Everyday Giving Blog

Will You Text Message Your Next Charitable Donation?

During this year’s SuperBowl, Mobile Accord worked with the United Way to launch a commercial proving out the concept of mobile donations. Additional experimental campaigns based on mobile donations have also happened recently.

What are mobile donations?

They are donations made to nonprofits through the use of a mobile device, such as a cell phone.

Mobile Accord has launched a new service at mGive.com that enables nonprofit organizations to create and launch text message donation campaigns. The donor just sends a short text message to a specific location and the donation is added to the donor's mobile phone bill. They have already worked with ASPCA, Amnesty International, Alicia Key’s organization- Keep a Child Alive, and many others.

Have mobile donation campaigns shown promise?

Mobile Accord clients like United Way deemed their campaign “phenomenally successful” and the Alicia Keys’ Keep a Child Alive campaign routinely raises thousands each night that she has a concert.

Why are Mobile Donations Important?

Making a donation by sending a simple text message is convenient. This convenience is available to the 250 million mobile phone users in the United States alone.

I believe there is another important reason this technology is critical for nonprofits and it will become increasingly important over time.

I attended a session on Generations and Social Media at PodCamp DC last month. Jessie Newburn was an energetic and knowledgeable speaker on the topic.

Jessie taught that Millennials (born between 1982 and 2000) are all about being mobile and staying socially connected through their mobile devices. This is also a very large group.

Reaching Millennials with opportunities to support nonprofits is important. Donating using a mobile phone will be natural for them. Encouraging their network of friends to also participate will also be a natural act.

Check Out mGive.com

If your nonprofit organization is interested in finding new ways to raise funds, go to http://www.mGive.com and determine if mobile donations are for you.

The Secret of Successful Charity Auctions

Photo Courtesy of Jan Sundstedt

A few years ago I attended an auction to raise money to support the teachers at my son's school. The auctioneers were mesmerizing. The participants were generous.

What was the outcome?

I remember a flag going for more than $1,000! The flag was small. It was to be displayed by parents on their car at the school. It allowed the parent to go to the head of the line when picking up his or her child. That was the only benefit the flag provided.

Was the flag worth more than $1,000?

Of course not. Most of the items at the auction were sold for many times their market value. The participants understood the auction was a fundraising event. They understood the purpose of the auction was to raise funds for a good cause. The purpose was not to find bargain prices.

Auctions can be a great way to raise money for a nonprofit organization. But only when the participants are in the proper mindset.

People need to compete with each other to overpay for items. Seth Godin recently wrote about this on his blog. He suggests that you need to set the proper tone right from the start.

Seth describes a scenario where a few "stooges" are enlisted from the audience to ensure the first item sells for much more than the actual value. When the winner(s) receive applause, the tone is set and the rest of the participants are ready to outdo each other.

I like this approach. It fosters an environment that encourages overpaying for auction items. 

If you're considering a charity auction in the future, focus as much on creating the needed environment as you put into finding items for the auction. Be creative when finding items to sell. Items that are fun and whimsical may draw more excitement and larger bids than items worth much more. Items that hold sentimental value can do the same.

What is important is how much money was raised for your cause, not the value of the items sold.

2008 Fredericksburg Arthritis Walk

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Free Gift For Donors

The Fredericksburg Arthritis Walk is almost here. I am only $155 short of my personal fundraising goal to raise $1,000. for the Arthritis Foundation.

If you have made a donation - thank you. If you haven't yet contributed, let me give you a new incentive.

Last night I finished writing a book on living a fulfilling and influential life. It is entitled "Wake Up and Make a Difference." I sent an electronic copy to everyone who has contributed so far. I will give you this thank you gift for your donation as well. Just make your donation before April 30.

Please consider making your donation of $10 or more at http://www.everydaygiving.com/arthritiswalk. Thanks in advance. Together we can make a difference.

Wanted: Online Relationships

When I created a profile page on mySpace I was excited. But the first person I told about my new adventure replied, "mySpace is where kids and pedophiles hang out." I'm glad I didn't listen to that person because I have built many great relationships with some wonderful people through online social sites.

The depth of some of these friendships has become even more apparent as I asked some of them for help promoting my latest fundraising effort for the Arthritis Foundation.

