them
We followed some simple principles as we created those winning newsletters You can put them into practice with your own designs
TEN prINCIpAlS To CrEATE yoUr owN
extreme donor-focused newsletter
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 11
Bob Ball is the Executive Creative Director of Masterworks He has been trying not to bore donors since 1993
5 Appreciate the donor One of the major themes of the newsletter needs to be how important the donor is ldquoLook at what you have accomplished With your help we can do all this Without your help we will not be able to do itrdquo Look for ways to use the words ldquoThank yourdquo over and over again Itrsquos almost impossible to over-thank donors (And remember this is not merely a report back about what the organization was able to accomplish This is all about what the donor has accomplished through their generosity Whenever you have the opportunity to influence the gathering of photo resource have beneficiaries hold up signs that say ldquoThank Yourdquo That is the most powerful and direct way to close the loop between the donor and the people who are actually being helped
6 Design for readability Remove all unnecessary barriers to readability and com-prehension Use a large readable serif font for body copy Readability studies have shown that serif fonts are superior to sans serif fonts for body copy on the printed page A lot of designers love sans serif fonts because of their clean look and because they are trendy but this is not a matter of taste If you want your body copy to be read and comprehended use a nice serif font All body copy should pass the ldquodollar billrdquo test (You should not be able to lay a dollar bill on any expanse of body copy without touching a headline photo or subhead) No large blocks of reversed out type No busy backgrounds behind copy Make the layout ldquoscannablerdquo with large photos headlines subheads and pull-quotes
7 Motivate another gift Donors love to give and you should not be ashamed to ask them to give again While most of the newsletter space is devoted to thanks and apprecia-tion the newsletter needs to give the donor a way to repeat their charitable behavior This means making a clearly stated offer that donors have supported in the past
8 Make it convenient to give The newsletter should include a response device and a return envelope If online giving is possible the URL for the giving page should be clearly presented in case that is the donorrsquos preferred giving channel
9 Appeal to the most basic donor benefit Giving is joyful I canrsquot emphasize the importance of this simple fact Donors mdash real donors mdash love to give Your faithful loyal donors are the people who give over and over again and keep giving They are not stingy grouches who must be cajoled and manipulated into reluctantly parting with their money No Real donors have discovered the secret of true happiness and all they need is the assurance that their giving is appreciated and effective This key message should be explicitly stated ldquoNothing feels better than when you help When you give to accomplish XYZ you know the joy of making a significant differ-ence in the worldrdquo
10 Refresh and re-engage Nothing about the newsletter should be a chore for the reader The whole publication is a joyful celebration of what the donor has made possible By the time he or she is finished reading the newsletter he or she should be energized and eager to do more
If you follow these 10 principles you will have your own Extreme Donor-Focused Newslet-ter and your fundraising program should enjoy increased revenue and donor retention And whatrsquos more your newsletter will finally get the respect it deserves n
12 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Grand Hyatt New York
Conference attendees
mixed mingled amp noshed
on delicious appetizers
at Butterfield 8
2012 New York Nonprofit Conference
July 25ndash26 2012Grand Hyatt New York
New York NY
Grand Hyatt New York
Conference attendees
mixed mingled amp noshed
on delicious appetizers
at Butterfield 8
(Left to right)
DMA Nonprofit Federation Advisory Council Chair
Brian Cowart of Disabled American Veterans (DAV)
2012 New York Nonprofit Conference Keynote
Speaker Seth ldquoYossirdquo Siegel of Sixpoint Partners
DMA Nonprofit Federation Advisory Council Vice
Chair tom harrison of Russ Reid Company
The Nature Conservancyrsquos Chief Marketing Officer Geof Rochester
amp Director of Membership Fundraising Begontildea Vaacutezquez-Santos
with TNCrsquos Nonprofit Organization of the Year award
Congratulations to The Nature Conservancy
13
14 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Thank you Tom Har-rison for such a lovely introduction The philos-opher who said that there is no praise higher than to be esteemed by those you esteem perfectly captures my reaction I appreci-ate your idea of inviting me mdash someone from outside your industry mdash to speak before your group But it is you Tom and several of your colleagues at Russ Reid who have largely taught me what I know about this industry
It is truly a special plea-sure being with all of you here today and the size of the audience notwithstand-ing getting to meet with you
To some extent I feel like I know many of you in this room To be sure many of you already know me mdash and even more of you knew my father My being here today allows me to close the circle and reciprocate many years of your outreach to me and my father Let me explain
My wife and I have been married for 32 years When we got married we didnrsquot have a lot more than the wedding gifts we had received but from our first days together we shared an interest in learning about charities that could use our support and we often would send in small donations in response to this mailing or that Soon thereafter mdash and this will surprise exactly no one in this room mdash we began getting mailings from more charities and we had the
opportunity to learn about yet more worthy organiza-tions As time interest and available cash allowed we would donate to yet others Then along the way as my business grew we stepped out of the direct mail uni-verse and got involved with a more manageable number of causes as volunteers and a somewhat larger number as donors but directly and in amounts more likely to be the fruit of a call or a meeting or a solicitation over a meal or in our home We still get some mail solicita-tions Some of it is likely the distant tail from donations made long ago and a bit of it may be thanks to gifts made in support of some of our friendsrsquo childrenrsquos walk-a-thon participations or similar creative requests for funds But in the main our mail box no longer has the volume of requests for support that it once did
In my opening remarks I made mention of my father Now if my wife and I have received mail from some of you I can go out on a limb and say that my father got mail from nearly all of you Before I share my fatherrsquos direct mail experience Id like to tell you a bit about him
My father mdash Benjamin Siegel in case you are check-ing to see if his name is in your database mdash was born to immigrant parents here in Manhattan Despite his American birth he spoke
Seth ldquoYossirdquo Siegel
2012 New York Nonprofit Conference
KeynoteAddress
July 25 2012
vvv
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 15
no English until he started kindergarten His child-hood can only be described as hard and deprived with his parents being members of the working poor their entire lives Yet despite their poverty he recalled a blue-and-white tin charity box in his kitchen into which his mother would put a few coins every week late on Friday afternoon before the start of the Jewish Sabbath His parents werenrsquot reli-giously observant but his mother would make a char-itable donation of some kind every week for even poorer Jews living in what is now Israel
I would have to describe my father as angry a lot of the time And Id also have to say that it would be hard to find someone more cynical about institutions and whole professions than my father He thought all doctors were to use his word quacks He thought all lawyers were again to use his word shy-sters He loathed politicians He was dubious about the esteem given to Jewish clergy and I cant believe he had any special regard for the clergy of any other faith He was part of the Greatest Generation and talked his way into World War II after he was rejected on medical grounds and spent most of the war in Europe including landing on Omaha Beach on D-Day Plus 1 And even so he was often dismissive of the thought and planning
of our own military leaders especially what he thought of as the cavalier misuse of troops
Despite his being a one-man protest machine he utterly hated protest move-ments and anything that smacked of them I could go on but I think you get the picture This was a man of complete cynicism seem-ingly trusting no one He made a hard honest living and lived a life with no frills and few vacations Meals out in restaurants were a very special event By any stan-dard by which we measure comfort or luxury my father and mother had few check marks in that imaginary list
But family history aside there was a reason Ive just told you all of this
After my father died in 2004 some many years after my mother and stepmother had both passed away it fell to me to go through his effects and to pack up his things I donrsquot know how many of you here have ever had that task It is a melan-choly one with many small items serving to remind you of moments in the rela-tionship In addition it can be a startling one learning things about your deceased parent and achingly wishing you could have them back for even a few moments to explain what something meant or to ask why they had never told you about some just discovered element of their lives
For me the startling element I discovered was how my father mdash the utter cynic mdash was mdash within his means mdash a philanthropist and donor of a scope that is still remarkable to me You see when I opened the bottom drawer of his dresser the entire drawer was filled with note pads and boxes of seasonal cards from dozens and dozens of charities My first thought standing in his empty bedroom was ldquoTo whom was he planning on writing so many notesrdquo When I opened the next drawer it was filled with per-sonalized mailing labels from dozens of charities mdash possi-bly the same charities I donrsquot know but possibly not mdash but I knew that if he ever got around to sending out all of those notes and cards he would never have to write his return address on any of those envelopes As I con-tinued the packing up in his bedroom kitchen closets and elsewhere I found other institutional gifts from other charities like tote bags mugs umbrellas and so on almost all of them still in their orig-inal packaging
When I cleaned out his small desk I found his checkbook and sat at his desk to go through his check register and other check reg-isters going back years and years There were payments made to credit card compa-nies and utilities and taxes but overwhelmingly the checks were made payable
to one charity after another The amounts mdash as you pro-fessionals would guess from the pads and the pre-printed mailing labels mdash were all small Most of them were for ten dollars some for twenty-five and in a nod to the Jewish mystical belief in the specialness of numbers that are multiples of eigh-teen he had written plenty of checks to Jewish organiza-tions and causes for eighteen and thirty-six dollars
Also remarkable was the range of organizations to which he donated As I mentioned he gave to a broad array of Jewish and pro-Israel organizations but he also gave to commu-nity groups environmental groups hunger organiza-tions veterans groups and health-related organizations including hospitals hospices and disease-focused causes He even gave to animal shelter organizations mdash and he had never had a pet of his own
So how could it be that this most utterly cynical man a man who watched his pennies his whole life could have been a small-scale Roth-schild and Rockefeller in the range and expansiveness of his giving Of course wersquoll never know for sure but in trying to develop an answer to this there are lessons for those of us in this room who care about the not-for-profit world whether profession-ally as communal activists or as donors
continued
16 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
The first two possibili-ties that come to mind that Id like to quickly dismiss are that my father liked the idea that he could get something of value for what may have seemed for free It is possible but my father was a very prac-tical man and at some point he must have realized that well into his 80s he had such an ample supply of holiday cards and return address labels that he would never be able to use up the inventory The other thought was that he simply liked getting mail and he knew how the system worked Send in a check and the one envelope becomes two or three or ten Send in one hundred checks and he had his weekends filled reading through all of the mail he had received during the past week That is possi-ble but my father also died with a significant backlog of unread magazines so Im going to rule that out too
The explanation Ive come up with is that my father may have been a cynic but that he wanted to believe He may have thought most every institution and public figure not worthy of being trusted but he may still have yearned to be able to trust that some others out there cared deeply about society and elements of it and that he wanted to be part of the efforts to make the world a proverbially better place He despised a lot of things gen-erally but seemed to like a lot of things specifically
And from that insight I think there is some very good news for many of you here today I know from Tom Harrison that you are all worried about the crummy economy that shows no sign of quickly returning to robust times And Tom has also shared with me a worry about the viability of the US Postal Service and its ability to offer reduced mailing rates for the fore-seeable future And Tom has also told me that my fatherrsquos generation is dying off and not being quickly replaced by a new demographic cohort that reads mail and sends in money Plus there are environmental ques-tions about harvesting trees for the mailings and some compelling proof that people respond less well to email solicitations than they did to requests delivered via their mail boxes But aside from all of those structural impediments my fatherrsquos behavior offers some very special opportunities for those charities and organi-zations able to reach out and speak personally to the next waves of donors
If my father was a skepti-cal cynical guy in the Ozzie and Harriet 1950s and 60s he was a full generation ahead of where people are today and Id like to take a minute or two to explain what I mean
People today are fright-ened angry cynical even often despairing The
overwhelming feeling is that few institutions are working well Our political system just isnrsquot garnering wide-spread support and in these unsettling times people want leaders and insti-tutions that can fix their problems No matter who wins the presidential elec-tion in November there is little widespread belief we will come together as a society to fix our problems It may happen but people donrsquot believe it And the poll numbers reflect this Pres-ident Obama mdash who came into office on a promise of hope and change and of transformation of our political culture and which initially yielded him an approval rating of 67 mdash has had an approval rating that has been below 50 since November 2009 and is now at 47 If the president has problems in garnering the publicrsquos trust that he can solve their problems Con-gress as an institution is doing far far worse with an approval rating of 23 The US Supreme Court enjoys an approval rating of only 35 These numbers for the president and for the legisla-tive and judicial branches of government actually under-state the problem The poll number of those who call themselves ldquofrustrated or angry with the federal gov-ernmentrdquo comes in at a frightening 79 President Obama may win re-elec-tion but it likely wont be a
unifying election We have a divided government at a polarized partisan moment of utterly different and con-tradictory views of how to solve the problems at hand Given the enormity of the problems mdash from the economy to the deficit to the debt to Iranrsquos nuclear program to the rise of radical Islamism to the rise of China and its likelihood to be a destabilizing force and many many more prob-lems mdash the likelihood our country will be dispirited and detached from politics is larger than it is smaller
Staying with our politi-cal system for just another moment we have another problem Because people are angry and have a near con-stant ldquothrow the bums outrdquo feeling about our elected offi-cials we are going through a period of uncommon insta-bility in our government institutions
Most people believe that incumbents come to office and tend to leave only when they die But it just isnrsquot true Whether because of the Tea Party or because of burn-out by elected officials the level of turnover in Washington is a big and growing problem In just the past five Congres-sional elections which is to say in the past ten years a remarkable 54 of the US Senate has been replaced If that number seems impos-sibly high for institutional stability in the House of Representatives the turnover
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 17
in that same period has been 68 Due to announced retirements and defeats in primaries we already know that in the coming Senate and House to be sworn in next January no fewer than 11 current Senators and 60 current Congressmen and Congresswomen will not be returning mdash and that assumes not a single incum-bent will lose in a single race in the remaining pri-maries and the General Election That means at least a 65 turnover in the US Senate and a more than 80 turnover in the House of Representatives in a mere 12-year period Think of your own organizations and what a turnover of that mag-nitude would mean to your ability to do your institu-tional job let alone having to grapple with many of the enormous challenges I mentioned a moment ago and many others I did not mention Thus the roiling public environment is more likely to stay roiled for some time to come than it is likely to return to some idealized period of harmony
Not to belabor the point but to also make sure that we understand that the problem of popular unease is broader than belief in our national government let me share just a few poll numbers to demonstrate my point Our confidence in hospitals and our doctors is now at 41 which is bad enough but HMOs are at 19 Public
schools have the confidence of only 29 of the people in our country Newspapers taken together have the con-fidence of just 25 of the American people But falling even lower than newspapers TV news comes in at 21 And labor unions banks and major corporations are all tied with the confidence of just one in five Ameri-cans at around 20 Even organized religion falls below the 50 mark at 44
Indeed the only three institutions regularly polled about by Gallup to be above the 50 mark are our police departments at 56 small business at 63 and our fighting men and women in the US military at 75 And finally in what many people believe is the most important general view of how people feel the Right Track Wrong Track poll Rasmussen reports 30 of Americans think our country is on the right track
and 64 believe our country is on the wrong track
In case you werenrsquot a statistics major in college let me boil all of these poll results down to just this one short statement and it is this My father was ahead of his time Just as my father didnrsquot trust or like just about any institution the American people now donrsquot much trust or like any institution with
the exception of police military and
small busi-ness In
nearly every other
case the institu-tion Ive mentioned is at or
near an all-time low since these Gallup Institutional Confidence polls began being conducted in 1973
But I think there is a second key learning from all of this bad news that is actu-ally very good news for some of you but definitely not all of you and that is this Just as my father had very low confidence in government and other mass institutions yet managed to turn himself
into a check-writing ma-chine for many many not-for-profits so too can your organization or your clients The not-so-profound insight is that even the most angry frustrated cynical skeptical misanthrope wants to believe It was true of mis-anthropes when Moliere wrote a play by that name in the 1660s It was true of my father And Id bet a dona-tion to any of your causes that it is true today even with a Right Track Wrong Track poll that has double the number of Wrong Trackers over Right Trackers People want to believe People want to love People know they wont live for forever and people want to see the world better both today in their lifetimes and tomor-row when it is their legacy This is true for mega donors who will be honored at fancy dinners in hotel ballrooms like this and for ten dollar donors who look forward to the return address labels you all will send to them
So with the crummy economy the dicey state of the Postal Service the demo-graphic hump working against low-dollar donors and all of the other problems direct marketers face my money is on the significant success of some of the orga-nizations that are here today Of course the structural challenges make it harder but is it harder today than it was in my grandmotherrsquos
vvvThe not-so-profound insight is that even
the most angry frustrated cynical skeptical
misanthrope wants to believehellipPeople know they
wont live for forever and people want to see the
world better both today in their lifetimes and
tomorrow when it is their legacy
vvv
continued
18 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
walk-up tenement apart-ment in which every Friday afternoon she found a way to donate to people she knew she would never meet who were living in a place she knew she would never see She believed in the enterprise afoot in what is today Israel a place on the other side of the world and she trusted that the coins in her little blue-and-white tin box would be used wisely and honorably All the same must have been true about my father and the many causes to which he wrote those checks And the same is true of millions and millions of people waiting to be touched and to form a connection with a cause larger than themselves a cause they can make their own in a way best thought of as an I-Thou relationship
For those of you unfa-miliar with the phrase I and Thou let me start by telling you it is a concept that changed my life It was coined by the philoso-pher and theologian Martin Buber Despite his being a theologian it is a concept that isnt inherently reli-gious even if it works well in every faith tradition and also works well in a purely secular context It works well for couples who have long been together and remark-ably it works well when soliciting gifts from near-strangers It is an approach to living a happy satisfying life So with that build up let
me tell you about I and Thou and about Martin Buber
Buber was born in Austria but moved to Germany in his teens to pursue his education In the 1920s he wrote his most famous work ldquoI and Thourdquo which although somewhat obscure today helped to establish his reputation as a leading German thinker of his time When the Nazis came to power in 1933 as a Jew he was prohibited from teaching at the uni-versity where he had been a professor and in 1938 just ahead of the start of the mass murder of 90 of Euro-pean Jewry Buber made his way to the British Mandate where he became a professor in Jerusalem When the State of Israel came into being in 1948 Buber was an esteemed philosopher revered by the young nation It is hard to imagine a philosopher having this kind of fame and impact but when he died in 1965 it was the lead news story of the day in Israel and a major story in The New York Times and other world newspapers
According to Buber there are two kinds of rela-tionships I-Thou and I-It The idea underpinning these concepts is best explained by examples as every single person in this room has experienced I-Thou and I-It relationships In an I-Thou relationship we are as one Your destiny is my destiny
even if only for a moment In the I-It relationship the parties are in a transac-tion I have turned the other party into an object to help me to achieve something that I want Indeed we all have I-Thou relationships and I-It relationships all the time mdash and we often have these disparate relationships within moments of each other and often with the very same person If this room were smaller and more inti-mate I could randomly call on anyone and have you give examples of I-Thou and I-It relationships in your own life But Ill use my own life as an example
I love my wife very much I am happy to come home at the end of the workday and to hear about her day and what is new and for her to hear about my day That is an I-Thou moment But while sitting with her my stomach starts to growl I become distracted Im not think-ing about her but about the dinner I know she has prepared Im hungry and want to eat She becomes an object a means to an end an I-It Wersquove all had that expe-rience or one like it
But just because Im getting something I want from her mdash or from anyone mdash doesnrsquot mean it has to be an I-It moment In that exact same scenario it could just as well have been an I-Thou moment by a change in my behavior even
with the same outcome that dinner will be served and my hunger abated Instead of single-mindedly think-ing about food in its place I could have interrupted the conversation to tell her that Im hungry I could have offered to set the table while we keep talking And most importantly I could keep reminding myself that she has spent time and trouble thinking about dinner and preparing it and that I have no entitlement to her having done this and how fortunate I am that she has If I do all of that it is more likely we will have an I-Thou relationship that evening than a transac-tional I-It one
Even with people we love I-Thoursquos and I-Itrsquos flit back and forth across some imaginary spectrum with engagement and other-directedness on one side and selfishness and self-direct-edness on the other We all have instincts for both sides of that spectrum and the challenge is to take the harder path the path where we direct the moment away from ourselves and our selfish wants and needs to that of the person present before us and our shared experience
As I indicated earlier this isnrsquot just true of deep long-lasting relationships It can be true of the waiter who serves you dinner the bellman who helps you with your bags even with a
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 19
passing stranger on a line to get into somewhere Every encounter has the oppor-tunity to be an I-Thou or an I-It and the challenge is for each of us to constantly remind ourselves of the humanity of the person with whom we engage
I and Thou isnrsquot just for people It is also true of believing peoplersquos relation-ship with God and also true of organizations and how they relate to people In my experience Ive found it even true of inanimate objects even if that may take it beyond Buberrsquos own con-ception So how do Martin Buber and his I and Thou relate to you all as direct mar-keters and as fundraisers for your worthy organizations
Everyone knows when they are in an I and Thou moment You feel the link and the joy that comes from the link But people also know when they are being used as a means to an end
when they are the ldquoItrdquo in an I-It relationship People may give you what you want when they are in an I-It rela-tionship with you and you may give your counter-party what they seek too but we all know that feeling of sadness or emptiness within when someone you are with mdash a co-worker a boss a spouse a child even a clerk on the phone at a call center mdash treats you as an object to get some-thing achieved and not as an opportunity to feel your humanity and for you to feel theirs even if for a fleeting moment
And the same Ill say is true about the relationship between a potential donor and your organization Those organizations that stand for somethinghellip Those organizations that donrsquot treat their donors as objects like walking checkbookshellip Those organizations that take the time to engage with their prospects Indeed
those organizations that donrsquot even necessarily start by asking for something it is those organizations who I believe will find a wide universe of people eager to believe and eager to be part of the organizationrsquos mission An I-Thou relation-ship doesnrsquot mean we never ask the other party for some-thing It is about how and when we ask Just as we will have a different outcome with our spouses children and co-workers when we are building off of an I-Thou relationship rather than an I-It so too will we have a different outcome when we approach our donors as part-ners as people we care about exactly as much whether they donate or not It is from that soulful relationship that donors will want to support one organization over an-other and one cause over another no matter how angry or frustrated or cynical they are about the larger world
around them That is how I believe the next genera-tion of donors will come to support many but not all of our organizations
When my father died I had the Postal Service forward his mail to my home address In the nearly eight years since his passing Ive received hundreds of mail-ings maybe more I often open the solicitations to try to get a feel for the kinds of causes and organizations my father would have been spending his time learning about and possibly support-ing So while some recipients of your mailings may think of your output as junk mail I couldnrsquot be more apprecia-tive Each envelope serves to remind me that the cynical side of my father was only a side and that when properly touched even a hard man could respond
Thank you all very much for your attention n
copy 2012 Seth M Siegel Reproduction with authorrsquos consent only All rights reserved
Looking for an agency or supplier to help your organization reachnew heights
Access the DMANFrsquos Directory of Service providers
nonprofitfederationorgcorporate-partnerssearch
20 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Nonprofit organizations face unique marketing chal-lenges Theyrsquore tasked with identifying and reaching the right people at the right time and through
the appropriate channels as well as balancing message appeals with monetary requests all while conveying their mission and cause The rapid expansion of the internet social networking and mobile have placed yet another demand front-and-center for nonprofit organizations mdash con-sumer privacy
Consumers are justly concerned about divulging their personal information They want to know where why and how their information will be used Many are unaware that their personal information is collected in a variety of ways and by a variety of sources both online and offline Common but often misunderstood data practices include third-party ad servers setting cookies retail stores matching names and addresses with phone numbers and marketers sharing customer lists
In todayrsquos complex marketplace how can nonprofit organizations demonstrate to their supporters donors and prospects that they share their concerns and are commit-ted to protecting their privacy The first and most important step is to create a clear privacy policy and communicate it effectively
the Privacy PolicyIf your organization collects uses and or stores personal donor information a privacy policy is critical You must display your privacy policy on your website and strictly abide by it
Privacy policies are structured around Notice and Choice principles They should provide supporters with notice of
how their data is collected used and shared as well as their choices to limit or prevent such practices Your privacy policy should also include information to maintain trans-parency and that clearly describes your organizationrsquos data security practices
Key points every privacy policy should address include
The types of personal information your organization collects This may include name address telephone number email address and credit card or other payment information
How information is secured
How personal information is used and with whom it is shared
How supporters can control the use of their data
How the privacy policy is updated and the effective date of the policy
Letrsquos take a more detailed look at the elements of a privacy policy from a nonprofit organizationrsquos perspective
Collecting personal InformationAs mentioned personal information may include data ele-ments such as name address telephone number email address and payment information It can also include more sensitive information such as gender race religious or politi-cal beliefs health information or other characteristics
The types of personal information collected and the length of retention may be used to enhance your marketing
Consumer PrivacyA Guide for Nonprofit Marketers
Bethany Lewis Privacy Analyst Epsilon
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 21
objectives by creating detailed profiles of supporters but what if that dataprofile was accessed without appropriate permis-sions or used by other organizations for purposes beyond the original intent Inappropriate generalizations might be made about supporters regardless of who has the data and the risk for reputational and other damage increases if that type of data is compromised
For example if a supporter donates to an organization that supports research of a genetic disorder should they be identified as a patient of or at risk for that same disorder Perhaps theyrsquore simply a caretaker for someone suffer-ing from that disorder Similarly if a supporter donates to a religious-based organization could assumptions around political leanings be attributed to them
Protecting information about charitable contributions is critical as is informing supporters how that information will be used which brings us to data security and the sharing of personal information
protecting personal InformationToday every organization is vulnerable when it comes to data security Protecting the personal information of supporters is essential The first line of protection is collecting only the necessary data
While creating supporter profiles evaluate the risks of storing ldquounnecessaryrdquo data especially if an incident exposes the data Set internal policies for how long each category of data collected will be retained and be diligent in deletingdestroying data in a safe and thorough manner based on those policies
Whenever possible encrypt personal data maintained electronically and enhance security on laptops and mobile devices from which supporter data is accessed
Sharing personal InformationBe very clear in your privacy policy when providing infor-mation on the types of third-parties with whom your organization shares data If you share information with third-party service providers disclose this fact and provide a categorized list of these organizations Such organizations may include credit card processors shipping vendors mar-keting analysts or consultants and fulfillment houses
If you share information with other nonprofit organi-zations disclose these practices Also disclose if you share information with marketing cooperatives whose databases are not exclusively nonprofit
Protecting
information
about
charitable
contributions
is critical
continued
22 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
providing ChoiceStudies have shown that modern consumers are more com-fortable sharing personal information with organizations that are clear and upfront about how their information is used and with whom it is shared In fact most people respond positively to organizations who transparently disclose data sharing practices and provide a clear and convenient oppor-tunity to opt-out While a small percentage of individuals will choose to opt-out of data sharing very few supporters will opt-out of all contact with an organization Therefore providing an opportunity to opt-out of sharing data for mar-keting purposes as well as an opt-out for receiving further requests from your organization will aid in retaining your most loyal supporters
Updating the privacy policyClearly state the effective date of your current privacy policy and update it when you make any material changes If you do make material changes to your privacy policy with ret-roactive application to the data you already have stored you may need to obtain express consent from individuals to use their information for new or different purposes Some organizations choose to list what changes were made in a summary history which may be helpful to a supporter reviewing the policy
Pulling It All togetherYour privacy policy should be easy to find read understand and act upon (ie opt-out or modify preferences) It should also be present in each commercial solicitation where per-sonal information is collected regardless of whether that is through postal mailings or on your website
Additional information regarding Notice Choice Trans-parency and other important privacy principles can be found on the DMA website in the Commitment to Consumer Choice and the DMA Guidelines for Ethical Business Practice
At Epsilon we use the following checklist when evaluating a privacy policy
The website has a privacy policy
There is a link to the privacy policy from the websitersquos home page and the link contains the word ldquoprivacyrdquo
The privacy policy states that the organization shares consumer data and personal information (including name address email address and transaction informa-tion) with third-party service providers
The privacy policy states that the organization shares consumer data and personal information with other marketers for their own marketing purposes
The privacy policy provides consumers the chance to opt-out of having their information shared with other marketers
The privacy policy has an ldquoeffectiverdquo date
As mentioned in situations where data is shared with other organizations and marketers transparency is the key Below is sample disclosure language
The personally identifiable information that you provide to us
(such as your name address and email address) and information
about your contribution may be combined with other non-person-
ally identifiable information (such as demographic information and
past contribution history) available from our records and other
sources This information will be used to make our future market-
ing efforts more efficient and relevant This information may also
be shared with our third-party service providers that assist us
with our marketing efforts and with other marketers whose prod-
ucts or services we feel may be of interest to you If you prefer
that we do not share your name and address with other market-
ers please email us at optoutyourorganizationorg
Beyond the Privacy PolicyIn addition to having a robust privacy policy written in concise language and that is easily accessible here are a few other best practices to secure the privacy of your sup-portersrsquo information
Ensure agreements with third-parties who may have access to supportersrsquo personal information adequately address privacy and data security
Suppress personal information in your database when a supporter requests it and do so within a reasonable timeframe
If you must store sensitive information such as credit card or social security numbers as part of your data-base encrypt this information
Train employees and volunteers regularly on the importance of maintaining privacy and security
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 23
Nonprofit Careers e-Bulletin
Your Multi-ChannelRecruiting Tool
Become familiar with data breach notification require-ments and have a response plan and team in place Should you experience a breach disclose to all appro-priate and necessary parties
Monitor the use of your data and address any enti-ties when you become aware that data is being used in a way that violates the law contractual requirements andor the DMArsquos Ethical Guidelines
Respecting and promoting consumer privacy requires a commitment to maintaining balance between the legitimate business needs of your organization and the concerns of individuals about fair information practices Start by taking a look at your current privacy policy Assure its accuracy and adhere to its strategy n
Bethany Lewis As a Privacy Analyst Bethany Lewis supports and educates associates and clients on privacy compliance matters She brings an extensive background in regulatory compliance corporate ethics education and training to her work at Epsilon
ldquoThe recruitment Tool for the Nonprofit Communityrdquo is your source for top flight exposure to top flight candidates and the best A b amp C-level career opportunities out there
Distributed every Tuesday 8 am ET via raquo Email raquo post at wwwnonprofitfederationorg raquo Facebook mdash DMA Nonprofit Federation raquo Twitter mdash DMANF and AliozDC
To view ad submission requirements visit the ldquoFind a Jobrdquo area of the DMA Nonprofit Federation homepage wwwnonprofitfederationorg and click on ldquoHow to postrdquo Ads must be emailed to Aosgoodthe-dmaorg please make sure any ad you submit meets our specifications
Is your nonprofit organization already a dual member of the DMA and DMANF If the answer is lsquoyesrsquo itrsquos FrEE mdash so why not post
Join the over 8000 professionals who already subscribe
Sign up today nonprofitfederationorgpublications careers-e-bulletinsubscribe
DMA Guidelines for Ethical Business Practice
dmaresponsibilityorgGuidelines
24 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Each week I see non-profit organizations walking away from
mobile thinking that com-municating and fundraising with their constituents through the single most used electronic device in history is optional Con-versely we see more and more retailers embracing mobile and the omnichan-nel marketing model because the results are tre-mendous We at mGive think nonprofits benefit when they embrace similar tools and methodologies
What is an omnichan-nel approach and why is it important to non-profit organizations An omnichannel approach is an integrated marketing strat-egy that creates a seamless experience for the donor
It is a customer-centric approach that elevates your supporter loyalty strategies by leveraging cross-channel opportunities For example when a donor drops off goods at their local Epilepsy Foundation they receive a paper receipt to complete Normally once they leave your location you lose any hope of communicating with them again Imagine if when the donor dropped off their goods you offered to send the donor an email version of their receipt You now have a way to engage the supporter through email Now suppose your email receipt offered a web link that drove them to a form to opt-in to your mobile community in order to receive updates via text
Once they opt-in you then have a way to send updates volunteer requests dona-tion reminders and more You may also leverage the fact they are on the mobile phone and send text mes-sages asking supporters to post a photo to Facebook making a donation Having this omnichannel strat-egy in place is especially critical at the end of year because it is an opportune time for organizations to increase membership and raise dollars
So how does an organization create an omnichannel approach that leverages direct mail email online social media live events and mobile to achieve their goals It may be difficult for some orga-nizations to make the
operational shift to an omnichannel model but that doesnrsquot mean you can afford to ignore it Not sure you can get all the steps in place by the time you launch your end of year activities Mobile is the bridge that can help to start that process In fact more and more organizations are relying on their mobile strategy to bridge the gap and engage supporters in this multi-screen world because mobile is the ldquogreat centralizerrdquo of activities ndash where else can you make calls browse the web check email respond to text mes-sages post to social media and more in a truly porta-ble fashion
Before we move on to the tactics that an organiza-tion can take to incorporate
Mobile
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 25
mobile into their existing multi-channel strategies we must tackle one issue If your organization has tried mobile or an omnichan-nel approach in the past and were disappointed or frustrated with your expe-rience try again You were one of the pioneering orga-nizations that comprise the early adopters of those models Lessons learned over the past few years have evolved into success-ful best practices mdash and you get the opportunity to benefit from them As we like to say in honor of the wise Master Yoda ldquoTry not Do or do not There is no tryrdquo We guarantee if imple-mented correctly using mobile in an omnichannel approach can work for your organization
1 Communicate and Integrate mdash Walk Across the Mobile Bridge
Many organizations that I work with have voiced cross-departmental integra-tion as a challenge That is understandable because tra-ditionally departments or channels have been siloed from one another But this disenfranchised model does not result in the seam-less experience that donors are coming to expect In order for a donor experi-ence to be seamless direct mail must complement the organizationrsquos website the organizationrsquos website must complement the mobile campaign social media must complement direct mail and so forth and so on When used together
the communication chan-nels can result in more effective campaigns and bigger numbers
When an organization decides to develop a mobile strategy generally it is one department within that organization that is initially interested That department is a hero because they have just launched a toolset that can be used throughout the organization If you have a mobile program in place for fundraising itrsquos time to talk with your program services department mem-bership team and corporate partner folks and get them in the loop so that you can maximize the omnichannel approach Mobile can be a great catalyst for initiating conversation and guiding organizational integration
Mobile is also a great way to increase the effec-tiveness of existing channels By integrating your direct mail newslet-ter social media online and mobile efforts you can increase response and open rates We have found that if you send a text message to your membership remind-ing them to check their email inboxes you can increase email open rates by 10 or more Addition-ally if you include a mobile number field on your email and paper member-ship forms you can quickly build a mobile community that can turn into repeat donors Once again the most important element besides the actual cross
the Bridge to an omnichannel Approach in time for Year-End Campaigns
continued
Jenifer Snyder Esq Executive Director The mGive Foundation and Cassie Bair Vice President of Marketing Mobile Accord
26 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
channel promotion goes back to this concept of the omnichannel Make the message consistent across all channels They donrsquot have to be identical but they should complement each other and work to create an echo effect
Just about every one of your donors will experience your organization through their mobile device at some point mdash so make sure your message is clear consistent convenient and actionable through mobile in some capacity
2 test Review Adjust Implement Review Adjust mdash and Repeat
Once you have an inte-grated strategy in place itrsquos time to implement Whether the goal is to acquire new donors reactivate lapsed donors and drive donations from existing donors mdash or all three mdash test your cam-paign Take time to review the results and adjust accordingly Then imple-ment full scale confident you are on the right path Regularly review your results adjust your activities and repeat as needed
In preparation for end of year activities take the time in the Fall to tweak your marketing engine for optimal performance Do some zero based plan-ning and try to approach
the supporter experience as if you are the supporter Spend time on every avenue where you can wisely create a seamless experience
Everyone in philan-thropy knows that the majority of all charitable donations are made in the last 2 months of the year Additionally member-ship increases substantially during the last quarter of the year Spend time now identifying opportunities strategies and tactics that work best for you mdash and consider how mobile can be a centralizing point for many of these activities
3 Apply the Winning Methodologies to Your End of Year Appeals
Yoursquove tested tweaked and determined what works best for you Now inte-grate what yoursquove learned into your end of year cam-paigns Determine how your campaign follows stan-dard best practices for end of year appeals and where mobile can help drive that engagement across multiple mediums
Common best practices for end of year campaigns that can include mobile
A Sending multiple asks the final week of the year mdash Make sure text messages are a part of that effort Whether itrsquos a simple call-to-action to text
a donation drives people to a pledge page or some-thing all-together different mobile can help ramp up that seamless experience
B the Art of the ldquothank Yourdquo mdash Thank your sup-porters Use mobile to message supporters your appreciation when they take action through text or drive them to a webpage with a video with a celeb-rity spokesperson giving a thank you message But make sure they know repeatedly that what they do for your cause matters And keep in mind mobile can drive to a strong ldquothank yourdquo experience
C Share Ask Listen mdash Take the opportunity to tell a story ask for feed-back and listen to what your organization is being told Not sure how to do that in mobile Share a link to a news article through text Ask for feedback through social media And listen to what is being said while distilling insights from how supporters respond in order to strengthen your omnichannel approach
4 Continue into 2013 mdash You are set for success
As donors enter the New Year self-improve-ment will often include a
commitment to be a better person volunteer more donate more funds etc Use mobile as a data col-lection tool to help your donors achieve their goal Give them the opportunity to commit to goals pertain-ing to your cause and then become their coach Send monthly reminders of their commitment and words of encouragement Remind them about appointments invite them to share their experience and overall let the donor feel the effect of their selfless promise through all of their activi-ties while using mobile to centralize that community and to drive people to action
We now live in a world where the average person at any given moment is looking at two or more screens It is critical that nonprofit organizations embrace the multi-screen world and adopt the omnichannel or fully integrated model When you create a seam-less giving experience for the everyday philanthropist you will be amazed at the results Walking away from a mobile strategy today is like walking away from the internet in the early 2000s
Mobile is here to stay and it is not an elective component to your orga-nizationrsquos fundraising and engagement strategy Itrsquos an essential part of a successful omnichannel strategy for your end of year activities n
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 27
Jenifer Snyder Esq Executive Director The mGive Foundation
As Executive Director of The mGive Foun-dation Jenifer is dedicated to expanding the scope and reach of the mobile channel for social good She brings years of lead-ership experience in the mobile industry to the position Previously Jenifer was a founder and General Counsel for 9 Squared Inc a mobile content and ser-vices company subsequently acquired by the Zed Group She left Zed in 2007 and started building the mobile channel for social and charitable efforts and later formed The mGive Foundation
Cassie bair Vice president of Marketing Mobile Accord
As Vice President of Marketing for Mobile Accord Cassie is dedicated to educat-ing and empowering nonprofits regarding the power of mobile She combines years of marketing experience in the nonprofit industry with the exciting evolution of the mobile channel for social good Cassie has worked with organizations such as the American Heart Association American Institute of Architects and the American Society of Echocardiography developing integrated and cause marketing cam-paigns and uses that knowledge today with clients to help them maximize their mobile strategy
Name
OrganizationCompany
Address
City State Zip Code
Charge my m Visa m MasterCard m AmEx m Discover
Card Number Expiration Date
Signature
raquo FAX form to 2026284383 (do not email credit card information)
raquo MAIL form to Alicia Osgood Director Membership amp Communications DMA Nonprofit Federation 1615 L Street NW Suite 1100 Washington DC 20036
raquo MAKE ChECKS payable to the DMA Nonprofit Federation
raquo DMA Nonprofit Federation Federal Tax ID Number 13-1810859
News and cutting-edge professional development tips
SUBSCRIBEto the Journal today1year =3 issues
ONLY $35Published digitally in January Apriland September the Journal brings together nonprofit leaders to deliver a standout publication packed with content you can really use
No cost to members
28 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Consumer technology evolves so quickly that nonprof-its are constantly racing to get their organizations using the latest technologies and mediums In fact many of these innovations have had significant impact on the fundrais-ing community While online CRM systems for example spawned database segmentation capabilities the opportu-nity ndash and challenge ndash arose for fundraising professionals to target appeals precisely to donorsrsquo specific interests Lately the emergence and rapid popularity of technologies such as smartphones and social media have forced nonprofits to not only create a presence but essentially compete for shrinking donor funds using these vehicles
The primary focus of nonprofit technology however tends to be inward creating a presence in a particular social media community or simply using the technology on behalf of the organization Examples of this include a nonprofitrsquos Facebook page and Twitter account and mobile-friendly
web sites In todayrsquos competitive fundraising environment though itrsquos not enough for nonprofits to simply use the latest technology Successful fundraisers understand that a nonprofitrsquos relationship with technology needs to take one step beyond itself to focus outward how do your sup-porters and donors want to use technology on behalf of your organization
Donors have technology preferences and habits too While itrsquos great for organizations to have a Facebook page for sup-porters to ldquolikerdquo that offers news and updates for example this doesnrsquot offer an opportunity for donors to appeal to their friends and family on behalf of your nonprofit mdash and certainly doesnrsquot raise money As nonprofits have learned to quickly adapt to changing technology and social media standards the time has come for organizations to evolve the technology they offer to provide donors supporters and par-ticipants with a personalized fundraising experience
Get Personal Providing Supporters with Personalized Fundraising Experiences
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 29
Personalization Means EngagementAt a fundamental level donor personalization in fun-
draising emerged from some of the first online nonprofit fundraising systems Offering supporters the opportunity to send personalized fundraising emails to their friends and family was revolutionary in its time mdash as was offering custom individual and team fundraising web pages
While these technology offerings revolutionized event fundraising donors have become increasingly savvy in the way they interact online mdash and developed strong preferences and dislikes in the types of technology they use They want the technology they know and like to be at their fingertips and are more likely to fundraise and successfully so for your nonprofit if itrsquos made easy and accessible for them
Back to Basics mdash But BetterNonprofits have been so consumed by social media that
they often forget this simple fact participants who use online tools raise six times more than non-users according to Blackbaud In addition 25 percent of the fundraising emails supporters send to their friends result in a donation With the average online gift being $60 nonprofits have motiva-tion not to forget about the basics of online fundraising But in the age of increasing competition for donations nonprof-its that offer a more personalized fundraising experience to supporters may see better results
What does it mean to offer a personalized fundrais-ing experience For online fundraising pages it can mean offering them the opportunity to post pictures videos story content and individual fundraising status updates But itrsquos essentially the personalization options offered behind the scenes mdash in the personal ldquoHeadquartersrdquo page within an online fundraising system mdash that can really maximize fun-draising results
Savvy nonprofits are offering a multitude of ways within their online fundraising systems for supporters to choose to reach out to friends and family Offering more than the email capabilities found standard with most fundraising plat-forms some nonprofits are starting to provide supporters more options in their personal participant ldquoheadquartersrdquo pages to engage those in their network mdash all with the click of a button Opportunities for supporters to personalize their experience could include options to
Send a Facebook message
Tweet their fundraising page
Update their Facebook status
Send a quick email
In addition statistics about their personal fundraising process could tell them
Total emails sent
Visits to their personal fundraising pages
Number of donations
Number of registrations
Average amount raised per email sent
Number of additional emails needed to reach fundraising goal
And because no one participant is the same these per-sonalization options allow the supporter to interact and engage their network on behalf of the nonprofit in ways that are meaningful and comfortable to them
Beyond the Facebook PageThe nonprofit community has taken Facebook by storm as an avenue to engage supporters and attract donors But itrsquos important to look beyond how supporters want to interact with your nonprofit and understand how they want to in-teract with their social network Itrsquos within this framework that supporters choose mdash or choose not mdash to engage their network on your organizationrsquos behalf
So make it easy for them provide them with a variety of ways to use several social media tools to reach out and fund-raise for your nonprofit Let them decide how they fundraise With 845 million monthly active users and 100 billion con-nections Facebook for example provides an excellent platform for nonprofits mdash and their fundraisers mdash to expand fundraising reach In fact Blackbaudrsquos web site states that social media users raise 40 more than non-users But most
continued
John Murphy PresidentCEo and Founder Zuri Group
30 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
organizations make the mistake of relying on participants to send their own appeals and updates or worse provide cum-bersome tools that require multiple logins and steps
Some enthusiastic fundraisers will thrive in this envi-ronment Others wonrsquot Since each supporter is unique itrsquos important to provide several varying opportunities and options so that a personalized fundraising experience can be forged For many fundraisers asking for donations isnrsquot easy All participants want to raise money but many donrsquot feel comfortable asking outside of close friends and family Other fundraisers donrsquot have the time or creativity to regu-larly develop and update personalized Facebook messages Use technology to help overcome these challenges by creat-ing easy ways for them to raise more money using Facebook
To take the effort out of Facebook fundraising remove the discomfort of a direct ldquoaskrdquo and save fundraisers time some nonprofits are offering supporters the option for fun-draising updates that automatically post on their Facebook wall at pre-determined intervals throughout the fundraising season For the right supporter this option removes the dis-comfort of approaching potential donors with a direct ldquoaskrdquo while significantly expanding their fundraising reach
Mobilizing the troopsAccording to a 2011 study consumers spend more time
on mobile applications than on the web In addition Ameri-cans spend 27 hours per day on average socializing on their mobile phones Nonprofits have been hard at work to lever-age the trend toward mobile by creating mobile-friendly web sites and even apps to further engage supporters But what about the mobile interaction that takes place between sup-porters and their friends The key is for nonprofits to make it accessible and easy for fundraisers to use their everyday technologies and devices to fundraise within their own networks By providing fundraising options that enable sup-porters to simply use something they already use such as a smartphone to connect with people they already interact with fundraising becomes a more natural and personalized part of the supporterrsquos day
To provide a more personalized and convenient fun-draising experience some nonprofits are offering mobile fundraising apps that enable supporters to not only use their smartphones to fundraise but to fundraise using multiple technologies within the smartphone mdash such as email text Twitter Facebook and even FaceTime for iPhone users As a result supporters can fundraise for the organization from their homes the train while walking the dog mdash anytime they have their phone
By empowering supporters to personalize their fundrais-ing experience nonprofits that provide mobile fundraising apps help their fundraisers help them These organizations are meeting the needs of on-the-go fundraising participants so they can focus on spreading awareness soliciting dona-tions and thanking donors mdash on their time on their terms In fact itrsquos been reported that fundraising participants using mobile fundraising applications raise 200 more than other participants and bring in 300 more gifts by count that other participants
In addition some mobile fundraising apps are provid-ing further personalization by bringing some of the same features of the personalized online ldquoheadquartersrdquo to the smartphone such as fundraising thermometers and adding donors into their phone address book Pre-written fundrais-ing messages developed specifically for various mediums such as texts Twitter updates and emails can be used Editing personal fundraising pages from the smartphone is likely the next option nonprofits will start offering
the Personalization ChallengeAs nonprofits compete in the race to adopt new technolo-
gies and social media itrsquos important to take a step back and consider your supportersrsquo relationship with those channels Many nonprofits have a Facebook page or group but how are your fundraisers using Facebook Are you making it easy for them to advocate or fundraise for your organization If much of your donor base uses text messaging have you pro-vided easy access and tools for them to text their network on your behalf
Supporters want and frankly need a personalized online experience with your organization Go beyond the bounds of your interactive relationship and consider what would enable your supporter base to have a more personalized fundrais-ing experience mdash and then put those tools at their fingertips They and their network mdash will thank you n
John Murphy is the PresidentCEO and Founder of Zuri Group Zuri Group provides nonprofits with custom technology solutions to meet critical organizational needs such as fundraising using their existing platform For more info visit zurigroupcom
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 31Non-Profit_FullPageAd_OLindd 1 91312 417 PM
32 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
9 Centennial Drive
Peabody MA 01960-7906
Tel 8003707500
wwwamergentcom
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at friendsamergentcomifund or scan qr code
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 33
Looking to Affordably Grow Your Donor Fileand Increase Contributions
We Can HelpWiland Direct is the nationrsquos 1 transactional database for fundraisers
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bull Affordably acquire new donors bull Maximize contributions from existing donors bull Reactivate former donorsbull Identify the most likely activists and volunteersbull Convert inquirers petition signers and other ldquowarm leadsrdquo into donors
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ldquoThe Wiland Direct database has been a solid performer for LLS with higher average gifts and lower cost per dollar raised than most Itrsquos opened up a new acquisition universe particularly important for a mature program Wersquore very pleased with the results and team support from Wilandrdquomdash Bruny Lynch The Leukemia amp Lymphoma Society
34 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
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Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 35
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36 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
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Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 37
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38 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
1
2
3
A
B
C
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 11
Bob Ball is the Executive Creative Director of Masterworks He has been trying not to bore donors since 1993
5 Appreciate the donor One of the major themes of the newsletter needs to be how important the donor is ldquoLook at what you have accomplished With your help we can do all this Without your help we will not be able to do itrdquo Look for ways to use the words ldquoThank yourdquo over and over again Itrsquos almost impossible to over-thank donors (And remember this is not merely a report back about what the organization was able to accomplish This is all about what the donor has accomplished through their generosity Whenever you have the opportunity to influence the gathering of photo resource have beneficiaries hold up signs that say ldquoThank Yourdquo That is the most powerful and direct way to close the loop between the donor and the people who are actually being helped
6 Design for readability Remove all unnecessary barriers to readability and com-prehension Use a large readable serif font for body copy Readability studies have shown that serif fonts are superior to sans serif fonts for body copy on the printed page A lot of designers love sans serif fonts because of their clean look and because they are trendy but this is not a matter of taste If you want your body copy to be read and comprehended use a nice serif font All body copy should pass the ldquodollar billrdquo test (You should not be able to lay a dollar bill on any expanse of body copy without touching a headline photo or subhead) No large blocks of reversed out type No busy backgrounds behind copy Make the layout ldquoscannablerdquo with large photos headlines subheads and pull-quotes
7 Motivate another gift Donors love to give and you should not be ashamed to ask them to give again While most of the newsletter space is devoted to thanks and apprecia-tion the newsletter needs to give the donor a way to repeat their charitable behavior This means making a clearly stated offer that donors have supported in the past
8 Make it convenient to give The newsletter should include a response device and a return envelope If online giving is possible the URL for the giving page should be clearly presented in case that is the donorrsquos preferred giving channel
9 Appeal to the most basic donor benefit Giving is joyful I canrsquot emphasize the importance of this simple fact Donors mdash real donors mdash love to give Your faithful loyal donors are the people who give over and over again and keep giving They are not stingy grouches who must be cajoled and manipulated into reluctantly parting with their money No Real donors have discovered the secret of true happiness and all they need is the assurance that their giving is appreciated and effective This key message should be explicitly stated ldquoNothing feels better than when you help When you give to accomplish XYZ you know the joy of making a significant differ-ence in the worldrdquo
10 Refresh and re-engage Nothing about the newsletter should be a chore for the reader The whole publication is a joyful celebration of what the donor has made possible By the time he or she is finished reading the newsletter he or she should be energized and eager to do more
If you follow these 10 principles you will have your own Extreme Donor-Focused Newslet-ter and your fundraising program should enjoy increased revenue and donor retention And whatrsquos more your newsletter will finally get the respect it deserves n
12 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Grand Hyatt New York
Conference attendees
mixed mingled amp noshed
on delicious appetizers
at Butterfield 8
2012 New York Nonprofit Conference
July 25ndash26 2012Grand Hyatt New York
New York NY
Grand Hyatt New York
Conference attendees
mixed mingled amp noshed
on delicious appetizers
at Butterfield 8
(Left to right)
DMA Nonprofit Federation Advisory Council Chair
Brian Cowart of Disabled American Veterans (DAV)
2012 New York Nonprofit Conference Keynote
Speaker Seth ldquoYossirdquo Siegel of Sixpoint Partners
DMA Nonprofit Federation Advisory Council Vice
Chair tom harrison of Russ Reid Company
The Nature Conservancyrsquos Chief Marketing Officer Geof Rochester
amp Director of Membership Fundraising Begontildea Vaacutezquez-Santos
with TNCrsquos Nonprofit Organization of the Year award
Congratulations to The Nature Conservancy
13
14 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Thank you Tom Har-rison for such a lovely introduction The philos-opher who said that there is no praise higher than to be esteemed by those you esteem perfectly captures my reaction I appreci-ate your idea of inviting me mdash someone from outside your industry mdash to speak before your group But it is you Tom and several of your colleagues at Russ Reid who have largely taught me what I know about this industry
It is truly a special plea-sure being with all of you here today and the size of the audience notwithstand-ing getting to meet with you
To some extent I feel like I know many of you in this room To be sure many of you already know me mdash and even more of you knew my father My being here today allows me to close the circle and reciprocate many years of your outreach to me and my father Let me explain
My wife and I have been married for 32 years When we got married we didnrsquot have a lot more than the wedding gifts we had received but from our first days together we shared an interest in learning about charities that could use our support and we often would send in small donations in response to this mailing or that Soon thereafter mdash and this will surprise exactly no one in this room mdash we began getting mailings from more charities and we had the
opportunity to learn about yet more worthy organiza-tions As time interest and available cash allowed we would donate to yet others Then along the way as my business grew we stepped out of the direct mail uni-verse and got involved with a more manageable number of causes as volunteers and a somewhat larger number as donors but directly and in amounts more likely to be the fruit of a call or a meeting or a solicitation over a meal or in our home We still get some mail solicita-tions Some of it is likely the distant tail from donations made long ago and a bit of it may be thanks to gifts made in support of some of our friendsrsquo childrenrsquos walk-a-thon participations or similar creative requests for funds But in the main our mail box no longer has the volume of requests for support that it once did
In my opening remarks I made mention of my father Now if my wife and I have received mail from some of you I can go out on a limb and say that my father got mail from nearly all of you Before I share my fatherrsquos direct mail experience Id like to tell you a bit about him
My father mdash Benjamin Siegel in case you are check-ing to see if his name is in your database mdash was born to immigrant parents here in Manhattan Despite his American birth he spoke
Seth ldquoYossirdquo Siegel
2012 New York Nonprofit Conference
KeynoteAddress
July 25 2012
vvv
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 15
no English until he started kindergarten His child-hood can only be described as hard and deprived with his parents being members of the working poor their entire lives Yet despite their poverty he recalled a blue-and-white tin charity box in his kitchen into which his mother would put a few coins every week late on Friday afternoon before the start of the Jewish Sabbath His parents werenrsquot reli-giously observant but his mother would make a char-itable donation of some kind every week for even poorer Jews living in what is now Israel
I would have to describe my father as angry a lot of the time And Id also have to say that it would be hard to find someone more cynical about institutions and whole professions than my father He thought all doctors were to use his word quacks He thought all lawyers were again to use his word shy-sters He loathed politicians He was dubious about the esteem given to Jewish clergy and I cant believe he had any special regard for the clergy of any other faith He was part of the Greatest Generation and talked his way into World War II after he was rejected on medical grounds and spent most of the war in Europe including landing on Omaha Beach on D-Day Plus 1 And even so he was often dismissive of the thought and planning
of our own military leaders especially what he thought of as the cavalier misuse of troops
Despite his being a one-man protest machine he utterly hated protest move-ments and anything that smacked of them I could go on but I think you get the picture This was a man of complete cynicism seem-ingly trusting no one He made a hard honest living and lived a life with no frills and few vacations Meals out in restaurants were a very special event By any stan-dard by which we measure comfort or luxury my father and mother had few check marks in that imaginary list
But family history aside there was a reason Ive just told you all of this
After my father died in 2004 some many years after my mother and stepmother had both passed away it fell to me to go through his effects and to pack up his things I donrsquot know how many of you here have ever had that task It is a melan-choly one with many small items serving to remind you of moments in the rela-tionship In addition it can be a startling one learning things about your deceased parent and achingly wishing you could have them back for even a few moments to explain what something meant or to ask why they had never told you about some just discovered element of their lives
For me the startling element I discovered was how my father mdash the utter cynic mdash was mdash within his means mdash a philanthropist and donor of a scope that is still remarkable to me You see when I opened the bottom drawer of his dresser the entire drawer was filled with note pads and boxes of seasonal cards from dozens and dozens of charities My first thought standing in his empty bedroom was ldquoTo whom was he planning on writing so many notesrdquo When I opened the next drawer it was filled with per-sonalized mailing labels from dozens of charities mdash possi-bly the same charities I donrsquot know but possibly not mdash but I knew that if he ever got around to sending out all of those notes and cards he would never have to write his return address on any of those envelopes As I con-tinued the packing up in his bedroom kitchen closets and elsewhere I found other institutional gifts from other charities like tote bags mugs umbrellas and so on almost all of them still in their orig-inal packaging
When I cleaned out his small desk I found his checkbook and sat at his desk to go through his check register and other check reg-isters going back years and years There were payments made to credit card compa-nies and utilities and taxes but overwhelmingly the checks were made payable
to one charity after another The amounts mdash as you pro-fessionals would guess from the pads and the pre-printed mailing labels mdash were all small Most of them were for ten dollars some for twenty-five and in a nod to the Jewish mystical belief in the specialness of numbers that are multiples of eigh-teen he had written plenty of checks to Jewish organiza-tions and causes for eighteen and thirty-six dollars
Also remarkable was the range of organizations to which he donated As I mentioned he gave to a broad array of Jewish and pro-Israel organizations but he also gave to commu-nity groups environmental groups hunger organiza-tions veterans groups and health-related organizations including hospitals hospices and disease-focused causes He even gave to animal shelter organizations mdash and he had never had a pet of his own
So how could it be that this most utterly cynical man a man who watched his pennies his whole life could have been a small-scale Roth-schild and Rockefeller in the range and expansiveness of his giving Of course wersquoll never know for sure but in trying to develop an answer to this there are lessons for those of us in this room who care about the not-for-profit world whether profession-ally as communal activists or as donors
continued
16 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
The first two possibili-ties that come to mind that Id like to quickly dismiss are that my father liked the idea that he could get something of value for what may have seemed for free It is possible but my father was a very prac-tical man and at some point he must have realized that well into his 80s he had such an ample supply of holiday cards and return address labels that he would never be able to use up the inventory The other thought was that he simply liked getting mail and he knew how the system worked Send in a check and the one envelope becomes two or three or ten Send in one hundred checks and he had his weekends filled reading through all of the mail he had received during the past week That is possi-ble but my father also died with a significant backlog of unread magazines so Im going to rule that out too
The explanation Ive come up with is that my father may have been a cynic but that he wanted to believe He may have thought most every institution and public figure not worthy of being trusted but he may still have yearned to be able to trust that some others out there cared deeply about society and elements of it and that he wanted to be part of the efforts to make the world a proverbially better place He despised a lot of things gen-erally but seemed to like a lot of things specifically
And from that insight I think there is some very good news for many of you here today I know from Tom Harrison that you are all worried about the crummy economy that shows no sign of quickly returning to robust times And Tom has also shared with me a worry about the viability of the US Postal Service and its ability to offer reduced mailing rates for the fore-seeable future And Tom has also told me that my fatherrsquos generation is dying off and not being quickly replaced by a new demographic cohort that reads mail and sends in money Plus there are environmental ques-tions about harvesting trees for the mailings and some compelling proof that people respond less well to email solicitations than they did to requests delivered via their mail boxes But aside from all of those structural impediments my fatherrsquos behavior offers some very special opportunities for those charities and organi-zations able to reach out and speak personally to the next waves of donors
If my father was a skepti-cal cynical guy in the Ozzie and Harriet 1950s and 60s he was a full generation ahead of where people are today and Id like to take a minute or two to explain what I mean
People today are fright-ened angry cynical even often despairing The
overwhelming feeling is that few institutions are working well Our political system just isnrsquot garnering wide-spread support and in these unsettling times people want leaders and insti-tutions that can fix their problems No matter who wins the presidential elec-tion in November there is little widespread belief we will come together as a society to fix our problems It may happen but people donrsquot believe it And the poll numbers reflect this Pres-ident Obama mdash who came into office on a promise of hope and change and of transformation of our political culture and which initially yielded him an approval rating of 67 mdash has had an approval rating that has been below 50 since November 2009 and is now at 47 If the president has problems in garnering the publicrsquos trust that he can solve their problems Con-gress as an institution is doing far far worse with an approval rating of 23 The US Supreme Court enjoys an approval rating of only 35 These numbers for the president and for the legisla-tive and judicial branches of government actually under-state the problem The poll number of those who call themselves ldquofrustrated or angry with the federal gov-ernmentrdquo comes in at a frightening 79 President Obama may win re-elec-tion but it likely wont be a
unifying election We have a divided government at a polarized partisan moment of utterly different and con-tradictory views of how to solve the problems at hand Given the enormity of the problems mdash from the economy to the deficit to the debt to Iranrsquos nuclear program to the rise of radical Islamism to the rise of China and its likelihood to be a destabilizing force and many many more prob-lems mdash the likelihood our country will be dispirited and detached from politics is larger than it is smaller
Staying with our politi-cal system for just another moment we have another problem Because people are angry and have a near con-stant ldquothrow the bums outrdquo feeling about our elected offi-cials we are going through a period of uncommon insta-bility in our government institutions
Most people believe that incumbents come to office and tend to leave only when they die But it just isnrsquot true Whether because of the Tea Party or because of burn-out by elected officials the level of turnover in Washington is a big and growing problem In just the past five Congres-sional elections which is to say in the past ten years a remarkable 54 of the US Senate has been replaced If that number seems impos-sibly high for institutional stability in the House of Representatives the turnover
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 17
in that same period has been 68 Due to announced retirements and defeats in primaries we already know that in the coming Senate and House to be sworn in next January no fewer than 11 current Senators and 60 current Congressmen and Congresswomen will not be returning mdash and that assumes not a single incum-bent will lose in a single race in the remaining pri-maries and the General Election That means at least a 65 turnover in the US Senate and a more than 80 turnover in the House of Representatives in a mere 12-year period Think of your own organizations and what a turnover of that mag-nitude would mean to your ability to do your institu-tional job let alone having to grapple with many of the enormous challenges I mentioned a moment ago and many others I did not mention Thus the roiling public environment is more likely to stay roiled for some time to come than it is likely to return to some idealized period of harmony
Not to belabor the point but to also make sure that we understand that the problem of popular unease is broader than belief in our national government let me share just a few poll numbers to demonstrate my point Our confidence in hospitals and our doctors is now at 41 which is bad enough but HMOs are at 19 Public
schools have the confidence of only 29 of the people in our country Newspapers taken together have the con-fidence of just 25 of the American people But falling even lower than newspapers TV news comes in at 21 And labor unions banks and major corporations are all tied with the confidence of just one in five Ameri-cans at around 20 Even organized religion falls below the 50 mark at 44
Indeed the only three institutions regularly polled about by Gallup to be above the 50 mark are our police departments at 56 small business at 63 and our fighting men and women in the US military at 75 And finally in what many people believe is the most important general view of how people feel the Right Track Wrong Track poll Rasmussen reports 30 of Americans think our country is on the right track
and 64 believe our country is on the wrong track
In case you werenrsquot a statistics major in college let me boil all of these poll results down to just this one short statement and it is this My father was ahead of his time Just as my father didnrsquot trust or like just about any institution the American people now donrsquot much trust or like any institution with
the exception of police military and
small busi-ness In
nearly every other
case the institu-tion Ive mentioned is at or
near an all-time low since these Gallup Institutional Confidence polls began being conducted in 1973
But I think there is a second key learning from all of this bad news that is actu-ally very good news for some of you but definitely not all of you and that is this Just as my father had very low confidence in government and other mass institutions yet managed to turn himself
into a check-writing ma-chine for many many not-for-profits so too can your organization or your clients The not-so-profound insight is that even the most angry frustrated cynical skeptical misanthrope wants to believe It was true of mis-anthropes when Moliere wrote a play by that name in the 1660s It was true of my father And Id bet a dona-tion to any of your causes that it is true today even with a Right Track Wrong Track poll that has double the number of Wrong Trackers over Right Trackers People want to believe People want to love People know they wont live for forever and people want to see the world better both today in their lifetimes and tomor-row when it is their legacy This is true for mega donors who will be honored at fancy dinners in hotel ballrooms like this and for ten dollar donors who look forward to the return address labels you all will send to them
So with the crummy economy the dicey state of the Postal Service the demo-graphic hump working against low-dollar donors and all of the other problems direct marketers face my money is on the significant success of some of the orga-nizations that are here today Of course the structural challenges make it harder but is it harder today than it was in my grandmotherrsquos
vvvThe not-so-profound insight is that even
the most angry frustrated cynical skeptical
misanthrope wants to believehellipPeople know they
wont live for forever and people want to see the
world better both today in their lifetimes and
tomorrow when it is their legacy
vvv
continued
18 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
walk-up tenement apart-ment in which every Friday afternoon she found a way to donate to people she knew she would never meet who were living in a place she knew she would never see She believed in the enterprise afoot in what is today Israel a place on the other side of the world and she trusted that the coins in her little blue-and-white tin box would be used wisely and honorably All the same must have been true about my father and the many causes to which he wrote those checks And the same is true of millions and millions of people waiting to be touched and to form a connection with a cause larger than themselves a cause they can make their own in a way best thought of as an I-Thou relationship
For those of you unfa-miliar with the phrase I and Thou let me start by telling you it is a concept that changed my life It was coined by the philoso-pher and theologian Martin Buber Despite his being a theologian it is a concept that isnt inherently reli-gious even if it works well in every faith tradition and also works well in a purely secular context It works well for couples who have long been together and remark-ably it works well when soliciting gifts from near-strangers It is an approach to living a happy satisfying life So with that build up let
me tell you about I and Thou and about Martin Buber
Buber was born in Austria but moved to Germany in his teens to pursue his education In the 1920s he wrote his most famous work ldquoI and Thourdquo which although somewhat obscure today helped to establish his reputation as a leading German thinker of his time When the Nazis came to power in 1933 as a Jew he was prohibited from teaching at the uni-versity where he had been a professor and in 1938 just ahead of the start of the mass murder of 90 of Euro-pean Jewry Buber made his way to the British Mandate where he became a professor in Jerusalem When the State of Israel came into being in 1948 Buber was an esteemed philosopher revered by the young nation It is hard to imagine a philosopher having this kind of fame and impact but when he died in 1965 it was the lead news story of the day in Israel and a major story in The New York Times and other world newspapers
According to Buber there are two kinds of rela-tionships I-Thou and I-It The idea underpinning these concepts is best explained by examples as every single person in this room has experienced I-Thou and I-It relationships In an I-Thou relationship we are as one Your destiny is my destiny
even if only for a moment In the I-It relationship the parties are in a transac-tion I have turned the other party into an object to help me to achieve something that I want Indeed we all have I-Thou relationships and I-It relationships all the time mdash and we often have these disparate relationships within moments of each other and often with the very same person If this room were smaller and more inti-mate I could randomly call on anyone and have you give examples of I-Thou and I-It relationships in your own life But Ill use my own life as an example
I love my wife very much I am happy to come home at the end of the workday and to hear about her day and what is new and for her to hear about my day That is an I-Thou moment But while sitting with her my stomach starts to growl I become distracted Im not think-ing about her but about the dinner I know she has prepared Im hungry and want to eat She becomes an object a means to an end an I-It Wersquove all had that expe-rience or one like it
But just because Im getting something I want from her mdash or from anyone mdash doesnrsquot mean it has to be an I-It moment In that exact same scenario it could just as well have been an I-Thou moment by a change in my behavior even
with the same outcome that dinner will be served and my hunger abated Instead of single-mindedly think-ing about food in its place I could have interrupted the conversation to tell her that Im hungry I could have offered to set the table while we keep talking And most importantly I could keep reminding myself that she has spent time and trouble thinking about dinner and preparing it and that I have no entitlement to her having done this and how fortunate I am that she has If I do all of that it is more likely we will have an I-Thou relationship that evening than a transac-tional I-It one
Even with people we love I-Thoursquos and I-Itrsquos flit back and forth across some imaginary spectrum with engagement and other-directedness on one side and selfishness and self-direct-edness on the other We all have instincts for both sides of that spectrum and the challenge is to take the harder path the path where we direct the moment away from ourselves and our selfish wants and needs to that of the person present before us and our shared experience
As I indicated earlier this isnrsquot just true of deep long-lasting relationships It can be true of the waiter who serves you dinner the bellman who helps you with your bags even with a
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 19
passing stranger on a line to get into somewhere Every encounter has the oppor-tunity to be an I-Thou or an I-It and the challenge is for each of us to constantly remind ourselves of the humanity of the person with whom we engage
I and Thou isnrsquot just for people It is also true of believing peoplersquos relation-ship with God and also true of organizations and how they relate to people In my experience Ive found it even true of inanimate objects even if that may take it beyond Buberrsquos own con-ception So how do Martin Buber and his I and Thou relate to you all as direct mar-keters and as fundraisers for your worthy organizations
Everyone knows when they are in an I and Thou moment You feel the link and the joy that comes from the link But people also know when they are being used as a means to an end
when they are the ldquoItrdquo in an I-It relationship People may give you what you want when they are in an I-It rela-tionship with you and you may give your counter-party what they seek too but we all know that feeling of sadness or emptiness within when someone you are with mdash a co-worker a boss a spouse a child even a clerk on the phone at a call center mdash treats you as an object to get some-thing achieved and not as an opportunity to feel your humanity and for you to feel theirs even if for a fleeting moment
And the same Ill say is true about the relationship between a potential donor and your organization Those organizations that stand for somethinghellip Those organizations that donrsquot treat their donors as objects like walking checkbookshellip Those organizations that take the time to engage with their prospects Indeed
those organizations that donrsquot even necessarily start by asking for something it is those organizations who I believe will find a wide universe of people eager to believe and eager to be part of the organizationrsquos mission An I-Thou relation-ship doesnrsquot mean we never ask the other party for some-thing It is about how and when we ask Just as we will have a different outcome with our spouses children and co-workers when we are building off of an I-Thou relationship rather than an I-It so too will we have a different outcome when we approach our donors as part-ners as people we care about exactly as much whether they donate or not It is from that soulful relationship that donors will want to support one organization over an-other and one cause over another no matter how angry or frustrated or cynical they are about the larger world
around them That is how I believe the next genera-tion of donors will come to support many but not all of our organizations
When my father died I had the Postal Service forward his mail to my home address In the nearly eight years since his passing Ive received hundreds of mail-ings maybe more I often open the solicitations to try to get a feel for the kinds of causes and organizations my father would have been spending his time learning about and possibly support-ing So while some recipients of your mailings may think of your output as junk mail I couldnrsquot be more apprecia-tive Each envelope serves to remind me that the cynical side of my father was only a side and that when properly touched even a hard man could respond
Thank you all very much for your attention n
copy 2012 Seth M Siegel Reproduction with authorrsquos consent only All rights reserved
Looking for an agency or supplier to help your organization reachnew heights
Access the DMANFrsquos Directory of Service providers
nonprofitfederationorgcorporate-partnerssearch
20 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Nonprofit organizations face unique marketing chal-lenges Theyrsquore tasked with identifying and reaching the right people at the right time and through
the appropriate channels as well as balancing message appeals with monetary requests all while conveying their mission and cause The rapid expansion of the internet social networking and mobile have placed yet another demand front-and-center for nonprofit organizations mdash con-sumer privacy
Consumers are justly concerned about divulging their personal information They want to know where why and how their information will be used Many are unaware that their personal information is collected in a variety of ways and by a variety of sources both online and offline Common but often misunderstood data practices include third-party ad servers setting cookies retail stores matching names and addresses with phone numbers and marketers sharing customer lists
In todayrsquos complex marketplace how can nonprofit organizations demonstrate to their supporters donors and prospects that they share their concerns and are commit-ted to protecting their privacy The first and most important step is to create a clear privacy policy and communicate it effectively
the Privacy PolicyIf your organization collects uses and or stores personal donor information a privacy policy is critical You must display your privacy policy on your website and strictly abide by it
Privacy policies are structured around Notice and Choice principles They should provide supporters with notice of
how their data is collected used and shared as well as their choices to limit or prevent such practices Your privacy policy should also include information to maintain trans-parency and that clearly describes your organizationrsquos data security practices
Key points every privacy policy should address include
The types of personal information your organization collects This may include name address telephone number email address and credit card or other payment information
How information is secured
How personal information is used and with whom it is shared
How supporters can control the use of their data
How the privacy policy is updated and the effective date of the policy
Letrsquos take a more detailed look at the elements of a privacy policy from a nonprofit organizationrsquos perspective
Collecting personal InformationAs mentioned personal information may include data ele-ments such as name address telephone number email address and payment information It can also include more sensitive information such as gender race religious or politi-cal beliefs health information or other characteristics
The types of personal information collected and the length of retention may be used to enhance your marketing
Consumer PrivacyA Guide for Nonprofit Marketers
Bethany Lewis Privacy Analyst Epsilon
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 21
objectives by creating detailed profiles of supporters but what if that dataprofile was accessed without appropriate permis-sions or used by other organizations for purposes beyond the original intent Inappropriate generalizations might be made about supporters regardless of who has the data and the risk for reputational and other damage increases if that type of data is compromised
For example if a supporter donates to an organization that supports research of a genetic disorder should they be identified as a patient of or at risk for that same disorder Perhaps theyrsquore simply a caretaker for someone suffer-ing from that disorder Similarly if a supporter donates to a religious-based organization could assumptions around political leanings be attributed to them
Protecting information about charitable contributions is critical as is informing supporters how that information will be used which brings us to data security and the sharing of personal information
protecting personal InformationToday every organization is vulnerable when it comes to data security Protecting the personal information of supporters is essential The first line of protection is collecting only the necessary data
While creating supporter profiles evaluate the risks of storing ldquounnecessaryrdquo data especially if an incident exposes the data Set internal policies for how long each category of data collected will be retained and be diligent in deletingdestroying data in a safe and thorough manner based on those policies
Whenever possible encrypt personal data maintained electronically and enhance security on laptops and mobile devices from which supporter data is accessed
Sharing personal InformationBe very clear in your privacy policy when providing infor-mation on the types of third-parties with whom your organization shares data If you share information with third-party service providers disclose this fact and provide a categorized list of these organizations Such organizations may include credit card processors shipping vendors mar-keting analysts or consultants and fulfillment houses
If you share information with other nonprofit organi-zations disclose these practices Also disclose if you share information with marketing cooperatives whose databases are not exclusively nonprofit
Protecting
information
about
charitable
contributions
is critical
continued
22 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
providing ChoiceStudies have shown that modern consumers are more com-fortable sharing personal information with organizations that are clear and upfront about how their information is used and with whom it is shared In fact most people respond positively to organizations who transparently disclose data sharing practices and provide a clear and convenient oppor-tunity to opt-out While a small percentage of individuals will choose to opt-out of data sharing very few supporters will opt-out of all contact with an organization Therefore providing an opportunity to opt-out of sharing data for mar-keting purposes as well as an opt-out for receiving further requests from your organization will aid in retaining your most loyal supporters
Updating the privacy policyClearly state the effective date of your current privacy policy and update it when you make any material changes If you do make material changes to your privacy policy with ret-roactive application to the data you already have stored you may need to obtain express consent from individuals to use their information for new or different purposes Some organizations choose to list what changes were made in a summary history which may be helpful to a supporter reviewing the policy
Pulling It All togetherYour privacy policy should be easy to find read understand and act upon (ie opt-out or modify preferences) It should also be present in each commercial solicitation where per-sonal information is collected regardless of whether that is through postal mailings or on your website
Additional information regarding Notice Choice Trans-parency and other important privacy principles can be found on the DMA website in the Commitment to Consumer Choice and the DMA Guidelines for Ethical Business Practice
At Epsilon we use the following checklist when evaluating a privacy policy
The website has a privacy policy
There is a link to the privacy policy from the websitersquos home page and the link contains the word ldquoprivacyrdquo
The privacy policy states that the organization shares consumer data and personal information (including name address email address and transaction informa-tion) with third-party service providers
The privacy policy states that the organization shares consumer data and personal information with other marketers for their own marketing purposes
The privacy policy provides consumers the chance to opt-out of having their information shared with other marketers
The privacy policy has an ldquoeffectiverdquo date
As mentioned in situations where data is shared with other organizations and marketers transparency is the key Below is sample disclosure language
The personally identifiable information that you provide to us
(such as your name address and email address) and information
about your contribution may be combined with other non-person-
ally identifiable information (such as demographic information and
past contribution history) available from our records and other
sources This information will be used to make our future market-
ing efforts more efficient and relevant This information may also
be shared with our third-party service providers that assist us
with our marketing efforts and with other marketers whose prod-
ucts or services we feel may be of interest to you If you prefer
that we do not share your name and address with other market-
ers please email us at optoutyourorganizationorg
Beyond the Privacy PolicyIn addition to having a robust privacy policy written in concise language and that is easily accessible here are a few other best practices to secure the privacy of your sup-portersrsquo information
Ensure agreements with third-parties who may have access to supportersrsquo personal information adequately address privacy and data security
Suppress personal information in your database when a supporter requests it and do so within a reasonable timeframe
If you must store sensitive information such as credit card or social security numbers as part of your data-base encrypt this information
Train employees and volunteers regularly on the importance of maintaining privacy and security
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 23
Nonprofit Careers e-Bulletin
Your Multi-ChannelRecruiting Tool
Become familiar with data breach notification require-ments and have a response plan and team in place Should you experience a breach disclose to all appro-priate and necessary parties
Monitor the use of your data and address any enti-ties when you become aware that data is being used in a way that violates the law contractual requirements andor the DMArsquos Ethical Guidelines
Respecting and promoting consumer privacy requires a commitment to maintaining balance between the legitimate business needs of your organization and the concerns of individuals about fair information practices Start by taking a look at your current privacy policy Assure its accuracy and adhere to its strategy n
Bethany Lewis As a Privacy Analyst Bethany Lewis supports and educates associates and clients on privacy compliance matters She brings an extensive background in regulatory compliance corporate ethics education and training to her work at Epsilon
ldquoThe recruitment Tool for the Nonprofit Communityrdquo is your source for top flight exposure to top flight candidates and the best A b amp C-level career opportunities out there
Distributed every Tuesday 8 am ET via raquo Email raquo post at wwwnonprofitfederationorg raquo Facebook mdash DMA Nonprofit Federation raquo Twitter mdash DMANF and AliozDC
To view ad submission requirements visit the ldquoFind a Jobrdquo area of the DMA Nonprofit Federation homepage wwwnonprofitfederationorg and click on ldquoHow to postrdquo Ads must be emailed to Aosgoodthe-dmaorg please make sure any ad you submit meets our specifications
Is your nonprofit organization already a dual member of the DMA and DMANF If the answer is lsquoyesrsquo itrsquos FrEE mdash so why not post
