“The Circle ofSafety”
Nonprofit AwarenessAdvisor
June2015
News and Tips to Make Your Life Easier, Safer andHappier!
For Friends and Clients of Nonprofit Insurance Services
How To Properly Recognize YourDonor
Brian BarrickAuthor,
CEO,PresidentNonprofit InsuranceServices
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Saying“ThankYou”canbetheeasiestandalsothehardestthingtosay.Itisan expressionthatshowsgratefulnessforagoodandthoughtfuldeed.Nobodyknows the power of a good deed more than a person who is in dire need of help. Thedeed donecanbesogreatthatmerewordsareinadequate.Nonprofitorganizationscan attesttothisasmostofthemworkwithwhatlittleresourcestheyhavetomakea difference in someone’s life. They work tirelessly and look for ways to raise fundsto provideshelter,food,clothing,medicine,andevenemotionalhelpforthoseunder theircare.
Nonprofit organizations rely on the goodwill of donors to fulfill their objectives,and theyfindwaystoexpresstheirgratitudetothosewhohelptheorganization.Every organization wants donors who donate as many times as they can. Some of theways they recognize and thank their donors isby:
Hosting a Thanksgiving Gala - It is a perfect way to say thank you andto
recognizetheeffortmadebya donor. Italsoshowsthatyouappreciatetheeffort that has been made on their behalf. Throwing a party in a donor’s honor is alsoa way to encourage the donor to continue beingphilanthropic.
Naming a facility or department of your organization after them - You canchoose the department that gained a lot from thedonation.
Sending a Thank You card - It is a personal approach that is also sentimental.It shows the thought put behind the gift. This can work where more thanone donor made acontribution.
Invitingthemtoorganizationevents-Itcanbeassimpleasafamilydaycookout. It gives the donor time to spend with the people he or she ishelping.
Makingthemtheorganizationambassador-Asidefromboostingmoraleitisalsoawaytowelcomethedonorintotheorganization.Itmakeshimfeelathome, especiallyifthecausewassomethingheorshehasapersonalconnectionto.
Offering a donor a position on the board of directors - This is a good wayto ensurethatthedonorfeelsrecognizedanditmightofferhimthemotivationto bring more people to help theorganization.
All in all, no matter what form of thanks you use, it should come from the heartand shouldalwaysbeinthebestinterestoftheorganization.
Marketing YourNonprofit
Identify TradeAreaDefine a geographicarea to analyze formarket potential,market penetration,and competitivethreats.
SocialMedia
Manyopportunitiestomarket your oganizationfor free.Postphotos,updates,links, and information.
Blogs
Useasamarketingtoolof your organization. Theblog would need to beupdatedonaregularbasiswithusefulinformationyourreaders would bemostlikelytoshare.Helpsincreaseyourmissionawarenessaswellaskeepsyour audienceengaged.
SpeakingEngagementsHaveyourrepresentativesspeakatevents,tradeshows,andconferences.This is your opportunityforfree marketingand publicity.
Engage ThoseCurrentlySupportingYour Organization
Keep them informedandupdated, as well as,have them do things forandwith yourorganization.This will expandyourreach and getsyoursupporters moreinvolved.
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Do’s and Don’t ofFundraising
Fundraisingis away toearnfundstohelppayforadesirednecessity,whetheritisto pay for someone else’s medicinal treatments, school trips, boy or girlscoutsupplies,orananimalshelter.Whateveritis,youaretryingtoraisemoneyfor,there are some do’s and don’ts to keep inmind.
The Do’s ofFundraising
1.Always explains what it is you are raising money for in a clearmanner.
2.Alwaysmakesureyouhaveawellthoughtoutplanofhowyouaregoingto raise themoney.
3.Make sure you have extra hands to help with the fundraisingevent.
4.Makesureallthemoneyyouearnfromthefundraisergoestothatparticularcause and nothingelse.
5.Check with your insurance agent to assure you haveprotection.
6.Always advertise that you are having a fundraiser a month before you startitsopeopleareawareandtheproperamountoffundscanbedonated.
7.Alwayshaveasafespottostorethemoneyearnedata fundraiser, and always-put two trustworthy people in charge ofit.
8.Alwayssaythankyoutothepeoplewhodonatetoyourcause.Thesepeople aretheonesmakingitpossibleforyoutoachievethefundsnecessaryto support yourcause.
9.AlwayshaveaplanBjustincaseyourfirstfundraisingplandoesnotwork.
The Don’ts ofFundraising
1.Never start a fundraiser without a plan inplace.
2.Neverspendthemoneyyouearnfromafundraiseroncausesotherthanwhatthefundraiserwasmeantfor.Doingsowillcausethepublictolosetrustinyour organization.
3.Never force anyone to donate to yourcause.
4.Neverstorethefundraisingdonationsoutsidealockedcashbox.Doingsocould tempt someone to steal yourfunds.
