Mission-Driven Volunteering

Tuesday, November 4, 2014
1:00 PM to 2:15 PM (EST)

In the first of our Wild Apricot Expert Webinar series, Elizabeth Weaver Engel, MA, CAE (Spark Consulting LLC) and Peggy Hoffman, CAE (Mariner Management & Marketing LLC) take a new look at how you approach volunteerism at your association, club or non-profit.

This webinar will explore Mission-driven volunteering, a new model that allows associations and our volunteers to focus our limited resources, measuring everything we do by how well it supports and contributes to the mission of our organizations. You’ll hear examples from other small associations and learn about some tools (free ones too) to help your association embrace adhocracy and micro-volunteering.

Key takeaways:

• Understand the problems with the current model of volunteering
• Articulate the benefits of “mission-driven” volunteering
• Explore small and larger strategies for optimizing volunteerism

The New Volunteer Manager’s Toolkit 

Tuesday, November 4, 2014
2:00 – 3:00 PM (EST)

New to volunteer management? Looking for a refresher on the basics? This webinar will walk you through the three primary Rs – recruitment, retention and recognition. We’ll discuss the most popular program components such as interviews, orientations, volunteer handbooks, and more. And, we’ll talk about the importance of managing risk for your program and your organization. All attendees will also receive a sample packet with examples of program documents and program assessment checklists to help you evaluate your existing program.

What You’ll Learn:

• The basics of volunteer engagement.
• What are the 3 Rs of volunteer engagement?
• What are the components of a successful volunteer program?

Do-It-Yourself PR for Nonprofits

Wednesday, November 5, 2014
12:30 PM (EST) 

PR is an integral part of any successful fundraising campaign. It generates donations, grants, drives awareness, and builds social media followers. And better yet, a do-it-yourself campaign requires little to no investment. This Nonprofit Hub webinar will teach fundraising professionals how to launch and manage an internal PR campaign with minimal effort, while achieving maximum results. Learn the tools and tactics of the trade and how to keep your name front and center throughout the year.

Topics will include:

• Creating a PR Plan: A step-by-step guide to creating an effective PR plan.
• What’s Newsworthy And What’s Not: Learn how to think like a publisher to gain insight into what’s newsworthy and what’s not.
• How To Avoid The Press Release Trap: Get the facts on when to write a press release and when to craft a pitch.
• If You Build It, They Will Come: Build and maintain a media room that supports your mission and gets the press to come to you.
• Traps to Avoid: How to ensure success and pitfalls to avoid.

3 Key Ingredients For a Successful Online Campaign 

Wednesday, November 5, 2014
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM (EST)

Online campaigns play a great part in an organisation’s community engagement, community building and fundraising. With the year-end campaign-planning deadlines closing in, get inspiration from our Webinar to successfully engage your online community to achieve your nonprofit’s goals. Learn how to better engage your community members and in the process achieve your organisational goals to gain new members, donors or even partners.

In this 4Good Webinar, we will share how an organization with a small team managed to successfully engage their online community of well over 60,000 global community leaders through their online campaign. We will talk about how you can adopt a few strategies to:

• Make your online campaigns more effective through engaging your online community and get the results you want.
• Use engagement and interested generated to increase your nonprofit’s impact.
• Inspire your members to take part in your online campaign and add value to it

4 Things You Need to Know About Mobile Fundraising

Wednesday, November 5, 2014
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM (EST)

The smartphone is ubiquitous- so how does that affect your fundraising? We have some answers for you!
Join us for the free, educational webinar and learn how to stay ahead of the curve as mobile technology skyrockets.

Are you looking for a way to boost your fundraising, or reach a new demographic? Maybe you’ve heard the terms, “Mobile Giving”, “Text to Give”,  “Online Giving” and just didn’t know what exactly they mean or how they work–and didn’t have the time to read more about it.  Or maybe you are just looking for an additional channel for fundraising? Attendees will learn about:

• Trends around mobile giving
• SEO and Discoverability
• Where Mobile Giving is Going
• How to evaluate  Mobile Giving
• Case Study

Prediction: The New Paradigm for Philanthropy 

Wednesday, November 5, 2014
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM (EST)

Philanthropy has been undergoing a classic paradigm-shift—i.e., a total transformation of its vocabulary, conceptualization, rhetoric, infrastructure and modes of operation—since the late ’90s, driven by computers and the Internet, new demographics of wealth, and the globalization of the American high-tech economy. This is why changes and innovations are all around us. Some and perhaps most of these will turn out to have been ephemeral; some will gain traction and connect to form the New Paradigm—i.e. the governing model of philanthropy in the 21st century.

This 4Good Webinar will provide a strategic overview of the current paradigm-shift—its fundamental structure, processes, and prominent features. Some of the key structural elements of the New Paradigm are now foreseeable and will be described.