Join the over 8000 professionals who already subscribe
Sign up today nonprofitfederationorgpublications careers-e-bulletinsubscribe
DMA Guidelines for Ethical Business Practice
dmaresponsibilityorgGuidelines
24 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Each week I see non-profit organizations walking away from
mobile thinking that com-municating and fundraising with their constituents through the single most used electronic device in history is optional Con-versely we see more and more retailers embracing mobile and the omnichan-nel marketing model because the results are tre-mendous We at mGive think nonprofits benefit when they embrace similar tools and methodologies
What is an omnichan-nel approach and why is it important to non-profit organizations An omnichannel approach is an integrated marketing strat-egy that creates a seamless experience for the donor
It is a customer-centric approach that elevates your supporter loyalty strategies by leveraging cross-channel opportunities For example when a donor drops off goods at their local Epilepsy Foundation they receive a paper receipt to complete Normally once they leave your location you lose any hope of communicating with them again Imagine if when the donor dropped off their goods you offered to send the donor an email version of their receipt You now have a way to engage the supporter through email Now suppose your email receipt offered a web link that drove them to a form to opt-in to your mobile community in order to receive updates via text
Once they opt-in you then have a way to send updates volunteer requests dona-tion reminders and more You may also leverage the fact they are on the mobile phone and send text mes-sages asking supporters to post a photo to Facebook making a donation Having this omnichannel strat-egy in place is especially critical at the end of year because it is an opportune time for organizations to increase membership and raise dollars
So how does an organization create an omnichannel approach that leverages direct mail email online social media live events and mobile to achieve their goals It may be difficult for some orga-nizations to make the
operational shift to an omnichannel model but that doesnrsquot mean you can afford to ignore it Not sure you can get all the steps in place by the time you launch your end of year activities Mobile is the bridge that can help to start that process In fact more and more organizations are relying on their mobile strategy to bridge the gap and engage supporters in this multi-screen world because mobile is the ldquogreat centralizerrdquo of activities ndash where else can you make calls browse the web check email respond to text mes-sages post to social media and more in a truly porta-ble fashion
Before we move on to the tactics that an organiza-tion can take to incorporate
Mobile
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 25
mobile into their existing multi-channel strategies we must tackle one issue If your organization has tried mobile or an omnichan-nel approach in the past and were disappointed or frustrated with your expe-rience try again You were one of the pioneering orga-nizations that comprise the early adopters of those models Lessons learned over the past few years have evolved into success-ful best practices mdash and you get the opportunity to benefit from them As we like to say in honor of the wise Master Yoda ldquoTry not Do or do not There is no tryrdquo We guarantee if imple-mented correctly using mobile in an omnichannel approach can work for your organization
1 Communicate and Integrate mdash Walk Across the Mobile Bridge
Many organizations that I work with have voiced cross-departmental integra-tion as a challenge That is understandable because tra-ditionally departments or channels have been siloed from one another But this disenfranchised model does not result in the seam-less experience that donors are coming to expect In order for a donor experi-ence to be seamless direct mail must complement the organizationrsquos website the organizationrsquos website must complement the mobile campaign social media must complement direct mail and so forth and so on When used together
the communication chan-nels can result in more effective campaigns and bigger numbers
When an organization decides to develop a mobile strategy generally it is one department within that organization that is initially interested That department is a hero because they have just launched a toolset that can be used throughout the organization If you have a mobile program in place for fundraising itrsquos time to talk with your program services department mem-bership team and corporate partner folks and get them in the loop so that you can maximize the omnichannel approach Mobile can be a great catalyst for initiating conversation and guiding organizational integration
Mobile is also a great way to increase the effec-tiveness of existing channels By integrating your direct mail newslet-ter social media online and mobile efforts you can increase response and open rates We have found that if you send a text message to your membership remind-ing them to check their email inboxes you can increase email open rates by 10 or more Addition-ally if you include a mobile number field on your email and paper member-ship forms you can quickly build a mobile community that can turn into repeat donors Once again the most important element besides the actual cross
the Bridge to an omnichannel Approach in time for Year-End Campaigns
continued
Jenifer Snyder Esq Executive Director The mGive Foundation and Cassie Bair Vice President of Marketing Mobile Accord
26 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
channel promotion goes back to this concept of the omnichannel Make the message consistent across all channels They donrsquot have to be identical but they should complement each other and work to create an echo effect
Just about every one of your donors will experience your organization through their mobile device at some point mdash so make sure your message is clear consistent convenient and actionable through mobile in some capacity
2 test Review Adjust Implement Review Adjust mdash and Repeat
Once you have an inte-grated strategy in place itrsquos time to implement Whether the goal is to acquire new donors reactivate lapsed donors and drive donations from existing donors mdash or all three mdash test your cam-paign Take time to review the results and adjust accordingly Then imple-ment full scale confident you are on the right path Regularly review your results adjust your activities and repeat as needed
In preparation for end of year activities take the time in the Fall to tweak your marketing engine for optimal performance Do some zero based plan-ning and try to approach
the supporter experience as if you are the supporter Spend time on every avenue where you can wisely create a seamless experience
Everyone in philan-thropy knows that the majority of all charitable donations are made in the last 2 months of the year Additionally member-ship increases substantially during the last quarter of the year Spend time now identifying opportunities strategies and tactics that work best for you mdash and consider how mobile can be a centralizing point for many of these activities
3 Apply the Winning Methodologies to Your End of Year Appeals
Yoursquove tested tweaked and determined what works best for you Now inte-grate what yoursquove learned into your end of year cam-paigns Determine how your campaign follows stan-dard best practices for end of year appeals and where mobile can help drive that engagement across multiple mediums
Common best practices for end of year campaigns that can include mobile
A Sending multiple asks the final week of the year mdash Make sure text messages are a part of that effort Whether itrsquos a simple call-to-action to text
a donation drives people to a pledge page or some-thing all-together different mobile can help ramp up that seamless experience
B the Art of the ldquothank Yourdquo mdash Thank your sup-porters Use mobile to message supporters your appreciation when they take action through text or drive them to a webpage with a video with a celeb-rity spokesperson giving a thank you message But make sure they know repeatedly that what they do for your cause matters And keep in mind mobile can drive to a strong ldquothank yourdquo experience
C Share Ask Listen mdash Take the opportunity to tell a story ask for feed-back and listen to what your organization is being told Not sure how to do that in mobile Share a link to a news article through text Ask for feedback through social media And listen to what is being said while distilling insights from how supporters respond in order to strengthen your omnichannel approach
4 Continue into 2013 mdash You are set for success
As donors enter the New Year self-improve-ment will often include a
commitment to be a better person volunteer more donate more funds etc Use mobile as a data col-lection tool to help your donors achieve their goal Give them the opportunity to commit to goals pertain-ing to your cause and then become their coach Send monthly reminders of their commitment and words of encouragement Remind them about appointments invite them to share their experience and overall let the donor feel the effect of their selfless promise through all of their activi-ties while using mobile to centralize that community and to drive people to action
We now live in a world where the average person at any given moment is looking at two or more screens It is critical that nonprofit organizations embrace the multi-screen world and adopt the omnichannel or fully integrated model When you create a seam-less giving experience for the everyday philanthropist you will be amazed at the results Walking away from a mobile strategy today is like walking away from the internet in the early 2000s
Mobile is here to stay and it is not an elective component to your orga-nizationrsquos fundraising and engagement strategy Itrsquos an essential part of a successful omnichannel strategy for your end of year activities n
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 27
Jenifer Snyder Esq Executive Director The mGive Foundation
As Executive Director of The mGive Foun-dation Jenifer is dedicated to expanding the scope and reach of the mobile channel for social good She brings years of lead-ership experience in the mobile industry to the position Previously Jenifer was a founder and General Counsel for 9 Squared Inc a mobile content and ser-vices company subsequently acquired by the Zed Group She left Zed in 2007 and started building the mobile channel for social and charitable efforts and later formed The mGive Foundation
Cassie bair Vice president of Marketing Mobile Accord
As Vice President of Marketing for Mobile Accord Cassie is dedicated to educat-ing and empowering nonprofits regarding the power of mobile She combines years of marketing experience in the nonprofit industry with the exciting evolution of the mobile channel for social good Cassie has worked with organizations such as the American Heart Association American Institute of Architects and the American Society of Echocardiography developing integrated and cause marketing cam-paigns and uses that knowledge today with clients to help them maximize their mobile strategy
Name
OrganizationCompany
Address
City State Zip Code
Charge my m Visa m MasterCard m AmEx m Discover
Card Number Expiration Date
Signature
raquo FAX form to 2026284383 (do not email credit card information)
raquo MAIL form to Alicia Osgood Director Membership amp Communications DMA Nonprofit Federation 1615 L Street NW Suite 1100 Washington DC 20036
raquo MAKE ChECKS payable to the DMA Nonprofit Federation
raquo DMA Nonprofit Federation Federal Tax ID Number 13-1810859
News and cutting-edge professional development tips
SUBSCRIBEto the Journal today1year =3 issues
ONLY $35Published digitally in January Apriland September the Journal brings together nonprofit leaders to deliver a standout publication packed with content you can really use
No cost to members
28 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Consumer technology evolves so quickly that nonprof-its are constantly racing to get their organizations using the latest technologies and mediums In fact many of these innovations have had significant impact on the fundrais-ing community While online CRM systems for example spawned database segmentation capabilities the opportu-nity ndash and challenge ndash arose for fundraising professionals to target appeals precisely to donorsrsquo specific interests Lately the emergence and rapid popularity of technologies such as smartphones and social media have forced nonprofits to not only create a presence but essentially compete for shrinking donor funds using these vehicles
The primary focus of nonprofit technology however tends to be inward creating a presence in a particular social media community or simply using the technology on behalf of the organization Examples of this include a nonprofitrsquos Facebook page and Twitter account and mobile-friendly
web sites In todayrsquos competitive fundraising environment though itrsquos not enough for nonprofits to simply use the latest technology Successful fundraisers understand that a nonprofitrsquos relationship with technology needs to take one step beyond itself to focus outward how do your sup-porters and donors want to use technology on behalf of your organization
Donors have technology preferences and habits too While itrsquos great for organizations to have a Facebook page for sup-porters to ldquolikerdquo that offers news and updates for example this doesnrsquot offer an opportunity for donors to appeal to their friends and family on behalf of your nonprofit mdash and certainly doesnrsquot raise money As nonprofits have learned to quickly adapt to changing technology and social media standards the time has come for organizations to evolve the technology they offer to provide donors supporters and par-ticipants with a personalized fundraising experience
Get Personal Providing Supporters with Personalized Fundraising Experiences
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 29
Personalization Means EngagementAt a fundamental level donor personalization in fun-
draising emerged from some of the first online nonprofit fundraising systems Offering supporters the opportunity to send personalized fundraising emails to their friends and family was revolutionary in its time mdash as was offering custom individual and team fundraising web pages
While these technology offerings revolutionized event fundraising donors have become increasingly savvy in the way they interact online mdash and developed strong preferences and dislikes in the types of technology they use They want the technology they know and like to be at their fingertips and are more likely to fundraise and successfully so for your nonprofit if itrsquos made easy and accessible for them
Back to Basics mdash But BetterNonprofits have been so consumed by social media that
they often forget this simple fact participants who use online tools raise six times more than non-users according to Blackbaud In addition 25 percent of the fundraising emails supporters send to their friends result in a donation With the average online gift being $60 nonprofits have motiva-tion not to forget about the basics of online fundraising But in the age of increasing competition for donations nonprof-its that offer a more personalized fundraising experience to supporters may see better results
What does it mean to offer a personalized fundrais-ing experience For online fundraising pages it can mean offering them the opportunity to post pictures videos story content and individual fundraising status updates But itrsquos essentially the personalization options offered behind the scenes mdash in the personal ldquoHeadquartersrdquo page within an online fundraising system mdash that can really maximize fun-draising results
Savvy nonprofits are offering a multitude of ways within their online fundraising systems for supporters to choose to reach out to friends and family Offering more than the email capabilities found standard with most fundraising plat-forms some nonprofits are starting to provide supporters more options in their personal participant ldquoheadquartersrdquo pages to engage those in their network mdash all with the click of a button Opportunities for supporters to personalize their experience could include options to
Send a Facebook message
Tweet their fundraising page
Update their Facebook status
Send a quick email
In addition statistics about their personal fundraising process could tell them
Total emails sent
Visits to their personal fundraising pages
Number of donations
Number of registrations
Average amount raised per email sent
Number of additional emails needed to reach fundraising goal
And because no one participant is the same these per-sonalization options allow the supporter to interact and engage their network on behalf of the nonprofit in ways that are meaningful and comfortable to them
Beyond the Facebook PageThe nonprofit community has taken Facebook by storm as an avenue to engage supporters and attract donors But itrsquos important to look beyond how supporters want to interact with your nonprofit and understand how they want to in-teract with their social network Itrsquos within this framework that supporters choose mdash or choose not mdash to engage their network on your organizationrsquos behalf
So make it easy for them provide them with a variety of ways to use several social media tools to reach out and fund-raise for your nonprofit Let them decide how they fundraise With 845 million monthly active users and 100 billion con-nections Facebook for example provides an excellent platform for nonprofits mdash and their fundraisers mdash to expand fundraising reach In fact Blackbaudrsquos web site states that social media users raise 40 more than non-users But most
continued
John Murphy PresidentCEo and Founder Zuri Group
30 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
organizations make the mistake of relying on participants to send their own appeals and updates or worse provide cum-bersome tools that require multiple logins and steps
Some enthusiastic fundraisers will thrive in this envi-ronment Others wonrsquot Since each supporter is unique itrsquos important to provide several varying opportunities and options so that a personalized fundraising experience can be forged For many fundraisers asking for donations isnrsquot easy All participants want to raise money but many donrsquot feel comfortable asking outside of close friends and family Other fundraisers donrsquot have the time or creativity to regu-larly develop and update personalized Facebook messages Use technology to help overcome these challenges by creat-ing easy ways for them to raise more money using Facebook
To take the effort out of Facebook fundraising remove the discomfort of a direct ldquoaskrdquo and save fundraisers time some nonprofits are offering supporters the option for fun-draising updates that automatically post on their Facebook wall at pre-determined intervals throughout the fundraising season For the right supporter this option removes the dis-comfort of approaching potential donors with a direct ldquoaskrdquo while significantly expanding their fundraising reach
Mobilizing the troopsAccording to a 2011 study consumers spend more time
on mobile applications than on the web In addition Ameri-cans spend 27 hours per day on average socializing on their mobile phones Nonprofits have been hard at work to lever-age the trend toward mobile by creating mobile-friendly web sites and even apps to further engage supporters But what about the mobile interaction that takes place between sup-porters and their friends The key is for nonprofits to make it accessible and easy for fundraisers to use their everyday technologies and devices to fundraise within their own networks By providing fundraising options that enable sup-porters to simply use something they already use such as a smartphone to connect with people they already interact with fundraising becomes a more natural and personalized part of the supporterrsquos day
To provide a more personalized and convenient fun-draising experience some nonprofits are offering mobile fundraising apps that enable supporters to not only use their smartphones to fundraise but to fundraise using multiple technologies within the smartphone mdash such as email text Twitter Facebook and even FaceTime for iPhone users As a result supporters can fundraise for the organization from their homes the train while walking the dog mdash anytime they have their phone
By empowering supporters to personalize their fundrais-ing experience nonprofits that provide mobile fundraising apps help their fundraisers help them These organizations are meeting the needs of on-the-go fundraising participants so they can focus on spreading awareness soliciting dona-tions and thanking donors mdash on their time on their terms In fact itrsquos been reported that fundraising participants using mobile fundraising applications raise 200 more than other participants and bring in 300 more gifts by count that other participants
In addition some mobile fundraising apps are provid-ing further personalization by bringing some of the same features of the personalized online ldquoheadquartersrdquo to the smartphone such as fundraising thermometers and adding donors into their phone address book Pre-written fundrais-ing messages developed specifically for various mediums such as texts Twitter updates and emails can be used Editing personal fundraising pages from the smartphone is likely the next option nonprofits will start offering
the Personalization ChallengeAs nonprofits compete in the race to adopt new technolo-
gies and social media itrsquos important to take a step back and consider your supportersrsquo relationship with those channels Many nonprofits have a Facebook page or group but how are your fundraisers using Facebook Are you making it easy for them to advocate or fundraise for your organization If much of your donor base uses text messaging have you pro-vided easy access and tools for them to text their network on your behalf
Supporters want and frankly need a personalized online experience with your organization Go beyond the bounds of your interactive relationship and consider what would enable your supporter base to have a more personalized fundrais-ing experience mdash and then put those tools at their fingertips They and their network mdash will thank you n
John Murphy is the PresidentCEO and Founder of Zuri Group Zuri Group provides nonprofits with custom technology solutions to meet critical organizational needs such as fundraising using their existing platform For more info visit zurigroupcom
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 31Non-Profit_FullPageAd_OLindd 1 91312 417 PM
32 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
9 Centennial Drive
Peabody MA 01960-7906
Tel 8003707500
wwwamergentcom
c a l l j a c k d o y l e
8 0 0 3 7 0 7 5 0 0
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at friendsamergentcomifund or scan qr code
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 33
Looking to Affordably Grow Your Donor Fileand Increase Contributions
We Can HelpWiland Direct is the nationrsquos 1 transactional database for fundraisers
Using our vast transactional data and powerful models Wiland Direct helps fundraisers to
bull Affordably acquire new donors bull Maximize contributions from existing donors bull Reactivate former donorsbull Identify the most likely activists and volunteersbull Convert inquirers petition signers and other ldquowarm leadsrdquo into donors
To learn more please contact John Spencer at 9703106378 or via email at jspencerwilanddirectcom
3034858686 wwwWilandDirectcomCopyright 2012 Wiland Direct All rights reserved
ldquoThe Wiland Direct database has been a solid performer for LLS with higher average gifts and lower cost per dollar raised than most Itrsquos opened up a new acquisition universe particularly important for a mature program Wersquore very pleased with the results and team support from Wilandrdquomdash Bruny Lynch The Leukemia amp Lymphoma Society
34 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
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Contact annesagecommunicationscom or call 508-309-6678 x 1 for a no-obligation quote
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Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 35
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36 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
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Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 37
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38 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
1
2
3
A
B
C
12 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Grand Hyatt New York
Conference attendees
mixed mingled amp noshed
on delicious appetizers
at Butterfield 8
2012 New York Nonprofit Conference
July 25ndash26 2012Grand Hyatt New York
New York NY
Grand Hyatt New York
Conference attendees
mixed mingled amp noshed
on delicious appetizers
at Butterfield 8
(Left to right)
DMA Nonprofit Federation Advisory Council Chair
Brian Cowart of Disabled American Veterans (DAV)
2012 New York Nonprofit Conference Keynote
Speaker Seth ldquoYossirdquo Siegel of Sixpoint Partners
DMA Nonprofit Federation Advisory Council Vice
Chair tom harrison of Russ Reid Company
The Nature Conservancyrsquos Chief Marketing Officer Geof Rochester
amp Director of Membership Fundraising Begontildea Vaacutezquez-Santos
with TNCrsquos Nonprofit Organization of the Year award
Congratulations to The Nature Conservancy
13
14 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Thank you Tom Har-rison for such a lovely introduction The philos-opher who said that there is no praise higher than to be esteemed by those you esteem perfectly captures my reaction I appreci-ate your idea of inviting me mdash someone from outside your industry mdash to speak before your group But it is you Tom and several of your colleagues at Russ Reid who have largely taught me what I know about this industry
It is truly a special plea-sure being with all of you here today and the size of the audience notwithstand-ing getting to meet with you
To some extent I feel like I know many of you in this room To be sure many of you already know me mdash and even more of you knew my father My being here today allows me to close the circle and reciprocate many years of your outreach to me and my father Let me explain
My wife and I have been married for 32 years When we got married we didnrsquot have a lot more than the wedding gifts we had received but from our first days together we shared an interest in learning about charities that could use our support and we often would send in small donations in response to this mailing or that Soon thereafter mdash and this will surprise exactly no one in this room mdash we began getting mailings from more charities and we had the
opportunity to learn about yet more worthy organiza-tions As time interest and available cash allowed we would donate to yet others Then along the way as my business grew we stepped out of the direct mail uni-verse and got involved with a more manageable number of causes as volunteers and a somewhat larger number as donors but directly and in amounts more likely to be the fruit of a call or a meeting or a solicitation over a meal or in our home We still get some mail solicita-tions Some of it is likely the distant tail from donations made long ago and a bit of it may be thanks to gifts made in support of some of our friendsrsquo childrenrsquos walk-a-thon participations or similar creative requests for funds But in the main our mail box no longer has the volume of requests for support that it once did
In my opening remarks I made mention of my father Now if my wife and I have received mail from some of you I can go out on a limb and say that my father got mail from nearly all of you Before I share my fatherrsquos direct mail experience Id like to tell you a bit about him
My father mdash Benjamin Siegel in case you are check-ing to see if his name is in your database mdash was born to immigrant parents here in Manhattan Despite his American birth he spoke
Seth ldquoYossirdquo Siegel
2012 New York Nonprofit Conference
KeynoteAddress
July 25 2012
vvv
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 15
no English until he started kindergarten His child-hood can only be described as hard and deprived with his parents being members of the working poor their entire lives Yet despite their poverty he recalled a blue-and-white tin charity box in his kitchen into which his mother would put a few coins every week late on Friday afternoon before the start of the Jewish Sabbath His parents werenrsquot reli-giously observant but his mother would make a char-itable donation of some kind every week for even poorer Jews living in what is now Israel
I would have to describe my father as angry a lot of the time And Id also have to say that it would be hard to find someone more cynical about institutions and whole professions than my father He thought all doctors were to use his word quacks He thought all lawyers were again to use his word shy-sters He loathed politicians He was dubious about the esteem given to Jewish clergy and I cant believe he had any special regard for the clergy of any other faith He was part of the Greatest Generation and talked his way into World War II after he was rejected on medical grounds and spent most of the war in Europe including landing on Omaha Beach on D-Day Plus 1 And even so he was often dismissive of the thought and planning
of our own military leaders especially what he thought of as the cavalier misuse of troops
Despite his being a one-man protest machine he utterly hated protest move-ments and anything that smacked of them I could go on but I think you get the picture This was a man of complete cynicism seem-ingly trusting no one He made a hard honest living and lived a life with no frills and few vacations Meals out in restaurants were a very special event By any stan-dard by which we measure comfort or luxury my father and mother had few check marks in that imaginary list
But family history aside there was a reason Ive just told you all of this
After my father died in 2004 some many years after my mother and stepmother had both passed away it fell to me to go through his effects and to pack up his things I donrsquot know how many of you here have ever had that task It is a melan-choly one with many small items serving to remind you of moments in the rela-tionship In addition it can be a startling one learning things about your deceased parent and achingly wishing you could have them back for even a few moments to explain what something meant or to ask why they had never told you about some just discovered element of their lives
For me the startling element I discovered was how my father mdash the utter cynic mdash was mdash within his means mdash a philanthropist and donor of a scope that is still remarkable to me You see when I opened the bottom drawer of his dresser the entire drawer was filled with note pads and boxes of seasonal cards from dozens and dozens of charities My first thought standing in his empty bedroom was ldquoTo whom was he planning on writing so many notesrdquo When I opened the next drawer it was filled with per-sonalized mailing labels from dozens of charities mdash possi-bly the same charities I donrsquot know but possibly not mdash but I knew that if he ever got around to sending out all of those notes and cards he would never have to write his return address on any of those envelopes As I con-tinued the packing up in his bedroom kitchen closets and elsewhere I found other institutional gifts from other charities like tote bags mugs umbrellas and so on almost all of them still in their orig-inal packaging
When I cleaned out his small desk I found his checkbook and sat at his desk to go through his check register and other check reg-isters going back years and years There were payments made to credit card compa-nies and utilities and taxes but overwhelmingly the checks were made payable
to one charity after another The amounts mdash as you pro-fessionals would guess from the pads and the pre-printed mailing labels mdash were all small Most of them were for ten dollars some for twenty-five and in a nod to the Jewish mystical belief in the specialness of numbers that are multiples of eigh-teen he had written plenty of checks to Jewish organiza-tions and causes for eighteen and thirty-six dollars
Also remarkable was the range of organizations to which he donated As I mentioned he gave to a broad array of Jewish and pro-Israel organizations but he also gave to commu-nity groups environmental groups hunger organiza-tions veterans groups and health-related organizations including hospitals hospices and disease-focused causes He even gave to animal shelter organizations mdash and he had never had a pet of his own
So how could it be that this most utterly cynical man a man who watched his pennies his whole life could have been a small-scale Roth-schild and Rockefeller in the range and expansiveness of his giving Of course wersquoll never know for sure but in trying to develop an answer to this there are lessons for those of us in this room who care about the not-for-profit world whether profession-ally as communal activists or as donors
continued
16 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
The first two possibili-ties that come to mind that Id like to quickly dismiss are that my father liked the idea that he could get something of value for what may have seemed for free It is possible but my father was a very prac-tical man and at some point he must have realized that well into his 80s he had such an ample supply of holiday cards and return address labels that he would never be able to use up the inventory The other thought was that he simply liked getting mail and he knew how the system worked Send in a check and the one envelope becomes two or three or ten Send in one hundred checks and he had his weekends filled reading through all of the mail he had received during the past week That is possi-ble but my father also died with a significant backlog of unread magazines so Im going to rule that out too
The explanation Ive come up with is that my father may have been a cynic but that he wanted to believe He may have thought most every institution and public figure not worthy of being trusted but he may still have yearned to be able to trust that some others out there cared deeply about society and elements of it and that he wanted to be part of the efforts to make the world a proverbially better place He despised a lot of things gen-erally but seemed to like a lot of things specifically
And from that insight I think there is some very good news for many of you here today I know from Tom Harrison that you are all worried about the crummy economy that shows no sign of quickly returning to robust times And Tom has also shared with me a worry about the viability of the US Postal Service and its ability to offer reduced mailing rates for the fore-seeable future And Tom has also told me that my fatherrsquos generation is dying off and not being quickly replaced by a new demographic cohort that reads mail and sends in money Plus there are environmental ques-tions about harvesting trees for the mailings and some compelling proof that people respond less well to email solicitations than they did to requests delivered via their mail boxes But aside from all of those structural impediments my fatherrsquos behavior offers some very special opportunities for those charities and organi-zations able to reach out and speak personally to the next waves of donors
If my father was a skepti-cal cynical guy in the Ozzie and Harriet 1950s and 60s he was a full generation ahead of where people are today and Id like to take a minute or two to explain what I mean
People today are fright-ened angry cynical even often despairing The
overwhelming feeling is that few institutions are working well Our political system just isnrsquot garnering wide-spread support and in these unsettling times people want leaders and insti-tutions that can fix their problems No matter who wins the presidential elec-tion in November there is little widespread belief we will come together as a society to fix our problems It may happen but people donrsquot believe it And the poll numbers reflect this Pres-ident Obama mdash who came into office on a promise of hope and change and of transformation of our political culture and which initially yielded him an approval rating of 67 mdash has had an approval rating that has been below 50 since November 2009 and is now at 47 If the president has problems in garnering the publicrsquos trust that he can solve their problems Con-gress as an institution is doing far far worse with an approval rating of 23 The US Supreme Court enjoys an approval rating of only 35 These numbers for the president and for the legisla-tive and judicial branches of government actually under-state the problem The poll number of those who call themselves ldquofrustrated or angry with the federal gov-ernmentrdquo comes in at a frightening 79 President Obama may win re-elec-tion but it likely wont be a
unifying election We have a divided government at a polarized partisan moment of utterly different and con-tradictory views of how to solve the problems at hand Given the enormity of the problems mdash from the economy to the deficit to the debt to Iranrsquos nuclear program to the rise of radical Islamism to the rise of China and its likelihood to be a destabilizing force and many many more prob-lems mdash the likelihood our country will be dispirited and detached from politics is larger than it is smaller
Staying with our politi-cal system for just another moment we have another problem Because people are angry and have a near con-stant ldquothrow the bums outrdquo feeling about our elected offi-cials we are going through a period of uncommon insta-bility in our government institutions
Most people believe that incumbents come to office and tend to leave only when they die But it just isnrsquot true Whether because of the Tea Party or because of burn-out by elected officials the level of turnover in Washington is a big and growing problem In just the past five Congres-sional elections which is to say in the past ten years a remarkable 54 of the US Senate has been replaced If that number seems impos-sibly high for institutional stability in the House of Representatives the turnover
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 17
in that same period has been 68 Due to announced retirements and defeats in primaries we already know that in the coming Senate and House to be sworn in next January no fewer than 11 current Senators and 60 current Congressmen and Congresswomen will not be returning mdash and that assumes not a single incum-bent will lose in a single race in the remaining pri-maries and the General Election That means at least a 65 turnover in the US Senate and a more than 80 turnover in the House of Representatives in a mere 12-year period Think of your own organizations and what a turnover of that mag-nitude would mean to your ability to do your institu-tional job let alone having to grapple with many of the enormous challenges I mentioned a moment ago and many others I did not mention Thus the roiling public environment is more likely to stay roiled for some time to come than it is likely to return to some idealized period of harmony
Not to belabor the point but to also make sure that we understand that the problem of popular unease is broader than belief in our national government let me share just a few poll numbers to demonstrate my point Our confidence in hospitals and our doctors is now at 41 which is bad enough but HMOs are at 19 Public
schools have the confidence of only 29 of the people in our country Newspapers taken together have the con-fidence of just 25 of the American people But falling even lower than newspapers TV news comes in at 21 And labor unions banks and major corporations are all tied with the confidence of just one in five Ameri-cans at around 20 Even organized religion falls below the 50 mark at 44
Indeed the only three institutions regularly polled about by Gallup to be above the 50 mark are our police departments at 56 small business at 63 and our fighting men and women in the US military at 75 And finally in what many people believe is the most important general view of how people feel the Right Track Wrong Track poll Rasmussen reports 30 of Americans think our country is on the right track
and 64 believe our country is on the wrong track
In case you werenrsquot a statistics major in college let me boil all of these poll results down to just this one short statement and it is this My father was ahead of his time Just as my father didnrsquot trust or like just about any institution the American people now donrsquot much trust or like any institution with
the exception of police military and
small busi-ness In
nearly every other
case the institu-tion Ive mentioned is at or
near an all-time low since these Gallup Institutional Confidence polls began being conducted in 1973
But I think there is a second key learning from all of this bad news that is actu-ally very good news for some of you but definitely not all of you and that is this Just as my father had very low confidence in government and other mass institutions yet managed to turn himself
into a check-writing ma-chine for many many not-for-profits so too can your organization or your clients The not-so-profound insight is that even the most angry frustrated cynical skeptical misanthrope wants to believe It was true of mis-anthropes when Moliere wrote a play by that name in the 1660s It was true of my father And Id bet a dona-tion to any of your causes that it is true today even with a Right Track Wrong Track poll that has double the number of Wrong Trackers over Right Trackers People want to believe People want to love People know they wont live for forever and people want to see the world better both today in their lifetimes and tomor-row when it is their legacy This is true for mega donors who will be honored at fancy dinners in hotel ballrooms like this and for ten dollar donors who look forward to the return address labels you all will send to them
So with the crummy economy the dicey state of the Postal Service the demo-graphic hump working against low-dollar donors and all of the other problems direct marketers face my money is on the significant success of some of the orga-nizations that are here today Of course the structural challenges make it harder but is it harder today than it was in my grandmotherrsquos
vvvThe not-so-profound insight is that even
the most angry frustrated cynical skeptical
misanthrope wants to believehellipPeople know they
wont live for forever and people want to see the
world better both today in their lifetimes and
tomorrow when it is their legacy
vvv
continued
18 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
walk-up tenement apart-ment in which every Friday afternoon she found a way to donate to people she knew she would never meet who were living in a place she knew she would never see She believed in the enterprise afoot in what is today Israel a place on the other side of the world and she trusted that the coins in her little blue-and-white tin box would be used wisely and honorably All the same must have been true about my father and the many causes to which he wrote those checks And the same is true of millions and millions of people waiting to be touched and to form a connection with a cause larger than themselves a cause they can make their own in a way best thought of as an I-Thou relationship
For those of you unfa-miliar with the phrase I and Thou let me start by telling you it is a concept that changed my life It was coined by the philoso-pher and theologian Martin Buber Despite his being a theologian it is a concept that isnt inherently reli-gious even if it works well in every faith tradition and also works well in a purely secular context It works well for couples who have long been together and remark-ably it works well when soliciting gifts from near-strangers It is an approach to living a happy satisfying life So with that build up let
me tell you about I and Thou and about Martin Buber
Buber was born in Austria but moved to Germany in his teens to pursue his education In the 1920s he wrote his most famous work ldquoI and Thourdquo which although somewhat obscure today helped to establish his reputation as a leading German thinker of his time When the Nazis came to power in 1933 as a Jew he was prohibited from teaching at the uni-versity where he had been a professor and in 1938 just ahead of the start of the mass murder of 90 of Euro-pean Jewry Buber made his way to the British Mandate where he became a professor in Jerusalem When the State of Israel came into being in 1948 Buber was an esteemed philosopher revered by the young nation It is hard to imagine a philosopher having this kind of fame and impact but when he died in 1965 it was the lead news story of the day in Israel and a major story in The New York Times and other world newspapers
According to Buber there are two kinds of rela-tionships I-Thou and I-It The idea underpinning these concepts is best explained by examples as every single person in this room has experienced I-Thou and I-It relationships In an I-Thou relationship we are as one Your destiny is my destiny
even if only for a moment In the I-It relationship the parties are in a transac-tion I have turned the other party into an object to help me to achieve something that I want Indeed we all have I-Thou relationships and I-It relationships all the time mdash and we often have these disparate relationships within moments of each other and often with the very same person If this room were smaller and more inti-mate I could randomly call on anyone and have you give examples of I-Thou and I-It relationships in your own life But Ill use my own life as an example
I love my wife very much I am happy to come home at the end of the workday and to hear about her day and what is new and for her to hear about my day That is an I-Thou moment But while sitting with her my stomach starts to growl I become distracted Im not think-ing about her but about the dinner I know she has prepared Im hungry and want to eat She becomes an object a means to an end an I-It Wersquove all had that expe-rience or one like it
But just because Im getting something I want from her mdash or from anyone mdash doesnrsquot mean it has to be an I-It moment In that exact same scenario it could just as well have been an I-Thou moment by a change in my behavior even
with the same outcome that dinner will be served and my hunger abated Instead of single-mindedly think-ing about food in its place I could have interrupted the conversation to tell her that Im hungry I could have offered to set the table while we keep talking And most importantly I could keep reminding myself that she has spent time and trouble thinking about dinner and preparing it and that I have no entitlement to her having done this and how fortunate I am that she has If I do all of that it is more likely we will have an I-Thou relationship that evening than a transac-tional I-It one
Even with people we love I-Thoursquos and I-Itrsquos flit back and forth across some imaginary spectrum with engagement and other-directedness on one side and selfishness and self-direct-edness on the other We all have instincts for both sides of that spectrum and the challenge is to take the harder path the path where we direct the moment away from ourselves and our selfish wants and needs to that of the person present before us and our shared experience
As I indicated earlier this isnrsquot just true of deep long-lasting relationships It can be true of the waiter who serves you dinner the bellman who helps you with your bags even with a
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 19
passing stranger on a line to get into somewhere Every encounter has the oppor-tunity to be an I-Thou or an I-It and the challenge is for each of us to constantly remind ourselves of the humanity of the person with whom we engage
I and Thou isnrsquot just for people It is also true of believing peoplersquos relation-ship with God and also true of organizations and how they relate to people In my experience Ive found it even true of inanimate objects even if that may take it beyond Buberrsquos own con-ception So how do Martin Buber and his I and Thou relate to you all as direct mar-keters and as fundraisers for your worthy organizations
Everyone knows when they are in an I and Thou moment You feel the link and the joy that comes from the link But people also know when they are being used as a means to an end
when they are the ldquoItrdquo in an I-It relationship People may give you what you want when they are in an I-It rela-tionship with you and you may give your counter-party what they seek too but we all know that feeling of sadness or emptiness within when someone you are with mdash a co-worker a boss a spouse a child even a clerk on the phone at a call center mdash treats you as an object to get some-thing achieved and not as an opportunity to feel your humanity and for you to feel theirs even if for a fleeting moment
And the same Ill say is true about the relationship between a potential donor and your organization Those organizations that stand for somethinghellip Those organizations that donrsquot treat their donors as objects like walking checkbookshellip Those organizations that take the time to engage with their prospects Indeed
those organizations that donrsquot even necessarily start by asking for something it is those organizations who I believe will find a wide universe of people eager to believe and eager to be part of the organizationrsquos mission An I-Thou relation-ship doesnrsquot mean we never ask the other party for some-thing It is about how and when we ask Just as we will have a different outcome with our spouses children and co-workers when we are building off of an I-Thou relationship rather than an I-It so too will we have a different outcome when we approach our donors as part-ners as people we care about exactly as much whether they donate or not It is from that soulful relationship that donors will want to support one organization over an-other and one cause over another no matter how angry or frustrated or cynical they are about the larger world
around them That is how I believe the next genera-tion of donors will come to support many but not all of our organizations
When my father died I had the Postal Service forward his mail to my home address In the nearly eight years since his passing Ive received hundreds of mail-ings maybe more I often open the solicitations to try to get a feel for the kinds of causes and organizations my father would have been spending his time learning about and possibly support-ing So while some recipients of your mailings may think of your output as junk mail I couldnrsquot be more apprecia-tive Each envelope serves to remind me that the cynical side of my father was only a side and that when properly touched even a hard man could respond
Thank you all very much for your attention n
copy 2012 Seth M Siegel Reproduction with authorrsquos consent only All rights reserved
Looking for an agency or supplier to help your organization reachnew heights
Access the DMANFrsquos Directory of Service providers
nonprofitfederationorgcorporate-partnerssearch
20 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Nonprofit organizations face unique marketing chal-lenges Theyrsquore tasked with identifying and reaching the right people at the right time and through
the appropriate channels as well as balancing message appeals with monetary requests all while conveying their mission and cause The rapid expansion of the internet social networking and mobile have placed yet another demand front-and-center for nonprofit organizations mdash con-sumer privacy
Consumers are justly concerned about divulging their personal information They want to know where why and how their information will be used Many are unaware that their personal information is collected in a variety of ways and by a variety of sources both online and offline Common but often misunderstood data practices include third-party ad servers setting cookies retail stores matching names and addresses with phone numbers and marketers sharing customer lists
In todayrsquos complex marketplace how can nonprofit organizations demonstrate to their supporters donors and prospects that they share their concerns and are commit-ted to protecting their privacy The first and most important step is to create a clear privacy policy and communicate it effectively
the Privacy PolicyIf your organization collects uses and or stores personal donor information a privacy policy is critical You must display your privacy policy on your website and strictly abide by it
Privacy policies are structured around Notice and Choice principles They should provide supporters with notice of
how their data is collected used and shared as well as their choices to limit or prevent such practices Your privacy policy should also include information to maintain trans-parency and that clearly describes your organizationrsquos data security practices
Key points every privacy policy should address include
The types of personal information your organization collects This may include name address telephone number email address and credit card or other payment information
How information is secured
How personal information is used and with whom it is shared
How supporters can control the use of their data
How the privacy policy is updated and the effective date of the policy
Letrsquos take a more detailed look at the elements of a privacy policy from a nonprofit organizationrsquos perspective
Collecting personal InformationAs mentioned personal information may include data ele-ments such as name address telephone number email address and payment information It can also include more sensitive information such as gender race religious or politi-cal beliefs health information or other characteristics
The types of personal information collected and the length of retention may be used to enhance your marketing
Consumer PrivacyA Guide for Nonprofit Marketers
Bethany Lewis Privacy Analyst Epsilon
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 21
objectives by creating detailed profiles of supporters but what if that dataprofile was accessed without appropriate permis-sions or used by other organizations for purposes beyond the original intent Inappropriate generalizations might be made about supporters regardless of who has the data and the risk for reputational and other damage increases if that type of data is compromised
For example if a supporter donates to an organization that supports research of a genetic disorder should they be identified as a patient of or at risk for that same disorder Perhaps theyrsquore simply a caretaker for someone suffer-ing from that disorder Similarly if a supporter donates to a religious-based organization could assumptions around political leanings be attributed to them
Protecting information about charitable contributions is critical as is informing supporters how that information will be used which brings us to data security and the sharing of personal information
protecting personal InformationToday every organization is vulnerable when it comes to data security Protecting the personal information of supporters is essential The first line of protection is collecting only the necessary data
While creating supporter profiles evaluate the risks of storing ldquounnecessaryrdquo data especially if an incident exposes the data Set internal policies for how long each category of data collected will be retained and be diligent in deletingdestroying data in a safe and thorough manner based on those policies
Whenever possible encrypt personal data maintained electronically and enhance security on laptops and mobile devices from which supporter data is accessed
Sharing personal InformationBe very clear in your privacy policy when providing infor-mation on the types of third-parties with whom your organization shares data If you share information with third-party service providers disclose this fact and provide a categorized list of these organizations Such organizations may include credit card processors shipping vendors mar-keting analysts or consultants and fulfillment houses
If you share information with other nonprofit organi-zations disclose these practices Also disclose if you share information with marketing cooperatives whose databases are not exclusively nonprofit
Protecting
information
about
charitable
contributions
is critical
continued
22 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
providing ChoiceStudies have shown that modern consumers are more com-fortable sharing personal information with organizations that are clear and upfront about how their information is used and with whom it is shared In fact most people respond positively to organizations who transparently disclose data sharing practices and provide a clear and convenient oppor-tunity to opt-out While a small percentage of individuals will choose to opt-out of data sharing very few supporters will opt-out of all contact with an organization Therefore providing an opportunity to opt-out of sharing data for mar-keting purposes as well as an opt-out for receiving further requests from your organization will aid in retaining your most loyal supporters
Updating the privacy policyClearly state the effective date of your current privacy policy and update it when you make any material changes If you do make material changes to your privacy policy with ret-roactive application to the data you already have stored you may need to obtain express consent from individuals to use their information for new or different purposes Some organizations choose to list what changes were made in a summary history which may be helpful to a supporter reviewing the policy
Pulling It All togetherYour privacy policy should be easy to find read understand and act upon (ie opt-out or modify preferences) It should also be present in each commercial solicitation where per-sonal information is collected regardless of whether that is through postal mailings or on your website
Additional information regarding Notice Choice Trans-parency and other important privacy principles can be found on the DMA website in the Commitment to Consumer Choice and the DMA Guidelines for Ethical Business Practice
At Epsilon we use the following checklist when evaluating a privacy policy
The website has a privacy policy
There is a link to the privacy policy from the websitersquos home page and the link contains the word ldquoprivacyrdquo
The privacy policy states that the organization shares consumer data and personal information (including name address email address and transaction informa-tion) with third-party service providers
The privacy policy states that the organization shares consumer data and personal information with other marketers for their own marketing purposes
The privacy policy provides consumers the chance to opt-out of having their information shared with other marketers
The privacy policy has an ldquoeffectiverdquo date
As mentioned in situations where data is shared with other organizations and marketers transparency is the key Below is sample disclosure language
The personally identifiable information that you provide to us
(such as your name address and email address) and information
about your contribution may be combined with other non-person-
ally identifiable information (such as demographic information and
past contribution history) available from our records and other
sources This information will be used to make our future market-
ing efforts more efficient and relevant This information may also
be shared with our third-party service providers that assist us
with our marketing efforts and with other marketers whose prod-
ucts or services we feel may be of interest to you If you prefer
that we do not share your name and address with other market-
ers please email us at optoutyourorganizationorg
Beyond the Privacy PolicyIn addition to having a robust privacy policy written in concise language and that is easily accessible here are a few other best practices to secure the privacy of your sup-portersrsquo information
Ensure agreements with third-parties who may have access to supportersrsquo personal information adequately address privacy and data security
Suppress personal information in your database when a supporter requests it and do so within a reasonable timeframe
If you must store sensitive information such as credit card or social security numbers as part of your data-base encrypt this information
Train employees and volunteers regularly on the importance of maintaining privacy and security
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 23
Nonprofit Careers e-Bulletin
Your Multi-ChannelRecruiting Tool
Become familiar with data breach notification require-ments and have a response plan and team in place Should you experience a breach disclose to all appro-priate and necessary parties
Monitor the use of your data and address any enti-ties when you become aware that data is being used in a way that violates the law contractual requirements andor the DMArsquos Ethical Guidelines
Respecting and promoting consumer privacy requires a commitment to maintaining balance between the legitimate business needs of your organization and the concerns of individuals about fair information practices Start by taking a look at your current privacy policy Assure its accuracy and adhere to its strategy n
Bethany Lewis As a Privacy Analyst Bethany Lewis supports and educates associates and clients on privacy compliance matters She brings an extensive background in regulatory compliance corporate ethics education and training to her work at Epsilon
ldquoThe recruitment Tool for the Nonprofit Communityrdquo is your source for top flight exposure to top flight candidates and the best A b amp C-level career opportunities out there
Distributed every Tuesday 8 am ET via raquo Email raquo post at wwwnonprofitfederationorg raquo Facebook mdash DMA Nonprofit Federation raquo Twitter mdash DMANF and AliozDC
To view ad submission requirements visit the ldquoFind a Jobrdquo area of the DMA Nonprofit Federation homepage wwwnonprofitfederationorg and click on ldquoHow to postrdquo Ads must be emailed to Aosgoodthe-dmaorg please make sure any ad you submit meets our specifications
Is your nonprofit organization already a dual member of the DMA and DMANF If the answer is lsquoyesrsquo itrsquos FrEE mdash so why not post
Join the over 8000 professionals who already subscribe
Sign up today nonprofitfederationorgpublications careers-e-bulletinsubscribe
DMA Guidelines for Ethical Business Practice
dmaresponsibilityorgGuidelines
24 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Each week I see non-profit organizations walking away from
mobile thinking that com-municating and fundraising with their constituents through the single most used electronic device in history is optional Con-versely we see more and more retailers embracing mobile and the omnichan-nel marketing model because the results are tre-mendous We at mGive think nonprofits benefit when they embrace similar tools and methodologies
What is an omnichan-nel approach and why is it important to non-profit organizations An omnichannel approach is an integrated marketing strat-egy that creates a seamless experience for the donor
It is a customer-centric approach that elevates your supporter loyalty strategies by leveraging cross-channel opportunities For example when a donor drops off goods at their local Epilepsy Foundation they receive a paper receipt to complete Normally once they leave your location you lose any hope of communicating with them again Imagine if when the donor dropped off their goods you offered to send the donor an email version of their receipt You now have a way to engage the supporter through email Now suppose your email receipt offered a web link that drove them to a form to opt-in to your mobile community in order to receive updates via text
Once they opt-in you then have a way to send updates volunteer requests dona-tion reminders and more You may also leverage the fact they are on the mobile phone and send text mes-sages asking supporters to post a photo to Facebook making a donation Having this omnichannel strat-egy in place is especially critical at the end of year because it is an opportune time for organizations to increase membership and raise dollars
So how does an organization create an omnichannel approach that leverages direct mail email online social media live events and mobile to achieve their goals It may be difficult for some orga-nizations to make the
operational shift to an omnichannel model but that doesnrsquot mean you can afford to ignore it Not sure you can get all the steps in place by the time you launch your end of year activities Mobile is the bridge that can help to start that process In fact more and more organizations are relying on their mobile strategy to bridge the gap and engage supporters in this multi-screen world because mobile is the ldquogreat centralizerrdquo of activities ndash where else can you make calls browse the web check email respond to text mes-sages post to social media and more in a truly porta-ble fashion
Before we move on to the tactics that an organiza-tion can take to incorporate
Mobile
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 25
mobile into their existing multi-channel strategies we must tackle one issue If your organization has tried mobile or an omnichan-nel approach in the past and were disappointed or frustrated with your expe-rience try again You were one of the pioneering orga-nizations that comprise the early adopters of those models Lessons learned over the past few years have evolved into success-ful best practices mdash and you get the opportunity to benefit from them As we like to say in honor of the wise Master Yoda ldquoTry not Do or do not There is no tryrdquo We guarantee if imple-mented correctly using mobile in an omnichannel approach can work for your organization
1 Communicate and Integrate mdash Walk Across the Mobile Bridge
Many organizations that I work with have voiced cross-departmental integra-tion as a challenge That is understandable because tra-ditionally departments or channels have been siloed from one another But this disenfranchised model does not result in the seam-less experience that donors are coming to expect In order for a donor experi-ence to be seamless direct mail must complement the organizationrsquos website the organizationrsquos website must complement the mobile campaign social media must complement direct mail and so forth and so on When used together
the communication chan-nels can result in more effective campaigns and bigger numbers
When an organization decides to develop a mobile strategy generally it is one department within that organization that is initially interested That department is a hero because they have just launched a toolset that can be used throughout the organization If you have a mobile program in place for fundraising itrsquos time to talk with your program services department mem-bership team and corporate partner folks and get them in the loop so that you can maximize the omnichannel approach Mobile can be a great catalyst for initiating conversation and guiding organizational integration
Mobile is also a great way to increase the effec-tiveness of existing channels By integrating your direct mail newslet-ter social media online and mobile efforts you can increase response and open rates We have found that if you send a text message to your membership remind-ing them to check their email inboxes you can increase email open rates by 10 or more Addition-ally if you include a mobile number field on your email and paper member-ship forms you can quickly build a mobile community that can turn into repeat donors Once again the most important element besides the actual cross
the Bridge to an omnichannel Approach in time for Year-End Campaigns
continued
Jenifer Snyder Esq Executive Director The mGive Foundation and Cassie Bair Vice President of Marketing Mobile Accord
26 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
channel promotion goes back to this concept of the omnichannel Make the message consistent across all channels They donrsquot have to be identical but they should complement each other and work to create an echo effect
Just about every one of your donors will experience your organization through their mobile device at some point mdash so make sure your message is clear consistent convenient and actionable through mobile in some capacity
2 test Review Adjust Implement Review Adjust mdash and Repeat
Once you have an inte-grated strategy in place itrsquos time to implement Whether the goal is to acquire new donors reactivate lapsed donors and drive donations from existing donors mdash or all three mdash test your cam-paign Take time to review the results and adjust accordingly Then imple-ment full scale confident you are on the right path Regularly review your results adjust your activities and repeat as needed
In preparation for end of year activities take the time in the Fall to tweak your marketing engine for optimal performance Do some zero based plan-ning and try to approach
the supporter experience as if you are the supporter Spend time on every avenue where you can wisely create a seamless experience
Everyone in philan-thropy knows that the majority of all charitable donations are made in the last 2 months of the year Additionally member-ship increases substantially during the last quarter of the year Spend time now identifying opportunities strategies and tactics that work best for you mdash and consider how mobile can be a centralizing point for many of these activities
3 Apply the Winning Methodologies to Your End of Year Appeals
Yoursquove tested tweaked and determined what works best for you Now inte-grate what yoursquove learned into your end of year cam-paigns Determine how your campaign follows stan-dard best practices for end of year appeals and where mobile can help drive that engagement across multiple mediums
Common best practices for end of year campaigns that can include mobile
A Sending multiple asks the final week of the year mdash Make sure text messages are a part of that effort Whether itrsquos a simple call-to-action to text
a donation drives people to a pledge page or some-thing all-together different mobile can help ramp up that seamless experience
B the Art of the ldquothank Yourdquo mdash Thank your sup-porters Use mobile to message supporters your appreciation when they take action through text or drive them to a webpage with a video with a celeb-rity spokesperson giving a thank you message But make sure they know repeatedly that what they do for your cause matters And keep in mind mobile can drive to a strong ldquothank yourdquo experience
C Share Ask Listen mdash Take the opportunity to tell a story ask for feed-back and listen to what your organization is being told Not sure how to do that in mobile Share a link to a news article through text Ask for feedback through social media And listen to what is being said while distilling insights from how supporters respond in order to strengthen your omnichannel approach
4 Continue into 2013 mdash You are set for success
As donors enter the New Year self-improve-ment will often include a
commitment to be a better person volunteer more donate more funds etc Use mobile as a data col-lection tool to help your donors achieve their goal Give them the opportunity to commit to goals pertain-ing to your cause and then become their coach Send monthly reminders of their commitment and words of encouragement Remind them about appointments invite them to share their experience and overall let the donor feel the effect of their selfless promise through all of their activi-ties while using mobile to centralize that community and to drive people to action
We now live in a world where the average person at any given moment is looking at two or more screens It is critical that nonprofit organizations embrace the multi-screen world and adopt the omnichannel or fully integrated model When you create a seam-less giving experience for the everyday philanthropist you will be amazed at the results Walking away from a mobile strategy today is like walking away from the internet in the early 2000s
Mobile is here to stay and it is not an elective component to your orga-nizationrsquos fundraising and engagement strategy Itrsquos an essential part of a successful omnichannel strategy for your end of year activities n
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 27
Jenifer Snyder Esq Executive Director The mGive Foundation
As Executive Director of The mGive Foun-dation Jenifer is dedicated to expanding the scope and reach of the mobile channel for social good She brings years of lead-ership experience in the mobile industry to the position Previously Jenifer was a founder and General Counsel for 9 Squared Inc a mobile content and ser-vices company subsequently acquired by the Zed Group She left Zed in 2007 and started building the mobile channel for social and charitable efforts and later formed The mGive Foundation
Cassie bair Vice president of Marketing Mobile Accord
As Vice President of Marketing for Mobile Accord Cassie is dedicated to educat-ing and empowering nonprofits regarding the power of mobile She combines years of marketing experience in the nonprofit industry with the exciting evolution of the mobile channel for social good Cassie has worked with organizations such as the American Heart Association American Institute of Architects and the American Society of Echocardiography developing integrated and cause marketing cam-paigns and uses that knowledge today with clients to help them maximize their mobile strategy
Name
OrganizationCompany
Address
City State Zip Code
Charge my m Visa m MasterCard m AmEx m Discover
Card Number Expiration Date
Signature
raquo FAX form to 2026284383 (do not email credit card information)
raquo MAIL form to Alicia Osgood Director Membership amp Communications DMA Nonprofit Federation 1615 L Street NW Suite 1100 Washington DC 20036
raquo MAKE ChECKS payable to the DMA Nonprofit Federation
raquo DMA Nonprofit Federation Federal Tax ID Number 13-1810859
News and cutting-edge professional development tips
SUBSCRIBEto the Journal today1year =3 issues
ONLY $35Published digitally in January Apriland September the Journal brings together nonprofit leaders to deliver a standout publication packed with content you can really use
No cost to members
28 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Consumer technology evolves so quickly that nonprof-its are constantly racing to get their organizations using the latest technologies and mediums In fact many of these innovations have had significant impact on the fundrais-ing community While online CRM systems for example spawned database segmentation capabilities the opportu-nity ndash and challenge ndash arose for fundraising professionals to target appeals precisely to donorsrsquo specific interests Lately the emergence and rapid popularity of technologies such as smartphones and social media have forced nonprofits to not only create a presence but essentially compete for shrinking donor funds using these vehicles
The primary focus of nonprofit technology however tends to be inward creating a presence in a particular social media community or simply using the technology on behalf of the organization Examples of this include a nonprofitrsquos Facebook page and Twitter account and mobile-friendly
web sites In todayrsquos competitive fundraising environment though itrsquos not enough for nonprofits to simply use the latest technology Successful fundraisers understand that a nonprofitrsquos relationship with technology needs to take one step beyond itself to focus outward how do your sup-porters and donors want to use technology on behalf of your organization
Donors have technology preferences and habits too While itrsquos great for organizations to have a Facebook page for sup-porters to ldquolikerdquo that offers news and updates for example this doesnrsquot offer an opportunity for donors to appeal to their friends and family on behalf of your nonprofit mdash and certainly doesnrsquot raise money As nonprofits have learned to quickly adapt to changing technology and social media standards the time has come for organizations to evolve the technology they offer to provide donors supporters and par-ticipants with a personalized fundraising experience
Get Personal Providing Supporters with Personalized Fundraising Experiences
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 29
Personalization Means EngagementAt a fundamental level donor personalization in fun-
draising emerged from some of the first online nonprofit fundraising systems Offering supporters the opportunity to send personalized fundraising emails to their friends and family was revolutionary in its time mdash as was offering custom individual and team fundraising web pages
While these technology offerings revolutionized event fundraising donors have become increasingly savvy in the way they interact online mdash and developed strong preferences and dislikes in the types of technology they use They want the technology they know and like to be at their fingertips and are more likely to fundraise and successfully so for your nonprofit if itrsquos made easy and accessible for them
Back to Basics mdash But BetterNonprofits have been so consumed by social media that
they often forget this simple fact participants who use online tools raise six times more than non-users according to Blackbaud In addition 25 percent of the fundraising emails supporters send to their friends result in a donation With the average online gift being $60 nonprofits have motiva-tion not to forget about the basics of online fundraising But in the age of increasing competition for donations nonprof-its that offer a more personalized fundraising experience to supporters may see better results
What does it mean to offer a personalized fundrais-ing experience For online fundraising pages it can mean offering them the opportunity to post pictures videos story content and individual fundraising status updates But itrsquos essentially the personalization options offered behind the scenes mdash in the personal ldquoHeadquartersrdquo page within an online fundraising system mdash that can really maximize fun-draising results
Savvy nonprofits are offering a multitude of ways within their online fundraising systems for supporters to choose to reach out to friends and family Offering more than the email capabilities found standard with most fundraising plat-forms some nonprofits are starting to provide supporters more options in their personal participant ldquoheadquartersrdquo pages to engage those in their network mdash all with the click of a button Opportunities for supporters to personalize their experience could include options to
Send a Facebook message
Tweet their fundraising page
Update their Facebook status
Send a quick email
In addition statistics about their personal fundraising process could tell them
Total emails sent
Visits to their personal fundraising pages
Number of donations
Number of registrations
Average amount raised per email sent
Number of additional emails needed to reach fundraising goal
And because no one participant is the same these per-sonalization options allow the supporter to interact and engage their network on behalf of the nonprofit in ways that are meaningful and comfortable to them
Beyond the Facebook PageThe nonprofit community has taken Facebook by storm as an avenue to engage supporters and attract donors But itrsquos important to look beyond how supporters want to interact with your nonprofit and understand how they want to in-teract with their social network Itrsquos within this framework that supporters choose mdash or choose not mdash to engage their network on your organizationrsquos behalf
So make it easy for them provide them with a variety of ways to use several social media tools to reach out and fund-raise for your nonprofit Let them decide how they fundraise With 845 million monthly active users and 100 billion con-nections Facebook for example provides an excellent platform for nonprofits mdash and their fundraisers mdash to expand fundraising reach In fact Blackbaudrsquos web site states that social media users raise 40 more than non-users But most
continued
John Murphy PresidentCEo and Founder Zuri Group
30 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
organizations make the mistake of relying on participants to send their own appeals and updates or worse provide cum-bersome tools that require multiple logins and steps
Some enthusiastic fundraisers will thrive in this envi-ronment Others wonrsquot Since each supporter is unique itrsquos important to provide several varying opportunities and options so that a personalized fundraising experience can be forged For many fundraisers asking for donations isnrsquot easy All participants want to raise money but many donrsquot feel comfortable asking outside of close friends and family Other fundraisers donrsquot have the time or creativity to regu-larly develop and update personalized Facebook messages Use technology to help overcome these challenges by creat-ing easy ways for them to raise more money using Facebook
To take the effort out of Facebook fundraising remove the discomfort of a direct ldquoaskrdquo and save fundraisers time some nonprofits are offering supporters the option for fun-draising updates that automatically post on their Facebook wall at pre-determined intervals throughout the fundraising season For the right supporter this option removes the dis-comfort of approaching potential donors with a direct ldquoaskrdquo while significantly expanding their fundraising reach
Mobilizing the troopsAccording to a 2011 study consumers spend more time
on mobile applications than on the web In addition Ameri-cans spend 27 hours per day on average socializing on their mobile phones Nonprofits have been hard at work to lever-age the trend toward mobile by creating mobile-friendly web sites and even apps to further engage supporters But what about the mobile interaction that takes place between sup-porters and their friends The key is for nonprofits to make it accessible and easy for fundraisers to use their everyday technologies and devices to fundraise within their own networks By providing fundraising options that enable sup-porters to simply use something they already use such as a smartphone to connect with people they already interact with fundraising becomes a more natural and personalized part of the supporterrsquos day
To provide a more personalized and convenient fun-draising experience some nonprofits are offering mobile fundraising apps that enable supporters to not only use their smartphones to fundraise but to fundraise using multiple technologies within the smartphone mdash such as email text Twitter Facebook and even FaceTime for iPhone users As a result supporters can fundraise for the organization from their homes the train while walking the dog mdash anytime they have their phone
By empowering supporters to personalize their fundrais-ing experience nonprofits that provide mobile fundraising apps help their fundraisers help them These organizations are meeting the needs of on-the-go fundraising participants so they can focus on spreading awareness soliciting dona-tions and thanking donors mdash on their time on their terms In fact itrsquos been reported that fundraising participants using mobile fundraising applications raise 200 more than other participants and bring in 300 more gifts by count that other participants
In addition some mobile fundraising apps are provid-ing further personalization by bringing some of the same features of the personalized online ldquoheadquartersrdquo to the smartphone such as fundraising thermometers and adding donors into their phone address book Pre-written fundrais-ing messages developed specifically for various mediums such as texts Twitter updates and emails can be used Editing personal fundraising pages from the smartphone is likely the next option nonprofits will start offering
the Personalization ChallengeAs nonprofits compete in the race to adopt new technolo-
gies and social media itrsquos important to take a step back and consider your supportersrsquo relationship with those channels Many nonprofits have a Facebook page or group but how are your fundraisers using Facebook Are you making it easy for them to advocate or fundraise for your organization If much of your donor base uses text messaging have you pro-vided easy access and tools for them to text their network on your behalf
Supporters want and frankly need a personalized online experience with your organization Go beyond the bounds of your interactive relationship and consider what would enable your supporter base to have a more personalized fundrais-ing experience mdash and then put those tools at their fingertips They and their network mdash will thank you n
John Murphy is the PresidentCEO and Founder of Zuri Group Zuri Group provides nonprofits with custom technology solutions to meet critical organizational needs such as fundraising using their existing platform For more info visit zurigroupcom
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 31Non-Profit_FullPageAd_OLindd 1 91312 417 PM
32 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
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Tel 8003707500
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Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 33
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34 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
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Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 35
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36 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
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Get it todaynonprofitfederationorgethics-policy watchdog-resource-centerwatchdog-toolkit
38 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
1
2
3
A
B
C
Grand Hyatt New York
Conference attendees
mixed mingled amp noshed
on delicious appetizers
at Butterfield 8
(Left to right)
DMA Nonprofit Federation Advisory Council Chair
Brian Cowart of Disabled American Veterans (DAV)
2012 New York Nonprofit Conference Keynote
Speaker Seth ldquoYossirdquo Siegel of Sixpoint Partners
DMA Nonprofit Federation Advisory Council Vice
Chair tom harrison of Russ Reid Company
The Nature Conservancyrsquos Chief Marketing Officer Geof Rochester
amp Director of Membership Fundraising Begontildea Vaacutezquez-Santos
with TNCrsquos Nonprofit Organization of the Year award
Congratulations to The Nature Conservancy
13
14 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Thank you Tom Har-rison for such a lovely introduction The philos-opher who said that there is no praise higher than to be esteemed by those you esteem perfectly captures my reaction I appreci-ate your idea of inviting me mdash someone from outside your industry mdash to speak before your group But it is you Tom and several of your colleagues at Russ Reid who have largely taught me what I know about this industry
It is truly a special plea-sure being with all of you here today and the size of the audience notwithstand-ing getting to meet with you
To some extent I feel like I know many of you in this room To be sure many of you already know me mdash and even more of you knew my father My being here today allows me to close the circle and reciprocate many years of your outreach to me and my father Let me explain
My wife and I have been married for 32 years When we got married we didnrsquot have a lot more than the wedding gifts we had received but from our first days together we shared an interest in learning about charities that could use our support and we often would send in small donations in response to this mailing or that Soon thereafter mdash and this will surprise exactly no one in this room mdash we began getting mailings from more charities and we had the
opportunity to learn about yet more worthy organiza-tions As time interest and available cash allowed we would donate to yet others Then along the way as my business grew we stepped out of the direct mail uni-verse and got involved with a more manageable number of causes as volunteers and a somewhat larger number as donors but directly and in amounts more likely to be the fruit of a call or a meeting or a solicitation over a meal or in our home We still get some mail solicita-tions Some of it is likely the distant tail from donations made long ago and a bit of it may be thanks to gifts made in support of some of our friendsrsquo childrenrsquos walk-a-thon participations or similar creative requests for funds But in the main our mail box no longer has the volume of requests for support that it once did
In my opening remarks I made mention of my father Now if my wife and I have received mail from some of you I can go out on a limb and say that my father got mail from nearly all of you Before I share my fatherrsquos direct mail experience Id like to tell you a bit about him
My father mdash Benjamin Siegel in case you are check-ing to see if his name is in your database mdash was born to immigrant parents here in Manhattan Despite his American birth he spoke
Seth ldquoYossirdquo Siegel
2012 New York Nonprofit Conference
KeynoteAddress
July 25 2012
vvv
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 15
no English until he started kindergarten His child-hood can only be described as hard and deprived with his parents being members of the working poor their entire lives Yet despite their poverty he recalled a blue-and-white tin charity box in his kitchen into which his mother would put a few coins every week late on Friday afternoon before the start of the Jewish Sabbath His parents werenrsquot reli-giously observant but his mother would make a char-itable donation of some kind every week for even poorer Jews living in what is now Israel
I would have to describe my father as angry a lot of the time And Id also have to say that it would be hard to find someone more cynical about institutions and whole professions than my father He thought all doctors were to use his word quacks He thought all lawyers were again to use his word shy-sters He loathed politicians He was dubious about the esteem given to Jewish clergy and I cant believe he had any special regard for the clergy of any other faith He was part of the Greatest Generation and talked his way into World War II after he was rejected on medical grounds and spent most of the war in Europe including landing on Omaha Beach on D-Day Plus 1 And even so he was often dismissive of the thought and planning
of our own military leaders especially what he thought of as the cavalier misuse of troops
Despite his being a one-man protest machine he utterly hated protest move-ments and anything that smacked of them I could go on but I think you get the picture This was a man of complete cynicism seem-ingly trusting no one He made a hard honest living and lived a life with no frills and few vacations Meals out in restaurants were a very special event By any stan-dard by which we measure comfort or luxury my father and mother had few check marks in that imaginary list
But family history aside there was a reason Ive just told you all of this
After my father died in 2004 some many years after my mother and stepmother had both passed away it fell to me to go through his effects and to pack up his things I donrsquot know how many of you here have ever had that task It is a melan-choly one with many small items serving to remind you of moments in the rela-tionship In addition it can be a startling one learning things about your deceased parent and achingly wishing you could have them back for even a few moments to explain what something meant or to ask why they had never told you about some just discovered element of their lives
For me the startling element I discovered was how my father mdash the utter cynic mdash was mdash within his means mdash a philanthropist and donor of a scope that is still remarkable to me You see when I opened the bottom drawer of his dresser the entire drawer was filled with note pads and boxes of seasonal cards from dozens and dozens of charities My first thought standing in his empty bedroom was ldquoTo whom was he planning on writing so many notesrdquo When I opened the next drawer it was filled with per-sonalized mailing labels from dozens of charities mdash possi-bly the same charities I donrsquot know but possibly not mdash but I knew that if he ever got around to sending out all of those notes and cards he would never have to write his return address on any of those envelopes As I con-tinued the packing up in his bedroom kitchen closets and elsewhere I found other institutional gifts from other charities like tote bags mugs umbrellas and so on almost all of them still in their orig-inal packaging
When I cleaned out his small desk I found his checkbook and sat at his desk to go through his check register and other check reg-isters going back years and years There were payments made to credit card compa-nies and utilities and taxes but overwhelmingly the checks were made payable
to one charity after another The amounts mdash as you pro-fessionals would guess from the pads and the pre-printed mailing labels mdash were all small Most of them were for ten dollars some for twenty-five and in a nod to the Jewish mystical belief in the specialness of numbers that are multiples of eigh-teen he had written plenty of checks to Jewish organiza-tions and causes for eighteen and thirty-six dollars
Also remarkable was the range of organizations to which he donated As I mentioned he gave to a broad array of Jewish and pro-Israel organizations but he also gave to commu-nity groups environmental groups hunger organiza-tions veterans groups and health-related organizations including hospitals hospices and disease-focused causes He even gave to animal shelter organizations mdash and he had never had a pet of his own
So how could it be that this most utterly cynical man a man who watched his pennies his whole life could have been a small-scale Roth-schild and Rockefeller in the range and expansiveness of his giving Of course wersquoll never know for sure but in trying to develop an answer to this there are lessons for those of us in this room who care about the not-for-profit world whether profession-ally as communal activists or as donors
continued
16 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
The first two possibili-ties that come to mind that Id like to quickly dismiss are that my father liked the idea that he could get something of value for what may have seemed for free It is possible but my father was a very prac-tical man and at some point he must have realized that well into his 80s he had such an ample supply of holiday cards and return address labels that he would never be able to use up the inventory The other thought was that he simply liked getting mail and he knew how the system worked Send in a check and the one envelope becomes two or three or ten Send in one hundred checks and he had his weekends filled reading through all of the mail he had received during the past week That is possi-ble but my father also died with a significant backlog of unread magazines so Im going to rule that out too
The explanation Ive come up with is that my father may have been a cynic but that he wanted to believe He may have thought most every institution and public figure not worthy of being trusted but he may still have yearned to be able to trust that some others out there cared deeply about society and elements of it and that he wanted to be part of the efforts to make the world a proverbially better place He despised a lot of things gen-erally but seemed to like a lot of things specifically
And from that insight I think there is some very good news for many of you here today I know from Tom Harrison that you are all worried about the crummy economy that shows no sign of quickly returning to robust times And Tom has also shared with me a worry about the viability of the US Postal Service and its ability to offer reduced mailing rates for the fore-seeable future And Tom has also told me that my fatherrsquos generation is dying off and not being quickly replaced by a new demographic cohort that reads mail and sends in money Plus there are environmental ques-tions about harvesting trees for the mailings and some compelling proof that people respond less well to email solicitations than they did to requests delivered via their mail boxes But aside from all of those structural impediments my fatherrsquos behavior offers some very special opportunities for those charities and organi-zations able to reach out and speak personally to the next waves of donors
If my father was a skepti-cal cynical guy in the Ozzie and Harriet 1950s and 60s he was a full generation ahead of where people are today and Id like to take a minute or two to explain what I mean
People today are fright-ened angry cynical even often despairing The
overwhelming feeling is that few institutions are working well Our political system just isnrsquot garnering wide-spread support and in these unsettling times people want leaders and insti-tutions that can fix their problems No matter who wins the presidential elec-tion in November there is little widespread belief we will come together as a society to fix our problems It may happen but people donrsquot believe it And the poll numbers reflect this Pres-ident Obama mdash who came into office on a promise of hope and change and of transformation of our political culture and which initially yielded him an approval rating of 67 mdash has had an approval rating that has been below 50 since November 2009 and is now at 47 If the president has problems in garnering the publicrsquos trust that he can solve their problems Con-gress as an institution is doing far far worse with an approval rating of 23 The US Supreme Court enjoys an approval rating of only 35 These numbers for the president and for the legisla-tive and judicial branches of government actually under-state the problem The poll number of those who call themselves ldquofrustrated or angry with the federal gov-ernmentrdquo comes in at a frightening 79 President Obama may win re-elec-tion but it likely wont be a
unifying election We have a divided government at a polarized partisan moment of utterly different and con-tradictory views of how to solve the problems at hand Given the enormity of the problems mdash from the economy to the deficit to the debt to Iranrsquos nuclear program to the rise of radical Islamism to the rise of China and its likelihood to be a destabilizing force and many many more prob-lems mdash the likelihood our country will be dispirited and detached from politics is larger than it is smaller
Staying with our politi-cal system for just another moment we have another problem Because people are angry and have a near con-stant ldquothrow the bums outrdquo feeling about our elected offi-cials we are going through a period of uncommon insta-bility in our government institutions
Most people believe that incumbents come to office and tend to leave only when they die But it just isnrsquot true Whether because of the Tea Party or because of burn-out by elected officials the level of turnover in Washington is a big and growing problem In just the past five Congres-sional elections which is to say in the past ten years a remarkable 54 of the US Senate has been replaced If that number seems impos-sibly high for institutional stability in the House of Representatives the turnover
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 17
in that same period has been 68 Due to announced retirements and defeats in primaries we already know that in the coming Senate and House to be sworn in next January no fewer than 11 current Senators and 60 current Congressmen and Congresswomen will not be returning mdash and that assumes not a single incum-bent will lose in a single race in the remaining pri-maries and the General Election That means at least a 65 turnover in the US Senate and a more than 80 turnover in the House of Representatives in a mere 12-year period Think of your own organizations and what a turnover of that mag-nitude would mean to your ability to do your institu-tional job let alone having to grapple with many of the enormous challenges I mentioned a moment ago and many others I did not mention Thus the roiling public environment is more likely to stay roiled for some time to come than it is likely to return to some idealized period of harmony
Not to belabor the point but to also make sure that we understand that the problem of popular unease is broader than belief in our national government let me share just a few poll numbers to demonstrate my point Our confidence in hospitals and our doctors is now at 41 which is bad enough but HMOs are at 19 Public
schools have the confidence of only 29 of the people in our country Newspapers taken together have the con-fidence of just 25 of the American people But falling even lower than newspapers TV news comes in at 21 And labor unions banks and major corporations are all tied with the confidence of just one in five Ameri-cans at around 20 Even organized religion falls below the 50 mark at 44
Indeed the only three institutions regularly polled about by Gallup to be above the 50 mark are our police departments at 56 small business at 63 and our fighting men and women in the US military at 75 And finally in what many people believe is the most important general view of how people feel the Right Track Wrong Track poll Rasmussen reports 30 of Americans think our country is on the right track
and 64 believe our country is on the wrong track
In case you werenrsquot a statistics major in college let me boil all of these poll results down to just this one short statement and it is this My father was ahead of his time Just as my father didnrsquot trust or like just about any institution the American people now donrsquot much trust or like any institution with
the exception of police military and
small busi-ness In
nearly every other
case the institu-tion Ive mentioned is at or
near an all-time low since these Gallup Institutional Confidence polls began being conducted in 1973
But I think there is a second key learning from all of this bad news that is actu-ally very good news for some of you but definitely not all of you and that is this Just as my father had very low confidence in government and other mass institutions yet managed to turn himself
into a check-writing ma-chine for many many not-for-profits so too can your organization or your clients The not-so-profound insight is that even the most angry frustrated cynical skeptical misanthrope wants to believe It was true of mis-anthropes when Moliere wrote a play by that name in the 1660s It was true of my father And Id bet a dona-tion to any of your causes that it is true today even with a Right Track Wrong Track poll that has double the number of Wrong Trackers over Right Trackers People want to believe People want to love People know they wont live for forever and people want to see the world better both today in their lifetimes and tomor-row when it is their legacy This is true for mega donors who will be honored at fancy dinners in hotel ballrooms like this and for ten dollar donors who look forward to the return address labels you all will send to them
So with the crummy economy the dicey state of the Postal Service the demo-graphic hump working against low-dollar donors and all of the other problems direct marketers face my money is on the significant success of some of the orga-nizations that are here today Of course the structural challenges make it harder but is it harder today than it was in my grandmotherrsquos
vvvThe not-so-profound insight is that even
the most angry frustrated cynical skeptical
misanthrope wants to believehellipPeople know they
wont live for forever and people want to see the
world better both today in their lifetimes and
tomorrow when it is their legacy
vvv
continued
18 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
walk-up tenement apart-ment in which every Friday afternoon she found a way to donate to people she knew she would never meet who were living in a place she knew she would never see She believed in the enterprise afoot in what is today Israel a place on the other side of the world and she trusted that the coins in her little blue-and-white tin box would be used wisely and honorably All the same must have been true about my father and the many causes to which he wrote those checks And the same is true of millions and millions of people waiting to be touched and to form a connection with a cause larger than themselves a cause they can make their own in a way best thought of as an I-Thou relationship
For those of you unfa-miliar with the phrase I and Thou let me start by telling you it is a concept that changed my life It was coined by the philoso-pher and theologian Martin Buber Despite his being a theologian it is a concept that isnt inherently reli-gious even if it works well in every faith tradition and also works well in a purely secular context It works well for couples who have long been together and remark-ably it works well when soliciting gifts from near-strangers It is an approach to living a happy satisfying life So with that build up let
me tell you about I and Thou and about Martin Buber
Buber was born in Austria but moved to Germany in his teens to pursue his education In the 1920s he wrote his most famous work ldquoI and Thourdquo which although somewhat obscure today helped to establish his reputation as a leading German thinker of his time When the Nazis came to power in 1933 as a Jew he was prohibited from teaching at the uni-versity where he had been a professor and in 1938 just ahead of the start of the mass murder of 90 of Euro-pean Jewry Buber made his way to the British Mandate where he became a professor in Jerusalem When the State of Israel came into being in 1948 Buber was an esteemed philosopher revered by the young nation It is hard to imagine a philosopher having this kind of fame and impact but when he died in 1965 it was the lead news story of the day in Israel and a major story in The New York Times and other world newspapers
According to Buber there are two kinds of rela-tionships I-Thou and I-It The idea underpinning these concepts is best explained by examples as every single person in this room has experienced I-Thou and I-It relationships In an I-Thou relationship we are as one Your destiny is my destiny
even if only for a moment In the I-It relationship the parties are in a transac-tion I have turned the other party into an object to help me to achieve something that I want Indeed we all have I-Thou relationships and I-It relationships all the time mdash and we often have these disparate relationships within moments of each other and often with the very same person If this room were smaller and more inti-mate I could randomly call on anyone and have you give examples of I-Thou and I-It relationships in your own life But Ill use my own life as an example
