Americans Trust Nonprofits To Solve Problems
Kenneth I. Chenault
After all of the nasty political rhetoric that preceded this week’s mid-term elections, it wasn’t too surprising to find a story that people trust nonprofits more than government to solve society’s problems. The survey was part of a multi-million dollar contribution that was announced at a nonprofit leadership conference.
The article on the Chronicle of Philanthropy website, “Americans’ Faith in Nonprofits Is Strong, Survey Finds,” quoted a study by American Express. On Wednesday, American Express Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Kenneth I. Chenault announced a $25 million funding commitment to develop leaders in the nonprofit sector. The announcement was made during the fifth annual American Express Leadership Conference in New York. The conference is a nationwide training program to develop the next generation of leaders in the nonprofit sector.
The survey also found that nearly nine out of 10 Americans say that nonprofit groups face financial problems of their own and that getting sufficient money is one of the biggest concerns for charities. Four out of five Americans agree that nonprofit groups don’t have “the resources to invest in the growth and development of their employees.”
A couple of themes and questions emerge when reviewing the research.
- If Americans trust nonprofits more than the government, will they increase their donations to provide more help to nonprofits?
- How does this trust level compare with the increased scrutiny of nonprofits? It doesn’t seem like a week goes by without a story being published on questionable nonprofit financial practices, fundraising through telemarketers and or exorbitant salaries of executive directors.
- Nonprofits will have to increase their marketing and communications to take advantage of this level of trust. They must be prepared to communicate their successes, needs and vision to the general public. If not, they will continue to struggle to raise money.
- Will this motivate nonprofits to take more risks and be more innovative to solve more problems?
- If people trust your nonprofit, will they be more trusting if you’re collaborating with other trusted nonprofits?
The survey also found that among those interested in working for a nonprofit organization, 67 percent said such work could be more rewarding than other kinds of employment and 41 percent said it would mean earning lower pay. This wasn’t too surprising. Many in the corporate world yearn to have their efforts contribute to making the world a better place. However, many people working in nonprofits are highly dissatisfied with their working environments. These employees often are dismayed with the lack of alignment between the organization’s mission and the spirit and values displayed by managers, board members, volunteers and fellow workers. Nonprofit leaders must always be aware of the culture throughout their organization because it could interfere with mission fulfillment.
Great leaders are in short supply throughout all sectors of our country. Training and education are key elements in developing leadership skills. But leaders must be skillful in communicating, organizing, motivating, evaluating and recognizing those who follow them. More importantly, they must lead by example. Their character, integrity and values will speak louder than any words they use.
Dan Buck To Speak At Tuesday’s Community Service Public Relations Council Luncheon
Dan Buck
The board of the Community Service Public Relations Council didn’t know it at the time when he was confirmed to speak, but Dan Buck will be making one of his last public appearances as the executive director of St. Patrick’s Center during Tuesday’s monthly luncheon. Buck will become the executive director of the Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital Foundation on Nov. 8.
Board members should be your nonprofit organization’s best advocates and communicators. However, that’s not always the case. Buck will speak on ways to orient and utilize board members to be effective communicators for your nonprofit organization.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
11:30 a.m. to noon – Registration and Networking
Noon to 1:15 p.m. – Lunch and Program
Meeting Fees
Members: $25
Non-Members: $35
Students: $20
Sheraton Clayton Plaza Hotel
7730 Bonhomme Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63105
Complimentary parking is available in the hotel garage.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER ONLINE
Buck is one of the most visible executive directors in the St. Louis nonprofit community. He also may be the most humble and honest in that group. In an Oct. 1 article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Buck was quoted as saying St. Patrick’s Center, “need(s) an operations guy, and that’s not my strong suit.”
Few executive directors would admit that. Fewer would have the humility to step aside when they realize their organizations need someone with skills, talents or abilities they don’t possess. However, the St. Patrick’s Center team doubled their operating budget in the last eight years under Buck’s leadership.
Buck is proof that a communicator with passion, leadership and vision can succeed when moving from media or public relations into the role of an executive director of chief executive officer.
Join Me For 2-Hour Course On Developing Your NPO’s Communications Plan
Many people who find themselves responsible for their nonprofit organization’s communications fall into one of two categories.
One, their organization doesn’t have a viable communications plan and they’ve been delegated that responsibility.
Or, two, their organization has a communications plan and they have no training or experience in communications.
If you fall into one of these categories, or if you would like to learn how to develop an effective communications plan for your nonprofit organization, you’re welcome to join me for a two-hour non-credit course at the University of Missouri-St. Louis Nonprofit Management and Leadership Program.
Developing an Effective Communication Plan for Your Nonprofit Organization
Wednesday, October 20, 3-5 p.m.
J.C. Penney Conference Center
University of Missouri-St. Louis
$30
Click Here To Register Online
Download A Printable Flyer (PDF)
Course Description: Nonprofit organizations are faced with an increasing demand for their services and a more challenging fundraising environment. Perhaps more than ever before, success or failure is determined by how successfully NPOs commuicate their mission and services. Whether you’re an executive director, board or staff member, plan to join us as we help you develop an integrated communication plan and strategy for your organization. We’ll look at ways to measure success and help you define and develop marketing and communication channels.
We’ll look at integrating traditional communications channels as well as social media into a plans for orgainzations of all sizes. We’ll also review some fundamental elements that must be in place for any communications plan to succeed in a nonprofit organization.
My goal is that every person who attends this course will leave with at least one or two strategies–if not an entire plan–that will help their organization achieve a mission-based goal.
See you then!
