Social Media FAIL and the Importance of Authenticity
Aug 12, 2011 Weblog
Not long ago a message appeared in my e-mail inbox:
SENDER:
LinkedIn suggests we may know each other. Must be because of the mutual relationships. Would be glad to invite you to Link In if useful to you.
Intrigued, I searched the sender’s name and discovered that we did indeed have a few connections in common. I should note, have a personal policy of restricting my social networks to people I know personally. Normally I would have ignored the unsolicited message, but because our common connections are individuals I respect and count as some of my most trusted colleagues, I responded and tried to build rapport.
BEN:
Thanks for your note. I don’t believe we have met, so it must be a result of the friends we have in common. I’m pretty close to. How do you know them?
Oddly this was the response I got:
SENDER:
If you saw my profile on LinkedIn, and it’s not useful to you …. for me to have reached out, we can just drop it.
Happily, I’ll do just that, but first let’s consider what can be learned from this exchange.
Tags: communication, FAIL, LinkedIn, networking, professional development, social media
The Nonprofit Development Companion – “Development” And “Fundraising” Are NOT Interchangeable [Book Review]
Jul 25, 2011 Weblog
The Nonprofit Development Companion: A Workbook for Fundraising Success (The AFP/Wiley Fund Development Series) has a wealth of information which I have recently found helpful in crafting a fundraising plan in light of the all encompassing development plan. This is because this book clearly delineates the differences between “development” and “fundraising.”
While attending a recent Association of Fundraising Professionals chapter meeting, Karla Williams challenged the audience on their title within their respective organizations. By a show of hands it was amazing how many fundraisers held the title of “development officer.” To an outsider, or newcomer to the nonprofit sector, these terms are used interchangeably. However, doing so is a disservice to nonprofit professionals and the sector as a whole. I recommend purchasing this book as an adjunct to the seminal work on fundraising, Achieving Excellence in Fundraising (Wiley Desktop Editions), because it completes the context of fundraising within the wider construct of development.
Tags: book review, communication, integrated development plan, management, misconceptions, professional development, strategic planning
Role of the Nonprofit Website
May 11, 2009 Weblog
Thanks to the Chronicle of Philanthropy for the reminder and link to statistics regarding nonprofit use of the web. A nonprofit website is not just a place to post information about your organization. It should help facilitate an ongoing conversation with donors, prospects, and beneficiaries.
I think too often, nonprofits think of websites as a way to broadcast their needs. Instead they should use their website to engage philanthropists and prospective philanthropic investors. The organizational website is never a substitute for face-to-face interaction.
Tags: communication, website