Here are some examples of responses I received:

• When I asked Dr.Mani if he would help promote the fundraiser, he responded "You don't need to ask - the answer is always YES. Pls send details." What a response! You can read his blog post Social Networking for GOOD to read about doing good online.
• Beth Kanter also jumped in immediately to help. She discusses why she said "yes" in her blog post Spamming for Good is the Wrong Description of What Dr. Mani, Roger Carr, Jen Lemens, and Other Good Personal Fundraisers Really Do!
• Scott Couchenour jumped in with a blog post before I asked. Please read his blog post Opportunity To Help Eliminate Arthritis
• Martin Sabel is a good friend of mine. He responded with the blog post Help Stomp Out Arthritis
• My earliest and strongest friendship that started online is with David Perdew. He sent out an email to his subscriber list. It was not an email that came across as a form letter. He wrote it from the heart and encouraged his readers to donate to the cause.
• Christopher Scott is a young nonprofit leader and friend who is in the middle of multiple large projects. However, he still made time to support me. Be sure to read his blog post Great Causes

In addition to promoting the fundraiser, each of these friends made a personal donation as well.

These are all true friends that believe in giving back to help others. Each of them makes me a better person.

If you haven't yet donated to my fundraiser, please consider following the example of those I mentioned and do it now. Click here to make your donation. Together we can make a difference in people's lives.

Do Kids Suffer From Arthritis?

Juvenile arthritis currently affects 300,000 kids in the United States. Arthritis does not just inflict the elderly.

Over the last three years I've become friends with several children and young people who have juvenile arthritis. Daily tasks and activities that we take for granted are difficult or even impossible for them to do. 

I will never forget the first time I heard a child tell a doctor that he could not hold a pencil long enough to take a test and asked what he could do about it. I will also never forget the smile on a teenager's face (and her mom's face) the first time she was able to make a fist with her hand because of treatment changes made possible through the afforts of the Arthritis Foundation.

The Arthritis Foundation provides support to these kids and their families. One way they do this is by hosting conferences where these families can learn how to cope from experts and from each other. These conferences also spawn friendships and support among these families that goes on throughout each year.

For the past three years, I've had the privilege of being a volunteer at the Juvenile Arthritis Weekend in Virginia. Feel free to go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/rogercarr/sets/72157604531502162/ and view some of the photographs I captured during the last weekend. You can also play a part in supporting the efforts of the Arthrits Foundation.

Your help is needed. If you have not yet donated at least $10 to this important cause, please click here and change a child's life. Together we can make a difference.

Related post: What Is Living With Arthritis Like?

What Is Living With Arthritis Like?

Take a moment and imagine your joints continually in pain. Buttoning your shirt is difficult. Removing the lid from a jar is painful. Sleep doesn't come easy. Now imagine that this pain has been a part of your life for many years.

My wife Kim lives the life you have just imagined. She suffers from several forms of arthritis. She has had to give up a successful retail business. Our family activities had to be limited. She is always fatigued due to the emotional strain of struggling with the pain and the lack of adequate sleep. Kim and millions like her need our help.

Most of my volunteer efforts over the past 3 years have been devoted to the Arthritis Foundation for this reason. They are effective at helping those with arthritis and are working hard to find ways to prevent and cure the many forms of arthritis. They have had many successes, but there is much more to do. I am passionate about helping them do that.

This is the 3rd year I have chaired the Fredericksburg Arthritis Walk to raise money for the Arthritis Foundation. This year's walk is scheduled on May 3rd.

My personal goal is to raise more than $1,000 by the end of this month. I need your help to do that. You can help in 2 ways:

1. Please consider clicking on the "Help Stomp Out Arthritis" badge below and making a personal donation of $10 or more to the Arthritis Foundation.


2. If you own a website or blog, you can encourage others to give by letting them know you are a supporter. You can blog about this fundraising event, send a notice to your subscribers, and proudly display the badge on your website. To display the badge, insert the following html code where you want the badge displayed:
   
   <a target="_blank" href="http://www.everydaygiving.com/arthritiswalk"><img width="110" height="110" border="0" alt="Roger Carr badge for Fredericksburg Arthritis Walk" src="http://www.everydaygivingblog.com/images/2008/04/12/arthritiswalk_2.gif"></a>
   
   If you aren't sure how or where to enter the code, send me an email at roger@everydaygiving.com and I will try to help you.

When you make a donation and/or announce the event in some way, please let me know. I would like to thank you publicly for your help.

Don't delay, April 30th is not far from now. Make a difference today. You will feel great and be glad you did.

