July 21, 2009 ADVERTISEMENT Every direct mail program has a goal – and we know yours is to successfully produce more funding for your organization's mission each year.  Arthritis Foundation and Mercy Home for Boys & Girls have contributed to more than 20 different types of non-profit organizations—check it out! Contact Cindi Nowatnick to set up a meeting at the DMAW Bridge Conference in DC—845-732-7044. In This Edition: 11 Steps For Your Capital Campaign Management ... 4 ways to see opportunity in a down economy Fundraising ... 7 ideas for strengthening your brand ADVERTISEMENT  Russ Reid presents: INSPIRING DONOR LOYALTY / July 28, 2009 Keep your donors engaged, active and committed. Register for this complimentary webinar today. Click Here. NPT Jobs NPT Resource Directory Subscribe to NPT NPT Latest Edition NPT Advertising Contact Us      Please forward NPT Instant Fundraising to your colleagues so that they can also subscribe. Tell-a-friend! Editor's Note: Do you work for the best nonprofit on the planet? We are looking for the best nonprofits where people love to work. They actually show up early and stay late. If your organization has at least 10 employees, we want to know why you're great. Please go to http://bestnonprofitstoworkfor.com/ 11 Steps For Your Capital Campaign The old saying goes, you need to crawl before you can walk. And now you have to walk through many best practices steps before you can make a mad dash toward your capital campaign goal on top of the thermometer. For a capital campaign to run, organizations need principles to stand on, according to Charles G. Lewis, senior vice president of development, marketing and public affairs at Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network (LVHHN) in Allentown, Pa. To read the complete article click here...     ADVERTISEMENT Did you know...31% of all nonprofits offer bonus compensation to the CEOs/presidents. See how they earned it in the new NonProfit Times 2009 Nonprofit Organizations Compensation & Benefits Report. Order your subscription today! Click here. Management ... 4 ways to see opportunity in a down economy Businesses and nonprofits should approach this recession as a turning point for their operations. But there are certain opportunities only nonprofits should consider, according to Dennis R. Young, author and expert in nonprofit management and finances. Young explained what unique circumstances are open to nonprofits at the recent American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) National Not-For-Profit Industry Conference in Washington, D.C.:  Use the down labor market to your advantage. Unemployment rates are up, but, then again, so are rates of volunteering. Those laid off from their for-profit jobs might be looking to move into the nonprofit sector. Competition for technical jobs, such as information systems, isn’t as fierce anymore, so see if it’s the right time to invest in those positions. Re-examine governance and board leadership. You aren’t utilizing board members if they are just taking up space. Board members should have useful skill sets and keep your organization up-to-date on growing trends. And the buck doesn’t stop at the board member. Ask your board to reach out to others who may want to contribute. Balance earned and unearned income. Contributions, government support and investment income have all been on shaky ground lately. Young said generally earned income isn’t falling as hard. Examine how you can increase your earned income without negatively impacting your mission. Analyze if your mission has a timetable. See if your mission can be completed in a finite time period. Shutting down operations because you completed your mission is a success, not a failure. Fundraising ... 7 ideas for strengthening your brand Oak Hill, also known as the Connecticut Institute for the Blind, serves children and adults with various disabilities at more than 50 program sites across the state. The 115-year-old organization decided to undergo a three-year, result-centric marketing campaign to strengthen the organization’s brand after surveys concluded some people had the wrong perception about Oak Hills’s work, according to Trish Hesslein, director of community relations. Hesslein explained how to start to develop a clear, strategic communications plan at the 46th annual Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) international fundraising conference in New Orleans: Unified look and feel. Oak Hill educated and trained employees, vendors, board and volunteers about the brand change. Try to keep the brand alive in every way -- from how materials look to how staff answers phones. Value of the entire organization. With more than 100 years of history, Oak Hill had a lot of stories to tell. Find stories of your organization’s success to show how you are making a difference. Professional and effective institution. Follow what government agencies and legislators are discussing about your constituents and inform them. Raise awareness. Target specific audience segments that you would like to bring into your organization. Support fundraising. Set goals to increase the number of donors and amounts raised. Control graphic identity. Develop a brand that speaks to your organization. Make sure all materials are consistently designed with set colors and logos. Then stick with it. Don't Forget Us! Changing positions? Or have you moved to another organization? Then, make sure you still get NPT's family of eNewsletters by simply updating your profile. Copyright @ 2009 The NonProfit Times. To read our Privacy Policy click here. 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