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Sustainability
The Power of Small Gifts
March 2009 |
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Dear “Small
Gifts” Colleague,
We
hear the most about mega-gifts of $1 million and more
that go to the larger social profit organizations. However,
according to the 2007 Nonprofit Almanac published by
the Urban Institute, more than half of the 1.4 nonprofit
organizations in the U.S. are small with gross receipts
of $25,000 or less. The majority of gifts are small
as well with two-thirds of donations being made at $99
or less. Click on the titles at the right to learn about…
The Value of Small Gifts
eGifts
Tribute
and Memorial Funds
Do
you have questions or ideas about raising small gifts?
Contact us through Sustainability@CampaignConsultation.com
for more information. You can still access previous
issues of On-the-Go eTA by clicking on the back issues
at the bottom of the page.
The
Value of Small Gifts
Since
most gifts are not mega-gifts, and most organizations
are not mega-institutions, it is important to note that
small gifts do indeed have a major impact on our communities:
- Small gifts are given by 60 to 70% of most programs'
donors
- Small gifts are essential to small community based
organizations
- Small gifts usually can be raised in a shorter period
of time, as opposed to major gifts that often take
years of cultivation
- Small gifts give the average individual a voice
in the community through small nonprofits that have
a direct impact on the quality of life in a community
- The consistency of a donor who makes small gifts
year after year through an annual fund appeal allows
small nonprofits to establish a dependable operating
expense budget baseline
- Small gifts often become the basis for larger gifts
- There are many stories of a donor who has supported
an organization with small gifts over a lifetime and
then leaves a legacy gift to the organization
- Groups of individuals can leverage many small gifts
by forming a “Giving Circle,” providing greater philanthropic
impact
- Foundations often look at the quantity and consistency
of support from the local community when considering
their gifts and grants
eGifts
Most
small gifts come from direct mail campaigns. However,
the internet is providing a rapidly growing platform for
gifts, especially from new donors. Take a look at the
six platforms below that are being utilized by charitable
organizations and their supporters to raise funds from
a broad audience:
| What
is it |
How
it works |
| AMMADO
|
This
international community of supporters pools its
resources to support charitable organizations. In
addition, nonprofits are able to upload information
about their missions, publish news and articles,
receive online donations, list and recognize stakeholders,
create media libraries sharing images, videos and
documents, mobilize through polls and petitions
and communicate instantly with their supporters,
potential partners, and other nonprofits from around
the world.
http://www.ammado.com/
|
| DonorsChoose |
Public
school teachers create student project proposals
for classroom needs. Concerned individuals fund
the student projects of their choice—in whole
or in part—and are emailed immediate email
gift acknowledgments from DonorsChoose.org which
can be used for tax deduction purposes.
DonorsChoose.org purchases the student materials
and ships items directly to the school along with
guidelines for preparing thank-you packages, and
a stamped envelope in which to enclose the feedback.
The teacher photographs the students participating
in the project and writes an Impact Letter to the
donor. Students write their own thank-you notes
which are then returned to DonorsChoose.org headquarters.
http://www.donorschoose.org/
|
| eBAY
Giving Works |
The
program is administered by the licensed nonprofit
organization, MissionFish. Any eBay seller who has
a current account in good standing can create an
eBay Giving Works listing.
There are two types of sellers:
- eBay Community Seller: Individual eBay sellers
who want to donate 10% to 100% (5% for eBay
Motors vehicle sales) of their final sale price
to a certified nonprofit.
- Nonprofit Direct Seller: Certified nonprofits
can sell their own items on eBay and collect
100% of their final sale price. Nonprofit Direct
Sellers create their eBay Giving Works listings
with the same selling forms as a Community Seller.
http://pages.ebay.com/help/
sell/selling-nonprofit.html
|
Network
for Good
(powered by groundspring.org) |
DonateNow
service for nonprofits is set up to accept credit
card gifts on the Web. Customized donation pages
are created that look exactly like your Website.
The service processes donations plus provides on-screen
and email receipts, and sends instant donation notification
to the organization. http://www.groundspring.org/
services/donatenow.cfm
|
Tweetsgiving
(powered by epicChange) |
EpicChange
uses the power of stories to create social change.
Tweetsgiving utilized twitter and social media to
raise $10,000 in 48 hours. 336 contributors collectively
raised enough money to fund a new classroom for
a school in Tanzania in November 2008. http://tweetsgiving.org/
|
Tribute
and Memorial Funds
Small
gifts often begin with donations to Tribute and Memorial
Funds Yo can establish a tributes and Memorial fund to
a birthday, wedding, new baby, graduation or any special
occasion. Memorial gifts are made to honor the memory
of a friend or relative.
