Blog Post by: Ashlee Meier, CFRE

We’ve all been there. 

You’re at that event as a guest of a friend, or you somehow find yourself on a mailing list opening a year end solicitation letter, or perhaps you’re volunteering with a company or group.… regardless of the situation, you’re suddenly involved with a nonprofit whose cause may not be what naturally pulls your heartstrings. But, if they are wise (fingers crossed), they will use that brief moment of your attention to tell their story. And often, you will respond in one of two ways:

1. “Oh, that was nice.” End scene. 
2. “WOW. I had no idea. Their work is amazing! I must help. NOW.” …and ACTION!

As a nonprofit leader, you may have walked this road with your own organization and be asking the question we’ve heard time and time again, “How do we get response #2?!” 

The answer can sometimes feel like a mythical creature, a unicorn let’s say, showing you glimpses but always just alluding your grasp. And while I typically prefer unicorns over math problems, in this instance, there is a simple equation that should be noted: Strategic Storytelling + Bold Ask = Action. Wait…surely, it’s not that easy, right? It’s nonprofit fundraising, it’s never EASY, but following this formula will undoubtedly set you up for success. 

Undoubtedly, you are passionate about your work and your mission. I bet you can rattle off stats and figures in your sleep! But as you probably already know, stats and figures don’t always evoke the emotional response needed to move a supporter to action. So…what does? 

A few key ingredients to the Strategic Storytelling part of the equation:

ONE Person

We are wired for connection, and we want to give supporters the opportunity to connect with our cause. Strategic stories tell the narrative of ONE person (or animal) so the audience can put themselves in their shoes and FEEL what they have or are going through. It’s far easier to make that connection to a single person than a group of people, so telling too many stories at once can actually create a barrier to connection and therefore giving. 

If you want action, you must help donors feel the pain of your cause by seeing it play out in one life. Then give them the opportunity to save that one life – and eventually another and another.

A Clear Problem

Another key component of strategic storytelling is to clearly state the problem your donors can help solve by giving. There are probably loads of nuanced problems your organization is trying to solve, but for the purpose of strategic storytelling, choose one that correlates with the bold ask you’re about to make.

A Powerful Solution 

And finally, show how your organization worked to provide a solution that positively changed the course of this one person’s life. Make sure you illustrate how your organization used its unique position to solve this problem and show how you are specifically equipped to meet needs just like the one you’re sharing. 

In other words: Highlight one person, what happened when they needed help and then what life looks like after they received that help from your organization. 

And the Bold Ask:

And finally, the number one missed opportunity to move supporters to action – ASK FOR IT! But not just a, “give what you can,” or a, “please support.” Make it easy for your audience to say yes by making a clear, bold, actionable ask. Let’s break that down:

• Tell them HOW to give. And then do it again. Seriously. Spelling this out helps people take the next step, so point them to that website, text code, event ticket, bid card, whatever direction you need them to go!
• Tell them WHAT to give. Yup, spell this out, too. Share specific amounts with tangible impact statements tied to them so you paint the picture of what their gift really means. Want to fund a shelter for a month? Share that every $150 provides a night of safety for a family of 4.
• Tell them WHO their gift impacts. You’ve already shared this in your story, so remind them that the person they connected with found a solution to their problem through the work for your organization…and that their gift could be the one that saves/improves the next life. 

Put it all together for a winning combo that could and should equal action! And there you have it – the mystical power of nonprofit storytelling decoded. Now go get those dollars!

Blog Post by: Sarah Obialero

The fact is simple, having numerous, well designed and strategically placed signs can elevate your event and guest experience. From the moment guests walk through the door to the moment they exit the venue, signage can help set the tone, direct them where to go, provide important information and increase your revenue.

Signage can set the tone. As guests enter the event space, what do they see?  Having a large welcome sign and/or display coordinating with the event graphics and theme immediately lets guests know they are in the right place and makes a first impression that will get them excited for what’s to come. Carrying that look and branding on signage throughout the event space creates a polished look and feel. Coordinating everything from oversized banners to small table cards and menus can really help achieve a cohesive branded look and memorable tone from start to finish.