I love my wife very much I am happy to come home at the end of the workday and to hear about her day and what is new and for her to hear about my day That is an I-Thou moment But while sitting with her my stomach starts to growl I become distracted Im not think-ing about her but about the dinner I know she has prepared Im hungry and want to eat She becomes an object a means to an end an I-It Wersquove all had that expe-rience or one like it
But just because Im getting something I want from her mdash or from anyone mdash doesnrsquot mean it has to be an I-It moment In that exact same scenario it could just as well have been an I-Thou moment by a change in my behavior even
with the same outcome that dinner will be served and my hunger abated Instead of single-mindedly think-ing about food in its place I could have interrupted the conversation to tell her that Im hungry I could have offered to set the table while we keep talking And most importantly I could keep reminding myself that she has spent time and trouble thinking about dinner and preparing it and that I have no entitlement to her having done this and how fortunate I am that she has If I do all of that it is more likely we will have an I-Thou relationship that evening than a transac-tional I-It one
Even with people we love I-Thoursquos and I-Itrsquos flit back and forth across some imaginary spectrum with engagement and other-directedness on one side and selfishness and self-direct-edness on the other We all have instincts for both sides of that spectrum and the challenge is to take the harder path the path where we direct the moment away from ourselves and our selfish wants and needs to that of the person present before us and our shared experience
As I indicated earlier this isnrsquot just true of deep long-lasting relationships It can be true of the waiter who serves you dinner the bellman who helps you with your bags even with a
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 19
passing stranger on a line to get into somewhere Every encounter has the oppor-tunity to be an I-Thou or an I-It and the challenge is for each of us to constantly remind ourselves of the humanity of the person with whom we engage
I and Thou isnrsquot just for people It is also true of believing peoplersquos relation-ship with God and also true of organizations and how they relate to people In my experience Ive found it even true of inanimate objects even if that may take it beyond Buberrsquos own con-ception So how do Martin Buber and his I and Thou relate to you all as direct mar-keters and as fundraisers for your worthy organizations
Everyone knows when they are in an I and Thou moment You feel the link and the joy that comes from the link But people also know when they are being used as a means to an end
when they are the ldquoItrdquo in an I-It relationship People may give you what you want when they are in an I-It rela-tionship with you and you may give your counter-party what they seek too but we all know that feeling of sadness or emptiness within when someone you are with mdash a co-worker a boss a spouse a child even a clerk on the phone at a call center mdash treats you as an object to get some-thing achieved and not as an opportunity to feel your humanity and for you to feel theirs even if for a fleeting moment
And the same Ill say is true about the relationship between a potential donor and your organization Those organizations that stand for somethinghellip Those organizations that donrsquot treat their donors as objects like walking checkbookshellip Those organizations that take the time to engage with their prospects Indeed
those organizations that donrsquot even necessarily start by asking for something it is those organizations who I believe will find a wide universe of people eager to believe and eager to be part of the organizationrsquos mission An I-Thou relation-ship doesnrsquot mean we never ask the other party for some-thing It is about how and when we ask Just as we will have a different outcome with our spouses children and co-workers when we are building off of an I-Thou relationship rather than an I-It so too will we have a different outcome when we approach our donors as part-ners as people we care about exactly as much whether they donate or not It is from that soulful relationship that donors will want to support one organization over an-other and one cause over another no matter how angry or frustrated or cynical they are about the larger world
around them That is how I believe the next genera-tion of donors will come to support many but not all of our organizations
When my father died I had the Postal Service forward his mail to my home address In the nearly eight years since his passing Ive received hundreds of mail-ings maybe more I often open the solicitations to try to get a feel for the kinds of causes and organizations my father would have been spending his time learning about and possibly support-ing So while some recipients of your mailings may think of your output as junk mail I couldnrsquot be more apprecia-tive Each envelope serves to remind me that the cynical side of my father was only a side and that when properly touched even a hard man could respond
Thank you all very much for your attention n
copy 2012 Seth M Siegel Reproduction with authorrsquos consent only All rights reserved
Looking for an agency or supplier to help your organization reachnew heights
Access the DMANFrsquos Directory of Service providers
nonprofitfederationorgcorporate-partnerssearch
20 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Nonprofit organizations face unique marketing chal-lenges Theyrsquore tasked with identifying and reaching the right people at the right time and through
the appropriate channels as well as balancing message appeals with monetary requests all while conveying their mission and cause The rapid expansion of the internet social networking and mobile have placed yet another demand front-and-center for nonprofit organizations mdash con-sumer privacy
Consumers are justly concerned about divulging their personal information They want to know where why and how their information will be used Many are unaware that their personal information is collected in a variety of ways and by a variety of sources both online and offline Common but often misunderstood data practices include third-party ad servers setting cookies retail stores matching names and addresses with phone numbers and marketers sharing customer lists
In todayrsquos complex marketplace how can nonprofit organizations demonstrate to their supporters donors and prospects that they share their concerns and are commit-ted to protecting their privacy The first and most important step is to create a clear privacy policy and communicate it effectively
the Privacy PolicyIf your organization collects uses and or stores personal donor information a privacy policy is critical You must display your privacy policy on your website and strictly abide by it
Privacy policies are structured around Notice and Choice principles They should provide supporters with notice of
how their data is collected used and shared as well as their choices to limit or prevent such practices Your privacy policy should also include information to maintain trans-parency and that clearly describes your organizationrsquos data security practices
Key points every privacy policy should address include
The types of personal information your organization collects This may include name address telephone number email address and credit card or other payment information
How information is secured
How personal information is used and with whom it is shared
How supporters can control the use of their data
How the privacy policy is updated and the effective date of the policy
Letrsquos take a more detailed look at the elements of a privacy policy from a nonprofit organizationrsquos perspective
Collecting personal InformationAs mentioned personal information may include data ele-ments such as name address telephone number email address and payment information It can also include more sensitive information such as gender race religious or politi-cal beliefs health information or other characteristics
The types of personal information collected and the length of retention may be used to enhance your marketing
Consumer PrivacyA Guide for Nonprofit Marketers
Bethany Lewis Privacy Analyst Epsilon
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 21
objectives by creating detailed profiles of supporters but what if that dataprofile was accessed without appropriate permis-sions or used by other organizations for purposes beyond the original intent Inappropriate generalizations might be made about supporters regardless of who has the data and the risk for reputational and other damage increases if that type of data is compromised
For example if a supporter donates to an organization that supports research of a genetic disorder should they be identified as a patient of or at risk for that same disorder Perhaps theyrsquore simply a caretaker for someone suffer-ing from that disorder Similarly if a supporter donates to a religious-based organization could assumptions around political leanings be attributed to them
Protecting information about charitable contributions is critical as is informing supporters how that information will be used which brings us to data security and the sharing of personal information
protecting personal InformationToday every organization is vulnerable when it comes to data security Protecting the personal information of supporters is essential The first line of protection is collecting only the necessary data
While creating supporter profiles evaluate the risks of storing ldquounnecessaryrdquo data especially if an incident exposes the data Set internal policies for how long each category of data collected will be retained and be diligent in deletingdestroying data in a safe and thorough manner based on those policies
Whenever possible encrypt personal data maintained electronically and enhance security on laptops and mobile devices from which supporter data is accessed
Sharing personal InformationBe very clear in your privacy policy when providing infor-mation on the types of third-parties with whom your organization shares data If you share information with third-party service providers disclose this fact and provide a categorized list of these organizations Such organizations may include credit card processors shipping vendors mar-keting analysts or consultants and fulfillment houses
If you share information with other nonprofit organi-zations disclose these practices Also disclose if you share information with marketing cooperatives whose databases are not exclusively nonprofit
Protecting
information
about
charitable
contributions
is critical
continued
22 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
providing ChoiceStudies have shown that modern consumers are more com-fortable sharing personal information with organizations that are clear and upfront about how their information is used and with whom it is shared In fact most people respond positively to organizations who transparently disclose data sharing practices and provide a clear and convenient oppor-tunity to opt-out While a small percentage of individuals will choose to opt-out of data sharing very few supporters will opt-out of all contact with an organization Therefore providing an opportunity to opt-out of sharing data for mar-keting purposes as well as an opt-out for receiving further requests from your organization will aid in retaining your most loyal supporters
Updating the privacy policyClearly state the effective date of your current privacy policy and update it when you make any material changes If you do make material changes to your privacy policy with ret-roactive application to the data you already have stored you may need to obtain express consent from individuals to use their information for new or different purposes Some organizations choose to list what changes were made in a summary history which may be helpful to a supporter reviewing the policy
Pulling It All togetherYour privacy policy should be easy to find read understand and act upon (ie opt-out or modify preferences) It should also be present in each commercial solicitation where per-sonal information is collected regardless of whether that is through postal mailings or on your website
Additional information regarding Notice Choice Trans-parency and other important privacy principles can be found on the DMA website in the Commitment to Consumer Choice and the DMA Guidelines for Ethical Business Practice
At Epsilon we use the following checklist when evaluating a privacy policy
The website has a privacy policy
There is a link to the privacy policy from the websitersquos home page and the link contains the word ldquoprivacyrdquo
The privacy policy states that the organization shares consumer data and personal information (including name address email address and transaction informa-tion) with third-party service providers
The privacy policy states that the organization shares consumer data and personal information with other marketers for their own marketing purposes
The privacy policy provides consumers the chance to opt-out of having their information shared with other marketers
The privacy policy has an ldquoeffectiverdquo date
As mentioned in situations where data is shared with other organizations and marketers transparency is the key Below is sample disclosure language
The personally identifiable information that you provide to us
(such as your name address and email address) and information
about your contribution may be combined with other non-person-
ally identifiable information (such as demographic information and
past contribution history) available from our records and other
sources This information will be used to make our future market-
ing efforts more efficient and relevant This information may also
be shared with our third-party service providers that assist us
with our marketing efforts and with other marketers whose prod-
ucts or services we feel may be of interest to you If you prefer
that we do not share your name and address with other market-
ers please email us at optoutyourorganizationorg
Beyond the Privacy PolicyIn addition to having a robust privacy policy written in concise language and that is easily accessible here are a few other best practices to secure the privacy of your sup-portersrsquo information
Ensure agreements with third-parties who may have access to supportersrsquo personal information adequately address privacy and data security
Suppress personal information in your database when a supporter requests it and do so within a reasonable timeframe
If you must store sensitive information such as credit card or social security numbers as part of your data-base encrypt this information
Train employees and volunteers regularly on the importance of maintaining privacy and security
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 23
Nonprofit Careers e-Bulletin
Your Multi-ChannelRecruiting Tool
Become familiar with data breach notification require-ments and have a response plan and team in place Should you experience a breach disclose to all appro-priate and necessary parties
Monitor the use of your data and address any enti-ties when you become aware that data is being used in a way that violates the law contractual requirements andor the DMArsquos Ethical Guidelines
Respecting and promoting consumer privacy requires a commitment to maintaining balance between the legitimate business needs of your organization and the concerns of individuals about fair information practices Start by taking a look at your current privacy policy Assure its accuracy and adhere to its strategy n
Bethany Lewis As a Privacy Analyst Bethany Lewis supports and educates associates and clients on privacy compliance matters She brings an extensive background in regulatory compliance corporate ethics education and training to her work at Epsilon
ldquoThe recruitment Tool for the Nonprofit Communityrdquo is your source for top flight exposure to top flight candidates and the best A b amp C-level career opportunities out there
Distributed every Tuesday 8 am ET via raquo Email raquo post at wwwnonprofitfederationorg raquo Facebook mdash DMA Nonprofit Federation raquo Twitter mdash DMANF and AliozDC
To view ad submission requirements visit the ldquoFind a Jobrdquo area of the DMA Nonprofit Federation homepage wwwnonprofitfederationorg and click on ldquoHow to postrdquo Ads must be emailed to Aosgoodthe-dmaorg please make sure any ad you submit meets our specifications
Is your nonprofit organization already a dual member of the DMA and DMANF If the answer is lsquoyesrsquo itrsquos FrEE mdash so why not post
Join the over 8000 professionals who already subscribe
Sign up today nonprofitfederationorgpublications careers-e-bulletinsubscribe
DMA Guidelines for Ethical Business Practice
dmaresponsibilityorgGuidelines
24 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Each week I see non-profit organizations walking away from
mobile thinking that com-municating and fundraising with their constituents through the single most used electronic device in history is optional Con-versely we see more and more retailers embracing mobile and the omnichan-nel marketing model because the results are tre-mendous We at mGive think nonprofits benefit when they embrace similar tools and methodologies
What is an omnichan-nel approach and why is it important to non-profit organizations An omnichannel approach is an integrated marketing strat-egy that creates a seamless experience for the donor
It is a customer-centric approach that elevates your supporter loyalty strategies by leveraging cross-channel opportunities For example when a donor drops off goods at their local Epilepsy Foundation they receive a paper receipt to complete Normally once they leave your location you lose any hope of communicating with them again Imagine if when the donor dropped off their goods you offered to send the donor an email version of their receipt You now have a way to engage the supporter through email Now suppose your email receipt offered a web link that drove them to a form to opt-in to your mobile community in order to receive updates via text
Once they opt-in you then have a way to send updates volunteer requests dona-tion reminders and more You may also leverage the fact they are on the mobile phone and send text mes-sages asking supporters to post a photo to Facebook making a donation Having this omnichannel strat-egy in place is especially critical at the end of year because it is an opportune time for organizations to increase membership and raise dollars
So how does an organization create an omnichannel approach that leverages direct mail email online social media live events and mobile to achieve their goals It may be difficult for some orga-nizations to make the
operational shift to an omnichannel model but that doesnrsquot mean you can afford to ignore it Not sure you can get all the steps in place by the time you launch your end of year activities Mobile is the bridge that can help to start that process In fact more and more organizations are relying on their mobile strategy to bridge the gap and engage supporters in this multi-screen world because mobile is the ldquogreat centralizerrdquo of activities ndash where else can you make calls browse the web check email respond to text mes-sages post to social media and more in a truly porta-ble fashion
Before we move on to the tactics that an organiza-tion can take to incorporate
Mobile
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 25
mobile into their existing multi-channel strategies we must tackle one issue If your organization has tried mobile or an omnichan-nel approach in the past and were disappointed or frustrated with your expe-rience try again You were one of the pioneering orga-nizations that comprise the early adopters of those models Lessons learned over the past few years have evolved into success-ful best practices mdash and you get the opportunity to benefit from them As we like to say in honor of the wise Master Yoda ldquoTry not Do or do not There is no tryrdquo We guarantee if imple-mented correctly using mobile in an omnichannel approach can work for your organization
1 Communicate and Integrate mdash Walk Across the Mobile Bridge
Many organizations that I work with have voiced cross-departmental integra-tion as a challenge That is understandable because tra-ditionally departments or channels have been siloed from one another But this disenfranchised model does not result in the seam-less experience that donors are coming to expect In order for a donor experi-ence to be seamless direct mail must complement the organizationrsquos website the organizationrsquos website must complement the mobile campaign social media must complement direct mail and so forth and so on When used together
the communication chan-nels can result in more effective campaigns and bigger numbers
When an organization decides to develop a mobile strategy generally it is one department within that organization that is initially interested That department is a hero because they have just launched a toolset that can be used throughout the organization If you have a mobile program in place for fundraising itrsquos time to talk with your program services department mem-bership team and corporate partner folks and get them in the loop so that you can maximize the omnichannel approach Mobile can be a great catalyst for initiating conversation and guiding organizational integration
Mobile is also a great way to increase the effec-tiveness of existing channels By integrating your direct mail newslet-ter social media online and mobile efforts you can increase response and open rates We have found that if you send a text message to your membership remind-ing them to check their email inboxes you can increase email open rates by 10 or more Addition-ally if you include a mobile number field on your email and paper member-ship forms you can quickly build a mobile community that can turn into repeat donors Once again the most important element besides the actual cross
the Bridge to an omnichannel Approach in time for Year-End Campaigns
continued
Jenifer Snyder Esq Executive Director The mGive Foundation and Cassie Bair Vice President of Marketing Mobile Accord
26 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
channel promotion goes back to this concept of the omnichannel Make the message consistent across all channels They donrsquot have to be identical but they should complement each other and work to create an echo effect
Just about every one of your donors will experience your organization through their mobile device at some point mdash so make sure your message is clear consistent convenient and actionable through mobile in some capacity
2 test Review Adjust Implement Review Adjust mdash and Repeat
Once you have an inte-grated strategy in place itrsquos time to implement Whether the goal is to acquire new donors reactivate lapsed donors and drive donations from existing donors mdash or all three mdash test your cam-paign Take time to review the results and adjust accordingly Then imple-ment full scale confident you are on the right path Regularly review your results adjust your activities and repeat as needed
In preparation for end of year activities take the time in the Fall to tweak your marketing engine for optimal performance Do some zero based plan-ning and try to approach
the supporter experience as if you are the supporter Spend time on every avenue where you can wisely create a seamless experience
Everyone in philan-thropy knows that the majority of all charitable donations are made in the last 2 months of the year Additionally member-ship increases substantially during the last quarter of the year Spend time now identifying opportunities strategies and tactics that work best for you mdash and consider how mobile can be a centralizing point for many of these activities
3 Apply the Winning Methodologies to Your End of Year Appeals
Yoursquove tested tweaked and determined what works best for you Now inte-grate what yoursquove learned into your end of year cam-paigns Determine how your campaign follows stan-dard best practices for end of year appeals and where mobile can help drive that engagement across multiple mediums
Common best practices for end of year campaigns that can include mobile
A Sending multiple asks the final week of the year mdash Make sure text messages are a part of that effort Whether itrsquos a simple call-to-action to text
a donation drives people to a pledge page or some-thing all-together different mobile can help ramp up that seamless experience
B the Art of the ldquothank Yourdquo mdash Thank your sup-porters Use mobile to message supporters your appreciation when they take action through text or drive them to a webpage with a video with a celeb-rity spokesperson giving a thank you message But make sure they know repeatedly that what they do for your cause matters And keep in mind mobile can drive to a strong ldquothank yourdquo experience
C Share Ask Listen mdash Take the opportunity to tell a story ask for feed-back and listen to what your organization is being told Not sure how to do that in mobile Share a link to a news article through text Ask for feedback through social media And listen to what is being said while distilling insights from how supporters respond in order to strengthen your omnichannel approach
4 Continue into 2013 mdash You are set for success
As donors enter the New Year self-improve-ment will often include a
commitment to be a better person volunteer more donate more funds etc Use mobile as a data col-lection tool to help your donors achieve their goal Give them the opportunity to commit to goals pertain-ing to your cause and then become their coach Send monthly reminders of their commitment and words of encouragement Remind them about appointments invite them to share their experience and overall let the donor feel the effect of their selfless promise through all of their activi-ties while using mobile to centralize that community and to drive people to action
We now live in a world where the average person at any given moment is looking at two or more screens It is critical that nonprofit organizations embrace the multi-screen world and adopt the omnichannel or fully integrated model When you create a seam-less giving experience for the everyday philanthropist you will be amazed at the results Walking away from a mobile strategy today is like walking away from the internet in the early 2000s
Mobile is here to stay and it is not an elective component to your orga-nizationrsquos fundraising and engagement strategy Itrsquos an essential part of a successful omnichannel strategy for your end of year activities n
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 27
Jenifer Snyder Esq Executive Director The mGive Foundation
As Executive Director of The mGive Foun-dation Jenifer is dedicated to expanding the scope and reach of the mobile channel for social good She brings years of lead-ership experience in the mobile industry to the position Previously Jenifer was a founder and General Counsel for 9 Squared Inc a mobile content and ser-vices company subsequently acquired by the Zed Group She left Zed in 2007 and started building the mobile channel for social and charitable efforts and later formed The mGive Foundation
Cassie bair Vice president of Marketing Mobile Accord
As Vice President of Marketing for Mobile Accord Cassie is dedicated to educat-ing and empowering nonprofits regarding the power of mobile She combines years of marketing experience in the nonprofit industry with the exciting evolution of the mobile channel for social good Cassie has worked with organizations such as the American Heart Association American Institute of Architects and the American Society of Echocardiography developing integrated and cause marketing cam-paigns and uses that knowledge today with clients to help them maximize their mobile strategy
Name
OrganizationCompany
Address
City State Zip Code
Charge my m Visa m MasterCard m AmEx m Discover
Card Number Expiration Date
Signature
raquo FAX form to 2026284383 (do not email credit card information)
raquo MAIL form to Alicia Osgood Director Membership amp Communications DMA Nonprofit Federation 1615 L Street NW Suite 1100 Washington DC 20036
raquo MAKE ChECKS payable to the DMA Nonprofit Federation
raquo DMA Nonprofit Federation Federal Tax ID Number 13-1810859
News and cutting-edge professional development tips
SUBSCRIBEto the Journal today1year =3 issues
ONLY $35Published digitally in January Apriland September the Journal brings together nonprofit leaders to deliver a standout publication packed with content you can really use
No cost to members
28 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Consumer technology evolves so quickly that nonprof-its are constantly racing to get their organizations using the latest technologies and mediums In fact many of these innovations have had significant impact on the fundrais-ing community While online CRM systems for example spawned database segmentation capabilities the opportu-nity ndash and challenge ndash arose for fundraising professionals to target appeals precisely to donorsrsquo specific interests Lately the emergence and rapid popularity of technologies such as smartphones and social media have forced nonprofits to not only create a presence but essentially compete for shrinking donor funds using these vehicles
The primary focus of nonprofit technology however tends to be inward creating a presence in a particular social media community or simply using the technology on behalf of the organization Examples of this include a nonprofitrsquos Facebook page and Twitter account and mobile-friendly
web sites In todayrsquos competitive fundraising environment though itrsquos not enough for nonprofits to simply use the latest technology Successful fundraisers understand that a nonprofitrsquos relationship with technology needs to take one step beyond itself to focus outward how do your sup-porters and donors want to use technology on behalf of your organization
Donors have technology preferences and habits too While itrsquos great for organizations to have a Facebook page for sup-porters to ldquolikerdquo that offers news and updates for example this doesnrsquot offer an opportunity for donors to appeal to their friends and family on behalf of your nonprofit mdash and certainly doesnrsquot raise money As nonprofits have learned to quickly adapt to changing technology and social media standards the time has come for organizations to evolve the technology they offer to provide donors supporters and par-ticipants with a personalized fundraising experience
Get Personal Providing Supporters with Personalized Fundraising Experiences
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 29
Personalization Means EngagementAt a fundamental level donor personalization in fun-
draising emerged from some of the first online nonprofit fundraising systems Offering supporters the opportunity to send personalized fundraising emails to their friends and family was revolutionary in its time mdash as was offering custom individual and team fundraising web pages
While these technology offerings revolutionized event fundraising donors have become increasingly savvy in the way they interact online mdash and developed strong preferences and dislikes in the types of technology they use They want the technology they know and like to be at their fingertips and are more likely to fundraise and successfully so for your nonprofit if itrsquos made easy and accessible for them
Back to Basics mdash But BetterNonprofits have been so consumed by social media that
they often forget this simple fact participants who use online tools raise six times more than non-users according to Blackbaud In addition 25 percent of the fundraising emails supporters send to their friends result in a donation With the average online gift being $60 nonprofits have motiva-tion not to forget about the basics of online fundraising But in the age of increasing competition for donations nonprof-its that offer a more personalized fundraising experience to supporters may see better results
What does it mean to offer a personalized fundrais-ing experience For online fundraising pages it can mean offering them the opportunity to post pictures videos story content and individual fundraising status updates But itrsquos essentially the personalization options offered behind the scenes mdash in the personal ldquoHeadquartersrdquo page within an online fundraising system mdash that can really maximize fun-draising results
Savvy nonprofits are offering a multitude of ways within their online fundraising systems for supporters to choose to reach out to friends and family Offering more than the email capabilities found standard with most fundraising plat-forms some nonprofits are starting to provide supporters more options in their personal participant ldquoheadquartersrdquo pages to engage those in their network mdash all with the click of a button Opportunities for supporters to personalize their experience could include options to
Send a Facebook message
Tweet their fundraising page
Update their Facebook status
Send a quick email
In addition statistics about their personal fundraising process could tell them
Total emails sent
Visits to their personal fundraising pages
Number of donations
Number of registrations
Average amount raised per email sent
Number of additional emails needed to reach fundraising goal
And because no one participant is the same these per-sonalization options allow the supporter to interact and engage their network on behalf of the nonprofit in ways that are meaningful and comfortable to them
Beyond the Facebook PageThe nonprofit community has taken Facebook by storm as an avenue to engage supporters and attract donors But itrsquos important to look beyond how supporters want to interact with your nonprofit and understand how they want to in-teract with their social network Itrsquos within this framework that supporters choose mdash or choose not mdash to engage their network on your organizationrsquos behalf
So make it easy for them provide them with a variety of ways to use several social media tools to reach out and fund-raise for your nonprofit Let them decide how they fundraise With 845 million monthly active users and 100 billion con-nections Facebook for example provides an excellent platform for nonprofits mdash and their fundraisers mdash to expand fundraising reach In fact Blackbaudrsquos web site states that social media users raise 40 more than non-users But most
continued
John Murphy PresidentCEo and Founder Zuri Group
30 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
organizations make the mistake of relying on participants to send their own appeals and updates or worse provide cum-bersome tools that require multiple logins and steps
Some enthusiastic fundraisers will thrive in this envi-ronment Others wonrsquot Since each supporter is unique itrsquos important to provide several varying opportunities and options so that a personalized fundraising experience can be forged For many fundraisers asking for donations isnrsquot easy All participants want to raise money but many donrsquot feel comfortable asking outside of close friends and family Other fundraisers donrsquot have the time or creativity to regu-larly develop and update personalized Facebook messages Use technology to help overcome these challenges by creat-ing easy ways for them to raise more money using Facebook
To take the effort out of Facebook fundraising remove the discomfort of a direct ldquoaskrdquo and save fundraisers time some nonprofits are offering supporters the option for fun-draising updates that automatically post on their Facebook wall at pre-determined intervals throughout the fundraising season For the right supporter this option removes the dis-comfort of approaching potential donors with a direct ldquoaskrdquo while significantly expanding their fundraising reach
Mobilizing the troopsAccording to a 2011 study consumers spend more time
on mobile applications than on the web In addition Ameri-cans spend 27 hours per day on average socializing on their mobile phones Nonprofits have been hard at work to lever-age the trend toward mobile by creating mobile-friendly web sites and even apps to further engage supporters But what about the mobile interaction that takes place between sup-porters and their friends The key is for nonprofits to make it accessible and easy for fundraisers to use their everyday technologies and devices to fundraise within their own networks By providing fundraising options that enable sup-porters to simply use something they already use such as a smartphone to connect with people they already interact with fundraising becomes a more natural and personalized part of the supporterrsquos day
To provide a more personalized and convenient fun-draising experience some nonprofits are offering mobile fundraising apps that enable supporters to not only use their smartphones to fundraise but to fundraise using multiple technologies within the smartphone mdash such as email text Twitter Facebook and even FaceTime for iPhone users As a result supporters can fundraise for the organization from their homes the train while walking the dog mdash anytime they have their phone
By empowering supporters to personalize their fundrais-ing experience nonprofits that provide mobile fundraising apps help their fundraisers help them These organizations are meeting the needs of on-the-go fundraising participants so they can focus on spreading awareness soliciting dona-tions and thanking donors mdash on their time on their terms In fact itrsquos been reported that fundraising participants using mobile fundraising applications raise 200 more than other participants and bring in 300 more gifts by count that other participants
In addition some mobile fundraising apps are provid-ing further personalization by bringing some of the same features of the personalized online ldquoheadquartersrdquo to the smartphone such as fundraising thermometers and adding donors into their phone address book Pre-written fundrais-ing messages developed specifically for various mediums such as texts Twitter updates and emails can be used Editing personal fundraising pages from the smartphone is likely the next option nonprofits will start offering
the Personalization ChallengeAs nonprofits compete in the race to adopt new technolo-
gies and social media itrsquos important to take a step back and consider your supportersrsquo relationship with those channels Many nonprofits have a Facebook page or group but how are your fundraisers using Facebook Are you making it easy for them to advocate or fundraise for your organization If much of your donor base uses text messaging have you pro-vided easy access and tools for them to text their network on your behalf
Supporters want and frankly need a personalized online experience with your organization Go beyond the bounds of your interactive relationship and consider what would enable your supporter base to have a more personalized fundrais-ing experience mdash and then put those tools at their fingertips They and their network mdash will thank you n
John Murphy is the PresidentCEO and Founder of Zuri Group Zuri Group provides nonprofits with custom technology solutions to meet critical organizational needs such as fundraising using their existing platform For more info visit zurigroupcom
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 31Non-Profit_FullPageAd_OLindd 1 91312 417 PM
32 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
9 Centennial Drive
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Tel 8003707500
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Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 33
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34 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
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Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 35
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36 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
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38 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
1
2
3
A
B
C
14 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Thank you Tom Har-rison for such a lovely introduction The philos-opher who said that there is no praise higher than to be esteemed by those you esteem perfectly captures my reaction I appreci-ate your idea of inviting me mdash someone from outside your industry mdash to speak before your group But it is you Tom and several of your colleagues at Russ Reid who have largely taught me what I know about this industry
It is truly a special plea-sure being with all of you here today and the size of the audience notwithstand-ing getting to meet with you
To some extent I feel like I know many of you in this room To be sure many of you already know me mdash and even more of you knew my father My being here today allows me to close the circle and reciprocate many years of your outreach to me and my father Let me explain
My wife and I have been married for 32 years When we got married we didnrsquot have a lot more than the wedding gifts we had received but from our first days together we shared an interest in learning about charities that could use our support and we often would send in small donations in response to this mailing or that Soon thereafter mdash and this will surprise exactly no one in this room mdash we began getting mailings from more charities and we had the
opportunity to learn about yet more worthy organiza-tions As time interest and available cash allowed we would donate to yet others Then along the way as my business grew we stepped out of the direct mail uni-verse and got involved with a more manageable number of causes as volunteers and a somewhat larger number as donors but directly and in amounts more likely to be the fruit of a call or a meeting or a solicitation over a meal or in our home We still get some mail solicita-tions Some of it is likely the distant tail from donations made long ago and a bit of it may be thanks to gifts made in support of some of our friendsrsquo childrenrsquos walk-a-thon participations or similar creative requests for funds But in the main our mail box no longer has the volume of requests for support that it once did
In my opening remarks I made mention of my father Now if my wife and I have received mail from some of you I can go out on a limb and say that my father got mail from nearly all of you Before I share my fatherrsquos direct mail experience Id like to tell you a bit about him
My father mdash Benjamin Siegel in case you are check-ing to see if his name is in your database mdash was born to immigrant parents here in Manhattan Despite his American birth he spoke
Seth ldquoYossirdquo Siegel
2012 New York Nonprofit Conference
KeynoteAddress
July 25 2012
vvv
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 15
no English until he started kindergarten His child-hood can only be described as hard and deprived with his parents being members of the working poor their entire lives Yet despite their poverty he recalled a blue-and-white tin charity box in his kitchen into which his mother would put a few coins every week late on Friday afternoon before the start of the Jewish Sabbath His parents werenrsquot reli-giously observant but his mother would make a char-itable donation of some kind every week for even poorer Jews living in what is now Israel
I would have to describe my father as angry a lot of the time And Id also have to say that it would be hard to find someone more cynical about institutions and whole professions than my father He thought all doctors were to use his word quacks He thought all lawyers were again to use his word shy-sters He loathed politicians He was dubious about the esteem given to Jewish clergy and I cant believe he had any special regard for the clergy of any other faith He was part of the Greatest Generation and talked his way into World War II after he was rejected on medical grounds and spent most of the war in Europe including landing on Omaha Beach on D-Day Plus 1 And even so he was often dismissive of the thought and planning
of our own military leaders especially what he thought of as the cavalier misuse of troops
Despite his being a one-man protest machine he utterly hated protest move-ments and anything that smacked of them I could go on but I think you get the picture This was a man of complete cynicism seem-ingly trusting no one He made a hard honest living and lived a life with no frills and few vacations Meals out in restaurants were a very special event By any stan-dard by which we measure comfort or luxury my father and mother had few check marks in that imaginary list
But family history aside there was a reason Ive just told you all of this
After my father died in 2004 some many years after my mother and stepmother had both passed away it fell to me to go through his effects and to pack up his things I donrsquot know how many of you here have ever had that task It is a melan-choly one with many small items serving to remind you of moments in the rela-tionship In addition it can be a startling one learning things about your deceased parent and achingly wishing you could have them back for even a few moments to explain what something meant or to ask why they had never told you about some just discovered element of their lives
For me the startling element I discovered was how my father mdash the utter cynic mdash was mdash within his means mdash a philanthropist and donor of a scope that is still remarkable to me You see when I opened the bottom drawer of his dresser the entire drawer was filled with note pads and boxes of seasonal cards from dozens and dozens of charities My first thought standing in his empty bedroom was ldquoTo whom was he planning on writing so many notesrdquo When I opened the next drawer it was filled with per-sonalized mailing labels from dozens of charities mdash possi-bly the same charities I donrsquot know but possibly not mdash but I knew that if he ever got around to sending out all of those notes and cards he would never have to write his return address on any of those envelopes As I con-tinued the packing up in his bedroom kitchen closets and elsewhere I found other institutional gifts from other charities like tote bags mugs umbrellas and so on almost all of them still in their orig-inal packaging
When I cleaned out his small desk I found his checkbook and sat at his desk to go through his check register and other check reg-isters going back years and years There were payments made to credit card compa-nies and utilities and taxes but overwhelmingly the checks were made payable
to one charity after another The amounts mdash as you pro-fessionals would guess from the pads and the pre-printed mailing labels mdash were all small Most of them were for ten dollars some for twenty-five and in a nod to the Jewish mystical belief in the specialness of numbers that are multiples of eigh-teen he had written plenty of checks to Jewish organiza-tions and causes for eighteen and thirty-six dollars
Also remarkable was the range of organizations to which he donated As I mentioned he gave to a broad array of Jewish and pro-Israel organizations but he also gave to commu-nity groups environmental groups hunger organiza-tions veterans groups and health-related organizations including hospitals hospices and disease-focused causes He even gave to animal shelter organizations mdash and he had never had a pet of his own
So how could it be that this most utterly cynical man a man who watched his pennies his whole life could have been a small-scale Roth-schild and Rockefeller in the range and expansiveness of his giving Of course wersquoll never know for sure but in trying to develop an answer to this there are lessons for those of us in this room who care about the not-for-profit world whether profession-ally as communal activists or as donors
continued
16 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
The first two possibili-ties that come to mind that Id like to quickly dismiss are that my father liked the idea that he could get something of value for what may have seemed for free It is possible but my father was a very prac-tical man and at some point he must have realized that well into his 80s he had such an ample supply of holiday cards and return address labels that he would never be able to use up the inventory The other thought was that he simply liked getting mail and he knew how the system worked Send in a check and the one envelope becomes two or three or ten Send in one hundred checks and he had his weekends filled reading through all of the mail he had received during the past week That is possi-ble but my father also died with a significant backlog of unread magazines so Im going to rule that out too
The explanation Ive come up with is that my father may have been a cynic but that he wanted to believe He may have thought most every institution and public figure not worthy of being trusted but he may still have yearned to be able to trust that some others out there cared deeply about society and elements of it and that he wanted to be part of the efforts to make the world a proverbially better place He despised a lot of things gen-erally but seemed to like a lot of things specifically
And from that insight I think there is some very good news for many of you here today I know from Tom Harrison that you are all worried about the crummy economy that shows no sign of quickly returning to robust times And Tom has also shared with me a worry about the viability of the US Postal Service and its ability to offer reduced mailing rates for the fore-seeable future And Tom has also told me that my fatherrsquos generation is dying off and not being quickly replaced by a new demographic cohort that reads mail and sends in money Plus there are environmental ques-tions about harvesting trees for the mailings and some compelling proof that people respond less well to email solicitations than they did to requests delivered via their mail boxes But aside from all of those structural impediments my fatherrsquos behavior offers some very special opportunities for those charities and organi-zations able to reach out and speak personally to the next waves of donors
If my father was a skepti-cal cynical guy in the Ozzie and Harriet 1950s and 60s he was a full generation ahead of where people are today and Id like to take a minute or two to explain what I mean
People today are fright-ened angry cynical even often despairing The
overwhelming feeling is that few institutions are working well Our political system just isnrsquot garnering wide-spread support and in these unsettling times people want leaders and insti-tutions that can fix their problems No matter who wins the presidential elec-tion in November there is little widespread belief we will come together as a society to fix our problems It may happen but people donrsquot believe it And the poll numbers reflect this Pres-ident Obama mdash who came into office on a promise of hope and change and of transformation of our political culture and which initially yielded him an approval rating of 67 mdash has had an approval rating that has been below 50 since November 2009 and is now at 47 If the president has problems in garnering the publicrsquos trust that he can solve their problems Con-gress as an institution is doing far far worse with an approval rating of 23 The US Supreme Court enjoys an approval rating of only 35 These numbers for the president and for the legisla-tive and judicial branches of government actually under-state the problem The poll number of those who call themselves ldquofrustrated or angry with the federal gov-ernmentrdquo comes in at a frightening 79 President Obama may win re-elec-tion but it likely wont be a
unifying election We have a divided government at a polarized partisan moment of utterly different and con-tradictory views of how to solve the problems at hand Given the enormity of the problems mdash from the economy to the deficit to the debt to Iranrsquos nuclear program to the rise of radical Islamism to the rise of China and its likelihood to be a destabilizing force and many many more prob-lems mdash the likelihood our country will be dispirited and detached from politics is larger than it is smaller
Staying with our politi-cal system for just another moment we have another problem Because people are angry and have a near con-stant ldquothrow the bums outrdquo feeling about our elected offi-cials we are going through a period of uncommon insta-bility in our government institutions
Most people believe that incumbents come to office and tend to leave only when they die But it just isnrsquot true Whether because of the Tea Party or because of burn-out by elected officials the level of turnover in Washington is a big and growing problem In just the past five Congres-sional elections which is to say in the past ten years a remarkable 54 of the US Senate has been replaced If that number seems impos-sibly high for institutional stability in the House of Representatives the turnover
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 17
in that same period has been 68 Due to announced retirements and defeats in primaries we already know that in the coming Senate and House to be sworn in next January no fewer than 11 current Senators and 60 current Congressmen and Congresswomen will not be returning mdash and that assumes not a single incum-bent will lose in a single race in the remaining pri-maries and the General Election That means at least a 65 turnover in the US Senate and a more than 80 turnover in the House of Representatives in a mere 12-year period Think of your own organizations and what a turnover of that mag-nitude would mean to your ability to do your institu-tional job let alone having to grapple with many of the enormous challenges I mentioned a moment ago and many others I did not mention Thus the roiling public environment is more likely to stay roiled for some time to come than it is likely to return to some idealized period of harmony
Not to belabor the point but to also make sure that we understand that the problem of popular unease is broader than belief in our national government let me share just a few poll numbers to demonstrate my point Our confidence in hospitals and our doctors is now at 41 which is bad enough but HMOs are at 19 Public
schools have the confidence of only 29 of the people in our country Newspapers taken together have the con-fidence of just 25 of the American people But falling even lower than newspapers TV news comes in at 21 And labor unions banks and major corporations are all tied with the confidence of just one in five Ameri-cans at around 20 Even organized religion falls below the 50 mark at 44
Indeed the only three institutions regularly polled about by Gallup to be above the 50 mark are our police departments at 56 small business at 63 and our fighting men and women in the US military at 75 And finally in what many people believe is the most important general view of how people feel the Right Track Wrong Track poll Rasmussen reports 30 of Americans think our country is on the right track
and 64 believe our country is on the wrong track
In case you werenrsquot a statistics major in college let me boil all of these poll results down to just this one short statement and it is this My father was ahead of his time Just as my father didnrsquot trust or like just about any institution the American people now donrsquot much trust or like any institution with
the exception of police military and
small busi-ness In
nearly every other
case the institu-tion Ive mentioned is at or
near an all-time low since these Gallup Institutional Confidence polls began being conducted in 1973
But I think there is a second key learning from all of this bad news that is actu-ally very good news for some of you but definitely not all of you and that is this Just as my father had very low confidence in government and other mass institutions yet managed to turn himself
into a check-writing ma-chine for many many not-for-profits so too can your organization or your clients The not-so-profound insight is that even the most angry frustrated cynical skeptical misanthrope wants to believe It was true of mis-anthropes when Moliere wrote a play by that name in the 1660s It was true of my father And Id bet a dona-tion to any of your causes that it is true today even with a Right Track Wrong Track poll that has double the number of Wrong Trackers over Right Trackers People want to believe People want to love People know they wont live for forever and people want to see the world better both today in their lifetimes and tomor-row when it is their legacy This is true for mega donors who will be honored at fancy dinners in hotel ballrooms like this and for ten dollar donors who look forward to the return address labels you all will send to them
So with the crummy economy the dicey state of the Postal Service the demo-graphic hump working against low-dollar donors and all of the other problems direct marketers face my money is on the significant success of some of the orga-nizations that are here today Of course the structural challenges make it harder but is it harder today than it was in my grandmotherrsquos
vvvThe not-so-profound insight is that even
the most angry frustrated cynical skeptical
misanthrope wants to believehellipPeople know they
wont live for forever and people want to see the
world better both today in their lifetimes and
tomorrow when it is their legacy
vvv
continued
18 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
walk-up tenement apart-ment in which every Friday afternoon she found a way to donate to people she knew she would never meet who were living in a place she knew she would never see She believed in the enterprise afoot in what is today Israel a place on the other side of the world and she trusted that the coins in her little blue-and-white tin box would be used wisely and honorably All the same must have been true about my father and the many causes to which he wrote those checks And the same is true of millions and millions of people waiting to be touched and to form a connection with a cause larger than themselves a cause they can make their own in a way best thought of as an I-Thou relationship
For those of you unfa-miliar with the phrase I and Thou let me start by telling you it is a concept that changed my life It was coined by the philoso-pher and theologian Martin Buber Despite his being a theologian it is a concept that isnt inherently reli-gious even if it works well in every faith tradition and also works well in a purely secular context It works well for couples who have long been together and remark-ably it works well when soliciting gifts from near-strangers It is an approach to living a happy satisfying life So with that build up let
me tell you about I and Thou and about Martin Buber
Buber was born in Austria but moved to Germany in his teens to pursue his education In the 1920s he wrote his most famous work ldquoI and Thourdquo which although somewhat obscure today helped to establish his reputation as a leading German thinker of his time When the Nazis came to power in 1933 as a Jew he was prohibited from teaching at the uni-versity where he had been a professor and in 1938 just ahead of the start of the mass murder of 90 of Euro-pean Jewry Buber made his way to the British Mandate where he became a professor in Jerusalem When the State of Israel came into being in 1948 Buber was an esteemed philosopher revered by the young nation It is hard to imagine a philosopher having this kind of fame and impact but when he died in 1965 it was the lead news story of the day in Israel and a major story in The New York Times and other world newspapers
According to Buber there are two kinds of rela-tionships I-Thou and I-It The idea underpinning these concepts is best explained by examples as every single person in this room has experienced I-Thou and I-It relationships In an I-Thou relationship we are as one Your destiny is my destiny
even if only for a moment In the I-It relationship the parties are in a transac-tion I have turned the other party into an object to help me to achieve something that I want Indeed we all have I-Thou relationships and I-It relationships all the time mdash and we often have these disparate relationships within moments of each other and often with the very same person If this room were smaller and more inti-mate I could randomly call on anyone and have you give examples of I-Thou and I-It relationships in your own life But Ill use my own life as an example
I love my wife very much I am happy to come home at the end of the workday and to hear about her day and what is new and for her to hear about my day That is an I-Thou moment But while sitting with her my stomach starts to growl I become distracted Im not think-ing about her but about the dinner I know she has prepared Im hungry and want to eat She becomes an object a means to an end an I-It Wersquove all had that expe-rience or one like it
But just because Im getting something I want from her mdash or from anyone mdash doesnrsquot mean it has to be an I-It moment In that exact same scenario it could just as well have been an I-Thou moment by a change in my behavior even
with the same outcome that dinner will be served and my hunger abated Instead of single-mindedly think-ing about food in its place I could have interrupted the conversation to tell her that Im hungry I could have offered to set the table while we keep talking And most importantly I could keep reminding myself that she has spent time and trouble thinking about dinner and preparing it and that I have no entitlement to her having done this and how fortunate I am that she has If I do all of that it is more likely we will have an I-Thou relationship that evening than a transac-tional I-It one
Even with people we love I-Thoursquos and I-Itrsquos flit back and forth across some imaginary spectrum with engagement and other-directedness on one side and selfishness and self-direct-edness on the other We all have instincts for both sides of that spectrum and the challenge is to take the harder path the path where we direct the moment away from ourselves and our selfish wants and needs to that of the person present before us and our shared experience
As I indicated earlier this isnrsquot just true of deep long-lasting relationships It can be true of the waiter who serves you dinner the bellman who helps you with your bags even with a
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 19
passing stranger on a line to get into somewhere Every encounter has the oppor-tunity to be an I-Thou or an I-It and the challenge is for each of us to constantly remind ourselves of the humanity of the person with whom we engage
I and Thou isnrsquot just for people It is also true of believing peoplersquos relation-ship with God and also true of organizations and how they relate to people In my experience Ive found it even true of inanimate objects even if that may take it beyond Buberrsquos own con-ception So how do Martin Buber and his I and Thou relate to you all as direct mar-keters and as fundraisers for your worthy organizations
Everyone knows when they are in an I and Thou moment You feel the link and the joy that comes from the link But people also know when they are being used as a means to an end
when they are the ldquoItrdquo in an I-It relationship People may give you what you want when they are in an I-It rela-tionship with you and you may give your counter-party what they seek too but we all know that feeling of sadness or emptiness within when someone you are with mdash a co-worker a boss a spouse a child even a clerk on the phone at a call center mdash treats you as an object to get some-thing achieved and not as an opportunity to feel your humanity and for you to feel theirs even if for a fleeting moment
And the same Ill say is true about the relationship between a potential donor and your organization Those organizations that stand for somethinghellip Those organizations that donrsquot treat their donors as objects like walking checkbookshellip Those organizations that take the time to engage with their prospects Indeed
those organizations that donrsquot even necessarily start by asking for something it is those organizations who I believe will find a wide universe of people eager to believe and eager to be part of the organizationrsquos mission An I-Thou relation-ship doesnrsquot mean we never ask the other party for some-thing It is about how and when we ask Just as we will have a different outcome with our spouses children and co-workers when we are building off of an I-Thou relationship rather than an I-It so too will we have a different outcome when we approach our donors as part-ners as people we care about exactly as much whether they donate or not It is from that soulful relationship that donors will want to support one organization over an-other and one cause over another no matter how angry or frustrated or cynical they are about the larger world
around them That is how I believe the next genera-tion of donors will come to support many but not all of our organizations
When my father died I had the Postal Service forward his mail to my home address In the nearly eight years since his passing Ive received hundreds of mail-ings maybe more I often open the solicitations to try to get a feel for the kinds of causes and organizations my father would have been spending his time learning about and possibly support-ing So while some recipients of your mailings may think of your output as junk mail I couldnrsquot be more apprecia-tive Each envelope serves to remind me that the cynical side of my father was only a side and that when properly touched even a hard man could respond
Thank you all very much for your attention n
copy 2012 Seth M Siegel Reproduction with authorrsquos consent only All rights reserved
Looking for an agency or supplier to help your organization reachnew heights
Access the DMANFrsquos Directory of Service providers
nonprofitfederationorgcorporate-partnerssearch
20 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Nonprofit organizations face unique marketing chal-lenges Theyrsquore tasked with identifying and reaching the right people at the right time and through
the appropriate channels as well as balancing message appeals with monetary requests all while conveying their mission and cause The rapid expansion of the internet social networking and mobile have placed yet another demand front-and-center for nonprofit organizations mdash con-sumer privacy
Consumers are justly concerned about divulging their personal information They want to know where why and how their information will be used Many are unaware that their personal information is collected in a variety of ways and by a variety of sources both online and offline Common but often misunderstood data practices include third-party ad servers setting cookies retail stores matching names and addresses with phone numbers and marketers sharing customer lists
In todayrsquos complex marketplace how can nonprofit organizations demonstrate to their supporters donors and prospects that they share their concerns and are commit-ted to protecting their privacy The first and most important step is to create a clear privacy policy and communicate it effectively
the Privacy PolicyIf your organization collects uses and or stores personal donor information a privacy policy is critical You must display your privacy policy on your website and strictly abide by it
Privacy policies are structured around Notice and Choice principles They should provide supporters with notice of
how their data is collected used and shared as well as their choices to limit or prevent such practices Your privacy policy should also include information to maintain trans-parency and that clearly describes your organizationrsquos data security practices
Key points every privacy policy should address include
The types of personal information your organization collects This may include name address telephone number email address and credit card or other payment information
How information is secured
How personal information is used and with whom it is shared
How supporters can control the use of their data
How the privacy policy is updated and the effective date of the policy
Letrsquos take a more detailed look at the elements of a privacy policy from a nonprofit organizationrsquos perspective
Collecting personal InformationAs mentioned personal information may include data ele-ments such as name address telephone number email address and payment information It can also include more sensitive information such as gender race religious or politi-cal beliefs health information or other characteristics
The types of personal information collected and the length of retention may be used to enhance your marketing
Consumer PrivacyA Guide for Nonprofit Marketers
Bethany Lewis Privacy Analyst Epsilon
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 21
objectives by creating detailed profiles of supporters but what if that dataprofile was accessed without appropriate permis-sions or used by other organizations for purposes beyond the original intent Inappropriate generalizations might be made about supporters regardless of who has the data and the risk for reputational and other damage increases if that type of data is compromised
For example if a supporter donates to an organization that supports research of a genetic disorder should they be identified as a patient of or at risk for that same disorder Perhaps theyrsquore simply a caretaker for someone suffer-ing from that disorder Similarly if a supporter donates to a religious-based organization could assumptions around political leanings be attributed to them
Protecting information about charitable contributions is critical as is informing supporters how that information will be used which brings us to data security and the sharing of personal information
protecting personal InformationToday every organization is vulnerable when it comes to data security Protecting the personal information of supporters is essential The first line of protection is collecting only the necessary data
While creating supporter profiles evaluate the risks of storing ldquounnecessaryrdquo data especially if an incident exposes the data Set internal policies for how long each category of data collected will be retained and be diligent in deletingdestroying data in a safe and thorough manner based on those policies
Whenever possible encrypt personal data maintained electronically and enhance security on laptops and mobile devices from which supporter data is accessed
Sharing personal InformationBe very clear in your privacy policy when providing infor-mation on the types of third-parties with whom your organization shares data If you share information with third-party service providers disclose this fact and provide a categorized list of these organizations Such organizations may include credit card processors shipping vendors mar-keting analysts or consultants and fulfillment houses
If you share information with other nonprofit organi-zations disclose these practices Also disclose if you share information with marketing cooperatives whose databases are not exclusively nonprofit
Protecting
information
about
charitable
contributions
is critical
continued
22 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
providing ChoiceStudies have shown that modern consumers are more com-fortable sharing personal information with organizations that are clear and upfront about how their information is used and with whom it is shared In fact most people respond positively to organizations who transparently disclose data sharing practices and provide a clear and convenient oppor-tunity to opt-out While a small percentage of individuals will choose to opt-out of data sharing very few supporters will opt-out of all contact with an organization Therefore providing an opportunity to opt-out of sharing data for mar-keting purposes as well as an opt-out for receiving further requests from your organization will aid in retaining your most loyal supporters
Updating the privacy policyClearly state the effective date of your current privacy policy and update it when you make any material changes If you do make material changes to your privacy policy with ret-roactive application to the data you already have stored you may need to obtain express consent from individuals to use their information for new or different purposes Some organizations choose to list what changes were made in a summary history which may be helpful to a supporter reviewing the policy
Pulling It All togetherYour privacy policy should be easy to find read understand and act upon (ie opt-out or modify preferences) It should also be present in each commercial solicitation where per-sonal information is collected regardless of whether that is through postal mailings or on your website
Additional information regarding Notice Choice Trans-parency and other important privacy principles can be found on the DMA website in the Commitment to Consumer Choice and the DMA Guidelines for Ethical Business Practice
At Epsilon we use the following checklist when evaluating a privacy policy
The website has a privacy policy
There is a link to the privacy policy from the websitersquos home page and the link contains the word ldquoprivacyrdquo
The privacy policy states that the organization shares consumer data and personal information (including name address email address and transaction informa-tion) with third-party service providers
The privacy policy states that the organization shares consumer data and personal information with other marketers for their own marketing purposes
The privacy policy provides consumers the chance to opt-out of having their information shared with other marketers
The privacy policy has an ldquoeffectiverdquo date
As mentioned in situations where data is shared with other organizations and marketers transparency is the key Below is sample disclosure language
The personally identifiable information that you provide to us
(such as your name address and email address) and information
about your contribution may be combined with other non-person-
ally identifiable information (such as demographic information and
past contribution history) available from our records and other
sources This information will be used to make our future market-
ing efforts more efficient and relevant This information may also
be shared with our third-party service providers that assist us
with our marketing efforts and with other marketers whose prod-
ucts or services we feel may be of interest to you If you prefer
that we do not share your name and address with other market-
ers please email us at optoutyourorganizationorg
Beyond the Privacy PolicyIn addition to having a robust privacy policy written in concise language and that is easily accessible here are a few other best practices to secure the privacy of your sup-portersrsquo information
Ensure agreements with third-parties who may have access to supportersrsquo personal information adequately address privacy and data security
Suppress personal information in your database when a supporter requests it and do so within a reasonable timeframe
If you must store sensitive information such as credit card or social security numbers as part of your data-base encrypt this information
Train employees and volunteers regularly on the importance of maintaining privacy and security
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 23
Nonprofit Careers e-Bulletin
Your Multi-ChannelRecruiting Tool
Become familiar with data breach notification require-ments and have a response plan and team in place Should you experience a breach disclose to all appro-priate and necessary parties
Monitor the use of your data and address any enti-ties when you become aware that data is being used in a way that violates the law contractual requirements andor the DMArsquos Ethical Guidelines
Respecting and promoting consumer privacy requires a commitment to maintaining balance between the legitimate business needs of your organization and the concerns of individuals about fair information practices Start by taking a look at your current privacy policy Assure its accuracy and adhere to its strategy n
Bethany Lewis As a Privacy Analyst Bethany Lewis supports and educates associates and clients on privacy compliance matters She brings an extensive background in regulatory compliance corporate ethics education and training to her work at Epsilon
ldquoThe recruitment Tool for the Nonprofit Communityrdquo is your source for top flight exposure to top flight candidates and the best A b amp C-level career opportunities out there
Distributed every Tuesday 8 am ET via raquo Email raquo post at wwwnonprofitfederationorg raquo Facebook mdash DMA Nonprofit Federation raquo Twitter mdash DMANF and AliozDC
To view ad submission requirements visit the ldquoFind a Jobrdquo area of the DMA Nonprofit Federation homepage wwwnonprofitfederationorg and click on ldquoHow to postrdquo Ads must be emailed to Aosgoodthe-dmaorg please make sure any ad you submit meets our specifications
Is your nonprofit organization already a dual member of the DMA and DMANF If the answer is lsquoyesrsquo itrsquos FrEE mdash so why not post
Join the over 8000 professionals who already subscribe
Sign up today nonprofitfederationorgpublications careers-e-bulletinsubscribe
DMA Guidelines for Ethical Business Practice
dmaresponsibilityorgGuidelines
24 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Each week I see non-profit organizations walking away from
mobile thinking that com-municating and fundraising with their constituents through the single most used electronic device in history is optional Con-versely we see more and more retailers embracing mobile and the omnichan-nel marketing model because the results are tre-mendous We at mGive think nonprofits benefit when they embrace similar tools and methodologies
What is an omnichan-nel approach and why is it important to non-profit organizations An omnichannel approach is an integrated marketing strat-egy that creates a seamless experience for the donor
It is a customer-centric approach that elevates your supporter loyalty strategies by leveraging cross-channel opportunities For example when a donor drops off goods at their local Epilepsy Foundation they receive a paper receipt to complete Normally once they leave your location you lose any hope of communicating with them again Imagine if when the donor dropped off their goods you offered to send the donor an email version of their receipt You now have a way to engage the supporter through email Now suppose your email receipt offered a web link that drove them to a form to opt-in to your mobile community in order to receive updates via text
Once they opt-in you then have a way to send updates volunteer requests dona-tion reminders and more You may also leverage the fact they are on the mobile phone and send text mes-sages asking supporters to post a photo to Facebook making a donation Having this omnichannel strat-egy in place is especially critical at the end of year because it is an opportune time for organizations to increase membership and raise dollars
So how does an organization create an omnichannel approach that leverages direct mail email online social media live events and mobile to achieve their goals It may be difficult for some orga-nizations to make the
operational shift to an omnichannel model but that doesnrsquot mean you can afford to ignore it Not sure you can get all the steps in place by the time you launch your end of year activities Mobile is the bridge that can help to start that process In fact more and more organizations are relying on their mobile strategy to bridge the gap and engage supporters in this multi-screen world because mobile is the ldquogreat centralizerrdquo of activities ndash where else can you make calls browse the web check email respond to text mes-sages post to social media and more in a truly porta-ble fashion
Before we move on to the tactics that an organiza-tion can take to incorporate
Mobile
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 25
mobile into their existing multi-channel strategies we must tackle one issue If your organization has tried mobile or an omnichan-nel approach in the past and were disappointed or frustrated with your expe-rience try again You were one of the pioneering orga-nizations that comprise the early adopters of those models Lessons learned over the past few years have evolved into success-ful best practices mdash and you get the opportunity to benefit from them As we like to say in honor of the wise Master Yoda ldquoTry not Do or do not There is no tryrdquo We guarantee if imple-mented correctly using mobile in an omnichannel approach can work for your organization
1 Communicate and Integrate mdash Walk Across the Mobile Bridge
Many organizations that I work with have voiced cross-departmental integra-tion as a challenge That is understandable because tra-ditionally departments or channels have been siloed from one another But this disenfranchised model does not result in the seam-less experience that donors are coming to expect In order for a donor experi-ence to be seamless direct mail must complement the organizationrsquos website the organizationrsquos website must complement the mobile campaign social media must complement direct mail and so forth and so on When used together
the communication chan-nels can result in more effective campaigns and bigger numbers
When an organization decides to develop a mobile strategy generally it is one department within that organization that is initially interested That department is a hero because they have just launched a toolset that can be used throughout the organization If you have a mobile program in place for fundraising itrsquos time to talk with your program services department mem-bership team and corporate partner folks and get them in the loop so that you can maximize the omnichannel approach Mobile can be a great catalyst for initiating conversation and guiding organizational integration
Mobile is also a great way to increase the effec-tiveness of existing channels By integrating your direct mail newslet-ter social media online and mobile efforts you can increase response and open rates We have found that if you send a text message to your membership remind-ing them to check their email inboxes you can increase email open rates by 10 or more Addition-ally if you include a mobile number field on your email and paper member-ship forms you can quickly build a mobile community that can turn into repeat donors Once again the most important element besides the actual cross
the Bridge to an omnichannel Approach in time for Year-End Campaigns
continued
Jenifer Snyder Esq Executive Director The mGive Foundation and Cassie Bair Vice President of Marketing Mobile Accord
26 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
channel promotion goes back to this concept of the omnichannel Make the message consistent across all channels They donrsquot have to be identical but they should complement each other and work to create an echo effect
Just about every one of your donors will experience your organization through their mobile device at some point mdash so make sure your message is clear consistent convenient and actionable through mobile in some capacity
2 test Review Adjust Implement Review Adjust mdash and Repeat
Once you have an inte-grated strategy in place itrsquos time to implement Whether the goal is to acquire new donors reactivate lapsed donors and drive donations from existing donors mdash or all three mdash test your cam-paign Take time to review the results and adjust accordingly Then imple-ment full scale confident you are on the right path Regularly review your results adjust your activities and repeat as needed
In preparation for end of year activities take the time in the Fall to tweak your marketing engine for optimal performance Do some zero based plan-ning and try to approach
the supporter experience as if you are the supporter Spend time on every avenue where you can wisely create a seamless experience
Everyone in philan-thropy knows that the majority of all charitable donations are made in the last 2 months of the year Additionally member-ship increases substantially during the last quarter of the year Spend time now identifying opportunities strategies and tactics that work best for you mdash and consider how mobile can be a centralizing point for many of these activities
3 Apply the Winning Methodologies to Your End of Year Appeals
Yoursquove tested tweaked and determined what works best for you Now inte-grate what yoursquove learned into your end of year cam-paigns Determine how your campaign follows stan-dard best practices for end of year appeals and where mobile can help drive that engagement across multiple mediums
Common best practices for end of year campaigns that can include mobile
A Sending multiple asks the final week of the year mdash Make sure text messages are a part of that effort Whether itrsquos a simple call-to-action to text
a donation drives people to a pledge page or some-thing all-together different mobile can help ramp up that seamless experience
B the Art of the ldquothank Yourdquo mdash Thank your sup-porters Use mobile to message supporters your appreciation when they take action through text or drive them to a webpage with a video with a celeb-rity spokesperson giving a thank you message But make sure they know repeatedly that what they do for your cause matters And keep in mind mobile can drive to a strong ldquothank yourdquo experience
C Share Ask Listen mdash Take the opportunity to tell a story ask for feed-back and listen to what your organization is being told Not sure how to do that in mobile Share a link to a news article through text Ask for feedback through social media And listen to what is being said while distilling insights from how supporters respond in order to strengthen your omnichannel approach
4 Continue into 2013 mdash You are set for success
As donors enter the New Year self-improve-ment will often include a
commitment to be a better person volunteer more donate more funds etc Use mobile as a data col-lection tool to help your donors achieve their goal Give them the opportunity to commit to goals pertain-ing to your cause and then become their coach Send monthly reminders of their commitment and words of encouragement Remind them about appointments invite them to share their experience and overall let the donor feel the effect of their selfless promise through all of their activi-ties while using mobile to centralize that community and to drive people to action
We now live in a world where the average person at any given moment is looking at two or more screens It is critical that nonprofit organizations embrace the multi-screen world and adopt the omnichannel or fully integrated model When you create a seam-less giving experience for the everyday philanthropist you will be amazed at the results Walking away from a mobile strategy today is like walking away from the internet in the early 2000s
Mobile is here to stay and it is not an elective component to your orga-nizationrsquos fundraising and engagement strategy Itrsquos an essential part of a successful omnichannel strategy for your end of year activities n
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 27
Jenifer Snyder Esq Executive Director The mGive Foundation
As Executive Director of The mGive Foun-dation Jenifer is dedicated to expanding the scope and reach of the mobile channel for social good She brings years of lead-ership experience in the mobile industry to the position Previously Jenifer was a founder and General Counsel for 9 Squared Inc a mobile content and ser-vices company subsequently acquired by the Zed Group She left Zed in 2007 and started building the mobile channel for social and charitable efforts and later formed The mGive Foundation
Cassie bair Vice president of Marketing Mobile Accord
As Vice President of Marketing for Mobile Accord Cassie is dedicated to educat-ing and empowering nonprofits regarding the power of mobile She combines years of marketing experience in the nonprofit industry with the exciting evolution of the mobile channel for social good Cassie has worked with organizations such as the American Heart Association American Institute of Architects and the American Society of Echocardiography developing integrated and cause marketing cam-paigns and uses that knowledge today with clients to help them maximize their mobile strategy
Name
OrganizationCompany
Address
City State Zip Code
Charge my m Visa m MasterCard m AmEx m Discover
Card Number Expiration Date
Signature
raquo FAX form to 2026284383 (do not email credit card information)
raquo MAIL form to Alicia Osgood Director Membership amp Communications DMA Nonprofit Federation 1615 L Street NW Suite 1100 Washington DC 20036
raquo MAKE ChECKS payable to the DMA Nonprofit Federation
raquo DMA Nonprofit Federation Federal Tax ID Number 13-1810859
News and cutting-edge professional development tips
SUBSCRIBEto the Journal today1year =3 issues
ONLY $35Published digitally in January Apriland September the Journal brings together nonprofit leaders to deliver a standout publication packed with content you can really use
No cost to members
28 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Consumer technology evolves so quickly that nonprof-its are constantly racing to get their organizations using the latest technologies and mediums In fact many of these innovations have had significant impact on the fundrais-ing community While online CRM systems for example spawned database segmentation capabilities the opportu-nity ndash and challenge ndash arose for fundraising professionals to target appeals precisely to donorsrsquo specific interests Lately the emergence and rapid popularity of technologies such as smartphones and social media have forced nonprofits to not only create a presence but essentially compete for shrinking donor funds using these vehicles
The primary focus of nonprofit technology however tends to be inward creating a presence in a particular social media community or simply using the technology on behalf of the organization Examples of this include a nonprofitrsquos Facebook page and Twitter account and mobile-friendly
web sites In todayrsquos competitive fundraising environment though itrsquos not enough for nonprofits to simply use the latest technology Successful fundraisers understand that a nonprofitrsquos relationship with technology needs to take one step beyond itself to focus outward how do your sup-porters and donors want to use technology on behalf of your organization
Donors have technology preferences and habits too While itrsquos great for organizations to have a Facebook page for sup-porters to ldquolikerdquo that offers news and updates for example this doesnrsquot offer an opportunity for donors to appeal to their friends and family on behalf of your nonprofit mdash and certainly doesnrsquot raise money As nonprofits have learned to quickly adapt to changing technology and social media standards the time has come for organizations to evolve the technology they offer to provide donors supporters and par-ticipants with a personalized fundraising experience
Get Personal Providing Supporters with Personalized Fundraising Experiences
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 29
Personalization Means EngagementAt a fundamental level donor personalization in fun-
draising emerged from some of the first online nonprofit fundraising systems Offering supporters the opportunity to send personalized fundraising emails to their friends and family was revolutionary in its time mdash as was offering custom individual and team fundraising web pages
While these technology offerings revolutionized event fundraising donors have become increasingly savvy in the way they interact online mdash and developed strong preferences and dislikes in the types of technology they use They want the technology they know and like to be at their fingertips and are more likely to fundraise and successfully so for your nonprofit if itrsquos made easy and accessible for them
Back to Basics mdash But BetterNonprofits have been so consumed by social media that
they often forget this simple fact participants who use online tools raise six times more than non-users according to Blackbaud In addition 25 percent of the fundraising emails supporters send to their friends result in a donation With the average online gift being $60 nonprofits have motiva-tion not to forget about the basics of online fundraising But in the age of increasing competition for donations nonprof-its that offer a more personalized fundraising experience to supporters may see better results
What does it mean to offer a personalized fundrais-ing experience For online fundraising pages it can mean offering them the opportunity to post pictures videos story content and individual fundraising status updates But itrsquos essentially the personalization options offered behind the scenes mdash in the personal ldquoHeadquartersrdquo page within an online fundraising system mdash that can really maximize fun-draising results
Savvy nonprofits are offering a multitude of ways within their online fundraising systems for supporters to choose to reach out to friends and family Offering more than the email capabilities found standard with most fundraising plat-forms some nonprofits are starting to provide supporters more options in their personal participant ldquoheadquartersrdquo pages to engage those in their network mdash all with the click of a button Opportunities for supporters to personalize their experience could include options to
Send a Facebook message
Tweet their fundraising page
Update their Facebook status
Send a quick email
In addition statistics about their personal fundraising process could tell them
Total emails sent
Visits to their personal fundraising pages
Number of donations
Number of registrations
Average amount raised per email sent
Number of additional emails needed to reach fundraising goal
And because no one participant is the same these per-sonalization options allow the supporter to interact and engage their network on behalf of the nonprofit in ways that are meaningful and comfortable to them
Beyond the Facebook PageThe nonprofit community has taken Facebook by storm as an avenue to engage supporters and attract donors But itrsquos important to look beyond how supporters want to interact with your nonprofit and understand how they want to in-teract with their social network Itrsquos within this framework that supporters choose mdash or choose not mdash to engage their network on your organizationrsquos behalf
So make it easy for them provide them with a variety of ways to use several social media tools to reach out and fund-raise for your nonprofit Let them decide how they fundraise With 845 million monthly active users and 100 billion con-nections Facebook for example provides an excellent platform for nonprofits mdash and their fundraisers mdash to expand fundraising reach In fact Blackbaudrsquos web site states that social media users raise 40 more than non-users But most
continued
John Murphy PresidentCEo and Founder Zuri Group
30 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
organizations make the mistake of relying on participants to send their own appeals and updates or worse provide cum-bersome tools that require multiple logins and steps
Some enthusiastic fundraisers will thrive in this envi-ronment Others wonrsquot Since each supporter is unique itrsquos important to provide several varying opportunities and options so that a personalized fundraising experience can be forged For many fundraisers asking for donations isnrsquot easy All participants want to raise money but many donrsquot feel comfortable asking outside of close friends and family Other fundraisers donrsquot have the time or creativity to regu-larly develop and update personalized Facebook messages Use technology to help overcome these challenges by creat-ing easy ways for them to raise more money using Facebook
To take the effort out of Facebook fundraising remove the discomfort of a direct ldquoaskrdquo and save fundraisers time some nonprofits are offering supporters the option for fun-draising updates that automatically post on their Facebook wall at pre-determined intervals throughout the fundraising season For the right supporter this option removes the dis-comfort of approaching potential donors with a direct ldquoaskrdquo while significantly expanding their fundraising reach
Mobilizing the troopsAccording to a 2011 study consumers spend more time
on mobile applications than on the web In addition Ameri-cans spend 27 hours per day on average socializing on their mobile phones Nonprofits have been hard at work to lever-age the trend toward mobile by creating mobile-friendly web sites and even apps to further engage supporters But what about the mobile interaction that takes place between sup-porters and their friends The key is for nonprofits to make it accessible and easy for fundraisers to use their everyday technologies and devices to fundraise within their own networks By providing fundraising options that enable sup-porters to simply use something they already use such as a smartphone to connect with people they already interact with fundraising becomes a more natural and personalized part of the supporterrsquos day
To provide a more personalized and convenient fun-draising experience some nonprofits are offering mobile fundraising apps that enable supporters to not only use their smartphones to fundraise but to fundraise using multiple technologies within the smartphone mdash such as email text Twitter Facebook and even FaceTime for iPhone users As a result supporters can fundraise for the organization from their homes the train while walking the dog mdash anytime they have their phone
By empowering supporters to personalize their fundrais-ing experience nonprofits that provide mobile fundraising apps help their fundraisers help them These organizations are meeting the needs of on-the-go fundraising participants so they can focus on spreading awareness soliciting dona-tions and thanking donors mdash on their time on their terms In fact itrsquos been reported that fundraising participants using mobile fundraising applications raise 200 more than other participants and bring in 300 more gifts by count that other participants
In addition some mobile fundraising apps are provid-ing further personalization by bringing some of the same features of the personalized online ldquoheadquartersrdquo to the smartphone such as fundraising thermometers and adding donors into their phone address book Pre-written fundrais-ing messages developed specifically for various mediums such as texts Twitter updates and emails can be used Editing personal fundraising pages from the smartphone is likely the next option nonprofits will start offering
the Personalization ChallengeAs nonprofits compete in the race to adopt new technolo-
gies and social media itrsquos important to take a step back and consider your supportersrsquo relationship with those channels Many nonprofits have a Facebook page or group but how are your fundraisers using Facebook Are you making it easy for them to advocate or fundraise for your organization If much of your donor base uses text messaging have you pro-vided easy access and tools for them to text their network on your behalf
Supporters want and frankly need a personalized online experience with your organization Go beyond the bounds of your interactive relationship and consider what would enable your supporter base to have a more personalized fundrais-ing experience mdash and then put those tools at their fingertips They and their network mdash will thank you n
John Murphy is the PresidentCEO and Founder of Zuri Group Zuri Group provides nonprofits with custom technology solutions to meet critical organizational needs such as fundraising using their existing platform For more info visit zurigroupcom
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 31Non-Profit_FullPageAd_OLindd 1 91312 417 PM
32 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
9 Centennial Drive
Peabody MA 01960-7906
Tel 8003707500
wwwamergentcom
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Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 33
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We Can HelpWiland Direct is the nationrsquos 1 transactional database for fundraisers
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ldquoThe Wiland Direct database has been a solid performer for LLS with higher average gifts and lower cost per dollar raised than most Itrsquos opened up a new acquisition universe particularly important for a mature program Wersquore very pleased with the results and team support from Wilandrdquomdash Bruny Lynch The Leukemia amp Lymphoma Society
34 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
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Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 35
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36 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
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Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 37
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38 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
1
2
3
A
B
C
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 15
no English until he started kindergarten His child-hood can only be described as hard and deprived with his parents being members of the working poor their entire lives Yet despite their poverty he recalled a blue-and-white tin charity box in his kitchen into which his mother would put a few coins every week late on Friday afternoon before the start of the Jewish Sabbath His parents werenrsquot reli-giously observant but his mother would make a char-itable donation of some kind every week for even poorer Jews living in what is now Israel
I would have to describe my father as angry a lot of the time And Id also have to say that it would be hard to find someone more cynical about institutions and whole professions than my father He thought all doctors were to use his word quacks He thought all lawyers were again to use his word shy-sters He loathed politicians He was dubious about the esteem given to Jewish clergy and I cant believe he had any special regard for the clergy of any other faith He was part of the Greatest Generation and talked his way into World War II after he was rejected on medical grounds and spent most of the war in Europe including landing on Omaha Beach on D-Day Plus 1 And even so he was often dismissive of the thought and planning
of our own military leaders especially what he thought of as the cavalier misuse of troops
Despite his being a one-man protest machine he utterly hated protest move-ments and anything that smacked of them I could go on but I think you get the picture This was a man of complete cynicism seem-ingly trusting no one He made a hard honest living and lived a life with no frills and few vacations Meals out in restaurants were a very special event By any stan-dard by which we measure comfort or luxury my father and mother had few check marks in that imaginary list
But family history aside there was a reason Ive just told you all of this
After my father died in 2004 some many years after my mother and stepmother had both passed away it fell to me to go through his effects and to pack up his things I donrsquot know how many of you here have ever had that task It is a melan-choly one with many small items serving to remind you of moments in the rela-tionship In addition it can be a startling one learning things about your deceased parent and achingly wishing you could have them back for even a few moments to explain what something meant or to ask why they had never told you about some just discovered element of their lives
For me the startling element I discovered was how my father mdash the utter cynic mdash was mdash within his means mdash a philanthropist and donor of a scope that is still remarkable to me You see when I opened the bottom drawer of his dresser the entire drawer was filled with note pads and boxes of seasonal cards from dozens and dozens of charities My first thought standing in his empty bedroom was ldquoTo whom was he planning on writing so many notesrdquo When I opened the next drawer it was filled with per-sonalized mailing labels from dozens of charities mdash possi-bly the same charities I donrsquot know but possibly not mdash but I knew that if he ever got around to sending out all of those notes and cards he would never have to write his return address on any of those envelopes As I con-tinued the packing up in his bedroom kitchen closets and elsewhere I found other institutional gifts from other charities like tote bags mugs umbrellas and so on almost all of them still in their orig-inal packaging
When I cleaned out his small desk I found his checkbook and sat at his desk to go through his check register and other check reg-isters going back years and years There were payments made to credit card compa-nies and utilities and taxes but overwhelmingly the checks were made payable
to one charity after another The amounts mdash as you pro-fessionals would guess from the pads and the pre-printed mailing labels mdash were all small Most of them were for ten dollars some for twenty-five and in a nod to the Jewish mystical belief in the specialness of numbers that are multiples of eigh-teen he had written plenty of checks to Jewish organiza-tions and causes for eighteen and thirty-six dollars
Also remarkable was the range of organizations to which he donated As I mentioned he gave to a broad array of Jewish and pro-Israel organizations but he also gave to commu-nity groups environmental groups hunger organiza-tions veterans groups and health-related organizations including hospitals hospices and disease-focused causes He even gave to animal shelter organizations mdash and he had never had a pet of his own
So how could it be that this most utterly cynical man a man who watched his pennies his whole life could have been a small-scale Roth-schild and Rockefeller in the range and expansiveness of his giving Of course wersquoll never know for sure but in trying to develop an answer to this there are lessons for those of us in this room who care about the not-for-profit world whether profession-ally as communal activists or as donors
continued
16 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
The first two possibili-ties that come to mind that Id like to quickly dismiss are that my father liked the idea that he could get something of value for what may have seemed for free It is possible but my father was a very prac-tical man and at some point he must have realized that well into his 80s he had such an ample supply of holiday cards and return address labels that he would never be able to use up the inventory The other thought was that he simply liked getting mail and he knew how the system worked Send in a check and the one envelope becomes two or three or ten Send in one hundred checks and he had his weekends filled reading through all of the mail he had received during the past week That is possi-ble but my father also died with a significant backlog of unread magazines so Im going to rule that out too
The explanation Ive come up with is that my father may have been a cynic but that he wanted to believe He may have thought most every institution and public figure not worthy of being trusted but he may still have yearned to be able to trust that some others out there cared deeply about society and elements of it and that he wanted to be part of the efforts to make the world a proverbially better place He despised a lot of things gen-erally but seemed to like a lot of things specifically
