Washington, D.C. 鈥� November 28, 2022听鈥� In celebration of National Scholarship Month/National Education Month, which takes place in November each year, 精东影业鈥檚 Charities is excited to unveil its new Scholarship Program, designed to help organizations provide educational opportunities for students, support professional advancement for employees, and build a better-educated workforce for the community.

Leveraging its more than 40 years鈥� experience and expertise in charitable funds management, employee assistance fund application administration, and relief fund grant distribution, 精东影业鈥檚 Charities will administer scholarship programs for organizations who want to provide tax-free awards that can be used to assist scholarship awardees with expenses such as, tuition and fees required for enrollment or attendance at an educational institution, or for fees, books, supplies, and equipment required for courses at an educational institution.

The cost of higher education is an enormous barrier for individuals hoping to advance their educations and careers, particularly for working adults and non-traditional students. As , 鈥渋n 1980, the price to attend a four-year college full-time was $10,231 annually鈥攊ncluding tuition, fees, room and board, and adjusted for inflation鈥攁ccording to the National Center for Education Statistics. By 2019-20, the total price increased to $28,775. That鈥檚 a 180% increase.鈥�

As a recent highlights, 鈥淭oday, two out of three jobs require postsecondary education and training, while three out of four jobs in the 1970s required a high school diploma or less. Yet while young people today need more education than ever to compete in the labor market, a college education is more expensive than in the past.鈥�

鈥淩ecognizing the necessity of making educational opportunities more affordable and attainable for individuals, employers and nonprofit organizations alike have stepped up to the plate to provide assistance 鈥� and more and more organizations are looking to 精东影业鈥檚 Charities鈥� expertise to help facilitate and scale these types of programs,鈥� said Jim Starr, president and CEO of 精东影业鈥檚 Charities. 鈥淲e鈥檝e been honored to power workplace giving, matching gift, volunteering, disaster relief, and employee assistance fund programs for some of the country鈥檚 most reputable organizations since our founding in 1980. Bringing employers, their employees, and nonprofits together to help the community and each other is at the heart of everything we do, and we have seen firsthand the appetite among companies large and small for providing financial assistance to their employees and individuals in the community. Adding scholarship application and grant management to our service offerings just seems like a natural progression towards achieving our own mission, as well as the broader social responsibility goals of the organizations we serve.鈥�

Whether organizations are looking to scale their existing scholarship programs, need to outsource administration of their program from tax or legal purposes, or simply want to get started and create a scholarship fund from scratch, 精东影业鈥檚 Charities鈥� new Scholarship Program aims to make it easy by providing direction on scholarship policy, managing the scholarship application process, providing donation technology to secure scholarship funding, distributing scholarship money to educational institutions, and offering marketing and communications support.

Visit for more information about 精东影业鈥檚 Charities鈥� Scholarship Program.

About 精东影业鈥檚 Charities

As a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt public charity, 精东影业鈥檚 Charities has raised and distributed more than $800 million for more than 25,000 nonprofits globally through the workplace giving, matching gifts, disaster relief, and volunteer programs it manages each year for corporate, federal, state, and local government employers. These campaigns provide a critical source of unrestricted, sustainable funding nonprofits rely on each year to keep their doors open and address a wide range of causes including education, environmental protection, human and civil rights, hunger, poverty, research and health services, animal welfare, veteran assistance, and disaster relief. In addition to facilitating charitable giving initiatives that support nonprofits, 精东影业鈥檚 Charities helps companies support their workforce financially through Employee Assistance Funds (EAFs). Since piloting its EAF services to a handful of businesses in 2019, 精东影业鈥檚 Charities has grown this new service substantially facilitating more than 150 new Employee Assistance Funds (EAFs) for employers to date, managing more than $20 million in grants designated to help employees cope with unexpected hardships. More information about 精东影业鈥檚 Charities is at , as well as on our social media networks.

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Media Contact:

Sarah Ford

Marketing Director, 精东影业鈥檚 Charities

sford@charities.org

The post 精东影业鈥檚 Charities Unveils New Scholarship Program to Help Improve Educational Opportunities, Build a Better-educated Workforce, and Scale Scholarship Funding appeared first on 精东影业's Charities.

You can support any of 精东影业’s Charities’听100+ vetted members听(which we vet and approve every year) via credit/debit card by .

Interested in supporting a specific cause?

Click on the causes listed below. You’ll be presented with a list of charities who address that cause and can learn more about each charity before adding them to your donation cart. You can choose one or听multiple nonprofits to support all in one convenient checkout.

Advocacy, Safety, & Social Justice

This group of nonprofits are for you if you care about safeguarding our civil liberties and constitutional rights; removing barriers for vulnerable people, minorities, and individuals with special needs; protecting victims of domestic abuse and human trafficking; and providing individuals with the resources and freedom to lift themselves up and thrive, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity/race, religion, or sexual orientation.听

鈥�Animal Welfare, Environmental Protection, and Sustainability

Proper investment and care is critical to preserving our natural resources, conservation that advances economic well-being of people and their communities, protecting pets and wildlife, and preventing unsustainable pressures on our environment that wreak havoc on ecosystems and cause water and food shortages. If you care about supporting animals and protecting the environment, support these nonprofits.听

Education, Arts, & Culture

There鈥檚 a strong relationship between arts and cultural engagement and educational attainment. Great arts and culture, along with quality education, shape the destiny of future generations and contribute to economic vitality. Donate to these nonprofits to support learning, arts, and life skills both in and out of the classroom!听

First Responders, Military, and Disaster Response

Our nation鈥檚 military, veterans, and first responders sacrifice a lot to defend our country, serve and protect our local communities, and provide emergency relief when disaster strikes. Support these nonprofits to reduce violence and crime, ensure equity in the delivery of law enforcement, make it safer for those who serve, and honor the fallen who have made the ultimate sacrifice.听

Healthcare, Special Needs, & Medical Research

Medical research is critical to advancing how we treat disease, improving quality of life, and for discovering cures. Equally important is advocating for regulations and policies that address healthcare challenges and make society more inclusive and representative of everyone. These nonprofits are working hard to fund and find cures for cancer and age-related illnesses, prevent the spread of diseases, deliver quality healthcare, grant life-changing wishes and healing experiences for children with critical illnesses, and so much more.听

Housing, Hunger, & Poverty

In the United States, there are over half a million people experiencing homelessness. Last year, 53 million people turned to food banks and community programs for help putting food on the table. Unemployment, health conditions and disabilities, and race and demographics are all contributing factors that make it difficult to obtain shelter and force families to choose between paying for food, medicine, or utilities. Support these nonprofits who are dedicated to addressing hunger, housing, and poverty.

The post Support Causes You Care About on #GivingTuesday (Nov. 29th) with 精东影业’s Charities and Our 100+ Vetted Nonprofit Members appeared first on 精东影业's Charities.

Want to start an employee giving campaign?听Contact us now to learn more how we can help you put your听campaign plans in motion.

How happy are you with your company鈥檚 workplace giving results and employee participation rates? Could you be happier? Then it鈥檚 time to rethink your approach to employee giving and workplace fundraising.

The simplicity of payroll deduction makes employee giving practically effortless. But simplicity does not preclude connectivity. When you fail to connect employees to why their donations matter, you end up with transactional, rather than transformational, giving experiences. However, if you give employees access to support causes they are passionate about and connect them to the personal stories and social issues behind their favorite nonprofits鈥� work, you end up creating those 鈥榓ha鈥� moments that transform employees from one-off fundraiser participants into passionate, repeat workplace donors, cause champions, and brand ambassadors.