5.Neverstartafundraiserwithoutallthetools,materialsandnecessitiesthatyouneed.Doingsocouldcauseyoutohaveapoorfundraisingevent.
6.Neverstealmoneyfrompeopleanddonateittothefundraisertohelpthe funds grow faster. This method is dishonest andrude.
End Notes to Keep inMind
Fundraisingshouldbeforhonestcausesonly.Fundraisingshouldbefun,upbeat and exciting. People who host a fundraiser should always be enthusiasticand happytosupportthecausetheyareraisingmoneyfor.Whenfundraisersarewellthought-outandkeptfun,theycansuccessfullyraisethemoneynecessary.
“Give and it will come back toyou”
-Anonymous
Meet ourTeam!
HeatherBrownMarketingAssistant
Heather graduated from The Art Institute ofYork Pennsylvania where she earned herAssociate's Degree of Specialized Technology in GraphicDesign. She holds over 10 years experience in thedesign field.Inhersparetime,Heatherlovestovisitwith her family and friends, hold cookouts andbonfires, spend time with her husband, painting, andcreatingarts and crafts for her family andfriends.
HowtoRunaSuccessfulNonprofitOrganization
Haveaclearmissionandvisionstatementaswellasperformancemetrics.Focusonwhatyouwanttodosothat you are able to clearly explain it in a few words without leaving out importantdetails.
Doproperresearchofwhatyouaregettingintosothatyouarewellawareofthelegalobligationsofyour organization and have everything handled before you get into operation. Remember that perfection is an enemyto “good enough”. Achieving good results is more effective then attainingperfection.
Itisadvisabletoworkfromyourtargetedresultbackwards.Alwaysfocusonyourgoalandworkonwhatneedstobe done to achieve it by using the various resources at yourdisposal.
Workcloselywithyourteamasyoucannotachieveyourgoalsbyisolatingyourself.Byworkingwithyouremployees andvolunteersyouwillbeabletoidentifytheirchallangesandmotivatethemtofocusonthegoals.
Wheneveryoumakeapromiseensurethatyouoverdeliver.Onceyoubuildareputationofgettingthejobdoneyour coalitionpartners,donors,andstakeholderswilldefinitelykeeptheirpartofthebargain.
Keepproperrecords;beinganonprofitorganizationyouhavespecialreportingrequirements.Properlykeptrecords will ensure that you do not run into problems in the future. You can also manage your risks through goodinsurance and policies andprocedures.
Ensureyourworkisfunandenjoyable.Adoptaworkingapproachthatwillgiveyoupositiveoutcomesand moreproductivity.
Nonprofit InsuranceServicesPO Box933
Hanover, PA 17331Return ServiceRequested
Flag DayFun!
IntheUnitedStates,onJune14,wecelebratetheadoptionofthefirst nationalflag.TheAmericanflagisalsoknownas“StarandStripes”or“oldGlory”. The first American flag was created by the Continental Congresson June14,1777.After5morestatesjoinedtheUnion,in1818Congresspassed legislationfixingthenumberofstripesat13andrequiringthatthenumberof the stars equal the number ofstates.
Millions of Americans observe Flag Day by waving “Old Glory” outsidetheir homesandbusinesses.Veterangroupsandevenattimeswholecommunitiesalso arrange civic functions and special ceremonies in honor of FlagDay.
The first Flag Day was celebrated in1877.
Flag Day FundraisingIdeas
FlagSales
--Raiseawaremessandfundswithaflagsellingfundraiser.Sellsmallflags that people can display on their homes or in their yards. You couldeven sell special attachments that allow a flag to be displayed ona
carwindow.
--Letthekidshavefunbycoloringtheirownflagsandchargetheparents asmallfeeforthecoloringpages.Youcanturnitintoacoloringcontestto winprizes.
FlagRaising
--Greatfundraiserforacommunity,speciallyifyouhavemanyolderfolks who have trouble hoisting and mantaining their flags. A flagraising fundrasierisaservicewherevolunteerssupplyandraiseaU.S.flaginthe front yard of the subscriber in the celebration of FlagDay.
Flag DayFacts
Why red, white, andblue? Red stood for hardinessand courage. White stoodfor purity and innocence. Blue stood for vigilance andjustice
Why thirteen stars andstripes? They represented thethirteen American colonieswhich
rallied around the new flagin their fight against theBritishfor selfgoverance.
The thirteen colonieswere Connecticut,Delaware, Georgia,Maryland, Massachusetts,New Hampshire, New Jersey,New York, North Carolina,South Carolina, Pennsylvania,Rhode Island, andVirgina.
Fun Facts aboutJune!
Fact 1- The birthstonesforJune are thepearl,alexandrite, andmoonstone.
Fact2-Thebirthflowerfor
June is therose.
Fact 3 -National CandyMonth,National DairyMonth,National Iced TeaMonth