And from that insight I think there is some very good news for many of you here today I know from Tom Harrison that you are all worried about the crummy economy that shows no sign of quickly returning to robust times And Tom has also shared with me a worry about the viability of the US Postal Service and its ability to offer reduced mailing rates for the fore-seeable future And Tom has also told me that my fatherrsquos generation is dying off and not being quickly replaced by a new demographic cohort that reads mail and sends in money Plus there are environmental ques-tions about harvesting trees for the mailings and some compelling proof that people respond less well to email solicitations than they did to requests delivered via their mail boxes But aside from all of those structural impediments my fatherrsquos behavior offers some very special opportunities for those charities and organi-zations able to reach out and speak personally to the next waves of donors
If my father was a skepti-cal cynical guy in the Ozzie and Harriet 1950s and 60s he was a full generation ahead of where people are today and Id like to take a minute or two to explain what I mean
People today are fright-ened angry cynical even often despairing The
overwhelming feeling is that few institutions are working well Our political system just isnrsquot garnering wide-spread support and in these unsettling times people want leaders and insti-tutions that can fix their problems No matter who wins the presidential elec-tion in November there is little widespread belief we will come together as a society to fix our problems It may happen but people donrsquot believe it And the poll numbers reflect this Pres-ident Obama mdash who came into office on a promise of hope and change and of transformation of our political culture and which initially yielded him an approval rating of 67 mdash has had an approval rating that has been below 50 since November 2009 and is now at 47 If the president has problems in garnering the publicrsquos trust that he can solve their problems Con-gress as an institution is doing far far worse with an approval rating of 23 The US Supreme Court enjoys an approval rating of only 35 These numbers for the president and for the legisla-tive and judicial branches of government actually under-state the problem The poll number of those who call themselves ldquofrustrated or angry with the federal gov-ernmentrdquo comes in at a frightening 79 President Obama may win re-elec-tion but it likely wont be a
unifying election We have a divided government at a polarized partisan moment of utterly different and con-tradictory views of how to solve the problems at hand Given the enormity of the problems mdash from the economy to the deficit to the debt to Iranrsquos nuclear program to the rise of radical Islamism to the rise of China and its likelihood to be a destabilizing force and many many more prob-lems mdash the likelihood our country will be dispirited and detached from politics is larger than it is smaller
Staying with our politi-cal system for just another moment we have another problem Because people are angry and have a near con-stant ldquothrow the bums outrdquo feeling about our elected offi-cials we are going through a period of uncommon insta-bility in our government institutions
Most people believe that incumbents come to office and tend to leave only when they die But it just isnrsquot true Whether because of the Tea Party or because of burn-out by elected officials the level of turnover in Washington is a big and growing problem In just the past five Congres-sional elections which is to say in the past ten years a remarkable 54 of the US Senate has been replaced If that number seems impos-sibly high for institutional stability in the House of Representatives the turnover
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 17
in that same period has been 68 Due to announced retirements and defeats in primaries we already know that in the coming Senate and House to be sworn in next January no fewer than 11 current Senators and 60 current Congressmen and Congresswomen will not be returning mdash and that assumes not a single incum-bent will lose in a single race in the remaining pri-maries and the General Election That means at least a 65 turnover in the US Senate and a more than 80 turnover in the House of Representatives in a mere 12-year period Think of your own organizations and what a turnover of that mag-nitude would mean to your ability to do your institu-tional job let alone having to grapple with many of the enormous challenges I mentioned a moment ago and many others I did not mention Thus the roiling public environment is more likely to stay roiled for some time to come than it is likely to return to some idealized period of harmony
Not to belabor the point but to also make sure that we understand that the problem of popular unease is broader than belief in our national government let me share just a few poll numbers to demonstrate my point Our confidence in hospitals and our doctors is now at 41 which is bad enough but HMOs are at 19 Public
schools have the confidence of only 29 of the people in our country Newspapers taken together have the con-fidence of just 25 of the American people But falling even lower than newspapers TV news comes in at 21 And labor unions banks and major corporations are all tied with the confidence of just one in five Ameri-cans at around 20 Even organized religion falls below the 50 mark at 44
Indeed the only three institutions regularly polled about by Gallup to be above the 50 mark are our police departments at 56 small business at 63 and our fighting men and women in the US military at 75 And finally in what many people believe is the most important general view of how people feel the Right Track Wrong Track poll Rasmussen reports 30 of Americans think our country is on the right track
and 64 believe our country is on the wrong track
In case you werenrsquot a statistics major in college let me boil all of these poll results down to just this one short statement and it is this My father was ahead of his time Just as my father didnrsquot trust or like just about any institution the American people now donrsquot much trust or like any institution with
the exception of police military and
small busi-ness In
nearly every other
case the institu-tion Ive mentioned is at or
near an all-time low since these Gallup Institutional Confidence polls began being conducted in 1973
But I think there is a second key learning from all of this bad news that is actu-ally very good news for some of you but definitely not all of you and that is this Just as my father had very low confidence in government and other mass institutions yet managed to turn himself
into a check-writing ma-chine for many many not-for-profits so too can your organization or your clients The not-so-profound insight is that even the most angry frustrated cynical skeptical misanthrope wants to believe It was true of mis-anthropes when Moliere wrote a play by that name in the 1660s It was true of my father And Id bet a dona-tion to any of your causes that it is true today even with a Right Track Wrong Track poll that has double the number of Wrong Trackers over Right Trackers People want to believe People want to love People know they wont live for forever and people want to see the world better both today in their lifetimes and tomor-row when it is their legacy This is true for mega donors who will be honored at fancy dinners in hotel ballrooms like this and for ten dollar donors who look forward to the return address labels you all will send to them
So with the crummy economy the dicey state of the Postal Service the demo-graphic hump working against low-dollar donors and all of the other problems direct marketers face my money is on the significant success of some of the orga-nizations that are here today Of course the structural challenges make it harder but is it harder today than it was in my grandmotherrsquos
vvvThe not-so-profound insight is that even
the most angry frustrated cynical skeptical
misanthrope wants to believehellipPeople know they
wont live for forever and people want to see the
world better both today in their lifetimes and
tomorrow when it is their legacy
vvv
continued
18 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
walk-up tenement apart-ment in which every Friday afternoon she found a way to donate to people she knew she would never meet who were living in a place she knew she would never see She believed in the enterprise afoot in what is today Israel a place on the other side of the world and she trusted that the coins in her little blue-and-white tin box would be used wisely and honorably All the same must have been true about my father and the many causes to which he wrote those checks And the same is true of millions and millions of people waiting to be touched and to form a connection with a cause larger than themselves a cause they can make their own in a way best thought of as an I-Thou relationship
For those of you unfa-miliar with the phrase I and Thou let me start by telling you it is a concept that changed my life It was coined by the philoso-pher and theologian Martin Buber Despite his being a theologian it is a concept that isnt inherently reli-gious even if it works well in every faith tradition and also works well in a purely secular context It works well for couples who have long been together and remark-ably it works well when soliciting gifts from near-strangers It is an approach to living a happy satisfying life So with that build up let
me tell you about I and Thou and about Martin Buber
Buber was born in Austria but moved to Germany in his teens to pursue his education In the 1920s he wrote his most famous work ldquoI and Thourdquo which although somewhat obscure today helped to establish his reputation as a leading German thinker of his time When the Nazis came to power in 1933 as a Jew he was prohibited from teaching at the uni-versity where he had been a professor and in 1938 just ahead of the start of the mass murder of 90 of Euro-pean Jewry Buber made his way to the British Mandate where he became a professor in Jerusalem When the State of Israel came into being in 1948 Buber was an esteemed philosopher revered by the young nation It is hard to imagine a philosopher having this kind of fame and impact but when he died in 1965 it was the lead news story of the day in Israel and a major story in The New York Times and other world newspapers
According to Buber there are two kinds of rela-tionships I-Thou and I-It The idea underpinning these concepts is best explained by examples as every single person in this room has experienced I-Thou and I-It relationships In an I-Thou relationship we are as one Your destiny is my destiny
even if only for a moment In the I-It relationship the parties are in a transac-tion I have turned the other party into an object to help me to achieve something that I want Indeed we all have I-Thou relationships and I-It relationships all the time mdash and we often have these disparate relationships within moments of each other and often with the very same person If this room were smaller and more inti-mate I could randomly call on anyone and have you give examples of I-Thou and I-It relationships in your own life But Ill use my own life as an example
I love my wife very much I am happy to come home at the end of the workday and to hear about her day and what is new and for her to hear about my day That is an I-Thou moment But while sitting with her my stomach starts to growl I become distracted Im not think-ing about her but about the dinner I know she has prepared Im hungry and want to eat She becomes an object a means to an end an I-It Wersquove all had that expe-rience or one like it
But just because Im getting something I want from her mdash or from anyone mdash doesnrsquot mean it has to be an I-It moment In that exact same scenario it could just as well have been an I-Thou moment by a change in my behavior even
with the same outcome that dinner will be served and my hunger abated Instead of single-mindedly think-ing about food in its place I could have interrupted the conversation to tell her that Im hungry I could have offered to set the table while we keep talking And most importantly I could keep reminding myself that she has spent time and trouble thinking about dinner and preparing it and that I have no entitlement to her having done this and how fortunate I am that she has If I do all of that it is more likely we will have an I-Thou relationship that evening than a transac-tional I-It one
Even with people we love I-Thoursquos and I-Itrsquos flit back and forth across some imaginary spectrum with engagement and other-directedness on one side and selfishness and self-direct-edness on the other We all have instincts for both sides of that spectrum and the challenge is to take the harder path the path where we direct the moment away from ourselves and our selfish wants and needs to that of the person present before us and our shared experience
As I indicated earlier this isnrsquot just true of deep long-lasting relationships It can be true of the waiter who serves you dinner the bellman who helps you with your bags even with a
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 19
passing stranger on a line to get into somewhere Every encounter has the oppor-tunity to be an I-Thou or an I-It and the challenge is for each of us to constantly remind ourselves of the humanity of the person with whom we engage
I and Thou isnrsquot just for people It is also true of believing peoplersquos relation-ship with God and also true of organizations and how they relate to people In my experience Ive found it even true of inanimate objects even if that may take it beyond Buberrsquos own con-ception So how do Martin Buber and his I and Thou relate to you all as direct mar-keters and as fundraisers for your worthy organizations
Everyone knows when they are in an I and Thou moment You feel the link and the joy that comes from the link But people also know when they are being used as a means to an end
when they are the ldquoItrdquo in an I-It relationship People may give you what you want when they are in an I-It rela-tionship with you and you may give your counter-party what they seek too but we all know that feeling of sadness or emptiness within when someone you are with mdash a co-worker a boss a spouse a child even a clerk on the phone at a call center mdash treats you as an object to get some-thing achieved and not as an opportunity to feel your humanity and for you to feel theirs even if for a fleeting moment
And the same Ill say is true about the relationship between a potential donor and your organization Those organizations that stand for somethinghellip Those organizations that donrsquot treat their donors as objects like walking checkbookshellip Those organizations that take the time to engage with their prospects Indeed
those organizations that donrsquot even necessarily start by asking for something it is those organizations who I believe will find a wide universe of people eager to believe and eager to be part of the organizationrsquos mission An I-Thou relation-ship doesnrsquot mean we never ask the other party for some-thing It is about how and when we ask Just as we will have a different outcome with our spouses children and co-workers when we are building off of an I-Thou relationship rather than an I-It so too will we have a different outcome when we approach our donors as part-ners as people we care about exactly as much whether they donate or not It is from that soulful relationship that donors will want to support one organization over an-other and one cause over another no matter how angry or frustrated or cynical they are about the larger world
around them That is how I believe the next genera-tion of donors will come to support many but not all of our organizations
When my father died I had the Postal Service forward his mail to my home address In the nearly eight years since his passing Ive received hundreds of mail-ings maybe more I often open the solicitations to try to get a feel for the kinds of causes and organizations my father would have been spending his time learning about and possibly support-ing So while some recipients of your mailings may think of your output as junk mail I couldnrsquot be more apprecia-tive Each envelope serves to remind me that the cynical side of my father was only a side and that when properly touched even a hard man could respond
Thank you all very much for your attention n
copy 2012 Seth M Siegel Reproduction with authorrsquos consent only All rights reserved
Looking for an agency or supplier to help your organization reachnew heights
Access the DMANFrsquos Directory of Service providers
nonprofitfederationorgcorporate-partnerssearch
20 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Nonprofit organizations face unique marketing chal-lenges Theyrsquore tasked with identifying and reaching the right people at the right time and through
the appropriate channels as well as balancing message appeals with monetary requests all while conveying their mission and cause The rapid expansion of the internet social networking and mobile have placed yet another demand front-and-center for nonprofit organizations mdash con-sumer privacy
Consumers are justly concerned about divulging their personal information They want to know where why and how their information will be used Many are unaware that their personal information is collected in a variety of ways and by a variety of sources both online and offline Common but often misunderstood data practices include third-party ad servers setting cookies retail stores matching names and addresses with phone numbers and marketers sharing customer lists
In todayrsquos complex marketplace how can nonprofit organizations demonstrate to their supporters donors and prospects that they share their concerns and are commit-ted to protecting their privacy The first and most important step is to create a clear privacy policy and communicate it effectively
the Privacy PolicyIf your organization collects uses and or stores personal donor information a privacy policy is critical You must display your privacy policy on your website and strictly abide by it
Privacy policies are structured around Notice and Choice principles They should provide supporters with notice of
how their data is collected used and shared as well as their choices to limit or prevent such practices Your privacy policy should also include information to maintain trans-parency and that clearly describes your organizationrsquos data security practices
Key points every privacy policy should address include
The types of personal information your organization collects This may include name address telephone number email address and credit card or other payment information
How information is secured
How personal information is used and with whom it is shared
How supporters can control the use of their data
How the privacy policy is updated and the effective date of the policy
Letrsquos take a more detailed look at the elements of a privacy policy from a nonprofit organizationrsquos perspective
Collecting personal InformationAs mentioned personal information may include data ele-ments such as name address telephone number email address and payment information It can also include more sensitive information such as gender race religious or politi-cal beliefs health information or other characteristics
The types of personal information collected and the length of retention may be used to enhance your marketing
Consumer PrivacyA Guide for Nonprofit Marketers
Bethany Lewis Privacy Analyst Epsilon
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 21
objectives by creating detailed profiles of supporters but what if that dataprofile was accessed without appropriate permis-sions or used by other organizations for purposes beyond the original intent Inappropriate generalizations might be made about supporters regardless of who has the data and the risk for reputational and other damage increases if that type of data is compromised
For example if a supporter donates to an organization that supports research of a genetic disorder should they be identified as a patient of or at risk for that same disorder Perhaps theyrsquore simply a caretaker for someone suffer-ing from that disorder Similarly if a supporter donates to a religious-based organization could assumptions around political leanings be attributed to them
Protecting information about charitable contributions is critical as is informing supporters how that information will be used which brings us to data security and the sharing of personal information
protecting personal InformationToday every organization is vulnerable when it comes to data security Protecting the personal information of supporters is essential The first line of protection is collecting only the necessary data
While creating supporter profiles evaluate the risks of storing ldquounnecessaryrdquo data especially if an incident exposes the data Set internal policies for how long each category of data collected will be retained and be diligent in deletingdestroying data in a safe and thorough manner based on those policies
Whenever possible encrypt personal data maintained electronically and enhance security on laptops and mobile devices from which supporter data is accessed
Sharing personal InformationBe very clear in your privacy policy when providing infor-mation on the types of third-parties with whom your organization shares data If you share information with third-party service providers disclose this fact and provide a categorized list of these organizations Such organizations may include credit card processors shipping vendors mar-keting analysts or consultants and fulfillment houses
If you share information with other nonprofit organi-zations disclose these practices Also disclose if you share information with marketing cooperatives whose databases are not exclusively nonprofit
Protecting
information
about
charitable
contributions
is critical
continued
22 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
providing ChoiceStudies have shown that modern consumers are more com-fortable sharing personal information with organizations that are clear and upfront about how their information is used and with whom it is shared In fact most people respond positively to organizations who transparently disclose data sharing practices and provide a clear and convenient oppor-tunity to opt-out While a small percentage of individuals will choose to opt-out of data sharing very few supporters will opt-out of all contact with an organization Therefore providing an opportunity to opt-out of sharing data for mar-keting purposes as well as an opt-out for receiving further requests from your organization will aid in retaining your most loyal supporters
Updating the privacy policyClearly state the effective date of your current privacy policy and update it when you make any material changes If you do make material changes to your privacy policy with ret-roactive application to the data you already have stored you may need to obtain express consent from individuals to use their information for new or different purposes Some organizations choose to list what changes were made in a summary history which may be helpful to a supporter reviewing the policy
Pulling It All togetherYour privacy policy should be easy to find read understand and act upon (ie opt-out or modify preferences) It should also be present in each commercial solicitation where per-sonal information is collected regardless of whether that is through postal mailings or on your website
Additional information regarding Notice Choice Trans-parency and other important privacy principles can be found on the DMA website in the Commitment to Consumer Choice and the DMA Guidelines for Ethical Business Practice
At Epsilon we use the following checklist when evaluating a privacy policy
The website has a privacy policy
There is a link to the privacy policy from the websitersquos home page and the link contains the word ldquoprivacyrdquo
The privacy policy states that the organization shares consumer data and personal information (including name address email address and transaction informa-tion) with third-party service providers
The privacy policy states that the organization shares consumer data and personal information with other marketers for their own marketing purposes
The privacy policy provides consumers the chance to opt-out of having their information shared with other marketers
The privacy policy has an ldquoeffectiverdquo date
As mentioned in situations where data is shared with other organizations and marketers transparency is the key Below is sample disclosure language
The personally identifiable information that you provide to us
(such as your name address and email address) and information
about your contribution may be combined with other non-person-
ally identifiable information (such as demographic information and
past contribution history) available from our records and other
sources This information will be used to make our future market-
ing efforts more efficient and relevant This information may also
be shared with our third-party service providers that assist us
with our marketing efforts and with other marketers whose prod-
ucts or services we feel may be of interest to you If you prefer
that we do not share your name and address with other market-
ers please email us at optoutyourorganizationorg
Beyond the Privacy PolicyIn addition to having a robust privacy policy written in concise language and that is easily accessible here are a few other best practices to secure the privacy of your sup-portersrsquo information
Ensure agreements with third-parties who may have access to supportersrsquo personal information adequately address privacy and data security
Suppress personal information in your database when a supporter requests it and do so within a reasonable timeframe
If you must store sensitive information such as credit card or social security numbers as part of your data-base encrypt this information
Train employees and volunteers regularly on the importance of maintaining privacy and security
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 23
Nonprofit Careers e-Bulletin
Your Multi-ChannelRecruiting Tool
Become familiar with data breach notification require-ments and have a response plan and team in place Should you experience a breach disclose to all appro-priate and necessary parties
Monitor the use of your data and address any enti-ties when you become aware that data is being used in a way that violates the law contractual requirements andor the DMArsquos Ethical Guidelines
Respecting and promoting consumer privacy requires a commitment to maintaining balance between the legitimate business needs of your organization and the concerns of individuals about fair information practices Start by taking a look at your current privacy policy Assure its accuracy and adhere to its strategy n
Bethany Lewis As a Privacy Analyst Bethany Lewis supports and educates associates and clients on privacy compliance matters She brings an extensive background in regulatory compliance corporate ethics education and training to her work at Epsilon
ldquoThe recruitment Tool for the Nonprofit Communityrdquo is your source for top flight exposure to top flight candidates and the best A b amp C-level career opportunities out there
Distributed every Tuesday 8 am ET via raquo Email raquo post at wwwnonprofitfederationorg raquo Facebook mdash DMA Nonprofit Federation raquo Twitter mdash DMANF and AliozDC
To view ad submission requirements visit the ldquoFind a Jobrdquo area of the DMA Nonprofit Federation homepage wwwnonprofitfederationorg and click on ldquoHow to postrdquo Ads must be emailed to Aosgoodthe-dmaorg please make sure any ad you submit meets our specifications
Is your nonprofit organization already a dual member of the DMA and DMANF If the answer is lsquoyesrsquo itrsquos FrEE mdash so why not post
Join the over 8000 professionals who already subscribe
Sign up today nonprofitfederationorgpublications careers-e-bulletinsubscribe
DMA Guidelines for Ethical Business Practice
dmaresponsibilityorgGuidelines
24 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Each week I see non-profit organizations walking away from
mobile thinking that com-municating and fundraising with their constituents through the single most used electronic device in history is optional Con-versely we see more and more retailers embracing mobile and the omnichan-nel marketing model because the results are tre-mendous We at mGive think nonprofits benefit when they embrace similar tools and methodologies
What is an omnichan-nel approach and why is it important to non-profit organizations An omnichannel approach is an integrated marketing strat-egy that creates a seamless experience for the donor
It is a customer-centric approach that elevates your supporter loyalty strategies by leveraging cross-channel opportunities For example when a donor drops off goods at their local Epilepsy Foundation they receive a paper receipt to complete Normally once they leave your location you lose any hope of communicating with them again Imagine if when the donor dropped off their goods you offered to send the donor an email version of their receipt You now have a way to engage the supporter through email Now suppose your email receipt offered a web link that drove them to a form to opt-in to your mobile community in order to receive updates via text
Once they opt-in you then have a way to send updates volunteer requests dona-tion reminders and more You may also leverage the fact they are on the mobile phone and send text mes-sages asking supporters to post a photo to Facebook making a donation Having this omnichannel strat-egy in place is especially critical at the end of year because it is an opportune time for organizations to increase membership and raise dollars
So how does an organization create an omnichannel approach that leverages direct mail email online social media live events and mobile to achieve their goals It may be difficult for some orga-nizations to make the
operational shift to an omnichannel model but that doesnrsquot mean you can afford to ignore it Not sure you can get all the steps in place by the time you launch your end of year activities Mobile is the bridge that can help to start that process In fact more and more organizations are relying on their mobile strategy to bridge the gap and engage supporters in this multi-screen world because mobile is the ldquogreat centralizerrdquo of activities ndash where else can you make calls browse the web check email respond to text mes-sages post to social media and more in a truly porta-ble fashion
Before we move on to the tactics that an organiza-tion can take to incorporate
Mobile
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 25
mobile into their existing multi-channel strategies we must tackle one issue If your organization has tried mobile or an omnichan-nel approach in the past and were disappointed or frustrated with your expe-rience try again You were one of the pioneering orga-nizations that comprise the early adopters of those models Lessons learned over the past few years have evolved into success-ful best practices mdash and you get the opportunity to benefit from them As we like to say in honor of the wise Master Yoda ldquoTry not Do or do not There is no tryrdquo We guarantee if imple-mented correctly using mobile in an omnichannel approach can work for your organization
1 Communicate and Integrate mdash Walk Across the Mobile Bridge
Many organizations that I work with have voiced cross-departmental integra-tion as a challenge That is understandable because tra-ditionally departments or channels have been siloed from one another But this disenfranchised model does not result in the seam-less experience that donors are coming to expect In order for a donor experi-ence to be seamless direct mail must complement the organizationrsquos website the organizationrsquos website must complement the mobile campaign social media must complement direct mail and so forth and so on When used together
the communication chan-nels can result in more effective campaigns and bigger numbers
When an organization decides to develop a mobile strategy generally it is one department within that organization that is initially interested That department is a hero because they have just launched a toolset that can be used throughout the organization If you have a mobile program in place for fundraising itrsquos time to talk with your program services department mem-bership team and corporate partner folks and get them in the loop so that you can maximize the omnichannel approach Mobile can be a great catalyst for initiating conversation and guiding organizational integration
Mobile is also a great way to increase the effec-tiveness of existing channels By integrating your direct mail newslet-ter social media online and mobile efforts you can increase response and open rates We have found that if you send a text message to your membership remind-ing them to check their email inboxes you can increase email open rates by 10 or more Addition-ally if you include a mobile number field on your email and paper member-ship forms you can quickly build a mobile community that can turn into repeat donors Once again the most important element besides the actual cross
the Bridge to an omnichannel Approach in time for Year-End Campaigns
continued
Jenifer Snyder Esq Executive Director The mGive Foundation and Cassie Bair Vice President of Marketing Mobile Accord
26 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
channel promotion goes back to this concept of the omnichannel Make the message consistent across all channels They donrsquot have to be identical but they should complement each other and work to create an echo effect
Just about every one of your donors will experience your organization through their mobile device at some point mdash so make sure your message is clear consistent convenient and actionable through mobile in some capacity
2 test Review Adjust Implement Review Adjust mdash and Repeat
Once you have an inte-grated strategy in place itrsquos time to implement Whether the goal is to acquire new donors reactivate lapsed donors and drive donations from existing donors mdash or all three mdash test your cam-paign Take time to review the results and adjust accordingly Then imple-ment full scale confident you are on the right path Regularly review your results adjust your activities and repeat as needed
In preparation for end of year activities take the time in the Fall to tweak your marketing engine for optimal performance Do some zero based plan-ning and try to approach
the supporter experience as if you are the supporter Spend time on every avenue where you can wisely create a seamless experience
Everyone in philan-thropy knows that the majority of all charitable donations are made in the last 2 months of the year Additionally member-ship increases substantially during the last quarter of the year Spend time now identifying opportunities strategies and tactics that work best for you mdash and consider how mobile can be a centralizing point for many of these activities
3 Apply the Winning Methodologies to Your End of Year Appeals
Yoursquove tested tweaked and determined what works best for you Now inte-grate what yoursquove learned into your end of year cam-paigns Determine how your campaign follows stan-dard best practices for end of year appeals and where mobile can help drive that engagement across multiple mediums
Common best practices for end of year campaigns that can include mobile
A Sending multiple asks the final week of the year mdash Make sure text messages are a part of that effort Whether itrsquos a simple call-to-action to text
a donation drives people to a pledge page or some-thing all-together different mobile can help ramp up that seamless experience
B the Art of the ldquothank Yourdquo mdash Thank your sup-porters Use mobile to message supporters your appreciation when they take action through text or drive them to a webpage with a video with a celeb-rity spokesperson giving a thank you message But make sure they know repeatedly that what they do for your cause matters And keep in mind mobile can drive to a strong ldquothank yourdquo experience
C Share Ask Listen mdash Take the opportunity to tell a story ask for feed-back and listen to what your organization is being told Not sure how to do that in mobile Share a link to a news article through text Ask for feedback through social media And listen to what is being said while distilling insights from how supporters respond in order to strengthen your omnichannel approach
4 Continue into 2013 mdash You are set for success
As donors enter the New Year self-improve-ment will often include a
commitment to be a better person volunteer more donate more funds etc Use mobile as a data col-lection tool to help your donors achieve their goal Give them the opportunity to commit to goals pertain-ing to your cause and then become their coach Send monthly reminders of their commitment and words of encouragement Remind them about appointments invite them to share their experience and overall let the donor feel the effect of their selfless promise through all of their activi-ties while using mobile to centralize that community and to drive people to action
We now live in a world where the average person at any given moment is looking at two or more screens It is critical that nonprofit organizations embrace the multi-screen world and adopt the omnichannel or fully integrated model When you create a seam-less giving experience for the everyday philanthropist you will be amazed at the results Walking away from a mobile strategy today is like walking away from the internet in the early 2000s
Mobile is here to stay and it is not an elective component to your orga-nizationrsquos fundraising and engagement strategy Itrsquos an essential part of a successful omnichannel strategy for your end of year activities n
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 27
Jenifer Snyder Esq Executive Director The mGive Foundation
As Executive Director of The mGive Foun-dation Jenifer is dedicated to expanding the scope and reach of the mobile channel for social good She brings years of lead-ership experience in the mobile industry to the position Previously Jenifer was a founder and General Counsel for 9 Squared Inc a mobile content and ser-vices company subsequently acquired by the Zed Group She left Zed in 2007 and started building the mobile channel for social and charitable efforts and later formed The mGive Foundation
Cassie bair Vice president of Marketing Mobile Accord
As Vice President of Marketing for Mobile Accord Cassie is dedicated to educat-ing and empowering nonprofits regarding the power of mobile She combines years of marketing experience in the nonprofit industry with the exciting evolution of the mobile channel for social good Cassie has worked with organizations such as the American Heart Association American Institute of Architects and the American Society of Echocardiography developing integrated and cause marketing cam-paigns and uses that knowledge today with clients to help them maximize their mobile strategy
Name
OrganizationCompany
Address
City State Zip Code
Charge my m Visa m MasterCard m AmEx m Discover
Card Number Expiration Date
Signature
raquo FAX form to 2026284383 (do not email credit card information)
raquo MAIL form to Alicia Osgood Director Membership amp Communications DMA Nonprofit Federation 1615 L Street NW Suite 1100 Washington DC 20036
raquo MAKE ChECKS payable to the DMA Nonprofit Federation
raquo DMA Nonprofit Federation Federal Tax ID Number 13-1810859
News and cutting-edge professional development tips
SUBSCRIBEto the Journal today1year =3 issues
ONLY $35Published digitally in January Apriland September the Journal brings together nonprofit leaders to deliver a standout publication packed with content you can really use
No cost to members
28 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Consumer technology evolves so quickly that nonprof-its are constantly racing to get their organizations using the latest technologies and mediums In fact many of these innovations have had significant impact on the fundrais-ing community While online CRM systems for example spawned database segmentation capabilities the opportu-nity ndash and challenge ndash arose for fundraising professionals to target appeals precisely to donorsrsquo specific interests Lately the emergence and rapid popularity of technologies such as smartphones and social media have forced nonprofits to not only create a presence but essentially compete for shrinking donor funds using these vehicles
The primary focus of nonprofit technology however tends to be inward creating a presence in a particular social media community or simply using the technology on behalf of the organization Examples of this include a nonprofitrsquos Facebook page and Twitter account and mobile-friendly
web sites In todayrsquos competitive fundraising environment though itrsquos not enough for nonprofits to simply use the latest technology Successful fundraisers understand that a nonprofitrsquos relationship with technology needs to take one step beyond itself to focus outward how do your sup-porters and donors want to use technology on behalf of your organization
Donors have technology preferences and habits too While itrsquos great for organizations to have a Facebook page for sup-porters to ldquolikerdquo that offers news and updates for example this doesnrsquot offer an opportunity for donors to appeal to their friends and family on behalf of your nonprofit mdash and certainly doesnrsquot raise money As nonprofits have learned to quickly adapt to changing technology and social media standards the time has come for organizations to evolve the technology they offer to provide donors supporters and par-ticipants with a personalized fundraising experience
Get Personal Providing Supporters with Personalized Fundraising Experiences
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 29
Personalization Means EngagementAt a fundamental level donor personalization in fun-
draising emerged from some of the first online nonprofit fundraising systems Offering supporters the opportunity to send personalized fundraising emails to their friends and family was revolutionary in its time mdash as was offering custom individual and team fundraising web pages
While these technology offerings revolutionized event fundraising donors have become increasingly savvy in the way they interact online mdash and developed strong preferences and dislikes in the types of technology they use They want the technology they know and like to be at their fingertips and are more likely to fundraise and successfully so for your nonprofit if itrsquos made easy and accessible for them
Back to Basics mdash But BetterNonprofits have been so consumed by social media that
they often forget this simple fact participants who use online tools raise six times more than non-users according to Blackbaud In addition 25 percent of the fundraising emails supporters send to their friends result in a donation With the average online gift being $60 nonprofits have motiva-tion not to forget about the basics of online fundraising But in the age of increasing competition for donations nonprof-its that offer a more personalized fundraising experience to supporters may see better results
What does it mean to offer a personalized fundrais-ing experience For online fundraising pages it can mean offering them the opportunity to post pictures videos story content and individual fundraising status updates But itrsquos essentially the personalization options offered behind the scenes mdash in the personal ldquoHeadquartersrdquo page within an online fundraising system mdash that can really maximize fun-draising results
Savvy nonprofits are offering a multitude of ways within their online fundraising systems for supporters to choose to reach out to friends and family Offering more than the email capabilities found standard with most fundraising plat-forms some nonprofits are starting to provide supporters more options in their personal participant ldquoheadquartersrdquo pages to engage those in their network mdash all with the click of a button Opportunities for supporters to personalize their experience could include options to
Send a Facebook message
Tweet their fundraising page
Update their Facebook status
Send a quick email
In addition statistics about their personal fundraising process could tell them
Total emails sent
Visits to their personal fundraising pages
Number of donations
Number of registrations
Average amount raised per email sent
Number of additional emails needed to reach fundraising goal
And because no one participant is the same these per-sonalization options allow the supporter to interact and engage their network on behalf of the nonprofit in ways that are meaningful and comfortable to them
Beyond the Facebook PageThe nonprofit community has taken Facebook by storm as an avenue to engage supporters and attract donors But itrsquos important to look beyond how supporters want to interact with your nonprofit and understand how they want to in-teract with their social network Itrsquos within this framework that supporters choose mdash or choose not mdash to engage their network on your organizationrsquos behalf
So make it easy for them provide them with a variety of ways to use several social media tools to reach out and fund-raise for your nonprofit Let them decide how they fundraise With 845 million monthly active users and 100 billion con-nections Facebook for example provides an excellent platform for nonprofits mdash and their fundraisers mdash to expand fundraising reach In fact Blackbaudrsquos web site states that social media users raise 40 more than non-users But most
continued
John Murphy PresidentCEo and Founder Zuri Group
30 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
organizations make the mistake of relying on participants to send their own appeals and updates or worse provide cum-bersome tools that require multiple logins and steps
Some enthusiastic fundraisers will thrive in this envi-ronment Others wonrsquot Since each supporter is unique itrsquos important to provide several varying opportunities and options so that a personalized fundraising experience can be forged For many fundraisers asking for donations isnrsquot easy All participants want to raise money but many donrsquot feel comfortable asking outside of close friends and family Other fundraisers donrsquot have the time or creativity to regu-larly develop and update personalized Facebook messages Use technology to help overcome these challenges by creat-ing easy ways for them to raise more money using Facebook
To take the effort out of Facebook fundraising remove the discomfort of a direct ldquoaskrdquo and save fundraisers time some nonprofits are offering supporters the option for fun-draising updates that automatically post on their Facebook wall at pre-determined intervals throughout the fundraising season For the right supporter this option removes the dis-comfort of approaching potential donors with a direct ldquoaskrdquo while significantly expanding their fundraising reach
Mobilizing the troopsAccording to a 2011 study consumers spend more time
on mobile applications than on the web In addition Ameri-cans spend 27 hours per day on average socializing on their mobile phones Nonprofits have been hard at work to lever-age the trend toward mobile by creating mobile-friendly web sites and even apps to further engage supporters But what about the mobile interaction that takes place between sup-porters and their friends The key is for nonprofits to make it accessible and easy for fundraisers to use their everyday technologies and devices to fundraise within their own networks By providing fundraising options that enable sup-porters to simply use something they already use such as a smartphone to connect with people they already interact with fundraising becomes a more natural and personalized part of the supporterrsquos day
To provide a more personalized and convenient fun-draising experience some nonprofits are offering mobile fundraising apps that enable supporters to not only use their smartphones to fundraise but to fundraise using multiple technologies within the smartphone mdash such as email text Twitter Facebook and even FaceTime for iPhone users As a result supporters can fundraise for the organization from their homes the train while walking the dog mdash anytime they have their phone
By empowering supporters to personalize their fundrais-ing experience nonprofits that provide mobile fundraising apps help their fundraisers help them These organizations are meeting the needs of on-the-go fundraising participants so they can focus on spreading awareness soliciting dona-tions and thanking donors mdash on their time on their terms In fact itrsquos been reported that fundraising participants using mobile fundraising applications raise 200 more than other participants and bring in 300 more gifts by count that other participants
In addition some mobile fundraising apps are provid-ing further personalization by bringing some of the same features of the personalized online ldquoheadquartersrdquo to the smartphone such as fundraising thermometers and adding donors into their phone address book Pre-written fundrais-ing messages developed specifically for various mediums such as texts Twitter updates and emails can be used Editing personal fundraising pages from the smartphone is likely the next option nonprofits will start offering
the Personalization ChallengeAs nonprofits compete in the race to adopt new technolo-
gies and social media itrsquos important to take a step back and consider your supportersrsquo relationship with those channels Many nonprofits have a Facebook page or group but how are your fundraisers using Facebook Are you making it easy for them to advocate or fundraise for your organization If much of your donor base uses text messaging have you pro-vided easy access and tools for them to text their network on your behalf
Supporters want and frankly need a personalized online experience with your organization Go beyond the bounds of your interactive relationship and consider what would enable your supporter base to have a more personalized fundrais-ing experience mdash and then put those tools at their fingertips They and their network mdash will thank you n
John Murphy is the PresidentCEO and Founder of Zuri Group Zuri Group provides nonprofits with custom technology solutions to meet critical organizational needs such as fundraising using their existing platform For more info visit zurigroupcom
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 31Non-Profit_FullPageAd_OLindd 1 91312 417 PM
32 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
9 Centennial Drive
Peabody MA 01960-7906
Tel 8003707500
wwwamergentcom
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at friendsamergentcomifund or scan qr code
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 33
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We Can HelpWiland Direct is the nationrsquos 1 transactional database for fundraisers
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34 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
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Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 35
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36 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
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Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 37
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38 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
1
2
3
A
B
C
16 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
The first two possibili-ties that come to mind that Id like to quickly dismiss are that my father liked the idea that he could get something of value for what may have seemed for free It is possible but my father was a very prac-tical man and at some point he must have realized that well into his 80s he had such an ample supply of holiday cards and return address labels that he would never be able to use up the inventory The other thought was that he simply liked getting mail and he knew how the system worked Send in a check and the one envelope becomes two or three or ten Send in one hundred checks and he had his weekends filled reading through all of the mail he had received during the past week That is possi-ble but my father also died with a significant backlog of unread magazines so Im going to rule that out too
The explanation Ive come up with is that my father may have been a cynic but that he wanted to believe He may have thought most every institution and public figure not worthy of being trusted but he may still have yearned to be able to trust that some others out there cared deeply about society and elements of it and that he wanted to be part of the efforts to make the world a proverbially better place He despised a lot of things gen-erally but seemed to like a lot of things specifically
And from that insight I think there is some very good news for many of you here today I know from Tom Harrison that you are all worried about the crummy economy that shows no sign of quickly returning to robust times And Tom has also shared with me a worry about the viability of the US Postal Service and its ability to offer reduced mailing rates for the fore-seeable future And Tom has also told me that my fatherrsquos generation is dying off and not being quickly replaced by a new demographic cohort that reads mail and sends in money Plus there are environmental ques-tions about harvesting trees for the mailings and some compelling proof that people respond less well to email solicitations than they did to requests delivered via their mail boxes But aside from all of those structural impediments my fatherrsquos behavior offers some very special opportunities for those charities and organi-zations able to reach out and speak personally to the next waves of donors
If my father was a skepti-cal cynical guy in the Ozzie and Harriet 1950s and 60s he was a full generation ahead of where people are today and Id like to take a minute or two to explain what I mean
People today are fright-ened angry cynical even often despairing The
overwhelming feeling is that few institutions are working well Our political system just isnrsquot garnering wide-spread support and in these unsettling times people want leaders and insti-tutions that can fix their problems No matter who wins the presidential elec-tion in November there is little widespread belief we will come together as a society to fix our problems It may happen but people donrsquot believe it And the poll numbers reflect this Pres-ident Obama mdash who came into office on a promise of hope and change and of transformation of our political culture and which initially yielded him an approval rating of 67 mdash has had an approval rating that has been below 50 since November 2009 and is now at 47 If the president has problems in garnering the publicrsquos trust that he can solve their problems Con-gress as an institution is doing far far worse with an approval rating of 23 The US Supreme Court enjoys an approval rating of only 35 These numbers for the president and for the legisla-tive and judicial branches of government actually under-state the problem The poll number of those who call themselves ldquofrustrated or angry with the federal gov-ernmentrdquo comes in at a frightening 79 President Obama may win re-elec-tion but it likely wont be a
unifying election We have a divided government at a polarized partisan moment of utterly different and con-tradictory views of how to solve the problems at hand Given the enormity of the problems mdash from the economy to the deficit to the debt to Iranrsquos nuclear program to the rise of radical Islamism to the rise of China and its likelihood to be a destabilizing force and many many more prob-lems mdash the likelihood our country will be dispirited and detached from politics is larger than it is smaller
Staying with our politi-cal system for just another moment we have another problem Because people are angry and have a near con-stant ldquothrow the bums outrdquo feeling about our elected offi-cials we are going through a period of uncommon insta-bility in our government institutions
Most people believe that incumbents come to office and tend to leave only when they die But it just isnrsquot true Whether because of the Tea Party or because of burn-out by elected officials the level of turnover in Washington is a big and growing problem In just the past five Congres-sional elections which is to say in the past ten years a remarkable 54 of the US Senate has been replaced If that number seems impos-sibly high for institutional stability in the House of Representatives the turnover
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 17
in that same period has been 68 Due to announced retirements and defeats in primaries we already know that in the coming Senate and House to be sworn in next January no fewer than 11 current Senators and 60 current Congressmen and Congresswomen will not be returning mdash and that assumes not a single incum-bent will lose in a single race in the remaining pri-maries and the General Election That means at least a 65 turnover in the US Senate and a more than 80 turnover in the House of Representatives in a mere 12-year period Think of your own organizations and what a turnover of that mag-nitude would mean to your ability to do your institu-tional job let alone having to grapple with many of the enormous challenges I mentioned a moment ago and many others I did not mention Thus the roiling public environment is more likely to stay roiled for some time to come than it is likely to return to some idealized period of harmony
Not to belabor the point but to also make sure that we understand that the problem of popular unease is broader than belief in our national government let me share just a few poll numbers to demonstrate my point Our confidence in hospitals and our doctors is now at 41 which is bad enough but HMOs are at 19 Public
schools have the confidence of only 29 of the people in our country Newspapers taken together have the con-fidence of just 25 of the American people But falling even lower than newspapers TV news comes in at 21 And labor unions banks and major corporations are all tied with the confidence of just one in five Ameri-cans at around 20 Even organized religion falls below the 50 mark at 44
Indeed the only three institutions regularly polled about by Gallup to be above the 50 mark are our police departments at 56 small business at 63 and our fighting men and women in the US military at 75 And finally in what many people believe is the most important general view of how people feel the Right Track Wrong Track poll Rasmussen reports 30 of Americans think our country is on the right track
and 64 believe our country is on the wrong track
In case you werenrsquot a statistics major in college let me boil all of these poll results down to just this one short statement and it is this My father was ahead of his time Just as my father didnrsquot trust or like just about any institution the American people now donrsquot much trust or like any institution with
the exception of police military and
small busi-ness In
nearly every other
case the institu-tion Ive mentioned is at or
near an all-time low since these Gallup Institutional Confidence polls began being conducted in 1973
But I think there is a second key learning from all of this bad news that is actu-ally very good news for some of you but definitely not all of you and that is this Just as my father had very low confidence in government and other mass institutions yet managed to turn himself
into a check-writing ma-chine for many many not-for-profits so too can your organization or your clients The not-so-profound insight is that even the most angry frustrated cynical skeptical misanthrope wants to believe It was true of mis-anthropes when Moliere wrote a play by that name in the 1660s It was true of my father And Id bet a dona-tion to any of your causes that it is true today even with a Right Track Wrong Track poll that has double the number of Wrong Trackers over Right Trackers People want to believe People want to love People know they wont live for forever and people want to see the world better both today in their lifetimes and tomor-row when it is their legacy This is true for mega donors who will be honored at fancy dinners in hotel ballrooms like this and for ten dollar donors who look forward to the return address labels you all will send to them
So with the crummy economy the dicey state of the Postal Service the demo-graphic hump working against low-dollar donors and all of the other problems direct marketers face my money is on the significant success of some of the orga-nizations that are here today Of course the structural challenges make it harder but is it harder today than it was in my grandmotherrsquos
vvvThe not-so-profound insight is that even
the most angry frustrated cynical skeptical
misanthrope wants to believehellipPeople know they
wont live for forever and people want to see the
world better both today in their lifetimes and
tomorrow when it is their legacy
vvv
continued
18 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
walk-up tenement apart-ment in which every Friday afternoon she found a way to donate to people she knew she would never meet who were living in a place she knew she would never see She believed in the enterprise afoot in what is today Israel a place on the other side of the world and she trusted that the coins in her little blue-and-white tin box would be used wisely and honorably All the same must have been true about my father and the many causes to which he wrote those checks And the same is true of millions and millions of people waiting to be touched and to form a connection with a cause larger than themselves a cause they can make their own in a way best thought of as an I-Thou relationship
For those of you unfa-miliar with the phrase I and Thou let me start by telling you it is a concept that changed my life It was coined by the philoso-pher and theologian Martin Buber Despite his being a theologian it is a concept that isnt inherently reli-gious even if it works well in every faith tradition and also works well in a purely secular context It works well for couples who have long been together and remark-ably it works well when soliciting gifts from near-strangers It is an approach to living a happy satisfying life So with that build up let
me tell you about I and Thou and about Martin Buber
Buber was born in Austria but moved to Germany in his teens to pursue his education In the 1920s he wrote his most famous work ldquoI and Thourdquo which although somewhat obscure today helped to establish his reputation as a leading German thinker of his time When the Nazis came to power in 1933 as a Jew he was prohibited from teaching at the uni-versity where he had been a professor and in 1938 just ahead of the start of the mass murder of 90 of Euro-pean Jewry Buber made his way to the British Mandate where he became a professor in Jerusalem When the State of Israel came into being in 1948 Buber was an esteemed philosopher revered by the young nation It is hard to imagine a philosopher having this kind of fame and impact but when he died in 1965 it was the lead news story of the day in Israel and a major story in The New York Times and other world newspapers
According to Buber there are two kinds of rela-tionships I-Thou and I-It The idea underpinning these concepts is best explained by examples as every single person in this room has experienced I-Thou and I-It relationships In an I-Thou relationship we are as one Your destiny is my destiny
even if only for a moment In the I-It relationship the parties are in a transac-tion I have turned the other party into an object to help me to achieve something that I want Indeed we all have I-Thou relationships and I-It relationships all the time mdash and we often have these disparate relationships within moments of each other and often with the very same person If this room were smaller and more inti-mate I could randomly call on anyone and have you give examples of I-Thou and I-It relationships in your own life But Ill use my own life as an example
I love my wife very much I am happy to come home at the end of the workday and to hear about her day and what is new and for her to hear about my day That is an I-Thou moment But while sitting with her my stomach starts to growl I become distracted Im not think-ing about her but about the dinner I know she has prepared Im hungry and want to eat She becomes an object a means to an end an I-It Wersquove all had that expe-rience or one like it
But just because Im getting something I want from her mdash or from anyone mdash doesnrsquot mean it has to be an I-It moment In that exact same scenario it could just as well have been an I-Thou moment by a change in my behavior even
with the same outcome that dinner will be served and my hunger abated Instead of single-mindedly think-ing about food in its place I could have interrupted the conversation to tell her that Im hungry I could have offered to set the table while we keep talking And most importantly I could keep reminding myself that she has spent time and trouble thinking about dinner and preparing it and that I have no entitlement to her having done this and how fortunate I am that she has If I do all of that it is more likely we will have an I-Thou relationship that evening than a transac-tional I-It one
Even with people we love I-Thoursquos and I-Itrsquos flit back and forth across some imaginary spectrum with engagement and other-directedness on one side and selfishness and self-direct-edness on the other We all have instincts for both sides of that spectrum and the challenge is to take the harder path the path where we direct the moment away from ourselves and our selfish wants and needs to that of the person present before us and our shared experience
As I indicated earlier this isnrsquot just true of deep long-lasting relationships It can be true of the waiter who serves you dinner the bellman who helps you with your bags even with a
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 19
passing stranger on a line to get into somewhere Every encounter has the oppor-tunity to be an I-Thou or an I-It and the challenge is for each of us to constantly remind ourselves of the humanity of the person with whom we engage
I and Thou isnrsquot just for people It is also true of believing peoplersquos relation-ship with God and also true of organizations and how they relate to people In my experience Ive found it even true of inanimate objects even if that may take it beyond Buberrsquos own con-ception So how do Martin Buber and his I and Thou relate to you all as direct mar-keters and as fundraisers for your worthy organizations
Everyone knows when they are in an I and Thou moment You feel the link and the joy that comes from the link But people also know when they are being used as a means to an end
when they are the ldquoItrdquo in an I-It relationship People may give you what you want when they are in an I-It rela-tionship with you and you may give your counter-party what they seek too but we all know that feeling of sadness or emptiness within when someone you are with mdash a co-worker a boss a spouse a child even a clerk on the phone at a call center mdash treats you as an object to get some-thing achieved and not as an opportunity to feel your humanity and for you to feel theirs even if for a fleeting moment
And the same Ill say is true about the relationship between a potential donor and your organization Those organizations that stand for somethinghellip Those organizations that donrsquot treat their donors as objects like walking checkbookshellip Those organizations that take the time to engage with their prospects Indeed
those organizations that donrsquot even necessarily start by asking for something it is those organizations who I believe will find a wide universe of people eager to believe and eager to be part of the organizationrsquos mission An I-Thou relation-ship doesnrsquot mean we never ask the other party for some-thing It is about how and when we ask Just as we will have a different outcome with our spouses children and co-workers when we are building off of an I-Thou relationship rather than an I-It so too will we have a different outcome when we approach our donors as part-ners as people we care about exactly as much whether they donate or not It is from that soulful relationship that donors will want to support one organization over an-other and one cause over another no matter how angry or frustrated or cynical they are about the larger world
around them That is how I believe the next genera-tion of donors will come to support many but not all of our organizations
When my father died I had the Postal Service forward his mail to my home address In the nearly eight years since his passing Ive received hundreds of mail-ings maybe more I often open the solicitations to try to get a feel for the kinds of causes and organizations my father would have been spending his time learning about and possibly support-ing So while some recipients of your mailings may think of your output as junk mail I couldnrsquot be more apprecia-tive Each envelope serves to remind me that the cynical side of my father was only a side and that when properly touched even a hard man could respond
Thank you all very much for your attention n
copy 2012 Seth M Siegel Reproduction with authorrsquos consent only All rights reserved
Looking for an agency or supplier to help your organization reachnew heights
Access the DMANFrsquos Directory of Service providers
nonprofitfederationorgcorporate-partnerssearch
20 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Nonprofit organizations face unique marketing chal-lenges Theyrsquore tasked with identifying and reaching the right people at the right time and through
the appropriate channels as well as balancing message appeals with monetary requests all while conveying their mission and cause The rapid expansion of the internet social networking and mobile have placed yet another demand front-and-center for nonprofit organizations mdash con-sumer privacy
Consumers are justly concerned about divulging their personal information They want to know where why and how their information will be used Many are unaware that their personal information is collected in a variety of ways and by a variety of sources both online and offline Common but often misunderstood data practices include third-party ad servers setting cookies retail stores matching names and addresses with phone numbers and marketers sharing customer lists
In todayrsquos complex marketplace how can nonprofit organizations demonstrate to their supporters donors and prospects that they share their concerns and are commit-ted to protecting their privacy The first and most important step is to create a clear privacy policy and communicate it effectively
the Privacy PolicyIf your organization collects uses and or stores personal donor information a privacy policy is critical You must display your privacy policy on your website and strictly abide by it
Privacy policies are structured around Notice and Choice principles They should provide supporters with notice of
how their data is collected used and shared as well as their choices to limit or prevent such practices Your privacy policy should also include information to maintain trans-parency and that clearly describes your organizationrsquos data security practices
Key points every privacy policy should address include
The types of personal information your organization collects This may include name address telephone number email address and credit card or other payment information
How information is secured
How personal information is used and with whom it is shared
How supporters can control the use of their data
How the privacy policy is updated and the effective date of the policy
Letrsquos take a more detailed look at the elements of a privacy policy from a nonprofit organizationrsquos perspective
Collecting personal InformationAs mentioned personal information may include data ele-ments such as name address telephone number email address and payment information It can also include more sensitive information such as gender race religious or politi-cal beliefs health information or other characteristics
The types of personal information collected and the length of retention may be used to enhance your marketing
Consumer PrivacyA Guide for Nonprofit Marketers
Bethany Lewis Privacy Analyst Epsilon
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 21
objectives by creating detailed profiles of supporters but what if that dataprofile was accessed without appropriate permis-sions or used by other organizations for purposes beyond the original intent Inappropriate generalizations might be made about supporters regardless of who has the data and the risk for reputational and other damage increases if that type of data is compromised
For example if a supporter donates to an organization that supports research of a genetic disorder should they be identified as a patient of or at risk for that same disorder Perhaps theyrsquore simply a caretaker for someone suffer-ing from that disorder Similarly if a supporter donates to a religious-based organization could assumptions around political leanings be attributed to them
Protecting information about charitable contributions is critical as is informing supporters how that information will be used which brings us to data security and the sharing of personal information
protecting personal InformationToday every organization is vulnerable when it comes to data security Protecting the personal information of supporters is essential The first line of protection is collecting only the necessary data
While creating supporter profiles evaluate the risks of storing ldquounnecessaryrdquo data especially if an incident exposes the data Set internal policies for how long each category of data collected will be retained and be diligent in deletingdestroying data in a safe and thorough manner based on those policies
Whenever possible encrypt personal data maintained electronically and enhance security on laptops and mobile devices from which supporter data is accessed
Sharing personal InformationBe very clear in your privacy policy when providing infor-mation on the types of third-parties with whom your organization shares data If you share information with third-party service providers disclose this fact and provide a categorized list of these organizations Such organizations may include credit card processors shipping vendors mar-keting analysts or consultants and fulfillment houses
If you share information with other nonprofit organi-zations disclose these practices Also disclose if you share information with marketing cooperatives whose databases are not exclusively nonprofit
Protecting
information
about
charitable
contributions
is critical
continued
22 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
providing ChoiceStudies have shown that modern consumers are more com-fortable sharing personal information with organizations that are clear and upfront about how their information is used and with whom it is shared In fact most people respond positively to organizations who transparently disclose data sharing practices and provide a clear and convenient oppor-tunity to opt-out While a small percentage of individuals will choose to opt-out of data sharing very few supporters will opt-out of all contact with an organization Therefore providing an opportunity to opt-out of sharing data for mar-keting purposes as well as an opt-out for receiving further requests from your organization will aid in retaining your most loyal supporters
Updating the privacy policyClearly state the effective date of your current privacy policy and update it when you make any material changes If you do make material changes to your privacy policy with ret-roactive application to the data you already have stored you may need to obtain express consent from individuals to use their information for new or different purposes Some organizations choose to list what changes were made in a summary history which may be helpful to a supporter reviewing the policy
Pulling It All togetherYour privacy policy should be easy to find read understand and act upon (ie opt-out or modify preferences) It should also be present in each commercial solicitation where per-sonal information is collected regardless of whether that is through postal mailings or on your website
Additional information regarding Notice Choice Trans-parency and other important privacy principles can be found on the DMA website in the Commitment to Consumer Choice and the DMA Guidelines for Ethical Business Practice
At Epsilon we use the following checklist when evaluating a privacy policy
The website has a privacy policy
There is a link to the privacy policy from the websitersquos home page and the link contains the word ldquoprivacyrdquo
The privacy policy states that the organization shares consumer data and personal information (including name address email address and transaction informa-tion) with third-party service providers
The privacy policy states that the organization shares consumer data and personal information with other marketers for their own marketing purposes
The privacy policy provides consumers the chance to opt-out of having their information shared with other marketers
The privacy policy has an ldquoeffectiverdquo date
As mentioned in situations where data is shared with other organizations and marketers transparency is the key Below is sample disclosure language
The personally identifiable information that you provide to us
(such as your name address and email address) and information
about your contribution may be combined with other non-person-
ally identifiable information (such as demographic information and
past contribution history) available from our records and other
sources This information will be used to make our future market-
ing efforts more efficient and relevant This information may also
be shared with our third-party service providers that assist us
with our marketing efforts and with other marketers whose prod-
ucts or services we feel may be of interest to you If you prefer
that we do not share your name and address with other market-
ers please email us at optoutyourorganizationorg
Beyond the Privacy PolicyIn addition to having a robust privacy policy written in concise language and that is easily accessible here are a few other best practices to secure the privacy of your sup-portersrsquo information
Ensure agreements with third-parties who may have access to supportersrsquo personal information adequately address privacy and data security
Suppress personal information in your database when a supporter requests it and do so within a reasonable timeframe
If you must store sensitive information such as credit card or social security numbers as part of your data-base encrypt this information
Train employees and volunteers regularly on the importance of maintaining privacy and security
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 23
Nonprofit Careers e-Bulletin
Your Multi-ChannelRecruiting Tool
Become familiar with data breach notification require-ments and have a response plan and team in place Should you experience a breach disclose to all appro-priate and necessary parties
Monitor the use of your data and address any enti-ties when you become aware that data is being used in a way that violates the law contractual requirements andor the DMArsquos Ethical Guidelines
Respecting and promoting consumer privacy requires a commitment to maintaining balance between the legitimate business needs of your organization and the concerns of individuals about fair information practices Start by taking a look at your current privacy policy Assure its accuracy and adhere to its strategy n
Bethany Lewis As a Privacy Analyst Bethany Lewis supports and educates associates and clients on privacy compliance matters She brings an extensive background in regulatory compliance corporate ethics education and training to her work at Epsilon
ldquoThe recruitment Tool for the Nonprofit Communityrdquo is your source for top flight exposure to top flight candidates and the best A b amp C-level career opportunities out there
Distributed every Tuesday 8 am ET via raquo Email raquo post at wwwnonprofitfederationorg raquo Facebook mdash DMA Nonprofit Federation raquo Twitter mdash DMANF and AliozDC
To view ad submission requirements visit the ldquoFind a Jobrdquo area of the DMA Nonprofit Federation homepage wwwnonprofitfederationorg and click on ldquoHow to postrdquo Ads must be emailed to Aosgoodthe-dmaorg please make sure any ad you submit meets our specifications
Is your nonprofit organization already a dual member of the DMA and DMANF If the answer is lsquoyesrsquo itrsquos FrEE mdash so why not post
Join the over 8000 professionals who already subscribe
Sign up today nonprofitfederationorgpublications careers-e-bulletinsubscribe
DMA Guidelines for Ethical Business Practice
dmaresponsibilityorgGuidelines
24 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Each week I see non-profit organizations walking away from
mobile thinking that com-municating and fundraising with their constituents through the single most used electronic device in history is optional Con-versely we see more and more retailers embracing mobile and the omnichan-nel marketing model because the results are tre-mendous We at mGive think nonprofits benefit when they embrace similar tools and methodologies
What is an omnichan-nel approach and why is it important to non-profit organizations An omnichannel approach is an integrated marketing strat-egy that creates a seamless experience for the donor
It is a customer-centric approach that elevates your supporter loyalty strategies by leveraging cross-channel opportunities For example when a donor drops off goods at their local Epilepsy Foundation they receive a paper receipt to complete Normally once they leave your location you lose any hope of communicating with them again Imagine if when the donor dropped off their goods you offered to send the donor an email version of their receipt You now have a way to engage the supporter through email Now suppose your email receipt offered a web link that drove them to a form to opt-in to your mobile community in order to receive updates via text
Once they opt-in you then have a way to send updates volunteer requests dona-tion reminders and more You may also leverage the fact they are on the mobile phone and send text mes-sages asking supporters to post a photo to Facebook making a donation Having this omnichannel strat-egy in place is especially critical at the end of year because it is an opportune time for organizations to increase membership and raise dollars
So how does an organization create an omnichannel approach that leverages direct mail email online social media live events and mobile to achieve their goals It may be difficult for some orga-nizations to make the
operational shift to an omnichannel model but that doesnrsquot mean you can afford to ignore it Not sure you can get all the steps in place by the time you launch your end of year activities Mobile is the bridge that can help to start that process In fact more and more organizations are relying on their mobile strategy to bridge the gap and engage supporters in this multi-screen world because mobile is the ldquogreat centralizerrdquo of activities ndash where else can you make calls browse the web check email respond to text mes-sages post to social media and more in a truly porta-ble fashion
Before we move on to the tactics that an organiza-tion can take to incorporate
Mobile
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 25
mobile into their existing multi-channel strategies we must tackle one issue If your organization has tried mobile or an omnichan-nel approach in the past and were disappointed or frustrated with your expe-rience try again You were one of the pioneering orga-nizations that comprise the early adopters of those models Lessons learned over the past few years have evolved into success-ful best practices mdash and you get the opportunity to benefit from them As we like to say in honor of the wise Master Yoda ldquoTry not Do or do not There is no tryrdquo We guarantee if imple-mented correctly using mobile in an omnichannel approach can work for your organization
1 Communicate and Integrate mdash Walk Across the Mobile Bridge
Many organizations that I work with have voiced cross-departmental integra-tion as a challenge That is understandable because tra-ditionally departments or channels have been siloed from one another But this disenfranchised model does not result in the seam-less experience that donors are coming to expect In order for a donor experi-ence to be seamless direct mail must complement the organizationrsquos website the organizationrsquos website must complement the mobile campaign social media must complement direct mail and so forth and so on When used together
the communication chan-nels can result in more effective campaigns and bigger numbers
When an organization decides to develop a mobile strategy generally it is one department within that organization that is initially interested That department is a hero because they have just launched a toolset that can be used throughout the organization If you have a mobile program in place for fundraising itrsquos time to talk with your program services department mem-bership team and corporate partner folks and get them in the loop so that you can maximize the omnichannel approach Mobile can be a great catalyst for initiating conversation and guiding organizational integration
Mobile is also a great way to increase the effec-tiveness of existing channels By integrating your direct mail newslet-ter social media online and mobile efforts you can increase response and open rates We have found that if you send a text message to your membership remind-ing them to check their email inboxes you can increase email open rates by 10 or more Addition-ally if you include a mobile number field on your email and paper member-ship forms you can quickly build a mobile community that can turn into repeat donors Once again the most important element besides the actual cross
the Bridge to an omnichannel Approach in time for Year-End Campaigns
continued
Jenifer Snyder Esq Executive Director The mGive Foundation and Cassie Bair Vice President of Marketing Mobile Accord
26 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
channel promotion goes back to this concept of the omnichannel Make the message consistent across all channels They donrsquot have to be identical but they should complement each other and work to create an echo effect
Just about every one of your donors will experience your organization through their mobile device at some point mdash so make sure your message is clear consistent convenient and actionable through mobile in some capacity
2 test Review Adjust Implement Review Adjust mdash and Repeat
Once you have an inte-grated strategy in place itrsquos time to implement Whether the goal is to acquire new donors reactivate lapsed donors and drive donations from existing donors mdash or all three mdash test your cam-paign Take time to review the results and adjust accordingly Then imple-ment full scale confident you are on the right path Regularly review your results adjust your activities and repeat as needed
In preparation for end of year activities take the time in the Fall to tweak your marketing engine for optimal performance Do some zero based plan-ning and try to approach
the supporter experience as if you are the supporter Spend time on every avenue where you can wisely create a seamless experience
Everyone in philan-thropy knows that the majority of all charitable donations are made in the last 2 months of the year Additionally member-ship increases substantially during the last quarter of the year Spend time now identifying opportunities strategies and tactics that work best for you mdash and consider how mobile can be a centralizing point for many of these activities
3 Apply the Winning Methodologies to Your End of Year Appeals
Yoursquove tested tweaked and determined what works best for you Now inte-grate what yoursquove learned into your end of year cam-paigns Determine how your campaign follows stan-dard best practices for end of year appeals and where mobile can help drive that engagement across multiple mediums
Common best practices for end of year campaigns that can include mobile
A Sending multiple asks the final week of the year mdash Make sure text messages are a part of that effort Whether itrsquos a simple call-to-action to text
a donation drives people to a pledge page or some-thing all-together different mobile can help ramp up that seamless experience
B the Art of the ldquothank Yourdquo mdash Thank your sup-porters Use mobile to message supporters your appreciation when they take action through text or drive them to a webpage with a video with a celeb-rity spokesperson giving a thank you message But make sure they know repeatedly that what they do for your cause matters And keep in mind mobile can drive to a strong ldquothank yourdquo experience
C Share Ask Listen mdash Take the opportunity to tell a story ask for feed-back and listen to what your organization is being told Not sure how to do that in mobile Share a link to a news article through text Ask for feedback through social media And listen to what is being said while distilling insights from how supporters respond in order to strengthen your omnichannel approach
4 Continue into 2013 mdash You are set for success
As donors enter the New Year self-improve-ment will often include a
commitment to be a better person volunteer more donate more funds etc Use mobile as a data col-lection tool to help your donors achieve their goal Give them the opportunity to commit to goals pertain-ing to your cause and then become their coach Send monthly reminders of their commitment and words of encouragement Remind them about appointments invite them to share their experience and overall let the donor feel the effect of their selfless promise through all of their activi-ties while using mobile to centralize that community and to drive people to action
We now live in a world where the average person at any given moment is looking at two or more screens It is critical that nonprofit organizations embrace the multi-screen world and adopt the omnichannel or fully integrated model When you create a seam-less giving experience for the everyday philanthropist you will be amazed at the results Walking away from a mobile strategy today is like walking away from the internet in the early 2000s
Mobile is here to stay and it is not an elective component to your orga-nizationrsquos fundraising and engagement strategy Itrsquos an essential part of a successful omnichannel strategy for your end of year activities n
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 27
Jenifer Snyder Esq Executive Director The mGive Foundation
As Executive Director of The mGive Foun-dation Jenifer is dedicated to expanding the scope and reach of the mobile channel for social good She brings years of lead-ership experience in the mobile industry to the position Previously Jenifer was a founder and General Counsel for 9 Squared Inc a mobile content and ser-vices company subsequently acquired by the Zed Group She left Zed in 2007 and started building the mobile channel for social and charitable efforts and later formed The mGive Foundation
Cassie bair Vice president of Marketing Mobile Accord
As Vice President of Marketing for Mobile Accord Cassie is dedicated to educat-ing and empowering nonprofits regarding the power of mobile She combines years of marketing experience in the nonprofit industry with the exciting evolution of the mobile channel for social good Cassie has worked with organizations such as the American Heart Association American Institute of Architects and the American Society of Echocardiography developing integrated and cause marketing cam-paigns and uses that knowledge today with clients to help them maximize their mobile strategy
Name
OrganizationCompany
Address
City State Zip Code
Charge my m Visa m MasterCard m AmEx m Discover
Card Number Expiration Date
Signature
raquo FAX form to 2026284383 (do not email credit card information)
raquo MAIL form to Alicia Osgood Director Membership amp Communications DMA Nonprofit Federation 1615 L Street NW Suite 1100 Washington DC 20036
raquo MAKE ChECKS payable to the DMA Nonprofit Federation
raquo DMA Nonprofit Federation Federal Tax ID Number 13-1810859
News and cutting-edge professional development tips
SUBSCRIBEto the Journal today1year =3 issues
ONLY $35Published digitally in January Apriland September the Journal brings together nonprofit leaders to deliver a standout publication packed with content you can really use
No cost to members
28 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Consumer technology evolves so quickly that nonprof-its are constantly racing to get their organizations using the latest technologies and mediums In fact many of these innovations have had significant impact on the fundrais-ing community While online CRM systems for example spawned database segmentation capabilities the opportu-nity ndash and challenge ndash arose for fundraising professionals to target appeals precisely to donorsrsquo specific interests Lately the emergence and rapid popularity of technologies such as smartphones and social media have forced nonprofits to not only create a presence but essentially compete for shrinking donor funds using these vehicles
The primary focus of nonprofit technology however tends to be inward creating a presence in a particular social media community or simply using the technology on behalf of the organization Examples of this include a nonprofitrsquos Facebook page and Twitter account and mobile-friendly
web sites In todayrsquos competitive fundraising environment though itrsquos not enough for nonprofits to simply use the latest technology Successful fundraisers understand that a nonprofitrsquos relationship with technology needs to take one step beyond itself to focus outward how do your sup-porters and donors want to use technology on behalf of your organization
Donors have technology preferences and habits too While itrsquos great for organizations to have a Facebook page for sup-porters to ldquolikerdquo that offers news and updates for example this doesnrsquot offer an opportunity for donors to appeal to their friends and family on behalf of your nonprofit mdash and certainly doesnrsquot raise money As nonprofits have learned to quickly adapt to changing technology and social media standards the time has come for organizations to evolve the technology they offer to provide donors supporters and par-ticipants with a personalized fundraising experience
Get Personal Providing Supporters with Personalized Fundraising Experiences
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 29
Personalization Means EngagementAt a fundamental level donor personalization in fun-
draising emerged from some of the first online nonprofit fundraising systems Offering supporters the opportunity to send personalized fundraising emails to their friends and family was revolutionary in its time mdash as was offering custom individual and team fundraising web pages
While these technology offerings revolutionized event fundraising donors have become increasingly savvy in the way they interact online mdash and developed strong preferences and dislikes in the types of technology they use They want the technology they know and like to be at their fingertips and are more likely to fundraise and successfully so for your nonprofit if itrsquos made easy and accessible for them
Back to Basics mdash But BetterNonprofits have been so consumed by social media that
they often forget this simple fact participants who use online tools raise six times more than non-users according to Blackbaud In addition 25 percent of the fundraising emails supporters send to their friends result in a donation With the average online gift being $60 nonprofits have motiva-tion not to forget about the basics of online fundraising But in the age of increasing competition for donations nonprof-its that offer a more personalized fundraising experience to supporters may see better results
What does it mean to offer a personalized fundrais-ing experience For online fundraising pages it can mean offering them the opportunity to post pictures videos story content and individual fundraising status updates But itrsquos essentially the personalization options offered behind the scenes mdash in the personal ldquoHeadquartersrdquo page within an online fundraising system mdash that can really maximize fun-draising results
Savvy nonprofits are offering a multitude of ways within their online fundraising systems for supporters to choose to reach out to friends and family Offering more than the email capabilities found standard with most fundraising plat-forms some nonprofits are starting to provide supporters more options in their personal participant ldquoheadquartersrdquo pages to engage those in their network mdash all with the click of a button Opportunities for supporters to personalize their experience could include options to
Send a Facebook message
Tweet their fundraising page
Update their Facebook status
Send a quick email
In addition statistics about their personal fundraising process could tell them
Total emails sent
Visits to their personal fundraising pages
Number of donations
Number of registrations
Average amount raised per email sent
Number of additional emails needed to reach fundraising goal
And because no one participant is the same these per-sonalization options allow the supporter to interact and engage their network on behalf of the nonprofit in ways that are meaningful and comfortable to them
Beyond the Facebook PageThe nonprofit community has taken Facebook by storm as an avenue to engage supporters and attract donors But itrsquos important to look beyond how supporters want to interact with your nonprofit and understand how they want to in-teract with their social network Itrsquos within this framework that supporters choose mdash or choose not mdash to engage their network on your organizationrsquos behalf
So make it easy for them provide them with a variety of ways to use several social media tools to reach out and fund-raise for your nonprofit Let them decide how they fundraise With 845 million monthly active users and 100 billion con-nections Facebook for example provides an excellent platform for nonprofits mdash and their fundraisers mdash to expand fundraising reach In fact Blackbaudrsquos web site states that social media users raise 40 more than non-users But most
continued
John Murphy PresidentCEo and Founder Zuri Group
30 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
organizations make the mistake of relying on participants to send their own appeals and updates or worse provide cum-bersome tools that require multiple logins and steps
Some enthusiastic fundraisers will thrive in this envi-ronment Others wonrsquot Since each supporter is unique itrsquos important to provide several varying opportunities and options so that a personalized fundraising experience can be forged For many fundraisers asking for donations isnrsquot easy All participants want to raise money but many donrsquot feel comfortable asking outside of close friends and family Other fundraisers donrsquot have the time or creativity to regu-larly develop and update personalized Facebook messages Use technology to help overcome these challenges by creat-ing easy ways for them to raise more money using Facebook
To take the effort out of Facebook fundraising remove the discomfort of a direct ldquoaskrdquo and save fundraisers time some nonprofits are offering supporters the option for fun-draising updates that automatically post on their Facebook wall at pre-determined intervals throughout the fundraising season For the right supporter this option removes the dis-comfort of approaching potential donors with a direct ldquoaskrdquo while significantly expanding their fundraising reach
Mobilizing the troopsAccording to a 2011 study consumers spend more time
on mobile applications than on the web In addition Ameri-cans spend 27 hours per day on average socializing on their mobile phones Nonprofits have been hard at work to lever-age the trend toward mobile by creating mobile-friendly web sites and even apps to further engage supporters But what about the mobile interaction that takes place between sup-porters and their friends The key is for nonprofits to make it accessible and easy for fundraisers to use their everyday technologies and devices to fundraise within their own networks By providing fundraising options that enable sup-porters to simply use something they already use such as a smartphone to connect with people they already interact with fundraising becomes a more natural and personalized part of the supporterrsquos day
To provide a more personalized and convenient fun-draising experience some nonprofits are offering mobile fundraising apps that enable supporters to not only use their smartphones to fundraise but to fundraise using multiple technologies within the smartphone mdash such as email text Twitter Facebook and even FaceTime for iPhone users As a result supporters can fundraise for the organization from their homes the train while walking the dog mdash anytime they have their phone
By empowering supporters to personalize their fundrais-ing experience nonprofits that provide mobile fundraising apps help their fundraisers help them These organizations are meeting the needs of on-the-go fundraising participants so they can focus on spreading awareness soliciting dona-tions and thanking donors mdash on their time on their terms In fact itrsquos been reported that fundraising participants using mobile fundraising applications raise 200 more than other participants and bring in 300 more gifts by count that other participants
In addition some mobile fundraising apps are provid-ing further personalization by bringing some of the same features of the personalized online ldquoheadquartersrdquo to the smartphone such as fundraising thermometers and adding donors into their phone address book Pre-written fundrais-ing messages developed specifically for various mediums such as texts Twitter updates and emails can be used Editing personal fundraising pages from the smartphone is likely the next option nonprofits will start offering
the Personalization ChallengeAs nonprofits compete in the race to adopt new technolo-
gies and social media itrsquos important to take a step back and consider your supportersrsquo relationship with those channels Many nonprofits have a Facebook page or group but how are your fundraisers using Facebook Are you making it easy for them to advocate or fundraise for your organization If much of your donor base uses text messaging have you pro-vided easy access and tools for them to text their network on your behalf
Supporters want and frankly need a personalized online experience with your organization Go beyond the bounds of your interactive relationship and consider what would enable your supporter base to have a more personalized fundrais-ing experience mdash and then put those tools at their fingertips They and their network mdash will thank you n
John Murphy is the PresidentCEO and Founder of Zuri Group Zuri Group provides nonprofits with custom technology solutions to meet critical organizational needs such as fundraising using their existing platform For more info visit zurigroupcom
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 31Non-Profit_FullPageAd_OLindd 1 91312 417 PM
32 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
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Sign up for Amergentrsquos e-newsletter
at friendsamergentcomifund or scan qr code
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 33
Looking to Affordably Grow Your Donor Fileand Increase Contributions
We Can HelpWiland Direct is the nationrsquos 1 transactional database for fundraisers
Using our vast transactional data and powerful models Wiland Direct helps fundraisers to
bull Affordably acquire new donors bull Maximize contributions from existing donors bull Reactivate former donorsbull Identify the most likely activists and volunteersbull Convert inquirers petition signers and other ldquowarm leadsrdquo into donors
To learn more please contact John Spencer at 9703106378 or via email at jspencerwilanddirectcom
3034858686 wwwWilandDirectcomCopyright 2012 Wiland Direct All rights reserved
ldquoThe Wiland Direct database has been a solid performer for LLS with higher average gifts and lower cost per dollar raised than most Itrsquos opened up a new acquisition universe particularly important for a mature program Wersquore very pleased with the results and team support from Wilandrdquomdash Bruny Lynch The Leukemia amp Lymphoma Society
34 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
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Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 35
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36 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
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Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 37
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Get it todaynonprofitfederationorgethics-policy watchdog-resource-centerwatchdog-toolkit
38 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
1
2
3
A
B
C
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 17
in that same period has been 68 Due to announced retirements and defeats in primaries we already know that in the coming Senate and House to be sworn in next January no fewer than 11 current Senators and 60 current Congressmen and Congresswomen will not be returning mdash and that assumes not a single incum-bent will lose in a single race in the remaining pri-maries and the General Election That means at least a 65 turnover in the US Senate and a more than 80 turnover in the House of Representatives in a mere 12-year period Think of your own organizations and what a turnover of that mag-nitude would mean to your ability to do your institu-tional job let alone having to grapple with many of the enormous challenges I mentioned a moment ago and many others I did not mention Thus the roiling public environment is more likely to stay roiled for some time to come than it is likely to return to some idealized period of harmony
Not to belabor the point but to also make sure that we understand that the problem of popular unease is broader than belief in our national government let me share just a few poll numbers to demonstrate my point Our confidence in hospitals and our doctors is now at 41 which is bad enough but HMOs are at 19 Public
schools have the confidence of only 29 of the people in our country Newspapers taken together have the con-fidence of just 25 of the American people But falling even lower than newspapers TV news comes in at 21 And labor unions banks and major corporations are all tied with the confidence of just one in five Ameri-cans at around 20 Even organized religion falls below the 50 mark at 44