Reserve Aid Benefits from James Dondero Contribution

Truly successful people express their gratitude by helping to make the world a better place.

James Dondero is one of these truly successful people. He is the Managing Partner and President of Highland Capital Management. His investment firm manages approximately $38 billion in assets. But James Dondero's impact is not only defined by his work in the corporate world. He also supports a number of charitable efforts.

One of the charitable efforts Mr. Dondero supports is Reserve Aid. This is a nonprofit organization that supports the families of U.S. military reservists on full-time deployment to a combat zone or homeland security position. Reservists typically have to quickly transition out of the civilian world and into active combat. Reserve Aid is there to help. They provide financial support to the families during this difficult time.

Is Mr. Dondero making the world a better place?

"Mr. Dondero's support for our organization has enabled us to expand the number of cases we can consider and establish a foundation to grow our operation."
Polly Weidenkopf, Executive Director of Reserve Aid

Follow James Dondero's example and make your own impact on the world. You will be glad you did.

Tips For Successful Fundraising Events: The Giving Carnival for March 2008

Welcome to the March 2008 issue of the Giving Carnival. The Giving Carnival provides you with the best blog posts on the topic of Giving.

The theme for March 2008 is: Tips For Successful Fundraising Events.

Check out each of the blog posts listed below. Apply one or more of the tips to make your next fundraising event more successful.

A Tale of Two Special Events

by Joanne Fritz

During the worst special event I ever attended, I excused myself and hung out in the restroom until I thought the guest speaker was probably done with her awful speech.

She was a well-known actress who thought we would all be as interested in her life story as she was, including many lurid details. Her speech seemed to go on forever, making me think the event planners had either not given her a time limit, or that she had ignored it. more>>

Leadership Tips for Successful Fundraising Events

by Christopher Scott

I really like Roger Carr’s topic for this month’s Giving Carnival. I’ve always believed that principles are important, but small tips are just as important when you add them all together. So I’ve put together Six Leadership Tips for Successful Fundraising Events.

Six Tips for Leaders of Successful Fundraising Events

1) Start Early - I started working on the outline for this article a little more than three weeks before it was due to Roger. I easily could have wrote it the night before the deadline, more>>

Successful Fundraising Event? "Share Why You Care"

by Michael Gibbons

Charity Navigator evaluates over 5,300 of "America's largest charities." [that does not include the thousands more local and grassroot organizations let alone bake sales, car washes & candy sales] and you wonder why it's hard to fundraise, hard to set your cause apart!? The point: Almost all of these are worthy causes with good caring people committed to making them successful. The Problem: So many good causes and smart people make it very hard for charities to differentiate and for donors to decide who to support -- in fact some people opt out all together understandably overwhelmed.

So what to do? How do you make YOUR fundraising event successful,  more>>

Tips on Fundraising Events

by Marc A. Pitman

I’m not an “events” person but they do seem a necessary evil in our field.

And to be fair, they do have lots of other benefits: visibility, engaging volunteers, etc.

So when I saw that this month’s Giving Carnival topic was “Tips For Successful Fundraising Events,” I knew I had to chime in.

The best tip I ever got about events (other than don’t do them if at all possible!) was: give the event three years before deciding to continue it or not. more>>

Designing Your Event

by Brenda

You’ll be most successful if you’re always thinking of your main goal as you design your event. Are you trying to thank and recognize, educate and make a case for support or raise money? Again, clearly define your goal and design the event from there.

Let’s say you decide that your major donors should see the facility first hand and understand how their support made it possible. What are some creative ways to reach your audience? more>>

Fundraising, Grant Writing, Mission-Success, Community Building; It's All the Same

by Arlene Spencer

Think back to the last donation that you gave. Some issue or cause concerned you. When you decided which organization, specifically, to give the donation to, what factors did you consider in choosing which organization would receive it? What motivated you to eventually give to the specific organization that you did?

To help you raise more money for your non profit in an ethical, professional, legal, and effective method, consider the following logic. more>>

March Giving Carnival (2 Days Left)

There are only 2 days left to get your blog post submitted for the March issue of the Giving Carnival.

The topic for March is: Tips For Successful Fundraising Events

Write a blog post about one or more of your favorite tips to make a fundraising event successful. Send me the link to your blog post to givedaily@gmail.com.

The deadline for submissions is this Friday, March 21, 2008. I will post the information and links here on the Everyday Giving Blog on March 24, 2008.