Engaging Pro Bono and Skilled Volunteers

Thursday November 6, 2014 
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM (EST)

Integrating skilled volunteers into your existing volunteer program is both exciting and scary. If you’re thinking about adding skilled volunteers to your program, or if you’ve just started, this VolunteerMatch webinar can help you make the experience successful for both the volunteer and the organization. Navigating the introduction of the idea into your organization, developing the art of delegating work to volunteers, and setting achievable outcomes will be covered.

The Brave New World of Donor Databases by Robert Weiner

Tuesday, November 11, 2014 
10:00 AM (PST)

Maybe you think — or know — that it’s time to replace your donor database or CRM (Constituent Relationship Management system). But the very idea of starting the project give you hives. Maybe you’re overwhelmed by all of the options. Perhaps you don’t think you have any good options. Or you may not know how to get started. Then this is the webinar for you.

This webinar will help you:

• Get an overview of trends in donor management software.
• Learn why you should or shouldn’t consider a database that lives in “the
  cloud”.
• Understand how to make an informed, strategic choice.
• Find resources to help you with this decision.

Get Mobile-Ready for Year-End

Tuesday, November 11, 2014
1:00 PM (EST)

There are now more cell phones than toothbrushes, and as of last year, smartphones surpassed regular phone sales by leagues. How can your nonprofit use mobile for good, especially as it relates to your crucial end of year fundraising efforts?

Join BetterWorld Wireless founder Darian Rodriguez Heyman for this NetorkforGood webinar as he walks through building a mobile website, explains text to donate campaigns and lays out social media integration. You’ll leave with a full understanding of why mobile presents a huge opportunity for any nonprofit along with a practical checklist of the most important mobile tips and tools for your cause.

Sell Merchandise for Your Nonprofit Without Dealing with Inventory

Tuesday, November 11, 2014
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM (CT)

Just in time for the holiday season, find out how you can sell merchandise to raise money for your nonprofit … without having to find room in your office for 200 t-shirts! You don’t even have to do any research, because we already did it for you.

Join this webinar and walk you through the criteria that we recommend for choosing a vendor (branding! analytics!). Then we will review four of the strongest vendors.

How to Create Fundraising Appeals that Work

Wednesday, November 12, 2014
12:30 PM (EST)

Your donors, like all of us, are getting bombarded with emails and messages on a daily basis, so it’s becoming increasingly more important for you to craft both traditional print appeals, as well as online appeals, that do more than just ask for money. They must delight. Join experienced fundraisers Danielle Johnson-Vermenton and Mike Snusz of Blackbaud as they share step-by-step instruction for creating and designing print and digital appeals that are worthy of a response. During this webinar you will learn how to plan and write fundraising appeals that get results, the components of a great online fundraising campaign, and best practices in designing fundraising appeals that work across multiple channels – with real-world examples throughout. With year-end appeals right around the corner, let this event be your guide to fundraising greatness!”

Relative Impact: Volunteer ROI Part 1 – More Volunteer Hours is Not Always a Good Thing 

Wednesday, November 12, 2014
2:00 – 3:00 PM (EST)

There is a disconnect in the volunteer sector between our intentions to truly value our volunteers’ time and our actions that actually de-value it. If the focus of the reports you are asked to produce is on the number of volunteer hours at your organization, and particularly if you are considered to be doing your job well if those numbers keep going up, this disconnect might be alive and well in your organization. While it is strongly encouraged and extremely beneficial to attend both Part I and Part II of this series, attending both is not required.

What You’ll Learn in this VolunteerMatch webinar:

• How to spot the signs of our actions contradicting our intentions to truly value our volunteers’ time
• Why volunteer time should be treated like a cost rather than a benefit to your organization
• How to spend your volunteers’ time more efficiently

What’s a Mission Statement Worth?

Wednesday, November 12, 2014
1:00 PM – 2:00 – 3:00 PM (EST)

Does your mission statement differentiate your nonprofit clearly and concisely? Could it describe any of several other organizations? If you’re clear about your value to your community, stakeholders and/or cause, why bother to “wordsmith” your mission statement? The answers to these questions can make the difference between sustainable success and failure in several ways. Join this 4Good webinar to see what a rigorously crafted mission statement can do for marketing, fundraising, strategy, and sustainability.

Takeaways

• Why your mission statement is so important.
• Why it’s worth editing your mission statement.
• What’s in a good mission statement, and what’s not.
• How a good mission statement can guide strategic decisions.
• How to measure your performance against your mission statement, and why that’s valuable.

Online Fundraising Best Practices for Nonprofits

Thursday, November 13, 2014
2:30 PM (EST)

In this educational session, you will discover the best practices for successful fundraising by tapping into the expertise of Firespring — a company that has completed more than 10 years of focus group research with nonprofit constituents and donors. Join Jay Wilkinson to discover:

• The importance of an engaging website as your fundraising foundation.
• The advantages of raising funds online.
• Key reasons for donor abandonment.
• How to build a strong donor retention plan.
• The specific action steps necessary to achieving online fundraising success.
• The 3 biggest mistakes nonprofits make with email marketing appeals.
• Real-world examples of nonprofit organizations that have mastered online fundraising.