Having signage that provides direction and information can be a source of comfort and satisfaction to guests. Think of the event space as a road map and the signage as, well, road signs. How frustrating would it be to drive unfamiliar roads with no signs?  Likewise, guests can feel frustrated trying to navigate an event space with no information and direction. Using highly visible signs that point guests to important locations and provide easily accessible information can make their event experience that much more enjoyable. In turn, guests will be more likely to spend more supporting the cause. 

Great signage can increase revenue. Sponsorship dollars are a large part of an event’s revenue source. Showcasing sponsor logos on signage throughout the event is an easy way to keep these vital supporters front and center. Making sure they are well represented on the appropriately sponsored items and signs will confirm that their money was well spent, and they will continue to support in the future.

Revenue activations are another source of funding where signage can help. Having large signs that draw people in to look at what’s offered can get more eyes on what you’re selling and encourage a sale. A few examples would be having a large visible sign next to or hanging over the silent auction area that calls out its location and encourages guests to check out the items up for bid. You could also use signs to highlight the live auction items, allowing guests time to prepare in advance for what they will bid on during the program.

When thinking through your signage needs, take into consideration your venue space and flow. Try to anticipate your sponsors’ and guests’ needs and wants and make sure you’re providing them the roadmap to navigate the event easily.  I also encourage you to get creative and make your signage feel like it’s part of the décor for the event. This will help create a stimulating atmosphere that will keep guests engaged the entire time as well as help them remember the event after.

Blog Post by: Jennifer Downes, CFRE

When you have a task at hand, how do you complete it? Do you go with the flow and deal with hurdles as they come, or do you formulate a plan of attack? Years ago (when I was younger and thought I knew everything), I used to have a more relaxed approach until I realized I was spending too much time working harder instead of smarter. Once I started taking the time to formulate a plan of execution, it helped me stay on path, use my time effectively and efficiently, and take on the unexpected hurdles that inevitably arise with less panic and frustration. 

Throughout the years, I have been named and described as the Calendar Keeper/Queen, a type A personality, planner, strategist, systematic and logistical, to name a few. All of these adjectives circle back to the fact that I am, to put it mildly, a planner/visionary/goal crusher with all aspects of my life. There seems to never be enough hours in the day to tackle everything on our plates, and while carving out time to strategize may seem daunting, setting aside time to plan and set tangible action steps to complete your task and/or goal is worth your investment on the front end.

These traits and implementations have allowed me to become the successful fundraiser and consultant that I am today and I’d love to share a little about what I’ve learned. 

On my top tricks in regards to fundraising: utilizing an annual solicitation and communications calendar as an effective tool to set you and your organization up for success. As a leader in your nonprofit, advanced planning of the annual direct mail campaigns, all communications with your donors (even if it doesn’t contain an ask), special events, and programs help solidify a vision that is put onto paper to analyze your upcoming year. This enables you to ask yourself and your internal team:

• Do we have enough solicitation in place to achieve our budgeted goal for this fiscal year?
• Do we have too much solicitation that might cause donor fatigue?
• Are we communicating with our donors so they understand everything our organization is accomplishing within our community with their donations?
• Will our communications overlap or do we have a nice balance?
• Do we need to rethink the timing of ticket sales release, focused campaign or any other plans to prevent self sabotaging efforts and save ourselves some communication sanity?

If all things align, map out the action steps to execute your plan directly on the calendar. This will make the workload feel a lot more manageable and will be a guide to setting up your daily workflow. Set some deadlines and think of them as milestones to gauge your success. Also, don’t be afraid to adjust as needed. Things happen and that’s ok, but by having a plan in place, you’ll be able to pivot with less stress than having to start from scratch. 

I encourage you to set a goal(s) with any and all aspects of your life, create a plan with action steps, and crush it! 

Blog Post by: Krista Elmore, CFRE

As fundraisers, we are trained to look for the opportunity in every situation. No challenge is too great for us, as it seems we (must) thrive in chaos. In some ways, chaos of the world as we know it came to a screeching halt when the pandemic was announced, and our usually busy days of setting up events and meeting donors for coffee abruptly ended. A new brand of quiet chaos set in, the kind that had everyone scrambling to adapt to our new (hopefully) temporary normal and embrace technology in a way that would allow us to continue to fundraise and support the nonprofit organizations who were counting on us. Now that the covid chaos is winding down a bit and life is returning to its more familiar pace and rhythm, there are some positive enhancements, silver linings if you will, the pandemic taught us that we, as fundraisers, need to take into the future.