Why would a company seek out those 鈥榓ha鈥� moments? Because it improves the culture, the company, and the community. 精东影业鈥檚 Charities has helped organizations set up and manage workplace giving programs for more than 40 years, and we鈥檝e seen it time and again: when an employer empowers its workforce to follow their passions 鈥� when employees feel they have the agency to improve the world around them 鈥� things get better. There is a direct correlation between workplace giving and increased recruitment and retention, higher employee satisfaction, a more intentional culture, better brand recognition and reputation, increased revenue, and more. 听

In addition, giving back has become the norm in modern workplaces. Part of that is because of changing demographics. According to payment app Zelle鈥檚 Consumer Payment Behaviors report, have sent some kind of financial aid to family or friends or donated to a nonprofit since the COVID-19 pandemic began. That鈥檚 the highest rate among any generation polled, with Generation Z right behind them with the second-highest giving rate of 66 percent. A survey conducted by Fidelity Charitable shows that millennials 鈥済ive more than twice as much of their money and time to charitable causes as either Baby Boomers or Gen X.鈥�

That generosity doesn鈥檛 stop at home. A recent Deloitte survey indicates this younger generation of professionals wants the option to give through charitable giving programs sponsored by their employer. The survey reveals, 鈥�, compared to only 37% of all professional donors. They also increased their workplace donation amounts in response to COVID-19 at a higher rate (35%), compared to all professionals (28%).鈥�

Of course, older generations are socially conscious as well 鈥� that prize doesn鈥檛 just belong to millennials and Gen Zers. 精东影业鈥檚 Charities has conducted Snapshot research for more than a decade and the data is clear: every generation has shown an interest in supporting causes they care about and improving the world around them. We looked at the data from our Snapshot Employee Donor Research survey every way we could and found that Baby Boomers and Gen X alike wanted the opportunity to give at work as a means of paying it forward and connecting with their colleagues.

The new norm isn鈥檛 just because of demographics, either. Much of the reason workplace giving has become an expectation is because the divide between our personal and professional lives has become blurry. With the advent of smartphones, the ubiquity of social media, and the popularity of apps that sync and streamline every corner of our lives, we no longer see our work as separate, and often unequal, to the rest of our lives. That feeling was only reinforced when much of the world shifted to working and giving remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic.

So 鈥� we know workplace giving is powerful and we know employees of all ages and creeds want and expect the opportunity. But which program elements will bring about the most dramatic change among employees?

Elements of Workplace Giving Programs That Bring About Transformation and Social Impact

You know that quote 鈥淕ive a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime?鈥� It鈥檚 the same with giving.听Ask employees to give and you鈥檒l see a handful of disparate, one-off transactions — but empower employees to learn about, connect with, and give to the causes that interest them, and you鈥檒l have yourself a team championing your company鈥檚 community involvement and collectively making an impact that matters. 听

If you implement even just a few ideas outlined below (listed in no specific order), your workplace giving program will transform; you鈥檒l see better results year after year. 听

Don鈥檛 forget: 精东影业鈥檚 Charities can make it easy for your company to integrate any or all of these ideas into your employee giving program! Whether you鈥檙e looking for an online giving solution, want to understand best practices, or are simply looking for thought leadership, we鈥檝e got you covered. We鈥檝e spent more than 40 years of experience in this field, so we know what鈥檚 new 鈥� and what鈥檚 tried and true 鈥� when it comes to transformational employee giving.

The best practices shared here are focused on payroll deduction donations. For information about integrating volunteerism, employee assistance relief funds (EAFs), and other giving components into your workplace giving and broader social responsibility and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) programs, check out our library of free resources.

(1) Access and Awareness Make All the Difference

Employees cannot give through your workplace giving program if you don鈥檛 offer one. According to Deloitte, 鈥渏ust . More than one-third (34%) of these professionals had not donated in this way the year prior 鈥� which may indicate a growing interest in, or increased access to, charitable giving options in the workplace.鈥� To be clear, a single fundraiser that brings your team together one time is not what we refer to as a workplace giving program. If you think you have a workplace giving program, but aren鈥檛 sure, here is a quick refresher on what a workplace giving program is.

If you have a workplace giving program, then you should examine how you are communicating about it. It鈥檚 possible a large portion of your employees simply do not know about this amazing employee benefit and efficient way to donate (more about communications in #3 below).

When asked why they didn鈥檛 donate through their employer鈥檚 workplace giving program, Deloitte鈥檚 survey reported that 鈥�, demonstrating a greater need for communication between employers and professionals about workplace giving options available to them.鈥�

(2) Make Giving Easy and Convenient

There is a reason why so many use payment sites like Venmo, PayPal, and Zelle to send or receive money, just as why so many fundraisers are held on social platforms like Facebook Fundraisers or Eventbrite. It鈥檚 not necessarily that those methods are cheaper for the donor or better for the nonprofit recipients; it鈥檚 that they are convenient. After donors do the initial work of entering their credit card or banking information, they can have that information saved on their computer or mobile device, making future giving as easy as a click of the button. Payroll deduction giving is just as easy (easier actually) for employees! All they have to do is log into your company鈥檚 workplace giving donation site, also known as a giving portal. 精东影业鈥檚 Charities supports multiple types of login options, including Single Sign-on (SSO), which makes logging in super easy and secure for employees. Once employees are logged in, all they have to do is find the charities they want to support and submit how much money they want to be deducted from their paycheck. That鈥檚 it.

Entering personal credit card or sensitive banking information is not necessary (nor are the associated fees). And by working with a partner like 精东影业鈥檚 Charities, not only do your employees get an immediate email acknowledging the donation for tax and budgeting purposes, but they also get a handy donation summary right before tax season starts, so it鈥檚 at the top of their inbox, making it easy for them to claim eligible charitable tax deductions (no need to filter through old emails or sort through paper receipts).

Of course, if your employees want to donate through credit card or other means, we do offer those capabilities as well. What鈥檚 important is that you make the donation options available to employees secure and convenient.

(3) Meet the Moment and Don鈥檛 Underestimate the Power of Charitable Giving Options

It鈥檚 important to ensure employees can find and donate to causes and organizations that are personal to them. It鈥檚 simple: when presented with a charitable choice, employee participation in your workplace giving program increases. Conversely, lack of choice is why people do NOT give. In fact, 30 percent of employee donors we surveyed for our 精东影业’s Charities Snapshot Employee Donor Research said they do not give through the workplace because the causes they care about are not available in their employer’s giving program. 精东影业鈥檚 Charities vets charities to ensure that they are legitimate, fiscally sound, and perform the services stated 鈥� as long as charities meet these standards, we recommend you provide as broad a list of charities as possible.

In addition to allowing employees to support charities close to their hearts, invite them to support specific causes that align with your organization鈥檚 social responsibility and philanthropic goals. That could mean you feature a handful of charities that address a specific cause, or perhaps many charities that focus on specific UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG). Whatever your company鈥檚 core focus areas are, be sure to find charities that align with it.

For companies interested in year-round employee engagement, this might come in the form of special cause-focused matching gift campaigns that include a special incentive such as the employer matching donations dollar for dollar (more on matching gifts in #6 below). We know from our Snapshot Employee Donor Research that 70 percent of employees believe it is imperative to work for an employer whose mission and values align 鈥� so it鈥檚 not about limiting choice 鈥� it鈥檚 about getting your workforce interested in your own philanthropic purpose. Employees are increasingly holding themselves and others accountable for society鈥檚 most pressing issues, and they are looking to their employers to facilitate social impact. We make it easy for you to hold cause-specific campaigns, match employee donations, track goals, and report your impact against your organization鈥檚 social responsibility and giving efforts.

Meet the moment by paying attention to current national and global events and find ways that your company can support employees鈥� interest in those issues. For example, offer a special giving opportunity when a natural disaster strikes, or survey your employees and find out which causes they care about most, then celebrate when the nation is paying attention to it, such as Earth Day or Child Abuse Prevention Month. You鈥檙e welcome to use our , a list of causes most commonly celebrated each month of the year. And remember, the issues that are important to employees today may be very different next year or five years from now, so it鈥檚 important to listen to your workforce and keep your cause initiatives relevant and focused on what your employees care about.

