-----------------------------------------------------------------
DOING GOOD FEBRUARY 2010 || THE PLATINUM RULE AND THE IMPORTANCE
OF GOOD FACILITATION
-----------------------------------------------------------------
This email is best viewed in your web browser. Click the link
below to see it:
http://dogoodconsulting-newsletters.cmail1.com/t/r/e/ujlllh/l/
In this issue:
-----------------------------------------------------------------
- I *HEART* MEETINGS
- Q & A: The Timing of Mailed/Emailed Appeals
- ONE SIMPLE ACT
- Group Profile: CUDO
- Calling All Designers!
I *HEART* MEETINGS
-----------------------------------------------------------------
by Elizabeth Simpson, Group Dynamics & Teambuilding Specialist,
do good Consulting
Meetings. Just hearing the word makes most people cringe. I
happen to love meetings. Meetings are an opportunity to draw on
the wisdom and experience of a group of people brought together
around a common cause – how inspiring!
However, meetings have earned a bad reputation, because they are
usually structured poorly and have weak (or no) facilitation. In
such circumstances, conversations run in circles or off topic
entirely. Conflict and resentment build, resulting in
discouragement. Ultimately, people check out (mentally, if not
physically).
While it will do wonders to start by creating a relevant and
structured agenda, even this will not guarantee results if there
is not also effective facilitation, which means bringing in a
trained, outside facilitator.
We can do it!
All too often a group will decide that one of its members – or
worse, its leader (e.g., board president) – should facilitate a
meeting. There are a number of reasons why this often undermines
the meeting's success:
Ability: Facilitation is a skill that requries substantial
training. Most people simply don't have the experience to make
on-the-spot assessments, resolve conflicts, and process decisions
that are needed in this role. However, even if a member of the
group has such skills, there is still the issue of…
Bias: If a person has an opinion on what the outcome should be,
they are not in a position to facilitate the decision. This
usually excludes everyone in a group. If that person is in a
position of power, people will be even less likely to share
potentially fruitful disagreements with them. In a different area
of bias, "inside" people are poorly positioned to see or address
latent group conflicts or dynamics because they are so close to
them, and/or directly involved.
But we don't have any money!
The real question is: How much is your time worth? Especially in
situations where the attendees are paid (e.g., staff meetings),
the value of saved time from shorter, more productive meetings is
more than worth the cost of a facilitator – not to mention how
much more effective the outcomes are! For groups with smaller
budgets, consider creating a partnership with another group:
invest in facilitation training for members, then trade
facilitation at each other's meetings.
So, let me caveat my profession of passion and say that I love
meetings with good facilitation. I love them because I value my
time and the organizations I am involved in, and good
facilitation helps me make the most of both.
Find a quick reference guide from the Student Environmental
Action Coalition at
www.seac.org/resources-backup/facilitation1-04.pdf
[http://www.seac.org/resources-backup/facilitation1-04.pdf].
do good Consulting offers facilitation services to groups large
and small, as well as a number of other group dynamics and
teambuilding offerings. Click here
[http://www.dogoodconsulting.org/services/interpersonal_dynamics.html]
to learn more these services.
Q & A: The Timing of Mailed/Emailed Appeals
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Dear do good:
Our organization is moving ahead with implementing an annual
fundraising plan. We are trying to be as strategic as possible in
timing our appeals – whether mailed or emailed. Are there better
days of the week to send things like appeals, e-newsletters, and
the like?
- Aiming for the Bull's Eye, Rantoul, IL
Dear Bull's Eye:
This is a great question, and I'm pleased to see the detail and
strategy your organization is putting into your fundraising plan
for 2010.
The short answer to your question is "not really." Let me
elaborate.
For mailed appeals, we certainly know that appeals sent at the
end of the year are the most effective. The weeks from
Thanksgiving to December 31 are when donors in the U.S. are the
most generous, and more specifically, the last two days of the
year are the hottest charitable giving days of all 365.
Regarding what day of the week your mailed appeal shows up in the
mailbox, though, little formal research has been done or
published.
My best advice speaks to your overall annual fundraising plan.
Your organization should plan to send four to six mailed appeals
each year to your support base. The actual number depends on
multiple organizational variables, so I cannot tell you the
precise number your group should send without knowing more about
the composition of your plan, your marketing efforts, etc.
