Social Community Building – is it necessary for nonprofits?

Let’s face it. A lot of nonprofits have two main goals:

1. How do I effectively pursue my purpose?
2. How do I get funds to do 1?

It seems like an easy interaction. Tell people your purpose is important and they’ll automatically want to invest. In practice it isn’t that easy as most nonprofits can relate. We’re so consumed by our purpose and so convinced by its relevance that we can even become frustrated if people don’t line up to jump on board. The resulting difficulty in funding nonprofits has led to a particular vocation – the professional fundraiser. Go to any bulletin board and postings for “Directors of Development” are among the most numerous.

Organizations such as the Association of Fundraising Professionals have sprung up to monitor ethics and advise practitioners. What have they learned? There’s a number 3 to be added to the list above – give meaningfully to your donors and build relationship. Those of us who typically spend more time on operations and strategy will often be reminded by good fundraisers on our staff, “it’s not about getting money, it’s about relationship.” Generally everyone gives verbal assent, while thinking inside,

“How can I spend even more time on donor relations, when I’m already overstretched with operations? After all, if I don’t spend sufficient time on operations, I won’t have anything meaningful for donors to give to!”

I believe the development of social networking tools on the web provides three ways to help resolve this dilemma, while at the same time giving in a meaningful way to those who support us.

3 reasons social community building will help you and your supporters.

1. Social community building is much more time efficient than traditional correspondence. It’s true it can be impersonal, but that doesn’t seem to worry the increasing dominance this form of communication enjoys. Society in the West, at least, is increasingly conditioned to prefer e-correspondence over all other forms. The flexibility of the medium allows for great individualization as well, which in turn allows for greater involvement and partnership in your cause. There is a limit to the number of in-depth contacts a person can sustain. (Dunbar’s Number says around 150). But this approach can grow exponentially as more partners are added, and it certainly doesn’t stop you corresponding in a less in-depth way with others.
2. Social community building fosters better utilization of resources. Mistakes are often repeated in the field. Nonprofits have a tendency to see themselves ‘in competition’ for funds. Wouldn’t it be better for all of us if we shared our wisdom and pooled our resources? Social community building facilitates the easy access to knowledge that may not otherwise be readily available. This helps you work leaner and together you raise the profile of shared causes and needs around the world. This solidarity makes a much greater impact than loan voices.
3. Social community gives to your supporters. There is no better way to facilitate real-time partnership on the part of your supporters. They are not kept waiting for weeks, until they get a ‘report’. They can be creative participants in the projects you share – perhaps even offering advice or ideas that greatly enhance your capability. Your supporters can receive holistic validation for all they have to contribute, and not just a ‘thank you’ for their finances alone. How loyal would you be to such a community? If you like the idea, why not develop one?

Jonathan Bernd

SEO and Nonprofit Websites

How important is SEO for nonprofit websites?

Some would argue that SEO isn’t important at all. After all, nonprofits are not in the business of ‘selling anything’. Others would push for considerable resources to optimize everything they can on their nonprofit website. I would advocate a position somewhere in the middle.

A dilemma

Websites are increasingly important, but they also take an increasing amount of resources to update effectively. Nonprofit startups in particular, can wind up spending large chunks of their income in optimizing the various aspects of their website. The problem in doing that, is that it becomes the de facto focus of the organization, while its core purpose is sacrificed. However, an unwillingness to keep abreast of technological developments will hurt both the organization’s profile and its online fundraising potential.

4 tips to help your website gain prominence

1. Use unique keywords on each page. There are several areas that you can address. Lee Odden of TopRank Marketing suggests concentrating focus on just one or two main concepts, when it comes to the main text on a page. Each page should ideally also have unique metatags, but it can be very time consuming to redo an entire site, so you may want to attack that in stages. Be careful not to rename extensions by accident – e.g. .html to .htm. If you do rename extensions and pages, make sure to put in permanent redirects.
2. Link text is more useful than you may think. It’s good protocol to provide text for images and links, especially for the visually impaired searcher. However, there’s more to be gained from inserting good link text. Google in particular trolls these link words in rating your site. Instead of “headshot”, make sure you put something meaningful and ‘searchworthy’. Instead of “click here” put “More Liberian Success Stories“.
3. Link with other sites. In my experience nonprofits are particularly concerned with linking to other sites, as they fear diversion of funds from their own cause to the linked site’s cause. While this may be a genuine risk, I submit that the benefits greatly outweigh those risks. I believe donors will not want to “switch sides”, if you have developed a relationship with them, and if you are focused in your strategy and communicate effective results. There is, however, nothing wrong in your donors supporting other causes as well. Wouldn’t you feel good about helping others? The benefits of linking are an immediate gain in credibility, perception of expertise and greater exposure for your cause. Don’t forget to link with social media sites, blogs, twitter, etc. as well. Be careful though to only link with organizations that have the same moral and ethical base as you do.
4. It’s ‘more blessed to give’. Nonprofits tend to think, “How can we raise funds from this story?…” I submit it’s better to say, “What can we offer free of charge, to help better the lives of others?”  It is particularly good to offer something in your area of expertise.  For example, if you have specific knowledge of a subject such as eco-housing or communication of high impact messages, then help your nonprofit and ‘for profit’ development and mission colleagues by giving them some tips for free. You will be amazed at the goodwill this will generate over time, and this goodwill leads to dramatic growth of exposure for your cause. In the forprofit world, most smartphone apps offer ‘lite’ versions for users to try. If you try and trust a source, you are much more likely to invest in that source.