(4) Technology Alone is Not Enough; Human Touch and How You Communicate Matters

Great technology can make your program run more smoothly, simply, and efficiently. As helpful as it is, however, we all know technology can be supremely frustrating as well. The fact is, there is no substitute for the human touch and good communication. Passive campaigns that use the best technology available are still doomed to fail because they provide a transactional experience at best.

Before launching your program, put together a thoughtful communications plan that goes beyond the initial campaign kick-off announcement. After letting employees know your donation site is live and inviting them to visit the portal to give to causes they love, keep sharing ongoing educational messages and stories to keep employees engaged and informed. 精东影业鈥檚 Charities provides clients with a communications toolkit full of templates and ready-to-use messages to make it seamless for your team to engage employees beyond your campaign launch.

Make sure employees know about the different ways they can donate so they can pick a payment method they are comfortable with, and make sure they understand basic concepts like what payroll deduction giving is and what makes payroll giving so efficient and valuable for them and the nonprofits they are supporting. Here are seven facts about workplace giving effectiveness to help you get started.

Moreover, share examples and stories of how their donations can make a difference. This means going beyond how much to donate and to which charity; you need to share why the donation matters. Take the following two charity impact statements for example 鈥� which one would you find most compelling?

Charity Impact Statement #1:

鈥淏y donating just $2 per paycheck ($52 total over the course of one year), your donation pays for the paint needed to paint the trim and walls in XYZ youth homeless shelter.鈥�

Charity Impact Statement #2:

鈥淏y donating just $2 per paycheck ($52 total over the course of one year), your donation pays for the paint needed to paint the trim and walls in XYZ shelter that helps homeless youth get their GED and learn basic skills, helps them find a job, and gets them off the streets. The greatest barrier to the kids鈥� success is their belief that they deserve it. The most important message we can give them is that they have value and are worth it. When we paint the trim in each bedroom, we鈥檙e reinforcing that message. Your donation helps not just paint the trim 鈥� but lets these kids know they have value and dignity.鈥�

Both examples above are good at communicating what your donation can help make possible, but example #2 paints a picture (pun intended) of how your donation will transform the lives of the youth who are being helped by the homeless shelter.

Example charity impact statements like this could easily be done via email, but make sure you leverage as many different distribution channels as you can. Think outside the email inbox! Not all employees have easy or regular access to email, and those who do have access to email are often so inundated with email messages that your message 鈥� as inspirational as it may be 鈥� could be overlooked.

Some additional places and touchpoints to consider leveraging include:

• Charity fair/guest speaker (invite representatives from charities to speak with your employees virtually or in-person 鈥� 精东影业鈥檚 Charities can help connect you with our own 100+ charity members if you鈥檙e looking for a place to start)
• your workplace giving site (pull employees into the donation site itself by using storytelling features and functionality that are built into the platform 鈥� 精东影业鈥檚 Charities can help you use our workplace giving solutions to do this)
• employee portal/company intranet
• company newsletter
• social media
• popup banners in the lobby where employees enter your building
• flyers/posters in shared workspaces
• tent cards on cafeteria tables
• digital messages displayed on your lobby or breakroom TV
• all-staff/team meetings (in-person or virtual)
• new employee onboarding/welcome packets
• employee benefits fair/open enrollment materials

(5) Safeguard Employee Confidentiality Without Impeding Nonprofit Relationships with Donors

Beyond hearing messages from you, encourage employees to connect with the charities they are supporting. One of the easiest ways to facilitate this type of connection is to encourage employees to opt-in to have their donation acknowledged by their designated nonprofit. By permitting charities to thank them, employees open the door for those charities to form deeper relationships by sharing specific stories about the people who were helped by that employee鈥檚 donation, inviting the employee to volunteer or attend events where the employee can see first-hand the impact their support makes, as well as to empower the employee to stay updated on how the nonprofit is operating and being a good steward of the donor鈥檚 financial support.

None of that will happen though if your employees don鈥檛 understand how donation acknowledgment works and why it鈥檚 so important for them to opt-in when they donate through your workplace giving program. Usually, the reason why a donor decides NOT to opt-in is for fear of how and with whom their contact and pledge information will be shared.

Every effort should be made to keep employees鈥� pledge information confidential and to have as few eyes as possible see their donation information. But you also don鈥檛 want that confidentiality to hinder your campaign鈥檚 fundraising performance or keep nonprofits from being able to communicate and thank donors. Employees should be reassured that the information they share on pledge forms and through the online giving website will be kept confidential. 精东影业鈥檚 Charities鈥� workplace giving solutions have different features and functionality designed to help employers address all of this.

For example, various coordinator and administrator user roles help our clients restrict who has access to donor pledge information. Someone from your company鈥檚 payroll/HR team will need to have permission to view limited data in order to process recurring payroll deduction donations, but the campaign coordinator doesn鈥檛 necessarily need to access that information. Something your campaign coordinator will want access to is an easy way to send reminders out to employees who started the donation process but need a little prompt to go in and complete their pledge. 精东影业鈥檚 Charities鈥� workplace giving solutions can do that. Likewise, our solutions make it clear and easy for employees to understand how their donation information will be shared with a nonprofit if they choose to share that information with their designated charities. Using FAQs posted on a page on the donation site, tooltips that appear when a donor hovers their mouse cursor over text during the donation process, and clear instructions and descriptions embedded in the donation process itself can all help make it clearer to employees what (if any) information is being shared and with whom.

精东影业鈥檚 Charities doesn鈥檛 stop on the employer and employee giving side of things either. As a nonprofit ourselves (精东影业鈥檚 Charities is a 501c3 nonprofit), we understand the challenges nonprofits experience when it comes to receiving money and donor information. After nonprofits receive donations from employees who participate in the workplace giving campaigns we manage, those nonprofits are given access to our charity reporting site where they can view contact information to thank donors who have opted-in to share their contact information with select charities. They can even see information like if an employee has made a donation in honor of a loved one or wishes to have their funds used for a specific program or purpose. Through our charity reporting site, donor confidentiality is our top priority while making sure nonprofits have the tools and information necessary to appropriately connect with employees who want to form a deeper relationship and remain updated on how their donations are helping provide solutions to real-world problems.

(6) Use Incentives to Your Advantage and to Turn Employees into Repeat Donors

Offering employees the opportunity to give through the workplace is already an incredible benefit in and of itself. 55 percent of employees would choose to work for a socially responsible company, even if it meant a lower salary. So your employees are already motivated to rally behind your company in supporting the community and being a force for good through activism.

But an effective way to further demonstrate your company’s commitment to supporting its employees and amplifying the impact of nonprofits in your community is by offering incentives such as:

• Matching gifts: A little incentive can yield huge dividends for the program and your people鈥檚 level of engagement. In fact, say they’re more likely to donate if a match is offered, and say they would give a larger gift if matching is applied to their donation. There are several ways to set up a matching gift program, so be sure to read our matching gifts guide to design your program to fit your employee culture and organization鈥檚 capacity and budget.
• Gamification:听To stay driven, employees need a sense of value and purpose. Associating behaviors with recognition turns them into habits. With gamification, you can instantly reward employees for taking certain actions and accomplishing specific goals that align with your company鈥檚 giving goals. Incentives can range from things like winning lunch with the CEO or earning a prized parking spot or be as simple as a badge (think modern-day certificate of recognition). For example, an employee who cares a lot about literacy could be given a 鈥渂ook worm鈥� badge after they donate to literacy-focused charities. Or, if an employee participates in your special #GivingTuesday fundraiser, you could give them a 鈥渓ocal hero鈥� badge. To connect engagement with participation and giving, you might offer badges for employees who reach a certain fundraising level or recognize employees who volunteer time to help coordinate your company鈥檚 workplace giving campaign.

