Blueprint Fundraising

Future of Canadian philanthropy

AFP Canada ran a “Future of Philanthropy” advertising supplement in the Globe and Mail last week. If you missed it, you can download the whole thing here.

I can’t say that any of the information was especially surprising (this is an advertising piece after all) but there were some interesting stories. The thing I found myself doing most was looking at the ads from various nonprofits. Looking at ads side-by-side really helps you to see what works and what doesn’t. You be the judge, but my faves (they intrigued me enough to go to their websites) were from Bridgepoint Health and Alberta’s Promise. Apparently big, simple and kind of obscure works for me.

Caveat emptor: The Grant Institute

Some of you might have seen advertisements for (or even attended) a Grant Institute training program in Metro Vancouver in the past… If they come back again you might want to do some homework before signing up. The NonProfit Times has a story on the numerous complaints against them with Better Business Bureaus in the US. I’ve heard of similar problems with their programs in Canada. Buyer beware.

The Little Give is on!

Teams from Karyo Edelman are working with four Vancouver nonprofits to see how much good they can do in the next 48 hours. You can follow their progress online, through Twitter and with photos at www.thelittlegive.ca.

Go St. Elizabeth’s and Team 3 — the saints!

Major Gifts Intensive 08

For those of you in the Vancouver area, I’m offering something that might interest you this fall. It’s called Major Gifts Intensive 08. It’s a sort of butt-kicking major gifts bootcamp.

When I teach or take workshops, I usually wish there was some sort of follow up so that people could be supported in applying the new ideas in their work. This program is going to combine workshop-style sessions, hands-on participation and individualized coaching (and no actual butts will be kicked). By the end of the Intensive, my goal is that participants will truly be ready to launch a major gifts campaign. I’m limiting it to 12 participants so that everyone gets a lot of individual time and attention.

Here are the details. To find out more or to register, please contact me at andrea@blueprintfundraising.com or 604-682-6582.

Session 1: Planning Your Major Gifts Campaign
September 16, 2008 / 9:30 am – 12:30 pm

Session 2: Creating Your Case for Support & Building Relationships
October 7, 2008 / 9:30 am – 12:30 pm

Session 3: Asking For Money & Working With Volunteers
October 28, 2008 / 9:30 am – 12:30 pm

Coaching
Each participant will receive two hours of individual coaching by phone or email outside the sessions.

Location
Workshops will take place at Suite 400 – 21 Water Street, Vancouver. Refreshments and yummy snacks will be provided.

Cost
$685 plus GST per person if you register by July 31
$775 plus GST per person after July 31
Registration closes August 28
Discount of $40 per person for more than one from the same organization
Space is limited to 12 participants and you must register in advance

Vote for the best nonprofit tagline

For anyone who has ever wracked their brain, scoured their thesaurus and sat through painful hours of brainstorming with co-workers to come up with a tagline for their organization… here’s a little inspiration.

Nancy Schwartz’s Getting Attention blog is running a contest where you can vote for the best nonprofit tagline. The short list of 20 has been culled from more than 1,050 submissions.

Personally, I think every nonprofit needs a tagline. All the more so if your organizational name is dry, long, unclear or filled with jargon. The best taglines are short and inspire/explain, delivering your brand promise in a pithy and memorable little nugget.

I’ll never forget an organization I worked with years ago… the Snake River Alliance. Their name doesn’t say much, especially to those who don’t know the Snake River. But they developed a great tagline — “Idaho’s Nuclear Watchdog” — and I’ll never forget them because of it. A good tagline can compensate for a poor name. So if you are contemplating an organizational name change, ask yourself if your identity problems could be solved by a brillant tagline. And go get that thesaurus!

Here are a few of my favourite taglines from clients and former clients:

David Suzuki Foundation – Solutions Are In Our Nature
The Land Conservancy of BC – Special Places. Forever, For Everyone.
Adoptive Families Association of BC – A Family For Every Child
Tides Canada Foundation – Think Big. Give Wisely.