Everyday Giving Blog

Want a Free Cup of Starbucks Coffee?

Starting Wednesday, you can visit your local Starbucks and join the I'm In! campaign by signing a pledge to donate five hours or more of community service to the organization of your choice in 2009. Those who sign the pledge between Wednesday, January 21 and Sunday, January 25 will receive a free tall brewed coffee as a thank-you.

The "I'm In!" campaign is a joint effort by Starbucks and HandsOn Network to make it easy to participate in the President-elect’s call for national service.

The goal of the campaign is to raise pledges in excess of one million hours of service from all over the country.

Hurry to your local Starbucks and pledge your five or more hours of community service. Feel great as you drink your free cup of coffee because you are going to be making a difference.

New Year's Resolutions for 2009

Image via Wikipedia

Convio recently asked me to discuss my top 2009 New Year's resolution on the Everyday Giving Blog. I will only do it if you promise to hold me to my commitment.

Focus in 2008

This past year was great. My major focus in 2008 was to participate in some new and unique volunteering and fundraising opportunities and share some of those experiences online. I hoped it would encourage others to support worthy charities.

If you follow this blog, you know that I've been a photographer at nonprofit events, passed out food to needy families, and even dressed up as a clown and visited with patients in a hospital. I had an exciting time doing these and many other volunteer activities throughout 2008.

I also did more to promote and raise funds for the Arthritis Foundation and other nonprofit organizations. I was surprised to receive the prestigious Arthritis Foundation Online Fundraising Innovation Award for these efforts.

Top 2009 New Year's Resolution

I will obviously continue my volunteer work this year. But I want to make even more of a difference. I am only one person and there are millions of volunteers who can do what I do.

I have had several friends and family members search for me on the Internet and their response is always the same: "You are everywhere!" There is power in online social networks and nonprofits need a stampede of online volunteers supporting their cause. Think about it. What better way to deal with the poor economy than by having a team of volunteers effectively promoting your mission, seeking new volunteers and raising funds for your organization through their online networks.

During 2009, my New Year's resolution is to teach and coach more nonprofit organizations and volunteers how to take advantage of the online technical tools that are available for promoting their mission and raising needed funds.

It is already starting. Saturday I will be part of a team that will be training Arthritis Walk volunteers from across the state of Virginia. One of the things I will be sharing is some creative ways that they and their team members can use the Web to meet and exceed their goals.

I'm looking forward to what 2009 will bring.

Resolutions of Other Nonprofit Bloggers

Would you like to know what resolutions other nonprofit bloggers have declared for 2009? Check out what these bloggers are committed to doing this year:

• Judi Sohn at A View from Judi Sohn
• Michael Cervino at Beaconfire Wire
• Beth Kanter at Beth’s Blog
• Jordan Viator at Connection Café
• Jeff Brooks at Donor Power Blog
• David Neff at FI Space
• Matt Wilson at Mobile Commons
• Holly Ross at NTEN Blog
• Peter Deitz at Social Actions Blog
• Robert L. Weiner at Tech Soup and Robert L. Weiner Blog
• Wendy Covey at TREW Marketing Spotlight

What Are Your 2009 Resolutions?

Not many of us keep our New Year's resolutions for very long. That is a shame. Especially when carrying through on the resolutions can make a tremendous difference in the world.

Convio has established an online poll and community discussion area on the topic of technology resolutions that can help your nonprofit make 2009 the best year yet. Go to http://www.convio.com/resolve2009 and get started. Participating can help you carry through on your resolutions rather than letting them waste away.

Have You Joined "365 Club" Yet?

Start out the year right.  I want to let you in on an exciting new Facebook group which has formed just in the last few days.  It's called the "365 Club".  Here's how it got its beginning:

Dave Ferguson, Lead Pastor of Community Christian Church, Naperville, Illinois, shared on Facebook how he gave Starbuck's coffee to the staff at a local Kinko's.  They weren't expecting it and Dave wrote about their reaction: ""...you'd think they won the lottery! A little generosity goes a long way!"

Out of that experience, a Facebook group was formed.  365 Club.  It's for anyone who is committing to do at least 365 random acts of kindness throughout the 2009 year.   It's based on the premise that everyone expects gifts at Christmas time.  But if a bunch of us made giving a part of our everyday life, we could change the world.

If you're interested in joining, it's not too late.  Here's the link:

365 Club

I got our local paper on January 1, 2009. At the top of the front page was a "Happy New Year" block.  The rest of the front page was nothing but bad news.  Our world needs good news.  It needs the Good News.  Why not show your world what the Good News is?  Join the group.  Share your journey with the other Club members.

Have a GREAT new year!

Scott Couchenour, certified life coach (guest blogger)

www.servingstrong.com  |  www.servingstrong.typepad.com