1. Mobile Bidding – Pre-pandemic, we were seeing the traditional silent auction phase out. Nonprofits and donors alike were tired of the same old auction baskets year after year, and the revenue made from this activation at in-person events was becoming less and less balanced with the effort required. Enter the pandemic and suddenly the necessity of a silent auction in a virtual event could not be overstated. With the forced introduction of mobile bidding to larger audiences, suddenly an auction not only became a way for donors to bid and buy items in support of their favorite nonprofits, it was also a warm up to a virtual event, a tie that would engage that donor in the days leading up to a broadcast and keep them connected to the mission and purpose of the event. 

While mobile bidding was starting to become more and more popular pre-pandemic, once the world was shut down, online auctions skyrocketed and nonprofits (and supporters) all over the world had to embrace this technology in order to be involved with socially distanced support. The convenience of mobile bidding, as well as the expanded time frame it allows for bidding, has positively impacted the revenue of silent auctions. Instead of a one day (really, hours) auction at an in-person event, online auctions were opening anywhere from 3 days to 2 weeks prior to an online event broadcast. This extra time allowed supporters to hop into an event, begin bidding on their favorite items, donate to the charity, and would get pulled back in with an alert if they were outbid.

This technology, mobile bidding, should certainly continue as we move back into in-person events. Consider, as you do, opening up the silent auction a few days prior to your in-person event and closing a few minutes after the program has started, prior to the Live Auction. Many of our STUDIO 4Forty clients have hit their silent auction revenue goals even before the doors open by utilizing this technology.

2. Online Campaigns – While a call for donations through snail mail and in a plea online isn’t new because of the pandemic, the shutdown of 2020 forced many nonprofits to embrace this form of outreach. An online campaign, while similar in many of its basic set-ups and structures to a physical mailer, has the opportunity to reach outside of an organization’s set of contacts and potentially open the digital door to new donors, followers, and volunteers. Thankfully, we live in an age of social media and websites, so for many, this online shift was a natural progression, but for the smaller nonprofits that hadn’t yet embraced social media or strategically created an online presence, this change forced many to adapt and create content in a new way. Our favorite online campaigns used a combination of social media posts and live videos, e-blasts, and snail mail to make sure that anyone in their sphere of giving would have the opportunity to support in the most convenient way for them. Online giving platforms like BetterUnite and GoFundMe Charity allowed any nonprofit to input their information, link their bank accounts, and accept donations instantly from donors anywhere in the world. Now that the institutional knowledge is there, we hope to see all nonprofits continue to embrace online campaigns and build their network of supporters through this platform.

3. Online Courses – As a company, one of the ways STUDIO 4Forty adapted to the pandemic was to embrace how we can better support nonprofits all over the world, not just those that we work with in either our consulting or event services. We felt like it was our responsibility to share our knowledge and offer a guiding hand to anyone willing to learn, so we began to offer online courses designed specifically for nonprofits looking to enhance their fundraising. Our first course was in February 2021 entitled, “The New Donor of 2021,” with brilliant insights and research on donor trends before, during, and after the pandemic from the President of STUDIO 4Forty, Heather Frank. Our second course, the first of a series from our Director of Project Management, Ashlee Meier, entitled, “The Art of the Ask,” launched in May 2021 and focused on the ways in which the written word can propel your followers to become donors through clear and engaging messaging. Our next course, “Forming Your Perfect Committee,” will launch on September 2nd with myself and fellow Project Manager, Jennifer Downes, and will provide best practices, deliverables, and new insights to approaching the right people for the right volunteer positions to make sure your fundraiser is a success.

While not every nonprofit may be in the position to create online courses of their own, the opportunity to either attend or teach a course has lasting benefits that extend beyond the hour or two you’re engaged with the class. The knowledge gained from a topic that perhaps you as a fundraiser are struggling with will not only enhance your confidence, it may spark an interest or idea in a fundraising field that you had previously been ignoring. Teaching a course, especially, will force you as the instructor to dive deeper into the topic and really challenge your own set of beliefs and skills in order to most effectively encourage, educate, and enhance the understanding of those learning from you. 

