American Red Cross

The 8-S Model is designed to provide nonprofit leaders a complete engagement platform to build avid supporters, strong public support, and most importantly of all, sustainable and scalable funding engines. These drivers are universal, and each component reinforces and builds on each of the others.

I spent the first day of spring 2013 fast-walking Capitol Hill with foundation colleagues from all across the country. Hundreds of us were there for Foundations on the Hill, philanthropy's annual push to remind lawmakers why giving matters. In brief encounters with our elected officials and their staff, we tried to connect the dots between their priorities and ours. We reminded them of the essential work our grantees are doing every day to make communities better, to make our nation stronger and more just.

Almost every direct-response fundraiser who can count eventually comes to the realization that reliance on premiums to boost short-term acquisition response rates is a long-term prescription for poor retention and lousy lifetime value. Many are unaware of the ample evidence in behavioral science for why premiums not only delude fundraisers but, far more importantly, destroy donor motivation and loyalty.

Choosing to ignore the "premium problem" is far too often the option selected in the drive to keep acquisition rates high and CEOs happy.

Announcing the 2013 Fundraising Professionals of the Year Awards Rising Stars.

Independent Sector and eight other groups asked a powerful congressional committee Tuesday to preserve discount postage rates for nonprofits as it drafts legislation to change how the U.S. Postal Service works.

The Postal Reform Act of 2011 had proposed eliminating the nonprofit discount, which cost the postal service about $1.3-billion in 2011. The provision was removed last year during congressional negotiations, but the comprehensive postal bill died. It is expected to be considered again this year by the new Congress.

Charities in New York state have collectively raised more than $400 million for Hurricane Sandy relief efforts, the state's attorney general said Thursday. A survey of 88 nonprofit groups by Eric Schneiderman's office found that as of mid-December, the fundraising for storm victims had been dominated by five charities, led by the American Red Cross ($188 million), the Robin Hood Foundation ($67 million), the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City ($45 million), the Empire State Relief Fund ($15.4 million) and The Salvation Army's eastern U.S. division ($14.3 million).

This year has drawn more social engagement than ever by nonprofits, according to an MDG Advertising infographic. Social media fundraising has more than doubled in the last five years, the ad agency said, citing increasing usage of social networks and the likelihood that any online event will become an immediate viral sensation (see last month's #GivingTuesday).

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman is requesting information from charities on fundraising related to Hurricane Sandy to ensure that money is spent on storm relief. The attorney general’s office sent letters to 75 nonprofit groups requesting information on their fundraising and relief activities, Schneiderman said in a statement. The office’s charities bureau will compile the information and report it online.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) announced that it will provide $5 million to selected nonprofit agencies to help New Jersey residents recover from the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy. In addition to the $500,000 already committed, RWJF will provide $4.5 million to help with recovery, rebuilding and social services support, including mental health services for individuals and families in the state.

Additional million-dollar donations for recovery efforts following Superstorm Sandy from a broad spectrum of corporations were announced this week. As of midweek, the Coach Foundation had joined the ranks of seven-figure contributors to Sandy recovery efforts, pledging $2 million to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, while apparel company PVH Corp. announced a donation of $1 million, to be shared equally by the Red Cross, the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City and the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund.