Everyday Giving Blog

Presenting the Bloggers Who Create Community Award

The Bloggers Who Create Community Award was presented to me and the community at the Everyday Giving Blog by Laura at the Twenty Five Days to Make a Difference blog. The purpose of this award is to show gratitude for the community created on wonderful blogs.

Since I received the award, I now have the privilege to present the award to 3 bloggers who have created a terrific community. Each winner has permission to display the award badge and present the award to 3 deserving bloggers.

I present the Bloggers Who Create Community Award to Beth Kanter, Mark Hendricks and Rebecca Carpenter.

• Beth Kanter
  
  Beth is a guru in the use of technology for nonprofits. She seems to be involved everywhere nonprofit technology is discussed online. Beth practices what she teaches (and let's others watch and participate as she does it). She also shares an astounding amount of useful information with the community for free. Beth Kanter has created a huge community of nonprofit and technology experts who are changing the world.


• Mark Hendricks
  
  Mark is a top expert in internet marketing. The thing that makes Mark unique is that he doesn't base his teaching in hyping the latest technology or technique. He also stresses the importance of giving back. In fact,I am amazed at the number of people in his Internet Success System community who lead, support and fund charitable organizations and activities. Yes, I am a member of Mark's community. In fact, I will be presenting at his spring conference about ways the group can use their knowledge and skills to help others. Mark Hendricks has created a huge community of internet marketers who are making a difference.


• Rebecca Carpenter
  
  Rebecca is a leader in living life and marketing social networks. She is passionate about fun, adventure, family and travel. Her travels around the globe have given her a unique insight into the conditions of the world and ways we can make it a better place. Maybe that is why Rebecca has chosen to work at Razoo.com in support of their marketing strategy and branding. Razoo is connecting do-gooders from around the world and Rebecca is at the heart of it. I am fan of Razoo.com and Rebecca Carpenter. Rebecca Carpenter has been instrumental in creating a tremendous community of altruistic people who are making the world a better place.

Please help me congratulate the winners by visiting their websites and sending a note of congratulations and encouragement to each.

December Giving Carnival

Christopher Scott did a great job capturing the entries for the December Giving Carnival. Go to his blog post at http://christopherscottblog.typepad.com/blog/2007/12/giving-carnival.html and learn how leadership impacts fundraising.

Playing the Stock Market with Nonprofits

It is extremely difficult to select individual stocks that increase our net worth. This is true even though we examine financial statements, annual reports, online ratings and financial magazines before making our decisions. A monkey has even done better than many of us at picking winners.

If it is tough predicting the future performance of a single for-profit corporation using financial information, why do we think only evaluating financial statements of nonprofit organizations is the best way to select charities to donate to? They do not have a purpose to generate a financial profit. However, they do have a purpose to make an impact by furthering their mission.

Consider some of these additional factors when picking your next "winning" nonprofit organizations:

• Level of impact
• Cause, mission and strategy
• Reach (local, national, global)
• Quality of the staff and board
• Involvement and treatment of volunteers and donors
• Ethics/values of the organization
• How they work with businesses, other nonprofits and government

What factors can you add to this list?

Only 3 Days Left To Make Donations In 2007

The last week of the calendar year is traditionally the biggest for charitable donations. There are only 3 days left for you to make that year-end donation.

Would you like a suggestion on where you can give?

GlobalGiving, the Case Foundation and Parade Magazine have partnered together to host America's Giving Challenge. They are awarding a total of $500,000 to the favorite charities of participants who attract the most unique donors to their cause using new and innovative online tools. The largest award is $50,000. The challenge ends at the end of next month.

My friend Beth Kanter has jumped into this challenge to benefit her favorite charity, the Sharing Foundation. I have joined Michele Martin and several other bloggers to support Beth's fundraising effort.

Please consider participating with a donation of at least $10 before 2007 comes to an end. Just click "Give Now" on the widget and follow the directions.

Your donation will help to eliminate illiteracy and poverty in Cambodia. Thank you in advance.

Bloggers Who Create Community Award

Laura at Twenty Five Days to Make a Difference presented the Bloggers Who Create Community Award to the Everyday Giving Blog.