There is a lot of room for creativity and fun when it comes to designing your incentive program. The key thing is to take a step back and understand:

• what is important to your employees,
• what unique ways can you thank and recognize them for participating in your program,
• how can you best inform them about your program鈥檚 incentives so they know how to leverage them, and
• how do you effectively connect all the incentives and donations back to actual collective impact and results to ensure employees know the meaning their support provides and continue participating in your program year after year as a reliable, repeat donor nonprofits can depend on.

(7) Keep it Simple and Don鈥檛 Feel Like You Have to Reinvent the Wheel

There are endless ways you can structure your workplace giving program in terms of donation payment methods, charities available to support, the duration of your campaign, other types of giving like volunteering, employee incentives like matching gifts, and a host of other variables. Don鈥檛 overwhelm yourself by trying to do everything all at once. You can build your program over time, giving your team time and capacity to do it strategically and effectively. Choosing a full-service partner like 精东影业鈥檚 Charities to help you set up and manage your workplace giving campaign will save you a lot of time and frustration, and will give you access to online giving technology solutions, resources, best practices exclusive to clients, a proficient charity vetting and charitable funds distribution partner, and a team of experts to guide you from start to finish (and beyond).

The post Transformational Workplace Giving Programs Increase Employee Engagement and Participation appeared first on 精东影业's Charities.

We get it. Juggling your day-to-day workload while simultaneously launching a giving campaign can be challenging, especially if you don鈥檛 have staff solely dedicated to executing your charitable giving initiatives. For businesses like yours we have great news 鈥� it鈥檚 not too late! There is plenty of time to tap into the generous spirit of your employees to make an impact in your community this year.

Designed specifically with you in mind, the 精东影业鈥檚 Charities Quick Start solution (one of our four online giving technology听options)听is quick and easy to set-up, similar to some of the crowdfunding sites you鈥檙e familiar with 鈥� but better.听

6 Reasons Why Quick Start is Better for You and Your Company:

1. Quick Start is Designed for You.

The crowdfunding sites you鈥檙e familiar with aren鈥檛 designed for employers or their employees; they鈥檙e designed for individuals. With Quick Start, the employer gets a secure, branded, mobile-friendly web page with their logo and messaging, along with a unique, private URL which they can share with their employees (and any other stakeholders they want to include). What makes Quick Start really valuable is that after the charitable giving campaign, the employer receives a summary report which includes a list of employees who have participated, what charities employees supported (which gives the company an idea of what causes matter to its employees), and overall funds raised through the campaign. One on one fundraising is great, but this holiday season, your organization can leverage individual giving for collective impact. Click here to read how Carnival used Quick Start for a special employee engagement initiative to launch the expansion of their cruise line.

2. Your Quick Start Page Automatically Comes Pre-Loaded with 120+ Vetted High-Impact Nonprofits.

While the crowdfunding sites you鈥檙e familiar with typically only allow you to raise money for one charity per fundraiser, 精东影业鈥檚 Charities鈥� Quick Start solution automatically comes loaded with our 120+ vetted, high-impact nonprofit members鈥攕ome of the biggest and best known brands in the country鈥攚ho address a range of causes including education, human rights, hunger, poverty, animal services, research, health services, disaster recovery, and support for veterans and law enforcement. That means you don鈥檛 have to exhaust yourself to determine one charity that your diverse staff can get behind (though you can still do that if that鈥檚 what you want!)

All 120+ of 精东影业鈥檚 Charities nonprofit members are in good standing with the IRS, have been checked against the IRS OFAC terrorist watch list and revocations list, and we personally audit them annually to gauge their accountability, transparency, governance, leadership, and results, as well as finances, so we are confident that they will use your employees鈥� donations effectively. Click here to read more about our nonprofit member criteria and click here for a list of our members.听

3. Finding a Charity to Support is Easy Because the Platform is Easy.

Employees can use our cause category and location filters or just type in a keyword to find a charity that matches their passions, and when they find that charity, they simply click on the charity鈥檚 name to view a detailed summary about its mission and impact. And if they want to make a donation in honor of someone, they can easily do that during checkout. Employees can either self-register or check out as a guest, which means you don鈥檛 need to worry about managing passwords or credentials. And because your platform is built and hosted by us, 精东影业鈥檚 Charities, you can rest knowing the website and your employee transactions are secure, as we follow the most rigorous security protocols to protect your data. Plus, your page is mobile-friendly, which means your employees can give from their desks or on the go.

4. All Contributions are Tax Deductible.

This may come as a shock to you, but donations on the crowdfunding sites you鈥檙e familiar with are NOT always tax deductible 鈥� so make sure you read the fine print on those sites before launching a campaign. It鈥檚 best to first or you could end up with a huge, unexpected tax bill from the IRS .听However, because 精东影业鈥檚 Charities is a 501(c)3 public nonprofit, all contributions made through any of 精东影业鈥檚 Charities鈥� employee giving fundraising platforms are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. All of your employees will receive an emailed tax receipt immediately after completing their donation through your company鈥檚 Quick Start employee giving page.

5. Best-in-Class Donor Support and Access to a Library of Client Resources.

Having trouble contacting someone for support through that KickStarter or Facebook fundraiser? With 精东影业鈥檚 Charities鈥� Quick Start solution, you get a dedicated campaign coordinator and multi-channel support for your employees. Our donor services team has received an average 95% donor satisfaction rating. Plus, by becoming an 精东影业鈥檚 Charities client, you automatically get access to our Client Resource Center, which includes:

• Best practices & campaign planning guides
• Full access to all of our white papers, case studies, and Snapshot employee giving research
• Sample employee communications (e.g. email copy templates)
• Charity impact stories
• Interesting charity facts and examples of how different donation amounts can help make a difference
• Library of photos and videos

6. It鈥檚 Fast to Set-up, and It鈥檚 the Perfect 鈥淪tarter Package鈥� for Employers Interested in Starting and Growing an Employee Giving and Engagement Program.

We call it Quick Start for a reason. Once you make your decision, together we can get your page up and live within days. Whereas typical crowdfunding pages are meant for one-off, finite campaigns, your Quick Start page can be used year-round or for a limited period of time 鈥� you pick. Because of the dedicated team you get with 精东影业鈥檚 Charities鈥� Quick Start solution, we make it easy for your team to quickly test out employee giving on a small scale, while making it easy for you to grow your program and transition to a more elaborate employee giving platform with more employee engagement features and giving methods when you are ready.

For nearly 40 years, 精东影业’s Charities has been on a mission to bring more resources to the nonprofits that are changing our world, and we’ve done this by inspiring employees and organizations to support causes they care about. We hope your team will join us this fall and holiday season and test out your charitable chops with our new Quick Start employee giving solution. To learn more about Quick Start and get started, click here.

The post The Quick and Easy Way to Launch Your Company鈥檚 Employee Giving Campaign, #GivingTuesday Initiative, or Other Cause Campaign This Fall and During the Holiday Season appeared first on 精东影业's Charities.

We are seeing a clear move towards digital channels, human connections, and increased flexibility, mainly because of the increase in remote working.

Below are the five nonprofit trends for 2021, with tips on how organizations can adapt to them.

Nonprofit Trend #1: Digital Fundraising

Nonprofits have successfully used online channels for years, but it became the primary method of communication in 2020, thanks to social distancing. Many nonprofits successfully engaged their donors online last year, which is why we can expect digital fundraising to remain at the fore in 2021. Learning how to better convert that digital engagement into dollars raised will become a key nonprofit trend for the next few years.

These showcase the power of digital media.

Numerous organizations created gift matching drives and hashtag campaigns, and used live video and paid social media ads to reach even more donors and increase revenue.

Nonprofits will need to continue their strong social media presence this year. Actively engage with your community by encouraging comments and encouraging conversations with supporters.

