Robert Weiner

MARCH 4, 2010

It plays Habitat's name, Haiti relief, and pure greed -- it claims you can earn big tax-free commissions as a fundraiser. Fundraising (at least in the U.S.) doesn't work this way -- commissions violate the Association of Fundraising Professionals' code of ethics. Tags: Phishing Spam. 44(0)7031883958, +14092915940.

Haiti 122

Haiti Fundraising Spam gMail 122

Robert Weiner

MARCH 25, 2009

Convio has released a new online fundraising benchmark report that is based on data from 600 of Convio’s nonprofit clients from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2008. Compared to 2007, results for online fundraising were up 14 percent, email file growth was up 28 percent, and Web site traffic was up 20 percent. in 2007 and 2008.

Benchmark 100

Benchmark Report Online Fundraising 100

Robert Weiner

FEBRUARY 10, 2009

Beth titled her post Are Fundraising Groundswells A Massive Opportunity or Distraction for Nonprofit Organizations? While it is tempting to succumb to the “raise one-time money fast” approach that social media fundraising can indeed accomplish, DON’T DO IT. Tags: Social Media Online Fundraising.

Social Media 100

Social Media Media Fundraising Social 100

Robert Weiner

JANUARY 7, 2009

I’ve previously posted resources for nonprofits coping with the economic downturn ( Coping with a Troubled Economy , Fundraising Survival Guide , Economic Effects on Philanthropy ). Groups must plan to change the scale and nature of their fundraising work now to match predicted foundation gaps. Tags: Fundraising.

Gift 100

Gift Fundraising Comparison Foundation 100

Robert Weiner

FEBRUARY 10, 2010

Idealware recently released its Fundraising, Communications and Outreach. Tags: TechSoup. Unlike their earlier guides (to inexpensive donor databases, content management systems, online donation tools, etc.) this one is an actual book (84 pages, paperback) and costs actual money ($19.95, plus, I assume, shipping and maybe tax).

Software 100

Software Guide Communication Fundraising 100

Robert Weiner

JUNE 2, 2010

I just spoke on a fundraising panel at Compasspoint's Silicon Valley/Peninsula Nonprofit Forum. The panel responded that the department head needs to devote at least 25% of her scarce time to fundraising and convene a board that's willing to help. Tags: Fundraising. This means thinking and acting like nonprofits.

California 122

California Nonprofit Local Course 122

Robert Weiner

NOVEMBER 2, 2010

Tags: Fundraising Mobile Communications Online Fundraising. If you want to learn more, Mobile Active published a great overview of the mobile giving landscape last year called Texting for Charitable Dollars: The Definitive Guide.

System 138

System Time Paypal Donation 138

Robert Weiner

JULY 10, 2012

It does Direct Marketing but not Major Gift fundraising (or it does Major Gift fundraising but not Direct Marketing); we need support in both areas. The current software will not support our “road warrior” fundraisers, or we cannot access it via the browser or devices that we wish to use.

Database 181

Database ROI Donor Listserv 181

Robert Weiner

JANUARY 22, 2009

The results come from 2,000 nonprofits using Blackbaud’s online fundraising tools. An average online gift of $152.12, although organizations focused on event-based and peer-to-peer online fundraising had lower average gift amounts. Tags: Online Fundraising Fundraising. in December.

Trend 100

Trend Online Giving Summary 100

Robert Weiner

SEPTEMBER 21, 2009

In addition, there is a growing number of business analysts who understand fundraising and systems and know how to work with donor data. Tags: Advancement Services Donor Databases Fundraising. But if you're interested in what's happening in the donor database marketplace it's worth browsing.

Track 112

Track Business Donor Database 112

Robert Weiner

JANUARY 30, 2009

Tags: Prospect Research Fundraising. Jay Frost of ContactReporter.com (formerly of WealthID) has started a new blog that will track large individual gifts to all types of charities in the US and abroad: www.BigGifts.wordpress.com.

Gift 100

Gift Charity Research Track 100

Robert Weiner

DECEMBER 15, 2008

Topics include getting creative in tough times, the job market for fundraisers, and experimenting with new ways to ensure that donations flow over the holidays. Tags: TechSoup Fundraising.