Indeed the only three institutions regularly polled about by Gallup to be above the 50 mark are our police departments at 56 small business at 63 and our fighting men and women in the US military at 75 And finally in what many people believe is the most important general view of how people feel the Right Track Wrong Track poll Rasmussen reports 30 of Americans think our country is on the right track
and 64 believe our country is on the wrong track
In case you werenrsquot a statistics major in college let me boil all of these poll results down to just this one short statement and it is this My father was ahead of his time Just as my father didnrsquot trust or like just about any institution the American people now donrsquot much trust or like any institution with
the exception of police military and
small busi-ness In
nearly every other
case the institu-tion Ive mentioned is at or
near an all-time low since these Gallup Institutional Confidence polls began being conducted in 1973
But I think there is a second key learning from all of this bad news that is actu-ally very good news for some of you but definitely not all of you and that is this Just as my father had very low confidence in government and other mass institutions yet managed to turn himself
into a check-writing ma-chine for many many not-for-profits so too can your organization or your clients The not-so-profound insight is that even the most angry frustrated cynical skeptical misanthrope wants to believe It was true of mis-anthropes when Moliere wrote a play by that name in the 1660s It was true of my father And Id bet a dona-tion to any of your causes that it is true today even with a Right Track Wrong Track poll that has double the number of Wrong Trackers over Right Trackers People want to believe People want to love People know they wont live for forever and people want to see the world better both today in their lifetimes and tomor-row when it is their legacy This is true for mega donors who will be honored at fancy dinners in hotel ballrooms like this and for ten dollar donors who look forward to the return address labels you all will send to them
So with the crummy economy the dicey state of the Postal Service the demo-graphic hump working against low-dollar donors and all of the other problems direct marketers face my money is on the significant success of some of the orga-nizations that are here today Of course the structural challenges make it harder but is it harder today than it was in my grandmotherrsquos
vvvThe not-so-profound insight is that even
the most angry frustrated cynical skeptical
misanthrope wants to believehellipPeople know they
wont live for forever and people want to see the
world better both today in their lifetimes and
tomorrow when it is their legacy
vvv
continued
18 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
walk-up tenement apart-ment in which every Friday afternoon she found a way to donate to people she knew she would never meet who were living in a place she knew she would never see She believed in the enterprise afoot in what is today Israel a place on the other side of the world and she trusted that the coins in her little blue-and-white tin box would be used wisely and honorably All the same must have been true about my father and the many causes to which he wrote those checks And the same is true of millions and millions of people waiting to be touched and to form a connection with a cause larger than themselves a cause they can make their own in a way best thought of as an I-Thou relationship
For those of you unfa-miliar with the phrase I and Thou let me start by telling you it is a concept that changed my life It was coined by the philoso-pher and theologian Martin Buber Despite his being a theologian it is a concept that isnt inherently reli-gious even if it works well in every faith tradition and also works well in a purely secular context It works well for couples who have long been together and remark-ably it works well when soliciting gifts from near-strangers It is an approach to living a happy satisfying life So with that build up let
me tell you about I and Thou and about Martin Buber
Buber was born in Austria but moved to Germany in his teens to pursue his education In the 1920s he wrote his most famous work ldquoI and Thourdquo which although somewhat obscure today helped to establish his reputation as a leading German thinker of his time When the Nazis came to power in 1933 as a Jew he was prohibited from teaching at the uni-versity where he had been a professor and in 1938 just ahead of the start of the mass murder of 90 of Euro-pean Jewry Buber made his way to the British Mandate where he became a professor in Jerusalem When the State of Israel came into being in 1948 Buber was an esteemed philosopher revered by the young nation It is hard to imagine a philosopher having this kind of fame and impact but when he died in 1965 it was the lead news story of the day in Israel and a major story in The New York Times and other world newspapers
According to Buber there are two kinds of rela-tionships I-Thou and I-It The idea underpinning these concepts is best explained by examples as every single person in this room has experienced I-Thou and I-It relationships In an I-Thou relationship we are as one Your destiny is my destiny
even if only for a moment In the I-It relationship the parties are in a transac-tion I have turned the other party into an object to help me to achieve something that I want Indeed we all have I-Thou relationships and I-It relationships all the time mdash and we often have these disparate relationships within moments of each other and often with the very same person If this room were smaller and more inti-mate I could randomly call on anyone and have you give examples of I-Thou and I-It relationships in your own life But Ill use my own life as an example
I love my wife very much I am happy to come home at the end of the workday and to hear about her day and what is new and for her to hear about my day That is an I-Thou moment But while sitting with her my stomach starts to growl I become distracted Im not think-ing about her but about the dinner I know she has prepared Im hungry and want to eat She becomes an object a means to an end an I-It Wersquove all had that expe-rience or one like it
But just because Im getting something I want from her mdash or from anyone mdash doesnrsquot mean it has to be an I-It moment In that exact same scenario it could just as well have been an I-Thou moment by a change in my behavior even
with the same outcome that dinner will be served and my hunger abated Instead of single-mindedly think-ing about food in its place I could have interrupted the conversation to tell her that Im hungry I could have offered to set the table while we keep talking And most importantly I could keep reminding myself that she has spent time and trouble thinking about dinner and preparing it and that I have no entitlement to her having done this and how fortunate I am that she has If I do all of that it is more likely we will have an I-Thou relationship that evening than a transac-tional I-It one
Even with people we love I-Thoursquos and I-Itrsquos flit back and forth across some imaginary spectrum with engagement and other-directedness on one side and selfishness and self-direct-edness on the other We all have instincts for both sides of that spectrum and the challenge is to take the harder path the path where we direct the moment away from ourselves and our selfish wants and needs to that of the person present before us and our shared experience
As I indicated earlier this isnrsquot just true of deep long-lasting relationships It can be true of the waiter who serves you dinner the bellman who helps you with your bags even with a
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 19
passing stranger on a line to get into somewhere Every encounter has the oppor-tunity to be an I-Thou or an I-It and the challenge is for each of us to constantly remind ourselves of the humanity of the person with whom we engage
I and Thou isnrsquot just for people It is also true of believing peoplersquos relation-ship with God and also true of organizations and how they relate to people In my experience Ive found it even true of inanimate objects even if that may take it beyond Buberrsquos own con-ception So how do Martin Buber and his I and Thou relate to you all as direct mar-keters and as fundraisers for your worthy organizations
Everyone knows when they are in an I and Thou moment You feel the link and the joy that comes from the link But people also know when they are being used as a means to an end
when they are the ldquoItrdquo in an I-It relationship People may give you what you want when they are in an I-It rela-tionship with you and you may give your counter-party what they seek too but we all know that feeling of sadness or emptiness within when someone you are with mdash a co-worker a boss a spouse a child even a clerk on the phone at a call center mdash treats you as an object to get some-thing achieved and not as an opportunity to feel your humanity and for you to feel theirs even if for a fleeting moment
And the same Ill say is true about the relationship between a potential donor and your organization Those organizations that stand for somethinghellip Those organizations that donrsquot treat their donors as objects like walking checkbookshellip Those organizations that take the time to engage with their prospects Indeed
those organizations that donrsquot even necessarily start by asking for something it is those organizations who I believe will find a wide universe of people eager to believe and eager to be part of the organizationrsquos mission An I-Thou relation-ship doesnrsquot mean we never ask the other party for some-thing It is about how and when we ask Just as we will have a different outcome with our spouses children and co-workers when we are building off of an I-Thou relationship rather than an I-It so too will we have a different outcome when we approach our donors as part-ners as people we care about exactly as much whether they donate or not It is from that soulful relationship that donors will want to support one organization over an-other and one cause over another no matter how angry or frustrated or cynical they are about the larger world
around them That is how I believe the next genera-tion of donors will come to support many but not all of our organizations
When my father died I had the Postal Service forward his mail to my home address In the nearly eight years since his passing Ive received hundreds of mail-ings maybe more I often open the solicitations to try to get a feel for the kinds of causes and organizations my father would have been spending his time learning about and possibly support-ing So while some recipients of your mailings may think of your output as junk mail I couldnrsquot be more apprecia-tive Each envelope serves to remind me that the cynical side of my father was only a side and that when properly touched even a hard man could respond
Thank you all very much for your attention n
copy 2012 Seth M Siegel Reproduction with authorrsquos consent only All rights reserved
Looking for an agency or supplier to help your organization reachnew heights
Access the DMANFrsquos Directory of Service providers
nonprofitfederationorgcorporate-partnerssearch
20 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Nonprofit organizations face unique marketing chal-lenges Theyrsquore tasked with identifying and reaching the right people at the right time and through
the appropriate channels as well as balancing message appeals with monetary requests all while conveying their mission and cause The rapid expansion of the internet social networking and mobile have placed yet another demand front-and-center for nonprofit organizations mdash con-sumer privacy
Consumers are justly concerned about divulging their personal information They want to know where why and how their information will be used Many are unaware that their personal information is collected in a variety of ways and by a variety of sources both online and offline Common but often misunderstood data practices include third-party ad servers setting cookies retail stores matching names and addresses with phone numbers and marketers sharing customer lists
In todayrsquos complex marketplace how can nonprofit organizations demonstrate to their supporters donors and prospects that they share their concerns and are commit-ted to protecting their privacy The first and most important step is to create a clear privacy policy and communicate it effectively
the Privacy PolicyIf your organization collects uses and or stores personal donor information a privacy policy is critical You must display your privacy policy on your website and strictly abide by it
Privacy policies are structured around Notice and Choice principles They should provide supporters with notice of
how their data is collected used and shared as well as their choices to limit or prevent such practices Your privacy policy should also include information to maintain trans-parency and that clearly describes your organizationrsquos data security practices
Key points every privacy policy should address include
The types of personal information your organization collects This may include name address telephone number email address and credit card or other payment information
How information is secured
How personal information is used and with whom it is shared
How supporters can control the use of their data
How the privacy policy is updated and the effective date of the policy
Letrsquos take a more detailed look at the elements of a privacy policy from a nonprofit organizationrsquos perspective
Collecting personal InformationAs mentioned personal information may include data ele-ments such as name address telephone number email address and payment information It can also include more sensitive information such as gender race religious or politi-cal beliefs health information or other characteristics
The types of personal information collected and the length of retention may be used to enhance your marketing
Consumer PrivacyA Guide for Nonprofit Marketers
Bethany Lewis Privacy Analyst Epsilon
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 21
objectives by creating detailed profiles of supporters but what if that dataprofile was accessed without appropriate permis-sions or used by other organizations for purposes beyond the original intent Inappropriate generalizations might be made about supporters regardless of who has the data and the risk for reputational and other damage increases if that type of data is compromised
For example if a supporter donates to an organization that supports research of a genetic disorder should they be identified as a patient of or at risk for that same disorder Perhaps theyrsquore simply a caretaker for someone suffer-ing from that disorder Similarly if a supporter donates to a religious-based organization could assumptions around political leanings be attributed to them
Protecting information about charitable contributions is critical as is informing supporters how that information will be used which brings us to data security and the sharing of personal information
protecting personal InformationToday every organization is vulnerable when it comes to data security Protecting the personal information of supporters is essential The first line of protection is collecting only the necessary data
While creating supporter profiles evaluate the risks of storing ldquounnecessaryrdquo data especially if an incident exposes the data Set internal policies for how long each category of data collected will be retained and be diligent in deletingdestroying data in a safe and thorough manner based on those policies
Whenever possible encrypt personal data maintained electronically and enhance security on laptops and mobile devices from which supporter data is accessed
Sharing personal InformationBe very clear in your privacy policy when providing infor-mation on the types of third-parties with whom your organization shares data If you share information with third-party service providers disclose this fact and provide a categorized list of these organizations Such organizations may include credit card processors shipping vendors mar-keting analysts or consultants and fulfillment houses
If you share information with other nonprofit organi-zations disclose these practices Also disclose if you share information with marketing cooperatives whose databases are not exclusively nonprofit
Protecting
information
about
charitable
contributions
is critical
continued
22 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
providing ChoiceStudies have shown that modern consumers are more com-fortable sharing personal information with organizations that are clear and upfront about how their information is used and with whom it is shared In fact most people respond positively to organizations who transparently disclose data sharing practices and provide a clear and convenient oppor-tunity to opt-out While a small percentage of individuals will choose to opt-out of data sharing very few supporters will opt-out of all contact with an organization Therefore providing an opportunity to opt-out of sharing data for mar-keting purposes as well as an opt-out for receiving further requests from your organization will aid in retaining your most loyal supporters
Updating the privacy policyClearly state the effective date of your current privacy policy and update it when you make any material changes If you do make material changes to your privacy policy with ret-roactive application to the data you already have stored you may need to obtain express consent from individuals to use their information for new or different purposes Some organizations choose to list what changes were made in a summary history which may be helpful to a supporter reviewing the policy
Pulling It All togetherYour privacy policy should be easy to find read understand and act upon (ie opt-out or modify preferences) It should also be present in each commercial solicitation where per-sonal information is collected regardless of whether that is through postal mailings or on your website
Additional information regarding Notice Choice Trans-parency and other important privacy principles can be found on the DMA website in the Commitment to Consumer Choice and the DMA Guidelines for Ethical Business Practice
At Epsilon we use the following checklist when evaluating a privacy policy
The website has a privacy policy
There is a link to the privacy policy from the websitersquos home page and the link contains the word ldquoprivacyrdquo
The privacy policy states that the organization shares consumer data and personal information (including name address email address and transaction informa-tion) with third-party service providers
The privacy policy states that the organization shares consumer data and personal information with other marketers for their own marketing purposes
The privacy policy provides consumers the chance to opt-out of having their information shared with other marketers
The privacy policy has an ldquoeffectiverdquo date
As mentioned in situations where data is shared with other organizations and marketers transparency is the key Below is sample disclosure language
The personally identifiable information that you provide to us
(such as your name address and email address) and information
about your contribution may be combined with other non-person-
ally identifiable information (such as demographic information and
past contribution history) available from our records and other
sources This information will be used to make our future market-
ing efforts more efficient and relevant This information may also
be shared with our third-party service providers that assist us
with our marketing efforts and with other marketers whose prod-
ucts or services we feel may be of interest to you If you prefer
that we do not share your name and address with other market-
ers please email us at optoutyourorganizationorg
Beyond the Privacy PolicyIn addition to having a robust privacy policy written in concise language and that is easily accessible here are a few other best practices to secure the privacy of your sup-portersrsquo information
Ensure agreements with third-parties who may have access to supportersrsquo personal information adequately address privacy and data security
Suppress personal information in your database when a supporter requests it and do so within a reasonable timeframe
If you must store sensitive information such as credit card or social security numbers as part of your data-base encrypt this information
Train employees and volunteers regularly on the importance of maintaining privacy and security
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 23
Nonprofit Careers e-Bulletin
Your Multi-ChannelRecruiting Tool
Become familiar with data breach notification require-ments and have a response plan and team in place Should you experience a breach disclose to all appro-priate and necessary parties
Monitor the use of your data and address any enti-ties when you become aware that data is being used in a way that violates the law contractual requirements andor the DMArsquos Ethical Guidelines
Respecting and promoting consumer privacy requires a commitment to maintaining balance between the legitimate business needs of your organization and the concerns of individuals about fair information practices Start by taking a look at your current privacy policy Assure its accuracy and adhere to its strategy n
Bethany Lewis As a Privacy Analyst Bethany Lewis supports and educates associates and clients on privacy compliance matters She brings an extensive background in regulatory compliance corporate ethics education and training to her work at Epsilon
ldquoThe recruitment Tool for the Nonprofit Communityrdquo is your source for top flight exposure to top flight candidates and the best A b amp C-level career opportunities out there
Distributed every Tuesday 8 am ET via raquo Email raquo post at wwwnonprofitfederationorg raquo Facebook mdash DMA Nonprofit Federation raquo Twitter mdash DMANF and AliozDC
To view ad submission requirements visit the ldquoFind a Jobrdquo area of the DMA Nonprofit Federation homepage wwwnonprofitfederationorg and click on ldquoHow to postrdquo Ads must be emailed to Aosgoodthe-dmaorg please make sure any ad you submit meets our specifications
Is your nonprofit organization already a dual member of the DMA and DMANF If the answer is lsquoyesrsquo itrsquos FrEE mdash so why not post
Join the over 8000 professionals who already subscribe
Sign up today nonprofitfederationorgpublications careers-e-bulletinsubscribe
DMA Guidelines for Ethical Business Practice
dmaresponsibilityorgGuidelines
24 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Each week I see non-profit organizations walking away from
mobile thinking that com-municating and fundraising with their constituents through the single most used electronic device in history is optional Con-versely we see more and more retailers embracing mobile and the omnichan-nel marketing model because the results are tre-mendous We at mGive think nonprofits benefit when they embrace similar tools and methodologies
What is an omnichan-nel approach and why is it important to non-profit organizations An omnichannel approach is an integrated marketing strat-egy that creates a seamless experience for the donor
It is a customer-centric approach that elevates your supporter loyalty strategies by leveraging cross-channel opportunities For example when a donor drops off goods at their local Epilepsy Foundation they receive a paper receipt to complete Normally once they leave your location you lose any hope of communicating with them again Imagine if when the donor dropped off their goods you offered to send the donor an email version of their receipt You now have a way to engage the supporter through email Now suppose your email receipt offered a web link that drove them to a form to opt-in to your mobile community in order to receive updates via text
Once they opt-in you then have a way to send updates volunteer requests dona-tion reminders and more You may also leverage the fact they are on the mobile phone and send text mes-sages asking supporters to post a photo to Facebook making a donation Having this omnichannel strat-egy in place is especially critical at the end of year because it is an opportune time for organizations to increase membership and raise dollars
So how does an organization create an omnichannel approach that leverages direct mail email online social media live events and mobile to achieve their goals It may be difficult for some orga-nizations to make the
operational shift to an omnichannel model but that doesnrsquot mean you can afford to ignore it Not sure you can get all the steps in place by the time you launch your end of year activities Mobile is the bridge that can help to start that process In fact more and more organizations are relying on their mobile strategy to bridge the gap and engage supporters in this multi-screen world because mobile is the ldquogreat centralizerrdquo of activities ndash where else can you make calls browse the web check email respond to text mes-sages post to social media and more in a truly porta-ble fashion
Before we move on to the tactics that an organiza-tion can take to incorporate
Mobile
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 25
mobile into their existing multi-channel strategies we must tackle one issue If your organization has tried mobile or an omnichan-nel approach in the past and were disappointed or frustrated with your expe-rience try again You were one of the pioneering orga-nizations that comprise the early adopters of those models Lessons learned over the past few years have evolved into success-ful best practices mdash and you get the opportunity to benefit from them As we like to say in honor of the wise Master Yoda ldquoTry not Do or do not There is no tryrdquo We guarantee if imple-mented correctly using mobile in an omnichannel approach can work for your organization
1 Communicate and Integrate mdash Walk Across the Mobile Bridge
Many organizations that I work with have voiced cross-departmental integra-tion as a challenge That is understandable because tra-ditionally departments or channels have been siloed from one another But this disenfranchised model does not result in the seam-less experience that donors are coming to expect In order for a donor experi-ence to be seamless direct mail must complement the organizationrsquos website the organizationrsquos website must complement the mobile campaign social media must complement direct mail and so forth and so on When used together
the communication chan-nels can result in more effective campaigns and bigger numbers
When an organization decides to develop a mobile strategy generally it is one department within that organization that is initially interested That department is a hero because they have just launched a toolset that can be used throughout the organization If you have a mobile program in place for fundraising itrsquos time to talk with your program services department mem-bership team and corporate partner folks and get them in the loop so that you can maximize the omnichannel approach Mobile can be a great catalyst for initiating conversation and guiding organizational integration
Mobile is also a great way to increase the effec-tiveness of existing channels By integrating your direct mail newslet-ter social media online and mobile efforts you can increase response and open rates We have found that if you send a text message to your membership remind-ing them to check their email inboxes you can increase email open rates by 10 or more Addition-ally if you include a mobile number field on your email and paper member-ship forms you can quickly build a mobile community that can turn into repeat donors Once again the most important element besides the actual cross
the Bridge to an omnichannel Approach in time for Year-End Campaigns
continued
Jenifer Snyder Esq Executive Director The mGive Foundation and Cassie Bair Vice President of Marketing Mobile Accord
26 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
channel promotion goes back to this concept of the omnichannel Make the message consistent across all channels They donrsquot have to be identical but they should complement each other and work to create an echo effect
Just about every one of your donors will experience your organization through their mobile device at some point mdash so make sure your message is clear consistent convenient and actionable through mobile in some capacity
2 test Review Adjust Implement Review Adjust mdash and Repeat
Once you have an inte-grated strategy in place itrsquos time to implement Whether the goal is to acquire new donors reactivate lapsed donors and drive donations from existing donors mdash or all three mdash test your cam-paign Take time to review the results and adjust accordingly Then imple-ment full scale confident you are on the right path Regularly review your results adjust your activities and repeat as needed
In preparation for end of year activities take the time in the Fall to tweak your marketing engine for optimal performance Do some zero based plan-ning and try to approach
the supporter experience as if you are the supporter Spend time on every avenue where you can wisely create a seamless experience
Everyone in philan-thropy knows that the majority of all charitable donations are made in the last 2 months of the year Additionally member-ship increases substantially during the last quarter of the year Spend time now identifying opportunities strategies and tactics that work best for you mdash and consider how mobile can be a centralizing point for many of these activities
3 Apply the Winning Methodologies to Your End of Year Appeals
Yoursquove tested tweaked and determined what works best for you Now inte-grate what yoursquove learned into your end of year cam-paigns Determine how your campaign follows stan-dard best practices for end of year appeals and where mobile can help drive that engagement across multiple mediums
Common best practices for end of year campaigns that can include mobile
A Sending multiple asks the final week of the year mdash Make sure text messages are a part of that effort Whether itrsquos a simple call-to-action to text
a donation drives people to a pledge page or some-thing all-together different mobile can help ramp up that seamless experience
B the Art of the ldquothank Yourdquo mdash Thank your sup-porters Use mobile to message supporters your appreciation when they take action through text or drive them to a webpage with a video with a celeb-rity spokesperson giving a thank you message But make sure they know repeatedly that what they do for your cause matters And keep in mind mobile can drive to a strong ldquothank yourdquo experience
C Share Ask Listen mdash Take the opportunity to tell a story ask for feed-back and listen to what your organization is being told Not sure how to do that in mobile Share a link to a news article through text Ask for feedback through social media And listen to what is being said while distilling insights from how supporters respond in order to strengthen your omnichannel approach
4 Continue into 2013 mdash You are set for success
As donors enter the New Year self-improve-ment will often include a
commitment to be a better person volunteer more donate more funds etc Use mobile as a data col-lection tool to help your donors achieve their goal Give them the opportunity to commit to goals pertain-ing to your cause and then become their coach Send monthly reminders of their commitment and words of encouragement Remind them about appointments invite them to share their experience and overall let the donor feel the effect of their selfless promise through all of their activi-ties while using mobile to centralize that community and to drive people to action
We now live in a world where the average person at any given moment is looking at two or more screens It is critical that nonprofit organizations embrace the multi-screen world and adopt the omnichannel or fully integrated model When you create a seam-less giving experience for the everyday philanthropist you will be amazed at the results Walking away from a mobile strategy today is like walking away from the internet in the early 2000s
Mobile is here to stay and it is not an elective component to your orga-nizationrsquos fundraising and engagement strategy Itrsquos an essential part of a successful omnichannel strategy for your end of year activities n
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 27
Jenifer Snyder Esq Executive Director The mGive Foundation
As Executive Director of The mGive Foun-dation Jenifer is dedicated to expanding the scope and reach of the mobile channel for social good She brings years of lead-ership experience in the mobile industry to the position Previously Jenifer was a founder and General Counsel for 9 Squared Inc a mobile content and ser-vices company subsequently acquired by the Zed Group She left Zed in 2007 and started building the mobile channel for social and charitable efforts and later formed The mGive Foundation
Cassie bair Vice president of Marketing Mobile Accord
As Vice President of Marketing for Mobile Accord Cassie is dedicated to educat-ing and empowering nonprofits regarding the power of mobile She combines years of marketing experience in the nonprofit industry with the exciting evolution of the mobile channel for social good Cassie has worked with organizations such as the American Heart Association American Institute of Architects and the American Society of Echocardiography developing integrated and cause marketing cam-paigns and uses that knowledge today with clients to help them maximize their mobile strategy
Name
OrganizationCompany
Address
City State Zip Code
Charge my m Visa m MasterCard m AmEx m Discover
Card Number Expiration Date
Signature
raquo FAX form to 2026284383 (do not email credit card information)
raquo MAIL form to Alicia Osgood Director Membership amp Communications DMA Nonprofit Federation 1615 L Street NW Suite 1100 Washington DC 20036
raquo MAKE ChECKS payable to the DMA Nonprofit Federation
raquo DMA Nonprofit Federation Federal Tax ID Number 13-1810859
News and cutting-edge professional development tips
SUBSCRIBEto the Journal today1year =3 issues
ONLY $35Published digitally in January Apriland September the Journal brings together nonprofit leaders to deliver a standout publication packed with content you can really use
No cost to members
28 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Consumer technology evolves so quickly that nonprof-its are constantly racing to get their organizations using the latest technologies and mediums In fact many of these innovations have had significant impact on the fundrais-ing community While online CRM systems for example spawned database segmentation capabilities the opportu-nity ndash and challenge ndash arose for fundraising professionals to target appeals precisely to donorsrsquo specific interests Lately the emergence and rapid popularity of technologies such as smartphones and social media have forced nonprofits to not only create a presence but essentially compete for shrinking donor funds using these vehicles
The primary focus of nonprofit technology however tends to be inward creating a presence in a particular social media community or simply using the technology on behalf of the organization Examples of this include a nonprofitrsquos Facebook page and Twitter account and mobile-friendly
web sites In todayrsquos competitive fundraising environment though itrsquos not enough for nonprofits to simply use the latest technology Successful fundraisers understand that a nonprofitrsquos relationship with technology needs to take one step beyond itself to focus outward how do your sup-porters and donors want to use technology on behalf of your organization
Donors have technology preferences and habits too While itrsquos great for organizations to have a Facebook page for sup-porters to ldquolikerdquo that offers news and updates for example this doesnrsquot offer an opportunity for donors to appeal to their friends and family on behalf of your nonprofit mdash and certainly doesnrsquot raise money As nonprofits have learned to quickly adapt to changing technology and social media standards the time has come for organizations to evolve the technology they offer to provide donors supporters and par-ticipants with a personalized fundraising experience
Get Personal Providing Supporters with Personalized Fundraising Experiences
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 29
Personalization Means EngagementAt a fundamental level donor personalization in fun-
draising emerged from some of the first online nonprofit fundraising systems Offering supporters the opportunity to send personalized fundraising emails to their friends and family was revolutionary in its time mdash as was offering custom individual and team fundraising web pages
While these technology offerings revolutionized event fundraising donors have become increasingly savvy in the way they interact online mdash and developed strong preferences and dislikes in the types of technology they use They want the technology they know and like to be at their fingertips and are more likely to fundraise and successfully so for your nonprofit if itrsquos made easy and accessible for them
Back to Basics mdash But BetterNonprofits have been so consumed by social media that
they often forget this simple fact participants who use online tools raise six times more than non-users according to Blackbaud In addition 25 percent of the fundraising emails supporters send to their friends result in a donation With the average online gift being $60 nonprofits have motiva-tion not to forget about the basics of online fundraising But in the age of increasing competition for donations nonprof-its that offer a more personalized fundraising experience to supporters may see better results
What does it mean to offer a personalized fundrais-ing experience For online fundraising pages it can mean offering them the opportunity to post pictures videos story content and individual fundraising status updates But itrsquos essentially the personalization options offered behind the scenes mdash in the personal ldquoHeadquartersrdquo page within an online fundraising system mdash that can really maximize fun-draising results
Savvy nonprofits are offering a multitude of ways within their online fundraising systems for supporters to choose to reach out to friends and family Offering more than the email capabilities found standard with most fundraising plat-forms some nonprofits are starting to provide supporters more options in their personal participant ldquoheadquartersrdquo pages to engage those in their network mdash all with the click of a button Opportunities for supporters to personalize their experience could include options to
Send a Facebook message
Tweet their fundraising page
Update their Facebook status
Send a quick email
In addition statistics about their personal fundraising process could tell them
Total emails sent
Visits to their personal fundraising pages
Number of donations
Number of registrations
Average amount raised per email sent
Number of additional emails needed to reach fundraising goal
And because no one participant is the same these per-sonalization options allow the supporter to interact and engage their network on behalf of the nonprofit in ways that are meaningful and comfortable to them
Beyond the Facebook PageThe nonprofit community has taken Facebook by storm as an avenue to engage supporters and attract donors But itrsquos important to look beyond how supporters want to interact with your nonprofit and understand how they want to in-teract with their social network Itrsquos within this framework that supporters choose mdash or choose not mdash to engage their network on your organizationrsquos behalf
So make it easy for them provide them with a variety of ways to use several social media tools to reach out and fund-raise for your nonprofit Let them decide how they fundraise With 845 million monthly active users and 100 billion con-nections Facebook for example provides an excellent platform for nonprofits mdash and their fundraisers mdash to expand fundraising reach In fact Blackbaudrsquos web site states that social media users raise 40 more than non-users But most
continued
John Murphy PresidentCEo and Founder Zuri Group
30 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
organizations make the mistake of relying on participants to send their own appeals and updates or worse provide cum-bersome tools that require multiple logins and steps
Some enthusiastic fundraisers will thrive in this envi-ronment Others wonrsquot Since each supporter is unique itrsquos important to provide several varying opportunities and options so that a personalized fundraising experience can be forged For many fundraisers asking for donations isnrsquot easy All participants want to raise money but many donrsquot feel comfortable asking outside of close friends and family Other fundraisers donrsquot have the time or creativity to regu-larly develop and update personalized Facebook messages Use technology to help overcome these challenges by creat-ing easy ways for them to raise more money using Facebook
To take the effort out of Facebook fundraising remove the discomfort of a direct ldquoaskrdquo and save fundraisers time some nonprofits are offering supporters the option for fun-draising updates that automatically post on their Facebook wall at pre-determined intervals throughout the fundraising season For the right supporter this option removes the dis-comfort of approaching potential donors with a direct ldquoaskrdquo while significantly expanding their fundraising reach
Mobilizing the troopsAccording to a 2011 study consumers spend more time
on mobile applications than on the web In addition Ameri-cans spend 27 hours per day on average socializing on their mobile phones Nonprofits have been hard at work to lever-age the trend toward mobile by creating mobile-friendly web sites and even apps to further engage supporters But what about the mobile interaction that takes place between sup-porters and their friends The key is for nonprofits to make it accessible and easy for fundraisers to use their everyday technologies and devices to fundraise within their own networks By providing fundraising options that enable sup-porters to simply use something they already use such as a smartphone to connect with people they already interact with fundraising becomes a more natural and personalized part of the supporterrsquos day
To provide a more personalized and convenient fun-draising experience some nonprofits are offering mobile fundraising apps that enable supporters to not only use their smartphones to fundraise but to fundraise using multiple technologies within the smartphone mdash such as email text Twitter Facebook and even FaceTime for iPhone users As a result supporters can fundraise for the organization from their homes the train while walking the dog mdash anytime they have their phone
By empowering supporters to personalize their fundrais-ing experience nonprofits that provide mobile fundraising apps help their fundraisers help them These organizations are meeting the needs of on-the-go fundraising participants so they can focus on spreading awareness soliciting dona-tions and thanking donors mdash on their time on their terms In fact itrsquos been reported that fundraising participants using mobile fundraising applications raise 200 more than other participants and bring in 300 more gifts by count that other participants
In addition some mobile fundraising apps are provid-ing further personalization by bringing some of the same features of the personalized online ldquoheadquartersrdquo to the smartphone such as fundraising thermometers and adding donors into their phone address book Pre-written fundrais-ing messages developed specifically for various mediums such as texts Twitter updates and emails can be used Editing personal fundraising pages from the smartphone is likely the next option nonprofits will start offering
the Personalization ChallengeAs nonprofits compete in the race to adopt new technolo-
gies and social media itrsquos important to take a step back and consider your supportersrsquo relationship with those channels Many nonprofits have a Facebook page or group but how are your fundraisers using Facebook Are you making it easy for them to advocate or fundraise for your organization If much of your donor base uses text messaging have you pro-vided easy access and tools for them to text their network on your behalf
Supporters want and frankly need a personalized online experience with your organization Go beyond the bounds of your interactive relationship and consider what would enable your supporter base to have a more personalized fundrais-ing experience mdash and then put those tools at their fingertips They and their network mdash will thank you n
John Murphy is the PresidentCEO and Founder of Zuri Group Zuri Group provides nonprofits with custom technology solutions to meet critical organizational needs such as fundraising using their existing platform For more info visit zurigroupcom
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 31Non-Profit_FullPageAd_OLindd 1 91312 417 PM
32 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
9 Centennial Drive
Peabody MA 01960-7906
Tel 8003707500
wwwamergentcom
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at friendsamergentcomifund or scan qr code
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 33
Looking to Affordably Grow Your Donor Fileand Increase Contributions
We Can HelpWiland Direct is the nationrsquos 1 transactional database for fundraisers
Using our vast transactional data and powerful models Wiland Direct helps fundraisers to
bull Affordably acquire new donors bull Maximize contributions from existing donors bull Reactivate former donorsbull Identify the most likely activists and volunteersbull Convert inquirers petition signers and other ldquowarm leadsrdquo into donors
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3034858686 wwwWilandDirectcomCopyright 2012 Wiland Direct All rights reserved
ldquoThe Wiland Direct database has been a solid performer for LLS with higher average gifts and lower cost per dollar raised than most Itrsquos opened up a new acquisition universe particularly important for a mature program Wersquore very pleased with the results and team support from Wilandrdquomdash Bruny Lynch The Leukemia amp Lymphoma Society
34 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
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Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 35
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36 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
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Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 37
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38 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
1
2
3
A
B
C
18 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
walk-up tenement apart-ment in which every Friday afternoon she found a way to donate to people she knew she would never meet who were living in a place she knew she would never see She believed in the enterprise afoot in what is today Israel a place on the other side of the world and she trusted that the coins in her little blue-and-white tin box would be used wisely and honorably All the same must have been true about my father and the many causes to which he wrote those checks And the same is true of millions and millions of people waiting to be touched and to form a connection with a cause larger than themselves a cause they can make their own in a way best thought of as an I-Thou relationship
For those of you unfa-miliar with the phrase I and Thou let me start by telling you it is a concept that changed my life It was coined by the philoso-pher and theologian Martin Buber Despite his being a theologian it is a concept that isnt inherently reli-gious even if it works well in every faith tradition and also works well in a purely secular context It works well for couples who have long been together and remark-ably it works well when soliciting gifts from near-strangers It is an approach to living a happy satisfying life So with that build up let
me tell you about I and Thou and about Martin Buber
Buber was born in Austria but moved to Germany in his teens to pursue his education In the 1920s he wrote his most famous work ldquoI and Thourdquo which although somewhat obscure today helped to establish his reputation as a leading German thinker of his time When the Nazis came to power in 1933 as a Jew he was prohibited from teaching at the uni-versity where he had been a professor and in 1938 just ahead of the start of the mass murder of 90 of Euro-pean Jewry Buber made his way to the British Mandate where he became a professor in Jerusalem When the State of Israel came into being in 1948 Buber was an esteemed philosopher revered by the young nation It is hard to imagine a philosopher having this kind of fame and impact but when he died in 1965 it was the lead news story of the day in Israel and a major story in The New York Times and other world newspapers
According to Buber there are two kinds of rela-tionships I-Thou and I-It The idea underpinning these concepts is best explained by examples as every single person in this room has experienced I-Thou and I-It relationships In an I-Thou relationship we are as one Your destiny is my destiny
even if only for a moment In the I-It relationship the parties are in a transac-tion I have turned the other party into an object to help me to achieve something that I want Indeed we all have I-Thou relationships and I-It relationships all the time mdash and we often have these disparate relationships within moments of each other and often with the very same person If this room were smaller and more inti-mate I could randomly call on anyone and have you give examples of I-Thou and I-It relationships in your own life But Ill use my own life as an example
I love my wife very much I am happy to come home at the end of the workday and to hear about her day and what is new and for her to hear about my day That is an I-Thou moment But while sitting with her my stomach starts to growl I become distracted Im not think-ing about her but about the dinner I know she has prepared Im hungry and want to eat She becomes an object a means to an end an I-It Wersquove all had that expe-rience or one like it
But just because Im getting something I want from her mdash or from anyone mdash doesnrsquot mean it has to be an I-It moment In that exact same scenario it could just as well have been an I-Thou moment by a change in my behavior even
with the same outcome that dinner will be served and my hunger abated Instead of single-mindedly think-ing about food in its place I could have interrupted the conversation to tell her that Im hungry I could have offered to set the table while we keep talking And most importantly I could keep reminding myself that she has spent time and trouble thinking about dinner and preparing it and that I have no entitlement to her having done this and how fortunate I am that she has If I do all of that it is more likely we will have an I-Thou relationship that evening than a transac-tional I-It one
Even with people we love I-Thoursquos and I-Itrsquos flit back and forth across some imaginary spectrum with engagement and other-directedness on one side and selfishness and self-direct-edness on the other We all have instincts for both sides of that spectrum and the challenge is to take the harder path the path where we direct the moment away from ourselves and our selfish wants and needs to that of the person present before us and our shared experience
As I indicated earlier this isnrsquot just true of deep long-lasting relationships It can be true of the waiter who serves you dinner the bellman who helps you with your bags even with a
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 19
passing stranger on a line to get into somewhere Every encounter has the oppor-tunity to be an I-Thou or an I-It and the challenge is for each of us to constantly remind ourselves of the humanity of the person with whom we engage
I and Thou isnrsquot just for people It is also true of believing peoplersquos relation-ship with God and also true of organizations and how they relate to people In my experience Ive found it even true of inanimate objects even if that may take it beyond Buberrsquos own con-ception So how do Martin Buber and his I and Thou relate to you all as direct mar-keters and as fundraisers for your worthy organizations
Everyone knows when they are in an I and Thou moment You feel the link and the joy that comes from the link But people also know when they are being used as a means to an end
when they are the ldquoItrdquo in an I-It relationship People may give you what you want when they are in an I-It rela-tionship with you and you may give your counter-party what they seek too but we all know that feeling of sadness or emptiness within when someone you are with mdash a co-worker a boss a spouse a child even a clerk on the phone at a call center mdash treats you as an object to get some-thing achieved and not as an opportunity to feel your humanity and for you to feel theirs even if for a fleeting moment
And the same Ill say is true about the relationship between a potential donor and your organization Those organizations that stand for somethinghellip Those organizations that donrsquot treat their donors as objects like walking checkbookshellip Those organizations that take the time to engage with their prospects Indeed
those organizations that donrsquot even necessarily start by asking for something it is those organizations who I believe will find a wide universe of people eager to believe and eager to be part of the organizationrsquos mission An I-Thou relation-ship doesnrsquot mean we never ask the other party for some-thing It is about how and when we ask Just as we will have a different outcome with our spouses children and co-workers when we are building off of an I-Thou relationship rather than an I-It so too will we have a different outcome when we approach our donors as part-ners as people we care about exactly as much whether they donate or not It is from that soulful relationship that donors will want to support one organization over an-other and one cause over another no matter how angry or frustrated or cynical they are about the larger world
around them That is how I believe the next genera-tion of donors will come to support many but not all of our organizations
When my father died I had the Postal Service forward his mail to my home address In the nearly eight years since his passing Ive received hundreds of mail-ings maybe more I often open the solicitations to try to get a feel for the kinds of causes and organizations my father would have been spending his time learning about and possibly support-ing So while some recipients of your mailings may think of your output as junk mail I couldnrsquot be more apprecia-tive Each envelope serves to remind me that the cynical side of my father was only a side and that when properly touched even a hard man could respond
Thank you all very much for your attention n
copy 2012 Seth M Siegel Reproduction with authorrsquos consent only All rights reserved
Looking for an agency or supplier to help your organization reachnew heights
Access the DMANFrsquos Directory of Service providers
nonprofitfederationorgcorporate-partnerssearch
20 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Nonprofit organizations face unique marketing chal-lenges Theyrsquore tasked with identifying and reaching the right people at the right time and through
the appropriate channels as well as balancing message appeals with monetary requests all while conveying their mission and cause The rapid expansion of the internet social networking and mobile have placed yet another demand front-and-center for nonprofit organizations mdash con-sumer privacy
Consumers are justly concerned about divulging their personal information They want to know where why and how their information will be used Many are unaware that their personal information is collected in a variety of ways and by a variety of sources both online and offline Common but often misunderstood data practices include third-party ad servers setting cookies retail stores matching names and addresses with phone numbers and marketers sharing customer lists
In todayrsquos complex marketplace how can nonprofit organizations demonstrate to their supporters donors and prospects that they share their concerns and are commit-ted to protecting their privacy The first and most important step is to create a clear privacy policy and communicate it effectively
the Privacy PolicyIf your organization collects uses and or stores personal donor information a privacy policy is critical You must display your privacy policy on your website and strictly abide by it
Privacy policies are structured around Notice and Choice principles They should provide supporters with notice of
how their data is collected used and shared as well as their choices to limit or prevent such practices Your privacy policy should also include information to maintain trans-parency and that clearly describes your organizationrsquos data security practices
Key points every privacy policy should address include
The types of personal information your organization collects This may include name address telephone number email address and credit card or other payment information
How information is secured
How personal information is used and with whom it is shared
How supporters can control the use of their data
How the privacy policy is updated and the effective date of the policy
Letrsquos take a more detailed look at the elements of a privacy policy from a nonprofit organizationrsquos perspective
Collecting personal InformationAs mentioned personal information may include data ele-ments such as name address telephone number email address and payment information It can also include more sensitive information such as gender race religious or politi-cal beliefs health information or other characteristics
The types of personal information collected and the length of retention may be used to enhance your marketing
Consumer PrivacyA Guide for Nonprofit Marketers
Bethany Lewis Privacy Analyst Epsilon
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 21
objectives by creating detailed profiles of supporters but what if that dataprofile was accessed without appropriate permis-sions or used by other organizations for purposes beyond the original intent Inappropriate generalizations might be made about supporters regardless of who has the data and the risk for reputational and other damage increases if that type of data is compromised
For example if a supporter donates to an organization that supports research of a genetic disorder should they be identified as a patient of or at risk for that same disorder Perhaps theyrsquore simply a caretaker for someone suffer-ing from that disorder Similarly if a supporter donates to a religious-based organization could assumptions around political leanings be attributed to them
Protecting information about charitable contributions is critical as is informing supporters how that information will be used which brings us to data security and the sharing of personal information
protecting personal InformationToday every organization is vulnerable when it comes to data security Protecting the personal information of supporters is essential The first line of protection is collecting only the necessary data
While creating supporter profiles evaluate the risks of storing ldquounnecessaryrdquo data especially if an incident exposes the data Set internal policies for how long each category of data collected will be retained and be diligent in deletingdestroying data in a safe and thorough manner based on those policies
Whenever possible encrypt personal data maintained electronically and enhance security on laptops and mobile devices from which supporter data is accessed
Sharing personal InformationBe very clear in your privacy policy when providing infor-mation on the types of third-parties with whom your organization shares data If you share information with third-party service providers disclose this fact and provide a categorized list of these organizations Such organizations may include credit card processors shipping vendors mar-keting analysts or consultants and fulfillment houses
If you share information with other nonprofit organi-zations disclose these practices Also disclose if you share information with marketing cooperatives whose databases are not exclusively nonprofit
Protecting
information
about
charitable
contributions
is critical
continued
22 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
providing ChoiceStudies have shown that modern consumers are more com-fortable sharing personal information with organizations that are clear and upfront about how their information is used and with whom it is shared In fact most people respond positively to organizations who transparently disclose data sharing practices and provide a clear and convenient oppor-tunity to opt-out While a small percentage of individuals will choose to opt-out of data sharing very few supporters will opt-out of all contact with an organization Therefore providing an opportunity to opt-out of sharing data for mar-keting purposes as well as an opt-out for receiving further requests from your organization will aid in retaining your most loyal supporters
Updating the privacy policyClearly state the effective date of your current privacy policy and update it when you make any material changes If you do make material changes to your privacy policy with ret-roactive application to the data you already have stored you may need to obtain express consent from individuals to use their information for new or different purposes Some organizations choose to list what changes were made in a summary history which may be helpful to a supporter reviewing the policy
Pulling It All togetherYour privacy policy should be easy to find read understand and act upon (ie opt-out or modify preferences) It should also be present in each commercial solicitation where per-sonal information is collected regardless of whether that is through postal mailings or on your website
Additional information regarding Notice Choice Trans-parency and other important privacy principles can be found on the DMA website in the Commitment to Consumer Choice and the DMA Guidelines for Ethical Business Practice
At Epsilon we use the following checklist when evaluating a privacy policy
The website has a privacy policy
There is a link to the privacy policy from the websitersquos home page and the link contains the word ldquoprivacyrdquo
The privacy policy states that the organization shares consumer data and personal information (including name address email address and transaction informa-tion) with third-party service providers
The privacy policy states that the organization shares consumer data and personal information with other marketers for their own marketing purposes
The privacy policy provides consumers the chance to opt-out of having their information shared with other marketers
The privacy policy has an ldquoeffectiverdquo date
As mentioned in situations where data is shared with other organizations and marketers transparency is the key Below is sample disclosure language
The personally identifiable information that you provide to us
(such as your name address and email address) and information
about your contribution may be combined with other non-person-
ally identifiable information (such as demographic information and
past contribution history) available from our records and other
sources This information will be used to make our future market-
ing efforts more efficient and relevant This information may also
be shared with our third-party service providers that assist us
with our marketing efforts and with other marketers whose prod-
ucts or services we feel may be of interest to you If you prefer
that we do not share your name and address with other market-
ers please email us at optoutyourorganizationorg
Beyond the Privacy PolicyIn addition to having a robust privacy policy written in concise language and that is easily accessible here are a few other best practices to secure the privacy of your sup-portersrsquo information
Ensure agreements with third-parties who may have access to supportersrsquo personal information adequately address privacy and data security
Suppress personal information in your database when a supporter requests it and do so within a reasonable timeframe
If you must store sensitive information such as credit card or social security numbers as part of your data-base encrypt this information
Train employees and volunteers regularly on the importance of maintaining privacy and security
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 23
Nonprofit Careers e-Bulletin
Your Multi-ChannelRecruiting Tool
Become familiar with data breach notification require-ments and have a response plan and team in place Should you experience a breach disclose to all appro-priate and necessary parties
Monitor the use of your data and address any enti-ties when you become aware that data is being used in a way that violates the law contractual requirements andor the DMArsquos Ethical Guidelines
Respecting and promoting consumer privacy requires a commitment to maintaining balance between the legitimate business needs of your organization and the concerns of individuals about fair information practices Start by taking a look at your current privacy policy Assure its accuracy and adhere to its strategy n
Bethany Lewis As a Privacy Analyst Bethany Lewis supports and educates associates and clients on privacy compliance matters She brings an extensive background in regulatory compliance corporate ethics education and training to her work at Epsilon
ldquoThe recruitment Tool for the Nonprofit Communityrdquo is your source for top flight exposure to top flight candidates and the best A b amp C-level career opportunities out there
Distributed every Tuesday 8 am ET via raquo Email raquo post at wwwnonprofitfederationorg raquo Facebook mdash DMA Nonprofit Federation raquo Twitter mdash DMANF and AliozDC
To view ad submission requirements visit the ldquoFind a Jobrdquo area of the DMA Nonprofit Federation homepage wwwnonprofitfederationorg and click on ldquoHow to postrdquo Ads must be emailed to Aosgoodthe-dmaorg please make sure any ad you submit meets our specifications
Is your nonprofit organization already a dual member of the DMA and DMANF If the answer is lsquoyesrsquo itrsquos FrEE mdash so why not post
Join the over 8000 professionals who already subscribe
Sign up today nonprofitfederationorgpublications careers-e-bulletinsubscribe
DMA Guidelines for Ethical Business Practice
dmaresponsibilityorgGuidelines
24 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Each week I see non-profit organizations walking away from
mobile thinking that com-municating and fundraising with their constituents through the single most used electronic device in history is optional Con-versely we see more and more retailers embracing mobile and the omnichan-nel marketing model because the results are tre-mendous We at mGive think nonprofits benefit when they embrace similar tools and methodologies
What is an omnichan-nel approach and why is it important to non-profit organizations An omnichannel approach is an integrated marketing strat-egy that creates a seamless experience for the donor
It is a customer-centric approach that elevates your supporter loyalty strategies by leveraging cross-channel opportunities For example when a donor drops off goods at their local Epilepsy Foundation they receive a paper receipt to complete Normally once they leave your location you lose any hope of communicating with them again Imagine if when the donor dropped off their goods you offered to send the donor an email version of their receipt You now have a way to engage the supporter through email Now suppose your email receipt offered a web link that drove them to a form to opt-in to your mobile community in order to receive updates via text
Once they opt-in you then have a way to send updates volunteer requests dona-tion reminders and more You may also leverage the fact they are on the mobile phone and send text mes-sages asking supporters to post a photo to Facebook making a donation Having this omnichannel strat-egy in place is especially critical at the end of year because it is an opportune time for organizations to increase membership and raise dollars
So how does an organization create an omnichannel approach that leverages direct mail email online social media live events and mobile to achieve their goals It may be difficult for some orga-nizations to make the
operational shift to an omnichannel model but that doesnrsquot mean you can afford to ignore it Not sure you can get all the steps in place by the time you launch your end of year activities Mobile is the bridge that can help to start that process In fact more and more organizations are relying on their mobile strategy to bridge the gap and engage supporters in this multi-screen world because mobile is the ldquogreat centralizerrdquo of activities ndash where else can you make calls browse the web check email respond to text mes-sages post to social media and more in a truly porta-ble fashion
Before we move on to the tactics that an organiza-tion can take to incorporate
Mobile
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 25
mobile into their existing multi-channel strategies we must tackle one issue If your organization has tried mobile or an omnichan-nel approach in the past and were disappointed or frustrated with your expe-rience try again You were one of the pioneering orga-nizations that comprise the early adopters of those models Lessons learned over the past few years have evolved into success-ful best practices mdash and you get the opportunity to benefit from them As we like to say in honor of the wise Master Yoda ldquoTry not Do or do not There is no tryrdquo We guarantee if imple-mented correctly using mobile in an omnichannel approach can work for your organization
1 Communicate and Integrate mdash Walk Across the Mobile Bridge
Many organizations that I work with have voiced cross-departmental integra-tion as a challenge That is understandable because tra-ditionally departments or channels have been siloed from one another But this disenfranchised model does not result in the seam-less experience that donors are coming to expect In order for a donor experi-ence to be seamless direct mail must complement the organizationrsquos website the organizationrsquos website must complement the mobile campaign social media must complement direct mail and so forth and so on When used together
the communication chan-nels can result in more effective campaigns and bigger numbers
When an organization decides to develop a mobile strategy generally it is one department within that organization that is initially interested That department is a hero because they have just launched a toolset that can be used throughout the organization If you have a mobile program in place for fundraising itrsquos time to talk with your program services department mem-bership team and corporate partner folks and get them in the loop so that you can maximize the omnichannel approach Mobile can be a great catalyst for initiating conversation and guiding organizational integration
Mobile is also a great way to increase the effec-tiveness of existing channels By integrating your direct mail newslet-ter social media online and mobile efforts you can increase response and open rates We have found that if you send a text message to your membership remind-ing them to check their email inboxes you can increase email open rates by 10 or more Addition-ally if you include a mobile number field on your email and paper member-ship forms you can quickly build a mobile community that can turn into repeat donors Once again the most important element besides the actual cross
the Bridge to an omnichannel Approach in time for Year-End Campaigns
continued
Jenifer Snyder Esq Executive Director The mGive Foundation and Cassie Bair Vice President of Marketing Mobile Accord
26 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
channel promotion goes back to this concept of the omnichannel Make the message consistent across all channels They donrsquot have to be identical but they should complement each other and work to create an echo effect
Just about every one of your donors will experience your organization through their mobile device at some point mdash so make sure your message is clear consistent convenient and actionable through mobile in some capacity
2 test Review Adjust Implement Review Adjust mdash and Repeat
Once you have an inte-grated strategy in place itrsquos time to implement Whether the goal is to acquire new donors reactivate lapsed donors and drive donations from existing donors mdash or all three mdash test your cam-paign Take time to review the results and adjust accordingly Then imple-ment full scale confident you are on the right path Regularly review your results adjust your activities and repeat as needed
In preparation for end of year activities take the time in the Fall to tweak your marketing engine for optimal performance Do some zero based plan-ning and try to approach
the supporter experience as if you are the supporter Spend time on every avenue where you can wisely create a seamless experience
Everyone in philan-thropy knows that the majority of all charitable donations are made in the last 2 months of the year Additionally member-ship increases substantially during the last quarter of the year Spend time now identifying opportunities strategies and tactics that work best for you mdash and consider how mobile can be a centralizing point for many of these activities
3 Apply the Winning Methodologies to Your End of Year Appeals
Yoursquove tested tweaked and determined what works best for you Now inte-grate what yoursquove learned into your end of year cam-paigns Determine how your campaign follows stan-dard best practices for end of year appeals and where mobile can help drive that engagement across multiple mediums
Common best practices for end of year campaigns that can include mobile
A Sending multiple asks the final week of the year mdash Make sure text messages are a part of that effort Whether itrsquos a simple call-to-action to text
a donation drives people to a pledge page or some-thing all-together different mobile can help ramp up that seamless experience
B the Art of the ldquothank Yourdquo mdash Thank your sup-porters Use mobile to message supporters your appreciation when they take action through text or drive them to a webpage with a video with a celeb-rity spokesperson giving a thank you message But make sure they know repeatedly that what they do for your cause matters And keep in mind mobile can drive to a strong ldquothank yourdquo experience
C Share Ask Listen mdash Take the opportunity to tell a story ask for feed-back and listen to what your organization is being told Not sure how to do that in mobile Share a link to a news article through text Ask for feedback through social media And listen to what is being said while distilling insights from how supporters respond in order to strengthen your omnichannel approach
4 Continue into 2013 mdash You are set for success
As donors enter the New Year self-improve-ment will often include a
commitment to be a better person volunteer more donate more funds etc Use mobile as a data col-lection tool to help your donors achieve their goal Give them the opportunity to commit to goals pertain-ing to your cause and then become their coach Send monthly reminders of their commitment and words of encouragement Remind them about appointments invite them to share their experience and overall let the donor feel the effect of their selfless promise through all of their activi-ties while using mobile to centralize that community and to drive people to action
We now live in a world where the average person at any given moment is looking at two or more screens It is critical that nonprofit organizations embrace the multi-screen world and adopt the omnichannel or fully integrated model When you create a seam-less giving experience for the everyday philanthropist you will be amazed at the results Walking away from a mobile strategy today is like walking away from the internet in the early 2000s
Mobile is here to stay and it is not an elective component to your orga-nizationrsquos fundraising and engagement strategy Itrsquos an essential part of a successful omnichannel strategy for your end of year activities n
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 27
Jenifer Snyder Esq Executive Director The mGive Foundation
As Executive Director of The mGive Foun-dation Jenifer is dedicated to expanding the scope and reach of the mobile channel for social good She brings years of lead-ership experience in the mobile industry to the position Previously Jenifer was a founder and General Counsel for 9 Squared Inc a mobile content and ser-vices company subsequently acquired by the Zed Group She left Zed in 2007 and started building the mobile channel for social and charitable efforts and later formed The mGive Foundation
Cassie bair Vice president of Marketing Mobile Accord
As Vice President of Marketing for Mobile Accord Cassie is dedicated to educat-ing and empowering nonprofits regarding the power of mobile She combines years of marketing experience in the nonprofit industry with the exciting evolution of the mobile channel for social good Cassie has worked with organizations such as the American Heart Association American Institute of Architects and the American Society of Echocardiography developing integrated and cause marketing cam-paigns and uses that knowledge today with clients to help them maximize their mobile strategy
Name
OrganizationCompany
Address
City State Zip Code
Charge my m Visa m MasterCard m AmEx m Discover
Card Number Expiration Date
Signature
raquo FAX form to 2026284383 (do not email credit card information)
raquo MAIL form to Alicia Osgood Director Membership amp Communications DMA Nonprofit Federation 1615 L Street NW Suite 1100 Washington DC 20036
raquo MAKE ChECKS payable to the DMA Nonprofit Federation
raquo DMA Nonprofit Federation Federal Tax ID Number 13-1810859
News and cutting-edge professional development tips
SUBSCRIBEto the Journal today1year =3 issues
ONLY $35Published digitally in January Apriland September the Journal brings together nonprofit leaders to deliver a standout publication packed with content you can really use
No cost to members
28 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Consumer technology evolves so quickly that nonprof-its are constantly racing to get their organizations using the latest technologies and mediums In fact many of these innovations have had significant impact on the fundrais-ing community While online CRM systems for example spawned database segmentation capabilities the opportu-nity ndash and challenge ndash arose for fundraising professionals to target appeals precisely to donorsrsquo specific interests Lately the emergence and rapid popularity of technologies such as smartphones and social media have forced nonprofits to not only create a presence but essentially compete for shrinking donor funds using these vehicles
The primary focus of nonprofit technology however tends to be inward creating a presence in a particular social media community or simply using the technology on behalf of the organization Examples of this include a nonprofitrsquos Facebook page and Twitter account and mobile-friendly
web sites In todayrsquos competitive fundraising environment though itrsquos not enough for nonprofits to simply use the latest technology Successful fundraisers understand that a nonprofitrsquos relationship with technology needs to take one step beyond itself to focus outward how do your sup-porters and donors want to use technology on behalf of your organization
Donors have technology preferences and habits too While itrsquos great for organizations to have a Facebook page for sup-porters to ldquolikerdquo that offers news and updates for example this doesnrsquot offer an opportunity for donors to appeal to their friends and family on behalf of your nonprofit mdash and certainly doesnrsquot raise money As nonprofits have learned to quickly adapt to changing technology and social media standards the time has come for organizations to evolve the technology they offer to provide donors supporters and par-ticipants with a personalized fundraising experience
Get Personal Providing Supporters with Personalized Fundraising Experiences
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 29
Personalization Means EngagementAt a fundamental level donor personalization in fun-
draising emerged from some of the first online nonprofit fundraising systems Offering supporters the opportunity to send personalized fundraising emails to their friends and family was revolutionary in its time mdash as was offering custom individual and team fundraising web pages
While these technology offerings revolutionized event fundraising donors have become increasingly savvy in the way they interact online mdash and developed strong preferences and dislikes in the types of technology they use They want the technology they know and like to be at their fingertips and are more likely to fundraise and successfully so for your nonprofit if itrsquos made easy and accessible for them
Back to Basics mdash But BetterNonprofits have been so consumed by social media that
they often forget this simple fact participants who use online tools raise six times more than non-users according to Blackbaud In addition 25 percent of the fundraising emails supporters send to their friends result in a donation With the average online gift being $60 nonprofits have motiva-tion not to forget about the basics of online fundraising But in the age of increasing competition for donations nonprof-its that offer a more personalized fundraising experience to supporters may see better results
What does it mean to offer a personalized fundrais-ing experience For online fundraising pages it can mean offering them the opportunity to post pictures videos story content and individual fundraising status updates But itrsquos essentially the personalization options offered behind the scenes mdash in the personal ldquoHeadquartersrdquo page within an online fundraising system mdash that can really maximize fun-draising results
Savvy nonprofits are offering a multitude of ways within their online fundraising systems for supporters to choose to reach out to friends and family Offering more than the email capabilities found standard with most fundraising plat-forms some nonprofits are starting to provide supporters more options in their personal participant ldquoheadquartersrdquo pages to engage those in their network mdash all with the click of a button Opportunities for supporters to personalize their experience could include options to
Send a Facebook message
Tweet their fundraising page
Update their Facebook status
Send a quick email
In addition statistics about their personal fundraising process could tell them
Total emails sent
Visits to their personal fundraising pages
Number of donations
Number of registrations
Average amount raised per email sent
Number of additional emails needed to reach fundraising goal
And because no one participant is the same these per-sonalization options allow the supporter to interact and engage their network on behalf of the nonprofit in ways that are meaningful and comfortable to them
Beyond the Facebook PageThe nonprofit community has taken Facebook by storm as an avenue to engage supporters and attract donors But itrsquos important to look beyond how supporters want to interact with your nonprofit and understand how they want to in-teract with their social network Itrsquos within this framework that supporters choose mdash or choose not mdash to engage their network on your organizationrsquos behalf
So make it easy for them provide them with a variety of ways to use several social media tools to reach out and fund-raise for your nonprofit Let them decide how they fundraise With 845 million monthly active users and 100 billion con-nections Facebook for example provides an excellent platform for nonprofits mdash and their fundraisers mdash to expand fundraising reach In fact Blackbaudrsquos web site states that social media users raise 40 more than non-users But most
continued
John Murphy PresidentCEo and Founder Zuri Group
30 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
organizations make the mistake of relying on participants to send their own appeals and updates or worse provide cum-bersome tools that require multiple logins and steps
Some enthusiastic fundraisers will thrive in this envi-ronment Others wonrsquot Since each supporter is unique itrsquos important to provide several varying opportunities and options so that a personalized fundraising experience can be forged For many fundraisers asking for donations isnrsquot easy All participants want to raise money but many donrsquot feel comfortable asking outside of close friends and family Other fundraisers donrsquot have the time or creativity to regu-larly develop and update personalized Facebook messages Use technology to help overcome these challenges by creat-ing easy ways for them to raise more money using Facebook
To take the effort out of Facebook fundraising remove the discomfort of a direct ldquoaskrdquo and save fundraisers time some nonprofits are offering supporters the option for fun-draising updates that automatically post on their Facebook wall at pre-determined intervals throughout the fundraising season For the right supporter this option removes the dis-comfort of approaching potential donors with a direct ldquoaskrdquo while significantly expanding their fundraising reach
Mobilizing the troopsAccording to a 2011 study consumers spend more time
on mobile applications than on the web In addition Ameri-cans spend 27 hours per day on average socializing on their mobile phones Nonprofits have been hard at work to lever-age the trend toward mobile by creating mobile-friendly web sites and even apps to further engage supporters But what about the mobile interaction that takes place between sup-porters and their friends The key is for nonprofits to make it accessible and easy for fundraisers to use their everyday technologies and devices to fundraise within their own networks By providing fundraising options that enable sup-porters to simply use something they already use such as a smartphone to connect with people they already interact with fundraising becomes a more natural and personalized part of the supporterrsquos day
To provide a more personalized and convenient fun-draising experience some nonprofits are offering mobile fundraising apps that enable supporters to not only use their smartphones to fundraise but to fundraise using multiple technologies within the smartphone mdash such as email text Twitter Facebook and even FaceTime for iPhone users As a result supporters can fundraise for the organization from their homes the train while walking the dog mdash anytime they have their phone
By empowering supporters to personalize their fundrais-ing experience nonprofits that provide mobile fundraising apps help their fundraisers help them These organizations are meeting the needs of on-the-go fundraising participants so they can focus on spreading awareness soliciting dona-tions and thanking donors mdash on their time on their terms In fact itrsquos been reported that fundraising participants using mobile fundraising applications raise 200 more than other participants and bring in 300 more gifts by count that other participants
In addition some mobile fundraising apps are provid-ing further personalization by bringing some of the same features of the personalized online ldquoheadquartersrdquo to the smartphone such as fundraising thermometers and adding donors into their phone address book Pre-written fundrais-ing messages developed specifically for various mediums such as texts Twitter updates and emails can be used Editing personal fundraising pages from the smartphone is likely the next option nonprofits will start offering
the Personalization ChallengeAs nonprofits compete in the race to adopt new technolo-
gies and social media itrsquos important to take a step back and consider your supportersrsquo relationship with those channels Many nonprofits have a Facebook page or group but how are your fundraisers using Facebook Are you making it easy for them to advocate or fundraise for your organization If much of your donor base uses text messaging have you pro-vided easy access and tools for them to text their network on your behalf
Supporters want and frankly need a personalized online experience with your organization Go beyond the bounds of your interactive relationship and consider what would enable your supporter base to have a more personalized fundrais-ing experience mdash and then put those tools at their fingertips They and their network mdash will thank you n
John Murphy is the PresidentCEO and Founder of Zuri Group Zuri Group provides nonprofits with custom technology solutions to meet critical organizational needs such as fundraising using their existing platform For more info visit zurigroupcom
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 31Non-Profit_FullPageAd_OLindd 1 91312 417 PM
32 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
9 Centennial Drive
Peabody MA 01960-7906
Tel 8003707500
wwwamergentcom
c a l l j a c k d o y l e
8 0 0 3 7 0 7 5 0 0
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Sign up for Amergentrsquos e-newsletter
at friendsamergentcomifund or scan qr code
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 33
Looking to Affordably Grow Your Donor Fileand Increase Contributions
We Can HelpWiland Direct is the nationrsquos 1 transactional database for fundraisers
Using our vast transactional data and powerful models Wiland Direct helps fundraisers to
bull Affordably acquire new donors bull Maximize contributions from existing donors bull Reactivate former donorsbull Identify the most likely activists and volunteersbull Convert inquirers petition signers and other ldquowarm leadsrdquo into donors
To learn more please contact John Spencer at 9703106378 or via email at jspencerwilanddirectcom
3034858686 wwwWilandDirectcomCopyright 2012 Wiland Direct All rights reserved
ldquoThe Wiland Direct database has been a solid performer for LLS with higher average gifts and lower cost per dollar raised than most Itrsquos opened up a new acquisition universe particularly important for a mature program Wersquore very pleased with the results and team support from Wilandrdquomdash Bruny Lynch The Leukemia amp Lymphoma Society
34 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
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Contact annesagecommunicationscom or call 508-309-6678 x 1 for a no-obligation quote
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Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 35
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36 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
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Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 37
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Get it todaynonprofitfederationorgethics-policy watchdog-resource-centerwatchdog-toolkit
38 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
1
2
3
A
B
C
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 19
passing stranger on a line to get into somewhere Every encounter has the oppor-tunity to be an I-Thou or an I-It and the challenge is for each of us to constantly remind ourselves of the humanity of the person with whom we engage
I and Thou isnrsquot just for people It is also true of believing peoplersquos relation-ship with God and also true of organizations and how they relate to people In my experience Ive found it even true of inanimate objects even if that may take it beyond Buberrsquos own con-ception So how do Martin Buber and his I and Thou relate to you all as direct mar-keters and as fundraisers for your worthy organizations
Everyone knows when they are in an I and Thou moment You feel the link and the joy that comes from the link But people also know when they are being used as a means to an end
when they are the ldquoItrdquo in an I-It relationship People may give you what you want when they are in an I-It rela-tionship with you and you may give your counter-party what they seek too but we all know that feeling of sadness or emptiness within when someone you are with mdash a co-worker a boss a spouse a child even a clerk on the phone at a call center mdash treats you as an object to get some-thing achieved and not as an opportunity to feel your humanity and for you to feel theirs even if for a fleeting moment
And the same Ill say is true about the relationship between a potential donor and your organization Those organizations that stand for somethinghellip Those organizations that donrsquot treat their donors as objects like walking checkbookshellip Those organizations that take the time to engage with their prospects Indeed
those organizations that donrsquot even necessarily start by asking for something it is those organizations who I believe will find a wide universe of people eager to believe and eager to be part of the organizationrsquos mission An I-Thou relation-ship doesnrsquot mean we never ask the other party for some-thing It is about how and when we ask Just as we will have a different outcome with our spouses children and co-workers when we are building off of an I-Thou relationship rather than an I-It so too will we have a different outcome when we approach our donors as part-ners as people we care about exactly as much whether they donate or not It is from that soulful relationship that donors will want to support one organization over an-other and one cause over another no matter how angry or frustrated or cynical they are about the larger world
around them That is how I believe the next genera-tion of donors will come to support many but not all of our organizations
When my father died I had the Postal Service forward his mail to my home address In the nearly eight years since his passing Ive received hundreds of mail-ings maybe more I often open the solicitations to try to get a feel for the kinds of causes and organizations my father would have been spending his time learning about and possibly support-ing So while some recipients of your mailings may think of your output as junk mail I couldnrsquot be more apprecia-tive Each envelope serves to remind me that the cynical side of my father was only a side and that when properly touched even a hard man could respond
Thank you all very much for your attention n
copy 2012 Seth M Siegel Reproduction with authorrsquos consent only All rights reserved
Looking for an agency or supplier to help your organization reachnew heights
Access the DMANFrsquos Directory of Service providers
nonprofitfederationorgcorporate-partnerssearch
20 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Nonprofit organizations face unique marketing chal-lenges Theyrsquore tasked with identifying and reaching the right people at the right time and through
the appropriate channels as well as balancing message appeals with monetary requests all while conveying their mission and cause The rapid expansion of the internet social networking and mobile have placed yet another demand front-and-center for nonprofit organizations mdash con-sumer privacy
Consumers are justly concerned about divulging their personal information They want to know where why and how their information will be used Many are unaware that their personal information is collected in a variety of ways and by a variety of sources both online and offline Common but often misunderstood data practices include third-party ad servers setting cookies retail stores matching names and addresses with phone numbers and marketers sharing customer lists
In todayrsquos complex marketplace how can nonprofit organizations demonstrate to their supporters donors and prospects that they share their concerns and are commit-ted to protecting their privacy The first and most important step is to create a clear privacy policy and communicate it effectively
the Privacy PolicyIf your organization collects uses and or stores personal donor information a privacy policy is critical You must display your privacy policy on your website and strictly abide by it
Privacy policies are structured around Notice and Choice principles They should provide supporters with notice of
how their data is collected used and shared as well as their choices to limit or prevent such practices Your privacy policy should also include information to maintain trans-parency and that clearly describes your organizationrsquos data security practices
Key points every privacy policy should address include
The types of personal information your organization collects This may include name address telephone number email address and credit card or other payment information
How information is secured
How personal information is used and with whom it is shared
How supporters can control the use of their data
How the privacy policy is updated and the effective date of the policy
Letrsquos take a more detailed look at the elements of a privacy policy from a nonprofit organizationrsquos perspective
Collecting personal InformationAs mentioned personal information may include data ele-ments such as name address telephone number email address and payment information It can also include more sensitive information such as gender race religious or politi-cal beliefs health information or other characteristics
The types of personal information collected and the length of retention may be used to enhance your marketing
Consumer PrivacyA Guide for Nonprofit Marketers
Bethany Lewis Privacy Analyst Epsilon
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 21
objectives by creating detailed profiles of supporters but what if that dataprofile was accessed without appropriate permis-sions or used by other organizations for purposes beyond the original intent Inappropriate generalizations might be made about supporters regardless of who has the data and the risk for reputational and other damage increases if that type of data is compromised
For example if a supporter donates to an organization that supports research of a genetic disorder should they be identified as a patient of or at risk for that same disorder Perhaps theyrsquore simply a caretaker for someone suffer-ing from that disorder Similarly if a supporter donates to a religious-based organization could assumptions around political leanings be attributed to them
Protecting information about charitable contributions is critical as is informing supporters how that information will be used which brings us to data security and the sharing of personal information
protecting personal InformationToday every organization is vulnerable when it comes to data security Protecting the personal information of supporters is essential The first line of protection is collecting only the necessary data
While creating supporter profiles evaluate the risks of storing ldquounnecessaryrdquo data especially if an incident exposes the data Set internal policies for how long each category of data collected will be retained and be diligent in deletingdestroying data in a safe and thorough manner based on those policies
Whenever possible encrypt personal data maintained electronically and enhance security on laptops and mobile devices from which supporter data is accessed
Sharing personal InformationBe very clear in your privacy policy when providing infor-mation on the types of third-parties with whom your organization shares data If you share information with third-party service providers disclose this fact and provide a categorized list of these organizations Such organizations may include credit card processors shipping vendors mar-keting analysts or consultants and fulfillment houses
If you share information with other nonprofit organi-zations disclose these practices Also disclose if you share information with marketing cooperatives whose databases are not exclusively nonprofit
Protecting
information
about
charitable
contributions
is critical
continued
22 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
providing ChoiceStudies have shown that modern consumers are more com-fortable sharing personal information with organizations that are clear and upfront about how their information is used and with whom it is shared In fact most people respond positively to organizations who transparently disclose data sharing practices and provide a clear and convenient oppor-tunity to opt-out While a small percentage of individuals will choose to opt-out of data sharing very few supporters will opt-out of all contact with an organization Therefore providing an opportunity to opt-out of sharing data for mar-keting purposes as well as an opt-out for receiving further requests from your organization will aid in retaining your most loyal supporters
Updating the privacy policyClearly state the effective date of your current privacy policy and update it when you make any material changes If you do make material changes to your privacy policy with ret-roactive application to the data you already have stored you may need to obtain express consent from individuals to use their information for new or different purposes Some organizations choose to list what changes were made in a summary history which may be helpful to a supporter reviewing the policy
Pulling It All togetherYour privacy policy should be easy to find read understand and act upon (ie opt-out or modify preferences) It should also be present in each commercial solicitation where per-sonal information is collected regardless of whether that is through postal mailings or on your website
Additional information regarding Notice Choice Trans-parency and other important privacy principles can be found on the DMA website in the Commitment to Consumer Choice and the DMA Guidelines for Ethical Business Practice
At Epsilon we use the following checklist when evaluating a privacy policy
The website has a privacy policy
There is a link to the privacy policy from the websitersquos home page and the link contains the word ldquoprivacyrdquo
The privacy policy states that the organization shares consumer data and personal information (including name address email address and transaction informa-tion) with third-party service providers
The privacy policy states that the organization shares consumer data and personal information with other marketers for their own marketing purposes
The privacy policy provides consumers the chance to opt-out of having their information shared with other marketers
The privacy policy has an ldquoeffectiverdquo date
As mentioned in situations where data is shared with other organizations and marketers transparency is the key Below is sample disclosure language
The personally identifiable information that you provide to us
(such as your name address and email address) and information
about your contribution may be combined with other non-person-
ally identifiable information (such as demographic information and
past contribution history) available from our records and other
sources This information will be used to make our future market-
ing efforts more efficient and relevant This information may also
be shared with our third-party service providers that assist us
with our marketing efforts and with other marketers whose prod-
ucts or services we feel may be of interest to you If you prefer
that we do not share your name and address with other market-
ers please email us at optoutyourorganizationorg
Beyond the Privacy PolicyIn addition to having a robust privacy policy written in concise language and that is easily accessible here are a few other best practices to secure the privacy of your sup-portersrsquo information
Ensure agreements with third-parties who may have access to supportersrsquo personal information adequately address privacy and data security
Suppress personal information in your database when a supporter requests it and do so within a reasonable timeframe
If you must store sensitive information such as credit card or social security numbers as part of your data-base encrypt this information
Train employees and volunteers regularly on the importance of maintaining privacy and security
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 23
Nonprofit Careers e-Bulletin
Your Multi-ChannelRecruiting Tool
Become familiar with data breach notification require-ments and have a response plan and team in place Should you experience a breach disclose to all appro-priate and necessary parties
Monitor the use of your data and address any enti-ties when you become aware that data is being used in a way that violates the law contractual requirements andor the DMArsquos Ethical Guidelines
Respecting and promoting consumer privacy requires a commitment to maintaining balance between the legitimate business needs of your organization and the concerns of individuals about fair information practices Start by taking a look at your current privacy policy Assure its accuracy and adhere to its strategy n
Bethany Lewis As a Privacy Analyst Bethany Lewis supports and educates associates and clients on privacy compliance matters She brings an extensive background in regulatory compliance corporate ethics education and training to her work at Epsilon
ldquoThe recruitment Tool for the Nonprofit Communityrdquo is your source for top flight exposure to top flight candidates and the best A b amp C-level career opportunities out there
Distributed every Tuesday 8 am ET via raquo Email raquo post at wwwnonprofitfederationorg raquo Facebook mdash DMA Nonprofit Federation raquo Twitter mdash DMANF and AliozDC
To view ad submission requirements visit the ldquoFind a Jobrdquo area of the DMA Nonprofit Federation homepage wwwnonprofitfederationorg and click on ldquoHow to postrdquo Ads must be emailed to Aosgoodthe-dmaorg please make sure any ad you submit meets our specifications
Is your nonprofit organization already a dual member of the DMA and DMANF If the answer is lsquoyesrsquo itrsquos FrEE mdash so why not post
Join the over 8000 professionals who already subscribe
Sign up today nonprofitfederationorgpublications careers-e-bulletinsubscribe
DMA Guidelines for Ethical Business Practice
dmaresponsibilityorgGuidelines
24 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Each week I see non-profit organizations walking away from
mobile thinking that com-municating and fundraising with their constituents through the single most used electronic device in history is optional Con-versely we see more and more retailers embracing mobile and the omnichan-nel marketing model because the results are tre-mendous We at mGive think nonprofits benefit when they embrace similar tools and methodologies
What is an omnichan-nel approach and why is it important to non-profit organizations An omnichannel approach is an integrated marketing strat-egy that creates a seamless experience for the donor