While we are all a bit fatigued from learning how to embrace flexibility, it is a true necessity when it comes to fundraising. The challenges of the pandemic will last well beyond the timeframe of the illness, but I hope that the adaptations, skills, and new perspectives will, too. We have all grown so much in this past year, so my hope for you is that you’ll take those lessons and make the most out of them!

Blog Post by Reagan Poe

“A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous” – Coco Chanel

Am I the only one who asks herself every day, “What should I wear?” It is a daily struggle and sometimes feels like a chore. Now that the world is opening back up and we are ready to go out and mingle, events are on the horizon and you know what that means… dressing up and looking our best. It can be a daunting task of not knowing what to wear and comparing yourself to others, but it doesn’t have to be. I am here to help and answer all your event outfit concerns!

A Statement Piece

Whether you’re wearing a little black dress or something more extravagant, a statement piece is always a great idea. There are so many ways to incorporate one. You can wear ruffled heels, sparkly tennis shoes, a chunky necklace, or a colorful bag. Statement pieces are memorable and are, often, a great conversation starter.

Comfort, But Make It Fashion

I am a huge advocate for being comfortable and wearing what you feel best in. That is why most days you can see me in yoga pants and running shoes. For an event, you do not have to pass up on comfort just to look amazing. You can opt in for a nice pair of wide legged pants, a short suit set, or even a cute romper. The options are endless to look your best at an event all while being comfortable. You do not want to be worrying all night about your straps falling down, how tight your dress is, or how painful your shoes are to wear. It will take your focus away from the amazing time you are about to have!

Cute & Cheerful

At an event, everyone wants to have a great time. This is easy to do when you are wearing something that you love, especially wearing bright colors or a fun pattern. This can be incorporated in so many ways, from a shirt, dress, pants, or even handbag. When you feel amazing, it will show on your face and radiate to everyone around you!

Going to an event should not feel like a chore and picking out an outfit should not be an area of stress. Picking out what you feel most comfortable in and what makes you happy is the most important. You will be surprised when you get to an event how many others will love what you have chosen to wear. So, the next time an event comes your way, say yes to going, pick out your favorite outfit, grab a bag you hardly get to use, and we will see you there!

Blog Post by: Elaine Honig, Founder of Wine Women & Shoes

“It always comes down to a simple question: What is the purpose? The purpose of your event is to fundraise. And the brand, our brands, exist to make that happen.” – Elaine Honig

Does that sound too guru? Maybe, but It’s true! As an entrepreneur who’s dedicated the past 25 years to creating brands with staying power, I’ve learned it always comes down to a basic concept: Start with a question. The essential question when it comes to branding is simple, but not easy, and takes a little practice. Brainstorm at your next team meeting by asking:

What is the Purpose?

What is the purpose of your not-for-profit’s upcoming event?

The true bottom line? It’s to raise a gazillion dollars for the not- for-profit you and your board care passionately about and want to see thrive with an influx of new capital and donations. You and your team are smart, generous people who want to improve lives and the planet with causes that reflect your vision and concerns. And (OK, here’s where we come in!) you want to have an event that is fun to plan and attend! Brava. We’re with you all the way.

We’re Here For You to Make That Happen

Our team of smart creative e-marketers and event-creators at STUDIO 4Forty are ready to dialogue about being on brand while guiding your vision to maximize the event. In fact: It’s our purpose to help you maximize your purpose and goals in creative, fun, on-brand ways with your upcoming event.

Mini Refresher
Last time in “Staying on Brand” we talked about my

Three Key Elements to Branding:

Personality 

Character 

Values

Now that you’ve got that under your belt, let’s take it one step further. A brand doesn’t just have an image, a personality and values. It also has purpose.

Purpose of the Brand

The purpose of a STUDIO 4Forty event is to bring people together in an inspired and empowered atmosphere to raise money and support causes that are important to us and our clients. Like you, I’m service-oriented, and am happiest when I’m purpose- and service-driven. Want to know the truth? I don’t vacation well. I actually find organizing the garage fun. Eeek!