To stay up to date with the Giving Carnival, join the Giving Carnival Group at http://groups.google.com/group/givingcarnival.

I look forward to reading your submission. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or comments.

Warning, Fundraiser Ahead

You probably know that I am a board member and volunteer for the Arthritis Foundation, Virginia Chapter. One of my volunteer roles is to to perform as the chair of the Fredericksburg Arthritis Walk. This year the event is scheduled on Saturday, May 3rd.

I am going to be doing my personal fundraising for the event during the month of April. I have ordered and received personalized buttons to wear and display, drafted a letter to send to friends and family, and started to personalize my online donation webpage. I am also thinking about creating a "badge" that you can display on webpages and blogs.

Expect to see some blog posts during the month on the topic of arthritis and the Arthritis Foundation. I will let you know why I am involved and also share stories about some of my friends who have inspired me.

I look forward to sharing one of my passions with you. I hope you decide to support me in raising money and awareness for this worthy cause.

Pay It Forward

My daughter brought 10 of her friends home with her from college. You heard it: 10 BFFs! Here's a picture of our living room this morning.

They went to breakfast this morning at our local dutch restaurant.  When they returned, every single one of them was talking a mile a minute.  They couldn't wait to share what happened at the restaurant.

Turns out, when the waitress brought all their bills, a lady sitting close by came over to their table and took all the bills.  She shared how the girls were the future of the world and to keep Christ at the center of their lives.  She paid their bills AND put a $30 tip on the table!

But the most encouraging thing about this is that each of the girls are now planning how they can take the money they were going to spend on breakfast and find ways to "pay it forward" to someone else.

I don't know who the lady is, but how about that for everydaygiving?!

Scott Couchenour, Certified Life Coach (Promoting Ministry Balance)

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

Everyday Giving Is Hosting The March Giving Carnival

I am excited to be hosting the March Giving Carnival at the Everyday Giving Blog.

Last month's Giving Carnival was on the topic of What Motivates Giving. The topic for March will be: Tips For Successful Fundraising Events

Write a blog post about one or more of your favorite tips to make a fundraising event successful. Send me the link to your blog post to givedaily@gmail.com.

The deadline for submissions is March 21, 2008. I will post the information and links here on the Everyday Giving Blog on March 24, 2008.

To stay up to date with the Giving Carnival, join the Giving Carnival Group at http://groups.google.com/group/givingcarnival.

I look forward to reading your submission. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or comments.

The America's Giving Challenge Results Are Now Official

The results of the America's Giving Challenge are now official. The Sharing Foundation did come in first place for global causes! They will be receiving an extra $50,000 to use in support of their mission to help the less fortunate Cambodian children. You can go to Beth's Blog to learn more.

Thank you for being a part of this challenge with me.

Unique Way To Encourage Others To Give

Would you like to be able to encourage others to donate money to an important cause?

There is one method I have put into practice from time to time that most people don't think about. You have probably been exposed to it when listening to a fundraiser on public radio or while watching a telethon on television. What is the method?

Matching Funds

You might believe this method is reserved for wealthy corporations and individuals. It doesn't have to be. The following are a couple of examples.

While on vacation in another state, I visited a small church on a Sunday morning. The pastor of the church informed the members of a giving opportunity. It was an opportunity that occurred annually and would impact people in other countries. I felt a strong need to support the effort. However, I also felt it needed to be done in a way that would benefit the church as well. After the morning service was over, I had a private conversation with the pastor. I asked for his permission to anonymously match the funds raised by the church up to a specific amount (I set the amount to more than double of what they raised the year before). It made a difference. I was told that on the last day, an elderly woman pleaded with the church members to donate to the cause so the entire amount of matching funds could be put to good use. They exceeded all expectations. They felt great about their accomplishment. I felt great about contributing. People in other countries were helped.

If that example still seems to be a stretch for your financial situation, consider this next example.

A young girl started a project to encourage kids to perform acts of kindness. As an incentive, she offered to donate her allowance to the favorite charity of the child who did the most good. What a tremendous gift she was giving! I was inspired by her selfless actions. I offered to match her $25 allowance so that twice as much could be donated to charity. She mentioned my offer to match funds in a blog post. Others followed the example. At the end of the project, charities received $825.00 due to others pledging matching funds.

There are many ways you can encourage others to give to an important cause. Consider using matching funds as one of the methods you use.

