Jeff, couldn’t have said it better (or funnier) myself. Really, nothing could be worse than yet another photo of folks standing around at an event.
It may work in the Sunday Styles section of The New York Times, but that’s a bit different. Those folks are celebrities of some sort or another, or socialites.
Your post should be used as a checklist of don’ts when nonprofits are planning and editing their newsletters, print or email.
Based on many successful years serving variously as a development director, chief operating officer, and as a board member in many different nonprofits, I disagree wholeheartedly with Mr. Brooks’ characterization of donor recognition as ineffective in fundraising. Publishing the photo of a donor giving a large contribution not only recognizes that donor, but also can inspire others to follow suit. Publishing photos of special events may seem like mere vanity, but in my experience the web pages with photos of events are some of the highest trafficked and shared pages as donors log on and send their friends to see photos of themselves and their friends celebrating together. This is social connectedness and is a prime reason why many donors are involved with the cause. Eliminating donor recognition and social connectedness is the real elitism. As for educating donors, advocacy organizations, or organizations with an advocacy component, have as an explicit part of their mission the education of donors and the larger community. This is not non profit navel gazing, but mission fulfillment.
It would be wonderful if SSIR Blog can include more articles on Social Entrepreneurship. A social cause turned into a business is the best form of social innovation. It empowers people and creates more entrepreneurs. Fund raising in any form is definitely not part of this type of innovation.
COMMENTS
BY Nancy Schwartz
ON March 6, 2008 01:30 PM
Jeff, couldn’t have said it better (or funnier) myself. Really, nothing could be worse than yet another photo of folks standing around at an event.
It may work in the Sunday Styles section of The New York Times, but that’s a bit different. Those folks are celebrities of some sort or another, or socialites.
Your post should be used as a checklist of don’ts when nonprofits are planning and editing their newsletters, print or email.
Best,
Nancy
BY Arthur Fullerton
ON March 6, 2008 02:38 PM
Based on many successful years serving variously as a development director, chief operating officer, and as a board member in many different nonprofits, I disagree wholeheartedly with Mr. Brooks’ characterization of donor recognition as ineffective in fundraising. Publishing the photo of a donor giving a large contribution not only recognizes that donor, but also can inspire others to follow suit. Publishing photos of special events may seem like mere vanity, but in my experience the web pages with photos of events are some of the highest trafficked and shared pages as donors log on and send their friends to see photos of themselves and their friends celebrating together. This is social connectedness and is a prime reason why many donors are involved with the cause. Eliminating donor recognition and social connectedness is the real elitism. As for educating donors, advocacy organizations, or organizations with an advocacy component, have as an explicit part of their mission the education of donors and the larger community. This is not non profit navel gazing, but mission fulfillment.
Arthur Fullerton
BY Susan Sharma
ON March 7, 2008 09:26 PM
It would be wonderful if SSIR Blog can include more articles on Social Entrepreneurship. A social cause turned into a business is the best form of social innovation. It empowers people and creates more entrepreneurs. Fund raising in any form is definitely not part of this type of innovation.