It is a customer-centric approach that elevates your supporter loyalty strategies by leveraging cross-channel opportunities For example when a donor drops off goods at their local Epilepsy Foundation they receive a paper receipt to complete Normally once they leave your location you lose any hope of communicating with them again Imagine if when the donor dropped off their goods you offered to send the donor an email version of their receipt You now have a way to engage the supporter through email Now suppose your email receipt offered a web link that drove them to a form to opt-in to your mobile community in order to receive updates via text
Once they opt-in you then have a way to send updates volunteer requests dona-tion reminders and more You may also leverage the fact they are on the mobile phone and send text mes-sages asking supporters to post a photo to Facebook making a donation Having this omnichannel strat-egy in place is especially critical at the end of year because it is an opportune time for organizations to increase membership and raise dollars
So how does an organization create an omnichannel approach that leverages direct mail email online social media live events and mobile to achieve their goals It may be difficult for some orga-nizations to make the
operational shift to an omnichannel model but that doesnrsquot mean you can afford to ignore it Not sure you can get all the steps in place by the time you launch your end of year activities Mobile is the bridge that can help to start that process In fact more and more organizations are relying on their mobile strategy to bridge the gap and engage supporters in this multi-screen world because mobile is the ldquogreat centralizerrdquo of activities ndash where else can you make calls browse the web check email respond to text mes-sages post to social media and more in a truly porta-ble fashion
Before we move on to the tactics that an organiza-tion can take to incorporate
Mobile
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 25
mobile into their existing multi-channel strategies we must tackle one issue If your organization has tried mobile or an omnichan-nel approach in the past and were disappointed or frustrated with your expe-rience try again You were one of the pioneering orga-nizations that comprise the early adopters of those models Lessons learned over the past few years have evolved into success-ful best practices mdash and you get the opportunity to benefit from them As we like to say in honor of the wise Master Yoda ldquoTry not Do or do not There is no tryrdquo We guarantee if imple-mented correctly using mobile in an omnichannel approach can work for your organization
1 Communicate and Integrate mdash Walk Across the Mobile Bridge
Many organizations that I work with have voiced cross-departmental integra-tion as a challenge That is understandable because tra-ditionally departments or channels have been siloed from one another But this disenfranchised model does not result in the seam-less experience that donors are coming to expect In order for a donor experi-ence to be seamless direct mail must complement the organizationrsquos website the organizationrsquos website must complement the mobile campaign social media must complement direct mail and so forth and so on When used together
the communication chan-nels can result in more effective campaigns and bigger numbers
When an organization decides to develop a mobile strategy generally it is one department within that organization that is initially interested That department is a hero because they have just launched a toolset that can be used throughout the organization If you have a mobile program in place for fundraising itrsquos time to talk with your program services department mem-bership team and corporate partner folks and get them in the loop so that you can maximize the omnichannel approach Mobile can be a great catalyst for initiating conversation and guiding organizational integration
Mobile is also a great way to increase the effec-tiveness of existing channels By integrating your direct mail newslet-ter social media online and mobile efforts you can increase response and open rates We have found that if you send a text message to your membership remind-ing them to check their email inboxes you can increase email open rates by 10 or more Addition-ally if you include a mobile number field on your email and paper member-ship forms you can quickly build a mobile community that can turn into repeat donors Once again the most important element besides the actual cross
the Bridge to an omnichannel Approach in time for Year-End Campaigns
continued
Jenifer Snyder Esq Executive Director The mGive Foundation and Cassie Bair Vice President of Marketing Mobile Accord
26 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
channel promotion goes back to this concept of the omnichannel Make the message consistent across all channels They donrsquot have to be identical but they should complement each other and work to create an echo effect
Just about every one of your donors will experience your organization through their mobile device at some point mdash so make sure your message is clear consistent convenient and actionable through mobile in some capacity
2 test Review Adjust Implement Review Adjust mdash and Repeat
Once you have an inte-grated strategy in place itrsquos time to implement Whether the goal is to acquire new donors reactivate lapsed donors and drive donations from existing donors mdash or all three mdash test your cam-paign Take time to review the results and adjust accordingly Then imple-ment full scale confident you are on the right path Regularly review your results adjust your activities and repeat as needed
In preparation for end of year activities take the time in the Fall to tweak your marketing engine for optimal performance Do some zero based plan-ning and try to approach
the supporter experience as if you are the supporter Spend time on every avenue where you can wisely create a seamless experience
Everyone in philan-thropy knows that the majority of all charitable donations are made in the last 2 months of the year Additionally member-ship increases substantially during the last quarter of the year Spend time now identifying opportunities strategies and tactics that work best for you mdash and consider how mobile can be a centralizing point for many of these activities
3 Apply the Winning Methodologies to Your End of Year Appeals
Yoursquove tested tweaked and determined what works best for you Now inte-grate what yoursquove learned into your end of year cam-paigns Determine how your campaign follows stan-dard best practices for end of year appeals and where mobile can help drive that engagement across multiple mediums
Common best practices for end of year campaigns that can include mobile
A Sending multiple asks the final week of the year mdash Make sure text messages are a part of that effort Whether itrsquos a simple call-to-action to text
a donation drives people to a pledge page or some-thing all-together different mobile can help ramp up that seamless experience
B the Art of the ldquothank Yourdquo mdash Thank your sup-porters Use mobile to message supporters your appreciation when they take action through text or drive them to a webpage with a video with a celeb-rity spokesperson giving a thank you message But make sure they know repeatedly that what they do for your cause matters And keep in mind mobile can drive to a strong ldquothank yourdquo experience
C Share Ask Listen mdash Take the opportunity to tell a story ask for feed-back and listen to what your organization is being told Not sure how to do that in mobile Share a link to a news article through text Ask for feedback through social media And listen to what is being said while distilling insights from how supporters respond in order to strengthen your omnichannel approach
4 Continue into 2013 mdash You are set for success
As donors enter the New Year self-improve-ment will often include a
commitment to be a better person volunteer more donate more funds etc Use mobile as a data col-lection tool to help your donors achieve their goal Give them the opportunity to commit to goals pertain-ing to your cause and then become their coach Send monthly reminders of their commitment and words of encouragement Remind them about appointments invite them to share their experience and overall let the donor feel the effect of their selfless promise through all of their activi-ties while using mobile to centralize that community and to drive people to action
We now live in a world where the average person at any given moment is looking at two or more screens It is critical that nonprofit organizations embrace the multi-screen world and adopt the omnichannel or fully integrated model When you create a seam-less giving experience for the everyday philanthropist you will be amazed at the results Walking away from a mobile strategy today is like walking away from the internet in the early 2000s
Mobile is here to stay and it is not an elective component to your orga-nizationrsquos fundraising and engagement strategy Itrsquos an essential part of a successful omnichannel strategy for your end of year activities n
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 27
Jenifer Snyder Esq Executive Director The mGive Foundation
As Executive Director of The mGive Foun-dation Jenifer is dedicated to expanding the scope and reach of the mobile channel for social good She brings years of lead-ership experience in the mobile industry to the position Previously Jenifer was a founder and General Counsel for 9 Squared Inc a mobile content and ser-vices company subsequently acquired by the Zed Group She left Zed in 2007 and started building the mobile channel for social and charitable efforts and later formed The mGive Foundation
Cassie bair Vice president of Marketing Mobile Accord
As Vice President of Marketing for Mobile Accord Cassie is dedicated to educat-ing and empowering nonprofits regarding the power of mobile She combines years of marketing experience in the nonprofit industry with the exciting evolution of the mobile channel for social good Cassie has worked with organizations such as the American Heart Association American Institute of Architects and the American Society of Echocardiography developing integrated and cause marketing cam-paigns and uses that knowledge today with clients to help them maximize their mobile strategy
Name
OrganizationCompany
Address
City State Zip Code
Charge my m Visa m MasterCard m AmEx m Discover
Card Number Expiration Date
Signature
raquo FAX form to 2026284383 (do not email credit card information)
raquo MAIL form to Alicia Osgood Director Membership amp Communications DMA Nonprofit Federation 1615 L Street NW Suite 1100 Washington DC 20036
raquo MAKE ChECKS payable to the DMA Nonprofit Federation
raquo DMA Nonprofit Federation Federal Tax ID Number 13-1810859
News and cutting-edge professional development tips
SUBSCRIBEto the Journal today1year =3 issues
ONLY $35Published digitally in January Apriland September the Journal brings together nonprofit leaders to deliver a standout publication packed with content you can really use
No cost to members
28 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Consumer technology evolves so quickly that nonprof-its are constantly racing to get their organizations using the latest technologies and mediums In fact many of these innovations have had significant impact on the fundrais-ing community While online CRM systems for example spawned database segmentation capabilities the opportu-nity ndash and challenge ndash arose for fundraising professionals to target appeals precisely to donorsrsquo specific interests Lately the emergence and rapid popularity of technologies such as smartphones and social media have forced nonprofits to not only create a presence but essentially compete for shrinking donor funds using these vehicles
The primary focus of nonprofit technology however tends to be inward creating a presence in a particular social media community or simply using the technology on behalf of the organization Examples of this include a nonprofitrsquos Facebook page and Twitter account and mobile-friendly
web sites In todayrsquos competitive fundraising environment though itrsquos not enough for nonprofits to simply use the latest technology Successful fundraisers understand that a nonprofitrsquos relationship with technology needs to take one step beyond itself to focus outward how do your sup-porters and donors want to use technology on behalf of your organization
Donors have technology preferences and habits too While itrsquos great for organizations to have a Facebook page for sup-porters to ldquolikerdquo that offers news and updates for example this doesnrsquot offer an opportunity for donors to appeal to their friends and family on behalf of your nonprofit mdash and certainly doesnrsquot raise money As nonprofits have learned to quickly adapt to changing technology and social media standards the time has come for organizations to evolve the technology they offer to provide donors supporters and par-ticipants with a personalized fundraising experience
Get Personal Providing Supporters with Personalized Fundraising Experiences
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 29
Personalization Means EngagementAt a fundamental level donor personalization in fun-
draising emerged from some of the first online nonprofit fundraising systems Offering supporters the opportunity to send personalized fundraising emails to their friends and family was revolutionary in its time mdash as was offering custom individual and team fundraising web pages
While these technology offerings revolutionized event fundraising donors have become increasingly savvy in the way they interact online mdash and developed strong preferences and dislikes in the types of technology they use They want the technology they know and like to be at their fingertips and are more likely to fundraise and successfully so for your nonprofit if itrsquos made easy and accessible for them
Back to Basics mdash But BetterNonprofits have been so consumed by social media that
they often forget this simple fact participants who use online tools raise six times more than non-users according to Blackbaud In addition 25 percent of the fundraising emails supporters send to their friends result in a donation With the average online gift being $60 nonprofits have motiva-tion not to forget about the basics of online fundraising But in the age of increasing competition for donations nonprof-its that offer a more personalized fundraising experience to supporters may see better results
What does it mean to offer a personalized fundrais-ing experience For online fundraising pages it can mean offering them the opportunity to post pictures videos story content and individual fundraising status updates But itrsquos essentially the personalization options offered behind the scenes mdash in the personal ldquoHeadquartersrdquo page within an online fundraising system mdash that can really maximize fun-draising results
Savvy nonprofits are offering a multitude of ways within their online fundraising systems for supporters to choose to reach out to friends and family Offering more than the email capabilities found standard with most fundraising plat-forms some nonprofits are starting to provide supporters more options in their personal participant ldquoheadquartersrdquo pages to engage those in their network mdash all with the click of a button Opportunities for supporters to personalize their experience could include options to
Send a Facebook message
Tweet their fundraising page
Update their Facebook status
Send a quick email
In addition statistics about their personal fundraising process could tell them
Total emails sent
Visits to their personal fundraising pages
Number of donations
Number of registrations
Average amount raised per email sent
Number of additional emails needed to reach fundraising goal
And because no one participant is the same these per-sonalization options allow the supporter to interact and engage their network on behalf of the nonprofit in ways that are meaningful and comfortable to them
Beyond the Facebook PageThe nonprofit community has taken Facebook by storm as an avenue to engage supporters and attract donors But itrsquos important to look beyond how supporters want to interact with your nonprofit and understand how they want to in-teract with their social network Itrsquos within this framework that supporters choose mdash or choose not mdash to engage their network on your organizationrsquos behalf
So make it easy for them provide them with a variety of ways to use several social media tools to reach out and fund-raise for your nonprofit Let them decide how they fundraise With 845 million monthly active users and 100 billion con-nections Facebook for example provides an excellent platform for nonprofits mdash and their fundraisers mdash to expand fundraising reach In fact Blackbaudrsquos web site states that social media users raise 40 more than non-users But most
continued
John Murphy PresidentCEo and Founder Zuri Group
30 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
organizations make the mistake of relying on participants to send their own appeals and updates or worse provide cum-bersome tools that require multiple logins and steps
Some enthusiastic fundraisers will thrive in this envi-ronment Others wonrsquot Since each supporter is unique itrsquos important to provide several varying opportunities and options so that a personalized fundraising experience can be forged For many fundraisers asking for donations isnrsquot easy All participants want to raise money but many donrsquot feel comfortable asking outside of close friends and family Other fundraisers donrsquot have the time or creativity to regu-larly develop and update personalized Facebook messages Use technology to help overcome these challenges by creat-ing easy ways for them to raise more money using Facebook
To take the effort out of Facebook fundraising remove the discomfort of a direct ldquoaskrdquo and save fundraisers time some nonprofits are offering supporters the option for fun-draising updates that automatically post on their Facebook wall at pre-determined intervals throughout the fundraising season For the right supporter this option removes the dis-comfort of approaching potential donors with a direct ldquoaskrdquo while significantly expanding their fundraising reach
Mobilizing the troopsAccording to a 2011 study consumers spend more time
on mobile applications than on the web In addition Ameri-cans spend 27 hours per day on average socializing on their mobile phones Nonprofits have been hard at work to lever-age the trend toward mobile by creating mobile-friendly web sites and even apps to further engage supporters But what about the mobile interaction that takes place between sup-porters and their friends The key is for nonprofits to make it accessible and easy for fundraisers to use their everyday technologies and devices to fundraise within their own networks By providing fundraising options that enable sup-porters to simply use something they already use such as a smartphone to connect with people they already interact with fundraising becomes a more natural and personalized part of the supporterrsquos day
To provide a more personalized and convenient fun-draising experience some nonprofits are offering mobile fundraising apps that enable supporters to not only use their smartphones to fundraise but to fundraise using multiple technologies within the smartphone mdash such as email text Twitter Facebook and even FaceTime for iPhone users As a result supporters can fundraise for the organization from their homes the train while walking the dog mdash anytime they have their phone
By empowering supporters to personalize their fundrais-ing experience nonprofits that provide mobile fundraising apps help their fundraisers help them These organizations are meeting the needs of on-the-go fundraising participants so they can focus on spreading awareness soliciting dona-tions and thanking donors mdash on their time on their terms In fact itrsquos been reported that fundraising participants using mobile fundraising applications raise 200 more than other participants and bring in 300 more gifts by count that other participants
In addition some mobile fundraising apps are provid-ing further personalization by bringing some of the same features of the personalized online ldquoheadquartersrdquo to the smartphone such as fundraising thermometers and adding donors into their phone address book Pre-written fundrais-ing messages developed specifically for various mediums such as texts Twitter updates and emails can be used Editing personal fundraising pages from the smartphone is likely the next option nonprofits will start offering
the Personalization ChallengeAs nonprofits compete in the race to adopt new technolo-
gies and social media itrsquos important to take a step back and consider your supportersrsquo relationship with those channels Many nonprofits have a Facebook page or group but how are your fundraisers using Facebook Are you making it easy for them to advocate or fundraise for your organization If much of your donor base uses text messaging have you pro-vided easy access and tools for them to text their network on your behalf
Supporters want and frankly need a personalized online experience with your organization Go beyond the bounds of your interactive relationship and consider what would enable your supporter base to have a more personalized fundrais-ing experience mdash and then put those tools at their fingertips They and their network mdash will thank you n
John Murphy is the PresidentCEO and Founder of Zuri Group Zuri Group provides nonprofits with custom technology solutions to meet critical organizational needs such as fundraising using their existing platform For more info visit zurigroupcom
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 31Non-Profit_FullPageAd_OLindd 1 91312 417 PM
32 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
9 Centennial Drive
Peabody MA 01960-7906
Tel 8003707500
wwwamergentcom
c a l l j a c k d o y l e
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Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 33
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We Can HelpWiland Direct is the nationrsquos 1 transactional database for fundraisers
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bull Affordably acquire new donors bull Maximize contributions from existing donors bull Reactivate former donorsbull Identify the most likely activists and volunteersbull Convert inquirers petition signers and other ldquowarm leadsrdquo into donors
To learn more please contact John Spencer at 9703106378 or via email at jspencerwilanddirectcom
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ldquoThe Wiland Direct database has been a solid performer for LLS with higher average gifts and lower cost per dollar raised than most Itrsquos opened up a new acquisition universe particularly important for a mature program Wersquore very pleased with the results and team support from Wilandrdquomdash Bruny Lynch The Leukemia amp Lymphoma Society
34 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
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Want to see for yourself
Contact annesagecommunicationscom or call 508-309-6678 x 1 for a no-obligation quote
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Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 35
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36 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
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Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 37
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38 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
1
2
3
A
B
C
20 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Nonprofit organizations face unique marketing chal-lenges Theyrsquore tasked with identifying and reaching the right people at the right time and through
the appropriate channels as well as balancing message appeals with monetary requests all while conveying their mission and cause The rapid expansion of the internet social networking and mobile have placed yet another demand front-and-center for nonprofit organizations mdash con-sumer privacy
Consumers are justly concerned about divulging their personal information They want to know where why and how their information will be used Many are unaware that their personal information is collected in a variety of ways and by a variety of sources both online and offline Common but often misunderstood data practices include third-party ad servers setting cookies retail stores matching names and addresses with phone numbers and marketers sharing customer lists
In todayrsquos complex marketplace how can nonprofit organizations demonstrate to their supporters donors and prospects that they share their concerns and are commit-ted to protecting their privacy The first and most important step is to create a clear privacy policy and communicate it effectively
the Privacy PolicyIf your organization collects uses and or stores personal donor information a privacy policy is critical You must display your privacy policy on your website and strictly abide by it
Privacy policies are structured around Notice and Choice principles They should provide supporters with notice of
how their data is collected used and shared as well as their choices to limit or prevent such practices Your privacy policy should also include information to maintain trans-parency and that clearly describes your organizationrsquos data security practices
Key points every privacy policy should address include
The types of personal information your organization collects This may include name address telephone number email address and credit card or other payment information
How information is secured
How personal information is used and with whom it is shared
How supporters can control the use of their data
How the privacy policy is updated and the effective date of the policy
Letrsquos take a more detailed look at the elements of a privacy policy from a nonprofit organizationrsquos perspective
Collecting personal InformationAs mentioned personal information may include data ele-ments such as name address telephone number email address and payment information It can also include more sensitive information such as gender race religious or politi-cal beliefs health information or other characteristics
The types of personal information collected and the length of retention may be used to enhance your marketing
Consumer PrivacyA Guide for Nonprofit Marketers
Bethany Lewis Privacy Analyst Epsilon
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 21
objectives by creating detailed profiles of supporters but what if that dataprofile was accessed without appropriate permis-sions or used by other organizations for purposes beyond the original intent Inappropriate generalizations might be made about supporters regardless of who has the data and the risk for reputational and other damage increases if that type of data is compromised
For example if a supporter donates to an organization that supports research of a genetic disorder should they be identified as a patient of or at risk for that same disorder Perhaps theyrsquore simply a caretaker for someone suffer-ing from that disorder Similarly if a supporter donates to a religious-based organization could assumptions around political leanings be attributed to them
Protecting information about charitable contributions is critical as is informing supporters how that information will be used which brings us to data security and the sharing of personal information
protecting personal InformationToday every organization is vulnerable when it comes to data security Protecting the personal information of supporters is essential The first line of protection is collecting only the necessary data
While creating supporter profiles evaluate the risks of storing ldquounnecessaryrdquo data especially if an incident exposes the data Set internal policies for how long each category of data collected will be retained and be diligent in deletingdestroying data in a safe and thorough manner based on those policies
Whenever possible encrypt personal data maintained electronically and enhance security on laptops and mobile devices from which supporter data is accessed
Sharing personal InformationBe very clear in your privacy policy when providing infor-mation on the types of third-parties with whom your organization shares data If you share information with third-party service providers disclose this fact and provide a categorized list of these organizations Such organizations may include credit card processors shipping vendors mar-keting analysts or consultants and fulfillment houses
If you share information with other nonprofit organi-zations disclose these practices Also disclose if you share information with marketing cooperatives whose databases are not exclusively nonprofit
Protecting
information
about
charitable
contributions
is critical
continued
22 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
providing ChoiceStudies have shown that modern consumers are more com-fortable sharing personal information with organizations that are clear and upfront about how their information is used and with whom it is shared In fact most people respond positively to organizations who transparently disclose data sharing practices and provide a clear and convenient oppor-tunity to opt-out While a small percentage of individuals will choose to opt-out of data sharing very few supporters will opt-out of all contact with an organization Therefore providing an opportunity to opt-out of sharing data for mar-keting purposes as well as an opt-out for receiving further requests from your organization will aid in retaining your most loyal supporters
Updating the privacy policyClearly state the effective date of your current privacy policy and update it when you make any material changes If you do make material changes to your privacy policy with ret-roactive application to the data you already have stored you may need to obtain express consent from individuals to use their information for new or different purposes Some organizations choose to list what changes were made in a summary history which may be helpful to a supporter reviewing the policy
Pulling It All togetherYour privacy policy should be easy to find read understand and act upon (ie opt-out or modify preferences) It should also be present in each commercial solicitation where per-sonal information is collected regardless of whether that is through postal mailings or on your website
Additional information regarding Notice Choice Trans-parency and other important privacy principles can be found on the DMA website in the Commitment to Consumer Choice and the DMA Guidelines for Ethical Business Practice
At Epsilon we use the following checklist when evaluating a privacy policy
The website has a privacy policy
There is a link to the privacy policy from the websitersquos home page and the link contains the word ldquoprivacyrdquo
The privacy policy states that the organization shares consumer data and personal information (including name address email address and transaction informa-tion) with third-party service providers
The privacy policy states that the organization shares consumer data and personal information with other marketers for their own marketing purposes
The privacy policy provides consumers the chance to opt-out of having their information shared with other marketers
The privacy policy has an ldquoeffectiverdquo date
As mentioned in situations where data is shared with other organizations and marketers transparency is the key Below is sample disclosure language
The personally identifiable information that you provide to us
(such as your name address and email address) and information
about your contribution may be combined with other non-person-
ally identifiable information (such as demographic information and
past contribution history) available from our records and other
sources This information will be used to make our future market-
ing efforts more efficient and relevant This information may also
be shared with our third-party service providers that assist us
with our marketing efforts and with other marketers whose prod-
ucts or services we feel may be of interest to you If you prefer
that we do not share your name and address with other market-
ers please email us at optoutyourorganizationorg
Beyond the Privacy PolicyIn addition to having a robust privacy policy written in concise language and that is easily accessible here are a few other best practices to secure the privacy of your sup-portersrsquo information
Ensure agreements with third-parties who may have access to supportersrsquo personal information adequately address privacy and data security
Suppress personal information in your database when a supporter requests it and do so within a reasonable timeframe
If you must store sensitive information such as credit card or social security numbers as part of your data-base encrypt this information
Train employees and volunteers regularly on the importance of maintaining privacy and security
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 23
Nonprofit Careers e-Bulletin
Your Multi-ChannelRecruiting Tool
Become familiar with data breach notification require-ments and have a response plan and team in place Should you experience a breach disclose to all appro-priate and necessary parties
Monitor the use of your data and address any enti-ties when you become aware that data is being used in a way that violates the law contractual requirements andor the DMArsquos Ethical Guidelines
Respecting and promoting consumer privacy requires a commitment to maintaining balance between the legitimate business needs of your organization and the concerns of individuals about fair information practices Start by taking a look at your current privacy policy Assure its accuracy and adhere to its strategy n
Bethany Lewis As a Privacy Analyst Bethany Lewis supports and educates associates and clients on privacy compliance matters She brings an extensive background in regulatory compliance corporate ethics education and training to her work at Epsilon
ldquoThe recruitment Tool for the Nonprofit Communityrdquo is your source for top flight exposure to top flight candidates and the best A b amp C-level career opportunities out there
Distributed every Tuesday 8 am ET via raquo Email raquo post at wwwnonprofitfederationorg raquo Facebook mdash DMA Nonprofit Federation raquo Twitter mdash DMANF and AliozDC
To view ad submission requirements visit the ldquoFind a Jobrdquo area of the DMA Nonprofit Federation homepage wwwnonprofitfederationorg and click on ldquoHow to postrdquo Ads must be emailed to Aosgoodthe-dmaorg please make sure any ad you submit meets our specifications
Is your nonprofit organization already a dual member of the DMA and DMANF If the answer is lsquoyesrsquo itrsquos FrEE mdash so why not post
Join the over 8000 professionals who already subscribe
Sign up today nonprofitfederationorgpublications careers-e-bulletinsubscribe
DMA Guidelines for Ethical Business Practice
dmaresponsibilityorgGuidelines
24 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Each week I see non-profit organizations walking away from
mobile thinking that com-municating and fundraising with their constituents through the single most used electronic device in history is optional Con-versely we see more and more retailers embracing mobile and the omnichan-nel marketing model because the results are tre-mendous We at mGive think nonprofits benefit when they embrace similar tools and methodologies
What is an omnichan-nel approach and why is it important to non-profit organizations An omnichannel approach is an integrated marketing strat-egy that creates a seamless experience for the donor
It is a customer-centric approach that elevates your supporter loyalty strategies by leveraging cross-channel opportunities For example when a donor drops off goods at their local Epilepsy Foundation they receive a paper receipt to complete Normally once they leave your location you lose any hope of communicating with them again Imagine if when the donor dropped off their goods you offered to send the donor an email version of their receipt You now have a way to engage the supporter through email Now suppose your email receipt offered a web link that drove them to a form to opt-in to your mobile community in order to receive updates via text
Once they opt-in you then have a way to send updates volunteer requests dona-tion reminders and more You may also leverage the fact they are on the mobile phone and send text mes-sages asking supporters to post a photo to Facebook making a donation Having this omnichannel strat-egy in place is especially critical at the end of year because it is an opportune time for organizations to increase membership and raise dollars
So how does an organization create an omnichannel approach that leverages direct mail email online social media live events and mobile to achieve their goals It may be difficult for some orga-nizations to make the
operational shift to an omnichannel model but that doesnrsquot mean you can afford to ignore it Not sure you can get all the steps in place by the time you launch your end of year activities Mobile is the bridge that can help to start that process In fact more and more organizations are relying on their mobile strategy to bridge the gap and engage supporters in this multi-screen world because mobile is the ldquogreat centralizerrdquo of activities ndash where else can you make calls browse the web check email respond to text mes-sages post to social media and more in a truly porta-ble fashion
Before we move on to the tactics that an organiza-tion can take to incorporate
Mobile
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 25
mobile into their existing multi-channel strategies we must tackle one issue If your organization has tried mobile or an omnichan-nel approach in the past and were disappointed or frustrated with your expe-rience try again You were one of the pioneering orga-nizations that comprise the early adopters of those models Lessons learned over the past few years have evolved into success-ful best practices mdash and you get the opportunity to benefit from them As we like to say in honor of the wise Master Yoda ldquoTry not Do or do not There is no tryrdquo We guarantee if imple-mented correctly using mobile in an omnichannel approach can work for your organization
1 Communicate and Integrate mdash Walk Across the Mobile Bridge
Many organizations that I work with have voiced cross-departmental integra-tion as a challenge That is understandable because tra-ditionally departments or channels have been siloed from one another But this disenfranchised model does not result in the seam-less experience that donors are coming to expect In order for a donor experi-ence to be seamless direct mail must complement the organizationrsquos website the organizationrsquos website must complement the mobile campaign social media must complement direct mail and so forth and so on When used together
the communication chan-nels can result in more effective campaigns and bigger numbers
When an organization decides to develop a mobile strategy generally it is one department within that organization that is initially interested That department is a hero because they have just launched a toolset that can be used throughout the organization If you have a mobile program in place for fundraising itrsquos time to talk with your program services department mem-bership team and corporate partner folks and get them in the loop so that you can maximize the omnichannel approach Mobile can be a great catalyst for initiating conversation and guiding organizational integration
Mobile is also a great way to increase the effec-tiveness of existing channels By integrating your direct mail newslet-ter social media online and mobile efforts you can increase response and open rates We have found that if you send a text message to your membership remind-ing them to check their email inboxes you can increase email open rates by 10 or more Addition-ally if you include a mobile number field on your email and paper member-ship forms you can quickly build a mobile community that can turn into repeat donors Once again the most important element besides the actual cross
the Bridge to an omnichannel Approach in time for Year-End Campaigns
continued
Jenifer Snyder Esq Executive Director The mGive Foundation and Cassie Bair Vice President of Marketing Mobile Accord
26 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
channel promotion goes back to this concept of the omnichannel Make the message consistent across all channels They donrsquot have to be identical but they should complement each other and work to create an echo effect
Just about every one of your donors will experience your organization through their mobile device at some point mdash so make sure your message is clear consistent convenient and actionable through mobile in some capacity
2 test Review Adjust Implement Review Adjust mdash and Repeat
Once you have an inte-grated strategy in place itrsquos time to implement Whether the goal is to acquire new donors reactivate lapsed donors and drive donations from existing donors mdash or all three mdash test your cam-paign Take time to review the results and adjust accordingly Then imple-ment full scale confident you are on the right path Regularly review your results adjust your activities and repeat as needed
In preparation for end of year activities take the time in the Fall to tweak your marketing engine for optimal performance Do some zero based plan-ning and try to approach
the supporter experience as if you are the supporter Spend time on every avenue where you can wisely create a seamless experience
Everyone in philan-thropy knows that the majority of all charitable donations are made in the last 2 months of the year Additionally member-ship increases substantially during the last quarter of the year Spend time now identifying opportunities strategies and tactics that work best for you mdash and consider how mobile can be a centralizing point for many of these activities
3 Apply the Winning Methodologies to Your End of Year Appeals
Yoursquove tested tweaked and determined what works best for you Now inte-grate what yoursquove learned into your end of year cam-paigns Determine how your campaign follows stan-dard best practices for end of year appeals and where mobile can help drive that engagement across multiple mediums
Common best practices for end of year campaigns that can include mobile
A Sending multiple asks the final week of the year mdash Make sure text messages are a part of that effort Whether itrsquos a simple call-to-action to text
a donation drives people to a pledge page or some-thing all-together different mobile can help ramp up that seamless experience
B the Art of the ldquothank Yourdquo mdash Thank your sup-porters Use mobile to message supporters your appreciation when they take action through text or drive them to a webpage with a video with a celeb-rity spokesperson giving a thank you message But make sure they know repeatedly that what they do for your cause matters And keep in mind mobile can drive to a strong ldquothank yourdquo experience
C Share Ask Listen mdash Take the opportunity to tell a story ask for feed-back and listen to what your organization is being told Not sure how to do that in mobile Share a link to a news article through text Ask for feedback through social media And listen to what is being said while distilling insights from how supporters respond in order to strengthen your omnichannel approach
4 Continue into 2013 mdash You are set for success
As donors enter the New Year self-improve-ment will often include a
commitment to be a better person volunteer more donate more funds etc Use mobile as a data col-lection tool to help your donors achieve their goal Give them the opportunity to commit to goals pertain-ing to your cause and then become their coach Send monthly reminders of their commitment and words of encouragement Remind them about appointments invite them to share their experience and overall let the donor feel the effect of their selfless promise through all of their activi-ties while using mobile to centralize that community and to drive people to action
We now live in a world where the average person at any given moment is looking at two or more screens It is critical that nonprofit organizations embrace the multi-screen world and adopt the omnichannel or fully integrated model When you create a seam-less giving experience for the everyday philanthropist you will be amazed at the results Walking away from a mobile strategy today is like walking away from the internet in the early 2000s
Mobile is here to stay and it is not an elective component to your orga-nizationrsquos fundraising and engagement strategy Itrsquos an essential part of a successful omnichannel strategy for your end of year activities n
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 27
Jenifer Snyder Esq Executive Director The mGive Foundation
As Executive Director of The mGive Foun-dation Jenifer is dedicated to expanding the scope and reach of the mobile channel for social good She brings years of lead-ership experience in the mobile industry to the position Previously Jenifer was a founder and General Counsel for 9 Squared Inc a mobile content and ser-vices company subsequently acquired by the Zed Group She left Zed in 2007 and started building the mobile channel for social and charitable efforts and later formed The mGive Foundation
Cassie bair Vice president of Marketing Mobile Accord
As Vice President of Marketing for Mobile Accord Cassie is dedicated to educat-ing and empowering nonprofits regarding the power of mobile She combines years of marketing experience in the nonprofit industry with the exciting evolution of the mobile channel for social good Cassie has worked with organizations such as the American Heart Association American Institute of Architects and the American Society of Echocardiography developing integrated and cause marketing cam-paigns and uses that knowledge today with clients to help them maximize their mobile strategy
Name
OrganizationCompany
Address
City State Zip Code
Charge my m Visa m MasterCard m AmEx m Discover
Card Number Expiration Date
Signature
raquo FAX form to 2026284383 (do not email credit card information)
raquo MAIL form to Alicia Osgood Director Membership amp Communications DMA Nonprofit Federation 1615 L Street NW Suite 1100 Washington DC 20036
raquo MAKE ChECKS payable to the DMA Nonprofit Federation
raquo DMA Nonprofit Federation Federal Tax ID Number 13-1810859
News and cutting-edge professional development tips
SUBSCRIBEto the Journal today1year =3 issues
ONLY $35Published digitally in January Apriland September the Journal brings together nonprofit leaders to deliver a standout publication packed with content you can really use
No cost to members
28 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Consumer technology evolves so quickly that nonprof-its are constantly racing to get their organizations using the latest technologies and mediums In fact many of these innovations have had significant impact on the fundrais-ing community While online CRM systems for example spawned database segmentation capabilities the opportu-nity ndash and challenge ndash arose for fundraising professionals to target appeals precisely to donorsrsquo specific interests Lately the emergence and rapid popularity of technologies such as smartphones and social media have forced nonprofits to not only create a presence but essentially compete for shrinking donor funds using these vehicles
The primary focus of nonprofit technology however tends to be inward creating a presence in a particular social media community or simply using the technology on behalf of the organization Examples of this include a nonprofitrsquos Facebook page and Twitter account and mobile-friendly
web sites In todayrsquos competitive fundraising environment though itrsquos not enough for nonprofits to simply use the latest technology Successful fundraisers understand that a nonprofitrsquos relationship with technology needs to take one step beyond itself to focus outward how do your sup-porters and donors want to use technology on behalf of your organization
Donors have technology preferences and habits too While itrsquos great for organizations to have a Facebook page for sup-porters to ldquolikerdquo that offers news and updates for example this doesnrsquot offer an opportunity for donors to appeal to their friends and family on behalf of your nonprofit mdash and certainly doesnrsquot raise money As nonprofits have learned to quickly adapt to changing technology and social media standards the time has come for organizations to evolve the technology they offer to provide donors supporters and par-ticipants with a personalized fundraising experience
Get Personal Providing Supporters with Personalized Fundraising Experiences
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 29
Personalization Means EngagementAt a fundamental level donor personalization in fun-
draising emerged from some of the first online nonprofit fundraising systems Offering supporters the opportunity to send personalized fundraising emails to their friends and family was revolutionary in its time mdash as was offering custom individual and team fundraising web pages
While these technology offerings revolutionized event fundraising donors have become increasingly savvy in the way they interact online mdash and developed strong preferences and dislikes in the types of technology they use They want the technology they know and like to be at their fingertips and are more likely to fundraise and successfully so for your nonprofit if itrsquos made easy and accessible for them
Back to Basics mdash But BetterNonprofits have been so consumed by social media that
they often forget this simple fact participants who use online tools raise six times more than non-users according to Blackbaud In addition 25 percent of the fundraising emails supporters send to their friends result in a donation With the average online gift being $60 nonprofits have motiva-tion not to forget about the basics of online fundraising But in the age of increasing competition for donations nonprof-its that offer a more personalized fundraising experience to supporters may see better results
What does it mean to offer a personalized fundrais-ing experience For online fundraising pages it can mean offering them the opportunity to post pictures videos story content and individual fundraising status updates But itrsquos essentially the personalization options offered behind the scenes mdash in the personal ldquoHeadquartersrdquo page within an online fundraising system mdash that can really maximize fun-draising results
Savvy nonprofits are offering a multitude of ways within their online fundraising systems for supporters to choose to reach out to friends and family Offering more than the email capabilities found standard with most fundraising plat-forms some nonprofits are starting to provide supporters more options in their personal participant ldquoheadquartersrdquo pages to engage those in their network mdash all with the click of a button Opportunities for supporters to personalize their experience could include options to
Send a Facebook message
Tweet their fundraising page
Update their Facebook status
Send a quick email
In addition statistics about their personal fundraising process could tell them
Total emails sent
Visits to their personal fundraising pages
Number of donations
Number of registrations
Average amount raised per email sent
Number of additional emails needed to reach fundraising goal
And because no one participant is the same these per-sonalization options allow the supporter to interact and engage their network on behalf of the nonprofit in ways that are meaningful and comfortable to them
Beyond the Facebook PageThe nonprofit community has taken Facebook by storm as an avenue to engage supporters and attract donors But itrsquos important to look beyond how supporters want to interact with your nonprofit and understand how they want to in-teract with their social network Itrsquos within this framework that supporters choose mdash or choose not mdash to engage their network on your organizationrsquos behalf
So make it easy for them provide them with a variety of ways to use several social media tools to reach out and fund-raise for your nonprofit Let them decide how they fundraise With 845 million monthly active users and 100 billion con-nections Facebook for example provides an excellent platform for nonprofits mdash and their fundraisers mdash to expand fundraising reach In fact Blackbaudrsquos web site states that social media users raise 40 more than non-users But most
continued
John Murphy PresidentCEo and Founder Zuri Group
30 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
organizations make the mistake of relying on participants to send their own appeals and updates or worse provide cum-bersome tools that require multiple logins and steps
Some enthusiastic fundraisers will thrive in this envi-ronment Others wonrsquot Since each supporter is unique itrsquos important to provide several varying opportunities and options so that a personalized fundraising experience can be forged For many fundraisers asking for donations isnrsquot easy All participants want to raise money but many donrsquot feel comfortable asking outside of close friends and family Other fundraisers donrsquot have the time or creativity to regu-larly develop and update personalized Facebook messages Use technology to help overcome these challenges by creat-ing easy ways for them to raise more money using Facebook
To take the effort out of Facebook fundraising remove the discomfort of a direct ldquoaskrdquo and save fundraisers time some nonprofits are offering supporters the option for fun-draising updates that automatically post on their Facebook wall at pre-determined intervals throughout the fundraising season For the right supporter this option removes the dis-comfort of approaching potential donors with a direct ldquoaskrdquo while significantly expanding their fundraising reach
Mobilizing the troopsAccording to a 2011 study consumers spend more time
on mobile applications than on the web In addition Ameri-cans spend 27 hours per day on average socializing on their mobile phones Nonprofits have been hard at work to lever-age the trend toward mobile by creating mobile-friendly web sites and even apps to further engage supporters But what about the mobile interaction that takes place between sup-porters and their friends The key is for nonprofits to make it accessible and easy for fundraisers to use their everyday technologies and devices to fundraise within their own networks By providing fundraising options that enable sup-porters to simply use something they already use such as a smartphone to connect with people they already interact with fundraising becomes a more natural and personalized part of the supporterrsquos day
To provide a more personalized and convenient fun-draising experience some nonprofits are offering mobile fundraising apps that enable supporters to not only use their smartphones to fundraise but to fundraise using multiple technologies within the smartphone mdash such as email text Twitter Facebook and even FaceTime for iPhone users As a result supporters can fundraise for the organization from their homes the train while walking the dog mdash anytime they have their phone
By empowering supporters to personalize their fundrais-ing experience nonprofits that provide mobile fundraising apps help their fundraisers help them These organizations are meeting the needs of on-the-go fundraising participants so they can focus on spreading awareness soliciting dona-tions and thanking donors mdash on their time on their terms In fact itrsquos been reported that fundraising participants using mobile fundraising applications raise 200 more than other participants and bring in 300 more gifts by count that other participants
In addition some mobile fundraising apps are provid-ing further personalization by bringing some of the same features of the personalized online ldquoheadquartersrdquo to the smartphone such as fundraising thermometers and adding donors into their phone address book Pre-written fundrais-ing messages developed specifically for various mediums such as texts Twitter updates and emails can be used Editing personal fundraising pages from the smartphone is likely the next option nonprofits will start offering
the Personalization ChallengeAs nonprofits compete in the race to adopt new technolo-
gies and social media itrsquos important to take a step back and consider your supportersrsquo relationship with those channels Many nonprofits have a Facebook page or group but how are your fundraisers using Facebook Are you making it easy for them to advocate or fundraise for your organization If much of your donor base uses text messaging have you pro-vided easy access and tools for them to text their network on your behalf
Supporters want and frankly need a personalized online experience with your organization Go beyond the bounds of your interactive relationship and consider what would enable your supporter base to have a more personalized fundrais-ing experience mdash and then put those tools at their fingertips They and their network mdash will thank you n
John Murphy is the PresidentCEO and Founder of Zuri Group Zuri Group provides nonprofits with custom technology solutions to meet critical organizational needs such as fundraising using their existing platform For more info visit zurigroupcom
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 31Non-Profit_FullPageAd_OLindd 1 91312 417 PM
32 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
9 Centennial Drive
Peabody MA 01960-7906
Tel 8003707500
wwwamergentcom
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Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 33
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We Can HelpWiland Direct is the nationrsquos 1 transactional database for fundraisers
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bull Affordably acquire new donors bull Maximize contributions from existing donors bull Reactivate former donorsbull Identify the most likely activists and volunteersbull Convert inquirers petition signers and other ldquowarm leadsrdquo into donors
To learn more please contact John Spencer at 9703106378 or via email at jspencerwilanddirectcom
3034858686 wwwWilandDirectcomCopyright 2012 Wiland Direct All rights reserved
ldquoThe Wiland Direct database has been a solid performer for LLS with higher average gifts and lower cost per dollar raised than most Itrsquos opened up a new acquisition universe particularly important for a mature program Wersquore very pleased with the results and team support from Wilandrdquomdash Bruny Lynch The Leukemia amp Lymphoma Society
34 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
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Contact annesagecommunicationscom or call 508-309-6678 x 1 for a no-obligation quote
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Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 35
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36 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
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Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 37
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38 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
1
2
3
A
B
C
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 21
objectives by creating detailed profiles of supporters but what if that dataprofile was accessed without appropriate permis-sions or used by other organizations for purposes beyond the original intent Inappropriate generalizations might be made about supporters regardless of who has the data and the risk for reputational and other damage increases if that type of data is compromised
For example if a supporter donates to an organization that supports research of a genetic disorder should they be identified as a patient of or at risk for that same disorder Perhaps theyrsquore simply a caretaker for someone suffer-ing from that disorder Similarly if a supporter donates to a religious-based organization could assumptions around political leanings be attributed to them
Protecting information about charitable contributions is critical as is informing supporters how that information will be used which brings us to data security and the sharing of personal information
protecting personal InformationToday every organization is vulnerable when it comes to data security Protecting the personal information of supporters is essential The first line of protection is collecting only the necessary data
While creating supporter profiles evaluate the risks of storing ldquounnecessaryrdquo data especially if an incident exposes the data Set internal policies for how long each category of data collected will be retained and be diligent in deletingdestroying data in a safe and thorough manner based on those policies
Whenever possible encrypt personal data maintained electronically and enhance security on laptops and mobile devices from which supporter data is accessed
Sharing personal InformationBe very clear in your privacy policy when providing infor-mation on the types of third-parties with whom your organization shares data If you share information with third-party service providers disclose this fact and provide a categorized list of these organizations Such organizations may include credit card processors shipping vendors mar-keting analysts or consultants and fulfillment houses
If you share information with other nonprofit organi-zations disclose these practices Also disclose if you share information with marketing cooperatives whose databases are not exclusively nonprofit
Protecting
information
about
charitable
contributions
is critical
continued
22 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
providing ChoiceStudies have shown that modern consumers are more com-fortable sharing personal information with organizations that are clear and upfront about how their information is used and with whom it is shared In fact most people respond positively to organizations who transparently disclose data sharing practices and provide a clear and convenient oppor-tunity to opt-out While a small percentage of individuals will choose to opt-out of data sharing very few supporters will opt-out of all contact with an organization Therefore providing an opportunity to opt-out of sharing data for mar-keting purposes as well as an opt-out for receiving further requests from your organization will aid in retaining your most loyal supporters
Updating the privacy policyClearly state the effective date of your current privacy policy and update it when you make any material changes If you do make material changes to your privacy policy with ret-roactive application to the data you already have stored you may need to obtain express consent from individuals to use their information for new or different purposes Some organizations choose to list what changes were made in a summary history which may be helpful to a supporter reviewing the policy
Pulling It All togetherYour privacy policy should be easy to find read understand and act upon (ie opt-out or modify preferences) It should also be present in each commercial solicitation where per-sonal information is collected regardless of whether that is through postal mailings or on your website
Additional information regarding Notice Choice Trans-parency and other important privacy principles can be found on the DMA website in the Commitment to Consumer Choice and the DMA Guidelines for Ethical Business Practice
At Epsilon we use the following checklist when evaluating a privacy policy
The website has a privacy policy
There is a link to the privacy policy from the websitersquos home page and the link contains the word ldquoprivacyrdquo
The privacy policy states that the organization shares consumer data and personal information (including name address email address and transaction informa-tion) with third-party service providers
The privacy policy states that the organization shares consumer data and personal information with other marketers for their own marketing purposes
The privacy policy provides consumers the chance to opt-out of having their information shared with other marketers
The privacy policy has an ldquoeffectiverdquo date
As mentioned in situations where data is shared with other organizations and marketers transparency is the key Below is sample disclosure language
The personally identifiable information that you provide to us
(such as your name address and email address) and information
about your contribution may be combined with other non-person-
ally identifiable information (such as demographic information and
past contribution history) available from our records and other
sources This information will be used to make our future market-
ing efforts more efficient and relevant This information may also
be shared with our third-party service providers that assist us
with our marketing efforts and with other marketers whose prod-
ucts or services we feel may be of interest to you If you prefer
that we do not share your name and address with other market-
ers please email us at optoutyourorganizationorg
Beyond the Privacy PolicyIn addition to having a robust privacy policy written in concise language and that is easily accessible here are a few other best practices to secure the privacy of your sup-portersrsquo information
Ensure agreements with third-parties who may have access to supportersrsquo personal information adequately address privacy and data security
Suppress personal information in your database when a supporter requests it and do so within a reasonable timeframe
If you must store sensitive information such as credit card or social security numbers as part of your data-base encrypt this information
Train employees and volunteers regularly on the importance of maintaining privacy and security
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 23
Nonprofit Careers e-Bulletin
Your Multi-ChannelRecruiting Tool
Become familiar with data breach notification require-ments and have a response plan and team in place Should you experience a breach disclose to all appro-priate and necessary parties
Monitor the use of your data and address any enti-ties when you become aware that data is being used in a way that violates the law contractual requirements andor the DMArsquos Ethical Guidelines
Respecting and promoting consumer privacy requires a commitment to maintaining balance between the legitimate business needs of your organization and the concerns of individuals about fair information practices Start by taking a look at your current privacy policy Assure its accuracy and adhere to its strategy n
Bethany Lewis As a Privacy Analyst Bethany Lewis supports and educates associates and clients on privacy compliance matters She brings an extensive background in regulatory compliance corporate ethics education and training to her work at Epsilon
ldquoThe recruitment Tool for the Nonprofit Communityrdquo is your source for top flight exposure to top flight candidates and the best A b amp C-level career opportunities out there
Distributed every Tuesday 8 am ET via raquo Email raquo post at wwwnonprofitfederationorg raquo Facebook mdash DMA Nonprofit Federation raquo Twitter mdash DMANF and AliozDC
To view ad submission requirements visit the ldquoFind a Jobrdquo area of the DMA Nonprofit Federation homepage wwwnonprofitfederationorg and click on ldquoHow to postrdquo Ads must be emailed to Aosgoodthe-dmaorg please make sure any ad you submit meets our specifications
Is your nonprofit organization already a dual member of the DMA and DMANF If the answer is lsquoyesrsquo itrsquos FrEE mdash so why not post
Join the over 8000 professionals who already subscribe
Sign up today nonprofitfederationorgpublications careers-e-bulletinsubscribe
DMA Guidelines for Ethical Business Practice
dmaresponsibilityorgGuidelines
24 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Each week I see non-profit organizations walking away from
mobile thinking that com-municating and fundraising with their constituents through the single most used electronic device in history is optional Con-versely we see more and more retailers embracing mobile and the omnichan-nel marketing model because the results are tre-mendous We at mGive think nonprofits benefit when they embrace similar tools and methodologies
What is an omnichan-nel approach and why is it important to non-profit organizations An omnichannel approach is an integrated marketing strat-egy that creates a seamless experience for the donor
It is a customer-centric approach that elevates your supporter loyalty strategies by leveraging cross-channel opportunities For example when a donor drops off goods at their local Epilepsy Foundation they receive a paper receipt to complete Normally once they leave your location you lose any hope of communicating with them again Imagine if when the donor dropped off their goods you offered to send the donor an email version of their receipt You now have a way to engage the supporter through email Now suppose your email receipt offered a web link that drove them to a form to opt-in to your mobile community in order to receive updates via text
Once they opt-in you then have a way to send updates volunteer requests dona-tion reminders and more You may also leverage the fact they are on the mobile phone and send text mes-sages asking supporters to post a photo to Facebook making a donation Having this omnichannel strat-egy in place is especially critical at the end of year because it is an opportune time for organizations to increase membership and raise dollars
So how does an organization create an omnichannel approach that leverages direct mail email online social media live events and mobile to achieve their goals It may be difficult for some orga-nizations to make the
operational shift to an omnichannel model but that doesnrsquot mean you can afford to ignore it Not sure you can get all the steps in place by the time you launch your end of year activities Mobile is the bridge that can help to start that process In fact more and more organizations are relying on their mobile strategy to bridge the gap and engage supporters in this multi-screen world because mobile is the ldquogreat centralizerrdquo of activities ndash where else can you make calls browse the web check email respond to text mes-sages post to social media and more in a truly porta-ble fashion
Before we move on to the tactics that an organiza-tion can take to incorporate
Mobile
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 25
mobile into their existing multi-channel strategies we must tackle one issue If your organization has tried mobile or an omnichan-nel approach in the past and were disappointed or frustrated with your expe-rience try again You were one of the pioneering orga-nizations that comprise the early adopters of those models Lessons learned over the past few years have evolved into success-ful best practices mdash and you get the opportunity to benefit from them As we like to say in honor of the wise Master Yoda ldquoTry not Do or do not There is no tryrdquo We guarantee if imple-mented correctly using mobile in an omnichannel approach can work for your organization
1 Communicate and Integrate mdash Walk Across the Mobile Bridge
Many organizations that I work with have voiced cross-departmental integra-tion as a challenge That is understandable because tra-ditionally departments or channels have been siloed from one another But this disenfranchised model does not result in the seam-less experience that donors are coming to expect In order for a donor experi-ence to be seamless direct mail must complement the organizationrsquos website the organizationrsquos website must complement the mobile campaign social media must complement direct mail and so forth and so on When used together
the communication chan-nels can result in more effective campaigns and bigger numbers
When an organization decides to develop a mobile strategy generally it is one department within that organization that is initially interested That department is a hero because they have just launched a toolset that can be used throughout the organization If you have a mobile program in place for fundraising itrsquos time to talk with your program services department mem-bership team and corporate partner folks and get them in the loop so that you can maximize the omnichannel approach Mobile can be a great catalyst for initiating conversation and guiding organizational integration
Mobile is also a great way to increase the effec-tiveness of existing channels By integrating your direct mail newslet-ter social media online and mobile efforts you can increase response and open rates We have found that if you send a text message to your membership remind-ing them to check their email inboxes you can increase email open rates by 10 or more Addition-ally if you include a mobile number field on your email and paper member-ship forms you can quickly build a mobile community that can turn into repeat donors Once again the most important element besides the actual cross
the Bridge to an omnichannel Approach in time for Year-End Campaigns
continued
Jenifer Snyder Esq Executive Director The mGive Foundation and Cassie Bair Vice President of Marketing Mobile Accord
26 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
channel promotion goes back to this concept of the omnichannel Make the message consistent across all channels They donrsquot have to be identical but they should complement each other and work to create an echo effect
Just about every one of your donors will experience your organization through their mobile device at some point mdash so make sure your message is clear consistent convenient and actionable through mobile in some capacity
2 test Review Adjust Implement Review Adjust mdash and Repeat
Once you have an inte-grated strategy in place itrsquos time to implement Whether the goal is to acquire new donors reactivate lapsed donors and drive donations from existing donors mdash or all three mdash test your cam-paign Take time to review the results and adjust accordingly Then imple-ment full scale confident you are on the right path Regularly review your results adjust your activities and repeat as needed
In preparation for end of year activities take the time in the Fall to tweak your marketing engine for optimal performance Do some zero based plan-ning and try to approach
the supporter experience as if you are the supporter Spend time on every avenue where you can wisely create a seamless experience
Everyone in philan-thropy knows that the majority of all charitable donations are made in the last 2 months of the year Additionally member-ship increases substantially during the last quarter of the year Spend time now identifying opportunities strategies and tactics that work best for you mdash and consider how mobile can be a centralizing point for many of these activities
3 Apply the Winning Methodologies to Your End of Year Appeals
Yoursquove tested tweaked and determined what works best for you Now inte-grate what yoursquove learned into your end of year cam-paigns Determine how your campaign follows stan-dard best practices for end of year appeals and where mobile can help drive that engagement across multiple mediums
Common best practices for end of year campaigns that can include mobile
A Sending multiple asks the final week of the year mdash Make sure text messages are a part of that effort Whether itrsquos a simple call-to-action to text
a donation drives people to a pledge page or some-thing all-together different mobile can help ramp up that seamless experience
B the Art of the ldquothank Yourdquo mdash Thank your sup-porters Use mobile to message supporters your appreciation when they take action through text or drive them to a webpage with a video with a celeb-rity spokesperson giving a thank you message But make sure they know repeatedly that what they do for your cause matters And keep in mind mobile can drive to a strong ldquothank yourdquo experience
C Share Ask Listen mdash Take the opportunity to tell a story ask for feed-back and listen to what your organization is being told Not sure how to do that in mobile Share a link to a news article through text Ask for feedback through social media And listen to what is being said while distilling insights from how supporters respond in order to strengthen your omnichannel approach
4 Continue into 2013 mdash You are set for success
As donors enter the New Year self-improve-ment will often include a
commitment to be a better person volunteer more donate more funds etc Use mobile as a data col-lection tool to help your donors achieve their goal Give them the opportunity to commit to goals pertain-ing to your cause and then become their coach Send monthly reminders of their commitment and words of encouragement Remind them about appointments invite them to share their experience and overall let the donor feel the effect of their selfless promise through all of their activi-ties while using mobile to centralize that community and to drive people to action
We now live in a world where the average person at any given moment is looking at two or more screens It is critical that nonprofit organizations embrace the multi-screen world and adopt the omnichannel or fully integrated model When you create a seam-less giving experience for the everyday philanthropist you will be amazed at the results Walking away from a mobile strategy today is like walking away from the internet in the early 2000s
Mobile is here to stay and it is not an elective component to your orga-nizationrsquos fundraising and engagement strategy Itrsquos an essential part of a successful omnichannel strategy for your end of year activities n
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 27
Jenifer Snyder Esq Executive Director The mGive Foundation
As Executive Director of The mGive Foun-dation Jenifer is dedicated to expanding the scope and reach of the mobile channel for social good She brings years of lead-ership experience in the mobile industry to the position Previously Jenifer was a founder and General Counsel for 9 Squared Inc a mobile content and ser-vices company subsequently acquired by the Zed Group She left Zed in 2007 and started building the mobile channel for social and charitable efforts and later formed The mGive Foundation
Cassie bair Vice president of Marketing Mobile Accord
As Vice President of Marketing for Mobile Accord Cassie is dedicated to educat-ing and empowering nonprofits regarding the power of mobile She combines years of marketing experience in the nonprofit industry with the exciting evolution of the mobile channel for social good Cassie has worked with organizations such as the American Heart Association American Institute of Architects and the American Society of Echocardiography developing integrated and cause marketing cam-paigns and uses that knowledge today with clients to help them maximize their mobile strategy
Name
OrganizationCompany
Address
City State Zip Code
Charge my m Visa m MasterCard m AmEx m Discover
Card Number Expiration Date
Signature
raquo FAX form to 2026284383 (do not email credit card information)
raquo MAIL form to Alicia Osgood Director Membership amp Communications DMA Nonprofit Federation 1615 L Street NW Suite 1100 Washington DC 20036
raquo MAKE ChECKS payable to the DMA Nonprofit Federation
raquo DMA Nonprofit Federation Federal Tax ID Number 13-1810859
News and cutting-edge professional development tips
SUBSCRIBEto the Journal today1year =3 issues
ONLY $35Published digitally in January Apriland September the Journal brings together nonprofit leaders to deliver a standout publication packed with content you can really use
No cost to members
28 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Consumer technology evolves so quickly that nonprof-its are constantly racing to get their organizations using the latest technologies and mediums In fact many of these innovations have had significant impact on the fundrais-ing community While online CRM systems for example spawned database segmentation capabilities the opportu-nity ndash and challenge ndash arose for fundraising professionals to target appeals precisely to donorsrsquo specific interests Lately the emergence and rapid popularity of technologies such as smartphones and social media have forced nonprofits to not only create a presence but essentially compete for shrinking donor funds using these vehicles
The primary focus of nonprofit technology however tends to be inward creating a presence in a particular social media community or simply using the technology on behalf of the organization Examples of this include a nonprofitrsquos Facebook page and Twitter account and mobile-friendly
web sites In todayrsquos competitive fundraising environment though itrsquos not enough for nonprofits to simply use the latest technology Successful fundraisers understand that a nonprofitrsquos relationship with technology needs to take one step beyond itself to focus outward how do your sup-porters and donors want to use technology on behalf of your organization
Donors have technology preferences and habits too While itrsquos great for organizations to have a Facebook page for sup-porters to ldquolikerdquo that offers news and updates for example this doesnrsquot offer an opportunity for donors to appeal to their friends and family on behalf of your nonprofit mdash and certainly doesnrsquot raise money As nonprofits have learned to quickly adapt to changing technology and social media standards the time has come for organizations to evolve the technology they offer to provide donors supporters and par-ticipants with a personalized fundraising experience
Get Personal Providing Supporters with Personalized Fundraising Experiences
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 29
Personalization Means EngagementAt a fundamental level donor personalization in fun-
draising emerged from some of the first online nonprofit fundraising systems Offering supporters the opportunity to send personalized fundraising emails to their friends and family was revolutionary in its time mdash as was offering custom individual and team fundraising web pages
While these technology offerings revolutionized event fundraising donors have become increasingly savvy in the way they interact online mdash and developed strong preferences and dislikes in the types of technology they use They want the technology they know and like to be at their fingertips and are more likely to fundraise and successfully so for your nonprofit if itrsquos made easy and accessible for them
Back to Basics mdash But BetterNonprofits have been so consumed by social media that
they often forget this simple fact participants who use online tools raise six times more than non-users according to Blackbaud In addition 25 percent of the fundraising emails supporters send to their friends result in a donation With the average online gift being $60 nonprofits have motiva-tion not to forget about the basics of online fundraising But in the age of increasing competition for donations nonprof-its that offer a more personalized fundraising experience to supporters may see better results
What does it mean to offer a personalized fundrais-ing experience For online fundraising pages it can mean offering them the opportunity to post pictures videos story content and individual fundraising status updates But itrsquos essentially the personalization options offered behind the scenes mdash in the personal ldquoHeadquartersrdquo page within an online fundraising system mdash that can really maximize fun-draising results
Savvy nonprofits are offering a multitude of ways within their online fundraising systems for supporters to choose to reach out to friends and family Offering more than the email capabilities found standard with most fundraising plat-forms some nonprofits are starting to provide supporters more options in their personal participant ldquoheadquartersrdquo pages to engage those in their network mdash all with the click of a button Opportunities for supporters to personalize their experience could include options to
Send a Facebook message
Tweet their fundraising page
Update their Facebook status
Send a quick email
In addition statistics about their personal fundraising process could tell them
Total emails sent
Visits to their personal fundraising pages
Number of donations
Number of registrations
Average amount raised per email sent
Number of additional emails needed to reach fundraising goal
And because no one participant is the same these per-sonalization options allow the supporter to interact and engage their network on behalf of the nonprofit in ways that are meaningful and comfortable to them
Beyond the Facebook PageThe nonprofit community has taken Facebook by storm as an avenue to engage supporters and attract donors But itrsquos important to look beyond how supporters want to interact with your nonprofit and understand how they want to in-teract with their social network Itrsquos within this framework that supporters choose mdash or choose not mdash to engage their network on your organizationrsquos behalf
So make it easy for them provide them with a variety of ways to use several social media tools to reach out and fund-raise for your nonprofit Let them decide how they fundraise With 845 million monthly active users and 100 billion con-nections Facebook for example provides an excellent platform for nonprofits mdash and their fundraisers mdash to expand fundraising reach In fact Blackbaudrsquos web site states that social media users raise 40 more than non-users But most
continued
John Murphy PresidentCEo and Founder Zuri Group
30 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
organizations make the mistake of relying on participants to send their own appeals and updates or worse provide cum-bersome tools that require multiple logins and steps
Some enthusiastic fundraisers will thrive in this envi-ronment Others wonrsquot Since each supporter is unique itrsquos important to provide several varying opportunities and options so that a personalized fundraising experience can be forged For many fundraisers asking for donations isnrsquot easy All participants want to raise money but many donrsquot feel comfortable asking outside of close friends and family Other fundraisers donrsquot have the time or creativity to regu-larly develop and update personalized Facebook messages Use technology to help overcome these challenges by creat-ing easy ways for them to raise more money using Facebook
To take the effort out of Facebook fundraising remove the discomfort of a direct ldquoaskrdquo and save fundraisers time some nonprofits are offering supporters the option for fun-draising updates that automatically post on their Facebook wall at pre-determined intervals throughout the fundraising season For the right supporter this option removes the dis-comfort of approaching potential donors with a direct ldquoaskrdquo while significantly expanding their fundraising reach
Mobilizing the troopsAccording to a 2011 study consumers spend more time
on mobile applications than on the web In addition Ameri-cans spend 27 hours per day on average socializing on their mobile phones Nonprofits have been hard at work to lever-age the trend toward mobile by creating mobile-friendly web sites and even apps to further engage supporters But what about the mobile interaction that takes place between sup-porters and their friends The key is for nonprofits to make it accessible and easy for fundraisers to use their everyday technologies and devices to fundraise within their own networks By providing fundraising options that enable sup-porters to simply use something they already use such as a smartphone to connect with people they already interact with fundraising becomes a more natural and personalized part of the supporterrsquos day
To provide a more personalized and convenient fun-draising experience some nonprofits are offering mobile fundraising apps that enable supporters to not only use their smartphones to fundraise but to fundraise using multiple technologies within the smartphone mdash such as email text Twitter Facebook and even FaceTime for iPhone users As a result supporters can fundraise for the organization from their homes the train while walking the dog mdash anytime they have their phone
By empowering supporters to personalize their fundrais-ing experience nonprofits that provide mobile fundraising apps help their fundraisers help them These organizations are meeting the needs of on-the-go fundraising participants so they can focus on spreading awareness soliciting dona-tions and thanking donors mdash on their time on their terms In fact itrsquos been reported that fundraising participants using mobile fundraising applications raise 200 more than other participants and bring in 300 more gifts by count that other participants
In addition some mobile fundraising apps are provid-ing further personalization by bringing some of the same features of the personalized online ldquoheadquartersrdquo to the smartphone such as fundraising thermometers and adding donors into their phone address book Pre-written fundrais-ing messages developed specifically for various mediums such as texts Twitter updates and emails can be used Editing personal fundraising pages from the smartphone is likely the next option nonprofits will start offering
the Personalization ChallengeAs nonprofits compete in the race to adopt new technolo-
gies and social media itrsquos important to take a step back and consider your supportersrsquo relationship with those channels Many nonprofits have a Facebook page or group but how are your fundraisers using Facebook Are you making it easy for them to advocate or fundraise for your organization If much of your donor base uses text messaging have you pro-vided easy access and tools for them to text their network on your behalf
Supporters want and frankly need a personalized online experience with your organization Go beyond the bounds of your interactive relationship and consider what would enable your supporter base to have a more personalized fundrais-ing experience mdash and then put those tools at their fingertips They and their network mdash will thank you n
John Murphy is the PresidentCEO and Founder of Zuri Group Zuri Group provides nonprofits with custom technology solutions to meet critical organizational needs such as fundraising using their existing platform For more info visit zurigroupcom
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 31Non-Profit_FullPageAd_OLindd 1 91312 417 PM
32 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
9 Centennial Drive
Peabody MA 01960-7906
Tel 8003707500
wwwamergentcom
c a l l j a c k d o y l e
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at friendsamergentcomifund or scan qr code
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 33
Looking to Affordably Grow Your Donor Fileand Increase Contributions
We Can HelpWiland Direct is the nationrsquos 1 transactional database for fundraisers
Using our vast transactional data and powerful models Wiland Direct helps fundraisers to
bull Affordably acquire new donors bull Maximize contributions from existing donors bull Reactivate former donorsbull Identify the most likely activists and volunteersbull Convert inquirers petition signers and other ldquowarm leadsrdquo into donors
To learn more please contact John Spencer at 9703106378 or via email at jspencerwilanddirectcom
3034858686 wwwWilandDirectcomCopyright 2012 Wiland Direct All rights reserved
ldquoThe Wiland Direct database has been a solid performer for LLS with higher average gifts and lower cost per dollar raised than most Itrsquos opened up a new acquisition universe particularly important for a mature program Wersquore very pleased with the results and team support from Wilandrdquomdash Bruny Lynch The Leukemia amp Lymphoma Society
34 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
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direct marketing solutionsyoursquove been looking for
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Want to see for yourself
Contact annesagecommunicationscom or call 508-309-6678 x 1 for a no-obligation quote
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For nearly 40 years Carl Bloom Associates has beenhelping non-profits exceed their revenue goals withinnovative strategies and creative that raise moremoney acquire and retain more donors and increasetheir lifetime value
You can support your mission more effectively withCBArsquos ldquosmarterrdquo multi-channel campaigns integrating
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Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 35
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36 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
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Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 37
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Get it todaynonprofitfederationorgethics-policy watchdog-resource-centerwatchdog-toolkit
38 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
1
2
3
A
B
C
22 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
providing ChoiceStudies have shown that modern consumers are more com-fortable sharing personal information with organizations that are clear and upfront about how their information is used and with whom it is shared In fact most people respond positively to organizations who transparently disclose data sharing practices and provide a clear and convenient oppor-tunity to opt-out While a small percentage of individuals will choose to opt-out of data sharing very few supporters will opt-out of all contact with an organization Therefore providing an opportunity to opt-out of sharing data for mar-keting purposes as well as an opt-out for receiving further requests from your organization will aid in retaining your most loyal supporters
Updating the privacy policyClearly state the effective date of your current privacy policy and update it when you make any material changes If you do make material changes to your privacy policy with ret-roactive application to the data you already have stored you may need to obtain express consent from individuals to use their information for new or different purposes Some organizations choose to list what changes were made in a summary history which may be helpful to a supporter reviewing the policy
Pulling It All togetherYour privacy policy should be easy to find read understand and act upon (ie opt-out or modify preferences) It should also be present in each commercial solicitation where per-sonal information is collected regardless of whether that is through postal mailings or on your website
Additional information regarding Notice Choice Trans-parency and other important privacy principles can be found on the DMA website in the Commitment to Consumer Choice and the DMA Guidelines for Ethical Business Practice
At Epsilon we use the following checklist when evaluating a privacy policy
The website has a privacy policy
There is a link to the privacy policy from the websitersquos home page and the link contains the word ldquoprivacyrdquo
The privacy policy states that the organization shares consumer data and personal information (including name address email address and transaction informa-tion) with third-party service providers
The privacy policy states that the organization shares consumer data and personal information with other marketers for their own marketing purposes
The privacy policy provides consumers the chance to opt-out of having their information shared with other marketers
The privacy policy has an ldquoeffectiverdquo date
As mentioned in situations where data is shared with other organizations and marketers transparency is the key Below is sample disclosure language
The personally identifiable information that you provide to us
(such as your name address and email address) and information
about your contribution may be combined with other non-person-
ally identifiable information (such as demographic information and
past contribution history) available from our records and other
sources This information will be used to make our future market-
ing efforts more efficient and relevant This information may also
be shared with our third-party service providers that assist us
with our marketing efforts and with other marketers whose prod-
ucts or services we feel may be of interest to you If you prefer
that we do not share your name and address with other market-
ers please email us at optoutyourorganizationorg
Beyond the Privacy PolicyIn addition to having a robust privacy policy written in concise language and that is easily accessible here are a few other best practices to secure the privacy of your sup-portersrsquo information
Ensure agreements with third-parties who may have access to supportersrsquo personal information adequately address privacy and data security
Suppress personal information in your database when a supporter requests it and do so within a reasonable timeframe
If you must store sensitive information such as credit card or social security numbers as part of your data-base encrypt this information
Train employees and volunteers regularly on the importance of maintaining privacy and security
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 23
Nonprofit Careers e-Bulletin
Your Multi-ChannelRecruiting Tool
Become familiar with data breach notification require-ments and have a response plan and team in place Should you experience a breach disclose to all appro-priate and necessary parties
Monitor the use of your data and address any enti-ties when you become aware that data is being used in a way that violates the law contractual requirements andor the DMArsquos Ethical Guidelines
Respecting and promoting consumer privacy requires a commitment to maintaining balance between the legitimate business needs of your organization and the concerns of individuals about fair information practices Start by taking a look at your current privacy policy Assure its accuracy and adhere to its strategy n
Bethany Lewis As a Privacy Analyst Bethany Lewis supports and educates associates and clients on privacy compliance matters She brings an extensive background in regulatory compliance corporate ethics education and training to her work at Epsilon
ldquoThe recruitment Tool for the Nonprofit Communityrdquo is your source for top flight exposure to top flight candidates and the best A b amp C-level career opportunities out there
Distributed every Tuesday 8 am ET via raquo Email raquo post at wwwnonprofitfederationorg raquo Facebook mdash DMA Nonprofit Federation raquo Twitter mdash DMANF and AliozDC
To view ad submission requirements visit the ldquoFind a Jobrdquo area of the DMA Nonprofit Federation homepage wwwnonprofitfederationorg and click on ldquoHow to postrdquo Ads must be emailed to Aosgoodthe-dmaorg please make sure any ad you submit meets our specifications
Is your nonprofit organization already a dual member of the DMA and DMANF If the answer is lsquoyesrsquo itrsquos FrEE mdash so why not post
Join the over 8000 professionals who already subscribe
Sign up today nonprofitfederationorgpublications careers-e-bulletinsubscribe
DMA Guidelines for Ethical Business Practice
dmaresponsibilityorgGuidelines
24 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Each week I see non-profit organizations walking away from
mobile thinking that com-municating and fundraising with their constituents through the single most used electronic device in history is optional Con-versely we see more and more retailers embracing mobile and the omnichan-nel marketing model because the results are tre-mendous We at mGive think nonprofits benefit when they embrace similar tools and methodologies
What is an omnichan-nel approach and why is it important to non-profit organizations An omnichannel approach is an integrated marketing strat-egy that creates a seamless experience for the donor
It is a customer-centric approach that elevates your supporter loyalty strategies by leveraging cross-channel opportunities For example when a donor drops off goods at their local Epilepsy Foundation they receive a paper receipt to complete Normally once they leave your location you lose any hope of communicating with them again Imagine if when the donor dropped off their goods you offered to send the donor an email version of their receipt You now have a way to engage the supporter through email Now suppose your email receipt offered a web link that drove them to a form to opt-in to your mobile community in order to receive updates via text
Once they opt-in you then have a way to send updates volunteer requests dona-tion reminders and more You may also leverage the fact they are on the mobile phone and send text mes-sages asking supporters to post a photo to Facebook making a donation Having this omnichannel strat-egy in place is especially critical at the end of year because it is an opportune time for organizations to increase membership and raise dollars
So how does an organization create an omnichannel approach that leverages direct mail email online social media live events and mobile to achieve their goals It may be difficult for some orga-nizations to make the
operational shift to an omnichannel model but that doesnrsquot mean you can afford to ignore it Not sure you can get all the steps in place by the time you launch your end of year activities Mobile is the bridge that can help to start that process In fact more and more organizations are relying on their mobile strategy to bridge the gap and engage supporters in this multi-screen world because mobile is the ldquogreat centralizerrdquo of activities ndash where else can you make calls browse the web check email respond to text mes-sages post to social media and more in a truly porta-ble fashion
Before we move on to the tactics that an organiza-tion can take to incorporate
Mobile
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 25
mobile into their existing multi-channel strategies we must tackle one issue If your organization has tried mobile or an omnichan-nel approach in the past and were disappointed or frustrated with your expe-rience try again You were one of the pioneering orga-nizations that comprise the early adopters of those models Lessons learned over the past few years have evolved into success-ful best practices mdash and you get the opportunity to benefit from them As we like to say in honor of the wise Master Yoda ldquoTry not Do or do not There is no tryrdquo We guarantee if imple-mented correctly using mobile in an omnichannel approach can work for your organization
1 Communicate and Integrate mdash Walk Across the Mobile Bridge
Many organizations that I work with have voiced cross-departmental integra-tion as a challenge That is understandable because tra-ditionally departments or channels have been siloed from one another But this disenfranchised model does not result in the seam-less experience that donors are coming to expect In order for a donor experi-ence to be seamless direct mail must complement the organizationrsquos website the organizationrsquos website must complement the mobile campaign social media must complement direct mail and so forth and so on When used together
the communication chan-nels can result in more effective campaigns and bigger numbers
When an organization decides to develop a mobile strategy generally it is one department within that organization that is initially interested That department is a hero because they have just launched a toolset that can be used throughout the organization If you have a mobile program in place for fundraising itrsquos time to talk with your program services department mem-bership team and corporate partner folks and get them in the loop so that you can maximize the omnichannel approach Mobile can be a great catalyst for initiating conversation and guiding organizational integration
Mobile is also a great way to increase the effec-tiveness of existing channels By integrating your direct mail newslet-ter social media online and mobile efforts you can increase response and open rates We have found that if you send a text message to your membership remind-ing them to check their email inboxes you can increase email open rates by 10 or more Addition-ally if you include a mobile number field on your email and paper member-ship forms you can quickly build a mobile community that can turn into repeat donors Once again the most important element besides the actual cross
the Bridge to an omnichannel Approach in time for Year-End Campaigns
continued
Jenifer Snyder Esq Executive Director The mGive Foundation and Cassie Bair Vice President of Marketing Mobile Accord
26 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
channel promotion goes back to this concept of the omnichannel Make the message consistent across all channels They donrsquot have to be identical but they should complement each other and work to create an echo effect
Just about every one of your donors will experience your organization through their mobile device at some point mdash so make sure your message is clear consistent convenient and actionable through mobile in some capacity
2 test Review Adjust Implement Review Adjust mdash and Repeat
Once you have an inte-grated strategy in place itrsquos time to implement Whether the goal is to acquire new donors reactivate lapsed donors and drive donations from existing donors mdash or all three mdash test your cam-paign Take time to review the results and adjust accordingly Then imple-ment full scale confident you are on the right path Regularly review your results adjust your activities and repeat as needed
In preparation for end of year activities take the time in the Fall to tweak your marketing engine for optimal performance Do some zero based plan-ning and try to approach
the supporter experience as if you are the supporter Spend time on every avenue where you can wisely create a seamless experience
Everyone in philan-thropy knows that the majority of all charitable donations are made in the last 2 months of the year Additionally member-ship increases substantially during the last quarter of the year Spend time now identifying opportunities strategies and tactics that work best for you mdash and consider how mobile can be a centralizing point for many of these activities
3 Apply the Winning Methodologies to Your End of Year Appeals
Yoursquove tested tweaked and determined what works best for you Now inte-grate what yoursquove learned into your end of year cam-paigns Determine how your campaign follows stan-dard best practices for end of year appeals and where mobile can help drive that engagement across multiple mediums
Common best practices for end of year campaigns that can include mobile
A Sending multiple asks the final week of the year mdash Make sure text messages are a part of that effort Whether itrsquos a simple call-to-action to text
a donation drives people to a pledge page or some-thing all-together different mobile can help ramp up that seamless experience
B the Art of the ldquothank Yourdquo mdash Thank your sup-porters Use mobile to message supporters your appreciation when they take action through text or drive them to a webpage with a video with a celeb-rity spokesperson giving a thank you message But make sure they know repeatedly that what they do for your cause matters And keep in mind mobile can drive to a strong ldquothank yourdquo experience
