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Keep the Change...
a monthly shot in the arm for your fundraising
July 2010
Greetings!

Every time I turn around, there's another blog post on the rising power of Twitter and Facebook.  And more and more of my clients -- organizations that are already doing too much with too little -- are scrambling to add these tactics to their repertoire.
 
Now don't get me wrong -- I'm not against social media.
 
What I am against is an organization putting resources into social media when its website hasn't had new content since 2007 and the donation button is the size of my pinky nail. 

This issue of Keep the Change will be a reality check for your website. 
 
If your site isn't up to the standards below then you're not meeting the needs of your donors.  And, I guarantee you're losing money as a result. 

So, stop tweeting, get off Facebook, and fix your website. 

End of rant.

Until next time,
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Tina Cincotti
Founder & Principal Consultant


P.S. The best book around on web usability is Steve Krug's Don't Make Me Think.  Don't do your next site design without reading it.

Is your website meeting your donor's needs?  (And foundations too)

Did you know that 58% of donors say they research an organization on the web before making a donation, according to a survey by DonorTrends? 
 
So, if you weren't thinking about whether your website is meeting the needs of your donors, I suggest you start... and soon. 
 
Because you literally can't afford not to think about it.
 
Here are some recommendations on how to improve the experience of donors, prospects and foundations who visit your site. 

Messaging
  • Explain yourself.  Your home page must have a compelling, jargon-free 2-second blurb that says who you are and what you do.  Anyone who reads it should understand what you're all about right away.
  • Get emotional.  If I go to your website and don't feel anything, chances are you're not getting any money.  Show me the work you're talking about.  Give me pictures.  Give me life-changing stories.  Give me a reason to respond.
  • Make a strong case.  Be sure to answer the question, "Why should I give you my money?"  Regardless of how deserving you feel your organization is, you must make the case for why you are worth supporting. 

Navigation

  • Make it easy to find things.  If people can't find it fast, they aren't going to stick around.  Especially online.  Clear navigation is critical.  Not sure if your navigation is clear?  Invite a few people who don't know your organization well (if at all) and haven't been on your site before to come in and play with it.  Ask them to find a few things on your site and watch where they go to look for them.  You'll learn a lot.

Building Trust

  • Tell us where you spend the money you get from donations.  More and more, donors want to know how their contributions will be used.  Include expenditure pie charts showing where the money goes.  You should also include links to your annual report, your 990s, and your audited financial statements.  Virtually no one wants to look at things at this level of detail.  But it's the message you're sending that's important -- "We have nothing to hide and we're happy to show our books to anyone who wants to see them."
  • Show that you're credible and legitimate.  If you have graphics from Charity Navigator or the Better Business Bureau, display them prominently on your home page and your donate page.  If you don't, then show off some other kind of endorsement from someone outside your organization -- quotes of support or testimonials from respected members of the community go a long way.

Content

  • Name names.  List who's on your board and make sure you keep it up to date.  The same goes for staff.  Listing employees who no longer work there doesn't send a good message.  And your staff list should also include phone numbers and email addresses for each person.
  • Put your contact info on every page.  The name of your organization as well as the address, phone number, fax, and an email address should be on the bottom of every page, not just on the contact page.
  • Keep the site fresh and up to date.  If you list your events, newsletters, press coverage, etc, on your site, make sure your last post isn't from 2007.  It's equally important to make sure older links throughout your site are still active, so periodically test those as well.

Giving and More
  • Have a big, bold donate button above the fold.  No one should miss your "Donate" button.  It should appear on every page and stand out from the rest of the navigation.  Visitors should be able to find it in 2 seconds flat!  Anytime someone is moved to give, you want that button to be right there. 
  • Offer safe, secure online giving.  Be sure you have encryption technology for donation processing.  And display whatever logo or badge says it's secure above the fold on your donation page.  It should be one of the first things visitors see. 
  • Give an offline giving option.  For people who don't want to donate online, provide a form they can download and mail back to you.
  • Ask for more than money.  No one wants to feel like you're just looking for their money.  Give opportunities to volunteer and be involved with your organization beyond just making a donation. 

Now, go look at your website.  How does it measure up? 
 
 
BONUS:  Websites to Admire
 
If you want to see some sites that do many of these things quite well, here are a few to look at.  Now, nothing is perfect and neither are these.  But, they are damn fine sites.  You could do a lot worse than to have a site that's as good as these.
Did you know...?
All past issues of Keep the Change are now archived on my website for instant access anytime you want!

This is one of many fun things you'll find in the new resources section of my website.


Free Webinars
The popular new Wednesday Webinar series now has two free sessions every week.

Check out the full summer schedule here

And, if you want to get an email alert each week about that Wednesday's offerings, click here, enter your email address, and follow Constant Contact's overly complicated steps to sign up for my "Free Trainings" list.


Let's talk about direct mail...
Last month, I told you how to craft the strongest possible fundraising letter.

If you missed it, just click here and it will magically appear before you.


Register Now!!
Money for Our Movements:
A Social Justice Fundraising Conference

August 12-13, 2010
Mills College
Oakland, CA

If you're in fundraising and work for social change, this conference is not to be missed.


Resources to Help Nonprofits Maintain their Exempt Status
To help nonprofits maintain their tax exempt status, the IRS (Internal Revenue Service) provides online tools and workshops. 

They are available by clicking here.


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About Us
Funding Change Training & Consulting helps grassroots nonprofits raise more money from individual donors -- your most reliable and sustainable source of funding.

Our approach focuses on building relationships and communicating with supporters -- not simply soliciting.

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