Use — many of which are free — to post regularly and measure success through platform analytics. You can also learn the best time to post to get the most engagement through these tools.

is another area that nonprofits can utilize to retain donors. Despite the i788ncreased emphasis on two-way, social communication, emails are still the number one way to reach your audience. Sending regular emails is a great way to keep donors informed and connected to the organization.

A nonprofit blog is a great way to keep donors updated on what your organization is doing and to highlight the causes you are working on鈥攖hese will help you get better engagement.

Nonprofit Trend听#2: Share Your Impact

We have written about the importance of transparency for nonprofit fundraising during a crisis and this is a trend that is going to continue well past 2021.

Nonprofits will face unexpected challenges this year, as will their supporters. To ensure that donations continue to come in, organizations will have to add value to their donation appeals.

There are numerous nonprofits around the world, all vying for attention from prospective donors. The way to win them over is to show how your organization is making an impact. And that鈥檚 the key – it鈥檚 about showing, not just telling.听

Explain where their money is going and the real people you are helping using a range of information: data, stories, testimonials, images, etc. Let your supporters know how close you are to reaching your mission-driven goals and share stories from the people you鈥檝e helped. Just be sure to get permission from your beneficiaries before you pass it on!听

You can highlight how the support of your donors can directly impact your goals, like the New Zealand SPCA does on their homepage.

Nonprofit Trend听#3: Flexible Strategies

The nonprofit sector, thanks to tighter budgets and fewer resources, has always had to learn on the go, but 2020 proved that flexibility is incredibly important. By preparing for the worst, nonprofits can be prepared to handle anything that comes their way.

The way nonprofits work has changed due to the pandemic鈥�, and that impacts the inner workings of organizations.

Being flexible with how your employees work, whether in-house or remotely, will be a priority in 2021.听

But fundraising strategies will also need to be flexible鈥攜ou can鈥檛 put all your eggs in one basket. In other words, diversify the ways in which you generate revenue.

If you鈥檝e been fundraising primarily through web donations, consider running crowdfunding campaigns, virtual events, or peer-to-peer campaigns. Workplace giving in particular is a method that has gained popularity during the pandemic. These programs not only engage employees and become the virtual watercooler around which teammates connect,听but they also help employees feel connected to their jobs and the community.听

Keep your options open and have a backup plan so you can adjust depending on the environment.

Nonprofit Trend #4: Recurring Donations

One-off donations are helpful but they require more work, which often means there鈥檚 little to no return on investment (ROI). Each new supporter has to go through the entire donor journey until they finally donate.

This requires introducing them to your cause and proving to them that your nonprofit is worth their hard-earned money. It is a long process that results in a single donation.

Consider the special #GivingTuesday campaign. There is no doubt that many nonprofits build a successful strategy around that day of giving. However, did you know that workplace giving, which is a recurring giving campaign via payroll contributions, generates nearly 10 times more in funding for nonprofits annually than #GivingTuesday? Check out this 精东影业鈥檚 Charities article for the details.

Recurring giving enables nonprofits to plan for funding all year-long and it鈥檚 easier on a donor鈥檚 bank account. Many donors actually give more over the long-term when they can donate a small amount of each paycheck to a charity they love, rather than one whopping donation. Bottom-line, recurring giving benefits the nonprofit, donor, AND the people being served by the nonprofit.

A new donor鈥檚 second contribution is called the 鈥済olden donation.鈥� It鈥檚 hard to get your new supporters to make a second contribution and yet, per the statistics below, it鈥檚 worth the effort. Nonprofits who focus on receiving that golden donation naturally increase their average donor retention rate (about threefold!) because of this higher repeat retention rate.

Nonprofit Trend #5: Virtual Events

With more people spending time online for work, entertainment, and philanthropy, virtual events are one of the biggest fallouts of the pandemic.

In-person meetings are possible now only under strict health restrictions, making virtual fundraising the go-to method for most nonprofits, like this .

There are benefits to going virtual for events鈥攜ou can that allows you to tap into a global audience. This opens up fundraising resources heretofore untapped.

Virtual events also allow more diverse audiences to attend fundraisers. Attendees don鈥檛 have to concern themselves with traveling distances, hotel stays, or taking time off from work.

Organizations also cut down on the cost of securing venues, food, transportation, etc.鈥攖hough they continue to be a consideration for hybrid events that include virtual and in-person elements. Of course, it鈥檚 important to invest in virtual events to ensure a positive experience, so nonprofits still need to set aside a budget for events. But thankfully, that budget doesn鈥檛 need to be quite so hefty in a virtual environment.

Key Takeaways: Go Digital to Adapt to the Nonprofit Trends of 2021

2020 changed the way the world works and it has impacted nonprofits in ways that will continue over the next few years.

Five of the biggest nonprofit trends of 2021 are:

• Digital fundraising
• Sharing your impact
• Flexible strategies
• Recurring donations
• Virtual events

By adapting to these trends, nonprofits will be able to reach and retain more donors and fundraise better.

Ronita Mohan is a content marketer at Venngage, the online听听and design platform. Ronita regularly writes about digital marketing, nonprofits, and small business growth.听Twitter:

Cover image:听Photo by听听on听

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The post 5 Nonprofit Trends to Boost Fundraising Efforts in 2021 appeared first on 精东影业's Charities.

Programs funded in part or in full through the HRC Foundation include:

• 听is the only national program dedicated to LGBTQ inclusion in child welfare (foster care and adoption agencies) that provides resource development, technical assistance and training.
• 听produces written resources and conducts original quantitative and qualitative research exploring the lived experiences of LGBTQ people.
• 听provides capacity-building and leadership development opportunities to LGBTQ advocates from around the world.
• 听is the only national project that partners with Historically Black Colleges and Universities on establishing an LGBTQ-inclusive campus climate.
• 听provides resources and training to help thousands of healthcare facilities adopt inclusive policies and practices to better serve LGBTQ patients and employees.
• 听develops public education and capacity-building programs to address the disproportionate impact of HIV on Black and Latinx communities.
• 听provides faith leaders with opportunities and tools to stand up for equality even as opponents attempt to weaponize faith against LGBTQ people.
• 听leads economic empowerment programs, capacity-building initiatives, community engagement efforts, and public safety education campaigns that combat the discrimination faced by transgender people.
• 听is the only bias-based bullying prevention program in the nation to provide LGBTQ-specific training and resources with an intersectional lens, developed for use in elementary schools.
• 听advances equality for LGBTQ workers through the adoption and implementation of inclusive policies, practices, and benefits in the U.S. and beyond.
• 听provides professional development to over 5,000 youth-serving professionals annually, through the annual Time to THRIVE conference, webinars, participation at major national convenings, and by amplifying the stories of HRC Youth Ambassadors. The program also convenes HRC鈥檚 Parents for Transgender Equality Council.

Our work is not done until every LGBTQ person is truly equal.听 And that鈥檚 why we need your help.听 Support from donors through the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC#11893) and workplace giving campaigns helps us keep moving our community forward.

Support the Human Rights Campaign Foundation听through your employee giving听program:

As a donor, you can support the Human Rights Campaign Foundation听by听donating to them through your employer鈥檚 workplace giving program听(CFC#11893听if you’re a military or federal employee participating in the Combined Federal Campaign).听Payroll pledges made through employer-sponsored charitable giving programs represent a听cost effective and near effortless way to support your favorite charities.

As the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s听workplace giving partner, 精东影业鈥檚 Charities can help your company design and implement a program centered on supporting their work – through workplace giving campaigns, employee fundraising, cause-focused signature programs, volunteerism, donation drives, matching gifts, Dollars-for-Doers, In-Kind Giving and other employee engagement and philanthropic initiatives.听Click here听to request a demo and learn how we can help you do this.