C Share Ask Listen mdash Take the opportunity to tell a story ask for feed-back and listen to what your organization is being told Not sure how to do that in mobile Share a link to a news article through text Ask for feedback through social media And listen to what is being said while distilling insights from how supporters respond in order to strengthen your omnichannel approach
4 Continue into 2013 mdash You are set for success
As donors enter the New Year self-improve-ment will often include a
commitment to be a better person volunteer more donate more funds etc Use mobile as a data col-lection tool to help your donors achieve their goal Give them the opportunity to commit to goals pertain-ing to your cause and then become their coach Send monthly reminders of their commitment and words of encouragement Remind them about appointments invite them to share their experience and overall let the donor feel the effect of their selfless promise through all of their activi-ties while using mobile to centralize that community and to drive people to action
We now live in a world where the average person at any given moment is looking at two or more screens It is critical that nonprofit organizations embrace the multi-screen world and adopt the omnichannel or fully integrated model When you create a seam-less giving experience for the everyday philanthropist you will be amazed at the results Walking away from a mobile strategy today is like walking away from the internet in the early 2000s
Mobile is here to stay and it is not an elective component to your orga-nizationrsquos fundraising and engagement strategy Itrsquos an essential part of a successful omnichannel strategy for your end of year activities n
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 27
Jenifer Snyder Esq Executive Director The mGive Foundation
As Executive Director of The mGive Foun-dation Jenifer is dedicated to expanding the scope and reach of the mobile channel for social good She brings years of lead-ership experience in the mobile industry to the position Previously Jenifer was a founder and General Counsel for 9 Squared Inc a mobile content and ser-vices company subsequently acquired by the Zed Group She left Zed in 2007 and started building the mobile channel for social and charitable efforts and later formed The mGive Foundation
Cassie bair Vice president of Marketing Mobile Accord
As Vice President of Marketing for Mobile Accord Cassie is dedicated to educat-ing and empowering nonprofits regarding the power of mobile She combines years of marketing experience in the nonprofit industry with the exciting evolution of the mobile channel for social good Cassie has worked with organizations such as the American Heart Association American Institute of Architects and the American Society of Echocardiography developing integrated and cause marketing cam-paigns and uses that knowledge today with clients to help them maximize their mobile strategy
Name
OrganizationCompany
Address
City State Zip Code
Charge my m Visa m MasterCard m AmEx m Discover
Card Number Expiration Date
Signature
raquo FAX form to 2026284383 (do not email credit card information)
raquo MAIL form to Alicia Osgood Director Membership amp Communications DMA Nonprofit Federation 1615 L Street NW Suite 1100 Washington DC 20036
raquo MAKE ChECKS payable to the DMA Nonprofit Federation
raquo DMA Nonprofit Federation Federal Tax ID Number 13-1810859
News and cutting-edge professional development tips
SUBSCRIBEto the Journal today1year =3 issues
ONLY $35Published digitally in January Apriland September the Journal brings together nonprofit leaders to deliver a standout publication packed with content you can really use
No cost to members
28 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Consumer technology evolves so quickly that nonprof-its are constantly racing to get their organizations using the latest technologies and mediums In fact many of these innovations have had significant impact on the fundrais-ing community While online CRM systems for example spawned database segmentation capabilities the opportu-nity ndash and challenge ndash arose for fundraising professionals to target appeals precisely to donorsrsquo specific interests Lately the emergence and rapid popularity of technologies such as smartphones and social media have forced nonprofits to not only create a presence but essentially compete for shrinking donor funds using these vehicles
The primary focus of nonprofit technology however tends to be inward creating a presence in a particular social media community or simply using the technology on behalf of the organization Examples of this include a nonprofitrsquos Facebook page and Twitter account and mobile-friendly
web sites In todayrsquos competitive fundraising environment though itrsquos not enough for nonprofits to simply use the latest technology Successful fundraisers understand that a nonprofitrsquos relationship with technology needs to take one step beyond itself to focus outward how do your sup-porters and donors want to use technology on behalf of your organization
Donors have technology preferences and habits too While itrsquos great for organizations to have a Facebook page for sup-porters to ldquolikerdquo that offers news and updates for example this doesnrsquot offer an opportunity for donors to appeal to their friends and family on behalf of your nonprofit mdash and certainly doesnrsquot raise money As nonprofits have learned to quickly adapt to changing technology and social media standards the time has come for organizations to evolve the technology they offer to provide donors supporters and par-ticipants with a personalized fundraising experience
Get Personal Providing Supporters with Personalized Fundraising Experiences
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 29
Personalization Means EngagementAt a fundamental level donor personalization in fun-
draising emerged from some of the first online nonprofit fundraising systems Offering supporters the opportunity to send personalized fundraising emails to their friends and family was revolutionary in its time mdash as was offering custom individual and team fundraising web pages
While these technology offerings revolutionized event fundraising donors have become increasingly savvy in the way they interact online mdash and developed strong preferences and dislikes in the types of technology they use They want the technology they know and like to be at their fingertips and are more likely to fundraise and successfully so for your nonprofit if itrsquos made easy and accessible for them
Back to Basics mdash But BetterNonprofits have been so consumed by social media that
they often forget this simple fact participants who use online tools raise six times more than non-users according to Blackbaud In addition 25 percent of the fundraising emails supporters send to their friends result in a donation With the average online gift being $60 nonprofits have motiva-tion not to forget about the basics of online fundraising But in the age of increasing competition for donations nonprof-its that offer a more personalized fundraising experience to supporters may see better results
What does it mean to offer a personalized fundrais-ing experience For online fundraising pages it can mean offering them the opportunity to post pictures videos story content and individual fundraising status updates But itrsquos essentially the personalization options offered behind the scenes mdash in the personal ldquoHeadquartersrdquo page within an online fundraising system mdash that can really maximize fun-draising results
Savvy nonprofits are offering a multitude of ways within their online fundraising systems for supporters to choose to reach out to friends and family Offering more than the email capabilities found standard with most fundraising plat-forms some nonprofits are starting to provide supporters more options in their personal participant ldquoheadquartersrdquo pages to engage those in their network mdash all with the click of a button Opportunities for supporters to personalize their experience could include options to
Send a Facebook message
Tweet their fundraising page
Update their Facebook status
Send a quick email
In addition statistics about their personal fundraising process could tell them
Total emails sent
Visits to their personal fundraising pages
Number of donations
Number of registrations
Average amount raised per email sent
Number of additional emails needed to reach fundraising goal
And because no one participant is the same these per-sonalization options allow the supporter to interact and engage their network on behalf of the nonprofit in ways that are meaningful and comfortable to them
Beyond the Facebook PageThe nonprofit community has taken Facebook by storm as an avenue to engage supporters and attract donors But itrsquos important to look beyond how supporters want to interact with your nonprofit and understand how they want to in-teract with their social network Itrsquos within this framework that supporters choose mdash or choose not mdash to engage their network on your organizationrsquos behalf
So make it easy for them provide them with a variety of ways to use several social media tools to reach out and fund-raise for your nonprofit Let them decide how they fundraise With 845 million monthly active users and 100 billion con-nections Facebook for example provides an excellent platform for nonprofits mdash and their fundraisers mdash to expand fundraising reach In fact Blackbaudrsquos web site states that social media users raise 40 more than non-users But most
continued
John Murphy PresidentCEo and Founder Zuri Group
30 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
organizations make the mistake of relying on participants to send their own appeals and updates or worse provide cum-bersome tools that require multiple logins and steps
Some enthusiastic fundraisers will thrive in this envi-ronment Others wonrsquot Since each supporter is unique itrsquos important to provide several varying opportunities and options so that a personalized fundraising experience can be forged For many fundraisers asking for donations isnrsquot easy All participants want to raise money but many donrsquot feel comfortable asking outside of close friends and family Other fundraisers donrsquot have the time or creativity to regu-larly develop and update personalized Facebook messages Use technology to help overcome these challenges by creat-ing easy ways for them to raise more money using Facebook
To take the effort out of Facebook fundraising remove the discomfort of a direct ldquoaskrdquo and save fundraisers time some nonprofits are offering supporters the option for fun-draising updates that automatically post on their Facebook wall at pre-determined intervals throughout the fundraising season For the right supporter this option removes the dis-comfort of approaching potential donors with a direct ldquoaskrdquo while significantly expanding their fundraising reach
Mobilizing the troopsAccording to a 2011 study consumers spend more time
on mobile applications than on the web In addition Ameri-cans spend 27 hours per day on average socializing on their mobile phones Nonprofits have been hard at work to lever-age the trend toward mobile by creating mobile-friendly web sites and even apps to further engage supporters But what about the mobile interaction that takes place between sup-porters and their friends The key is for nonprofits to make it accessible and easy for fundraisers to use their everyday technologies and devices to fundraise within their own networks By providing fundraising options that enable sup-porters to simply use something they already use such as a smartphone to connect with people they already interact with fundraising becomes a more natural and personalized part of the supporterrsquos day
To provide a more personalized and convenient fun-draising experience some nonprofits are offering mobile fundraising apps that enable supporters to not only use their smartphones to fundraise but to fundraise using multiple technologies within the smartphone mdash such as email text Twitter Facebook and even FaceTime for iPhone users As a result supporters can fundraise for the organization from their homes the train while walking the dog mdash anytime they have their phone
By empowering supporters to personalize their fundrais-ing experience nonprofits that provide mobile fundraising apps help their fundraisers help them These organizations are meeting the needs of on-the-go fundraising participants so they can focus on spreading awareness soliciting dona-tions and thanking donors mdash on their time on their terms In fact itrsquos been reported that fundraising participants using mobile fundraising applications raise 200 more than other participants and bring in 300 more gifts by count that other participants
In addition some mobile fundraising apps are provid-ing further personalization by bringing some of the same features of the personalized online ldquoheadquartersrdquo to the smartphone such as fundraising thermometers and adding donors into their phone address book Pre-written fundrais-ing messages developed specifically for various mediums such as texts Twitter updates and emails can be used Editing personal fundraising pages from the smartphone is likely the next option nonprofits will start offering
the Personalization ChallengeAs nonprofits compete in the race to adopt new technolo-
gies and social media itrsquos important to take a step back and consider your supportersrsquo relationship with those channels Many nonprofits have a Facebook page or group but how are your fundraisers using Facebook Are you making it easy for them to advocate or fundraise for your organization If much of your donor base uses text messaging have you pro-vided easy access and tools for them to text their network on your behalf
Supporters want and frankly need a personalized online experience with your organization Go beyond the bounds of your interactive relationship and consider what would enable your supporter base to have a more personalized fundrais-ing experience mdash and then put those tools at their fingertips They and their network mdash will thank you n
John Murphy is the PresidentCEO and Founder of Zuri Group Zuri Group provides nonprofits with custom technology solutions to meet critical organizational needs such as fundraising using their existing platform For more info visit zurigroupcom
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 31Non-Profit_FullPageAd_OLindd 1 91312 417 PM
32 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
9 Centennial Drive
Peabody MA 01960-7906
Tel 8003707500
wwwamergentcom
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at friendsamergentcomifund or scan qr code
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 33
Looking to Affordably Grow Your Donor Fileand Increase Contributions
We Can HelpWiland Direct is the nationrsquos 1 transactional database for fundraisers
Using our vast transactional data and powerful models Wiland Direct helps fundraisers to
bull Affordably acquire new donors bull Maximize contributions from existing donors bull Reactivate former donorsbull Identify the most likely activists and volunteersbull Convert inquirers petition signers and other ldquowarm leadsrdquo into donors
To learn more please contact John Spencer at 9703106378 or via email at jspencerwilanddirectcom
3034858686 wwwWilandDirectcomCopyright 2012 Wiland Direct All rights reserved
ldquoThe Wiland Direct database has been a solid performer for LLS with higher average gifts and lower cost per dollar raised than most Itrsquos opened up a new acquisition universe particularly important for a mature program Wersquore very pleased with the results and team support from Wilandrdquomdash Bruny Lynch The Leukemia amp Lymphoma Society
34 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
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Want to see for yourself
Contact annesagecommunicationscom or call 508-309-6678 x 1 for a no-obligation quote
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For nearly 40 years Carl Bloom Associates has beenhelping non-profits exceed their revenue goals withinnovative strategies and creative that raise moremoney acquire and retain more donors and increasetheir lifetime value
You can support your mission more effectively withCBArsquos ldquosmarterrdquo multi-channel campaigns integrating
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Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 35
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36 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
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Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 37
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Get it todaynonprofitfederationorgethics-policy watchdog-resource-centerwatchdog-toolkit
38 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
1
2
3
A
B
C
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 23
Nonprofit Careers e-Bulletin
Your Multi-ChannelRecruiting Tool
Become familiar with data breach notification require-ments and have a response plan and team in place Should you experience a breach disclose to all appro-priate and necessary parties
Monitor the use of your data and address any enti-ties when you become aware that data is being used in a way that violates the law contractual requirements andor the DMArsquos Ethical Guidelines
Respecting and promoting consumer privacy requires a commitment to maintaining balance between the legitimate business needs of your organization and the concerns of individuals about fair information practices Start by taking a look at your current privacy policy Assure its accuracy and adhere to its strategy n
Bethany Lewis As a Privacy Analyst Bethany Lewis supports and educates associates and clients on privacy compliance matters She brings an extensive background in regulatory compliance corporate ethics education and training to her work at Epsilon
ldquoThe recruitment Tool for the Nonprofit Communityrdquo is your source for top flight exposure to top flight candidates and the best A b amp C-level career opportunities out there
Distributed every Tuesday 8 am ET via raquo Email raquo post at wwwnonprofitfederationorg raquo Facebook mdash DMA Nonprofit Federation raquo Twitter mdash DMANF and AliozDC
To view ad submission requirements visit the ldquoFind a Jobrdquo area of the DMA Nonprofit Federation homepage wwwnonprofitfederationorg and click on ldquoHow to postrdquo Ads must be emailed to Aosgoodthe-dmaorg please make sure any ad you submit meets our specifications
Is your nonprofit organization already a dual member of the DMA and DMANF If the answer is lsquoyesrsquo itrsquos FrEE mdash so why not post
Join the over 8000 professionals who already subscribe
Sign up today nonprofitfederationorgpublications careers-e-bulletinsubscribe
DMA Guidelines for Ethical Business Practice
dmaresponsibilityorgGuidelines
24 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Each week I see non-profit organizations walking away from
mobile thinking that com-municating and fundraising with their constituents through the single most used electronic device in history is optional Con-versely we see more and more retailers embracing mobile and the omnichan-nel marketing model because the results are tre-mendous We at mGive think nonprofits benefit when they embrace similar tools and methodologies
What is an omnichan-nel approach and why is it important to non-profit organizations An omnichannel approach is an integrated marketing strat-egy that creates a seamless experience for the donor
It is a customer-centric approach that elevates your supporter loyalty strategies by leveraging cross-channel opportunities For example when a donor drops off goods at their local Epilepsy Foundation they receive a paper receipt to complete Normally once they leave your location you lose any hope of communicating with them again Imagine if when the donor dropped off their goods you offered to send the donor an email version of their receipt You now have a way to engage the supporter through email Now suppose your email receipt offered a web link that drove them to a form to opt-in to your mobile community in order to receive updates via text
Once they opt-in you then have a way to send updates volunteer requests dona-tion reminders and more You may also leverage the fact they are on the mobile phone and send text mes-sages asking supporters to post a photo to Facebook making a donation Having this omnichannel strat-egy in place is especially critical at the end of year because it is an opportune time for organizations to increase membership and raise dollars
So how does an organization create an omnichannel approach that leverages direct mail email online social media live events and mobile to achieve their goals It may be difficult for some orga-nizations to make the
operational shift to an omnichannel model but that doesnrsquot mean you can afford to ignore it Not sure you can get all the steps in place by the time you launch your end of year activities Mobile is the bridge that can help to start that process In fact more and more organizations are relying on their mobile strategy to bridge the gap and engage supporters in this multi-screen world because mobile is the ldquogreat centralizerrdquo of activities ndash where else can you make calls browse the web check email respond to text mes-sages post to social media and more in a truly porta-ble fashion
Before we move on to the tactics that an organiza-tion can take to incorporate
Mobile
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 25
mobile into their existing multi-channel strategies we must tackle one issue If your organization has tried mobile or an omnichan-nel approach in the past and were disappointed or frustrated with your expe-rience try again You were one of the pioneering orga-nizations that comprise the early adopters of those models Lessons learned over the past few years have evolved into success-ful best practices mdash and you get the opportunity to benefit from them As we like to say in honor of the wise Master Yoda ldquoTry not Do or do not There is no tryrdquo We guarantee if imple-mented correctly using mobile in an omnichannel approach can work for your organization
1 Communicate and Integrate mdash Walk Across the Mobile Bridge
Many organizations that I work with have voiced cross-departmental integra-tion as a challenge That is understandable because tra-ditionally departments or channels have been siloed from one another But this disenfranchised model does not result in the seam-less experience that donors are coming to expect In order for a donor experi-ence to be seamless direct mail must complement the organizationrsquos website the organizationrsquos website must complement the mobile campaign social media must complement direct mail and so forth and so on When used together
the communication chan-nels can result in more effective campaigns and bigger numbers
When an organization decides to develop a mobile strategy generally it is one department within that organization that is initially interested That department is a hero because they have just launched a toolset that can be used throughout the organization If you have a mobile program in place for fundraising itrsquos time to talk with your program services department mem-bership team and corporate partner folks and get them in the loop so that you can maximize the omnichannel approach Mobile can be a great catalyst for initiating conversation and guiding organizational integration
Mobile is also a great way to increase the effec-tiveness of existing channels By integrating your direct mail newslet-ter social media online and mobile efforts you can increase response and open rates We have found that if you send a text message to your membership remind-ing them to check their email inboxes you can increase email open rates by 10 or more Addition-ally if you include a mobile number field on your email and paper member-ship forms you can quickly build a mobile community that can turn into repeat donors Once again the most important element besides the actual cross
the Bridge to an omnichannel Approach in time for Year-End Campaigns
continued
Jenifer Snyder Esq Executive Director The mGive Foundation and Cassie Bair Vice President of Marketing Mobile Accord
26 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
channel promotion goes back to this concept of the omnichannel Make the message consistent across all channels They donrsquot have to be identical but they should complement each other and work to create an echo effect
Just about every one of your donors will experience your organization through their mobile device at some point mdash so make sure your message is clear consistent convenient and actionable through mobile in some capacity
2 test Review Adjust Implement Review Adjust mdash and Repeat
Once you have an inte-grated strategy in place itrsquos time to implement Whether the goal is to acquire new donors reactivate lapsed donors and drive donations from existing donors mdash or all three mdash test your cam-paign Take time to review the results and adjust accordingly Then imple-ment full scale confident you are on the right path Regularly review your results adjust your activities and repeat as needed
In preparation for end of year activities take the time in the Fall to tweak your marketing engine for optimal performance Do some zero based plan-ning and try to approach
the supporter experience as if you are the supporter Spend time on every avenue where you can wisely create a seamless experience
Everyone in philan-thropy knows that the majority of all charitable donations are made in the last 2 months of the year Additionally member-ship increases substantially during the last quarter of the year Spend time now identifying opportunities strategies and tactics that work best for you mdash and consider how mobile can be a centralizing point for many of these activities
3 Apply the Winning Methodologies to Your End of Year Appeals
Yoursquove tested tweaked and determined what works best for you Now inte-grate what yoursquove learned into your end of year cam-paigns Determine how your campaign follows stan-dard best practices for end of year appeals and where mobile can help drive that engagement across multiple mediums
Common best practices for end of year campaigns that can include mobile
A Sending multiple asks the final week of the year mdash Make sure text messages are a part of that effort Whether itrsquos a simple call-to-action to text
a donation drives people to a pledge page or some-thing all-together different mobile can help ramp up that seamless experience
B the Art of the ldquothank Yourdquo mdash Thank your sup-porters Use mobile to message supporters your appreciation when they take action through text or drive them to a webpage with a video with a celeb-rity spokesperson giving a thank you message But make sure they know repeatedly that what they do for your cause matters And keep in mind mobile can drive to a strong ldquothank yourdquo experience
C Share Ask Listen mdash Take the opportunity to tell a story ask for feed-back and listen to what your organization is being told Not sure how to do that in mobile Share a link to a news article through text Ask for feedback through social media And listen to what is being said while distilling insights from how supporters respond in order to strengthen your omnichannel approach
4 Continue into 2013 mdash You are set for success
As donors enter the New Year self-improve-ment will often include a
commitment to be a better person volunteer more donate more funds etc Use mobile as a data col-lection tool to help your donors achieve their goal Give them the opportunity to commit to goals pertain-ing to your cause and then become their coach Send monthly reminders of their commitment and words of encouragement Remind them about appointments invite them to share their experience and overall let the donor feel the effect of their selfless promise through all of their activi-ties while using mobile to centralize that community and to drive people to action
We now live in a world where the average person at any given moment is looking at two or more screens It is critical that nonprofit organizations embrace the multi-screen world and adopt the omnichannel or fully integrated model When you create a seam-less giving experience for the everyday philanthropist you will be amazed at the results Walking away from a mobile strategy today is like walking away from the internet in the early 2000s
Mobile is here to stay and it is not an elective component to your orga-nizationrsquos fundraising and engagement strategy Itrsquos an essential part of a successful omnichannel strategy for your end of year activities n
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 27
Jenifer Snyder Esq Executive Director The mGive Foundation
As Executive Director of The mGive Foun-dation Jenifer is dedicated to expanding the scope and reach of the mobile channel for social good She brings years of lead-ership experience in the mobile industry to the position Previously Jenifer was a founder and General Counsel for 9 Squared Inc a mobile content and ser-vices company subsequently acquired by the Zed Group She left Zed in 2007 and started building the mobile channel for social and charitable efforts and later formed The mGive Foundation
Cassie bair Vice president of Marketing Mobile Accord
As Vice President of Marketing for Mobile Accord Cassie is dedicated to educat-ing and empowering nonprofits regarding the power of mobile She combines years of marketing experience in the nonprofit industry with the exciting evolution of the mobile channel for social good Cassie has worked with organizations such as the American Heart Association American Institute of Architects and the American Society of Echocardiography developing integrated and cause marketing cam-paigns and uses that knowledge today with clients to help them maximize their mobile strategy
Name
OrganizationCompany
Address
City State Zip Code
Charge my m Visa m MasterCard m AmEx m Discover
Card Number Expiration Date
Signature
raquo FAX form to 2026284383 (do not email credit card information)
raquo MAIL form to Alicia Osgood Director Membership amp Communications DMA Nonprofit Federation 1615 L Street NW Suite 1100 Washington DC 20036
raquo MAKE ChECKS payable to the DMA Nonprofit Federation
raquo DMA Nonprofit Federation Federal Tax ID Number 13-1810859
News and cutting-edge professional development tips
SUBSCRIBEto the Journal today1year =3 issues
ONLY $35Published digitally in January Apriland September the Journal brings together nonprofit leaders to deliver a standout publication packed with content you can really use
No cost to members
28 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Consumer technology evolves so quickly that nonprof-its are constantly racing to get their organizations using the latest technologies and mediums In fact many of these innovations have had significant impact on the fundrais-ing community While online CRM systems for example spawned database segmentation capabilities the opportu-nity ndash and challenge ndash arose for fundraising professionals to target appeals precisely to donorsrsquo specific interests Lately the emergence and rapid popularity of technologies such as smartphones and social media have forced nonprofits to not only create a presence but essentially compete for shrinking donor funds using these vehicles
The primary focus of nonprofit technology however tends to be inward creating a presence in a particular social media community or simply using the technology on behalf of the organization Examples of this include a nonprofitrsquos Facebook page and Twitter account and mobile-friendly
web sites In todayrsquos competitive fundraising environment though itrsquos not enough for nonprofits to simply use the latest technology Successful fundraisers understand that a nonprofitrsquos relationship with technology needs to take one step beyond itself to focus outward how do your sup-porters and donors want to use technology on behalf of your organization
Donors have technology preferences and habits too While itrsquos great for organizations to have a Facebook page for sup-porters to ldquolikerdquo that offers news and updates for example this doesnrsquot offer an opportunity for donors to appeal to their friends and family on behalf of your nonprofit mdash and certainly doesnrsquot raise money As nonprofits have learned to quickly adapt to changing technology and social media standards the time has come for organizations to evolve the technology they offer to provide donors supporters and par-ticipants with a personalized fundraising experience
Get Personal Providing Supporters with Personalized Fundraising Experiences
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 29
Personalization Means EngagementAt a fundamental level donor personalization in fun-
draising emerged from some of the first online nonprofit fundraising systems Offering supporters the opportunity to send personalized fundraising emails to their friends and family was revolutionary in its time mdash as was offering custom individual and team fundraising web pages
While these technology offerings revolutionized event fundraising donors have become increasingly savvy in the way they interact online mdash and developed strong preferences and dislikes in the types of technology they use They want the technology they know and like to be at their fingertips and are more likely to fundraise and successfully so for your nonprofit if itrsquos made easy and accessible for them
Back to Basics mdash But BetterNonprofits have been so consumed by social media that
they often forget this simple fact participants who use online tools raise six times more than non-users according to Blackbaud In addition 25 percent of the fundraising emails supporters send to their friends result in a donation With the average online gift being $60 nonprofits have motiva-tion not to forget about the basics of online fundraising But in the age of increasing competition for donations nonprof-its that offer a more personalized fundraising experience to supporters may see better results
What does it mean to offer a personalized fundrais-ing experience For online fundraising pages it can mean offering them the opportunity to post pictures videos story content and individual fundraising status updates But itrsquos essentially the personalization options offered behind the scenes mdash in the personal ldquoHeadquartersrdquo page within an online fundraising system mdash that can really maximize fun-draising results
Savvy nonprofits are offering a multitude of ways within their online fundraising systems for supporters to choose to reach out to friends and family Offering more than the email capabilities found standard with most fundraising plat-forms some nonprofits are starting to provide supporters more options in their personal participant ldquoheadquartersrdquo pages to engage those in their network mdash all with the click of a button Opportunities for supporters to personalize their experience could include options to
Send a Facebook message
Tweet their fundraising page
Update their Facebook status
Send a quick email
In addition statistics about their personal fundraising process could tell them
Total emails sent
Visits to their personal fundraising pages
Number of donations
Number of registrations
Average amount raised per email sent
Number of additional emails needed to reach fundraising goal
And because no one participant is the same these per-sonalization options allow the supporter to interact and engage their network on behalf of the nonprofit in ways that are meaningful and comfortable to them
Beyond the Facebook PageThe nonprofit community has taken Facebook by storm as an avenue to engage supporters and attract donors But itrsquos important to look beyond how supporters want to interact with your nonprofit and understand how they want to in-teract with their social network Itrsquos within this framework that supporters choose mdash or choose not mdash to engage their network on your organizationrsquos behalf
So make it easy for them provide them with a variety of ways to use several social media tools to reach out and fund-raise for your nonprofit Let them decide how they fundraise With 845 million monthly active users and 100 billion con-nections Facebook for example provides an excellent platform for nonprofits mdash and their fundraisers mdash to expand fundraising reach In fact Blackbaudrsquos web site states that social media users raise 40 more than non-users But most
continued
John Murphy PresidentCEo and Founder Zuri Group
30 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
organizations make the mistake of relying on participants to send their own appeals and updates or worse provide cum-bersome tools that require multiple logins and steps
Some enthusiastic fundraisers will thrive in this envi-ronment Others wonrsquot Since each supporter is unique itrsquos important to provide several varying opportunities and options so that a personalized fundraising experience can be forged For many fundraisers asking for donations isnrsquot easy All participants want to raise money but many donrsquot feel comfortable asking outside of close friends and family Other fundraisers donrsquot have the time or creativity to regu-larly develop and update personalized Facebook messages Use technology to help overcome these challenges by creat-ing easy ways for them to raise more money using Facebook
To take the effort out of Facebook fundraising remove the discomfort of a direct ldquoaskrdquo and save fundraisers time some nonprofits are offering supporters the option for fun-draising updates that automatically post on their Facebook wall at pre-determined intervals throughout the fundraising season For the right supporter this option removes the dis-comfort of approaching potential donors with a direct ldquoaskrdquo while significantly expanding their fundraising reach
Mobilizing the troopsAccording to a 2011 study consumers spend more time
on mobile applications than on the web In addition Ameri-cans spend 27 hours per day on average socializing on their mobile phones Nonprofits have been hard at work to lever-age the trend toward mobile by creating mobile-friendly web sites and even apps to further engage supporters But what about the mobile interaction that takes place between sup-porters and their friends The key is for nonprofits to make it accessible and easy for fundraisers to use their everyday technologies and devices to fundraise within their own networks By providing fundraising options that enable sup-porters to simply use something they already use such as a smartphone to connect with people they already interact with fundraising becomes a more natural and personalized part of the supporterrsquos day
To provide a more personalized and convenient fun-draising experience some nonprofits are offering mobile fundraising apps that enable supporters to not only use their smartphones to fundraise but to fundraise using multiple technologies within the smartphone mdash such as email text Twitter Facebook and even FaceTime for iPhone users As a result supporters can fundraise for the organization from their homes the train while walking the dog mdash anytime they have their phone
By empowering supporters to personalize their fundrais-ing experience nonprofits that provide mobile fundraising apps help their fundraisers help them These organizations are meeting the needs of on-the-go fundraising participants so they can focus on spreading awareness soliciting dona-tions and thanking donors mdash on their time on their terms In fact itrsquos been reported that fundraising participants using mobile fundraising applications raise 200 more than other participants and bring in 300 more gifts by count that other participants
In addition some mobile fundraising apps are provid-ing further personalization by bringing some of the same features of the personalized online ldquoheadquartersrdquo to the smartphone such as fundraising thermometers and adding donors into their phone address book Pre-written fundrais-ing messages developed specifically for various mediums such as texts Twitter updates and emails can be used Editing personal fundraising pages from the smartphone is likely the next option nonprofits will start offering
the Personalization ChallengeAs nonprofits compete in the race to adopt new technolo-
gies and social media itrsquos important to take a step back and consider your supportersrsquo relationship with those channels Many nonprofits have a Facebook page or group but how are your fundraisers using Facebook Are you making it easy for them to advocate or fundraise for your organization If much of your donor base uses text messaging have you pro-vided easy access and tools for them to text their network on your behalf
Supporters want and frankly need a personalized online experience with your organization Go beyond the bounds of your interactive relationship and consider what would enable your supporter base to have a more personalized fundrais-ing experience mdash and then put those tools at their fingertips They and their network mdash will thank you n
John Murphy is the PresidentCEO and Founder of Zuri Group Zuri Group provides nonprofits with custom technology solutions to meet critical organizational needs such as fundraising using their existing platform For more info visit zurigroupcom
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 31Non-Profit_FullPageAd_OLindd 1 91312 417 PM
32 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
9 Centennial Drive
Peabody MA 01960-7906
Tel 8003707500
wwwamergentcom
c a l l j a c k d o y l e
8 0 0 3 7 0 7 5 0 0
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Sign up for Amergentrsquos e-newsletter
at friendsamergentcomifund or scan qr code
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 33
Looking to Affordably Grow Your Donor Fileand Increase Contributions
We Can HelpWiland Direct is the nationrsquos 1 transactional database for fundraisers
Using our vast transactional data and powerful models Wiland Direct helps fundraisers to
bull Affordably acquire new donors bull Maximize contributions from existing donors bull Reactivate former donorsbull Identify the most likely activists and volunteersbull Convert inquirers petition signers and other ldquowarm leadsrdquo into donors
To learn more please contact John Spencer at 9703106378 or via email at jspencerwilanddirectcom
3034858686 wwwWilandDirectcomCopyright 2012 Wiland Direct All rights reserved
ldquoThe Wiland Direct database has been a solid performer for LLS with higher average gifts and lower cost per dollar raised than most Itrsquos opened up a new acquisition universe particularly important for a mature program Wersquore very pleased with the results and team support from Wilandrdquomdash Bruny Lynch The Leukemia amp Lymphoma Society
34 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
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Our award-winning solutions aretailored to find and motivate the people
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Want to see for yourself
Contact annesagecommunicationscom or call 508-309-6678 x 1 for a no-obligation quote
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You can support your mission more effectively withCBArsquos ldquosmarterrdquo multi-channel campaigns integrating
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Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 35
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36 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
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Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 37
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Your purpose matters to us
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Get it todaynonprofitfederationorgethics-policy watchdog-resource-centerwatchdog-toolkit
38 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
1
2
3
A
B
C
24 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Each week I see non-profit organizations walking away from
mobile thinking that com-municating and fundraising with their constituents through the single most used electronic device in history is optional Con-versely we see more and more retailers embracing mobile and the omnichan-nel marketing model because the results are tre-mendous We at mGive think nonprofits benefit when they embrace similar tools and methodologies
What is an omnichan-nel approach and why is it important to non-profit organizations An omnichannel approach is an integrated marketing strat-egy that creates a seamless experience for the donor
It is a customer-centric approach that elevates your supporter loyalty strategies by leveraging cross-channel opportunities For example when a donor drops off goods at their local Epilepsy Foundation they receive a paper receipt to complete Normally once they leave your location you lose any hope of communicating with them again Imagine if when the donor dropped off their goods you offered to send the donor an email version of their receipt You now have a way to engage the supporter through email Now suppose your email receipt offered a web link that drove them to a form to opt-in to your mobile community in order to receive updates via text
Once they opt-in you then have a way to send updates volunteer requests dona-tion reminders and more You may also leverage the fact they are on the mobile phone and send text mes-sages asking supporters to post a photo to Facebook making a donation Having this omnichannel strat-egy in place is especially critical at the end of year because it is an opportune time for organizations to increase membership and raise dollars
So how does an organization create an omnichannel approach that leverages direct mail email online social media live events and mobile to achieve their goals It may be difficult for some orga-nizations to make the
operational shift to an omnichannel model but that doesnrsquot mean you can afford to ignore it Not sure you can get all the steps in place by the time you launch your end of year activities Mobile is the bridge that can help to start that process In fact more and more organizations are relying on their mobile strategy to bridge the gap and engage supporters in this multi-screen world because mobile is the ldquogreat centralizerrdquo of activities ndash where else can you make calls browse the web check email respond to text mes-sages post to social media and more in a truly porta-ble fashion
Before we move on to the tactics that an organiza-tion can take to incorporate
Mobile
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 25
mobile into their existing multi-channel strategies we must tackle one issue If your organization has tried mobile or an omnichan-nel approach in the past and were disappointed or frustrated with your expe-rience try again You were one of the pioneering orga-nizations that comprise the early adopters of those models Lessons learned over the past few years have evolved into success-ful best practices mdash and you get the opportunity to benefit from them As we like to say in honor of the wise Master Yoda ldquoTry not Do or do not There is no tryrdquo We guarantee if imple-mented correctly using mobile in an omnichannel approach can work for your organization
1 Communicate and Integrate mdash Walk Across the Mobile Bridge
Many organizations that I work with have voiced cross-departmental integra-tion as a challenge That is understandable because tra-ditionally departments or channels have been siloed from one another But this disenfranchised model does not result in the seam-less experience that donors are coming to expect In order for a donor experi-ence to be seamless direct mail must complement the organizationrsquos website the organizationrsquos website must complement the mobile campaign social media must complement direct mail and so forth and so on When used together
the communication chan-nels can result in more effective campaigns and bigger numbers
When an organization decides to develop a mobile strategy generally it is one department within that organization that is initially interested That department is a hero because they have just launched a toolset that can be used throughout the organization If you have a mobile program in place for fundraising itrsquos time to talk with your program services department mem-bership team and corporate partner folks and get them in the loop so that you can maximize the omnichannel approach Mobile can be a great catalyst for initiating conversation and guiding organizational integration
Mobile is also a great way to increase the effec-tiveness of existing channels By integrating your direct mail newslet-ter social media online and mobile efforts you can increase response and open rates We have found that if you send a text message to your membership remind-ing them to check their email inboxes you can increase email open rates by 10 or more Addition-ally if you include a mobile number field on your email and paper member-ship forms you can quickly build a mobile community that can turn into repeat donors Once again the most important element besides the actual cross
the Bridge to an omnichannel Approach in time for Year-End Campaigns
continued
Jenifer Snyder Esq Executive Director The mGive Foundation and Cassie Bair Vice President of Marketing Mobile Accord
26 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
channel promotion goes back to this concept of the omnichannel Make the message consistent across all channels They donrsquot have to be identical but they should complement each other and work to create an echo effect
Just about every one of your donors will experience your organization through their mobile device at some point mdash so make sure your message is clear consistent convenient and actionable through mobile in some capacity
2 test Review Adjust Implement Review Adjust mdash and Repeat
Once you have an inte-grated strategy in place itrsquos time to implement Whether the goal is to acquire new donors reactivate lapsed donors and drive donations from existing donors mdash or all three mdash test your cam-paign Take time to review the results and adjust accordingly Then imple-ment full scale confident you are on the right path Regularly review your results adjust your activities and repeat as needed
In preparation for end of year activities take the time in the Fall to tweak your marketing engine for optimal performance Do some zero based plan-ning and try to approach
the supporter experience as if you are the supporter Spend time on every avenue where you can wisely create a seamless experience
Everyone in philan-thropy knows that the majority of all charitable donations are made in the last 2 months of the year Additionally member-ship increases substantially during the last quarter of the year Spend time now identifying opportunities strategies and tactics that work best for you mdash and consider how mobile can be a centralizing point for many of these activities
3 Apply the Winning Methodologies to Your End of Year Appeals
Yoursquove tested tweaked and determined what works best for you Now inte-grate what yoursquove learned into your end of year cam-paigns Determine how your campaign follows stan-dard best practices for end of year appeals and where mobile can help drive that engagement across multiple mediums
Common best practices for end of year campaigns that can include mobile
A Sending multiple asks the final week of the year mdash Make sure text messages are a part of that effort Whether itrsquos a simple call-to-action to text
a donation drives people to a pledge page or some-thing all-together different mobile can help ramp up that seamless experience
B the Art of the ldquothank Yourdquo mdash Thank your sup-porters Use mobile to message supporters your appreciation when they take action through text or drive them to a webpage with a video with a celeb-rity spokesperson giving a thank you message But make sure they know repeatedly that what they do for your cause matters And keep in mind mobile can drive to a strong ldquothank yourdquo experience
C Share Ask Listen mdash Take the opportunity to tell a story ask for feed-back and listen to what your organization is being told Not sure how to do that in mobile Share a link to a news article through text Ask for feedback through social media And listen to what is being said while distilling insights from how supporters respond in order to strengthen your omnichannel approach
4 Continue into 2013 mdash You are set for success
As donors enter the New Year self-improve-ment will often include a
commitment to be a better person volunteer more donate more funds etc Use mobile as a data col-lection tool to help your donors achieve their goal Give them the opportunity to commit to goals pertain-ing to your cause and then become their coach Send monthly reminders of their commitment and words of encouragement Remind them about appointments invite them to share their experience and overall let the donor feel the effect of their selfless promise through all of their activi-ties while using mobile to centralize that community and to drive people to action
We now live in a world where the average person at any given moment is looking at two or more screens It is critical that nonprofit organizations embrace the multi-screen world and adopt the omnichannel or fully integrated model When you create a seam-less giving experience for the everyday philanthropist you will be amazed at the results Walking away from a mobile strategy today is like walking away from the internet in the early 2000s
Mobile is here to stay and it is not an elective component to your orga-nizationrsquos fundraising and engagement strategy Itrsquos an essential part of a successful omnichannel strategy for your end of year activities n
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 27
Jenifer Snyder Esq Executive Director The mGive Foundation
As Executive Director of The mGive Foun-dation Jenifer is dedicated to expanding the scope and reach of the mobile channel for social good She brings years of lead-ership experience in the mobile industry to the position Previously Jenifer was a founder and General Counsel for 9 Squared Inc a mobile content and ser-vices company subsequently acquired by the Zed Group She left Zed in 2007 and started building the mobile channel for social and charitable efforts and later formed The mGive Foundation
Cassie bair Vice president of Marketing Mobile Accord
As Vice President of Marketing for Mobile Accord Cassie is dedicated to educat-ing and empowering nonprofits regarding the power of mobile She combines years of marketing experience in the nonprofit industry with the exciting evolution of the mobile channel for social good Cassie has worked with organizations such as the American Heart Association American Institute of Architects and the American Society of Echocardiography developing integrated and cause marketing cam-paigns and uses that knowledge today with clients to help them maximize their mobile strategy
Name
OrganizationCompany
Address
City State Zip Code
Charge my m Visa m MasterCard m AmEx m Discover
Card Number Expiration Date
Signature
raquo FAX form to 2026284383 (do not email credit card information)
raquo MAIL form to Alicia Osgood Director Membership amp Communications DMA Nonprofit Federation 1615 L Street NW Suite 1100 Washington DC 20036
raquo MAKE ChECKS payable to the DMA Nonprofit Federation
raquo DMA Nonprofit Federation Federal Tax ID Number 13-1810859
News and cutting-edge professional development tips
SUBSCRIBEto the Journal today1year =3 issues
ONLY $35Published digitally in January Apriland September the Journal brings together nonprofit leaders to deliver a standout publication packed with content you can really use
No cost to members
28 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Consumer technology evolves so quickly that nonprof-its are constantly racing to get their organizations using the latest technologies and mediums In fact many of these innovations have had significant impact on the fundrais-ing community While online CRM systems for example spawned database segmentation capabilities the opportu-nity ndash and challenge ndash arose for fundraising professionals to target appeals precisely to donorsrsquo specific interests Lately the emergence and rapid popularity of technologies such as smartphones and social media have forced nonprofits to not only create a presence but essentially compete for shrinking donor funds using these vehicles
The primary focus of nonprofit technology however tends to be inward creating a presence in a particular social media community or simply using the technology on behalf of the organization Examples of this include a nonprofitrsquos Facebook page and Twitter account and mobile-friendly
web sites In todayrsquos competitive fundraising environment though itrsquos not enough for nonprofits to simply use the latest technology Successful fundraisers understand that a nonprofitrsquos relationship with technology needs to take one step beyond itself to focus outward how do your sup-porters and donors want to use technology on behalf of your organization
Donors have technology preferences and habits too While itrsquos great for organizations to have a Facebook page for sup-porters to ldquolikerdquo that offers news and updates for example this doesnrsquot offer an opportunity for donors to appeal to their friends and family on behalf of your nonprofit mdash and certainly doesnrsquot raise money As nonprofits have learned to quickly adapt to changing technology and social media standards the time has come for organizations to evolve the technology they offer to provide donors supporters and par-ticipants with a personalized fundraising experience
Get Personal Providing Supporters with Personalized Fundraising Experiences
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 29
Personalization Means EngagementAt a fundamental level donor personalization in fun-
draising emerged from some of the first online nonprofit fundraising systems Offering supporters the opportunity to send personalized fundraising emails to their friends and family was revolutionary in its time mdash as was offering custom individual and team fundraising web pages
While these technology offerings revolutionized event fundraising donors have become increasingly savvy in the way they interact online mdash and developed strong preferences and dislikes in the types of technology they use They want the technology they know and like to be at their fingertips and are more likely to fundraise and successfully so for your nonprofit if itrsquos made easy and accessible for them
Back to Basics mdash But BetterNonprofits have been so consumed by social media that
they often forget this simple fact participants who use online tools raise six times more than non-users according to Blackbaud In addition 25 percent of the fundraising emails supporters send to their friends result in a donation With the average online gift being $60 nonprofits have motiva-tion not to forget about the basics of online fundraising But in the age of increasing competition for donations nonprof-its that offer a more personalized fundraising experience to supporters may see better results
What does it mean to offer a personalized fundrais-ing experience For online fundraising pages it can mean offering them the opportunity to post pictures videos story content and individual fundraising status updates But itrsquos essentially the personalization options offered behind the scenes mdash in the personal ldquoHeadquartersrdquo page within an online fundraising system mdash that can really maximize fun-draising results
Savvy nonprofits are offering a multitude of ways within their online fundraising systems for supporters to choose to reach out to friends and family Offering more than the email capabilities found standard with most fundraising plat-forms some nonprofits are starting to provide supporters more options in their personal participant ldquoheadquartersrdquo pages to engage those in their network mdash all with the click of a button Opportunities for supporters to personalize their experience could include options to
Send a Facebook message
Tweet their fundraising page
Update their Facebook status
Send a quick email
In addition statistics about their personal fundraising process could tell them
Total emails sent
Visits to their personal fundraising pages
Number of donations
Number of registrations
Average amount raised per email sent
Number of additional emails needed to reach fundraising goal
And because no one participant is the same these per-sonalization options allow the supporter to interact and engage their network on behalf of the nonprofit in ways that are meaningful and comfortable to them
Beyond the Facebook PageThe nonprofit community has taken Facebook by storm as an avenue to engage supporters and attract donors But itrsquos important to look beyond how supporters want to interact with your nonprofit and understand how they want to in-teract with their social network Itrsquos within this framework that supporters choose mdash or choose not mdash to engage their network on your organizationrsquos behalf
So make it easy for them provide them with a variety of ways to use several social media tools to reach out and fund-raise for your nonprofit Let them decide how they fundraise With 845 million monthly active users and 100 billion con-nections Facebook for example provides an excellent platform for nonprofits mdash and their fundraisers mdash to expand fundraising reach In fact Blackbaudrsquos web site states that social media users raise 40 more than non-users But most
continued
John Murphy PresidentCEo and Founder Zuri Group
30 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
organizations make the mistake of relying on participants to send their own appeals and updates or worse provide cum-bersome tools that require multiple logins and steps
Some enthusiastic fundraisers will thrive in this envi-ronment Others wonrsquot Since each supporter is unique itrsquos important to provide several varying opportunities and options so that a personalized fundraising experience can be forged For many fundraisers asking for donations isnrsquot easy All participants want to raise money but many donrsquot feel comfortable asking outside of close friends and family Other fundraisers donrsquot have the time or creativity to regu-larly develop and update personalized Facebook messages Use technology to help overcome these challenges by creat-ing easy ways for them to raise more money using Facebook
To take the effort out of Facebook fundraising remove the discomfort of a direct ldquoaskrdquo and save fundraisers time some nonprofits are offering supporters the option for fun-draising updates that automatically post on their Facebook wall at pre-determined intervals throughout the fundraising season For the right supporter this option removes the dis-comfort of approaching potential donors with a direct ldquoaskrdquo while significantly expanding their fundraising reach
Mobilizing the troopsAccording to a 2011 study consumers spend more time
on mobile applications than on the web In addition Ameri-cans spend 27 hours per day on average socializing on their mobile phones Nonprofits have been hard at work to lever-age the trend toward mobile by creating mobile-friendly web sites and even apps to further engage supporters But what about the mobile interaction that takes place between sup-porters and their friends The key is for nonprofits to make it accessible and easy for fundraisers to use their everyday technologies and devices to fundraise within their own networks By providing fundraising options that enable sup-porters to simply use something they already use such as a smartphone to connect with people they already interact with fundraising becomes a more natural and personalized part of the supporterrsquos day
To provide a more personalized and convenient fun-draising experience some nonprofits are offering mobile fundraising apps that enable supporters to not only use their smartphones to fundraise but to fundraise using multiple technologies within the smartphone mdash such as email text Twitter Facebook and even FaceTime for iPhone users As a result supporters can fundraise for the organization from their homes the train while walking the dog mdash anytime they have their phone
By empowering supporters to personalize their fundrais-ing experience nonprofits that provide mobile fundraising apps help their fundraisers help them These organizations are meeting the needs of on-the-go fundraising participants so they can focus on spreading awareness soliciting dona-tions and thanking donors mdash on their time on their terms In fact itrsquos been reported that fundraising participants using mobile fundraising applications raise 200 more than other participants and bring in 300 more gifts by count that other participants
In addition some mobile fundraising apps are provid-ing further personalization by bringing some of the same features of the personalized online ldquoheadquartersrdquo to the smartphone such as fundraising thermometers and adding donors into their phone address book Pre-written fundrais-ing messages developed specifically for various mediums such as texts Twitter updates and emails can be used Editing personal fundraising pages from the smartphone is likely the next option nonprofits will start offering
the Personalization ChallengeAs nonprofits compete in the race to adopt new technolo-
gies and social media itrsquos important to take a step back and consider your supportersrsquo relationship with those channels Many nonprofits have a Facebook page or group but how are your fundraisers using Facebook Are you making it easy for them to advocate or fundraise for your organization If much of your donor base uses text messaging have you pro-vided easy access and tools for them to text their network on your behalf
Supporters want and frankly need a personalized online experience with your organization Go beyond the bounds of your interactive relationship and consider what would enable your supporter base to have a more personalized fundrais-ing experience mdash and then put those tools at their fingertips They and their network mdash will thank you n
John Murphy is the PresidentCEO and Founder of Zuri Group Zuri Group provides nonprofits with custom technology solutions to meet critical organizational needs such as fundraising using their existing platform For more info visit zurigroupcom
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 31Non-Profit_FullPageAd_OLindd 1 91312 417 PM
32 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
9 Centennial Drive
Peabody MA 01960-7906
Tel 8003707500
wwwamergentcom
c a l l j a c k d o y l e
8 0 0 3 7 0 7 5 0 0
s t r a t e g i c d i r e c t
m a r k e t i n g
f l e x i b l e d a t a b a s e s o l u t i o n
m u l t i - y e a r
c u t t i n g - e d g e
a n a l y t i c s
a w a r d - w i n n i n g
c r e a t i v e
n e e d n e w f u n d r a i s i n g s o l u t i o n s
m u l t i - c h a n n e l
c a m p a i g n s
i n t e g r a t e d
p r e d i c t i v e m o d e l s
Sign up for Amergentrsquos e-newsletter
at friendsamergentcomifund or scan qr code
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 33
Looking to Affordably Grow Your Donor Fileand Increase Contributions
We Can HelpWiland Direct is the nationrsquos 1 transactional database for fundraisers
Using our vast transactional data and powerful models Wiland Direct helps fundraisers to
bull Affordably acquire new donors bull Maximize contributions from existing donors bull Reactivate former donorsbull Identify the most likely activists and volunteersbull Convert inquirers petition signers and other ldquowarm leadsrdquo into donors
To learn more please contact John Spencer at 9703106378 or via email at jspencerwilanddirectcom
3034858686 wwwWilandDirectcomCopyright 2012 Wiland Direct All rights reserved
ldquoThe Wiland Direct database has been a solid performer for LLS with higher average gifts and lower cost per dollar raised than most Itrsquos opened up a new acquisition universe particularly important for a mature program Wersquore very pleased with the results and team support from Wilandrdquomdash Bruny Lynch The Leukemia amp Lymphoma Society
34 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
reso
urce
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aliz
ed
direct marketing solutionsyoursquove been looking for
Our award-winning solutions aretailored to find and motivate the people
who support your good work
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C R E AT I V E S E R V I C E S
Got control issuesWho doesnrsquot Maybe itrsquos time to hire a Sage
With 35 years of consumer marketing experience your non-profit can benefit from the best practices wersquove learned from creating thousands of winning promotions both in print and online
Thatrsquos why organizations like National Audubon Society Smithsonian National Geographic have consistently put our creative team to work for them
Want to see for yourself
Contact annesagecommunicationscom or call 508-309-6678 x 1 for a no-obligation quote
914-761-2800partnershipcarlbloomcom
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For nearly 40 years Carl Bloom Associates has beenhelping non-profits exceed their revenue goals withinnovative strategies and creative that raise moremoney acquire and retain more donors and increasetheir lifetime value
You can support your mission more effectively withCBArsquos ldquosmarterrdquo multi-channel campaigns integrating
bull Direct Mailbull Telephonebull Email
bull Internetbull Direct Response TVbull Social Media
You shouldnrsquot be satisfied meeting your fundraising goals
You should be beating them
Full Service Fundraising gt DonorMember AcquisitionRetention
DMA NF Journal Ad 8-12-365x4625_Layout 1 81312 1014 AM Page 1
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 35
PUT MORE MONEY IN THE HANDS of THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST through innovative fundraisingstrategies and better results
Wersquod love to meet you
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HigH Flying creative tHat gets resultsIntegrated Fundraising Mail Web Email
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newportcreativecom infonewportcreativecom
36 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
The Only Donor Cooperative Built By Fundraising Marketing Experts
Exclusive Benets for Apogee Members
Maximize revenue and lifetime value with high-value custom models
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Have proprietary models built at no extra charge
Our proprietary data assets and extensive experience in nonprot list services as well as building transactional databases for direct marketers make this a unique product and opportunity for your organization
Infogroup Nonprot Solutions invites your organization to participate in Apogee ndash a multi-functional marketing tool with diverse applications
For more information contact
Matthew Frattura4028365527 | matthewfratturainfogroupcom
wwwinfogroupcomApogee
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 37
In the era of tweets and texts we help people connect on a human level
TeleForum provides unique opportunities to elicit audience feedback inspire loyalty communicate an idea raise
support and much more It is as simple as making a phone call
To learn more about TeleForum and our other revolutionary products and
features please contact us at infobroadnetus
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Fundraisingrsquos Best Friend
You make a friend for life
From fundraising through direct mail and digital media to integrated marketing solutions to strategic planning and donor relationship management and more we customize a plan just for you
We partner with organizations to help integrate fundraising and marketing strategies for maximum results
When you choose Alpha dog Marketing you do more than just hire an agency
Your purpose matters to us
wwwAlphadogMktgcom8007300668
Get it todaynonprofitfederationorgethics-policy watchdog-resource-centerwatchdog-toolkit
38 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
1
2
3
A
B
C
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 25
mobile into their existing multi-channel strategies we must tackle one issue If your organization has tried mobile or an omnichan-nel approach in the past and were disappointed or frustrated with your expe-rience try again You were one of the pioneering orga-nizations that comprise the early adopters of those models Lessons learned over the past few years have evolved into success-ful best practices mdash and you get the opportunity to benefit from them As we like to say in honor of the wise Master Yoda ldquoTry not Do or do not There is no tryrdquo We guarantee if imple-mented correctly using mobile in an omnichannel approach can work for your organization
1 Communicate and Integrate mdash Walk Across the Mobile Bridge
Many organizations that I work with have voiced cross-departmental integra-tion as a challenge That is understandable because tra-ditionally departments or channels have been siloed from one another But this disenfranchised model does not result in the seam-less experience that donors are coming to expect In order for a donor experi-ence to be seamless direct mail must complement the organizationrsquos website the organizationrsquos website must complement the mobile campaign social media must complement direct mail and so forth and so on When used together
the communication chan-nels can result in more effective campaigns and bigger numbers
When an organization decides to develop a mobile strategy generally it is one department within that organization that is initially interested That department is a hero because they have just launched a toolset that can be used throughout the organization If you have a mobile program in place for fundraising itrsquos time to talk with your program services department mem-bership team and corporate partner folks and get them in the loop so that you can maximize the omnichannel approach Mobile can be a great catalyst for initiating conversation and guiding organizational integration
Mobile is also a great way to increase the effec-tiveness of existing channels By integrating your direct mail newslet-ter social media online and mobile efforts you can increase response and open rates We have found that if you send a text message to your membership remind-ing them to check their email inboxes you can increase email open rates by 10 or more Addition-ally if you include a mobile number field on your email and paper member-ship forms you can quickly build a mobile community that can turn into repeat donors Once again the most important element besides the actual cross
the Bridge to an omnichannel Approach in time for Year-End Campaigns
continued
Jenifer Snyder Esq Executive Director The mGive Foundation and Cassie Bair Vice President of Marketing Mobile Accord
26 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
channel promotion goes back to this concept of the omnichannel Make the message consistent across all channels They donrsquot have to be identical but they should complement each other and work to create an echo effect
Just about every one of your donors will experience your organization through their mobile device at some point mdash so make sure your message is clear consistent convenient and actionable through mobile in some capacity
2 test Review Adjust Implement Review Adjust mdash and Repeat
Once you have an inte-grated strategy in place itrsquos time to implement Whether the goal is to acquire new donors reactivate lapsed donors and drive donations from existing donors mdash or all three mdash test your cam-paign Take time to review the results and adjust accordingly Then imple-ment full scale confident you are on the right path Regularly review your results adjust your activities and repeat as needed
In preparation for end of year activities take the time in the Fall to tweak your marketing engine for optimal performance Do some zero based plan-ning and try to approach
the supporter experience as if you are the supporter Spend time on every avenue where you can wisely create a seamless experience
Everyone in philan-thropy knows that the majority of all charitable donations are made in the last 2 months of the year Additionally member-ship increases substantially during the last quarter of the year Spend time now identifying opportunities strategies and tactics that work best for you mdash and consider how mobile can be a centralizing point for many of these activities
3 Apply the Winning Methodologies to Your End of Year Appeals
Yoursquove tested tweaked and determined what works best for you Now inte-grate what yoursquove learned into your end of year cam-paigns Determine how your campaign follows stan-dard best practices for end of year appeals and where mobile can help drive that engagement across multiple mediums
Common best practices for end of year campaigns that can include mobile
A Sending multiple asks the final week of the year mdash Make sure text messages are a part of that effort Whether itrsquos a simple call-to-action to text
a donation drives people to a pledge page or some-thing all-together different mobile can help ramp up that seamless experience
B the Art of the ldquothank Yourdquo mdash Thank your sup-porters Use mobile to message supporters your appreciation when they take action through text or drive them to a webpage with a video with a celeb-rity spokesperson giving a thank you message But make sure they know repeatedly that what they do for your cause matters And keep in mind mobile can drive to a strong ldquothank yourdquo experience
C Share Ask Listen mdash Take the opportunity to tell a story ask for feed-back and listen to what your organization is being told Not sure how to do that in mobile Share a link to a news article through text Ask for feedback through social media And listen to what is being said while distilling insights from how supporters respond in order to strengthen your omnichannel approach
4 Continue into 2013 mdash You are set for success
As donors enter the New Year self-improve-ment will often include a
commitment to be a better person volunteer more donate more funds etc Use mobile as a data col-lection tool to help your donors achieve their goal Give them the opportunity to commit to goals pertain-ing to your cause and then become their coach Send monthly reminders of their commitment and words of encouragement Remind them about appointments invite them to share their experience and overall let the donor feel the effect of their selfless promise through all of their activi-ties while using mobile to centralize that community and to drive people to action
We now live in a world where the average person at any given moment is looking at two or more screens It is critical that nonprofit organizations embrace the multi-screen world and adopt the omnichannel or fully integrated model When you create a seam-less giving experience for the everyday philanthropist you will be amazed at the results Walking away from a mobile strategy today is like walking away from the internet in the early 2000s
Mobile is here to stay and it is not an elective component to your orga-nizationrsquos fundraising and engagement strategy Itrsquos an essential part of a successful omnichannel strategy for your end of year activities n
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 27
Jenifer Snyder Esq Executive Director The mGive Foundation
As Executive Director of The mGive Foun-dation Jenifer is dedicated to expanding the scope and reach of the mobile channel for social good She brings years of lead-ership experience in the mobile industry to the position Previously Jenifer was a founder and General Counsel for 9 Squared Inc a mobile content and ser-vices company subsequently acquired by the Zed Group She left Zed in 2007 and started building the mobile channel for social and charitable efforts and later formed The mGive Foundation
Cassie bair Vice president of Marketing Mobile Accord
As Vice President of Marketing for Mobile Accord Cassie is dedicated to educat-ing and empowering nonprofits regarding the power of mobile She combines years of marketing experience in the nonprofit industry with the exciting evolution of the mobile channel for social good Cassie has worked with organizations such as the American Heart Association American Institute of Architects and the American Society of Echocardiography developing integrated and cause marketing cam-paigns and uses that knowledge today with clients to help them maximize their mobile strategy
Name
OrganizationCompany
Address
City State Zip Code
Charge my m Visa m MasterCard m AmEx m Discover
Card Number Expiration Date
Signature
raquo FAX form to 2026284383 (do not email credit card information)
raquo MAIL form to Alicia Osgood Director Membership amp Communications DMA Nonprofit Federation 1615 L Street NW Suite 1100 Washington DC 20036
raquo MAKE ChECKS payable to the DMA Nonprofit Federation
raquo DMA Nonprofit Federation Federal Tax ID Number 13-1810859
News and cutting-edge professional development tips
SUBSCRIBEto the Journal today1year =3 issues
ONLY $35Published digitally in January Apriland September the Journal brings together nonprofit leaders to deliver a standout publication packed with content you can really use
No cost to members
28 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Consumer technology evolves so quickly that nonprof-its are constantly racing to get their organizations using the latest technologies and mediums In fact many of these innovations have had significant impact on the fundrais-ing community While online CRM systems for example spawned database segmentation capabilities the opportu-nity ndash and challenge ndash arose for fundraising professionals to target appeals precisely to donorsrsquo specific interests Lately the emergence and rapid popularity of technologies such as smartphones and social media have forced nonprofits to not only create a presence but essentially compete for shrinking donor funds using these vehicles
The primary focus of nonprofit technology however tends to be inward creating a presence in a particular social media community or simply using the technology on behalf of the organization Examples of this include a nonprofitrsquos Facebook page and Twitter account and mobile-friendly
web sites In todayrsquos competitive fundraising environment though itrsquos not enough for nonprofits to simply use the latest technology Successful fundraisers understand that a nonprofitrsquos relationship with technology needs to take one step beyond itself to focus outward how do your sup-porters and donors want to use technology on behalf of your organization
Donors have technology preferences and habits too While itrsquos great for organizations to have a Facebook page for sup-porters to ldquolikerdquo that offers news and updates for example this doesnrsquot offer an opportunity for donors to appeal to their friends and family on behalf of your nonprofit mdash and certainly doesnrsquot raise money As nonprofits have learned to quickly adapt to changing technology and social media standards the time has come for organizations to evolve the technology they offer to provide donors supporters and par-ticipants with a personalized fundraising experience
Get Personal Providing Supporters with Personalized Fundraising Experiences
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 29
Personalization Means EngagementAt a fundamental level donor personalization in fun-
draising emerged from some of the first online nonprofit fundraising systems Offering supporters the opportunity to send personalized fundraising emails to their friends and family was revolutionary in its time mdash as was offering custom individual and team fundraising web pages
While these technology offerings revolutionized event fundraising donors have become increasingly savvy in the way they interact online mdash and developed strong preferences and dislikes in the types of technology they use They want the technology they know and like to be at their fingertips and are more likely to fundraise and successfully so for your nonprofit if itrsquos made easy and accessible for them
Back to Basics mdash But BetterNonprofits have been so consumed by social media that
they often forget this simple fact participants who use online tools raise six times more than non-users according to Blackbaud In addition 25 percent of the fundraising emails supporters send to their friends result in a donation With the average online gift being $60 nonprofits have motiva-tion not to forget about the basics of online fundraising But in the age of increasing competition for donations nonprof-its that offer a more personalized fundraising experience to supporters may see better results
What does it mean to offer a personalized fundrais-ing experience For online fundraising pages it can mean offering them the opportunity to post pictures videos story content and individual fundraising status updates But itrsquos essentially the personalization options offered behind the scenes mdash in the personal ldquoHeadquartersrdquo page within an online fundraising system mdash that can really maximize fun-draising results
Savvy nonprofits are offering a multitude of ways within their online fundraising systems for supporters to choose to reach out to friends and family Offering more than the email capabilities found standard with most fundraising plat-forms some nonprofits are starting to provide supporters more options in their personal participant ldquoheadquartersrdquo pages to engage those in their network mdash all with the click of a button Opportunities for supporters to personalize their experience could include options to
Send a Facebook message
Tweet their fundraising page
Update their Facebook status
Send a quick email
In addition statistics about their personal fundraising process could tell them
Total emails sent
Visits to their personal fundraising pages
Number of donations
Number of registrations
Average amount raised per email sent
Number of additional emails needed to reach fundraising goal
And because no one participant is the same these per-sonalization options allow the supporter to interact and engage their network on behalf of the nonprofit in ways that are meaningful and comfortable to them
Beyond the Facebook PageThe nonprofit community has taken Facebook by storm as an avenue to engage supporters and attract donors But itrsquos important to look beyond how supporters want to interact with your nonprofit and understand how they want to in-teract with their social network Itrsquos within this framework that supporters choose mdash or choose not mdash to engage their network on your organizationrsquos behalf
So make it easy for them provide them with a variety of ways to use several social media tools to reach out and fund-raise for your nonprofit Let them decide how they fundraise With 845 million monthly active users and 100 billion con-nections Facebook for example provides an excellent platform for nonprofits mdash and their fundraisers mdash to expand fundraising reach In fact Blackbaudrsquos web site states that social media users raise 40 more than non-users But most
continued
John Murphy PresidentCEo and Founder Zuri Group
30 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
organizations make the mistake of relying on participants to send their own appeals and updates or worse provide cum-bersome tools that require multiple logins and steps
Some enthusiastic fundraisers will thrive in this envi-ronment Others wonrsquot Since each supporter is unique itrsquos important to provide several varying opportunities and options so that a personalized fundraising experience can be forged For many fundraisers asking for donations isnrsquot easy All participants want to raise money but many donrsquot feel comfortable asking outside of close friends and family Other fundraisers donrsquot have the time or creativity to regu-larly develop and update personalized Facebook messages Use technology to help overcome these challenges by creat-ing easy ways for them to raise more money using Facebook
To take the effort out of Facebook fundraising remove the discomfort of a direct ldquoaskrdquo and save fundraisers time some nonprofits are offering supporters the option for fun-draising updates that automatically post on their Facebook wall at pre-determined intervals throughout the fundraising season For the right supporter this option removes the dis-comfort of approaching potential donors with a direct ldquoaskrdquo while significantly expanding their fundraising reach
Mobilizing the troopsAccording to a 2011 study consumers spend more time
on mobile applications than on the web In addition Ameri-cans spend 27 hours per day on average socializing on their mobile phones Nonprofits have been hard at work to lever-age the trend toward mobile by creating mobile-friendly web sites and even apps to further engage supporters But what about the mobile interaction that takes place between sup-porters and their friends The key is for nonprofits to make it accessible and easy for fundraisers to use their everyday technologies and devices to fundraise within their own networks By providing fundraising options that enable sup-porters to simply use something they already use such as a smartphone to connect with people they already interact with fundraising becomes a more natural and personalized part of the supporterrsquos day
To provide a more personalized and convenient fun-draising experience some nonprofits are offering mobile fundraising apps that enable supporters to not only use their smartphones to fundraise but to fundraise using multiple technologies within the smartphone mdash such as email text Twitter Facebook and even FaceTime for iPhone users As a result supporters can fundraise for the organization from their homes the train while walking the dog mdash anytime they have their phone
By empowering supporters to personalize their fundrais-ing experience nonprofits that provide mobile fundraising apps help their fundraisers help them These organizations are meeting the needs of on-the-go fundraising participants so they can focus on spreading awareness soliciting dona-tions and thanking donors mdash on their time on their terms In fact itrsquos been reported that fundraising participants using mobile fundraising applications raise 200 more than other participants and bring in 300 more gifts by count that other participants
In addition some mobile fundraising apps are provid-ing further personalization by bringing some of the same features of the personalized online ldquoheadquartersrdquo to the smartphone such as fundraising thermometers and adding donors into their phone address book Pre-written fundrais-ing messages developed specifically for various mediums such as texts Twitter updates and emails can be used Editing personal fundraising pages from the smartphone is likely the next option nonprofits will start offering
the Personalization ChallengeAs nonprofits compete in the race to adopt new technolo-
gies and social media itrsquos important to take a step back and consider your supportersrsquo relationship with those channels Many nonprofits have a Facebook page or group but how are your fundraisers using Facebook Are you making it easy for them to advocate or fundraise for your organization If much of your donor base uses text messaging have you pro-vided easy access and tools for them to text their network on your behalf
Supporters want and frankly need a personalized online experience with your organization Go beyond the bounds of your interactive relationship and consider what would enable your supporter base to have a more personalized fundrais-ing experience mdash and then put those tools at their fingertips They and their network mdash will thank you n
John Murphy is the PresidentCEO and Founder of Zuri Group Zuri Group provides nonprofits with custom technology solutions to meet critical organizational needs such as fundraising using their existing platform For more info visit zurigroupcom
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 31Non-Profit_FullPageAd_OLindd 1 91312 417 PM
32 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
9 Centennial Drive
Peabody MA 01960-7906
Tel 8003707500
wwwamergentcom
c a l l j a c k d o y l e
8 0 0 3 7 0 7 5 0 0
s t r a t e g i c d i r e c t
m a r k e t i n g
f l e x i b l e d a t a b a s e s o l u t i o n
m u l t i - y e a r
c u t t i n g - e d g e
a n a l y t i c s
a w a r d - w i n n i n g
c r e a t i v e
n e e d n e w f u n d r a i s i n g s o l u t i o n s
m u l t i - c h a n n e l
c a m p a i g n s
i n t e g r a t e d
p r e d i c t i v e m o d e l s
Sign up for Amergentrsquos e-newsletter
at friendsamergentcomifund or scan qr code
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 33
Looking to Affordably Grow Your Donor Fileand Increase Contributions
We Can HelpWiland Direct is the nationrsquos 1 transactional database for fundraisers
Using our vast transactional data and powerful models Wiland Direct helps fundraisers to
bull Affordably acquire new donors bull Maximize contributions from existing donors bull Reactivate former donorsbull Identify the most likely activists and volunteersbull Convert inquirers petition signers and other ldquowarm leadsrdquo into donors
To learn more please contact John Spencer at 9703106378 or via email at jspencerwilanddirectcom
3034858686 wwwWilandDirectcomCopyright 2012 Wiland Direct All rights reserved
ldquoThe Wiland Direct database has been a solid performer for LLS with higher average gifts and lower cost per dollar raised than most Itrsquos opened up a new acquisition universe particularly important for a mature program Wersquore very pleased with the results and team support from Wilandrdquomdash Bruny Lynch The Leukemia amp Lymphoma Society
34 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
reso
urce
s re
aliz
ed
direct marketing solutionsyoursquove been looking for
Our award-winning solutions aretailored to find and motivate the people
who support your good work
SampW Directmdash Direct Mailmdash Online amp Offline
Communicationsmdash Membership Programsmdash Monthly Mid-level amp
Annual Giving Programsmdash Database Profiles
amp Assessmentsmdash Direct Response Plans
amp Executionmdash Analytical Services
325 Chestnut Street Suite 700 215-625-9955Philadelphia PA 19105 wwwschultzwilliamscom
mailschultzwilliamscom SagePRINT SageONLINE SageCARES
C R E AT I V E S E R V I C E S
Got control issuesWho doesnrsquot Maybe itrsquos time to hire a Sage
With 35 years of consumer marketing experience your non-profit can benefit from the best practices wersquove learned from creating thousands of winning promotions both in print and online
Thatrsquos why organizations like National Audubon Society Smithsonian National Geographic have consistently put our creative team to work for them
Want to see for yourself
Contact annesagecommunicationscom or call 508-309-6678 x 1 for a no-obligation quote
914-761-2800partnershipcarlbloomcom
Contact CBA today to find out how we can help yourorganization exceed its goals now and into the future
wwwcarlbloomcom
For nearly 40 years Carl Bloom Associates has beenhelping non-profits exceed their revenue goals withinnovative strategies and creative that raise moremoney acquire and retain more donors and increasetheir lifetime value
You can support your mission more effectively withCBArsquos ldquosmarterrdquo multi-channel campaigns integrating
bull Direct Mailbull Telephonebull Email
bull Internetbull Direct Response TVbull Social Media
You shouldnrsquot be satisfied meeting your fundraising goals
You should be beating them
Full Service Fundraising gt DonorMember AcquisitionRetention
DMA NF Journal Ad 8-12-365x4625_Layout 1 81312 1014 AM Page 1
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 35
PUT MORE MONEY IN THE HANDS of THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST through innovative fundraisingstrategies and better results
Wersquod love to meet you
8009650577
nexusdirectcom
HigH Flying creative tHat gets resultsIntegrated Fundraising Mail Web Email
You want an agency that can deliver powerful high-performance programs Creatively You want an agency that will function as an extension of your own team Seamlessly You want an agency that can cut costs without cutting impact Efficiently You want Newport Creative
U N C O M M O N LY C R E A T I V E
newportcreativecom infonewportcreativecom
36 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
The Only Donor Cooperative Built By Fundraising Marketing Experts
Exclusive Benets for Apogee Members
Maximize revenue and lifetime value with high-value custom models
Extend your reach with high-performance modeled universe
Maximize exchanges through suppression of key exchange partnersrsquo names
Packageoffer-specific proprietary models
Create models for sustainers planned giving mid-level and major-gift givers
Expand your universe through optimization of commercial list sources
Take advantage of highly aggressive pricing and net arrangements
Have proprietary models built at no extra charge
Our proprietary data assets and extensive experience in nonprot list services as well as building transactional databases for direct marketers make this a unique product and opportunity for your organization
Infogroup Nonprot Solutions invites your organization to participate in Apogee ndash a multi-functional marketing tool with diverse applications
For more information contact
Matthew Frattura4028365527 | matthewfratturainfogroupcom
wwwinfogroupcomApogee
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 37
In the era of tweets and texts we help people connect on a human level
TeleForum provides unique opportunities to elicit audience feedback inspire loyalty communicate an idea raise
support and much more It is as simple as making a phone call
To learn more about TeleForum and our other revolutionary products and
features please contact us at infobroadnetus
powered by
18775794929 | wwwbroadnetus
Fundraisingrsquos Best Friend
You make a friend for life
From fundraising through direct mail and digital media to integrated marketing solutions to strategic planning and donor relationship management and more we customize a plan just for you
We partner with organizations to help integrate fundraising and marketing strategies for maximum results
When you choose Alpha dog Marketing you do more than just hire an agency
Your purpose matters to us
wwwAlphadogMktgcom8007300668
Get it todaynonprofitfederationorgethics-policy watchdog-resource-centerwatchdog-toolkit
38 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
1
2
3
A
B
C
26 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
channel promotion goes back to this concept of the omnichannel Make the message consistent across all channels They donrsquot have to be identical but they should complement each other and work to create an echo effect
Just about every one of your donors will experience your organization through their mobile device at some point mdash so make sure your message is clear consistent convenient and actionable through mobile in some capacity
2 test Review Adjust Implement Review Adjust mdash and Repeat
Once you have an inte-grated strategy in place itrsquos time to implement Whether the goal is to acquire new donors reactivate lapsed donors and drive donations from existing donors mdash or all three mdash test your cam-paign Take time to review the results and adjust accordingly Then imple-ment full scale confident you are on the right path Regularly review your results adjust your activities and repeat as needed
In preparation for end of year activities take the time in the Fall to tweak your marketing engine for optimal performance Do some zero based plan-ning and try to approach
the supporter experience as if you are the supporter Spend time on every avenue where you can wisely create a seamless experience
Everyone in philan-thropy knows that the majority of all charitable donations are made in the last 2 months of the year Additionally member-ship increases substantially during the last quarter of the year Spend time now identifying opportunities strategies and tactics that work best for you mdash and consider how mobile can be a centralizing point for many of these activities
3 Apply the Winning Methodologies to Your End of Year Appeals
Yoursquove tested tweaked and determined what works best for you Now inte-grate what yoursquove learned into your end of year cam-paigns Determine how your campaign follows stan-dard best practices for end of year appeals and where mobile can help drive that engagement across multiple mediums
Common best practices for end of year campaigns that can include mobile
A Sending multiple asks the final week of the year mdash Make sure text messages are a part of that effort Whether itrsquos a simple call-to-action to text
a donation drives people to a pledge page or some-thing all-together different mobile can help ramp up that seamless experience
B the Art of the ldquothank Yourdquo mdash Thank your sup-porters Use mobile to message supporters your appreciation when they take action through text or drive them to a webpage with a video with a celeb-rity spokesperson giving a thank you message But make sure they know repeatedly that what they do for your cause matters And keep in mind mobile can drive to a strong ldquothank yourdquo experience
C Share Ask Listen mdash Take the opportunity to tell a story ask for feed-back and listen to what your organization is being told Not sure how to do that in mobile Share a link to a news article through text Ask for feedback through social media And listen to what is being said while distilling insights from how supporters respond in order to strengthen your omnichannel approach
4 Continue into 2013 mdash You are set for success
As donors enter the New Year self-improve-ment will often include a
commitment to be a better person volunteer more donate more funds etc Use mobile as a data col-lection tool to help your donors achieve their goal Give them the opportunity to commit to goals pertain-ing to your cause and then become their coach Send monthly reminders of their commitment and words of encouragement Remind them about appointments invite them to share their experience and overall let the donor feel the effect of their selfless promise through all of their activi-ties while using mobile to centralize that community and to drive people to action
We now live in a world where the average person at any given moment is looking at two or more screens It is critical that nonprofit organizations embrace the multi-screen world and adopt the omnichannel or fully integrated model When you create a seam-less giving experience for the everyday philanthropist you will be amazed at the results Walking away from a mobile strategy today is like walking away from the internet in the early 2000s
Mobile is here to stay and it is not an elective component to your orga-nizationrsquos fundraising and engagement strategy Itrsquos an essential part of a successful omnichannel strategy for your end of year activities n
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 27
Jenifer Snyder Esq Executive Director The mGive Foundation
As Executive Director of The mGive Foun-dation Jenifer is dedicated to expanding the scope and reach of the mobile channel for social good She brings years of lead-ership experience in the mobile industry to the position Previously Jenifer was a founder and General Counsel for 9 Squared Inc a mobile content and ser-vices company subsequently acquired by the Zed Group She left Zed in 2007 and started building the mobile channel for social and charitable efforts and later formed The mGive Foundation
Cassie bair Vice president of Marketing Mobile Accord
As Vice President of Marketing for Mobile Accord Cassie is dedicated to educat-ing and empowering nonprofits regarding the power of mobile She combines years of marketing experience in the nonprofit industry with the exciting evolution of the mobile channel for social good Cassie has worked with organizations such as the American Heart Association American Institute of Architects and the American Society of Echocardiography developing integrated and cause marketing cam-paigns and uses that knowledge today with clients to help them maximize their mobile strategy
Name
OrganizationCompany
Address
City State Zip Code
Charge my m Visa m MasterCard m AmEx m Discover
Card Number Expiration Date
Signature
raquo FAX form to 2026284383 (do not email credit card information)
raquo MAIL form to Alicia Osgood Director Membership amp Communications DMA Nonprofit Federation 1615 L Street NW Suite 1100 Washington DC 20036
raquo MAKE ChECKS payable to the DMA Nonprofit Federation
raquo DMA Nonprofit Federation Federal Tax ID Number 13-1810859
News and cutting-edge professional development tips
SUBSCRIBEto the Journal today1year =3 issues
ONLY $35Published digitally in January Apriland September the Journal brings together nonprofit leaders to deliver a standout publication packed with content you can really use
No cost to members
28 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Consumer technology evolves so quickly that nonprof-its are constantly racing to get their organizations using the latest technologies and mediums In fact many of these innovations have had significant impact on the fundrais-ing community While online CRM systems for example spawned database segmentation capabilities the opportu-nity ndash and challenge ndash arose for fundraising professionals to target appeals precisely to donorsrsquo specific interests Lately the emergence and rapid popularity of technologies such as smartphones and social media have forced nonprofits to not only create a presence but essentially compete for shrinking donor funds using these vehicles
The primary focus of nonprofit technology however tends to be inward creating a presence in a particular social media community or simply using the technology on behalf of the organization Examples of this include a nonprofitrsquos Facebook page and Twitter account and mobile-friendly
web sites In todayrsquos competitive fundraising environment though itrsquos not enough for nonprofits to simply use the latest technology Successful fundraisers understand that a nonprofitrsquos relationship with technology needs to take one step beyond itself to focus outward how do your sup-porters and donors want to use technology on behalf of your organization
Donors have technology preferences and habits too While itrsquos great for organizations to have a Facebook page for sup-porters to ldquolikerdquo that offers news and updates for example this doesnrsquot offer an opportunity for donors to appeal to their friends and family on behalf of your nonprofit mdash and certainly doesnrsquot raise money As nonprofits have learned to quickly adapt to changing technology and social media standards the time has come for organizations to evolve the technology they offer to provide donors supporters and par-ticipants with a personalized fundraising experience
Get Personal Providing Supporters with Personalized Fundraising Experiences
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 29
Personalization Means EngagementAt a fundamental level donor personalization in fun-
draising emerged from some of the first online nonprofit fundraising systems Offering supporters the opportunity to send personalized fundraising emails to their friends and family was revolutionary in its time mdash as was offering custom individual and team fundraising web pages
