Jewish Nonprofits Choice Awards

Have a favorite Jewish nonprofit organization? Nominate it for the Jewish Choice Awards sponsored by JTA, Jewish Funders Network, Natan and GuideStar to help recognize Jewish nonprofits that are making a difference.

The site features reviews from volunteers, board and donors about their experiences with their organizations. I just wrote a review of Hazon. You can view that listing and recommend your Jewish nonprofit organization at Jewish Choice Awards at GreatNonprofits.org

What Makes a Top Nonprofit Brand?

It is interesting to note that these organizations are nearly a hundred years old (some even older), with the exception of Habitat which is 33 years old and ARC, which is 60 years old. During that time, there was less competition and these organizations’ missions were unique.
Today, there are approximately 950,000 nonprofit organizations registered in the United States, many with competing missions. It is more important than ever for nonprofits to establish strong brands in order to break through the clutter and attract donors and be successful as organizations.
Large organizations have the resources to maintain a strong brand presence, but smaller organizations can be successful by making managing their brand a strategic objective.
Ways to build a strong nonprofit brand include having:
– A clarity of mission. – A focus on impact achieved, not just services. – Consistency in delivering results. – Marketing that is donor- and member-centric, rather than organization-centric. – Contemporary, relevant design that engages donors. – Communications that respects members and donors and allows for two-way communications. – Brand guidelines and brand infrastructure to maintain your brand. – Staff and board act as brand ambassadors and can articulate the organization’s mission and impact. To learn more about building a successful nonrprofit brand, visit blog.redroostergroup.com and redroostergroup.co

The top nonprofit brands in the United States are recognizable names and were selected because of their size, strength of brand image, geographic reach, revenue, and propensity for growth, according to branding agency Cone. The Top Ten Nonprofits in the United States are:

  1. YMCA of the USA
  2. The Salvation Army
  3. United Way of America
  4. American Red Cross
  5. Goodwill Industries International
  6. Catholic Charities USA
  7. Habitat for Humanity International
  8. American Cancer Society
  9. The Arc of the United States
  10. Boys & Girls Club of America

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Rethink Your Volunteer Strategy

Are you using your volunteers in the most effective way?

The nature of volunteering has changed. Younger people are looking to get something out of their volunteering experience – they are asking “what’s in it for me?” rather than “how can I serve?”  Instead of shying away from this reality, nonprofits would be wise to re-imagine their volunteer programs as braintrusts, rather than “more hands on deck.”

Volunteers can provide access to free knowledge and resources to help your nonprofit become more effective in what your are doing. For example, instead of calling on volunteers to help put address labels on your newsletter, you can get someone to help you create an online newsletter system that will have more value for your organization over the long-term.

NONPROFIT WAKE UP CALL: How can you re-invent your organization’s use of volunteers to help you maximize your organizational effectiveness?

Cycling Victory: Community Board 7 Passes Resolution for Protected Bike Lanes

Last night, Community Board 7 passed a resolution for Class 1 protected bike lanes on Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues by a vote of 28 to 7. The resolution stated that the CB asks the DOT to study the area to better understand how protected bike lanes will impact business, parking, traffic, and safety and to report back with a plan to build such lanes.
For those of you who know that I am a big cycling advocate, this represents a huge victory in creating a safer, more livable city for everyone as well as reducing the impact on the environment.Continue reading

Are you hiding your message from your donors?

Are you hiding your message from your donors?
In today’s environment, it is more critical than ever to have your communications be as crisp and targeted as possible. In his article, The Dance of the Four Veils, Tom Ahern describes the hinderances to communications. I would add a fourth veil: that of poor design, a factor which is often overlooked by nonprofits.
Poor design hinders your communication in many ways. When your reader doesn’t know what to look at first on your website or newsletter, or can’t focus on your message because of the distracting formatting, you are doing a dis-service your communications.
A strong design will lead lead your reader through your message in the sequence you want, including getting the full emotional impact from well-selected images, to understanding the impact, through your writing, to connecting with your brand, through your colors and overall attitude conveyed.
Don’t let design be the overlooked element that hinders readers from connecting with your cause
Veil Number One: Avoiding Conflict at All Costs
Veil Number Two: A Tendency toward Weak, Bland Language Rather Than Bold, Vivid Words
Veil Number Three: Faint Appreciation for the Emotional Basis of Human Response
Veil Number Four: Relying on Jargon
The Dance of the Four Veils
http://www.nonprofitquarterly.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1410:the-dance-of-the-four-veils&catid=150:from-the-archives

In today’s environment, it is more critical than ever to have your communications be as crisp and targeted as possible. In his article, The Dance of the Four Veils, Tom Ahern describes four hinderances to communications. I would add a fifth veil: that of poor design, a factor which is often overlooked by nonprofits.Continue reading

How Much is This Dollar Worth?

Nonprofits often brag that a high percentage of their money goes directly toward services – with a low percent toward actual overhead and fundraising costs – as this insert in a direct mail piece shows. However, rather than benefitting nonprofits, this strategy only undermines nonprofits’ ability to fundraise and to plan for success.

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CT Nonprofit Conference Challenges Nonprofits to Imagine & Innovate

The Connecticut Association of Nonprofits’s 7th Annual Conference is built around the theme of: Imagine. Innovate. Impact. Keynote speaker William Strickland, the President and CEO of Manchester Bidwell Corporation will address the Art of Leadership and the Business of Social Innovation, in what is being billed as a simple, optimistic message for leaders: give people the tools they need, treat them with respect, and they will perform miraculous deeds.Continue reading

New Report Measures Nonprofits' Fiscal Readiness

Nonprofit organizations are more likely to emerge stronger from tough economic times when they are communicating consistently and operating effectively, reports a new study by Fiscal Management Associates and ERE LLP its affiliated public accounting firm.

The report puts forth three principles to maximize fiscal resources — efficiency, reliability, and collaborative decision making — to serve as guides to address the challenges that organizations face at various growth stages.Continue reading