Web Design

President Obama is a stellar communicator, something even most people who disagree with his policies will admit. It goes beyond his abilities as a speechmaker. His campaign featured a message of change. And the message never wavered over two years, beyond that shift from the primary (“Change you can believe in”) to the general election (“The change you need”). The focus was always on “you,” his audience — supporters, potential supporters and even rivals.

SANTA MONICA, Calif., June 29, 2009 — One year after its official launch, LIVESTRONG.COM, the definitive online destination for health and fitness information, today announced that more than 1.5 million people made healthy changes in their lives using the LIVESTRONG.COM website’s tools, unique content and active, supportive community. Recently, the site also polled an excess of 1200 visitors regarding their health behaviors and attitudes. The results reveal that more than 90 percent of respondents are succeeding in improving health and achieving goals since engaging in health and fitness sites, including LIVESTRONG.COM. Additionally, 67 percent of those surveyed depend on their virtual community for inspiration, tools and as a primary means of attaining diet and fitness objectives; more than the gym, cookbooks or personal trainers.

Whether it be channel preferences, communication approaches or donor expectations, the fundraising landscape is changing.

In his session, "Power Shift: Succeeding Online in a Donor Centric World," at Fund Raising Day in New York 2009 earlier this month, Vinay Bhagat, founder, chairman and chief strategy officer at Convio, discussed the myriad ways fundraising is transforming and keys to fundraising success amidst the transformations.

Used strategically, the Web offers myriad opportunities to raise funds from wealthy donors.

In the session "Taking Leadership Online: What's Hype and What Works in Online Fundraising" at Fund Raising Day in New York 2009 presented by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Greater New York Chapter in early June, presenters Nancy Haitch, deputy vice president of development for International Rescue Committee; Alia McKee Scott, principal at Sea Change Strategies; and Jono Smith, vice president of nonprofit marketing at Network for Good, discussed management strategies that trail-blazing organizations have followed in using the Internet to begin, sustain and enrich relationships with top donors, prospects and volunteers.

Want to increase the number of online donations you get and the amount given through them? Make it easy for Web visitors to find out who you are, what you do and how you spend donated funds.

The recently launched Fund-It/BenefitBar program offers nonprofit organizations the ability to create branded Web toolbars that not only generate awareness of their causes, but also offer them a chance to raise funds free of charge and elbow grease.

ANN ARBOR, Mich., April 27, 2009 — Visitors to nonprofit websites are more likely to donate money, volunteer time, and recommend the nonprofit to others if they are satisfied with their online experience, according to a new study from ForeSee Results. The inaugural study used the methodology of the University of Michigan’s American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) to gauge satisfaction of over 2,000 respondents who visited nonprofit websites. In aggregate, nonprofit websites score 73 on the study’s 100-point scale, below many other online industries, including Online Banking (83), E-Retail (74), E-Government (74) and Automotive Websites (78).

I hope you enjoyed last month’s article about online giving versus online fundraising, and why it’s so important to learn to distinguish one from another. For those of you who missed it, let me provide this disclaimer: I lead an online fundraising company, so my perspective is very pro-digital … but it’s also informed by 10 years of Internet fundraising experience, so I hope my insights will be of some value to you.

This month’s topic is timely as many of us face challenges in certain areas of our top-line income. As our major gifts and corporate support could be in decline in 2009, what can we do to pump up our digital giving?

"Every nonprofit should have a Web site that actually furthers its mission — not just describes it," was the phrase that began the free webinar "e-Strategy for Your Nonprofit" hosted by CharityFinders, a firm that offers workshops on Internet strategy, consulting services and custom Web development.

A new report by GuideStar, the leading provider of nonprofit information, reveals that 93 percent of nonprofits post information about their missions and programs on their Web sites, but that significantly fewer disclose other key information via the Internet.