tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36517139329074636372024-03-05T14:14:15.300-05:00Electric PhilanthropyIgniting a charge in fundraisingBethany Deineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03309273713346573948noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3651713932907463637.post-68916270153684193322011-11-14T19:21:00.001-05:002011-11-14T19:22:20.744-05:00Finding the Philanthropist Within<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What is your definition of a "philanthropist?" Do you conjure up thoughts of Bill Gates and Warren Buffet, billionaires committed to changing healthcare and poverty global-wide? Do you think of men like Rockefeller or Carnegie, industrialists who made so much money that it still goes to work today? How about the wife of McDonald's legend Ray Kroc who left millions upon millions in her estate to benefit education and other charities?</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Do you ever think of the plumber who lives across the street? How about your mailman? Your hairdresser? Yourself?</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">WordNet defines "philanthropist" as someone who makes charitable donations intended to increase human well-being. The American Heritage Dictionary has a similar definition: The effort or inclination to increase the well-being of humankind, as by charitable aid or donations. Note: Neither definition describes how much one has to give to be considered a philanthropist. My favorite description is "the love of humankind in general." </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anyone can be a philanthropist. It simply means you give to help others, primarily because it is the right thing to do. You give because you care, not because you expect something back in return other than the satisfaction of knowing you are doing the right thing.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Circle of Sisterhood Foundation is grateful to all of the philanthropists (you are more than just a donor!) that have made a choice to help girls and women get an education and gain an opportunity to escape a life of poverty and oppression. Some give a lot. Some give a little. The amount is not as important as that they simply give. And Circle of Sisterhood philanthropists give in a wide variety of ways.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Take for example our own leader, Ginny Carroll’s recent <a href="http://www.crowdrise.com/50for50campaign/fundraiser/circleofsisterhood"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; text-decoration: underline;">50 for 50 campaign</span></a> in which she asked her friends to give $50 in honor of her 50th birthday. In just a matter of days, Ginny raised $3,075 from her friends and family. Each one of these donors is a philanthropist. They gave because she asked. And they gave because they cared.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Similarly, friends responded when Sue Kraft Fussell conducted a <a href="http://www.crowdrise.com/SueKraftFussell"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; text-decoration: underline;">Virtual Marathon</span></a> for her own milestone birthday. Her generous friends donated money...and she never even ran a step! Each person gave at a level that was meaningful to her and suddenly, the Circle of Sisterhood Foundation was the beneficiary of $3,865.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hilary Cessna’s has launched her own philanthropic journey on Crowdrise. She shares what motivates her to not only give but to also ask for others to join her in her effort to raise $1,000. She states:</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“It is now our turn to rise up and give a voice to the voiceless. There is so much devastation happening in the world to women and girls. Regardless of where were born, where we went to college or what organization we affiliated with, we are one sisterhood. A sisterhood of women. It is now our turn to stand as one and unite for the rights of women and girls everywhere.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now, that is a wonderful philanthropic spirit!</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our collegiate sisters are learning about giving every day on our college campuses. These women are recognizing the incredible feeling of what giving provides. Take just a few examples: there is a <a href="http://www.crowdrise.com/UCSDDanceMarathon"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px color: #0c25a6; text-decoration: underline;">Dance Marathon at UC San Diego</span></a>, Miami University’s Panhellenic trip to see <i>Wicked, </i>the Circle of Sisterhood week of awareness activities at the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/USFcircleofsisterhood"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px color: #0c25a6; text-decoration: underline;">University of Souther Florida</span></a>. Every day there are new posts on the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/CircleofSisterhoodFoundation?ref=ts"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px color: #0c25a6; text-decoration: underline;">Circle of Sisterhood Foundation’s Facebook </span></a>page of clever fundraisers that allow students to become philanthropists. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We have been blessed in this country to have the right to work, get an education, vote, travel by ourselves, drive, select a spouse, make decisions about our own bodies and so much more. We also know that many women around the world are not afforded these same rights. We can each become a philanthropist and help make change. Every gift, regardless of size, makes a difference. When we pool our resources and provide grants to schools or NGOs, we are opening doors for women to have a chance. We are giving to help the well-being of others. That’s what it means to be a philanthropist. That’s what happens when you choose to donate to the Circle of Sisterhood Foundation. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As we approach the holiday season, I invite you to become a philanthropist yourself. Make a donation to the Circle of Sisterhood because of your love for humankind. I guarantee you will feel proud of what you have achieved. And somewhere out there, a young girl will thank you. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Learn how you can support the Circle of Sisterhood at <a href="http://www.circleofsisterhood.org/donate"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px color: #0c25a6; text-decoration: underline;">www.circleofsisterhood.org/donate</span></a>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div>Bethany Deineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03309273713346573948noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3651713932907463637.post-37469330846958979752011-09-10T02:08:00.000-04:002011-09-10T20:19:19.966-04:0010 Tips to Fundraise Like A ProI am in a really cool new volunteer role for the <a href="http://www.circleofsisterhood.org/">Circle of Sisterhood Foundation</a>. I am the chairman of the development committee. This Foundation has just celebrated its first year and it is such an interesting challenge to be at the very beginning of a non-profit start-up. This organization exists to help overcome the barriers for girls to get an education and as a result, provides opportunities to lift them out of poverty and oppression. It's a lofty goal but one I think most women, especially those of us who have benefitted from a quality education, have an obligation to help.<br />