Valentine's Day Is Also A Day For Hearts

You know that Valentine's Day is celebrated on February 14th. Are you aware there is another special event occurring on the same day? It is called A Day For Hearts. The purpose of this event is to help spread awareness and raise funds to fight a killer that claims thousands of lives every year. That killer is Congenital Heart Defects (CHD).

Eight of every 1000 children born alive (0.8%) will have some form of congenital heart defect. Millions of newborn infants and children are affected.

Heart surgeon, Dr.Mani, is on a mission to stop this killer. He has established the Dr.Mani Children Heart Foundation where awareness is increased and funds are raised to make critical heart surgeries available for financially poor infants and children in India.

You can have a part in raising public awareness of CHD and in saving lives. Go to http://www.chdinfo.com/chdaware/ to learn about CHD and to discover several ways you can contribute.

One of the ways to contribute is to build blogs that promote A Day For Hearts. I recently built the How To Find Volunteer Opportunities blog as a part of Dr.Mani's 10-Day CHD Blog Challenge. This is one of the websites that will promote A Day For Hearts all year long.

On Valentine's Day, give your heart to helping save the life of a child born with CHD.

Pearl Paradise Donating $1 Million of Fine Pearl Jewelry

Jeremy Shepherd built a multi-million dollar pearl empire known as PearlParadise.com by the age of 33. PearlParadise.com is now celebrating their 10-year anniversary of successfully selling pearls online. Jeremy Shepherd, Founder and President, is grateful for the exponential growth and longevity of the company. He wanted to celebrate this important milestone in a way that truly expressed his gratitude.

In celebration of this 10-year anniversary, PearlParadise.com is giving back in a big way. They are donating $1 million worth of fine pearl jewelry to charities and nonprofit organizations throughout the United States for exclusive use in silent and live auction fundraisers.

A total of 2,007 pieces of fine pearl jewelry will be donated. Each piece will have an average retail value of $500. To be eligible, you must be a qualified 501(c)(3) charitable organization with an auction fundraising event scheduled to occur within 3 months.

Go to http://www.pearlparadise.com/giving/ to learn more about the Pearl Paradise Giving-Back Program and to download your donation request form.

The donations will be given out on a first come first serve basis, so you need to submit your donation request form now.

What does Jeremy Shepherd and PearlParadise.com hope to accomplish through their Giving-Back Program? "We hope our contribution will make a positive difference to those who need it most." It will.

Note: The preceding was a sponsored post.

Another Reason to Celebrate

Another one of my favorite charities won a $50,000 prize by placing 2nd in America's Giving Challenge (unofficial result). Students Helping Honduras raised $29,647 to date and had 1698 unique donors at the conclusion of the challenge.

The prize money will go towards the SHH Walkathon's goal of creating a women's academy for emotional and financial support for the women of Copprome. The Walkathon is an annual fundraising event.

I participated in the Walkathon last year and was impressed by the enthusiasm of the students and other supporters. Click here to read about my experience at the event.

This year's fundraising goal is $500,000. They are off to a great start!

Let's Celebrate!

It was almost unbelievable to see how the top nonprofits in the final hours of the America's Giving Challenge competed to get one of the $50,000 prizes. It was heart stopping action. I don't think Beth Kanter did much sleeping during the last couple of days.

What was the result of the contest?

The Sharing Foundation took first place! This ranking is unofficial, but I didn't want you to have to wait while they verify the donation information (up to 30 days).

Donations made to date for the Sharing Foundation total $42,229 and 1710 donors who beat the contest deadline! Add the $50,000 prize and the Sharing Foundation will have over $90,000 to make a difference in many, many lives in Cambodia.

You helped make this happen if you made a donation. I want to thank you again for your generosity. I also want to thank Dr.Mani and Laura for joining me in this challenge. It was fun.

This was a great example of how powerful the Internet and social networks are and how they can be used to promote good in the world.

Thanks Beth for asking me to get involved.

Last Chance to Support Sharing Foundation in America's Giving Challenge

Photo by Beth Kanter

These children in Cambodia have several things to smile about. One reason is that the Sharing Foundation is now helping to improve their lives and giving them dreams and opportunities that never existed for them in the past.

Another reason they have to smile is due to the generous donations made to the Sharing Foundation during America's Giving Challenge. There has already been $22,920 raised through the unselfish giving of 846 people!