How I Discovered My Purpose

The first brand I co-created and developed was a family-owned boutique Napa Valley winery that needed to be re-vitalized to become irresistible and relevant. It was a compelling challenge and I enjoyed positioning, marketing and selling wine, but over time I realized what I was doing was not changing lives but maybe if I put my time and energy into fundraising efforts that can positively impact lives (whether people, or dogs, or eco-systems) I could make a difference. That shift was a transforming driver. I had a new purpose. And with this new purpose, I developed a new brand.

Purpose 1: Evolve and Grow

The success of our events can be measured by the $95mil raised by our amazing non-profit partners. That success is tied directly to our brands’ MO: we like being with other people who care about their communities and enjoying each other’s company, learning about wine, fashion, the arts and each other WHILE supporting causes.

Moral of the So-Called Story

Being of service, creating joy and a flow of generosity to support our beloved causes is the purpose of STUDIO 4Forty. The Purpose of our brands? Simple. Gathering together with good wine and good friends for good causes with fab music and art and fashion. Why? It’s a great way to be of service: helping those front-line organizations dedicated to improving the lives of all beings while we’re here, together, for this short time on this beautiful Earth.

Too guru?
Maybe.
But you get it. And it’s why you do what you do! Do you get the feeling we’ve already met? Me too.

Blog Post by: Allie Duggan

A mission statement is the core of a multitude of branches in a non-profit. Most importantly, it sets the tone for future donors and lays a foundation for what your organization will look and feel like. The mission statement is translated into the branding and marketing throughout the life of an organization, that’s why it’s so important to have a strong one. Not only does a mission statement inform an audience about what you do, it creates a focus and motivates the team working behind it. It even helps to guide initiatives for future campaigns.

A clear and concise mission statement is key to inform others about what you do. This isn’t the opportunity to be verbose, you really want to get the point in the least amount of words possible. This keeps it simple and easy to digest, ideally using words below a 10^th grade reading level. The average length for an effective mission statement is between 5 and 15 words, max. That might not seem like enough, but if you are using the right words, you can definitely get your point across effectively. The longer it is, the easier it is to lose your audience while they read it. Below are a few extremely effective mission statements from organizations that are free of buzzwords and fluff:

Smithsonian: The increase and diffusion of knowledge.

AARP: To enhance quality of life for all as we age.

MoMA: To share great modern and contemporary art with the public. 

The Alzheimer’s Association leads the way to end Alzheimer’s and all other dementia.

The Humane Society: We fight the big fights to end suffering for all animals.

American Heart Association: To be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives.

As you can see from the examples, these mission statements are short and to the point. They are easy to remember and allow for people to communicate them to others when they are advocating for a cause.

When a mission statement is too long, you run into problems like limiting what your organization does. If you go with something broad and simple, you have room for growth as an organization and you won’t constantly be having to update the statement as that growth happens. This applies to branding as well since that is all based off of the statement. If you have a strong mission statement, you will have strong branding to support it and stand the test of time. This eliminates the potential of alienating donors and supporters every time you’re updating your statement or brand, consistency is very important to stay relevant and resonate with people.

All in all, when it comes to a mission statement, simplicity is what you need to remember. Don’t try to be trendy, that comes and goes. Look deep within what it is you are trying to do and explain it in as few words as possible. If you have only a couple minutes to explain to someone the impact of your organization, what would you tell them you do?

Blog Post by:Ashlee Meier, CFRE

I’ve often tried to put into words exactly why I so dearly love the dauntingly hard, yet incredibly rewarding work that is fundraising.  But, as I’m sure you’ve experienced, it’s difficult to explain on many levels, especially to those who don’t live in the nonprofit world, and especially now as we revamp and revitalize to accommodate post pandemic giving shifts.  

 As many of us are at the moment, you may be finding yourself on a fundraising precipice. Your organization NEEDS a resurgence in support and engagement, your event MUST have delightful items to offer, your clients DEPEND on your success over the next few months. And yet, out of an abundance of compassion, you are probably being exceedingly cautious, if not trepidatious, of approaching individuals and businesses that you could once request from with ease.  No pressure, right?

We get it. You want to be considerate of how the past 15 months have affected them. You want to be sensitive to how they have experienced pandemic chaos, which looks a little different to everyone. And you absolutely should be! You are also anxious to experience the thrill that comes with commitments and, of course, to meet the needs of your organization and the population they serve. So, now what?