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The Giving Block makes accepting cryptocurrency donations easy for nonprofits and is the #1 crypto giving solution. Their services include crypto account set-up, donation widget creation, an auto-sell conversion feature, and automatic tax receipts. With , cryptocurrency has become more popular than Venmo among Millennial and Gen-Z donors. Get started with The Giving Block today and open your doors to the future of fundraising.

The Giving Block team walks you through all parts of the onboarding process and stays to ensure the best crypto fundraising outcomes. Part of their services include marketing assistance to help your nonprofit reach the crypto community. 精东影业鈥檚 Charities members that take advantage of this partnership will gain access to a new pool of donors and have expert help alongside them.

精东影业鈥檚 Charities nonprofit members that sign up for The Giving Block services will gain access to a new pool of donors. They have strategic partnerships, which allow them to run mass fundraising campaigns for peak outcomes. Each year they also run , which is the Giving Tuesday equivalent for cryptocurrency.

Why do people donate crypto? Cryptocurrency is classified as a property by the IRS. Cryptocurrency donors are incentivized to to avoid capital gains tax and get a fair market value deduction on their tax return. Join other member organizations like No Kid Hungry who already accepts cryptocurrency donations.

Interested in signing up or learning more?

Head here and keep in mind that 精东影业鈥檚 Charities members will get a 10% discount on the first year of subscription fees!

The post 精东影业’s Charities and The Giving Block Partner On Cryptocurrency Donation Offering appeared first on 精东影业's Charities.

This is undoubtedly true for the internal operations of your nonprofit. You鈥檝e had to adapt your fundraising efforts for the new normal by adopting new technologies and modernizing existing programs.听

But it鈥檚 also important to consider the impact of the crisis on your supporters. As you know, effective donor retention strategies are built on a foundation of trust and connection. In turbulent times, you should double down on empathetic strategies to reinforce these relationships.

At Salsa, we specialize in helping nonprofit organizations leverage technology to create personal connections with supporters. We鈥檝e seen firsthand how smart engagement strategies can help establish emotional connections with supporters, which should be a primary focus for your organization during the crisis.

Here are four of the best ways to show supporters you care about them during this period of uncertainty:

1. Personalize your outreach across platforms.
2. Focus on truly listening.
3. Demonstrate how they鈥檝e helped your cause.
4. Plan virtual events to build community.

A data-driven and emotionally engaging approach to donor relations will benefit your organization both during and after a crisis. But to fully connect with donors, you need tools that provide ample access to the right information and efficient ways to conduct outreach. If you need smarter platforms to power your donor relationships, check out to see the best solutions on the market.

1. Personalize your outreach across platforms.

Individualized appreciation is always key to donor relations, but it鈥檚 wise to step it up a notch when you are checking in during a crisis. In your outreach, lean into strategies that create a personal conversation with supporters.

You may not be able to physically sit down with a donor for a heart-to-heart chat, but by personalizing your digital outreach or setting up virtual meetings, you can still evoke an intimate environment for conversation. Challenge yourself to engage in marketing efforts that go beyond using someone鈥檚 first name in an email鈥攖hough don鈥檛 stop doing that, either!

You should already have data on record that allows you to create donor segments that enable smart outreach strategies. If you鈥檙e looking to expand your audience even further, look for opportunities to connect with even more supporters. For instance, reach out to donors who contributed to your organization through a third-party service like a workplace giving program.

Here are a few ways to conduct crisis-related outreach that shows donors you care:

• Multiplatform interactions. Ensure you are keeping up with donors on their preferred communication platform. In addition to standard channels like email, try to incorporate new platforms like Facebook Live. If your supporters are tagging or posting about your organization on social media, don鈥檛 forget to respond! You can also encourage your nonprofit鈥檚 board members and employees to chime into online conversations. This adds a personal touch to what may feel like the faceless presence of your organization鈥檚 branded page.听

• Hyper-personalized details. Now is a perfect time to make use of the . Depending on the data you have available, you can reference or ask questions about a supporter鈥檚 job, family and pets, or even a recent event that they attended. But don鈥檛 go overboard鈥攁 little bit of personal information goes a long way when making someone feel seen, but too much can feel intrusive.

• One-on-one conversation. A phone call is a tried-and-true way to have an intimate conversation with donors. When you call, be sure the first thing you do is ask how that supporter is doing. Make their well-being your first priority. You could also conduct mobile outreach through a texting service, social media messaging, or video calls.

These strategies are just the starting point for a productive conversation. In order for these conversations to lead to long-term impact, be sure to incorporate one or more of the other tips on this list.

2. Focus on truly listening.

Once you鈥檝e opened up a communication channel (whether via phone, chat, social media, or on another platform) establish rapport through personal communication then dive a bit deeper. Checking in with donors should focus more on what they have to say rather than what you have to say.

Create a space that allows the donor to feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and concerns about the crisis and your organization鈥檚 reaction to it. Ask open-ended questions and listen to their answers. If you are worried about seeming opportunistic during a time of financial hardship, then you aren鈥檛 asking the right questions.听

Hopefully, the conversation will flow naturally. But if not, here are a few ideas to get the ball rolling:

• Ask them how they鈥檙e holding up.
• Explain the safety procedures you鈥檝e put in place to keep supporters, staff, and constituents safe during COVID-19.听
• Inquire about what you can do to increase their engagement.
• Tell them about the upcoming opportunities they can participate in (virtual events, campaigns, etc.)听
• Ask for feedback about the latest activity or event they attended.

Successful donor relationships should feel relational, not just transactional. This is especially critical in times of chaos when your supporters are dealing with unusual circumstances and financial pressures. They should feel reassured that they mean more to your organization than just dollar signs, and open dialogue will help.听

A relationship-first approach to communicating with donors is ideal, but that鈥檚 not to suggest fundraising doesn鈥檛 matter. While putting time and effort into these connections during a crisis may or may not lead to immediate contributions, they do cultivate long-term giving for a more sustainable fundraising strategy.

According to the , the average donor attrition rate is 57%. By establishing relationships, you can decrease this metric, increase retention, spend less on acquisition, and raise more in the long run.

3. Demonstrate how they鈥檝e helped your cause.

Continue to center your conversation about the donor, but instead of focusing on how they鈥檙e currently being impacted by the crisis, change directions to discuss their past and potential impact on your mission. This will demonstrate how appreciative you are for the individual鈥檚 contributions to your organization before, during, and after the crisis.

Provide detailed information about how the donor has made a difference. This will vary from organization to organization, but providing a concrete example is helpful when possible. Translating dollar amounts into resources and initiatives improves transparency and fosters a stronger connection between the donor and your cause.听

This is helpful in both one-on-one conversations and communications as well as more public forums where you address your community as a whole. If speaking with an individual, tailor your information to the specific amount they have contributed. If posting publicly, provide an aggregate metric for a set period, like the last week or month.听

For instance, if your nonprofit works to address food insecurity, explain how many families the donor has helped to feed with their $500 donation. Or if you鈥檙e an animal shelter, post on Facebook about how many dogs you鈥檝e been able to find homes for in the last month. For more examples of ways to communicate donor impact, consult thank-you letter templates like from .

The goal here is to emphasize your gratitude for their support, not to make an additional ask. However, some supporters may feel motivated to donate, so be prepared to direct them to your to streamline their giving process.

Depending on the nature of your organization, you can also provide data related to virtual volunteering to show how your donors are making a difference and how they can continue making a difference without contributing financially.

4. Plan virtual events to build community.

Although events like volunteer days and fundraising galas are out of the question, you can still find ways to facilitate community involvement in a remote setting.听

And you don鈥檛 have to feel overwhelmed by planning big virtual events like online fundraisers (for a great guide to virtual events, ). Even smaller-scale events can prove to your donors that you care about investing in your community.

Here are a few ideas for gathering your supporters in a digital space:

• Virtual happy hours or networking
• Webinar or Q&A session with your organization鈥檚 director
• Virtual conferences
• Live interviews with constituents who have been helped by your organization

Virtual events help to maintain supporter engagement with your organization and boost overall well-being for your community.

