Local nonprofits can capitalize on their community connection.

By Christine Weiser

“You have to look at social trends and correlate those trends to your work, but don’t change your mission,” she adds. “In our case, domestic violence has not changed for 30 years, but we remind donors this problem still exists and we tie this into social trends. We advise our public about changes in domestic violence issues over the past five years, such as MySpace and cell phones that keep abused partners on an electronic leash. You have to be savvy and tap into every resource that substantiates your need.”