Like any other gift, tribute and memorial gifts are tax
deductible for the donor under the usual U.S. tax guidelines.
Your organization or program acknowledges the gift with
a thank you note to the donor that includes the following:
- Amount of the gift
- The date the gift was made
- The person or occasion being recognized
- And the designated purpose of the gift, if any.
In addition, an acknowledgements of each gift is sent
to the person, or to the family of the person in whose
name the gift was given and includes:
- Name of donor
- Name of person being memorialized or recognized
- Contact information
- Purpose of the gift
- Gift amounts are not mentioned in this letter. Click
here for a sample memorial gift notification.
If
the donor and/or the honoree is not one of your regular
donors, you should include information about your program
or project with your thank you and acknowledgement notes.
Continue to provide program updates to the appropriate
individuals throughout the year. If appropriate, you
can attract more small gifts by including the Tribute
Fund donor in your annual solicitation.
Click here for more information about
tribute and memorial gifts.
Let
us know
Contact
Sustainability@CampaignConsultation.com
We would be happy to answer questions or to give you
more support.
Thank you for your interest in On-The-Go eTA. We encourage
you to send this and other issues of OTG
eTA
to friends and colleagues who would benefit from the
information. Also, if you’re on information-overload,
you may request email
removal.
Otherwise OTG e-TA will be back soon with another edition.
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Tribute
and Memorial Gifts (cont.)
There
are a number of ways to incorporate tribute and memorial gifts
into your stewardship program.
- Name of honoree and donor are recognized in publications
- A special memorial/tribute page is designated on a website
- A tribute/memorial list is posted in a prominent place
in the organization
- Special tribute/memorial items, such as bricks, plaques,
garden items are reserved by the organization especially
to serve as tribute/memorial name recognition
Some organizations set up structured levels of donations for
tribute/memorial gifts. Click
here to view how one organization provides information about
tribute gifts.
Resources
eOrganizer
eOrganizer is an interactive clearinghouse for the latest
and greatest web instruments of change. This GIZMO shows you
how to maximize free and inexpensive online tools and resources
to mobilize people around issues and within organizations.
Structured around eight categories important to community
organizing, it offers descriptions and provides access to
many of the most current web arenas and strategies for bringing
groups together to create community change.
http://www.campaignconsultation.com/GIZMOs/eorganizer/index.html
The National ASK (Awareness, Skills, Knowledge) to Sustain
Institute, sponsored by Corporation for National and
Community Service, provided by Campaign Consultation, Inc.
1998, 2002.
The CNCS Resources Now! National Institute, sponsored
by Corporation for National and Community Service, provided
by Campaign Consultation, Inc. 2005-07.
Learning
Products and Services
Sustainability:
Sustainability@CampaignConsultation.com is designed
to give information fast on building capacity. Use this
online support for advice from a fundraising professional.
Contact Sustainability@CampaignConsultation.com
VISTA
Campus:
VISTA Campus is an online learning environment for
the VISTA community. The aim is to support you in your development
throughout and beyond your VISTA service. The Campus includes
self-paced tutorials and courses, reference materials, discussion
boards, a campus bookstore and more to help improve your
skills and connect with other VISTAs. To access the site,
go to http://vistacampus.org
and select the “VISTAs” option. You will need
to create an account to access the content and discussion
boards.
GIZMOs:
(Giving Information for Zooming Mission Objectives)
GIZMOS are resource and fund development tools for you and
your volunteers. They are tangible products in packets,
pocket brochures, CD-ROMs, games, etc. They feature a myriad
of fundraising topics such as The Case for Support, an interactive
online resource. View and use our newest GIZMOs at www.CampaignConsultation.com/gizmosplash
The
Chronicle of Philanthropy:
Everyone who comes to a Resources Now! National Institute
gets a free subscription to the Chronicle for a year. Participants
in CNCS Campaign Consultation workshops receive the latest
issue free of charge plus a $20 discount on one year’s
subscription.
Workshops/Clinics:
The Corporation for National and Community
Service (CNCS), through its T/TA service provider Campaign
Consultation, Inc., offers a three-hour workshops and clinics
for those interested.
WebWizard:
CNCS sponsors this new service that
Campaign Consultation provides to assist programs and projects
in maximizing their websites for program, client, volunteer
and fundraising needs.
Online
Courses/Webinars:
Web course delivery of topics pertinent to resource
development such as — Build Fundraising Volunteer
Champions and Cause Related Marketing and
Corporate Partnerships.
Available
through the Resource Center at http://www.nationalserviceresources.org
Read
Back Issues of OTG e-TA
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