The reason for asking multiple times throughout the year is that
you do not know when your prospective donors are inclined or
disposed to give. They go on vacation, retire, or have kids at
different times. They get tax refunds and paychecks at different
times. Some are compulsive mail readers; others are stackers,
waiting for the weekend. All respond to different appeal angles.
So whether your appeal shows up in their mailboxes on Monday or
Saturday, your recipients will all respond differently.
Far more important than what day your appeal arrives is how your
appeal looks when it arrives in the mailbox. Will recipients even
notice it in the sea of bills, magazines, and junk mail? Open it
before tossing it in the recycle bin? Know who your group is?
Using great fundraising appeal techniques is far more valuable
than the day-of-the-week timing of the appeal.
Now, regarding emailed appeals. I'm glad to learn your
organization is blending emailed appeals with your mailed ones.
Trends are moving in the direction of online giving, though it is
still far from king. However, providing this option to donors now
is a great idea, so long as it is coupled with a strong mailed
appeal effort as well, because most donors still prefer to give
the "old fashioned" way.
Most experts agree that sending emails (e-newsletters and
e-appeals) Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday during normal business
hours is best, though no consensus or industry-accepted best day
to send exists. As with your mailed appeals, the best day to send
e-appeals is a small part of the equation. The content of your
"ask" is key as well, and another question would be what time of
day to send the e-appeal. The jury is still out on this one.
Some advice in this regard is to use a program that tracks data.
That way you can analyze your own supporters' trends. It is the
only way for your organization to truly uncover the day and time
that your supporters are most responsive to your appeals. At do
good, we use Campaign Monitor [http://www.campaignmonitor.com]
and also like Convio [http://www.convio.com], Constant Contact
[http://www.constantcontact.com], and Emma
[http://www.myemma.com].
Additional resources:* The Timing of Your Mailings
[http://www2.guidestar.org/rxa/news/articles/2010/the-timing-of-your-mailings.aspx]
- Laura Huth, President & CEO, do good Consulting
Have a question for do good Consulting].
ONE SIMPLE ACT
-----------------------------------------------------------------
In each month's Doing Good, you'll find one great tip to
implement over the next month. By taking this one small,
achievable action each month, you can make big changes in your
organization's and employee's performance, increase donations and
volunteerism, and expand your group's visibility. Give it a try!
The month's ONE SIMPLE ACT focuses on creating a healthy work
environment and happy employees.
February's ONE SIMPLE ACT is:
Make it a point daily to compliment a co-worker on a
quality, skill, or accomplishment. Getting support for your
organization is all about building relationships. Too often, you
and the people right next to you are overlooked in the ongoing
contribution to the organization you make by simply showing up
and doing the work. Creating a culture of appreciation is an
investment in your organization and, ultimately, in your life.
Tell us [dogood@dogoodconsulting.org] about your ONE SIMPLE ACT
experience this month.
Group Profile: CUDO
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The importance of networking: You've heard about it dozens of
times from career coaches, magazine articles, and maybe even on
Oprah. "Yeah, I'll get around to doing that – someday," you've
said.
What if you found a group in your field that was more than just
an impersonal "networking group," but was really a community?
For graphic designers in the Champaign-Urbana area, that group is
CUDO. The Champaign-Urbana Design Org. [http://thecudo.org/] is a
professional organization for print, web, and interactive
designers that creates and supports an active, engaged, and
vibrant designer community.
To foster that community, CUDO organizes events that allow its
members – graphic designers – to use their interests and talents
to engage the rest of the community.
One such event is project: non-profit makeover. This is an
exciting, frenetic, and creativity-filled day-long event when
dozens of designers donate their time to perform an "extreme
branding makeover" for one selected non-profit organization. The
designers get a chance to spend the day working with others in
the local design community whom they would not normally get a
chance to work with. The non-profit organization is the
beneficiary of all that creativity, coming out of the experience
with a brand-new logo, business card, letterhead, and website.