SEO is important for nonprofit websites, and I believe it will become increasingly important in the future. However, recognize a nonprofit’s credibility is first and foremost gained through its work and not from a slick website. Keep up with the trends, and if you do have the resources, conduct some beta testing to see how much you can improve your profile and fundraising.

Jonathan Bernd

Why should nonprofits blog?

Is blogging really worth the effort?

Blogging is resource heavy. Blogging takes time. So why should nonprofits spend time they don’t have writing secondary contact to their main website?

The simple answer is that blogging is now a key method of communication for the general public. Statistics show blogging is becoming increasingly important in the business and communications sphere. If we’re serious about getting our message out and encouraging support for long-term change, we need to meet people in the venues they are choosing.

How do nonprofits blog?

Generally non-profits blog with simple field reports and/or success stories. Strengths: This approach has considerable appeal, if well done, as it shows funds are being used effectively and it encourages identification with the cause. Weaknesses: This approach alone lacks the capacity to respond to those who wish to interact,  lacks content that really ‘gives’ to the reader, and often focuses too narrowly to attract new readers.

3 tips to improve the impact of your blog.

Inbound Marketing gurus Hubspot, suggest several tips for blogging for business – both as B2C and B2B. While nonprofits are not technically businesses, there are several communications parallels that can be usefully adapted in the nonprofit sphere.

1. Speak ‘around’ the subject. In other words don’t just talk about John’s rice paddy in a remote part of the Ivory Coast (Côte d’Ivoire). Talk about rice production in zones of conflict or write about the challenges of moving from subsistence farming to farming as business. This will appeal to many more people and be much more likely to attract new web surfers.
2. Offer the reader something meaningful. Hubspot is an excellent example of this practice in the business world. Their consistent offer of free webinars enables readers and listeners to improve their inbound marketing skills. As a result they gain a loyal following who also link back to their website and blog, garnering exponential growth in hits (check the bottom of this blog). Hubspot is a real resource and has become the ‘go to’ blog/site for inbound marketing. Why not become the ‘go to’ blog for your area of expertise?
3. Reply to your readers’ comments and questions by name. This simple practice is done by very few business, but where it’s done, it achieves great results. Homegoods’ blog is one blog that does respond by name and, as a result, enjoys an extremely solid fanbase of evangelists for their brand.

Want to look at a really useful video to hone your skills? Click below

Hubspot\’s Inbound Marketing University on Blogging

Jonathan Bernd

Where do the millions go?

Have you ever asked yourself this question? Western Countries donate millions to Majority World Countries each year. Individuals give their hard-earned money to charities, which also spend millions around the globe. Projects are often aimed at real need and attempted with the best motives, yet 3 years later developing communities are left with nothing to show except multiple signs on the edge of the village as memorials to projects initiated a couple of years earlier.

Meet Bill Massaquoi in Lexington, MA March 20th

Meet Bill Massaquoi

Saturday March 20th, 7:00 pm

Bring your friends and colleagues to hear the Founder and Executive Director of Rebuild Africa speak in Lexington, MA.

Bill will be speaking at St. Paul Evangelical Church, 451 Lowell St., Lexington, MA.

Meet Bill Massaquoi in Lexington on March 20th at 7:00 pm

Fassavolu Residents Talk

Last summer, Rebuild Africa’s Jong Massaquoi visited Fassavolu village where Rebuild Africa is reconstructing homes and providing the opportunity for education for over a dozen students.

Marry Joseph is one of the residents Jong talked to about the challenges facing her community. At age 16, Marry is still in 6th grade with English being her favorite subject. Here are her thoughts on Rebuild Africa’s reconstruction efforts and her personal dreams for the future. Exerpts:

Question: If you have the opportunity some day what will you want to do for fassavolu?
Answer: If I have the opportunity I will encourage others and help others to become successful.

Question: What do you want to become and why?
Answer: I want to become a Lawyer because I want to help defend this country.

Question: What are some of the challenges/difficulties that young woman l like you are facing right now?
Answer: We don’t have the time to study because we have to go work on the farm after school. We are also lacking studying class teachers.

Question: In the next 5yrs what do you see yourself doing?
Answer: I want to be in school continuing my education.

Question: What are your impressions of Rebuild Africa? Is there anything you would like Rebuild Africa to do that we are currently not doing?
Answer: I am please with the work RA is doing and I am very grateful for the help. I would like RA to help fassavolu build a school and also extend the clinic.

Giving the Gift of Shelter

This Christmas we are working to provide shelter for vulnerable families whose homes were destroyed during the civil war. We invite you to read on and join us.

Rebuild Africa Founder Bill Massaquoi schedules U.S. visit in 2010

Bill Massaquoi, Rebuild Africa Founder and President, will be visiting the U.S. from Liberia in 2010. He is keen to share his vision of healing war-torn communities throughout Africa, with a special concentration on rehabilitation efforts in post-conflict Liberia.

If you are able to stage an event for Rebuild Africa, or suggest a congregation or small group where Bill could share, please email us and/or visit our website:

REBUILDAFRICA.ORG

Building the Next Generation of Leaders

On  August 1st 2009, Rebuild Africa sponsored its inaugural Youth Leadership Summit at the Ministry of Youth & Sports in Monrovia, Liberia.

The conference provided Liberia’s top youth leaders a prime networking and capacity building opportunity through informational panels featuring Liberian leaders serving in various positions of influence within the government.

Rebuild Africa Launches New Website!

Check out our new and improved website to learn about our work in Liberia and how you can get involved!

www.RebuildAfrica.org