Tech Solutions:

Nonprofit Communications

and Fundraising

To build credibility, enhance online

communications and fundraising effectiveness

Nonprofit Facts from the National Center for Charitable Statistics

1,571,056 tax-exempt organizations:

• 1,097,689 public charities

• 105,030 private foundations

• 368,337 other types of nonprofit organizations, including

chambers of commerce, fraternal organizations

and civic leagues

• In 2010 nonprofits accounted for 9.2% of all wages and

salaries paid in the United States.

(Source: The Nonprofit Almanac, 2012)

• Nonprofit share of GDP was 5.3% in 2014.

(Source: US Bureau of Economic Analysis)

Greenlights | Now Mission Capital | Austin, Texas

“Back in 2009, when Greenlights released the ‘Does Central Texas Have

Too Many Nonprofits?’ report, many were surprised to learn that we

counted 6,000+ nonprofits in our MSA, or more organizations per capita

than any other city in the Southwest.

Even before that report was produced, we … had been talking about the

pros and cons of having so many nonprofits in our community. Our

board, leadership, and team often discuss whether it makes sense not

only to ask nonprofits to consider alliances or mergers with others, but to

actively encourage them to do so.”

How will your nonprofit stand out?

Young organizations and startups frequently

have limited staff and resources!

“Think smart”

Set up centralized online platform “hubs”

Focus your energies on your central credibility-building hubs and polish

Hub #1

Your Website: A “Hub” of Its Own!

• A website is the organization’s “virtual” office

• Sets the tone for the organization’s public image

• Resource for nonprofit information essential to donation decision-making

• Contains mission and basic organizational information with links to tandem platforms

Hub #2

Gmail | Google Drive | YouTube |

Google Photos (Movie, Animations) |

Google+ | Email Platforms

• Gmail account for centralized platform management

• Google Drive houses documents securely in the cloud, easy access, great for

secure sharing and collaborative working

• YouTube is one of the most-used search engines

• Google Photos stores photos, sharing is easy (also consider YouTube Video

Editor, Google Movie and Animations)

Hub #2

continued

Gmail | Google Drive | YouTube | Google Photos (Movie)

Google+ | Email Platforms

• Google is the strongest search engine; information posted on Google+ is

highly “searchable” (important to be present)

• iContact, MailChimp, Constant Contact and others are not “Google”

platforms, but they often house the email addresses found in the

organization’s Gmail account and those can be coordinated (co-managed)

A Few Email Platform Notes

• Email is still one of the best ways to communicate with donors and

constituents on an ongoing basis about events, projects and your

needs for support (donations)

• Email is also a key form of sponsor recognition; many sponsors seek

that opportunity when making funding decisions

• Email platforms help nonprofits comply with federal laws regarding

“spam” (subscribe /unsubscribe any time)

Hub #2 | Google

Gmail

Google Drive & Google Photo

Google+

Other Email

Platforms

YouTube

Hub #3

GuideStar | AmazonSmile | Crowdrise | GreatNonprofits

• GuideStar is world’s largest public information database of nonprofit

organizations

• GuideStar houses tax returns for every nonprofit (no choice)

• Nonprofits of all sizes benefit by fleshing-out their existing profile, and

those with modest or challenged fundraising track records especially can

gain credibility by doing so

GuideStar | AmazonSmile | Crowdrise | GreatNonprofits

• Claiming your GuideStar profile and filling it out fully shows your

organization cares about its public image, that it operates in a professional,

transparent manner

• Media exposes about nonprofits and how they are managed mean the more

transparent organizations are the more likely donors and professional

advisors will have confidence in giving (be open and honest)

• A knowledgeable accountant is worth paying for (tax prep with nonprofit

concerns in mind)

GuideStar | AmazonSmile | Crowdrise | GreatNonprofits

GuideStar partners with other powerful online databases

and platforms helpful to fundraising and establishing credibility …

• AmazonSmile pulls information directly from GuideStar, and once

approved, organizations receive a portion of sales on Amazon

• Crowdrise is both a general donation platform and a crowdfunding

mechanism; it has one of the lowest financial transaction fees

(Network for Good and WePay)

• GreatNonprofits is leading review and testimonial platform, used

often by potential donors deciding whether or not to make a donation

Hub #3 | GuideStar

GuideStar

Amazon

Smile

Crowdrise GreatNonprofits

Hub #4

Social Media like Facebook | Twitter | Instagram and more

• Facebook is essential

• Twitter is favored by those wanting brief but critical information

• Instagram and Pinterest are strong “visual” platforms growing in importance

as visual communications are favored over written

• LinkedIn and other platforms can be helpful to nonprofits - choose based on

their respective strengths and your organization’s style and purpose

Hub #4 | Social Media

Facebook (Top

Priority)

Instagram

Twitter LinkedIn & More

#1: Your Website

#2: Google Suite & Email

Platform

#3: GuideStar & Partners

#4: Social Media

Advice & Predictions

• If you learn how to use your preferred social media platforms, you will not

need an “auto posting” service (take the time)

• Don’t try to fit the exact same information into each social media platform

and expect readers to think you are “paying attention”

• GuideStar will add more partner platforms to its repertoire

• GuideStar is working to create an easy-to-use online grant application,

whereby key operational data is automatically uploaded into the platform

• The sooner you get onto GuideStar the better!

Carolyn M. Appleton, CFRE

Website | carolynmappletoninc.com

Gmail | carolynmappleton@gmail.com

Mobile | 512-954-4477

• I have set-up and managed the platform “hubs” discussed

• With the exception of the email platforms, each platform mentioned

is free of charge to users at the most basic levels

• Thank you!

Resources

GuideStar: http://www.guidestar.org

Idealware: http://www.idealware.org

National Council for Charitable Statistics: http://nccs.urban.org/

NTEN: Nonprofit Technology Network: http://www.nten.org/ and NTEN

Online Groups: http://www.nten.org/community/online-groups/

TechSoup and NetSquared: http://www.techsoup.org/ and

http://www.netsquared.org/

Texas Secretary of State:

https://www.sos.state.tx.us/corp/nonprofit_org.shtml