The Lessons of Kony 2012: Social Media Campaigns and Nonprofits
Not only was the recent Kony 2012 Campaign one of the most viral social media efforts of all time, but it also had the questionable distinction of being the most controversial. Centered on a 30 minute YouTube video that highlighted the atrocities carried out by Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony, the campaign has become a significant …
Taking the Daily Deal: A Strategy for Nonprofits
The daily deal—the online craze started by Groupon that offers deep discounts on local products and services—has reached the nonprofit world. Deal-based services are springing up around the U.S. offering deals with something extra: part of the profits go to local charities. It seems like a win-win for the consumer and the nonprofit, but the …
Wall Street and Nonprofits: A Relationship Based on More than the Bottom Line
Thanks to the efforts of global rights movement Operation Hope, the amount of capital invested by Wall Street firms into nonprofit ventures rose steadily between 2000 and 2010. These aggregated donations were distributed across a total of 27 educational centers throughout the U.S., and delivered a genuine boost to philanthropic organizations that strive to affect …
Raise the Bar: Making a Difference With Chocolate
Hershey’s recently announced its decision to purchase Rainforest Alliance-certified cocoa, a certification that verifies products are produced sustainably based on both human and environmental measures. The sourced chocolate will be used for Hershey’s Bliss products and comes as a reaction to an intense social media campaign run by nonprofit coalition called Raise the Bar, Hershey! …
Rewarding Your Donors By Creating an Experience
Today’s consumers are extremely demanding, regardless of the guise that they take or the amount of money that they wish to spend. Whether purchasing goods, donating or investing their hard-earned money, modern consumers boast an awareness and influence that allows them to carefully select the brands or organizations that they interact with. For nonprofits who …
Don’t Be Blind-Sided by Facebook
Big changes are coming to Facebook, and they will have an impact on every nonprofit’s Facebook page. The most immediate significant change is what’s happening to the Facebook welcome page. As of March 30, Facebook will be revising main pages to include a number of new features that will be particularly beneficial to commercial brands …
Spark Change Through Micro-Volunteering
Lack of time is the limiting factor preventing many would-be volunteers from offering their skills to a cause. Yet it seems most people have at least some time to spend online. Micro-volunteering combines those two factors by giving people a way to easily pick up small, online volunteer tasks to do from home in their …
Nonprofits Grow in Influence and Job Opportunities with Changing Times
The nonprofit world is extremely diverse and populated by many different types of organizations with a desire to effect social change. From those that work in for-profit markets to others who provide funding for a range of innovative ideas, it’s an evolving sector that continues to adapt and suit the surrounding macro environment. Given this, …
Social Capital Offers Nonprofits a Path to Success
Companies such as Acumen Fund, Good Capital, and Root Capital are part of a growing movement towards providing social capital for grassroots businesses in developing countries in the form of investments, not grants. It’s a form of social venture capital in that they invest in growth companies, but are not focused on the long-term, high …
Social Media Strategy is Key for Nonprofits
It may seem obvious, but for nonprofits to use social media effectively, it takes more than creating a Facebook Page and sending out a few tweets. They need to adopt a social media strategy. Last spring, the Rita Allen Foundation began a pilot project to help six nonprofits who won grants from the foundation employ …