Here is what Laura had to say as she presented the award:

"Roger Carr’s website, The Everyday Giving Blog, is all about helping others. I know that Mr. Carr has built a HUGE COMMUNITY of charitable people there, because he sends a lot of readers who respect him to my site. I also like what his site is all about. The type of community he is building is something that means a lot to me."

Thank you Laura. That is what the Everyday Giving Blog is all about. I accept this Bloggers Who Create Community Award on behalf of the Everyday Giving community.

And the Winners Of The Twenty Five Days To Make A Difference Project Are...

Laura announced the winners of the Twenty Five Days to Make a Difference project. You can read about all of the winners here.

It was fun and inspiring to read about Laura's acts of kindness each day. I was amazed at the response she received.

Initially, Laura decided to honor her Grandfather during the holiday season by doing an act of kindness every day for 25 days. To encourage other kids to do the same, Laura decided to write about her experiences online and offer up her $25.00 allowance to the favorite charity of the child who made the biggest difference during the project.

What was the response?

Laura's blog had more than 17,000 hits during the 25 days. Additional contests were created to include adults and school classrooms. Charities are receiving $825.00 due to others pledging matching funds. Sixty people and six classrooms participated in the project with Laura.

We will never know the full impact of Laura's kindness and her project.  What we do know is that Laura made a huge difference during this Christmas season that will have a lasting impact on people's lives.

Related Posts: One Child - 25 Acts of Kindness - Making A Difference Badge Contest In Full Swing for the Twenty Five Days to Make a Difference Project NASA Giveaway Available For One Kindhearted Classroom

Share Your Faith

There are many ways to give back and make the world a better place. One way is to share your faith.

On day 24 of the Twenty Five Days to Make a Difference project, Laura shares with us her Christmas Eve prayer. You need to click here and experience it now.

Christmas means much more to me than decorations, parties, and the giving and receiving of gifts. It is the celebration of the birth of Jesus, who came from Heaven to save the world.

Would you like to share your spiritual faith with others? Start right here and right now by leaving a comment on this blog post and let readers of the Everyday Giving Blog know about your spiritual beliefs.

Note: Feel free to respond to comments left by others. All I ask is that you are respectful.

Take Advantage of the Free Blogging Course

I'm evaluating a multi-media course on blogging from the folks at Simpleology.  For a while, they're letting you snag it for free if you post about it on your blog.

It covers:

• The best blogging techniques.
• How to get traffic to your blog.
• How to turn your blog into money.

I'll let you know what I think once I've had a chance to check it out. Meanwhile, go grab yours while it's still free.

How Much Does the Leadership of an Executive Director or CEO Affect Fundraising?

The December Giving Carnival is on the topic of Leadership. Specifically, the question being asked is "How much does the leadership of an Executive Director or CEO affect fundraising?"

Understanding this top nonprofit executive's responsibilities is required before we are able to answer this question.

What Does the Nonprofit Executive Director or CEO Do?

To answer this question, I contacted Ms. Annie Magnant who is President of the Arthritis Foundation, Virginia Chapter. The following is a generic list of duties I received from Annie that you might expect the leading nonprofit executive to be responsible for:

• Works in partnership with volunteer leadership i.e. Board of Directors to set strategic direction and create organizational vision
• Interfaces between the Board and Staff
• Oversees mission delivery and holds organization accountable for measurable outcomes
• Engages with the community and stakeholders
• Hires, coaches and maintains a vibrant and competent staff team
• Manages finances and infrastructure
• Manages organization’s resources - human (both staff and volunteer) and financial
• Oversees fundraising planning and execution

How Much Does the Leadership of an Executive Director or CEO Affect Fundraising?

Just a quick glance at this list of responsibilities shows us that the leadership of an Executive Director or CEO has a tremendous impact on fundraising.

• The CEO must inspire confidence with donors and set the tone for donor relations.
• A good relationship with the Board will be a motivating force behind Board members willingly donating and conducting their own personal fundraising efforts. The CEO helps board members stay connected to the mission when times get difficult.
• Being open with the public about how the organization spends its contributions will encourage additional donations and a larger number of volunteers (who can also support fundraising activities).
• Direct involvement in the hiring, training and promoting of development staff will ensure a superior capability to effectively conduct fundraising efforts.
• Overseeing the planning and operations of the organization's fundraising activities is a direct affect by the top executive.

