“Mission matters. The people behind the mission also matter, and their passion for the mission can never be taken for granted.” [from Share of Mind, Share of Heart: Marketing Tools of Engagement for Nonprofits.] This is why engaging
Public relations (PR) is an essential part of a nonprofit’s marketing function because it helps educate the public on the organization’s mission, increase donations, and find more volunteers. With nonprofits allocating an average of five percent or less of their budget on PR and marketing, team members have to rely on less expensive options such
“Volunteers … work not for money but because they want to give back, make a difference, change the world.” Sally Helgesen While the need to give of themselves may motivate volunteers to get involved, it doesn’t ensure their continuing commitment. What keeps them involved is the quality of their experience with an organization. The best
Whether providing relief after a natural disaster or rendering humanitarian aid to countries in need, we’re familiar with the importance of international medical missions. The inspirational stories told by returning volunteers describe the desperate and challenging needs of the people served and their deep gratitude in receiving medical aid. The volunteers, themselves, are forever changed
While anytime is a good time to acknowledge volunteers for their dedication to helping others, National Volunteer Week provides a special opportunity to celebrate their efforts. In support of National Volunteer Week, here are my favorite quotes on the tremendous value of volunteers. “Volunteering is so pervasive it’s invisible. We take for granted all the things that
In honor of National Volunteer Week and in preparation to participate in BlogPaws Conference, it’s fitting that I share this poignant description from a volunteer involved with animal rescue. Rescue explained The neglect changes you. The abuse hardens you. The suffering breaks you. The ignorance angers you. The indifference disturbs you. The injustice destroys you. On a
“Our current practices and approaches to employee engagement are failing. They are failing to achieve organizational results and most employees fail to experience the benefits of their own engagement.” Excerpt from David Zinger’s 21-Point Employee Engagement Manifesto. A disheartening statement, but not surprising as employee engagement gets more intention than action. In my workshops, I
The value of having a favorable brand is that it inspires public trust and confidence – the stronger the brand, the more likely people will associate with it. A most important contributor to brand strength, and one that is difficult to duplicate, is the organization’s culture. “Over time … we ultimately came to the realization
If your organization relies on paid employees to get its work done, would you treat them any differently if they were volunteers? Other thought leaders have shared their views on this topic, including: Treat Employees Like Volunteers for Better Performance by Paul Hebert, Symbolist Drucker: Treat Employees Like Volunteers by Dan Rockwell, Leadership Freak Employees
One of the reasons I love my work is that I get to meet dedicated nonprofit professionals and volunteers eager to share their stories. They’re also eager to learn how to further their respective organization’s mission in the marketing workshops I teach. The volunteers and employees from a variety animal rescues and shelters who attended my