While these technology offerings revolutionized event fundraising donors have become increasingly savvy in the way they interact online mdash and developed strong preferences and dislikes in the types of technology they use They want the technology they know and like to be at their fingertips and are more likely to fundraise and successfully so for your nonprofit if itrsquos made easy and accessible for them
Back to Basics mdash But BetterNonprofits have been so consumed by social media that
they often forget this simple fact participants who use online tools raise six times more than non-users according to Blackbaud In addition 25 percent of the fundraising emails supporters send to their friends result in a donation With the average online gift being $60 nonprofits have motiva-tion not to forget about the basics of online fundraising But in the age of increasing competition for donations nonprof-its that offer a more personalized fundraising experience to supporters may see better results
What does it mean to offer a personalized fundrais-ing experience For online fundraising pages it can mean offering them the opportunity to post pictures videos story content and individual fundraising status updates But itrsquos essentially the personalization options offered behind the scenes mdash in the personal ldquoHeadquartersrdquo page within an online fundraising system mdash that can really maximize fun-draising results
Savvy nonprofits are offering a multitude of ways within their online fundraising systems for supporters to choose to reach out to friends and family Offering more than the email capabilities found standard with most fundraising plat-forms some nonprofits are starting to provide supporters more options in their personal participant ldquoheadquartersrdquo pages to engage those in their network mdash all with the click of a button Opportunities for supporters to personalize their experience could include options to
Send a Facebook message
Tweet their fundraising page
Update their Facebook status
Send a quick email
In addition statistics about their personal fundraising process could tell them
Total emails sent
Visits to their personal fundraising pages
Number of donations
Number of registrations
Average amount raised per email sent
Number of additional emails needed to reach fundraising goal
And because no one participant is the same these per-sonalization options allow the supporter to interact and engage their network on behalf of the nonprofit in ways that are meaningful and comfortable to them
Beyond the Facebook PageThe nonprofit community has taken Facebook by storm as an avenue to engage supporters and attract donors But itrsquos important to look beyond how supporters want to interact with your nonprofit and understand how they want to in-teract with their social network Itrsquos within this framework that supporters choose mdash or choose not mdash to engage their network on your organizationrsquos behalf
So make it easy for them provide them with a variety of ways to use several social media tools to reach out and fund-raise for your nonprofit Let them decide how they fundraise With 845 million monthly active users and 100 billion con-nections Facebook for example provides an excellent platform for nonprofits mdash and their fundraisers mdash to expand fundraising reach In fact Blackbaudrsquos web site states that social media users raise 40 more than non-users But most
continued
John Murphy PresidentCEo and Founder Zuri Group
30 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
organizations make the mistake of relying on participants to send their own appeals and updates or worse provide cum-bersome tools that require multiple logins and steps
Some enthusiastic fundraisers will thrive in this envi-ronment Others wonrsquot Since each supporter is unique itrsquos important to provide several varying opportunities and options so that a personalized fundraising experience can be forged For many fundraisers asking for donations isnrsquot easy All participants want to raise money but many donrsquot feel comfortable asking outside of close friends and family Other fundraisers donrsquot have the time or creativity to regu-larly develop and update personalized Facebook messages Use technology to help overcome these challenges by creat-ing easy ways for them to raise more money using Facebook
To take the effort out of Facebook fundraising remove the discomfort of a direct ldquoaskrdquo and save fundraisers time some nonprofits are offering supporters the option for fun-draising updates that automatically post on their Facebook wall at pre-determined intervals throughout the fundraising season For the right supporter this option removes the dis-comfort of approaching potential donors with a direct ldquoaskrdquo while significantly expanding their fundraising reach
Mobilizing the troopsAccording to a 2011 study consumers spend more time
on mobile applications than on the web In addition Ameri-cans spend 27 hours per day on average socializing on their mobile phones Nonprofits have been hard at work to lever-age the trend toward mobile by creating mobile-friendly web sites and even apps to further engage supporters But what about the mobile interaction that takes place between sup-porters and their friends The key is for nonprofits to make it accessible and easy for fundraisers to use their everyday technologies and devices to fundraise within their own networks By providing fundraising options that enable sup-porters to simply use something they already use such as a smartphone to connect with people they already interact with fundraising becomes a more natural and personalized part of the supporterrsquos day
To provide a more personalized and convenient fun-draising experience some nonprofits are offering mobile fundraising apps that enable supporters to not only use their smartphones to fundraise but to fundraise using multiple technologies within the smartphone mdash such as email text Twitter Facebook and even FaceTime for iPhone users As a result supporters can fundraise for the organization from their homes the train while walking the dog mdash anytime they have their phone
By empowering supporters to personalize their fundrais-ing experience nonprofits that provide mobile fundraising apps help their fundraisers help them These organizations are meeting the needs of on-the-go fundraising participants so they can focus on spreading awareness soliciting dona-tions and thanking donors mdash on their time on their terms In fact itrsquos been reported that fundraising participants using mobile fundraising applications raise 200 more than other participants and bring in 300 more gifts by count that other participants
In addition some mobile fundraising apps are provid-ing further personalization by bringing some of the same features of the personalized online ldquoheadquartersrdquo to the smartphone such as fundraising thermometers and adding donors into their phone address book Pre-written fundrais-ing messages developed specifically for various mediums such as texts Twitter updates and emails can be used Editing personal fundraising pages from the smartphone is likely the next option nonprofits will start offering
the Personalization ChallengeAs nonprofits compete in the race to adopt new technolo-
gies and social media itrsquos important to take a step back and consider your supportersrsquo relationship with those channels Many nonprofits have a Facebook page or group but how are your fundraisers using Facebook Are you making it easy for them to advocate or fundraise for your organization If much of your donor base uses text messaging have you pro-vided easy access and tools for them to text their network on your behalf
Supporters want and frankly need a personalized online experience with your organization Go beyond the bounds of your interactive relationship and consider what would enable your supporter base to have a more personalized fundrais-ing experience mdash and then put those tools at their fingertips They and their network mdash will thank you n
John Murphy is the PresidentCEO and Founder of Zuri Group Zuri Group provides nonprofits with custom technology solutions to meet critical organizational needs such as fundraising using their existing platform For more info visit zurigroupcom
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 31Non-Profit_FullPageAd_OLindd 1 91312 417 PM
32 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
9 Centennial Drive
Peabody MA 01960-7906
Tel 8003707500
wwwamergentcom
c a l l j a c k d o y l e
8 0 0 3 7 0 7 5 0 0
s t r a t e g i c d i r e c t
m a r k e t i n g
f l e x i b l e d a t a b a s e s o l u t i o n
m u l t i - y e a r
c u t t i n g - e d g e
a n a l y t i c s
a w a r d - w i n n i n g
c r e a t i v e
n e e d n e w f u n d r a i s i n g s o l u t i o n s
m u l t i - c h a n n e l
c a m p a i g n s
i n t e g r a t e d
p r e d i c t i v e m o d e l s
Sign up for Amergentrsquos e-newsletter
at friendsamergentcomifund or scan qr code
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 33
Looking to Affordably Grow Your Donor Fileand Increase Contributions
We Can HelpWiland Direct is the nationrsquos 1 transactional database for fundraisers
Using our vast transactional data and powerful models Wiland Direct helps fundraisers to
bull Affordably acquire new donors bull Maximize contributions from existing donors bull Reactivate former donorsbull Identify the most likely activists and volunteersbull Convert inquirers petition signers and other ldquowarm leadsrdquo into donors
To learn more please contact John Spencer at 9703106378 or via email at jspencerwilanddirectcom
3034858686 wwwWilandDirectcomCopyright 2012 Wiland Direct All rights reserved
ldquoThe Wiland Direct database has been a solid performer for LLS with higher average gifts and lower cost per dollar raised than most Itrsquos opened up a new acquisition universe particularly important for a mature program Wersquore very pleased with the results and team support from Wilandrdquomdash Bruny Lynch The Leukemia amp Lymphoma Society
34 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
reso
urce
s re
aliz
ed
direct marketing solutionsyoursquove been looking for
Our award-winning solutions aretailored to find and motivate the people
who support your good work
SampW Directmdash Direct Mailmdash Online amp Offline
Communicationsmdash Membership Programsmdash Monthly Mid-level amp
Annual Giving Programsmdash Database Profiles
amp Assessmentsmdash Direct Response Plans
amp Executionmdash Analytical Services
325 Chestnut Street Suite 700 215-625-9955Philadelphia PA 19105 wwwschultzwilliamscom
mailschultzwilliamscom SagePRINT SageONLINE SageCARES
C R E AT I V E S E R V I C E S
Got control issuesWho doesnrsquot Maybe itrsquos time to hire a Sage
With 35 years of consumer marketing experience your non-profit can benefit from the best practices wersquove learned from creating thousands of winning promotions both in print and online
Thatrsquos why organizations like National Audubon Society Smithsonian National Geographic have consistently put our creative team to work for them
Want to see for yourself
Contact annesagecommunicationscom or call 508-309-6678 x 1 for a no-obligation quote
914-761-2800partnershipcarlbloomcom
Contact CBA today to find out how we can help yourorganization exceed its goals now and into the future
wwwcarlbloomcom
For nearly 40 years Carl Bloom Associates has beenhelping non-profits exceed their revenue goals withinnovative strategies and creative that raise moremoney acquire and retain more donors and increasetheir lifetime value
You can support your mission more effectively withCBArsquos ldquosmarterrdquo multi-channel campaigns integrating
bull Direct Mailbull Telephonebull Email
bull Internetbull Direct Response TVbull Social Media
You shouldnrsquot be satisfied meeting your fundraising goals
You should be beating them
Full Service Fundraising gt DonorMember AcquisitionRetention
DMA NF Journal Ad 8-12-365x4625_Layout 1 81312 1014 AM Page 1
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 35
PUT MORE MONEY IN THE HANDS of THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST through innovative fundraisingstrategies and better results
Wersquod love to meet you
8009650577
nexusdirectcom
HigH Flying creative tHat gets resultsIntegrated Fundraising Mail Web Email
You want an agency that can deliver powerful high-performance programs Creatively You want an agency that will function as an extension of your own team Seamlessly You want an agency that can cut costs without cutting impact Efficiently You want Newport Creative
U N C O M M O N LY C R E A T I V E
newportcreativecom infonewportcreativecom
36 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
The Only Donor Cooperative Built By Fundraising Marketing Experts
Exclusive Benets for Apogee Members
Maximize revenue and lifetime value with high-value custom models
Extend your reach with high-performance modeled universe
Maximize exchanges through suppression of key exchange partnersrsquo names
Packageoffer-specific proprietary models
Create models for sustainers planned giving mid-level and major-gift givers
Expand your universe through optimization of commercial list sources
Take advantage of highly aggressive pricing and net arrangements
Have proprietary models built at no extra charge
Our proprietary data assets and extensive experience in nonprot list services as well as building transactional databases for direct marketers make this a unique product and opportunity for your organization
Infogroup Nonprot Solutions invites your organization to participate in Apogee ndash a multi-functional marketing tool with diverse applications
For more information contact
Matthew Frattura4028365527 | matthewfratturainfogroupcom
wwwinfogroupcomApogee
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 37
In the era of tweets and texts we help people connect on a human level
TeleForum provides unique opportunities to elicit audience feedback inspire loyalty communicate an idea raise
support and much more It is as simple as making a phone call
To learn more about TeleForum and our other revolutionary products and
features please contact us at infobroadnetus
powered by
18775794929 | wwwbroadnetus
Fundraisingrsquos Best Friend
You make a friend for life
From fundraising through direct mail and digital media to integrated marketing solutions to strategic planning and donor relationship management and more we customize a plan just for you
We partner with organizations to help integrate fundraising and marketing strategies for maximum results
When you choose Alpha dog Marketing you do more than just hire an agency
Your purpose matters to us
wwwAlphadogMktgcom8007300668
Get it todaynonprofitfederationorgethics-policy watchdog-resource-centerwatchdog-toolkit
38 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
1
2
3
A
B
C
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 27
Jenifer Snyder Esq Executive Director The mGive Foundation
As Executive Director of The mGive Foun-dation Jenifer is dedicated to expanding the scope and reach of the mobile channel for social good She brings years of lead-ership experience in the mobile industry to the position Previously Jenifer was a founder and General Counsel for 9 Squared Inc a mobile content and ser-vices company subsequently acquired by the Zed Group She left Zed in 2007 and started building the mobile channel for social and charitable efforts and later formed The mGive Foundation
Cassie bair Vice president of Marketing Mobile Accord
As Vice President of Marketing for Mobile Accord Cassie is dedicated to educat-ing and empowering nonprofits regarding the power of mobile She combines years of marketing experience in the nonprofit industry with the exciting evolution of the mobile channel for social good Cassie has worked with organizations such as the American Heart Association American Institute of Architects and the American Society of Echocardiography developing integrated and cause marketing cam-paigns and uses that knowledge today with clients to help them maximize their mobile strategy
Name
OrganizationCompany
Address
City State Zip Code
Charge my m Visa m MasterCard m AmEx m Discover
Card Number Expiration Date
Signature
raquo FAX form to 2026284383 (do not email credit card information)
raquo MAIL form to Alicia Osgood Director Membership amp Communications DMA Nonprofit Federation 1615 L Street NW Suite 1100 Washington DC 20036
raquo MAKE ChECKS payable to the DMA Nonprofit Federation
raquo DMA Nonprofit Federation Federal Tax ID Number 13-1810859
News and cutting-edge professional development tips
SUBSCRIBEto the Journal today1year =3 issues
ONLY $35Published digitally in January Apriland September the Journal brings together nonprofit leaders to deliver a standout publication packed with content you can really use
No cost to members
28 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Consumer technology evolves so quickly that nonprof-its are constantly racing to get their organizations using the latest technologies and mediums In fact many of these innovations have had significant impact on the fundrais-ing community While online CRM systems for example spawned database segmentation capabilities the opportu-nity ndash and challenge ndash arose for fundraising professionals to target appeals precisely to donorsrsquo specific interests Lately the emergence and rapid popularity of technologies such as smartphones and social media have forced nonprofits to not only create a presence but essentially compete for shrinking donor funds using these vehicles
The primary focus of nonprofit technology however tends to be inward creating a presence in a particular social media community or simply using the technology on behalf of the organization Examples of this include a nonprofitrsquos Facebook page and Twitter account and mobile-friendly
web sites In todayrsquos competitive fundraising environment though itrsquos not enough for nonprofits to simply use the latest technology Successful fundraisers understand that a nonprofitrsquos relationship with technology needs to take one step beyond itself to focus outward how do your sup-porters and donors want to use technology on behalf of your organization
Donors have technology preferences and habits too While itrsquos great for organizations to have a Facebook page for sup-porters to ldquolikerdquo that offers news and updates for example this doesnrsquot offer an opportunity for donors to appeal to their friends and family on behalf of your nonprofit mdash and certainly doesnrsquot raise money As nonprofits have learned to quickly adapt to changing technology and social media standards the time has come for organizations to evolve the technology they offer to provide donors supporters and par-ticipants with a personalized fundraising experience
Get Personal Providing Supporters with Personalized Fundraising Experiences
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 29
Personalization Means EngagementAt a fundamental level donor personalization in fun-
draising emerged from some of the first online nonprofit fundraising systems Offering supporters the opportunity to send personalized fundraising emails to their friends and family was revolutionary in its time mdash as was offering custom individual and team fundraising web pages
While these technology offerings revolutionized event fundraising donors have become increasingly savvy in the way they interact online mdash and developed strong preferences and dislikes in the types of technology they use They want the technology they know and like to be at their fingertips and are more likely to fundraise and successfully so for your nonprofit if itrsquos made easy and accessible for them
Back to Basics mdash But BetterNonprofits have been so consumed by social media that
they often forget this simple fact participants who use online tools raise six times more than non-users according to Blackbaud In addition 25 percent of the fundraising emails supporters send to their friends result in a donation With the average online gift being $60 nonprofits have motiva-tion not to forget about the basics of online fundraising But in the age of increasing competition for donations nonprof-its that offer a more personalized fundraising experience to supporters may see better results
What does it mean to offer a personalized fundrais-ing experience For online fundraising pages it can mean offering them the opportunity to post pictures videos story content and individual fundraising status updates But itrsquos essentially the personalization options offered behind the scenes mdash in the personal ldquoHeadquartersrdquo page within an online fundraising system mdash that can really maximize fun-draising results
Savvy nonprofits are offering a multitude of ways within their online fundraising systems for supporters to choose to reach out to friends and family Offering more than the email capabilities found standard with most fundraising plat-forms some nonprofits are starting to provide supporters more options in their personal participant ldquoheadquartersrdquo pages to engage those in their network mdash all with the click of a button Opportunities for supporters to personalize their experience could include options to
Send a Facebook message
Tweet their fundraising page
Update their Facebook status
Send a quick email
In addition statistics about their personal fundraising process could tell them
Total emails sent
Visits to their personal fundraising pages
Number of donations
Number of registrations
Average amount raised per email sent
Number of additional emails needed to reach fundraising goal
And because no one participant is the same these per-sonalization options allow the supporter to interact and engage their network on behalf of the nonprofit in ways that are meaningful and comfortable to them
Beyond the Facebook PageThe nonprofit community has taken Facebook by storm as an avenue to engage supporters and attract donors But itrsquos important to look beyond how supporters want to interact with your nonprofit and understand how they want to in-teract with their social network Itrsquos within this framework that supporters choose mdash or choose not mdash to engage their network on your organizationrsquos behalf
So make it easy for them provide them with a variety of ways to use several social media tools to reach out and fund-raise for your nonprofit Let them decide how they fundraise With 845 million monthly active users and 100 billion con-nections Facebook for example provides an excellent platform for nonprofits mdash and their fundraisers mdash to expand fundraising reach In fact Blackbaudrsquos web site states that social media users raise 40 more than non-users But most
continued
John Murphy PresidentCEo and Founder Zuri Group
30 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
organizations make the mistake of relying on participants to send their own appeals and updates or worse provide cum-bersome tools that require multiple logins and steps
Some enthusiastic fundraisers will thrive in this envi-ronment Others wonrsquot Since each supporter is unique itrsquos important to provide several varying opportunities and options so that a personalized fundraising experience can be forged For many fundraisers asking for donations isnrsquot easy All participants want to raise money but many donrsquot feel comfortable asking outside of close friends and family Other fundraisers donrsquot have the time or creativity to regu-larly develop and update personalized Facebook messages Use technology to help overcome these challenges by creat-ing easy ways for them to raise more money using Facebook
To take the effort out of Facebook fundraising remove the discomfort of a direct ldquoaskrdquo and save fundraisers time some nonprofits are offering supporters the option for fun-draising updates that automatically post on their Facebook wall at pre-determined intervals throughout the fundraising season For the right supporter this option removes the dis-comfort of approaching potential donors with a direct ldquoaskrdquo while significantly expanding their fundraising reach
Mobilizing the troopsAccording to a 2011 study consumers spend more time
on mobile applications than on the web In addition Ameri-cans spend 27 hours per day on average socializing on their mobile phones Nonprofits have been hard at work to lever-age the trend toward mobile by creating mobile-friendly web sites and even apps to further engage supporters But what about the mobile interaction that takes place between sup-porters and their friends The key is for nonprofits to make it accessible and easy for fundraisers to use their everyday technologies and devices to fundraise within their own networks By providing fundraising options that enable sup-porters to simply use something they already use such as a smartphone to connect with people they already interact with fundraising becomes a more natural and personalized part of the supporterrsquos day
To provide a more personalized and convenient fun-draising experience some nonprofits are offering mobile fundraising apps that enable supporters to not only use their smartphones to fundraise but to fundraise using multiple technologies within the smartphone mdash such as email text Twitter Facebook and even FaceTime for iPhone users As a result supporters can fundraise for the organization from their homes the train while walking the dog mdash anytime they have their phone
By empowering supporters to personalize their fundrais-ing experience nonprofits that provide mobile fundraising apps help their fundraisers help them These organizations are meeting the needs of on-the-go fundraising participants so they can focus on spreading awareness soliciting dona-tions and thanking donors mdash on their time on their terms In fact itrsquos been reported that fundraising participants using mobile fundraising applications raise 200 more than other participants and bring in 300 more gifts by count that other participants
In addition some mobile fundraising apps are provid-ing further personalization by bringing some of the same features of the personalized online ldquoheadquartersrdquo to the smartphone such as fundraising thermometers and adding donors into their phone address book Pre-written fundrais-ing messages developed specifically for various mediums such as texts Twitter updates and emails can be used Editing personal fundraising pages from the smartphone is likely the next option nonprofits will start offering
the Personalization ChallengeAs nonprofits compete in the race to adopt new technolo-
gies and social media itrsquos important to take a step back and consider your supportersrsquo relationship with those channels Many nonprofits have a Facebook page or group but how are your fundraisers using Facebook Are you making it easy for them to advocate or fundraise for your organization If much of your donor base uses text messaging have you pro-vided easy access and tools for them to text their network on your behalf
Supporters want and frankly need a personalized online experience with your organization Go beyond the bounds of your interactive relationship and consider what would enable your supporter base to have a more personalized fundrais-ing experience mdash and then put those tools at their fingertips They and their network mdash will thank you n
John Murphy is the PresidentCEO and Founder of Zuri Group Zuri Group provides nonprofits with custom technology solutions to meet critical organizational needs such as fundraising using their existing platform For more info visit zurigroupcom
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 31Non-Profit_FullPageAd_OLindd 1 91312 417 PM
32 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
9 Centennial Drive
Peabody MA 01960-7906
Tel 8003707500
wwwamergentcom
c a l l j a c k d o y l e
8 0 0 3 7 0 7 5 0 0
s t r a t e g i c d i r e c t
m a r k e t i n g
f l e x i b l e d a t a b a s e s o l u t i o n
m u l t i - y e a r
c u t t i n g - e d g e
a n a l y t i c s
a w a r d - w i n n i n g
c r e a t i v e
n e e d n e w f u n d r a i s i n g s o l u t i o n s
m u l t i - c h a n n e l
c a m p a i g n s
i n t e g r a t e d
p r e d i c t i v e m o d e l s
Sign up for Amergentrsquos e-newsletter
at friendsamergentcomifund or scan qr code
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 33
Looking to Affordably Grow Your Donor Fileand Increase Contributions
We Can HelpWiland Direct is the nationrsquos 1 transactional database for fundraisers
Using our vast transactional data and powerful models Wiland Direct helps fundraisers to
bull Affordably acquire new donors bull Maximize contributions from existing donors bull Reactivate former donorsbull Identify the most likely activists and volunteersbull Convert inquirers petition signers and other ldquowarm leadsrdquo into donors
To learn more please contact John Spencer at 9703106378 or via email at jspencerwilanddirectcom
3034858686 wwwWilandDirectcomCopyright 2012 Wiland Direct All rights reserved
ldquoThe Wiland Direct database has been a solid performer for LLS with higher average gifts and lower cost per dollar raised than most Itrsquos opened up a new acquisition universe particularly important for a mature program Wersquore very pleased with the results and team support from Wilandrdquomdash Bruny Lynch The Leukemia amp Lymphoma Society
34 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
reso
urce
s re
aliz
ed
direct marketing solutionsyoursquove been looking for
Our award-winning solutions aretailored to find and motivate the people
who support your good work
SampW Directmdash Direct Mailmdash Online amp Offline
Communicationsmdash Membership Programsmdash Monthly Mid-level amp
Annual Giving Programsmdash Database Profiles
amp Assessmentsmdash Direct Response Plans
amp Executionmdash Analytical Services
325 Chestnut Street Suite 700 215-625-9955Philadelphia PA 19105 wwwschultzwilliamscom
mailschultzwilliamscom SagePRINT SageONLINE SageCARES
C R E AT I V E S E R V I C E S
Got control issuesWho doesnrsquot Maybe itrsquos time to hire a Sage
With 35 years of consumer marketing experience your non-profit can benefit from the best practices wersquove learned from creating thousands of winning promotions both in print and online
Thatrsquos why organizations like National Audubon Society Smithsonian National Geographic have consistently put our creative team to work for them
Want to see for yourself
Contact annesagecommunicationscom or call 508-309-6678 x 1 for a no-obligation quote
914-761-2800partnershipcarlbloomcom
Contact CBA today to find out how we can help yourorganization exceed its goals now and into the future
wwwcarlbloomcom
For nearly 40 years Carl Bloom Associates has beenhelping non-profits exceed their revenue goals withinnovative strategies and creative that raise moremoney acquire and retain more donors and increasetheir lifetime value
You can support your mission more effectively withCBArsquos ldquosmarterrdquo multi-channel campaigns integrating
bull Direct Mailbull Telephonebull Email
bull Internetbull Direct Response TVbull Social Media
You shouldnrsquot be satisfied meeting your fundraising goals
You should be beating them
Full Service Fundraising gt DonorMember AcquisitionRetention
DMA NF Journal Ad 8-12-365x4625_Layout 1 81312 1014 AM Page 1
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 35
PUT MORE MONEY IN THE HANDS of THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST through innovative fundraisingstrategies and better results
Wersquod love to meet you
8009650577
nexusdirectcom
HigH Flying creative tHat gets resultsIntegrated Fundraising Mail Web Email
You want an agency that can deliver powerful high-performance programs Creatively You want an agency that will function as an extension of your own team Seamlessly You want an agency that can cut costs without cutting impact Efficiently You want Newport Creative
U N C O M M O N LY C R E A T I V E
newportcreativecom infonewportcreativecom
36 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
The Only Donor Cooperative Built By Fundraising Marketing Experts
Exclusive Benets for Apogee Members
Maximize revenue and lifetime value with high-value custom models
Extend your reach with high-performance modeled universe
Maximize exchanges through suppression of key exchange partnersrsquo names
Packageoffer-specific proprietary models
Create models for sustainers planned giving mid-level and major-gift givers
Expand your universe through optimization of commercial list sources
Take advantage of highly aggressive pricing and net arrangements
Have proprietary models built at no extra charge
Our proprietary data assets and extensive experience in nonprot list services as well as building transactional databases for direct marketers make this a unique product and opportunity for your organization
Infogroup Nonprot Solutions invites your organization to participate in Apogee ndash a multi-functional marketing tool with diverse applications
For more information contact
Matthew Frattura4028365527 | matthewfratturainfogroupcom
wwwinfogroupcomApogee
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 37
In the era of tweets and texts we help people connect on a human level
TeleForum provides unique opportunities to elicit audience feedback inspire loyalty communicate an idea raise
support and much more It is as simple as making a phone call
To learn more about TeleForum and our other revolutionary products and
features please contact us at infobroadnetus
powered by
18775794929 | wwwbroadnetus
Fundraisingrsquos Best Friend
You make a friend for life
From fundraising through direct mail and digital media to integrated marketing solutions to strategic planning and donor relationship management and more we customize a plan just for you
We partner with organizations to help integrate fundraising and marketing strategies for maximum results
When you choose Alpha dog Marketing you do more than just hire an agency
Your purpose matters to us
wwwAlphadogMktgcom8007300668
Get it todaynonprofitfederationorgethics-policy watchdog-resource-centerwatchdog-toolkit
38 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
1
2
3
A
B
C
28 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
Consumer technology evolves so quickly that nonprof-its are constantly racing to get their organizations using the latest technologies and mediums In fact many of these innovations have had significant impact on the fundrais-ing community While online CRM systems for example spawned database segmentation capabilities the opportu-nity ndash and challenge ndash arose for fundraising professionals to target appeals precisely to donorsrsquo specific interests Lately the emergence and rapid popularity of technologies such as smartphones and social media have forced nonprofits to not only create a presence but essentially compete for shrinking donor funds using these vehicles
The primary focus of nonprofit technology however tends to be inward creating a presence in a particular social media community or simply using the technology on behalf of the organization Examples of this include a nonprofitrsquos Facebook page and Twitter account and mobile-friendly
web sites In todayrsquos competitive fundraising environment though itrsquos not enough for nonprofits to simply use the latest technology Successful fundraisers understand that a nonprofitrsquos relationship with technology needs to take one step beyond itself to focus outward how do your sup-porters and donors want to use technology on behalf of your organization
Donors have technology preferences and habits too While itrsquos great for organizations to have a Facebook page for sup-porters to ldquolikerdquo that offers news and updates for example this doesnrsquot offer an opportunity for donors to appeal to their friends and family on behalf of your nonprofit mdash and certainly doesnrsquot raise money As nonprofits have learned to quickly adapt to changing technology and social media standards the time has come for organizations to evolve the technology they offer to provide donors supporters and par-ticipants with a personalized fundraising experience
Get Personal Providing Supporters with Personalized Fundraising Experiences
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 29
Personalization Means EngagementAt a fundamental level donor personalization in fun-
draising emerged from some of the first online nonprofit fundraising systems Offering supporters the opportunity to send personalized fundraising emails to their friends and family was revolutionary in its time mdash as was offering custom individual and team fundraising web pages
While these technology offerings revolutionized event fundraising donors have become increasingly savvy in the way they interact online mdash and developed strong preferences and dislikes in the types of technology they use They want the technology they know and like to be at their fingertips and are more likely to fundraise and successfully so for your nonprofit if itrsquos made easy and accessible for them
Back to Basics mdash But BetterNonprofits have been so consumed by social media that
they often forget this simple fact participants who use online tools raise six times more than non-users according to Blackbaud In addition 25 percent of the fundraising emails supporters send to their friends result in a donation With the average online gift being $60 nonprofits have motiva-tion not to forget about the basics of online fundraising But in the age of increasing competition for donations nonprof-its that offer a more personalized fundraising experience to supporters may see better results
What does it mean to offer a personalized fundrais-ing experience For online fundraising pages it can mean offering them the opportunity to post pictures videos story content and individual fundraising status updates But itrsquos essentially the personalization options offered behind the scenes mdash in the personal ldquoHeadquartersrdquo page within an online fundraising system mdash that can really maximize fun-draising results
Savvy nonprofits are offering a multitude of ways within their online fundraising systems for supporters to choose to reach out to friends and family Offering more than the email capabilities found standard with most fundraising plat-forms some nonprofits are starting to provide supporters more options in their personal participant ldquoheadquartersrdquo pages to engage those in their network mdash all with the click of a button Opportunities for supporters to personalize their experience could include options to
Send a Facebook message
Tweet their fundraising page
Update their Facebook status
Send a quick email
In addition statistics about their personal fundraising process could tell them
Total emails sent
Visits to their personal fundraising pages
Number of donations
Number of registrations
Average amount raised per email sent
Number of additional emails needed to reach fundraising goal
And because no one participant is the same these per-sonalization options allow the supporter to interact and engage their network on behalf of the nonprofit in ways that are meaningful and comfortable to them
Beyond the Facebook PageThe nonprofit community has taken Facebook by storm as an avenue to engage supporters and attract donors But itrsquos important to look beyond how supporters want to interact with your nonprofit and understand how they want to in-teract with their social network Itrsquos within this framework that supporters choose mdash or choose not mdash to engage their network on your organizationrsquos behalf
So make it easy for them provide them with a variety of ways to use several social media tools to reach out and fund-raise for your nonprofit Let them decide how they fundraise With 845 million monthly active users and 100 billion con-nections Facebook for example provides an excellent platform for nonprofits mdash and their fundraisers mdash to expand fundraising reach In fact Blackbaudrsquos web site states that social media users raise 40 more than non-users But most
continued
John Murphy PresidentCEo and Founder Zuri Group
30 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
organizations make the mistake of relying on participants to send their own appeals and updates or worse provide cum-bersome tools that require multiple logins and steps
Some enthusiastic fundraisers will thrive in this envi-ronment Others wonrsquot Since each supporter is unique itrsquos important to provide several varying opportunities and options so that a personalized fundraising experience can be forged For many fundraisers asking for donations isnrsquot easy All participants want to raise money but many donrsquot feel comfortable asking outside of close friends and family Other fundraisers donrsquot have the time or creativity to regu-larly develop and update personalized Facebook messages Use technology to help overcome these challenges by creat-ing easy ways for them to raise more money using Facebook
To take the effort out of Facebook fundraising remove the discomfort of a direct ldquoaskrdquo and save fundraisers time some nonprofits are offering supporters the option for fun-draising updates that automatically post on their Facebook wall at pre-determined intervals throughout the fundraising season For the right supporter this option removes the dis-comfort of approaching potential donors with a direct ldquoaskrdquo while significantly expanding their fundraising reach
Mobilizing the troopsAccording to a 2011 study consumers spend more time
on mobile applications than on the web In addition Ameri-cans spend 27 hours per day on average socializing on their mobile phones Nonprofits have been hard at work to lever-age the trend toward mobile by creating mobile-friendly web sites and even apps to further engage supporters But what about the mobile interaction that takes place between sup-porters and their friends The key is for nonprofits to make it accessible and easy for fundraisers to use their everyday technologies and devices to fundraise within their own networks By providing fundraising options that enable sup-porters to simply use something they already use such as a smartphone to connect with people they already interact with fundraising becomes a more natural and personalized part of the supporterrsquos day
To provide a more personalized and convenient fun-draising experience some nonprofits are offering mobile fundraising apps that enable supporters to not only use their smartphones to fundraise but to fundraise using multiple technologies within the smartphone mdash such as email text Twitter Facebook and even FaceTime for iPhone users As a result supporters can fundraise for the organization from their homes the train while walking the dog mdash anytime they have their phone
By empowering supporters to personalize their fundrais-ing experience nonprofits that provide mobile fundraising apps help their fundraisers help them These organizations are meeting the needs of on-the-go fundraising participants so they can focus on spreading awareness soliciting dona-tions and thanking donors mdash on their time on their terms In fact itrsquos been reported that fundraising participants using mobile fundraising applications raise 200 more than other participants and bring in 300 more gifts by count that other participants
In addition some mobile fundraising apps are provid-ing further personalization by bringing some of the same features of the personalized online ldquoheadquartersrdquo to the smartphone such as fundraising thermometers and adding donors into their phone address book Pre-written fundrais-ing messages developed specifically for various mediums such as texts Twitter updates and emails can be used Editing personal fundraising pages from the smartphone is likely the next option nonprofits will start offering
the Personalization ChallengeAs nonprofits compete in the race to adopt new technolo-
gies and social media itrsquos important to take a step back and consider your supportersrsquo relationship with those channels Many nonprofits have a Facebook page or group but how are your fundraisers using Facebook Are you making it easy for them to advocate or fundraise for your organization If much of your donor base uses text messaging have you pro-vided easy access and tools for them to text their network on your behalf
Supporters want and frankly need a personalized online experience with your organization Go beyond the bounds of your interactive relationship and consider what would enable your supporter base to have a more personalized fundrais-ing experience mdash and then put those tools at their fingertips They and their network mdash will thank you n
John Murphy is the PresidentCEO and Founder of Zuri Group Zuri Group provides nonprofits with custom technology solutions to meet critical organizational needs such as fundraising using their existing platform For more info visit zurigroupcom
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 31Non-Profit_FullPageAd_OLindd 1 91312 417 PM
32 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
9 Centennial Drive
Peabody MA 01960-7906
Tel 8003707500
wwwamergentcom
c a l l j a c k d o y l e
8 0 0 3 7 0 7 5 0 0
s t r a t e g i c d i r e c t
m a r k e t i n g
f l e x i b l e d a t a b a s e s o l u t i o n
m u l t i - y e a r
c u t t i n g - e d g e
a n a l y t i c s
a w a r d - w i n n i n g
c r e a t i v e
n e e d n e w f u n d r a i s i n g s o l u t i o n s
m u l t i - c h a n n e l
c a m p a i g n s
i n t e g r a t e d
p r e d i c t i v e m o d e l s
Sign up for Amergentrsquos e-newsletter
at friendsamergentcomifund or scan qr code
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 33
Looking to Affordably Grow Your Donor Fileand Increase Contributions
We Can HelpWiland Direct is the nationrsquos 1 transactional database for fundraisers
Using our vast transactional data and powerful models Wiland Direct helps fundraisers to
bull Affordably acquire new donors bull Maximize contributions from existing donors bull Reactivate former donorsbull Identify the most likely activists and volunteersbull Convert inquirers petition signers and other ldquowarm leadsrdquo into donors
To learn more please contact John Spencer at 9703106378 or via email at jspencerwilanddirectcom
3034858686 wwwWilandDirectcomCopyright 2012 Wiland Direct All rights reserved
ldquoThe Wiland Direct database has been a solid performer for LLS with higher average gifts and lower cost per dollar raised than most Itrsquos opened up a new acquisition universe particularly important for a mature program Wersquore very pleased with the results and team support from Wilandrdquomdash Bruny Lynch The Leukemia amp Lymphoma Society
34 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
reso
urce
s re
aliz
ed
direct marketing solutionsyoursquove been looking for
Our award-winning solutions aretailored to find and motivate the people
who support your good work
SampW Directmdash Direct Mailmdash Online amp Offline
Communicationsmdash Membership Programsmdash Monthly Mid-level amp
Annual Giving Programsmdash Database Profiles
amp Assessmentsmdash Direct Response Plans
amp Executionmdash Analytical Services
325 Chestnut Street Suite 700 215-625-9955Philadelphia PA 19105 wwwschultzwilliamscom
mailschultzwilliamscom SagePRINT SageONLINE SageCARES
C R E AT I V E S E R V I C E S
Got control issuesWho doesnrsquot Maybe itrsquos time to hire a Sage
With 35 years of consumer marketing experience your non-profit can benefit from the best practices wersquove learned from creating thousands of winning promotions both in print and online
Thatrsquos why organizations like National Audubon Society Smithsonian National Geographic have consistently put our creative team to work for them
Want to see for yourself
Contact annesagecommunicationscom or call 508-309-6678 x 1 for a no-obligation quote
914-761-2800partnershipcarlbloomcom
Contact CBA today to find out how we can help yourorganization exceed its goals now and into the future
wwwcarlbloomcom
For nearly 40 years Carl Bloom Associates has beenhelping non-profits exceed their revenue goals withinnovative strategies and creative that raise moremoney acquire and retain more donors and increasetheir lifetime value
You can support your mission more effectively withCBArsquos ldquosmarterrdquo multi-channel campaigns integrating
bull Direct Mailbull Telephonebull Email
bull Internetbull Direct Response TVbull Social Media
You shouldnrsquot be satisfied meeting your fundraising goals
You should be beating them
Full Service Fundraising gt DonorMember AcquisitionRetention
DMA NF Journal Ad 8-12-365x4625_Layout 1 81312 1014 AM Page 1
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 35
PUT MORE MONEY IN THE HANDS of THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST through innovative fundraisingstrategies and better results
Wersquod love to meet you
8009650577
nexusdirectcom
HigH Flying creative tHat gets resultsIntegrated Fundraising Mail Web Email
You want an agency that can deliver powerful high-performance programs Creatively You want an agency that will function as an extension of your own team Seamlessly You want an agency that can cut costs without cutting impact Efficiently You want Newport Creative
U N C O M M O N LY C R E A T I V E
newportcreativecom infonewportcreativecom
36 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
The Only Donor Cooperative Built By Fundraising Marketing Experts
Exclusive Benets for Apogee Members
Maximize revenue and lifetime value with high-value custom models
Extend your reach with high-performance modeled universe
Maximize exchanges through suppression of key exchange partnersrsquo names
Packageoffer-specific proprietary models
Create models for sustainers planned giving mid-level and major-gift givers
Expand your universe through optimization of commercial list sources
Take advantage of highly aggressive pricing and net arrangements
Have proprietary models built at no extra charge
Our proprietary data assets and extensive experience in nonprot list services as well as building transactional databases for direct marketers make this a unique product and opportunity for your organization
Infogroup Nonprot Solutions invites your organization to participate in Apogee ndash a multi-functional marketing tool with diverse applications
For more information contact
Matthew Frattura4028365527 | matthewfratturainfogroupcom
wwwinfogroupcomApogee
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 37
In the era of tweets and texts we help people connect on a human level
TeleForum provides unique opportunities to elicit audience feedback inspire loyalty communicate an idea raise
support and much more It is as simple as making a phone call
To learn more about TeleForum and our other revolutionary products and
features please contact us at infobroadnetus
powered by
18775794929 | wwwbroadnetus
Fundraisingrsquos Best Friend
You make a friend for life
From fundraising through direct mail and digital media to integrated marketing solutions to strategic planning and donor relationship management and more we customize a plan just for you
We partner with organizations to help integrate fundraising and marketing strategies for maximum results
When you choose Alpha dog Marketing you do more than just hire an agency
Your purpose matters to us
wwwAlphadogMktgcom8007300668
Get it todaynonprofitfederationorgethics-policy watchdog-resource-centerwatchdog-toolkit
38 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
1
2
3
A
B
C
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 29
Personalization Means EngagementAt a fundamental level donor personalization in fun-
draising emerged from some of the first online nonprofit fundraising systems Offering supporters the opportunity to send personalized fundraising emails to their friends and family was revolutionary in its time mdash as was offering custom individual and team fundraising web pages
While these technology offerings revolutionized event fundraising donors have become increasingly savvy in the way they interact online mdash and developed strong preferences and dislikes in the types of technology they use They want the technology they know and like to be at their fingertips and are more likely to fundraise and successfully so for your nonprofit if itrsquos made easy and accessible for them
Back to Basics mdash But BetterNonprofits have been so consumed by social media that
they often forget this simple fact participants who use online tools raise six times more than non-users according to Blackbaud In addition 25 percent of the fundraising emails supporters send to their friends result in a donation With the average online gift being $60 nonprofits have motiva-tion not to forget about the basics of online fundraising But in the age of increasing competition for donations nonprof-its that offer a more personalized fundraising experience to supporters may see better results
What does it mean to offer a personalized fundrais-ing experience For online fundraising pages it can mean offering them the opportunity to post pictures videos story content and individual fundraising status updates But itrsquos essentially the personalization options offered behind the scenes mdash in the personal ldquoHeadquartersrdquo page within an online fundraising system mdash that can really maximize fun-draising results
Savvy nonprofits are offering a multitude of ways within their online fundraising systems for supporters to choose to reach out to friends and family Offering more than the email capabilities found standard with most fundraising plat-forms some nonprofits are starting to provide supporters more options in their personal participant ldquoheadquartersrdquo pages to engage those in their network mdash all with the click of a button Opportunities for supporters to personalize their experience could include options to
Send a Facebook message
Tweet their fundraising page
Update their Facebook status
Send a quick email
In addition statistics about their personal fundraising process could tell them
Total emails sent
Visits to their personal fundraising pages
Number of donations
Number of registrations
Average amount raised per email sent
Number of additional emails needed to reach fundraising goal
And because no one participant is the same these per-sonalization options allow the supporter to interact and engage their network on behalf of the nonprofit in ways that are meaningful and comfortable to them
Beyond the Facebook PageThe nonprofit community has taken Facebook by storm as an avenue to engage supporters and attract donors But itrsquos important to look beyond how supporters want to interact with your nonprofit and understand how they want to in-teract with their social network Itrsquos within this framework that supporters choose mdash or choose not mdash to engage their network on your organizationrsquos behalf
So make it easy for them provide them with a variety of ways to use several social media tools to reach out and fund-raise for your nonprofit Let them decide how they fundraise With 845 million monthly active users and 100 billion con-nections Facebook for example provides an excellent platform for nonprofits mdash and their fundraisers mdash to expand fundraising reach In fact Blackbaudrsquos web site states that social media users raise 40 more than non-users But most
continued
John Murphy PresidentCEo and Founder Zuri Group
30 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
organizations make the mistake of relying on participants to send their own appeals and updates or worse provide cum-bersome tools that require multiple logins and steps
Some enthusiastic fundraisers will thrive in this envi-ronment Others wonrsquot Since each supporter is unique itrsquos important to provide several varying opportunities and options so that a personalized fundraising experience can be forged For many fundraisers asking for donations isnrsquot easy All participants want to raise money but many donrsquot feel comfortable asking outside of close friends and family Other fundraisers donrsquot have the time or creativity to regu-larly develop and update personalized Facebook messages Use technology to help overcome these challenges by creat-ing easy ways for them to raise more money using Facebook
To take the effort out of Facebook fundraising remove the discomfort of a direct ldquoaskrdquo and save fundraisers time some nonprofits are offering supporters the option for fun-draising updates that automatically post on their Facebook wall at pre-determined intervals throughout the fundraising season For the right supporter this option removes the dis-comfort of approaching potential donors with a direct ldquoaskrdquo while significantly expanding their fundraising reach
Mobilizing the troopsAccording to a 2011 study consumers spend more time
on mobile applications than on the web In addition Ameri-cans spend 27 hours per day on average socializing on their mobile phones Nonprofits have been hard at work to lever-age the trend toward mobile by creating mobile-friendly web sites and even apps to further engage supporters But what about the mobile interaction that takes place between sup-porters and their friends The key is for nonprofits to make it accessible and easy for fundraisers to use their everyday technologies and devices to fundraise within their own networks By providing fundraising options that enable sup-porters to simply use something they already use such as a smartphone to connect with people they already interact with fundraising becomes a more natural and personalized part of the supporterrsquos day
To provide a more personalized and convenient fun-draising experience some nonprofits are offering mobile fundraising apps that enable supporters to not only use their smartphones to fundraise but to fundraise using multiple technologies within the smartphone mdash such as email text Twitter Facebook and even FaceTime for iPhone users As a result supporters can fundraise for the organization from their homes the train while walking the dog mdash anytime they have their phone
By empowering supporters to personalize their fundrais-ing experience nonprofits that provide mobile fundraising apps help their fundraisers help them These organizations are meeting the needs of on-the-go fundraising participants so they can focus on spreading awareness soliciting dona-tions and thanking donors mdash on their time on their terms In fact itrsquos been reported that fundraising participants using mobile fundraising applications raise 200 more than other participants and bring in 300 more gifts by count that other participants
In addition some mobile fundraising apps are provid-ing further personalization by bringing some of the same features of the personalized online ldquoheadquartersrdquo to the smartphone such as fundraising thermometers and adding donors into their phone address book Pre-written fundrais-ing messages developed specifically for various mediums such as texts Twitter updates and emails can be used Editing personal fundraising pages from the smartphone is likely the next option nonprofits will start offering
the Personalization ChallengeAs nonprofits compete in the race to adopt new technolo-
gies and social media itrsquos important to take a step back and consider your supportersrsquo relationship with those channels Many nonprofits have a Facebook page or group but how are your fundraisers using Facebook Are you making it easy for them to advocate or fundraise for your organization If much of your donor base uses text messaging have you pro-vided easy access and tools for them to text their network on your behalf
Supporters want and frankly need a personalized online experience with your organization Go beyond the bounds of your interactive relationship and consider what would enable your supporter base to have a more personalized fundrais-ing experience mdash and then put those tools at their fingertips They and their network mdash will thank you n
John Murphy is the PresidentCEO and Founder of Zuri Group Zuri Group provides nonprofits with custom technology solutions to meet critical organizational needs such as fundraising using their existing platform For more info visit zurigroupcom
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 31Non-Profit_FullPageAd_OLindd 1 91312 417 PM
32 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
9 Centennial Drive
Peabody MA 01960-7906
Tel 8003707500
wwwamergentcom
c a l l j a c k d o y l e
8 0 0 3 7 0 7 5 0 0
s t r a t e g i c d i r e c t
m a r k e t i n g
f l e x i b l e d a t a b a s e s o l u t i o n
m u l t i - y e a r
c u t t i n g - e d g e
a n a l y t i c s
a w a r d - w i n n i n g
c r e a t i v e
n e e d n e w f u n d r a i s i n g s o l u t i o n s
m u l t i - c h a n n e l
c a m p a i g n s
i n t e g r a t e d
p r e d i c t i v e m o d e l s
Sign up for Amergentrsquos e-newsletter
at friendsamergentcomifund or scan qr code
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 33
Looking to Affordably Grow Your Donor Fileand Increase Contributions
We Can HelpWiland Direct is the nationrsquos 1 transactional database for fundraisers
Using our vast transactional data and powerful models Wiland Direct helps fundraisers to
bull Affordably acquire new donors bull Maximize contributions from existing donors bull Reactivate former donorsbull Identify the most likely activists and volunteersbull Convert inquirers petition signers and other ldquowarm leadsrdquo into donors
To learn more please contact John Spencer at 9703106378 or via email at jspencerwilanddirectcom
3034858686 wwwWilandDirectcomCopyright 2012 Wiland Direct All rights reserved
ldquoThe Wiland Direct database has been a solid performer for LLS with higher average gifts and lower cost per dollar raised than most Itrsquos opened up a new acquisition universe particularly important for a mature program Wersquore very pleased with the results and team support from Wilandrdquomdash Bruny Lynch The Leukemia amp Lymphoma Society
34 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
reso
urce
s re
aliz
ed
direct marketing solutionsyoursquove been looking for
Our award-winning solutions aretailored to find and motivate the people
who support your good work
SampW Directmdash Direct Mailmdash Online amp Offline
Communicationsmdash Membership Programsmdash Monthly Mid-level amp
Annual Giving Programsmdash Database Profiles
amp Assessmentsmdash Direct Response Plans
amp Executionmdash Analytical Services
325 Chestnut Street Suite 700 215-625-9955Philadelphia PA 19105 wwwschultzwilliamscom
mailschultzwilliamscom SagePRINT SageONLINE SageCARES
C R E AT I V E S E R V I C E S
Got control issuesWho doesnrsquot Maybe itrsquos time to hire a Sage
With 35 years of consumer marketing experience your non-profit can benefit from the best practices wersquove learned from creating thousands of winning promotions both in print and online
Thatrsquos why organizations like National Audubon Society Smithsonian National Geographic have consistently put our creative team to work for them
Want to see for yourself
Contact annesagecommunicationscom or call 508-309-6678 x 1 for a no-obligation quote
914-761-2800partnershipcarlbloomcom
Contact CBA today to find out how we can help yourorganization exceed its goals now and into the future
wwwcarlbloomcom
For nearly 40 years Carl Bloom Associates has beenhelping non-profits exceed their revenue goals withinnovative strategies and creative that raise moremoney acquire and retain more donors and increasetheir lifetime value
You can support your mission more effectively withCBArsquos ldquosmarterrdquo multi-channel campaigns integrating
bull Direct Mailbull Telephonebull Email
bull Internetbull Direct Response TVbull Social Media
You shouldnrsquot be satisfied meeting your fundraising goals
You should be beating them
Full Service Fundraising gt DonorMember AcquisitionRetention
DMA NF Journal Ad 8-12-365x4625_Layout 1 81312 1014 AM Page 1
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 35
PUT MORE MONEY IN THE HANDS of THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST through innovative fundraisingstrategies and better results
Wersquod love to meet you
8009650577
nexusdirectcom
HigH Flying creative tHat gets resultsIntegrated Fundraising Mail Web Email
You want an agency that can deliver powerful high-performance programs Creatively You want an agency that will function as an extension of your own team Seamlessly You want an agency that can cut costs without cutting impact Efficiently You want Newport Creative
U N C O M M O N LY C R E A T I V E
newportcreativecom infonewportcreativecom
36 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
The Only Donor Cooperative Built By Fundraising Marketing Experts
Exclusive Benets for Apogee Members
Maximize revenue and lifetime value with high-value custom models
Extend your reach with high-performance modeled universe
Maximize exchanges through suppression of key exchange partnersrsquo names
Packageoffer-specific proprietary models
Create models for sustainers planned giving mid-level and major-gift givers
Expand your universe through optimization of commercial list sources
Take advantage of highly aggressive pricing and net arrangements
Have proprietary models built at no extra charge
Our proprietary data assets and extensive experience in nonprot list services as well as building transactional databases for direct marketers make this a unique product and opportunity for your organization
Infogroup Nonprot Solutions invites your organization to participate in Apogee ndash a multi-functional marketing tool with diverse applications
For more information contact
Matthew Frattura4028365527 | matthewfratturainfogroupcom
wwwinfogroupcomApogee
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 37
In the era of tweets and texts we help people connect on a human level
TeleForum provides unique opportunities to elicit audience feedback inspire loyalty communicate an idea raise
support and much more It is as simple as making a phone call
To learn more about TeleForum and our other revolutionary products and
features please contact us at infobroadnetus
powered by
18775794929 | wwwbroadnetus
Fundraisingrsquos Best Friend
You make a friend for life
From fundraising through direct mail and digital media to integrated marketing solutions to strategic planning and donor relationship management and more we customize a plan just for you
We partner with organizations to help integrate fundraising and marketing strategies for maximum results
When you choose Alpha dog Marketing you do more than just hire an agency
Your purpose matters to us
wwwAlphadogMktgcom8007300668
Get it todaynonprofitfederationorgethics-policy watchdog-resource-centerwatchdog-toolkit
38 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
1
2
3
A
B
C
30 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
organizations make the mistake of relying on participants to send their own appeals and updates or worse provide cum-bersome tools that require multiple logins and steps
Some enthusiastic fundraisers will thrive in this envi-ronment Others wonrsquot Since each supporter is unique itrsquos important to provide several varying opportunities and options so that a personalized fundraising experience can be forged For many fundraisers asking for donations isnrsquot easy All participants want to raise money but many donrsquot feel comfortable asking outside of close friends and family Other fundraisers donrsquot have the time or creativity to regu-larly develop and update personalized Facebook messages Use technology to help overcome these challenges by creat-ing easy ways for them to raise more money using Facebook
To take the effort out of Facebook fundraising remove the discomfort of a direct ldquoaskrdquo and save fundraisers time some nonprofits are offering supporters the option for fun-draising updates that automatically post on their Facebook wall at pre-determined intervals throughout the fundraising season For the right supporter this option removes the dis-comfort of approaching potential donors with a direct ldquoaskrdquo while significantly expanding their fundraising reach
Mobilizing the troopsAccording to a 2011 study consumers spend more time
on mobile applications than on the web In addition Ameri-cans spend 27 hours per day on average socializing on their mobile phones Nonprofits have been hard at work to lever-age the trend toward mobile by creating mobile-friendly web sites and even apps to further engage supporters But what about the mobile interaction that takes place between sup-porters and their friends The key is for nonprofits to make it accessible and easy for fundraisers to use their everyday technologies and devices to fundraise within their own networks By providing fundraising options that enable sup-porters to simply use something they already use such as a smartphone to connect with people they already interact with fundraising becomes a more natural and personalized part of the supporterrsquos day
To provide a more personalized and convenient fun-draising experience some nonprofits are offering mobile fundraising apps that enable supporters to not only use their smartphones to fundraise but to fundraise using multiple technologies within the smartphone mdash such as email text Twitter Facebook and even FaceTime for iPhone users As a result supporters can fundraise for the organization from their homes the train while walking the dog mdash anytime they have their phone
By empowering supporters to personalize their fundrais-ing experience nonprofits that provide mobile fundraising apps help their fundraisers help them These organizations are meeting the needs of on-the-go fundraising participants so they can focus on spreading awareness soliciting dona-tions and thanking donors mdash on their time on their terms In fact itrsquos been reported that fundraising participants using mobile fundraising applications raise 200 more than other participants and bring in 300 more gifts by count that other participants
In addition some mobile fundraising apps are provid-ing further personalization by bringing some of the same features of the personalized online ldquoheadquartersrdquo to the smartphone such as fundraising thermometers and adding donors into their phone address book Pre-written fundrais-ing messages developed specifically for various mediums such as texts Twitter updates and emails can be used Editing personal fundraising pages from the smartphone is likely the next option nonprofits will start offering
the Personalization ChallengeAs nonprofits compete in the race to adopt new technolo-
gies and social media itrsquos important to take a step back and consider your supportersrsquo relationship with those channels Many nonprofits have a Facebook page or group but how are your fundraisers using Facebook Are you making it easy for them to advocate or fundraise for your organization If much of your donor base uses text messaging have you pro-vided easy access and tools for them to text their network on your behalf
Supporters want and frankly need a personalized online experience with your organization Go beyond the bounds of your interactive relationship and consider what would enable your supporter base to have a more personalized fundrais-ing experience mdash and then put those tools at their fingertips They and their network mdash will thank you n
John Murphy is the PresidentCEO and Founder of Zuri Group Zuri Group provides nonprofits with custom technology solutions to meet critical organizational needs such as fundraising using their existing platform For more info visit zurigroupcom
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 31Non-Profit_FullPageAd_OLindd 1 91312 417 PM
32 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
9 Centennial Drive
Peabody MA 01960-7906
Tel 8003707500
wwwamergentcom
c a l l j a c k d o y l e
8 0 0 3 7 0 7 5 0 0
s t r a t e g i c d i r e c t
m a r k e t i n g
f l e x i b l e d a t a b a s e s o l u t i o n
m u l t i - y e a r
c u t t i n g - e d g e
a n a l y t i c s
a w a r d - w i n n i n g
c r e a t i v e
n e e d n e w f u n d r a i s i n g s o l u t i o n s
m u l t i - c h a n n e l
c a m p a i g n s
i n t e g r a t e d
p r e d i c t i v e m o d e l s
Sign up for Amergentrsquos e-newsletter
at friendsamergentcomifund or scan qr code
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 33
Looking to Affordably Grow Your Donor Fileand Increase Contributions
We Can HelpWiland Direct is the nationrsquos 1 transactional database for fundraisers
Using our vast transactional data and powerful models Wiland Direct helps fundraisers to
bull Affordably acquire new donors bull Maximize contributions from existing donors bull Reactivate former donorsbull Identify the most likely activists and volunteersbull Convert inquirers petition signers and other ldquowarm leadsrdquo into donors
To learn more please contact John Spencer at 9703106378 or via email at jspencerwilanddirectcom
3034858686 wwwWilandDirectcomCopyright 2012 Wiland Direct All rights reserved
ldquoThe Wiland Direct database has been a solid performer for LLS with higher average gifts and lower cost per dollar raised than most Itrsquos opened up a new acquisition universe particularly important for a mature program Wersquore very pleased with the results and team support from Wilandrdquomdash Bruny Lynch The Leukemia amp Lymphoma Society
34 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
reso
urce
s re
aliz
ed
direct marketing solutionsyoursquove been looking for
Our award-winning solutions aretailored to find and motivate the people
who support your good work
SampW Directmdash Direct Mailmdash Online amp Offline
Communicationsmdash Membership Programsmdash Monthly Mid-level amp
Annual Giving Programsmdash Database Profiles
amp Assessmentsmdash Direct Response Plans
amp Executionmdash Analytical Services
325 Chestnut Street Suite 700 215-625-9955Philadelphia PA 19105 wwwschultzwilliamscom
mailschultzwilliamscom SagePRINT SageONLINE SageCARES
C R E AT I V E S E R V I C E S
Got control issuesWho doesnrsquot Maybe itrsquos time to hire a Sage
With 35 years of consumer marketing experience your non-profit can benefit from the best practices wersquove learned from creating thousands of winning promotions both in print and online
Thatrsquos why organizations like National Audubon Society Smithsonian National Geographic have consistently put our creative team to work for them
Want to see for yourself
Contact annesagecommunicationscom or call 508-309-6678 x 1 for a no-obligation quote
914-761-2800partnershipcarlbloomcom
Contact CBA today to find out how we can help yourorganization exceed its goals now and into the future
wwwcarlbloomcom
For nearly 40 years Carl Bloom Associates has beenhelping non-profits exceed their revenue goals withinnovative strategies and creative that raise moremoney acquire and retain more donors and increasetheir lifetime value
You can support your mission more effectively withCBArsquos ldquosmarterrdquo multi-channel campaigns integrating
bull Direct Mailbull Telephonebull Email
bull Internetbull Direct Response TVbull Social Media
You shouldnrsquot be satisfied meeting your fundraising goals
You should be beating them
Full Service Fundraising gt DonorMember AcquisitionRetention
DMA NF Journal Ad 8-12-365x4625_Layout 1 81312 1014 AM Page 1
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 35
PUT MORE MONEY IN THE HANDS of THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST through innovative fundraisingstrategies and better results
Wersquod love to meet you
8009650577
nexusdirectcom
HigH Flying creative tHat gets resultsIntegrated Fundraising Mail Web Email
You want an agency that can deliver powerful high-performance programs Creatively You want an agency that will function as an extension of your own team Seamlessly You want an agency that can cut costs without cutting impact Efficiently You want Newport Creative
U N C O M M O N LY C R E A T I V E
newportcreativecom infonewportcreativecom
36 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
The Only Donor Cooperative Built By Fundraising Marketing Experts
Exclusive Benets for Apogee Members
Maximize revenue and lifetime value with high-value custom models
Extend your reach with high-performance modeled universe
Maximize exchanges through suppression of key exchange partnersrsquo names
Packageoffer-specific proprietary models
Create models for sustainers planned giving mid-level and major-gift givers
Expand your universe through optimization of commercial list sources
Take advantage of highly aggressive pricing and net arrangements
Have proprietary models built at no extra charge
Our proprietary data assets and extensive experience in nonprot list services as well as building transactional databases for direct marketers make this a unique product and opportunity for your organization
Infogroup Nonprot Solutions invites your organization to participate in Apogee ndash a multi-functional marketing tool with diverse applications
For more information contact
Matthew Frattura4028365527 | matthewfratturainfogroupcom
wwwinfogroupcomApogee
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 37
In the era of tweets and texts we help people connect on a human level
TeleForum provides unique opportunities to elicit audience feedback inspire loyalty communicate an idea raise
support and much more It is as simple as making a phone call
To learn more about TeleForum and our other revolutionary products and
features please contact us at infobroadnetus
powered by
18775794929 | wwwbroadnetus
Fundraisingrsquos Best Friend
You make a friend for life
From fundraising through direct mail and digital media to integrated marketing solutions to strategic planning and donor relationship management and more we customize a plan just for you
We partner with organizations to help integrate fundraising and marketing strategies for maximum results
When you choose Alpha dog Marketing you do more than just hire an agency
Your purpose matters to us
wwwAlphadogMktgcom8007300668
Get it todaynonprofitfederationorgethics-policy watchdog-resource-centerwatchdog-toolkit
38 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
1
2
3
A
B
C
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 31Non-Profit_FullPageAd_OLindd 1 91312 417 PM
32 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
9 Centennial Drive
Peabody MA 01960-7906
Tel 8003707500
wwwamergentcom
c a l l j a c k d o y l e
8 0 0 3 7 0 7 5 0 0
s t r a t e g i c d i r e c t
m a r k e t i n g
f l e x i b l e d a t a b a s e s o l u t i o n
m u l t i - y e a r
c u t t i n g - e d g e
a n a l y t i c s
a w a r d - w i n n i n g
c r e a t i v e
n e e d n e w f u n d r a i s i n g s o l u t i o n s
m u l t i - c h a n n e l
c a m p a i g n s
i n t e g r a t e d
p r e d i c t i v e m o d e l s
Sign up for Amergentrsquos e-newsletter
at friendsamergentcomifund or scan qr code
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 33
Looking to Affordably Grow Your Donor Fileand Increase Contributions
We Can HelpWiland Direct is the nationrsquos 1 transactional database for fundraisers
Using our vast transactional data and powerful models Wiland Direct helps fundraisers to
bull Affordably acquire new donors bull Maximize contributions from existing donors bull Reactivate former donorsbull Identify the most likely activists and volunteersbull Convert inquirers petition signers and other ldquowarm leadsrdquo into donors
To learn more please contact John Spencer at 9703106378 or via email at jspencerwilanddirectcom
3034858686 wwwWilandDirectcomCopyright 2012 Wiland Direct All rights reserved
ldquoThe Wiland Direct database has been a solid performer for LLS with higher average gifts and lower cost per dollar raised than most Itrsquos opened up a new acquisition universe particularly important for a mature program Wersquore very pleased with the results and team support from Wilandrdquomdash Bruny Lynch The Leukemia amp Lymphoma Society
34 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
reso
urce
s re
aliz
ed
direct marketing solutionsyoursquove been looking for
Our award-winning solutions aretailored to find and motivate the people
who support your good work
SampW Directmdash Direct Mailmdash Online amp Offline
Communicationsmdash Membership Programsmdash Monthly Mid-level amp
Annual Giving Programsmdash Database Profiles
amp Assessmentsmdash Direct Response Plans
amp Executionmdash Analytical Services
325 Chestnut Street Suite 700 215-625-9955Philadelphia PA 19105 wwwschultzwilliamscom
mailschultzwilliamscom SagePRINT SageONLINE SageCARES
C R E AT I V E S E R V I C E S
Got control issuesWho doesnrsquot Maybe itrsquos time to hire a Sage
With 35 years of consumer marketing experience your non-profit can benefit from the best practices wersquove learned from creating thousands of winning promotions both in print and online
Thatrsquos why organizations like National Audubon Society Smithsonian National Geographic have consistently put our creative team to work for them
Want to see for yourself
Contact annesagecommunicationscom or call 508-309-6678 x 1 for a no-obligation quote
914-761-2800partnershipcarlbloomcom
Contact CBA today to find out how we can help yourorganization exceed its goals now and into the future
wwwcarlbloomcom
For nearly 40 years Carl Bloom Associates has beenhelping non-profits exceed their revenue goals withinnovative strategies and creative that raise moremoney acquire and retain more donors and increasetheir lifetime value
You can support your mission more effectively withCBArsquos ldquosmarterrdquo multi-channel campaigns integrating
bull Direct Mailbull Telephonebull Email
bull Internetbull Direct Response TVbull Social Media
You shouldnrsquot be satisfied meeting your fundraising goals
You should be beating them
Full Service Fundraising gt DonorMember AcquisitionRetention
DMA NF Journal Ad 8-12-365x4625_Layout 1 81312 1014 AM Page 1
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 35
PUT MORE MONEY IN THE HANDS of THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST through innovative fundraisingstrategies and better results
Wersquod love to meet you
8009650577
nexusdirectcom
HigH Flying creative tHat gets resultsIntegrated Fundraising Mail Web Email
You want an agency that can deliver powerful high-performance programs Creatively You want an agency that will function as an extension of your own team Seamlessly You want an agency that can cut costs without cutting impact Efficiently You want Newport Creative
U N C O M M O N LY C R E A T I V E
newportcreativecom infonewportcreativecom
36 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
The Only Donor Cooperative Built By Fundraising Marketing Experts
Exclusive Benets for Apogee Members
Maximize revenue and lifetime value with high-value custom models
Extend your reach with high-performance modeled universe
Maximize exchanges through suppression of key exchange partnersrsquo names
Packageoffer-specific proprietary models
Create models for sustainers planned giving mid-level and major-gift givers
Expand your universe through optimization of commercial list sources
Take advantage of highly aggressive pricing and net arrangements
Have proprietary models built at no extra charge
Our proprietary data assets and extensive experience in nonprot list services as well as building transactional databases for direct marketers make this a unique product and opportunity for your organization
Infogroup Nonprot Solutions invites your organization to participate in Apogee ndash a multi-functional marketing tool with diverse applications
For more information contact
Matthew Frattura4028365527 | matthewfratturainfogroupcom
wwwinfogroupcomApogee
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 37
In the era of tweets and texts we help people connect on a human level
TeleForum provides unique opportunities to elicit audience feedback inspire loyalty communicate an idea raise
support and much more It is as simple as making a phone call
To learn more about TeleForum and our other revolutionary products and
features please contact us at infobroadnetus
powered by
18775794929 | wwwbroadnetus
Fundraisingrsquos Best Friend
You make a friend for life
From fundraising through direct mail and digital media to integrated marketing solutions to strategic planning and donor relationship management and more we customize a plan just for you
We partner with organizations to help integrate fundraising and marketing strategies for maximum results
When you choose Alpha dog Marketing you do more than just hire an agency
Your purpose matters to us
wwwAlphadogMktgcom8007300668
Get it todaynonprofitfederationorgethics-policy watchdog-resource-centerwatchdog-toolkit
38 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
1
2
3
A
B
C
32 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
9 Centennial Drive
Peabody MA 01960-7906
Tel 8003707500
wwwamergentcom
c a l l j a c k d o y l e
8 0 0 3 7 0 7 5 0 0
s t r a t e g i c d i r e c t
m a r k e t i n g
f l e x i b l e d a t a b a s e s o l u t i o n
m u l t i - y e a r
c u t t i n g - e d g e
a n a l y t i c s
a w a r d - w i n n i n g
c r e a t i v e
n e e d n e w f u n d r a i s i n g s o l u t i o n s
m u l t i - c h a n n e l
c a m p a i g n s
i n t e g r a t e d
p r e d i c t i v e m o d e l s
Sign up for Amergentrsquos e-newsletter
at friendsamergentcomifund or scan qr code
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 33
Looking to Affordably Grow Your Donor Fileand Increase Contributions
We Can HelpWiland Direct is the nationrsquos 1 transactional database for fundraisers
Using our vast transactional data and powerful models Wiland Direct helps fundraisers to
bull Affordably acquire new donors bull Maximize contributions from existing donors bull Reactivate former donorsbull Identify the most likely activists and volunteersbull Convert inquirers petition signers and other ldquowarm leadsrdquo into donors
To learn more please contact John Spencer at 9703106378 or via email at jspencerwilanddirectcom
3034858686 wwwWilandDirectcomCopyright 2012 Wiland Direct All rights reserved
ldquoThe Wiland Direct database has been a solid performer for LLS with higher average gifts and lower cost per dollar raised than most Itrsquos opened up a new acquisition universe particularly important for a mature program Wersquore very pleased with the results and team support from Wilandrdquomdash Bruny Lynch The Leukemia amp Lymphoma Society
34 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
reso
urce
s re
aliz
ed
direct marketing solutionsyoursquove been looking for
Our award-winning solutions aretailored to find and motivate the people
who support your good work
SampW Directmdash Direct Mailmdash Online amp Offline
Communicationsmdash Membership Programsmdash Monthly Mid-level amp
Annual Giving Programsmdash Database Profiles
amp Assessmentsmdash Direct Response Plans
amp Executionmdash Analytical Services
325 Chestnut Street Suite 700 215-625-9955Philadelphia PA 19105 wwwschultzwilliamscom
mailschultzwilliamscom SagePRINT SageONLINE SageCARES
C R E AT I V E S E R V I C E S
Got control issuesWho doesnrsquot Maybe itrsquos time to hire a Sage
With 35 years of consumer marketing experience your non-profit can benefit from the best practices wersquove learned from creating thousands of winning promotions both in print and online
Thatrsquos why organizations like National Audubon Society Smithsonian National Geographic have consistently put our creative team to work for them
Want to see for yourself
Contact annesagecommunicationscom or call 508-309-6678 x 1 for a no-obligation quote
914-761-2800partnershipcarlbloomcom
Contact CBA today to find out how we can help yourorganization exceed its goals now and into the future
wwwcarlbloomcom
For nearly 40 years Carl Bloom Associates has beenhelping non-profits exceed their revenue goals withinnovative strategies and creative that raise moremoney acquire and retain more donors and increasetheir lifetime value
You can support your mission more effectively withCBArsquos ldquosmarterrdquo multi-channel campaigns integrating
bull Direct Mailbull Telephonebull Email
bull Internetbull Direct Response TVbull Social Media
You shouldnrsquot be satisfied meeting your fundraising goals
You should be beating them
Full Service Fundraising gt DonorMember AcquisitionRetention
DMA NF Journal Ad 8-12-365x4625_Layout 1 81312 1014 AM Page 1
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 35
PUT MORE MONEY IN THE HANDS of THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST through innovative fundraisingstrategies and better results
Wersquod love to meet you
8009650577
nexusdirectcom
HigH Flying creative tHat gets resultsIntegrated Fundraising Mail Web Email
You want an agency that can deliver powerful high-performance programs Creatively You want an agency that will function as an extension of your own team Seamlessly You want an agency that can cut costs without cutting impact Efficiently You want Newport Creative
U N C O M M O N LY C R E A T I V E
newportcreativecom infonewportcreativecom
36 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
The Only Donor Cooperative Built By Fundraising Marketing Experts
Exclusive Benets for Apogee Members
Maximize revenue and lifetime value with high-value custom models
Extend your reach with high-performance modeled universe
Maximize exchanges through suppression of key exchange partnersrsquo names
Packageoffer-specific proprietary models
Create models for sustainers planned giving mid-level and major-gift givers
Expand your universe through optimization of commercial list sources
Take advantage of highly aggressive pricing and net arrangements
Have proprietary models built at no extra charge
Our proprietary data assets and extensive experience in nonprot list services as well as building transactional databases for direct marketers make this a unique product and opportunity for your organization
Infogroup Nonprot Solutions invites your organization to participate in Apogee ndash a multi-functional marketing tool with diverse applications
For more information contact
Matthew Frattura4028365527 | matthewfratturainfogroupcom
wwwinfogroupcomApogee
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 37
In the era of tweets and texts we help people connect on a human level
TeleForum provides unique opportunities to elicit audience feedback inspire loyalty communicate an idea raise
support and much more It is as simple as making a phone call
To learn more about TeleForum and our other revolutionary products and
features please contact us at infobroadnetus
powered by
18775794929 | wwwbroadnetus
Fundraisingrsquos Best Friend
You make a friend for life
From fundraising through direct mail and digital media to integrated marketing solutions to strategic planning and donor relationship management and more we customize a plan just for you
We partner with organizations to help integrate fundraising and marketing strategies for maximum results
When you choose Alpha dog Marketing you do more than just hire an agency
Your purpose matters to us
wwwAlphadogMktgcom8007300668
Get it todaynonprofitfederationorgethics-policy watchdog-resource-centerwatchdog-toolkit
38 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
1
2
3
A
B
C
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 33
Looking to Affordably Grow Your Donor Fileand Increase Contributions
We Can HelpWiland Direct is the nationrsquos 1 transactional database for fundraisers
Using our vast transactional data and powerful models Wiland Direct helps fundraisers to
bull Affordably acquire new donors bull Maximize contributions from existing donors bull Reactivate former donorsbull Identify the most likely activists and volunteersbull Convert inquirers petition signers and other ldquowarm leadsrdquo into donors
To learn more please contact John Spencer at 9703106378 or via email at jspencerwilanddirectcom
3034858686 wwwWilandDirectcomCopyright 2012 Wiland Direct All rights reserved
ldquoThe Wiland Direct database has been a solid performer for LLS with higher average gifts and lower cost per dollar raised than most Itrsquos opened up a new acquisition universe particularly important for a mature program Wersquore very pleased with the results and team support from Wilandrdquomdash Bruny Lynch The Leukemia amp Lymphoma Society
34 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
reso
urce
s re
aliz
ed
direct marketing solutionsyoursquove been looking for
Our award-winning solutions aretailored to find and motivate the people
who support your good work
SampW Directmdash Direct Mailmdash Online amp Offline
Communicationsmdash Membership Programsmdash Monthly Mid-level amp
Annual Giving Programsmdash Database Profiles
amp Assessmentsmdash Direct Response Plans
amp Executionmdash Analytical Services
325 Chestnut Street Suite 700 215-625-9955Philadelphia PA 19105 wwwschultzwilliamscom
mailschultzwilliamscom SagePRINT SageONLINE SageCARES
C R E AT I V E S E R V I C E S
Got control issuesWho doesnrsquot Maybe itrsquos time to hire a Sage
With 35 years of consumer marketing experience your non-profit can benefit from the best practices wersquove learned from creating thousands of winning promotions both in print and online
Thatrsquos why organizations like National Audubon Society Smithsonian National Geographic have consistently put our creative team to work for them
Want to see for yourself
Contact annesagecommunicationscom or call 508-309-6678 x 1 for a no-obligation quote
914-761-2800partnershipcarlbloomcom
Contact CBA today to find out how we can help yourorganization exceed its goals now and into the future
wwwcarlbloomcom
For nearly 40 years Carl Bloom Associates has beenhelping non-profits exceed their revenue goals withinnovative strategies and creative that raise moremoney acquire and retain more donors and increasetheir lifetime value
You can support your mission more effectively withCBArsquos ldquosmarterrdquo multi-channel campaigns integrating
bull Direct Mailbull Telephonebull Email
bull Internetbull Direct Response TVbull Social Media
You shouldnrsquot be satisfied meeting your fundraising goals
You should be beating them
Full Service Fundraising gt DonorMember AcquisitionRetention
DMA NF Journal Ad 8-12-365x4625_Layout 1 81312 1014 AM Page 1
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 35
PUT MORE MONEY IN THE HANDS of THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST through innovative fundraisingstrategies and better results
Wersquod love to meet you
8009650577
nexusdirectcom
HigH Flying creative tHat gets resultsIntegrated Fundraising Mail Web Email
You want an agency that can deliver powerful high-performance programs Creatively You want an agency that will function as an extension of your own team Seamlessly You want an agency that can cut costs without cutting impact Efficiently You want Newport Creative
U N C O M M O N LY C R E A T I V E
newportcreativecom infonewportcreativecom
36 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
The Only Donor Cooperative Built By Fundraising Marketing Experts
Exclusive Benets for Apogee Members
Maximize revenue and lifetime value with high-value custom models
Extend your reach with high-performance modeled universe
Maximize exchanges through suppression of key exchange partnersrsquo names
Packageoffer-specific proprietary models
Create models for sustainers planned giving mid-level and major-gift givers
Expand your universe through optimization of commercial list sources
Take advantage of highly aggressive pricing and net arrangements
Have proprietary models built at no extra charge
Our proprietary data assets and extensive experience in nonprot list services as well as building transactional databases for direct marketers make this a unique product and opportunity for your organization
Infogroup Nonprot Solutions invites your organization to participate in Apogee ndash a multi-functional marketing tool with diverse applications
For more information contact
Matthew Frattura4028365527 | matthewfratturainfogroupcom
wwwinfogroupcomApogee
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 37
In the era of tweets and texts we help people connect on a human level
TeleForum provides unique opportunities to elicit audience feedback inspire loyalty communicate an idea raise
support and much more It is as simple as making a phone call
To learn more about TeleForum and our other revolutionary products and
features please contact us at infobroadnetus
powered by
18775794929 | wwwbroadnetus
Fundraisingrsquos Best Friend
You make a friend for life
From fundraising through direct mail and digital media to integrated marketing solutions to strategic planning and donor relationship management and more we customize a plan just for you
We partner with organizations to help integrate fundraising and marketing strategies for maximum results
When you choose Alpha dog Marketing you do more than just hire an agency
Your purpose matters to us
wwwAlphadogMktgcom8007300668
Get it todaynonprofitfederationorgethics-policy watchdog-resource-centerwatchdog-toolkit
38 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
1
2
3
A
B
C
34 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
reso
urce
s re
aliz
ed
direct marketing solutionsyoursquove been looking for
Our award-winning solutions aretailored to find and motivate the people
who support your good work
SampW Directmdash Direct Mailmdash Online amp Offline
Communicationsmdash Membership Programsmdash Monthly Mid-level amp
Annual Giving Programsmdash Database Profiles
amp Assessmentsmdash Direct Response Plans
amp Executionmdash Analytical Services
325 Chestnut Street Suite 700 215-625-9955Philadelphia PA 19105 wwwschultzwilliamscom
mailschultzwilliamscom SagePRINT SageONLINE SageCARES
C R E AT I V E S E R V I C E S
Got control issuesWho doesnrsquot Maybe itrsquos time to hire a Sage
With 35 years of consumer marketing experience your non-profit can benefit from the best practices wersquove learned from creating thousands of winning promotions both in print and online
Thatrsquos why organizations like National Audubon Society Smithsonian National Geographic have consistently put our creative team to work for them
Want to see for yourself
Contact annesagecommunicationscom or call 508-309-6678 x 1 for a no-obligation quote
914-761-2800partnershipcarlbloomcom
Contact CBA today to find out how we can help yourorganization exceed its goals now and into the future
wwwcarlbloomcom
For nearly 40 years Carl Bloom Associates has beenhelping non-profits exceed their revenue goals withinnovative strategies and creative that raise moremoney acquire and retain more donors and increasetheir lifetime value
You can support your mission more effectively withCBArsquos ldquosmarterrdquo multi-channel campaigns integrating
bull Direct Mailbull Telephonebull Email
bull Internetbull Direct Response TVbull Social Media
You shouldnrsquot be satisfied meeting your fundraising goals
You should be beating them
Full Service Fundraising gt DonorMember AcquisitionRetention
DMA NF Journal Ad 8-12-365x4625_Layout 1 81312 1014 AM Page 1
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 35
PUT MORE MONEY IN THE HANDS of THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST through innovative fundraisingstrategies and better results
Wersquod love to meet you
8009650577
nexusdirectcom
HigH Flying creative tHat gets resultsIntegrated Fundraising Mail Web Email
You want an agency that can deliver powerful high-performance programs Creatively You want an agency that will function as an extension of your own team Seamlessly You want an agency that can cut costs without cutting impact Efficiently You want Newport Creative
U N C O M M O N LY C R E A T I V E
newportcreativecom infonewportcreativecom
36 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
The Only Donor Cooperative Built By Fundraising Marketing Experts
Exclusive Benets for Apogee Members
Maximize revenue and lifetime value with high-value custom models
Extend your reach with high-performance modeled universe
Maximize exchanges through suppression of key exchange partnersrsquo names
Packageoffer-specific proprietary models
Create models for sustainers planned giving mid-level and major-gift givers
Expand your universe through optimization of commercial list sources
Take advantage of highly aggressive pricing and net arrangements
Have proprietary models built at no extra charge
Our proprietary data assets and extensive experience in nonprot list services as well as building transactional databases for direct marketers make this a unique product and opportunity for your organization
Infogroup Nonprot Solutions invites your organization to participate in Apogee ndash a multi-functional marketing tool with diverse applications
For more information contact
Matthew Frattura4028365527 | matthewfratturainfogroupcom
wwwinfogroupcomApogee
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 37
In the era of tweets and texts we help people connect on a human level
TeleForum provides unique opportunities to elicit audience feedback inspire loyalty communicate an idea raise
support and much more It is as simple as making a phone call
To learn more about TeleForum and our other revolutionary products and
features please contact us at infobroadnetus
powered by
18775794929 | wwwbroadnetus
Fundraisingrsquos Best Friend
You make a friend for life
From fundraising through direct mail and digital media to integrated marketing solutions to strategic planning and donor relationship management and more we customize a plan just for you
We partner with organizations to help integrate fundraising and marketing strategies for maximum results
When you choose Alpha dog Marketing you do more than just hire an agency
Your purpose matters to us
wwwAlphadogMktgcom8007300668
Get it todaynonprofitfederationorgethics-policy watchdog-resource-centerwatchdog-toolkit
38 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
1
2
3
A
B
C
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 35
PUT MORE MONEY IN THE HANDS of THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST through innovative fundraisingstrategies and better results
Wersquod love to meet you
8009650577
nexusdirectcom
HigH Flying creative tHat gets resultsIntegrated Fundraising Mail Web Email
You want an agency that can deliver powerful high-performance programs Creatively You want an agency that will function as an extension of your own team Seamlessly You want an agency that can cut costs without cutting impact Efficiently You want Newport Creative
U N C O M M O N LY C R E A T I V E
newportcreativecom infonewportcreativecom
36 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
The Only Donor Cooperative Built By Fundraising Marketing Experts
Exclusive Benets for Apogee Members
Maximize revenue and lifetime value with high-value custom models
Extend your reach with high-performance modeled universe
Maximize exchanges through suppression of key exchange partnersrsquo names
Packageoffer-specific proprietary models
Create models for sustainers planned giving mid-level and major-gift givers
Expand your universe through optimization of commercial list sources
Take advantage of highly aggressive pricing and net arrangements
Have proprietary models built at no extra charge
Our proprietary data assets and extensive experience in nonprot list services as well as building transactional databases for direct marketers make this a unique product and opportunity for your organization
Infogroup Nonprot Solutions invites your organization to participate in Apogee ndash a multi-functional marketing tool with diverse applications
For more information contact
Matthew Frattura4028365527 | matthewfratturainfogroupcom
wwwinfogroupcomApogee
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 37
In the era of tweets and texts we help people connect on a human level
TeleForum provides unique opportunities to elicit audience feedback inspire loyalty communicate an idea raise
support and much more It is as simple as making a phone call
To learn more about TeleForum and our other revolutionary products and
features please contact us at infobroadnetus
powered by
18775794929 | wwwbroadnetus
Fundraisingrsquos Best Friend
You make a friend for life
From fundraising through direct mail and digital media to integrated marketing solutions to strategic planning and donor relationship management and more we customize a plan just for you
We partner with organizations to help integrate fundraising and marketing strategies for maximum results
When you choose Alpha dog Marketing you do more than just hire an agency
Your purpose matters to us
wwwAlphadogMktgcom8007300668
Get it todaynonprofitfederationorgethics-policy watchdog-resource-centerwatchdog-toolkit
38 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
1
2
3
A
B
C
36 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
The Only Donor Cooperative Built By Fundraising Marketing Experts
Exclusive Benets for Apogee Members
Maximize revenue and lifetime value with high-value custom models
Extend your reach with high-performance modeled universe
Maximize exchanges through suppression of key exchange partnersrsquo names
Packageoffer-specific proprietary models
Create models for sustainers planned giving mid-level and major-gift givers
Expand your universe through optimization of commercial list sources
Take advantage of highly aggressive pricing and net arrangements
Have proprietary models built at no extra charge
Our proprietary data assets and extensive experience in nonprot list services as well as building transactional databases for direct marketers make this a unique product and opportunity for your organization
Infogroup Nonprot Solutions invites your organization to participate in Apogee ndash a multi-functional marketing tool with diverse applications
For more information contact
Matthew Frattura4028365527 | matthewfratturainfogroupcom
wwwinfogroupcomApogee
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 37
In the era of tweets and texts we help people connect on a human level
TeleForum provides unique opportunities to elicit audience feedback inspire loyalty communicate an idea raise
support and much more It is as simple as making a phone call
To learn more about TeleForum and our other revolutionary products and
features please contact us at infobroadnetus
powered by
18775794929 | wwwbroadnetus
Fundraisingrsquos Best Friend
You make a friend for life
From fundraising through direct mail and digital media to integrated marketing solutions to strategic planning and donor relationship management and more we customize a plan just for you
We partner with organizations to help integrate fundraising and marketing strategies for maximum results
When you choose Alpha dog Marketing you do more than just hire an agency
Your purpose matters to us
wwwAlphadogMktgcom8007300668
Get it todaynonprofitfederationorgethics-policy watchdog-resource-centerwatchdog-toolkit
38 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
1
2
3
A
B
C
Volume 15 Issue 3 September 2012 37
In the era of tweets and texts we help people connect on a human level
TeleForum provides unique opportunities to elicit audience feedback inspire loyalty communicate an idea raise
support and much more It is as simple as making a phone call
To learn more about TeleForum and our other revolutionary products and
features please contact us at infobroadnetus
powered by
18775794929 | wwwbroadnetus
Fundraisingrsquos Best Friend
You make a friend for life
From fundraising through direct mail and digital media to integrated marketing solutions to strategic planning and donor relationship management and more we customize a plan just for you
We partner with organizations to help integrate fundraising and marketing strategies for maximum results
When you choose Alpha dog Marketing you do more than just hire an agency
Your purpose matters to us
wwwAlphadogMktgcom8007300668
Get it todaynonprofitfederationorgethics-policy watchdog-resource-centerwatchdog-toolkit
38 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
1
2
3
A
B
C
38 The Journal of the DMA Nonprofit Federation
1
2
3
A
B
C