December 1, 2016
As more nonprofits continue to use content marketing in their fundraising efforts, telling a compelling and meaningful story is similar to creating a recognizable brand. Many nonprofits struggle with donor preservation and storytelling has proven to be an effective method of retaining and attracting donors while distinguishing an organization’s mission from other competing nonprofits. Here are a few tips on how to tell a compelling story.
Telling a story that’s authentic to an organization’s mission is sure to make its content influential. A genuine story should be unique, memorable, universally likeable, and come across as “human” and not promotional. Connecting and relating to a mission’s audience in an authentic and vulnerable way is absolutely critical.
Effective storytelling must be flexible to adapt to changes in donor preferences and technological advances. Confirm transparency by using photos, video and a variety of media to validate where donation dollars are going! The more followers are able to experience the benefits derived from an organization’s work the more likely fundraising is successful.
Make certain storytelling content goes beyond the practical benefits of the mission and connects readers/listeners to evocative, touching and personal testimonies. Program success stories, private and stirring revelations about staff and volunteers, plus the positive impact they’ve had on the community increases responsiveness.
Committing to producing a reliable schedule for with illuminating content is often the biggest obstacle for nonprofit organizations but maintaining it is just as challenging. Creating a steadfast content calendar for nonprofit blogs and social media channels makes the process of maintaining an active presence much easier.
So many opportunities for nonprofit storytelling exist for fundraising efforts, whatever methods chosen should always reflect the essence of an organization’s mission and how it benefits a community.
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We’ve been a member of First Nonprofit’s Unemployment Savings Program since 2011 and highly recommend joining. The program is terrific and allows us to earn interest on our own funds while still meeting the state’s requirements on unemployment payments. In addition, the staff are great and always helpful sorting out any questions we may have. Thank you all!
CCSCT was approached by First NonProfit to discuss its Unemployment Savings Program and ways the program could significantly reduce the amount of unemployment taxes we were paying. At the time, our agency was paying approximately $80,000 per year. First NonProfit conducted an analysis to determine if making the switch would be in our best interest, and it clearly was based on our circumstances. The first year on the program, CCSCT saw a 70% reduction in its unemployment costs and each year, continues to experience further reductions as a result of having minimal claims. Some additional benefits of the program including having a fixed annual cost, an interest-baring reserve account, professional unemployment claims management and representation at all unemployment hearings. This has been one of the best decisions we have made.
We first started using First Nonprofit’s Unemployment Savings Program when we were a small startup nonprofit. We didn’t have an HR department and needed expertise in the event that an unemployment claim was made. We knew we were eligible to be a reimbursing employer, but weren’t sure how to navigate that process. They made it easy to set things up, plan for, and then manage claims when they came at a very reasonable cost. The amount of time and stress they’ve saved us dealing with all this has been worth way more than the cost. We’ve now grown to a large nonprofit and do have an HR department but have no plans to stop using their services. I highly recommend them to every nonprofit I come into contact with!
Throughout our membership in the Unemployment Savings Program, First Nonprofit understood our demands, community dynamics, and the importance of seamless services; that allowed us to serve our constituents better.
Because INCS advocates for the operating conditions that allow charter public schools to provide high quality public education, partnering with First Nonprofit was an easy decision. First Nonprofit’s unemployment programs provide our member schools two operating elements crucial to their ability to provide high quality public education: savings and budget certainty. Capable, committed teachers are the key to student success. By participating in the unemployment insurance savings plan, charter public schools gain peace of mind and are able to invest more money in their teachers.
It has been our sincere pleasure to maintain a strong, vibrant business partnership with First Nonprofit. We greatly admire their strong industry knowledge, technical expertise, constant professionalism, knowledgeable and dedicated staff. They are always extremely responsive, personable and provide us with the necessary guidance and recommendations on a numerous variety of employment scenarios.
NYCON members who use First Nonprofit’s programs enjoy enduring savings and improved efficiency. Our association knows that success, because from the beginning, we achieved the same great benefits. Great savings, seamless technology, and responsive service. NYCON highly recommends First Nonprofit’s remarkable unemployment solutions.
Visually Impaired Preschool Services has been a client of First Non-Profit since it was first offered as a benefit of VisionServe Alliance. We completed a thorough evaluation of cash savings to our agency before taking advantage of this wonderful benefit and it has been a very wise decision. Our experience with the processes from accounting to claims have been professional, expeditious and easy.