During a crisis, your nonprofit must show compassion for your supporters. By taking the time to check in with your most loyal community members, you can encourage engagement with your mission. With these strategies, your organization will be well-equipped to show donors just how much you appreciate them.

About the author:听

Gerard Tonti is the Senior Creative Developer at , the premier fundraising software company for growth-focused nonprofits.听Gerard’s marketing focus on content creation, conversion optimization and modern marketing technology helps him coach nonprofit development teams on digital fundraising best practices.

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#GivingTuesdayNow is taking place听in addition to the regularly scheduled #GivingTuesday on听December 1, 2020.

One of the best things we can do while we maintain听physical distance is to听show social connection听on behalf of each other and our communities. Activities in which we can all partake include:听

• Donate to the听Coronavirus Response Fund听to听simultaneously ensure听individuals affected by the pandemic have access to food, while also helping听governments around the world immediately respond to the pandemic and strengthen health systems for billions.
• Give to the individual organizations that you love most 鈥� no amount is too little and nonprofits need our support.
• Support healthcare workers by donating supplies, advocating for them, and staying home.
• Help out small businesses by buying gift cards or writing an online review.
• Combat loneliness by reaching out to a neighbor, relative, seniors, or veterans.

Visit /givingtuesdaynow to learn more and get information to help you plan your own #GivingTuesdayNow celebration.

We鈥檝e put together resources and articles from industry experts to help you get ready for this global day of giving. Click below for #GivingTuesdayNow resources specifically for:

• Nonprofits
• Businesses/Employers
• Individual Donors

If you are an 精东影业’s Charities member, contact marcom@charities.org听and听let us know how your nonprofit is responding to COVID-19.听We have already听compiled a list of 听and are including it in our . If you are not included on that page, let us know what you are doing and we will add your activities and continue听to use our website and social media pages to promote you.听

We鈥檇 love to hear from you.

It doesn’t matter where you come from, where you live, or what profession you have, we know that COVID-19听has impacted you. We’d love to learn how you are managing during this difficult time. How are you connecting with your loved ones and colleagues during coronavirus? How will you celebrate #GivingTuesdayNow on May 5? Share your story — be sure to tag us on , , , and — and we鈥檒l share your update with our network.

Whatever you鈥檙e doing, however you are managing in this new normal, thank you for caring and working toward the greater good. Our thoughts are with you. As as been proven time and again, we know that when we come together, when we are united, amazing things happen.听听 听

Visit our听Coronavirus Resource Center听for six steps you can take, right now, to help communities impacted by COVID-19 near and far. We are keeping this page updated as coronavirus continues its destructive path,听so check back often.

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Is Giving Tuesday really that impactful for nonprofits?

This day of fundraising for nonprofits has no doubt raised awareness about supporting charitable causes, but it pales in comparison to the rest of the year. According to , charities earn 3.5x more on December 31st than they do on Giving Tuesday. So why all the fuss on this one day?

Giving Tuesday provides an easily understood reason to reach out to new or existing donors. The key is to build that same excitement and enthusiasm your board members hopefully have for Giving Tuesday and generate it for other drives throughout the year. Here are some simple tips for where to start.

Use your data.

Every time you conduct a campaign like Giving Tuesday, it is tempting to just look at the overall sum raised and stop your analysis there. By gathering more donor data throughout the year, your board can get significant insights into where you need to improve and where you are doing great. For example, is your average time between donation and thank-you less than 48 hours? If not, your board members may need to be more engaged in accomplishing this. Where do you stand on repeat donors, lapsed donors, donation growth? If you notice your Giving Tuesday (or any other annual campaign) decreasing year over year, it may be something your board should investigate. Be sure to communicate the numbers to your board regularly throughout the year 鈥� not just after a major campaign or at the end of the year. Ideally, you would have a live dashboard available to them that tracks important goals and shows progress. With the right information, they can get creative about ways to improve.

Make it easy.

The most sure-fire way to lose your board members鈥� attention after Giving Tuesday and throughout the year is to put up barriers to engagement. Asking board members to post something on social media? Provide them with all the wording, images, and hashtags or handles they will need . The same goes for event invitations, donation solicitations, networking, and pretty much anything you鈥檇 like your board members to do on behalf of the organization. Make sure you鈥檙e telling these busy professionals exactly what you need, when you need it, and they can help.

Give recognition.

Just because board members are likely fairly accomplished professionally, it doesn鈥檛 mean they wouldn鈥檛 like some appreciation for their successes and efforts. It doesn鈥檛 have to be big or flashy or expensive. This is where it is crucial to 鈥渒now your audience.鈥� If you have a boisterous and outgoing board member, they might appreciate a group shout-out in a meeting. Your more reserved board members may prefer a personal phone call or quick email message saying you noticed their hard work and want to congratulate them for their success. It helps to have small goals that are reachable on a month-to-month basis, not simply celebrating giant fundraising goals. It could be as simple as a monthly donor thank-you phone call or card goal, a set number of coffees or networking touches per month, or progress on a silent auction donation. Find reasons to celebrate your board members and help them feel they are valued and 鈥渨inning.鈥�

There鈥檚 always room to learn.

Remember, it may take some trial and error to figure out what motivates your board throughout the year. You might even outright ask them what would make their work more rewarding all year round. Giving Tuesday is an important nonprofit fundraising event, but if you can optimize the rest of your board鈥檚 calendar, you鈥檒l go far further than you would with even the best Giving Tuesday.

About Jeb Banner:

Jeb is the founder and CEO of , a nonprofit board management software provider. He is also the founder of two nonprofits, The Speak Easy and Musical Family Tree, as well as a board member of United Way Central Indiana and ProAct. Jeb is based in Indianapolis, Indiana.

About Boardable:

Boardable is an that centralizes communication, document storage, meeting planning, and everything else that goes into running a board of directors. Founded in 2016 by nonprofit leaders and founders, Boardable has a mission to improve board engagement for nonprofits. Boardable is based in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The post Board Member Engagement: Extending Giving Tuesday Throughout the Year appeared first on 精东影业's Charities.

One effective way to bolster fundraising initiatives is to host an event in conjunction with your broader campaign. However, given how busy you are, hosting an event may seem easier said than done!

We鈥檝e outlined six steps to help your fundraising event go to plan:

1. Plan well in advance.
2. Market your event far-and-wide.
3. Optimize your digital tools for increased engagement.
4. Use trending methods for collecting donations.
5. Host an enjoyable event.
6. Incorporate corporate philanthropy.

If you haven鈥檛 started planning your event yet, it鈥檚 time to get started. Let鈥檚 dive in!

1. Plan well in advance.

Just as you plan other initiatives weeks to months in advance, treat your fundraising events in the same manner.听

There are a few planning steps to keep in mind:

1. Brainstorm event ideas. Whether you鈥檙e looking for cause-related, sports team, or even , take care to choose the perfect event for your unique organization and community.

2. Start nailing down specifics. This is where considerations of date and time, venue, budget, etc. come into play.

3. Spread the word. Create a strong strategy for marketing your event to ensure it performs at maximum potential.

4. Fundraise! Gather donations associated with your causes of choice before, during, and after the event.

Allocate adequate time to each step in the planning process. Not only are there many factors to get in order, but as with any live event鈥� things can go wrong! You want to ensure there is plenty of time in your planning schedule to mitigate any disasters and resolve any confusion.

2. Market your event far and wide.

Innovations in methods of communication mean there are a ton of ways to get the word out about your organization鈥檚 fundraising event. You should take advantage of every method available to you.

Consider using the following methods in marketing your fundraising event:

• Email. Focus on creating an email, perhaps even an email newsletter, that鈥檚 conversational, concise, and informational. Most emails are read on mobile devices, and people using those devices are unlikely to dedicate much time to reading an email.

