And, this video has some more – shared by those who could only dream of having problems like most of us endure on a daily basis. I fully admit to saying all but three of these at least once. And the one about pickles is a statement I’ve made about 300 times. Next time I’ll think twice.

Kudos to WaterisLIFE for this video. As we approach the holidays and many of us sit around the tree looking at mounds of presents we don’t really need, it’s a good reminder of what much of the world faces every day.

I hope you have a great holiday!  Give yourself a gift on twitter by following @gettinggiving today!

1) I haven’t posted for a very long time, so at the very least I owe you SOMETHING!
2) I really like this. It’s simple yet emotional.

Many thanks to Dan Pallotta for this terrific Ted talk about the power of investing in nonprofits. Good stuff!

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The Facebook one always cracks me up. And, for the record, that Friending activity isn’t a ‘move’ so I don’t think you should enter it in your contact report either!!

You know I’m not an ‘all your eggs in one basket’ kind of guy, and there is still plenty of room for mail, phone, face-to-face and even tin cans and string if that works for you. But when you’re looking at the impact of social media on your nonprofit and how you plan to engage your supporters, it’s important to know where the world is and where it’s headed. If you’re still worrying about your Myspace account, you really need to watch this. But who’s to say Myspace isn’t the future (again)!?!?

If you’d like to see more of Erik’s work, visit his Socialnomics webesite or his Youtube Channel. If you miss the Fatboy Slim music from years past, you can find that version of the video there too!
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Start the new year off right – follow me on Twitter @GettingGiving! ]]> http://jefflindauer.com/2013/01/07/social-media-2013/feed/ 1 1125 http://jefflindauer.com/2012/11/15/indiana-philanthropy-day-presentation/ Thu, 15 Nov 2012 22:21:38 +0000 http://jefflindauer.com/?p=1100 I had the honor of presenting at today’s Indiana Philanthropy Day event in Indianapolis. The turnout was terrific, and I enjoyed seeing all the award recipients and hearing their stories. There are soooooo many great people in the philanthropic community, and it was nice to see several recognized for their hard work and dedication.

For those who attended my presentation of ‘Six Silly Sentences’ I promised to post the presentation and you’ll find it below. If you have trouble viewing, reload the page. If I get a chance tomorrow I’ll add a few more items related to the talk. Thanks for coming out – hope you had a good time!

I forgot the handouts because we were so rushed at the end – if you’d like to print the artwork, simply download this (right click+save) and print on legal sized paper.

Some additional resources/interesting reading that I referenced:

Pew Internet & American Life Project:  Research on Real Time Charitable Giving (Text-To-Give)

Pew Internet & American Life Project:  Presidential Campaigns in a Digital Age

Blackbaud:  2011 Multi-Channel Giving Research

Final note: I’m aware I’ve been a bit behind on posts. Well, actually I’ve been HORRIBLE about updating GettingGiving. I’ll do better, I promise!

Walt Disney is famous for many quotes that are displayed around the WDW property in various locations. Some are on the walls surrounding construction zones, including this one that I will translate for you. . .

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Yes, this is Walt’s way of saying ‘You are not your donor!”

Disney spends considerable time and energy conducting market research and translating their findings into new products and activities throughout their theme parks. They come up with a concept, test it, and then build what the public wants. Then they test the results by conducting surveys throughout the parks – it’s not uncommon to be stopped by a Disney employee (cast member) and asked a few simple questions after you’ve been on a ride, in a store, or after a dining experience.

During my last trip, I was stopped no less than five times, probably more. I know it sounds like a hassle to be on vacation and answering survey questions, but it only takes about 30 seconds and I’m happy to oblige because I know they will actually translate that data into actionable information to improve for the future.

If you follow the ‘you are not your donor’ mantra, you know that it’s best to craft solicitations not for ourselves, but based on what the prospect/donor wants and responds to – and our best tests come from looking at the results of our endeavors. If the feedback is positive (increased gifts, increased engagement, etc.) we continue – and if not, we make some changes and try again.

Every time we conduct a solicitation, we’re also conducting a survey- and if we ignore the results we’ll miss many opportunities for increased support in the future.

I’m sure Walt would agree!

During one of my mindless ‘surf the web because I’m too wired to go to bed’ sessions, I came across the ‘Raise Our Flag‘ campaign and found it quite interesting. The US Olympic Committee is quick to point out that our Olympians receive no government support and rely on private contributions to represent us in London this year. If you’ve ever been associated with an olympic athlete, you know just how expensive the process is. Travel, housing, etc. – it ain’t cheap! And that’s after spending a small fortune on training and equipment over the years to reach the level of athleticism necessary to make the team.

Oh, and many don’t have jobs because training is a full-time endeavor. Only a few have the ability to receive superstardom levels and Wheaties boxes with big paychecks attached.

The ‘Raise our Flag‘ campaign is just one way for the masses to do their part and, in their own way, participate in the 2012 games. It’s a neat idea, inviting us to make a gift to buy a stitch in the US flag for $12. So far, according to the website, 29,257 stitches have been sold – that’s a little over $350,000 if you’re doing the math.

Undoubtedly, that’s just a drop in the bucket compared to what the US Team will raise through corporate sponsors, major gifts and more. But it’s an interesting way to get broad-based support – which we all know is important – and also a level of engagement for those who give. I’m sure many will watch the opening ceremonies and think about their gift. They might even squint real hard to look for their stitch as the flag marches into the opening ceremonies. Hope they have a big TV!

The website itself is quite interesting – the USOC does a good job of explaining why gifts are important, how money is used and the impact small gifts can make. The infographic is compelling – it takes just 20 stitches to provide a pair of boxing gloves, for instance. You can see where your gift can help in very real ways. The short videos about our athletes are interesting and the social media integration with donor wall is good stuff too.

If  you’ve got olympic fever and, like me, enjoy looking for new ideas on various fundraising sites, it’s worth a visit.  Good luck to Team USA and athletes from around the world!

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Follow me on Twitter @GettingGiving! ]]> 1049 http://jefflindauer.com/2012/05/19/when-tuition-runs-out/ Sat, 19 May 2012 07:22:12 +0000 http://jefflindauer.com/?p=1026 It’s not uncommon for our educational institutions to advertise the day when tuition runs out and private support and other income sources begin to take over – it’s a great way to demonstrate the importance of philanthropy on campus. It’s especially powerful for students, as they learn that tuition covers only a percentage of their education – and alumni are helping with the rest. Hopefully they’ll continue that tradition in the future!

I like this simple video from Marquette that features “Tuition Runs Out Day” and their program to inform students while thanking alumni. Low cost and effective – my favorite combo!

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On a related note, another great video that shows the fine work of David Jones and his colleagues at the University of Georgia. . . saying thanks to donors while educating their students about the importance of supporting UGA. Enjoy!

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