Photo by Beth Kanter

An additional $50,000 prize is added if the Sharing Foundation has the largest number of donors. Imagine what that prize would allow the Sharing Foundation to do for the Cambodian children!

With only one more day left in the contest, several organizations have turned up the heat in an attempt to win the contest. I want to do everything I can to help the Sharing Foundation have that additional funding to invest in the lives of children.

Several readers of the Everyday Giving Blog have already supported the cause. If you are one of those, I thank you for participating and ask that you pass the opportunity along to others you know.

If you have not yet donated at least $10 to this important cause, please click here and change a child's life. You need to do it now for your participation to count in the challenge. Thank you in advance. Together we can make a difference.

The America's Giving Challenge ends tomorrow (Jan 31,2008) at 3:00 pm EST.

Cambodian Children Already Winners In America's Giving Challenge

Photo by Beth Kanter

Fundraising contests can be fun and exciting. They can also result in a significant amount of good able to be accomplished. As the America's Giving Challenge rolls into the final week, it is turning out to be one of the exciting contests.

I told you in my last blog post about the contest that the Sharing Foundation was in 1st place. This morning we had fallen into 2nd place.  It is a very close race.

I want to do everything I can to help the Sharing Foundation win the $50,000 prize. I hope you want to help them as well. That prize would allow the Sharing Foundation to change many, many lives!

Mon Channy, standing in the center of the picture above, is one of the children benefiting from the actions of the Sharing Foundation and it's supporting donors. Mon Channy is a 10-year old boy who attends the Sharing Foundation’s Khmer Literacy School in Cambodia. He is the only child of his widowed mom. He is proud to be attending school, an opportunity his Mother never had. Attending school is an opportunity Mon Channy wouldn't have had without the generosity of others.

There has already been $16,695 raised through the unselfish giving of over 600 people. If you have not yet donated $10 to this important cause, please click here and change a child's life. Together we can make a difference.

Donating Time and Money

H&R Block has recently launched an interactive financial site called Digits. I was contacted and asked to start a conversation related to finance and giving.

Click here to view the topic exploring where and why people donate time and money. Be sure to leave a text or video comment while you are there.

The Fundraising Houseparty

Have you considered throwing a party with a theme that revolves around your favorite cause? Are you interested in raising funds for that important cause in an entertaining way and without fear? If so, you are ready to throw a fundraising houseparty.

Morrie Warshawski, author of Shaking The Money Tree: How to Get Grants and Donations for Film and Video, has recently updated his book The Fundraising Houseparty: How to Party with a Purpose and Raise Money for Your Cause. I am glad he sent me a copy to review.

What is a fundraising houseparty?

Warshawski lists the basic elements of a fundraising houseparty party in his book...

• People receive an invitation to come to a party at a private home.
• The invitation makes it clear that the evening will be a fundraising event.
• Participants arrive and are served some refreshments.
• Participants sit through a brief presentation.
• The Host or a Peer--someone articulate, enthusiastic and respected by participants--stands up and asks everyone to make a contribution.

Although the concept is as simple as following the elements quoted above, the details can make the difference between it being effective or not. Warshawski shares the needed details, right down to the preferred setup of the refreshment area.

What you can expect when you get your copy of this book?

• Step by step instructions and checklists provide an easy to follow method for an effective fundraiser
• Examples of proven items including invitations, thank you notes, and a script for asking for donations will help cut your time investment and take away your worries about whether you are doing things correctly
• Tips from additional fundraising experts makes certain you are reaping the greatest benefit from people's experiences
• 58 easy to read pages of information ensures you will quickly understand what needs to be done
• Results to expect from hosting a fundraising houseparty so unreasonable expectations are eliminated

If you are searching for a thick book full of historical facts about fundraising or the psychology of why raising funds via houseparties is effective, this book is not for you. However, if you want an easy to read book filled with practical advice and step by step instructions to host a fundraising party, you need to add The Fundraising Houseparty to your arsenal of fundraising knowledge.

400 Donors and $11,140 For The Sharing Foundation To Date

You have asked how we are doing in raising funds for the Sharing Foundation as a part of the America's Giving Challenge. As I sat at my computer this morning to write this blog post, I watched the number of donors rise to 400 and current donations total $11,140! This challenge is now moving faster than a speeding train.