Another fun event that is open to the entire community is Pecha
Kucha Night [http://thecudo.org/pecha-kucha/] (which is part of
an international movement of PechaKucha
[http://www.pecha-kucha.org/] events). Pronounced "pe-chak-cha",
the phrase comes from the Japanese term for the sound of
conversation ("chit chat"). The event itself rests on a
presentation format that is based on a simple idea: 20 images x
20 seconds each. CUDO's Pecha Kucha presentation is typically
held in the Canopy Club and is very popular – the September 2009
event attracted a crowd of over 350 people!
If you're a graphic designer, visit thecudo.org
[http://thecudo.org] to learn more about CUDO. If you are in a
different line of work, maybe there's a similar organization for
you – look into it today!
Want to see your favorite non-profit organization highlighted in
the next issue of Doing Good] or 217-778-1687.
Calling All Designers!
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Does your organization love your website designer? Do you have a
friend who works for a web design company, or who does freelance
web development? If so, please forward this to them!
do good Consulting is looking to "refresh" our website. Following
good practice, we have a Request for Proposals
[http://www.dogoodconsulting.org/documents/do_good_website_redesign_RFP.pdf]
(PDF) for interested designers/developers to respond to.
Questions].
Forward to a Friend
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Giving and Gender Differences
When it comes to giving money away, women are more generous than
men. There are also differences in women's giving by generation.*
Women in their 80s often give to causes their husbands supported.
They are collaborative and frugal.
* Women in their 70s are motivated less by recognition and more
by being engaged with the organization.
* The women's movement is a key part of the experience of women
now in their 60s. Sixty-something donors may view philanthropy as
a way to enact social change.
* Women in their 50s have both inherited wealth and time to
continue working and earning more, bringing a greater sense of
independence with regard to making philanthropic decisions.
More information on gender and giving at Philanthropy and Gender:
Not Your Mother's Bake Sale
[http://www.afpnet.org/Audiences/ReportsResearchDetail.cfm?ItemNumber=4309].
-----------------------------------------------------------------
MindTools.com [http://www.mindtools.com]
MindTools.com [http://www.mindtools.com] is a collection of
useful tips. articles, and even quizzes for helping you do your
job better, no matter what you do. Topics include leadership
skills, problem solving, decision making, project and time
management, communication skills, and more. The website
[http://www.mindtools.com] is thorough and their bi-weekly
e-newsletter [http://www.mindtools.com/subscribe.htm] very
informative. Much of what MindTools.com
[http://www.mindtools.com] has to offer is free and accessible,
but other materials require membership. Either way, you're sure
to find something to help you "do good" even better!
-----------------------------------------------------------------
DO UNTO OTHERS…
You've heard of the Golden Rule: "Do unto others as you would
have them do unto you." But have you heard of the Platinum Rule?
"Do unto others as they would have you do unto them."
What would it mean if you applied this rule to your
communications? Think of using the Platinum Rule broadly (in
marketing and advertising) and narrowly (in emails and in-person
conversations).
Before saying or writing something, you would consider:* What the
listener or reader is ready to hear/read
* The format, phrasing, and tone that best matches their way of
receiving information
* How much information to give them – so they will receive and
understand it
Similarly, what difference would using the Platinum Rule make in
your fundraising techniques? When managing staff? In recruiting
volunteers? When working with your boss?
Apply the Nike Rule to your use of the Platinum Rule: "Just Do
It."
-----------------------------------------------------------------
MAJOR GIFT PROSPECT IDENTIFICATION: Thurs., Feb. 4, 12-1:30PM,
Carle Development Foundation, Urbana, $20-$25. RSVP by Wed., Feb.
3. Learn basic, effective methods for qualifying donor prospects
for major gift cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. Make a
reservation at info@eastcentralillinoisafp.org
[info@eastcentralillinoisafp.org].
MAKING TECHNOLOGY WORK FOR YOUR NON-PROFIT: Fri., Feb. 19,
12-1:30PM, Champaign Country Club, $20-$25 (lunch provided). RSVP
by Feb. 15. Explore the latest technology available to
non-profits for increasing awareness and fundraising, including
social networking, website optimization, and database
segmentation. Leave full of ideas and a plan for implementation.
Make a reservation at info@eastcentralillinoisafp.org
[info@eastcentralillinoisafp.org].
LUMPKIN FOUNDATION MICROGRANTS: Micro-grants for staff and board
development are available at www.goodWORKSconnect.org
[http://www.goodWORKSconnect.org]. Applications due Feb. 15. For
details and to apply, go to www.goodWORKSconnect.org/grants
[http://www.goodWORKSconnect.org/grants].