• Direct Mail. Don鈥檛 neglect direct mail in favor of technology-fueled methods. Many supporters still respond to this type of communication, and you need to accommodate them as well.

• Social Media. Create highly shareable content and broadcast it to your supporters via social media. Encourage these supporters to share this content with their own networks, further spreading your message. One of the best ways to share your event in this way is through Facebook events.听

Pick and choose which methods make the most sense for your organization and donor base. For example, if you鈥檙e dealing with a more traditional base that tends to stray from social media platforms, place a focus on direct mail and email. However, if your base is social media savvy (and you鈥檒l likely have at least a few supporters who are), then choose which platforms can best house your message and reach your supporters.

Finally, start marketing early! The new year is a busy time for your organization and donors alike, and if you want to fit into supporters鈥� calendars, you need to tell them about your event well in advance.听

3. Optimize your digital tools for increased engagement.

Once you鈥檝e successfully gotten the word out about your event, you鈥檒l experience a deluge of visitors to your organization鈥檚 digital tools. In particular, your website and online giving platform. Ensure those tools are performing at their best in preparation for the increased support:听

Website

Your website is often the first place potential supporters visit upon first discovering your nonprofit – or for employers, your philanthropy efforts – as well as the first place many existing supporters look for information regarding opportunities to give.

There are a few things to keep in mind when making sure this tool is up-to-par:

• Make sure your page is both attractive and educational. Nonprofits, check out for inspiration. Employers, talk with your workplace giving provider to take advantage of your digital platform鈥檚 many features and functionality.

• Include an events calendar, so visitors can quickly scan for upcoming opportunities.

• Prominently display a link to your organization鈥檚 .

• Include a lead capture form for new supporters that would like to receive future information.

Your website is your most powerful tool for delivering information to a ton of supporters in little time. Make sure it鈥檚 well prepared to do so.

Online Giving Platform

Your online giving platform is helpful before, during, and after your event. Supporters giving in advance of the event, attendees giving during the event, and even donors giving post-event鈥� it鈥檚 an important resource throughout the duration.

Ensure this resource is seamlessly branded to your organization, so supporters feel comfortable giving through it. Further, make sure the platform is optimized for on-the-go use as that鈥檚 most likely how donors using it at the event will access it.

4. Use trending methods for collecting donations.

The internet has revolutionized the ways in which we collect donations, and these methods are trending for a reason.

They鈥檙e easy, often inexpensive, and are a great way to magnify your event鈥檚 fundraising potential. Check out a few of the top methods below:

• Peer-to-Peer Fundraising: Create a peer-to-peer fundraising campaign for your organization, with supporters creating their own individual pages along with it. Supporters then share their personal pages with their larger support network, with friends and family donating in support of their loved one. These donations are then routed back to your main campaign.

• Crowdfunding: Create a crowdfunding page and share it with your supporters. These donors then share this page with their friends and families, exposing your fundraiser to new faces. These new donors can then give directly to your page.

• Text-to-Give: Set up a text-to-give number and keyword and share it with supporters at your event. With it, supporters can begin the giving process with the ease of sending a single text message.

• Pledge Fundraising: This pairs well with a fitness-based fundraiser, such as a walk-a-thon. Use a pledge fundraising platform, , to create a campaign for your event with participants creating pages in conjunction with it. Participants then collect pledged donations (those promised for a later date) corresponding to their participation in your event.

Each of these trending digital donation collection methods will pair differently with your fundraising event, depending on what type of event you鈥檙e hosting.听

For example, peer-to-peer and pledge methods need to be employed before the event, usually in anticipation of a donor鈥檚 participation in your event. On the other hand, crowdfunding and text-to-give methods can be used during live events.

5. Host an enjoyable event.

There鈥檚 no question, fundraising is not easy – and people are busier than ever. Not only are donors receiving increased communications from the nonprofits they support, but they鈥檙e busier in their personal lives as well! With the new year comes a new commitment to accomplishing goals, which means people are more reluctant to leave their offices.

Therefore, if you鈥檙e going to ask supporters to not only give to a cause but to attend an event to do so鈥� you need to make it worth their time.听

For example, check out this event that was hosted by 精东影业鈥檚 Charities member Canine Partners for Life. The nonprofit, which specializes in training service dogs that assist people with a wide variety of disabilities, drew inspiration from its mission. Hosting an event that included a puppy kissing booth and 鈥渃ow bingo,鈥� the organization created a fun experience while educating supporters about its cause.

Don鈥檛 host an event that鈥檚 educational to the point of being uninteresting. Instead, host an event that provides value to charitable supporters. Whether that鈥檚 something fun (but involved) like a puppy kissing booth or something more low-key and fitness-related , there are plenty of ways to raise money while maintaining donor interest.

6. Incorporate corporate philanthropy.

Last but not least, incorporate corporate philanthropy programs when possible to immediately increase the impact of donations at your event.

These programs are a way for businesses to express their philanthropic side, by giving to your organization and benefitting from the association. There are three common program types you should look out for: Volunteer Grants, Matching Gifts, and Corporate Sponsorships.

Through volunteer grant programs, companies match the number of hours their employees volunteer with an approved nonprofit. If your event is run with the help of volunteers, it would be worth it to see if any of these volunteers are match-eligible.

Matching gift programs involve companies pledging to make a donation matching the financial gift made by their employee to an approved nonprofit. A match-eligible donor giving at your event can immediately double the impact of their gift, and it would be worth it to encourage donors to investigate their status. Nonprofits, check out these tips, and free guide, to听take advantage of matching gift programs. Employers, download this definitive guide to corporate matching gifts.听

Finally, with corporate sponsorships, a company donates some amount of money (or an in-kind gift of supplies) to help fuel your event itself. In return, you include their name somewhere on the event鈥� whether on a flyer, posters, or even event t-shirts.

From outreach to corporate philanthropy program research, hosting a successful fundraising event is no small task.

With a bit of planning, however, your organization can be the ultimate host this giving season. By incorporating these six tips in your preparation, you鈥檒l be hosting a successful event in no time!

About the author: Brad Dowhaniuk is the co-founder of , which provides schools and teams with an easy-to-use, web-based fundraising solution to manage and drive success in Fun Runs, jog-a-thons, baseball hit-a-thons, and much more.

The post How to Host a Successful Fundraising Event appeared first on 精东影业's Charities.

What Makes Workplace Giving Better for Donors and Employers?

Through workplace giving, you can have your employer deduct a small, recurring amount of money from your paycheck each pay period for a year, which means you can make a more generous tax-deductible gift to your favorite causes without feeling the impact all at once. Whether you pledge $1 or $10 per paycheck, your donation really adds up – especially when you combine it with the generosity of other employee donors at your company and from across the country. And your employers benefits from an engaged and socially-minded workforce.

What Makes Workplace Giving Better for Nonprofits?

Workplace giving is a single, coordinated appeal that significantly decreases the administrative burden on charities. Rather than make a charity process thousands of individual donations from multiple fundraisers and day of giving events, 精东影业鈥檚 Charities processes and combines all of those individual workplace giving donations into one lump sum, which is much easier to manage and quicker for a charity to use. While one-time donations from #GivingTuesday donors are certainly a welcome surprise for any nonprofit; it鈥檚 just that – a surprise. Workplace giving donations provide nonprofits with a more reliable source of funds they can count on to plan and sustain their programs, services, and day-to-day operations all year long.

How to Join the Workplace Giving Movement:

Learn how you – as a donor, an employer, or a nonprofit – can join the workplace giving movement at .

Sources:

The Nonprofit Times:听

精东影业鈥檚 Charities: /facts-statistics-workplace-giving-matching-gifts-and-volunteer-programs

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The post Beyond #GivingTuesday: How Your Donation Can Make an Even Bigger, Longer-Term Impact through Workplace Giving appeared first on 精东影业's Charities.