Blueprint Fundraising

Tip of the Week: Track yourself online with Google Alerts

It’s important for nonprofit organizations to be aware of their online identity — and not just the stuff that you create yourself.

Google Alerts provide a simple way to be notified by email whenever your organization, its staff or programs are mentioned online. I’ve been using it to track online mentions of my clients and it works so well!

You design the alert to search blogs, groups, news and the web (or all of them) and you set the frequency — as-it-happens, once a day or once a week. Searching for your organization name, campaign names, staff and board members would all be worthwhile. To set up an alert, you have to have a Gmail account (by invitation — if you don’t have an account, email me and I’ll invite you).

Nominate your donors for the new Giving Hearts Awards

AFP Vancouver has launched a new awards program to honour local philanthropists. Nominating a donor is a wonderful way to show how much you appreciate them.

The two categories this year are “Outstanding Philanthropist” and “Outstanding Youth Philanthropist.” For more information on the categories and to download a nomination form visit AFP Vancouver’s website. The deadline for applications is fast approaching: June 15, 2007.

The awards will be presented at this year’s National Philanthropy Day on November 15th.

Tip of the Week for freelancers: hourly rate calculator

When I started Blueprint in 2000 it was a challenge to determine my hourly rate. I was torn between what I thought the work was worth, and what I thought the kind of clients I like to work for can afford, what others are charging and what I knew I would need in order to make a living. It’s a balance that every freelancer struggles with.

This hourly rate calculator can help. It’s from one of my favourite blogs: Freelance Switch. An excellent place to poke around if you are thinking about becoming a freelancer in fundraising or any field.

Check out their list of 13 Types of Freelancers and 12 Types of Clients. Which are you?

Glen Davis, eco-philanthropist, murdered in Toronto

I am sad to write that Glen Davis, 66, one of Canada’s most generous environmental philanthropists, was shot to death in Toronto this weekend.

Davis’ name is not well known — he was a quiet donor who nonetheless had a massive impact on Canada’s green movement. He will be so deeply missed by the many organizations who sought his help for their campaigns. I met him once, at an environmental planning meeting held at his home. I was working for Sierra Legal Defence Fund at the time and was quite honoured to participate in an event that brought together environmental leaders from around the country.

He was shot in a parking garage on Friday afternoon. Police have released images of a “person of interest.” Police are wondering if the murder may be connected to an assault that Davis suffered in 2005, where he was beaten with a baseball bat outside his office. The attacker was never found.

Davis inherited his fortune from his father, Nelson M. Davis, who was chairman of Argus Corporation and president of N. M. Davis Corp. Ltd.

You can read more about Glen Davis (pictured below) in the Toronto Star.

Quotation: The good news is…

This is cute.

“I have good news and bad news. The good news is, we have enough money to pay for our new building program. The bad news is, it’s still out there in your pockets.”

Spotted on The Extreme Fundraising Blog.

Howdy from the AFP Western Fundraising Conference

I haven’t forgotten about another post continuing on the topic of communicating with donors through RSS feeds… I will get on that soon.

I’m in Calgary right now at the AFP Western Fundraising Conference. So far, it’s been interesting. Highlights: a presentation on development audits, a storytelling session, and a donor panel with three Calgary philanthropists. The philanthropists had some advice:

• On the thorny question of whether boards should have to fundraise: Don’t continually pressure your board members to fundraise, some people just won’t/can’t do it and if you push too much you will alienate them. Just because they won’t fundraise doesn’t mean that they can’t be great board members and donors.
• On the next generation of philanthropists (i.e. 30 and 40 year olds): Don’t be disappointed by modest giving from these people. Be patient. They are probably in the midst of figuring out how much they need for their family and future, and may not be completely sure of how much they can give away. They are also aware that once they make a substantial gift, it is hard to go back to being anonymous or a smaller donor (because of the expectations that charities will put on them).

One of the speakers today talked about a clever advertising campaign by the Calgary Zoo that I hadn’t seen… awesome ads! The campaign has been very popular.

Vancouver Parks Board permits limited corporate naming

This week the Vancouver Parks Board approved a new naming policy for community centres and parks board facilities. From what I have seen, the policy is the same as the draft naming rights policy circulated by the City of Vancouver last year. It allows community centres to give very limited recognition to corporate donors, with Parks Board approval.

No corporate names will be allowed on the outside (and whole buildings can’t be named), no logos or advertising will be allowed anywhere. Interior elements, exterior elements and whole buildings can be named or re-named for individuals. Community associations will have to submit comprehensive fundraising plans and an application to the Parks Board for final approval.

The vote was 4-1 in favour. Loretta Woodcock, who voted against it, was quoted as saying “You betcha there’ll be a lot of companies lined up to put their names in these buildings.” I laughed when I read this — I doubt any companies are lining up. This will help community centres recognize donors who are already supportive and it might open the doors so that they can try to woo others, but the process is going to be exhausting and the recognition is quite meager. Anyone who thinks that all you have to do to get a corporate gift is offer to put their name (and not even a logo or wordmark!) on a little plaque hasn’t done very much fundraising.

Here’s a better plan: fund civic facilities properly so that they don’t need to rely on private sector donations.

Corporations have a lot of choice when it comes to naming opportunities. A great example: Scotiabank has just bought the naming rights to five Cineplex Paramount movie theatres for the next five years. You’ll notice an enormous Scotiabank banner on the corner of Burrard and Smithe. All references to “Paramount” are gone. The re-branding is tied to a new loyalty program.

Some other recent naming deals (from the Vancouver Sun):

• Vancouver landmarks renamed in recent years include Telus Science World, for $9 million over 15 years.
• The Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage reaped $1.5 million over a 20-year term.
• The most well-known corporate naming deal is General Motors Place, worth about $20 million over 20 years.
• In Calgary, the Epcor Centre for Performing Arts added $2.6 million to city coffers over 10 years.
• Hawking naming rights to the Hummingbird Centre bagged $5 million for the City of Toronto.

Photo by Marc Lostracco.