If you are involved with a nonprofit organization in any capacity, take a few minutes to thank the executive leader for his or her efforts. There is a significant amount of responsibility riding on the shoulders of that person. He or she will be grateful for your encouragement.

How much does the leadership of an Executive Director or CEO affect fundraising? Although not the only factor, I believe the level of leadership demonstrated can make or break the ability of the organization to raise the funds it needs.

Christmas Acts of Kindness

"Wherever there is a human being, there is a chance for a kindness." -Seneca

Put a smile on someone's face at Christmas time by performing an act of kindness. Many acts of kindness do not cost anything, but the benefits gained can be huge.

What are some acts of kindness to consider accomplishing during the Christmas season? Here are a few:

1. Allow another driver to park in the only available space at a busy shopping center
2. Call a relative or friend who you haven't talked with in a long time
3. Shovel snow from your neighbor's driveway and sidewalk
4. Send cards to service people and students who are away from home for the Christmas holiday
5. Volunteer your time to help a local homeless shelter or food pantry
6. Give blood
7. Baby-sit to allow friends or family members to spend some time Christmas shopping (or for any other purpose)
8. Donate new and used toys and clothing to charities that can put them in the arms of those who need them most
9. Contribute money to your favorite charity
10. Talk, listen and even sing Christmas carols with nursing home residents

You can perform one or more of these acts of kindness or you can make up your own list. Demonstrate to others that they are special and loved.

The original Christmas story is about the ultimate gift given for the purpose of changing the world. Regardless of your religious beliefs, consider spending time this holiday season finding ways to help others. Perform an act of kindness today.

Earn Your President's Volunteer Service Award In 2008

A man was speaking to me recently about his passion for volunteering. He told me some impressive stories about young lives being transformed and saved due to his efforts. He gave me a big smile as he pointed to a pin on the lapel of his jacket. It was the President's Volunteer Service Award pin. He was obviously proud to be the recipient of the President's Volunteer Service Award.

One of my goals for 2008 will be to earn that same award. Will you join me?

Go to www.presidentialserviceawards.gov and learn more about the President's Volunteer Service Award and to start keeping track of your volunteer hours.

Related Post: Is the President’s Volunteer Service Award a Part of Your Volunteer Recognition Program?

NASA Giveaway Available For One Kindhearted Classroom

Courtesy NASA/JPL-Caltech

10-year old Laura's Twenty Five Days to Make a Difference project is really going strong! Her website has already received well over 6,000 hits in only 6 days.

Her latest challenge is encouraging teachers and students to make a difference. There is a terrific prize available to the classroom that makes the most difference using technology between now and Christmas.

The prize was donated by Susan at Toddler Planet. What is the prize?

• Donation to the charity of their choosing
• 4 foot x 3 foot photo printout of the Martian landscape taken by the Mars rovers
• Packet of solar system lithographs
• Special video conference call (or audio, if the school doesn’t have a webcam) with two NASA scientists

Run to http://twentyfivedays.wordpress.com/nasa-give-away-for-classrooms and learn how to enter the challenge.

Spread the news to any students and teachers you know.

Razoo is Sending Me to Australia

...if I win the Razoo Good Travels contest. My friends at Razoo.com will send you to a destination of your choice if you win.

Razoo is conducting this contest to encourage each of us to be good travelers. They want travel to be an experience, not just a mindless stop at a destination.

It's simple to enter the contest. There are four steps to complete on Razoo.com, which takes about 10 minutes. Go here to get started.

Here is a list of the prizes being offered:

• The grand prize is a "good travels" trip from among the thousands of offerings on ResponsibleTravel.com.
• Five 2nd prize winners will receive the new XO laptop, from the One Laptop Per Child intiative.
• Ten 3rd prize winners will receive the new Flip Ultra camcorder.
  

Go to http://beta.razoo.com/good_travels and enter the contest now. Tell them Roger Carr sent you.

The only thing that would make me happier than winning a trip to Australia is knowing that you were the grand prize winner and traveling to your dream destination.

Tin Man Follows the Yellow Brick Road to Habitat For Humanity

Where did Kathleen Robertson get those work shoes?

Did you watch the first episode of Tin Man last night on the SCI FI Channel? I took a break to watch it and now I am hooked.

Tin Man is a SCI FI Channel mini-series that takes “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” to a new realm. You will catch surprising similarities to the original movie, but it is not a remake.