We have currently taken 1st place in the challenge. However, there are still 16 days left before the contest ends on January 31. I am excited about the donations this challenge has already inspired. But I want the Sharing Foundation to walk away with the $50,000 prize to make an even greater difference in the lives of the Cambodian children in their care.

Have you made your $10 donation yet? Click here and make your donation now. Don't wait until it is too late.

Change A Child's Life In Cambodia Through Literacy

Photo by Beth Kanter

You can help change the life of a child in Cambodia.

Literacy is key to interrupting a lifetime of living in poverty. The Sharing Foundation understands this. The Foundation today serves over 1,500 orphaned and seriously disadvantaged Cambodian children daily through numerous ongoing programs. These programs include teaching Khmer and English languages.

Now the Sharing Foundation has the opportunity to get an additional $50,000 if they receive the largest number of unique donors in the America's Giving Challenge by January 31, 2008. Ninety-one donors have already given $2,450 to this critical cause. We can make it happen for the Sharing Foundation and the Cambodians they serve.

Photo by Beth Kanter

This is where you come in. You can become a part of changing a child's life. Your donation of at least $10 will help the Sharing Foundation teach Khmer and English to these Cambodian children. It will open up possibilities in their lives they would not otherwise experience.

Don't wait. Click here and make your donation now. You will be glad you did.

Related post: Only 3 Days Left To Make Donations In 2007

Giving beyond yourself

My wife and I recently went to Chipotle for dinner. If you're not familiar with this restaurant, it's a fast food place where you can get burritos the size of a small country, packed with rice, beans, chicken, and so on. I added a picture to this post.

While eating, I noticed writing on my cup. It informed me of a person by the name of Wes Jackson, a plant geneticist who transforms agriculture by cross-breeding traditional, annual food crops like wheat, sunflowers and corn with deep-rooted perennials. This can possibly lead to diminishing the need for pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers. It can also help save water, reduce erosion, and replenish the soil. He founded www.landinstitute.org. He is quoted as saying "if your life's work can be accomplished in your lifetime, you're not thinking big enough."

"If your life's work can be accomplished in your lifetime, you're not thinking big enough."

What a great quote to use to re-align ourselves at the beginning of a brand new year! How are YOU going to give this year? Does your giving lead to something bigger than you are? Why not let this year be the best ever?

Scott Couchenour, guest blogger, Certified Life Coach - Serving Strong (Scott's blog)

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.

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.

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.

Coca-Cola Teams Up With Consumers to Donate 100,000 Gifts to Toys For Tots

The story of how Toys for Tots got its start is inspiring. It involves a charitable couple and a Raggedy Ann doll. I presented that story earlier this week in a keynote speech I gave at an annual event hosted by the Portsmouth Community Foundation.

We now have another way to help Toys for Tots put additional toys in the arms of children in need. Coca-Cola is allowing you to donate My Coke Reward points to The Toys for Tots organization. Read the press release below to learn how you can make your contribution.

Artist Nathan Sawaya Unveils Original Sculpture of Toys for Tots Train Made From Coca-Cola Bottle Caps

ATLANTA, November 29, 2007 – Coca-Cola® is donating 100,000 gifts to Toys for Tots the holiday season and is asking consumers to help make that number grow even larger.

From now through the end of the year, My Coke Rewards points found under caps and on packaging of more than 60 products from Coca-Cola North America can be donated to Toys for Tots at www.mycokerewards.com. As the donations accumulate, Toys for Tots will redeem the points for gifts such as soccer balls, Etch-A-Sketch® drawing toys, and backpacks. To help offer even more gifts to kids, Coca-Cola is also donating an additional $150,000 to Toys for Tots.

“Both Toys for Tots and Coca-Cola have been uplifting and magical parts of the holiday season for decades. This year we’re joining together and asking people to help us make the holidays brighter for kids,” said Hendrik Steckhan, president and general manager, Sparkling Beverages, Coca-Cola North America. “When families and friends enjoy Coca-Cola as part of their holiday celebrations, we encourage them to take a minute to go online and use their My Coke Rewards points to support Toys for Tots.”

To commemorate the partnership with Toys for Tots, Coca-Cola commissioned New York-based sculptor Nathan Sawaya to create two original pieces of art made from thousands of bottle caps. Best known for his works featuring LEGO® bricks, Sawaya has incorporated more than 43,000 bottle caps to create an oversized replica of the iconic Toys for Tots train and a mosaic depicting the famous Coca-Cola Polar Bear. The sculptures, which are Sawaya’s first bottle cap creations, remind people to donate My Coke Rewards points found under their bottle caps to Toys for Tots.