Statistics 100

Statistics Philanthropy Charity Free 100

Robert Weiner

SEPTEMBER 12, 2009

Those of you who fundraise for educational institutions or are interested in how they're raising money online should check out the results of the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education's 2009 survey on online giving (PDF). Tags: TechSoup. Some highlights: read more.

Survey 100

Survey Results Online Giving 100

Robert Weiner

AUGUST 17, 2009

Target Analytics' Index of National Fundraising Performance for the first quarter of 2009 had nothing but bad news. Grizzard says that "when others scale back on their fundraising efforts, it presents an opportunity to cut through the clutter for those that stay the course." He says: read more.

Retention 100

Retention Metrics News Analytics 100

Robert Weiner

DECEMBER 5, 2008

The Hunger Site started out as a pure click-to-give site (for every click a corporate sponsor makes a set donation), but diversified its fundraising techniques after the last economic downturn. Tags: Online Fundraising. I’m skeptical about whether a pure click-to-give site can succeed, especially in this economy.

San Francisco 100

San Francisco Hunger Literacy Cancer 100

Robert Weiner

FEBRUARY 11, 2009

Tags: Prospect Research Fundraising Foundations. She discusses the strategy behind the research, the tools she used, how the list was narrowed to a group of top prospects, and the general approach to cultivating the foundations. The results: a 75% success rate, resulting in nearly $1 million. You can read the article at [link].

Research 100

Research Raise Foundation Rate 100

Robert Weiner

NOVEMBER 10, 2009

Tags: Fundraising. I hope the PR firm is doing this pro bono -- otherwise, all the donations could wind up paying them. Then again, if my reaction is typical, this campaign could wind up costing them.

Charity 100

Charity Spam Press Raise 100

Robert Weiner

NOVEMBER 14, 2009

The results of two new surveys paint a bleak picture of the effectiveness of social media for fundraising and volunteer recruitment. It concludes that: Social technologies are not delivering much in terms of fundraising or attracting volunteers. Tags: TechSoup.

Social Media 100

Social Media Volunteer Media Social 100

Robert Weiner

JANUARY 22, 2009

The results come from 2,000 nonprofits using Blackbaud’s online fundraising tools. Tags: TechSoup. They’ve found: Steady growth throughout the year. There was a slight decrease in online giving during the third quarter but online giving rebounded in the fourth quarter.

Blackbaud 100

Blackbaud Trend Online Giving 100

Robert Weiner

JANUARY 29, 2009

Tags: Fundraising. What do you see as the ED’s role in working with major donors? What are the top three criteria you use when reviewing a funding proposal? The full transcript is available at [link].

Mind 100

Mind Donor Proposal America 100

Robert Weiner

JANUARY 20, 2009

The Chronicle of Philanthropy has another online discussion coming up that may be useful for many nonprofit fundraisers and marketing pros. Tags: TechSoup. It’s a free discussion so if you’ve got the time, it could be a valuable session. Here are the details from their announcement: When: Wednesday, January 21, at 1 p.m.

Discussion 100

Discussion Online Philanthropy Free 100

Robert Weiner

JANUARY 22, 2010

She's trying to make the case for investing in Advancement Services at a college that seems to only want to invest in fundraisers. In his blog post on evaluating fundraising programs, Measuring Success The Buffett Way , Jason McNeil asks What measures might Warren Buffett use to evaluate development effectiveness?

Service 183

Service Retention Evaluation System 183

Robert Weiner

JANUARY 13, 2009

Tags: Donor Databases Fundraising Advancement Services. GiftMaker Pro. Campagne Associates. Gizsoft, LLC. InfoCentral. InfoCentral. Meadowbase. Meadowbase. Mission Maestro. Third Sector Systems.

Database 100

Database Donor Associations System 100

Robert Weiner

JANUARY 13, 2009

Firstgiving is holding a free webinar TODAY designed to help nonprofits build their email lists, What: Advanced Email Fundraising: Building Your List. Tags: TechSoup. When: Tuesday, January 13, at 3:30pm Eastern time. Cost: Free. Description: Email marketing isn’t the wave of the future; it’s the wave of right now.

email 100

email Build Free Practice 100

Robert Weiner

FEBRUARY 25, 2009

Every day it seems like there’s a new article on how nonprofits and businesses can use Twitter for engagement, activism, marketing, and fundraising. Tags: TechSoup. Today’s entry comes from the Chronicle of Philanthropy, which published When Characters Count: Advice for Charities on Making the Most of Twitter.