Recently, as I was studying for my CFRE exam, I read a quote by Hank Rosso, founder of The Fund Raising School, that resonated in my soul. He said, “Fundraising is the gentle art of teaching the joy of giving.” And I think that is the most delicate and succinct way to describe exactly why I love our work… and it’s a great reminder if right now, you find yourself faltering at the finish line.

We are not asking our supporters to give with nothing in return. In fact, we are offering a wealth of otherwise difficult to obtain benefits, purely by opening the door for potential givers to walk through.  Research from the Gallup World poll surveying 142 countries representing 95% of the world’s population shows that volunteering and donating to charity is associated with higher well-being and better health, proving that even though giving away time and money means there is less left for the self, it does not feel that way. The paradox of generosity is that people feel happier, richer and healthier after giving their money and time to others! 

As fundraisers, we must remember to see ourselves as givers…not takers. We help to match people’s values with opportunities to give, and in doing so, those people are helping to feed the hungry, take care of the sick, share musical & cultural experiences, educate generations of students or whatever their selected cause might be. When we help givers give, we are quite literally bringing the givers more happiness and better health!

I encourage you to substitute pride for apology when it comes to fundraising, because we mustknow beyond a shadow of a doubt, that what we are offering holds incredible value – not only to the mission, programs and services of an organization, but in giving your donor an opportunity to align their passion and purpose in a way that contributes to something bigger than themselves and unite them with other like-mindedsupporters in action for the greater good. 

What we as fundraisers are offering is not a burden, it’s a gift. Isn’t that freeing? 

Here’s to you, teaching the joy of giving by reinvigorating your joy in asking! 

Blog Post by: Sarah Obialero

Across the world, women are taking the reins when it comes to design. Today, over 50% of the graphic design profession is made up of women. And that number is growing – fast!

As women grow in this profession, I think it’s important we recognize the female trailblazers that have impacted and inspired all designers that followed. I want to highlight three incredible female designers that have created some of the world’s most iconic brand identities.

#1 Carolyn Davidson – 1971: Nike

The Nike swoosh is one of, if not the most, recognized icon in the world. It literally doesn’t even need to say its name – that’s how powerful this image is.  Carolyn’s thought when designing this visual masterpiece was to represent the movement of a runner as they jump off the ground.  Such a simple yet perfect concept for this brand.

Carolyn designed this logo for a mere $35 (about $200 today) to earn some extra cash while she was a design student in Portland. She continued to work with the Nike brand until 1983 and has been given shares in the brand that are now worth over $1 million. 

Today Carolyn engages in hobbies and volunteer work, including weekly duties at the Ronald McDonald House at Legacy Emanuel Hospital & Health Center in Oregon.

Cheers to you, Carolyn Davidson!

#2 Ruth Kedar – 1998: Google

Ruth was an art professor at Stanford when she was approached by two students about the opportunity to design a logo for their startup business. Little did she know at the time that she would design one of the world’s most recognized logos for one of the most valuable companies in history, the tech giant, Google.

Since then, Ruth has created logos for other widely recognized companies like Adobe, Coupons.com, UCSF, and one that’s probably not so widely known, but a company that my husband currently works for, called Quotient Technology.

Aside from being etched in history as the woman behind the Google logo, she also holds a 5^thdegree black belt in the Martial Art of Aikido and teaches Aikido in Redwood City, CA.

Talk about a total badass lady!

#3 Paula Scher – 1991-Today: Too many to name

Paula is one of the most acclaimed graphic designers in the world, and a true mastermind when it comes typography.  She has been described as the “master conjurer of the instantly familiar,” and will go down in history books as that and much more.

Paula has a rich history in the graphic design field that started in the 70’s. In 1991, she was the first female principal at the world’s largest design agency, Pentagram in New York, where she still is today.  There, she has created brand identities, promotional materials and beyond for brands such as Microsoft, Coca-Cola, Shake Shack, Museum of Modern Art, Tiffany & Co., Citi Bank, and on and on. In 2001, Paula was awarded the AIGA Medal, which is basically the equivalent to winning an Oscar in the design profession. The highest of honors. Her work is displayed in museums all over the world and she will forever be one of the greatest designers of all time.