Why am I discussing a science fiction mini-series on a blog about giving?

Alan Cumming sanding up a storm

In the mini-series, an ordinary Kansas girl journeys beyond the yellow brick road to discover the meaning of home. In real life, the SCI FI Channel in partnership with Habitat for Humanity are working together to create homes.

They created an initiative called “Brick by Brick” that will fully fund a home build project in Kansas. To reach that goal, through December you can buy $10 virtual “bricks” towards the build at www.scifi.com/habitat. Through both on-air promotion and this online fundraising campaign, more homes for more families will be built down the road.

Let's hope they get most of the paint on the walls of the house

The build is already underway and Tin Man stars, Alan Cumming and Kathleen Robertson, and Dave Howe, SCI FI Channel's EVP/GM, are volunteering to do their part.

Consider buying some "bricks" to help a family have a much needed home. You will feel like skipping down a yellow brick road when you do.

Badge Contest In Full Swing for the Twenty Five Days to Make a Difference Project

Laura's Twenty Five Days to Make a Difference project is going strong. She has already shoveled snow for her neighbors and recycled cans to raise funds for a charity.

In less than two days, Laura's website has already received over 1,500 hits (I just checked). There are many online marketers who would be jealous of that statistic!

This immediate, world-wide attention has caught Laura and her family off guard. Supporters are asking them to provide a badge that can be put on blogs and websites to further spread the word. What was the response?

A Twenty Five Days Badge Contest!

The prize is $25 donated to the charity of your choice. The deadline is Wednesday, December 7th.

Laura and her family have given you the motivation. Now all that is left is for you to get creative and design some great badges to submit.

Good Luck!

One Child - 25 Acts of Kindness - Making A Difference

Laura is a girl who is making a difference. Her personal project Twenty Five Days to Make a Difference is making a difference in people's lives.

For 25 days, Laura is going to work hard to make the world a better place. She started on December 1st and will complete her project on December 25th (Christmas Day). When she says "work hard" she means it. Her task on the first day was shoveling snow for her family and neighbors. You can follow her daily activities at http://twentyfivedays.wordpress.com.

Laura is also encouraging other kids to participate. She wants others to let her know when they perform acts of kindness during this period of time as well. She has provided a list of Ideas for making a difference on her project website at http://twentyfivedays.wordpress.com/ideas-for-making-a-difference. For the child who makes the most difference in December, Laura is going to donate $25.00 to the winner's favorite charity.

I can't think of a better Christmas present that she could give. I can't think of a better Christmas present that we could give. You and I need to follow Laura's example and find ways to show our love and help others every day.

Thank you Laura for being a terrific example and for demonstrating to the world what the holiday season is all about.

Note: I learned about Laura and her wonderful project from Dr.Mani.

In a box or from a launching pad?

I was listening to a radio station playing Christmas music today. I heard Clay Aiken's song, "Don't Save It All For Christmas Day." This got me thinking.

For most of Americans, Christmas comes around Thanksgiving when all the boxes with all the decorations get brought up from the basement and things get hung on the wall, on the windows, on the tree, and put in the yard. We go through the holiday season until sometime into January when all the decorations come off the wall, off the windows, off the tree and off the yard - back in the boxes, back down to the basement. There, the boxes sit until sometime around Thanksgiving the next year.

How's your giving?  Is it like the decorations? Do you confine giving to the Christmas season, getting it out of the box and then putting it back in the box when the New Year arrives? Or is your giving all year long?

This Christmas, we can see the holiday as one of two metaphors: One is a box. The other is a launch pad. We can see Christmas as the time for giving. Or you can see Christmas as a time to launch our giving all through 2008.

Everyday Giving is not a season. It's a lifestyle, a journey, a way of life, an attitude. Are you a boxed giver or an everyday giver? Is giving an idea? Or is giving a core value?

Just like the lyrics of Clay's song say, "How many people are crying, some people are dying...many people are asking for love." So,

"Don't save it all for Christmas day. Find a way to give a little love everyday. Don't save it all for Christmas day. Find a way cause holidays have come and gone. But love lives on if you give on."

Have a great holiday season! And make it last all through 2008!

Scott A. Couchenour, Certified Life Coach

Serving Strong Blog