“The goal of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is to deliver a message of hope to underprivileged children during the holiday season,” said Bill Grein, vice president of Marines Toys for Tots Foundation. “Through support from partners like Coca-Cola that understand the value of giving, we are able to fulfill the dreams of thousands of children each year.”

Joined by members of the U.S. Marine Corps, Sawaya unveiled his sculptures at the World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta this morning. The Toys for Tots train measures 18-feet long by four-feet tall and the Polar Bear mosaic measures eight-feet long by six-feet tall. The sculptures will remain on display through the end of the year to encourage people to check under Coca-Cola bottle caps for My Coke Rewards points they can donate to Toys for Tots. At the end of the holiday season, the train will be relocated to the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Foundation in Quantico, Virginia.

My Coke Rewards point codes can be found on bottle caps and inside multi-packs of Coca-Cola Classic, Diet Coke, Coca-Cola Zero, Sprite, Fanta, DASANI, POWERade, and many other brands. People can visit www.mycokerewards.com to donate points to Toys for Tots through the end of the year. Members also can redeem their points year-round for exclusive rewards and unforgettable experiences.

Coca-Cola is bringing the joy of the holidays to people across the country in a number of other ways this season, including:

• Vintage Glass Bottles – Celebrating timeless refreshment for the holidays, Coca-Cola is available in special vintage glass bottles that replicate the design of the 1899 “Hutchinson” bottle. With a straight-sided shape, the 1899 bottle was the first to feature the Coca-Cola logo. The bottles are available in six-pack carriers featuring an image of the Coca-Cola Santa.
• Holiday Packaging – Coca-Cola multi-packs and multi-liter packages include an image of the Coca-Cola Polar Bear presenting Santa with a bottle of Coke tied with a bow. Diet Coke and Coca-Cola Zero packaging includes festive images of ornaments and gifts.
• Holiday Caravan – Decorated with 25,000 twinkling lights and the Coca-Cola Santa image, the five semi-trucks of the Coca-Cola Holiday Caravan are spreading holiday cheer across the country. At each stop, visitors can send a greeting to Santa’s workshop through the Toys for Tots “North Pole Outpost.” For every letter received, Coca-Cola will donate $1 to Toy for Tots, up to $25,000.

About The Coca-Cola Company

The Coca-Cola Company is the world's largest beverage company. Along with Coca-Cola, recognized as the world's most valuable brand, the Company markets four of the world's top five nonalcoholic sparkling beverage brands, including Diet Coke, Fanta and Sprite, and a wide range of other beverages, including diet and light beverages, waters, juices and juice drinks, teas, coffees, energy and sports drinks. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy the Company's beverages at a rate exceeding 1.4 billion servings each day. For more information about The Coca-Cola Company, please visit our website at www.thecoca-colacompany.com.

About Toys for Tots

The Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Foundation, an IRS recognized 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit public charity, is the authorized fund raising and support organization for the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program. The Foundation provides the funding and support needed for successful annual toy collection and distribution campaigns. The Foundation is located at Marine Corps Base, Quantico, Virginia. Local Marine Corps Reserve units and volunteer organizations collect and distribute toys in more than 600 communities covering all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

GOOD Magazine Announces Partners for 2008 Choose GOOD Campaign

GOOD magazine is again donating 100% of the $20 subscription fee to your choice of one of twelve nonprofits. In its first year, the "Choose GOOD" campaign raised almost $500,000 and the amount continues to climb. A new set of nonprofits to choose from have been chosen. The Second Annual Choose Good Campaign Partners are:

• Acumen Fund - http://www.acumenfund.org
• Ashoka's - http://www.ashoka.org
• 826 National - http://www.826national.org
• Hands On Network - http://www.handsonnetwork.org
• Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America - http://www.iava.org
• Kiva - http://www.kiva.org
• Malaria No More - http://www.malarianomore.org
• NRDC - http://www.nrdc.org
• Room to Read - http://roomtoread.org
• Slow Food - http://www.slowfood.com
• Teach For America - http://www.teachforamerica.org
• YouthAIDS - http://www.youthaids.org

This is a great mix of causes to pick from and each issue of the magazine over the past year has taught me new things about the world in an entertaining way.

Click here to learn more about the Choose GOOD campaign.