Thank You

I am so incredibly inspired by these women, and so many other women in the design world that helped paved the way for me and so many others to enter the world of graphic design, typography, and digital art. My admiration of these figures helps fuel my desire to continue to be innovative, creative, and bold in my designs.

Thank you, Carolyn, Ruth and Paula, for being such important and inspirational figures in the world of graphic design. Your work has made a mark on the world that will never be forgotten.

Blog Post by: Jennifer Downes

After having my second child, I returned to work as the Clubhouse Manager at a private country club 12 weeks post-delivery, during the peak of fall season, after also having acquired a promotion while I was on maternity leave. To complicate things further, I was in the middle of my last semester to obtain my Bachelor’s Degree. All of these accomplishments were exciting, but meant additional responsibilities added to my already full plate. 

I’ll never forget my first day back. I was on hour nine of being at work, missing my baby and my oldest daughter, and desperately trying to figure out how to be a mom and maintain my career. When I say, “be a mom,” I mean a truly present mom that absorbs every moment with my children, because it goes by in the blink of an eye. As I was walking through the dining room of the private club I worked at, all the members were excited to see me and were asking about the baby, how I was doing, etc. I’ll never forget the moment when one of the members, Mrs. Rossway, grabbed my arm and said to me, “This is the best time of your life! Don’t let it slip by without enjoying it. This is the best time of your life.” That resonated with me and I’ve never forgotten that moment, especially the look on her face. She was adamant on getting this message through to me. I walked back to my office knowing God had sent Mrs. Rossway to deliver this message. She was confirming I need to find balance and put what is most important to me first – my family.

That moment changed me! I needed to create boundaries to insure I was more present with my kids and stop allowing all of the outside noise to dictate my actions. This took courage, especially through all the changes that occurred in my life, but I always kept my faith in God, and kept my goal in the forefront of every decision I was making. It took almost 4 years, but I found a career that I love that supports that balance. 

I share this with you to encourage you to enjoy the moments and “make the memories.” Life is fast and it’s easy to get distracted with all the noise that surrounds you. You can accomplish everything you set your mind to – especially in a chosen career. Don’t fret the time that it takes to accomplish your goals. It might just take a little longer than planned due to spending extra quality time with those that mean the most to you. Take the vacation, enjoy the slice of cake, go on a walk or bike ride, do the hobby you love so much, breathe in the fresh air, and read that story at bedtime! Life is precious, moments with your loved ones are a blessing, and the noise that surrounds you will always be there! Learn to create balance in your life and “make the memories” with those you hold dear.

Blog Post by: Krista Elmore, CFRE

We are fortunate to live in an era full of technology and a seemingly endless amount of ways to communicate with one another. This was especially useful in the past year while the pandemic loomed and our ability to see each other in person was limited. For nonprofits, though, the most effective and important way to stay connected with their followers, donors, and communities was through the written word. The revival of writing is here!

My coworker and friend, Ashlee Meier, is exploring the power of written communication in her online course this week called, “The Art of the Ask.” This course is intended as a series, one that will explore the different avenues of communication we, as fundraisers and nonprofits, have available to us to make an ask of significance. This first course, in particular, is exploring the art of written communication and the utilization of social media, two of the most important ways you, as a nonprofit, can communicate with your constituency. 

I won’t share all of Ashlee’s insights or secret sauce that she’ll cover in her course, but from my own perspective, below are a few suggestions and favorite ways to incorporate writing into your daily communications that will make a positive impact in your nonprofit. 

1. Read. The best way to improve your writing is to read the writing of others. By reading, you can expand your vocabulary, learn about proper grammar and punctuation, and identify the styles of writing that resonate with you.
2. Practice. I love the phrase, “practice makes perfect.” The more you write, the more easily it will come to you. Especially when writing in a professional, persuasive voice that is often needed in communication pieces that support the nonprofit, it isn’t always the same voice you might use when writing a personal letter to a friend. Give yourself some time to practice and…
3. Edit. I often find it helpful to write a first draft, edit it, then send it onto a coworker (or multiple coworkers) to also take a pass at editing. To paraphrase a common saying, many eyes make editing easier. To make this process even easier, consider using a program that will allow you to edit and update in real time, like Google Docs or Microsoft Teams. 