Twitter 100

Twitter Practice Charity Philanthropy 100

Robert Weiner

JULY 9, 2009

It took years for email to become a viable fundraising channel. Tags: TechSoup. Things haven't improved much since Care2 published their 2007 analysis, The Long, Long Tail of Facebook Causes. But maybe we're rushing to judgment.

Causes 100

Causes Facebook Analysis Washington 100

Robert Weiner

JULY 17, 2009

Tags: Fundraising. The survey also covers strategies for increasing matching gifts; the effectiveness of various techniques, tools, and vendors; and stewardship ideas. It is available at [link].

Gift 100

Gift Practice Survey Technique 100

Robert Weiner

JANUARY 27, 2009

Tags: Fundraising Advancement Services. The most effective methods for gathering employment data (cited by at least 30% of respondents) were alumni directory surveys, collecting business cards at events, individual surveys (follow-ups to address changes, etc.), 65% include matching monies when calculating corporate recognition levels.

Gift 100

Gift Practice Survey Museum 100

Robert Weiner

FEBRUARY 17, 2009

, and the subsequent TechSoup discussion , I’m posting an analysis conducted by Sarah Grosvenor , the Assistant Director of Annual Giving at Willamette University , on the potential for mobile fundraising at the University. Tags: TechSoup. Sarah granted me permission to share her findings with the world. " read more.

Raise 100

Raise United States Analysis University 100

Robert Weiner

JANUARY 11, 2009

Compton Fundraising Consultants. FundRaiser Basic. FundRaiser Software. FundRaiser Professional. FundRaiser Software. FundRaiser Select. FundRaiser Software. MatchMaker FundRaising Software. Qbase Fundraising Manager. Sage Fundraising 100 (aka GT Pro). Micro Solutions! Benefactor.

Database 100

Database Donor Kintera Oracle 100

Robert Weiner

JULY 25, 2010

Talk to organizations with similar fundraising programs, staffing, IT support, etc. Tags: Advancement Services Donor Databases Nonprofit Technology Software. How easy is it to do things you'll need to do regularly, like enter gifts, look up donors, change addresses, and run reports. Then you need to check references. event_KEY=29015.

Database 180

Database Donor System Test 180

Robert Weiner

MAY 4, 2010

Resources : My article Finding the Perfect Fundraising Database in an Imperfect World includes a section called "To RFP or not to RFP" Idealware article: The Perfect Fit: A Guide to Evaluating and Purchasing Major Software Systems. Tags: Databases Donor Databases IT Management Nonprofit Technology Software.

Software 112

Software Database Phase Proposal 112

Robert Weiner

APRIL 28, 2009

Build a presence: Public speaking, a lot of writing of books and articles, blogging, volunteering, client referral, meet fundraising consultants if you’re a product consultant and product consultants should meet fundraising consultants, LinkedIn, Google, Facebook, apply for open jobs. Tags: Consulting NTEN.

Consultant 100

Consultant NTEN Conference Skills 100

Robert Weiner

FEBRUARY 20, 2009

Twice in the past week I’ve come across online fundraising campaigns in which the fundraiser promises to do something embarrassing when the goal is met. Tags: TechSoup. Trend or coincidence? You can watch her hilarious video appeal at [link].

San Francisco 100

San Francisco Fundraising NTEN Video 100

Robert Weiner

JANUARY 5, 2010

I've been thinking about what it takes to run a great Advancement Services operation (aka Development Services, Development Operations, Development Systems, the fundraising infrastructure, the back office). staff, fundraisers, and other colleagues) and externally (fielding inquiries and resolving problems for donors and prospective donors).

Service 171

Service Policy Law System 171

Robert Weiner

MARCH 20, 2009

One-time Internet givers to the 12 organizations who reported their fundraising data in January gave a median of $27 more than those who made single gifts by mail. Tags: TechSoup. I wonder whether other factors might be at work here.

Donor 100

Donor Online Giving Mail 100