Plan For Printing
Digital communications continues to grow, but the printed material remains a critical part of a nonprofit communications plan.
Join me from 9 to 11 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 2, 2010, at the Nonprofit Services Consortium’s Communications Circle as we talk about print. Technology is making printing faster and more flexible. The print industry knows it must change to become more competitive with digital media or compliment it. The integration of digital communications and print materials can be a powerful force.
The event is free. Push yourself away from your desk and spend some time thinking creatively on this area. See you then!
Guidestar Survey: 2010 Started Poorly
Guidestar, a nonprofit organization that provides information on charities and pushes for transparency so donors can make informed decisions on giving, published a report on a survey taken during the first five months of 2010. The Effect of the Economy on the Nonprofit Sector was the result of a survey of more than 7,000 nonprofit professionals. More than half were executive directors or presidents of nonprofit organizations. The survey found that,
What does this mean for nonprofit marketing and communications professionals?
- Don’t expect your organization to give you additional funding for projects.
- Look for ways to cut costs.
- Look for ways to increase communication and engagement without spending funds.
- Leverage staff communication efforts with the assistance of a volunteer marketing/communications committee.
Those are just four ideas. Do you have any additional suggestions? Leave a comment and join the conversation.
Ideas Shared, Strategies Developed At First NSC Communications Circle
Debby Edelman, Public Relations Director of Riverbend Head Start, Janelle Floerke, Operations Manager of The Clarkson Eyecare Foundation, L. Carol Scott, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Missouri Child Care Resource and Referral Network, and Carmen Garcia, Communications Manager at the Nonprofit Services Consortium, (from left) attended NSC's first Communications Peer Circle
The first Communications Peer Circle on Thursday, March 3, 2010, at the Nonprofit Service Consortium was great experience. Participants reviewed how an organization can develop a communications plan in tandem with building a committee of volunteers to execute the plan.
The most beneficial part of the two-hour session was the exchange of ideas. If one goes into this type of conference or seminar with an attitude that they can come away with something of value for themselves or their organization, they usually will. Plus, you might contribute an idea or solution that will help an individual or organization made a tremendous improvement in fulfilling their mission.
NSC exists to strengthen the region’s nonprofit organizations and the nonprofit sector. It provides programs services and resources that inform, promote and connect nonprofits as they work to improve people’s lives. (Read more about NSC’s mission, vision and values…)
A special note of thanks to Carmen Garcia, Communications Manager at NSC, for making the Communications Peer Circle a reality. NSC started with Development Peer Circles to assist those in all areas of fundraising for charities and nonprofits. (Donna McGinnis, MBA, CFRE, leads this group and their next is scheduled for Thursday, April 1.)
Register for the next Communications Peer Circle. It will be from 9 to 11 a.m. on Thursday, May 6, 2010, at NSC. We’re kicking around the idea of talking about social media. As soon as we have the topic refined, we’ll publicize it.
You’re welcome to leave a comment on future topics or anything else you find on the blog. The slides that guided Thursday’s discussion are below.
CSPRC March Luncheon On Creating, Redesigning or Overhauling Websites
Eight words that strike fear in most any nonprofit or charitable organization are, “We need to do something about the website.”
The Community Service Public Relations Council’s next meeting will help lower the blood pressure of those beginning the task of dealing with their web presence. Our panelists will be,
-Don Barnes, PeaceFrog
-Karen Handelman, 501 Creative
-Juliet Holden, Safe Connections
Each will spend about five minutes speaking about their approaches to handling a website project. Topics will include preparing for the project, staying within budget and selecting your team.
Please join us on,
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Registration and Networking: 11:30 a.m. to noon
Lunch and program: Noon to 1:15 p.m.
Fees: Members: $25; Non-Members: $35; Students: $20.
Location: Sheraton Clayton Plaza Hotel, 7730 Bonhomme Ave., St. Louis, MO63105
(Parking is free in the Sheraton garage.)
CSPRC Luncheon Postponed Until Next Tuesday, Feb. 16
The Community Service Public Relations Council’s lunch meeting scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 9, is RESCHEDULED for Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2010. Registrations for the meeting will be automatically moved to Feb. 16th. If you are no longer able to attend the meeting, please call (314) 416-2237 or e-mail info@csprc.org.
Using Video For Storytelling, Fundraising
If nonprofit organizations are going to be successful in raising funds, they must effectively tell their story. It helps when stories have strong emotional ties and can be told with photography or video.
This video was produced last month as part of a National Court of Honor ceremony by the Boy Scouts of America here in the Greater St. Louis Area Council. The Scout received an Honor Medal, the second-highest that can be bestowed for an act of heroism.
It was shot with a Flip camera. Most of the editing was done with the software that came from the Flip camera. Some music and sound editing were performed later in the process. It was uploaded to the council’s YouTube site, www.youtube.com/stlbsavideos. A media advisory was distributed a few days before the event. At least two reporters watched the video and said it contributed to their decision to cover the event. (One television reporter almost duplicated the interview on the video. She had the Scout recall the rescue near the scene of the incident.)
After the video was played at the event on Wednesday night, the Scout received a lengthy standing ovation. Three members of the Greater St. Louis Area Council’s Executive Board made the presentation. (Photos from the event can be seen on Flickr.) The event kicked of the council’s 2010 fundraising campaign.
During a conversation with a friend today, it was mentioned that nonprofit communications and marketing professionals must be a jack of all trades and a master of none. As today’s social media channels evolve, fast and efficient delivery of good content trumps style and meticulousness.
Your feedback and comments are welcome.
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