Take the time to write compelling letters, emails, and social media posts to outreach to your constituents. Active, engaging communication is the best way to attract, engage, and inspire your followers. 

To learn more about effective communication, be sure to check out “The Art of the Ask” on Thursday, May 20th. If you are a nonprofit in need of a sponsorship to this course, please email me at krista@studio4forty.com ASAP.

Transcript: 

Hello, everybody! My name is Heather Frank and I am the President of STUDIO 4Forty, and I am excited to be live and in-person with you guys today!

What a thought to be back in person with our friends, families, colleagues, and communities in ways we just did not see happening this time last year. We are grateful for 2020 and what it brought us as communities, what it taught us as nonprofits, what it is continuing to teach us as community stewards and donors. And as we look forward into 2021, I am just soaking in all the information that is being brought to us by our partners and colleagues across the country. Today, I wanted to talk to you about some of those questions, some of those concerns, some of those wins we are seeing with our partners.

I think number one is communication. This is not a new conversation. This is something you guys probably have read blogs on, and seen webinars on, and been taught on how to handle our donors, and our community stakeholders, and our colleagues in our organizations. Nonprofits are on this teeter-totter right now between the electronic communication and old-school, back-to-basics, World War II communication where we wrote letters, where our grandparents and our predecessors walked the streets, greeting and meeting people across this great country. Philanthropy was built on relationships. And now, as we’re coming out of 2020 and look forward to what the future is going to bring us, we are grateful for go time, and Zoom, and FaceTime, and webinars, and conference calls. We also need to go back to our roots. And the time is now.

I had a call with a colleague yesterday discussing what her next step should be. She was gun-shy in the idea that she needed to approach her board and how to do that in a way that didn’t feel suffocating or too in-their-face with a conversation of need for her nonprofit. I think it’s important that we identify that it’s ok to go back to our supporters, to our donors, to our boards, to our volunteers, and put in front of them, now, what we need as an organization, and communicate to them how we need it. And we also need to be good listeners. In all of this, we forgot to listen. 2020 taught us to be proactive and lean in. 2021 is showing us the importance of putting our listening ears back on.

I feel like I’m talking to my 5 year old and telling him he needs to sit down and listen to the conversations around him. At the same time, I need to do the same thing. I need to pay attention to what people are saying. I need to ask them questions on how they’re handling and dealing with, coming out of this pandemic. But, mostly, I need to ask them and listen to what their new vision for their community is. I need to identify how we can find that alignment, that partnership, and that stewardship.

So, close your laptops, that’s my advice. Close your laptops. Shut Zoom off. Go have a coffee again. Go meet them for a walk at the park again. People miss personal interaction. And now that we can go live, take the opportunity to reconnect. Building relationships with donors is key to raising money. We all know this. Often, the conversation is, is that enough? Is that the only thing we have to do is build those relationships? The answer is no. The reality is, we have to actually ask for the gift. We have to be comfortable enough. We have to build relationships well enough. We have to have identified what the donor’s needs are in a place that supports and aligns with our mission. But, in the end, we need to sit down and be able to make the ask. So, as you sit back and you really think about what’s important and what’s next, identify who’re you building those relationships with, what the next step for that donor is, and are you communicating in a way that is effectively supporting you raising and increasing your funding?

That’s what’s next. That’s the importance as we look back on 2020, and the significance of looking forward into the future. I know communication is a big beast and we all have our own ways of handling it, but just remember, sometimes shifting how you think about something, or the way you have been communicating so long, give it a fresh spin. Identify that maybe there is something we can do to improve ourselves, even if it’s not comfortable, and it feels like a risk. Donors need to see that from us right now, so be the forefront of it. Be the one who says, “I’m going to take extra steps today. I’m going to communicate extra effectively today. Today my nonprofit is going to lead the charge in being donor-focused and donor-forward.”

You guys are amazing! You’re doing amazing work in your communities right now. We’re so proud to support you and to be behind the scenes encouraging and watching this great country do great things to bring us out of this. It is incredibly exciting for me to be here today and I am thankful for your guys’ time. Again, my name is Heather Frank. It’s been a pleasure.

*If you would like to learn more about how to make an effective ask, join our next digital course called, “The Art of the Ask,” on May 20^th. Register today!