Integrating Virtual Opportunities and Remote Volunteers Into Your Volunteer Program – Part I

Thursday, November 13, 2014
2:00 – 3:00 PM (EST)

Beginning to incorporate virtual volunteer opportunities into your volunteer engagement program can be tricky. But, by thinking creatively, embracing technology, and creating screening, training and retention plans built specifically for remote volunteers, you can engage volunteers with the talents you need even if they’re on the other side of the state, the country or the world! In this VolunteerMatch webinar, Jennifer Bennett and Deanna Cole will discuss best practices for creating successful virtual opportunities, and building and managing relationships with remote volunteers. Part II will build on these concepts and discuss in more detail managing remote volunteers. Sample position descriptions and recruitment messages will be provided. While it is strongly encouraged and extremely beneficial to attend both Part I and Part II of this series, attending both is not required.

What You’ll Learn:

• How to creatively integrate virtual opportunities into a larger volunteer engagement program.
• Best practices for designing successful virtual opportunities.
• Tools and resources for recruiting, screening and training remote volunteers.
• Primary concepts needed for managing and creating retention and recognition plans for remote volunteers

Introducing a Volunteer Mentoring Program – Part I

Tuesday, November 18, 2014
2:00 – 3:00 PM (EST)

When engaging volunteers it can be difficult to ensure that each volunteer receives the time, attention, and training that they need to be successful – this is where a volunteer mentoring program can help! Mentoring improves success in volunteer placement, increases recruiting and retention rates, engages seasoned volunteers and creates a sustainable practice for your organization. By encouraging a learning culture through mentoring, you can ensure that volunteers take an active role in spreading knowledge and best practices throughout their organization. In the first part of this two-part VolunteerMatch webinar, you’ll learn how a mentoring program can benefit your volunteer engagement program and your organization, and some key steps and best practices for creating a mentoring program. Part II will cover building and managing a team of volunteer mentors. While it is strongly encouraged and extremely beneficial to attend both Part I and Part II of this series, attending both is not required.

What You’ll Learn:

• How a volunteer mentor program can positively impact a volunteer engagement program.
• The benefits of mentoring to volunteers and the organization.
• How to structure a mentoring program.
• Best practices for introducing a volunteer mentoring program into an organization.

Leveraging Volunteer Talent for Organizational Change

Wednesday, November 19, 2014 
2:00 PM (Eastern)

Organizations are recognizing that the old ways of doing business don’t work in this changing world. The good news is that today’s volunteers are interested in opportunities to help organizations innovate and pilot new ways of doing business. This VolunteerMatch webinar, led by Jennifer Bennett and Beth Steinhorn (JFFixler Group) will explore how to engage volunteers as leaders of change. Learn where your organization is in its lifecycle and gain an appreciation for the importance of innovation in organizational sustainability. The webinar will also feature strategies for supporting volunteers and holding them accountable for change.

Legal Traps for the Unwary Fundraiser 

Wednesday, November 19, 2014
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM (EST)

Did you know that most states require registration before a charity solicits donations? If your nonprofit is embarking on a new fundraising  campaign or you just want to brush up on fundraising legal and compliance issues, this 4Good webinar is for you. Topics include: state charitable solicitation registration rules, including which states you should be registered in for online solicitation: truthful fundraising campaigns; raffles, sweepstakes, and auctions; IRS requirements for substantiation of donations; reporting on fundraising  in the IRS Form 990; and potential Unrelated Business Income Tax issues.

How to Get Results on LinkedIn 4 Simple Steps

Thursday, November 20, 2014
3:00 PM (EST)

LinkedIn’s network becomes more valuable and more chaotic every day. Are you seeing the results you need for you and your nonprofit? Are you finding the opportunity to tell your nonprofit’s story, strengthen your network, create engagement, recruit for board members, staff, volunteers and donors? This free webinar will show you 5 simple actions you should take to increase results on LinkedIn.

In this CharityHowTo webinar, you will learn:

• How to build a rock-star LinkedIn profile
• How to build a strategic network
• How to weave online + offline activities together
• How to effectively participate on  LinkedIn

How to Captivate and Engage Your Constituents with Your Website

Monday, November 24, 2014
2:30 PM (EST)

The nonprofit industry is constantly evolving—especially from a technological standpoint. Now more than ever, having an effective website is the single most crucial component of an effective communications plan. In this Firespring webinar, learn from more than 10 years of focus group research with nonprofit constituents and donors on how you can captivate and engage your audience. In this webinar, you’ll discover:

• The 5 required elements of an engaging website.
• The 3 biggest mistakes nonprofits make with their websites.
• 5 proven methods for promoting your organization online.
• The #1 factor nonprofits should consider regarding search engine optimization.
• Real-world examples of nonprofit organizations that have mastered their online presence.