LUMPKIN FAMILY FUND GRANTS AVAILABLE: Grants for East Central
Illinois organizations working toward long-term improvements in
civic engagement and community/non-profit organizational
leadership, environmental health, preventative (human) health;
and education and community access to culture. Letters of inquiry
due Feb. 26. For more information, see
www.lumpkinfoundation.org/cei.php
[http://www.lumpkinfoundation.org/cei.php].
CREATE GREAT CHARTS, GRAPHS & MAPS ON A BUDGET: Feb. 11,
12-1:30PM. Learn to transform data into charts, graphs, and maps
that will help your audience understand the data and move them to
take action. Discuss the types of chart and map formats and look
at a number of software packages for creating data graphics for
both web and print publications. See
www.idealware.org/online_seminars
[http://www.idealware.org/online_seminars] for details.
CHOOSING E-NEWSLETTER SOFTWARE: Feb. 18, 12-1PM. Walk through the
features you might want for designing, setting up, sending, and
tracking e-newsletters and emails to hundreds or thousands of
people. Compare the most popular, reliable, affordable tools
available. See www.idealware.org/online_seminars
[http://www.idealware.org/online_seminars] for details.
INTERNET SERVICES FOR CHICAGO NON-PROFITS: Mobile Citizen's
Technology Assistance Grant program for Chicago non-profits
offers high-speed internet service at a reduced price to
non-profits. Includes unlimited usage for $10/mo. per account for
up to 25 accounts, and other benefits. For more information or to
apply, see www.mobilecitizen.org/grantchicago
[http://www.mobilecitizen.org/grantchicago]. Deadline: Feb. 19.
CU VOLUNTEER FAIR: On Wed., Feb. 17 from 10AM-1PM, Parkland
College in Champaign will host a Bi-Annual Volunteer Fair. The
event is a valuable resource for organizations to recruit
volunteers. If your organization is interested in having a table
at the Fair, contact Marsha Reardon at 217-353-3302 or
mreardon@parkland.edu [mreardon@parkland.edu].
-----------------------------------------------------------------
With decades of real-life experience and proven results in
non-profit, small business, and community-based work, do good
Consulting [http://www.dogoodconsulting.org] brings a wealth of
knowledge in developing the effectiveness of organizations across
Illinois. Whether you need assistance with fundraising
[http://www.dogoodconsulting.org/resources/fundraising.html],
strategic planning
[http://www.dogoodconsulting.org/services/strategic_program_planning.html],
hiring help
[http://www.dogoodconsulting.org/services/hiring.html],
communications and marketing
[http://www.dogoodconsulting.org/services/marketing_media_comm.html],
grantwriting
[http://www.dogoodconsulting.org/resources/fundraising.html],
database work
[http://www.dogoodconsulting.org/services/constituent_relations.html],
or teambuilding
[http://www.dogoodconsulting.org/services/interpersonal_dynamics.html],
do good can help.
Through dynamic and customized workshops and trainings,
one-on-one sessions, strategic advice, and plan development, do
good Consulting helps small- to mid-sized organizations and
businesses raise more money, involve more people, and do the good
work they do even better. do good's associates
[http://www.dogoodconsulting.org/consultants/] work with clients
to develop a better sense of organizational possibilities and
potential while creating realistic and practical step-by-step
plans and ideas for implementation and lasting impact. Learn more
about do good Consulting's trainings, services
[http://www.dogoodconsulting.org/services/], and resources
[http://www.dogoodconsulting.org/resources/].
For more information on do good Consulting's associates
[http://www.dogoodconsulting.org/consultants/], consulting and
training services [http://www.dogoodconsulting.org/services/],
free resources [http://www.dogoodconsulting.org/resources/],
clients [http://www.dogoodconsulting.org/clients/], and more, go
to www.dogoodconsulting.org [http://www.dogoodconsulting.org].
-----------------------------------------------------------------
We sent this email to [email address suppressed].
If you no longer wish to hear from us, click the link below to
instantly unsubscribe:
http://dogoodconsulting-newsletters.cmail1.com/t/r/u/ujlllh/l/
Thanks,
Laura Huth, do good Consulting