In his fascinating book, Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion, Robert B. Cialdini, Ph.D. explores 6 fundamental psychological principles that direct human behavior. Using straightforward language and fascinating anecdotes, he unveils the mystery behind how we react to influence and offers valuable insights for those who rely on their persuasive ability. If you ask yourself questions …
BOOK REVIEW Years of marketing and social media experience inform the advice offered by author Tania Mulry in her book The Cause: The Power of Digital Storytelling for Social Good. Written in a conversational tone, this quick read is infused with inspiration and practical how-to advice. Each chapter identifies a common challenge confronted by …
The Cause: The Power of Digital Storytelling for Social Good Read More »
A good story can simultaneously inform & inspire. It can be triumphant or sad or joyful or revolting. As nonprofit organizations work to build content and engage online audiences, storytelling plays an essential role. But knowing what stories to tell and how to tell them is not always an easy task. The following articles that …
In a former life, I studied literature and creative writing, so it’s no surprise the mantra “show don’t tell” is one that will forever ring in my ears. When I see something like Apple’s holiday TV ad, I am impressed to see someone get it so right. Let’s see what Apple did here, and what …
Apple ad – brilliant example of “show” not “tell” Read More »
If you’ve ever been to a concert, you know that the opening act is in a tough position. Most of the crowd is impatient to see the main event and doesn’t know a single song. If the band doesn’t find a way to capture the attention of the sea of someone else’s fans standing in …
The Challenge Recruiting and retaining students (future funders) is an increasingly competitive endeavor in today’s higher education environment. Endowments are shrinking, funding at the local, state, and federal levels continues to diminish, and the projected decrease in college-age students over the next decade is alarming. At the same time, the economy in recent years …
Creating Sustainable & Self-Perpetuating Fundraising in the age of the Millennial donor: Read More »
There is no question that in order to remain top-of-mind among donors, nonprofits need to produce content on an ongoing basis. More importantly, this content must be relevant to both your nonprofit’s cause and your donors’sensibilities. After all, isn’t this why they support your organization in the first place? So how does a nonprofit create …
5 Tips for Creating Content That Clicks With Donors Read More »
Today, the effectiveness of recurring giving programs will determine which nonprofits succeed and which ones will fail. Donor retention has fallen to 41%, down from 50% just five years ago (Fundraising Effectiveness Survey Report). When compared with the 94% customer retention that commercial business touts, its clear that nonprofits will need to analyze their …
Storytelling: The Fundraiser’s Secret Weapon for Donor Retention Read More »
Donors today have less time and more options than ever before. You only have a few moments, if not seconds, to capture their attention, communicate your message, and present a call to action. A well thought out video strategy can accomplish all of these goals and more. If your organization has not yet produced video, odds …