Smart ideas from Hartsook Companies, Inc.

April 6, 2010

Social Networking: Using the Power of
Relationships to Communicate Your Mission

You've been told your organization needs to utilize social media.You realize you're being left in the dust if you don't implement something soon, but you're not confident in how to get the ball rolling. How do you take that first step? Which venue or site best fits your organization?

What is a Social Networking Service?
Social networking services help build online communities of people with shared interests through the power of relationships.

Social networking has created new ways to communicate and share information. Social networking websites are being used regularly by millions of people, and it now seems that this new form of communication will be an enduring part of everyday life.

So Where is Your Organization?
There are several reasons your organization should have a presence on one or more social networking sites.

They offer:

• Increased visibility with donors and potential donors
• An opportunity to connect and communicate with donors and potential donors
• A forum for a community of people with a common interest - in this case, that common interest is your organization

Where to Start?
To get started, you should first review the major social media options and decide which are the best fit for your organization. Facebook, Twitter, Myspace and LinkedIn are available at no cost. Determining which are most appropriate likely depends on your demographic. If that demographic is broad, utilize them all.

A Couple of Tips . . .
While social networking requires an investment of time, the return is greater. No matter what you are talking about, make sure your key messages are consistent, your stories are relevant, your news current, and you are responsive and energetic. Need some help? Get started now. Contact me at jjohnson@hartsookcompanies.com, or find us on Facebook at Hartsook.

- Janell J. Johnson, MPA, Vice President, Wilmington, NC, jjohnson@hartsookcompanies.com

AFP International; Come See Us
Hartsook Companies' Growing Philanthropy Tour is headed to the AFP International Conference on Fundraising in Baltimore. Stop by the Hartsook AFP Center (booth number 1149) and meet our staff and consultants or schedule your free, personalized fundraising consultation.

We have lots in store! Witness the first Hartsook Broadcasting Network LIVE broadcasts featuring prominent guests from the nonprofit sector including Holly Hall, Chronicle of Philanthropy; Andrew Watt, AFP; Allison M. Brunner, Editor - Nonprofit, Public, and Business Leadership and Management, Jossey-Bass/Wiley; Adrian Sargeant, Center on Philanthropy; and more.

Submit your best practice for "growing philanthropy" for your organization and register to win one of three fabulous Wrightsville Beach vacation giveaways - each valued at $2,000.

Get your complimentary copy of Performance-Driven Fundraising: Taking Control of Your Success. Author Matt Beem, Hartsook Companies COO, will be on hand to sign copies.

Author of five books and Hartsook Companies' Chairman and CEO Bob Hartsook, and the Hartsook Chair in Fundraising, and author of Fundraising Principles and Practice, Adrian Sargeant, PhD, will be on hand for book signings as well.

Growing Philanthropy by Giving Back
Hartsook Companies and the Hartsook Institutes for Fundraising are growing philanthropy by giving back to nonprofits who may be struggling to raise funds in today's economic climate.

This month, we are partnering with the Community Foundation for the National Capital Region to hold Day of Service sessions in the Greater Baltimore and Washington, DC areas April 9-11 in conjunction with the AFP International Conference on Fundraising.

Through a tailored discussion about their most pressing fundraising challenges, nonprofit executives, development directors and board members will gain advice that can lead their organization to fulfill their missions through increased funding.

More than 40 participated in the sessions in January and February at Avila University in Kansas City. Sessions are slated for the Greater Oklahoma City and Greater Los Angeles areas. Watch for additional locations throughout 2010.

On the Web

• Examine This ... Matt Beem ponders "What Makes Us Generous?" in his most recent article for the Examiner. For the full article, visit our web site.

• Timely Tips and Tweets! Follow us on Twitter at HartsookTips. Today's Tweet: Make sure your organization's fundraising operation is adequately diversified between individuals, foundations and corporations.

• Facebook: Become a Fan. Get enlightening fundraising tips, view our event photos, and see what's new at Hartsook Companies by following us on Facebook.

• Searches Made Simple. We recently added Google Search as an easy way for site visitors to find relevant resources and information on our web site.

• Global Reach. Empresas Hartsook, Inc. es una empresa de recaudación de fondos completo servicio de consultoría. Or as we say in our native language: "Hartsook Companies, Inc. is a full-service fundraising consulting firm." To better accommodate international clients and prospects, Hartsook Companies' web site can now be translated into 40 languages via the Google Translate button on our home page.

Performance-Enhancement Reading
"There wasn't a long-range view about the benefits of fundraising. Many alumni had not been contacted in years. The message that, 'This institution needs to be here forever' had not been articulated and underscored. When we began to make long overdue connections with past alumni, we realized that some of them felt neglected and a little resentful. Rebuilding those bridges was one of our first and most important tasks."

Another Smart Idea...From the Hartsook Best Practices Collection^SM

"The best idea ever: No more special events. Relationship-building provides major gifts." - Trudy L. Pischer, Senior Director of Advancement, Boys & Girls Town of Missouri, Springfield, Mo.

If you are interested in Best Practices and smart ideas, see these additional resources from Hartsook Companies:

• The entire ASR Publishing collection is now available on Kindle. Books from Hartsook Companies' CEO Bob Hartsook include On The Money! - an enlightening collection of success stories and lessons learned from nonprofit fundraising campaigns nationwide; Closing that Gift! How to be Successful 99% of the Time - a reveal of the 29 secrets to closing a gift and the top 10 solicitation mistakes; Million Dollar Gifts - 101 strategies of amazing real-life stories of million-dollar gifts made by average Americans; Nobody Wants to Give Money Away! - stories, humor and more than two decades of fundraising experience in which Bob explores the nine fundraising truths essential to success; Getting Your Ducks in a Row - a tool box of strategies for effective campaign fundraising, including ideas, concepts, plans, strategies, approaches and suggestions that result in success; and "Reality Fundraising" - ideas, insights and lessons learned through hundreds of best practices from nonprofit professionals nationwide.

• "Best Practices Coast to Coast," a compilation of best practices from every state in the union.

• "Hartsook Best Practices Collection," our original collection of 250 best practices and great ideas.

For a free copy of "Best Practices Coast to Coast" or the "Hartsook Best Practices Collection", please email Tammy Weinman, tammy@hartsookcompanies.com, or visit our web site. We also invite you to contribute your own best practice by emailing Annette Lough, annette@hartsookcompanies.com.

Visit the Hartsook Companies web site for:

• Educational opportunities
• Books/reference articles
• Conference/workshop speakers

Strategies for Success explores smart ideas, connecting with more than 2,000 fundraising professionals bi-weekly. We welcome your contributions or comments. Send to Strategies for Success editor Annette Lough, annette@hartsookcompanies.com. If you'd like a free subscription to Strategies for Success - or its monthly companion, eHartsook on Philanthropy - contact Tammy Weinman, tammy@hartsookcompanies.com. You also can reach her at 816.298.8045, Ext. 8225.

Our web site is located at http://www.hartsookcompanies.com.