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I recently wrote a blog article: <a href="http://circleofsisterhoodfoundation.wordpress.com/2011/09/08/10-tips-to-fundraise-like-a-pro/">10 Tips to Fundraise Like a Pro</a>. There's good suggestions for those participating with the Circle of Sisterhood Foundation but is really applicable to any kind of fundraising. Let me know your thoughts. What would you add?<br />
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Just so you know I follow my own advice, I'm doing my own individual fundraiser for the Circle of Sisterhood Foundation and am using a really fun platform at Crowdrise. It only takes one step to start a movement and that's what I intend to do. I hope you'll consider making a $25 gift and help me raise $1,000 in my <a href="http://www.crowdrise.com/powerofone">Power of One initiative</a>. Thank you! Bethany Deineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03309273713346573948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3651713932907463637.post-72398569411656287382011-05-25T16:40:00.000-04:002011-05-25T16:40:07.741-04:00The Fundraisers' Guide to Social MediaI was honored to be one of the presenters for the AFP, Dayton Region National Fundraising Day. This presentation focuses on tools that fundraisers can use beyond the basics of Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc. <br />
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As I shared during the program, if there is one take-away it is this: Technology and tools are changing at a rapid pase but the fundamentals of fundraising techniques do not. Social media helps us engage with donors and constituents. At the core, social media helps us build relationships. We still need to listen, cultivate, connect interests and steward our donors. This simply gives us some innovative methods to do our jobs more effectively.<br />
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I would be very interested in hearing what tools <em>you</em> use to effectively raise money using social media. What do you recommend and why?<br />
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<div id="__ss_8085430" style="width: 425px;"><strong style="display: block; margin: 12px 0px 4px;"><a href="http://www.slideshare.net/bethanydeines1/the-fundraisers-guide-to-social-media" title="The Fundraisers’ Guide to Social Media">The Fundraisers’ Guide to Social Media</a></strong> <iframe frameborder="0" height="355" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/8085430" width="425"></iframe><br />
<div style="padding-bottom: 12px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">View more <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/">presentations</a> from <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/bethanydeines1">Bethany Deines</a> </div></div>Bethany Deineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03309273713346573948noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3651713932907463637.post-32584199744839845802011-01-31T15:15:00.000-05:002011-01-31T15:15:53.477-05:002010 K99.1FM Cares for Kids Radiothon<a href="http://www.childrensdayton.org/">Dayton Children's</a> is fortunate to have a long-standing relationship with <a href="http://k99online.com/">K99.1FM</a>, the local country music radiostation. Every year, K99.1FM hosts a three-day Cares for Kids Radiothon to raise money for the hospital. During the 2010 Radiothon, Nancy Wilson and Frye Guy, co-hosts of the popular "Breakfast Club" morning show tireless volunteered their talents to share the Dayton Children's story on air. Through powerful "story songs" and live interviews with patients and families, they asked their listening community to pledge $10 per month for 12 months. More than $200,000 was raised, making this the most effective fundraising event for the hospital during the year. <br />
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As a thank you to K99.1FM and <a href="http://www.cmgohio.com/">Cox Media Group</a>, I put this video slideshow together as a tribute to their efforts and to give our donors a unique "behind the scenes" look at what happens during the live broadcast. This is a major team effort with the amazing staff at K99.1FM, the Dayton Daily News, the sponsors, volunteers, the Dayton Children's staff, and most importantly, our patients and families who generously share their incredible stories. <br />
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Dayton Children's is proud member of the Children's Miracle Network and recognize how fortunate we are to have such a strong partnership with Cox Media Group in Ohio. <br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="295" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/rI1dRyz8LAE?fs=1" width="480"></iframe>Bethany Deineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03309273713346573948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3651713932907463637.post-41043300997549106992011-01-12T22:31:00.000-05:002011-01-12T22:31:50.095-05:00The Online Giving Study: A Call To Reinvent RelationshipsI admit it...I'm a fan of <a href="http://www.networkforgood.org/">Network for Good</a>, but maybe not for the reasons you may think. Yes, it seems to be the leader of the online giving pack. However, what you may not know, is that NFG produces some of the best, most helpful resources on online fundraising and nonprofit best practices. I follow their blog posts religiously. I really read every word of their e-newsletters. I religiously tweet about things I learn from them. They have their fingers on the pulse of online giving. Don't believe me? Here's the proof:<br />
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Take the time to read the latest <a href="http://www.fundraising123.org/files/Community/Online_Giving_Study_2010.pdf">online giving study</a>. It is well-researched, fascinating, and what I appreciate is that it emphasizes the need to continue to use strong fundraising fundamentals, such as focusing on donor relationships. I've advocated for the longest time that just because you raise money electronically, it's no reason to abandon the basic fundamentals of the profession. The statistics are impressive and the trends are spot-on.<br />
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Read the <a href="http://www.fundraising123.org/files/Community/Online_Giving_Study_2010.pdf">Online Giving Study</a>. Bookmark it. Share it with others. You will be as impressed as I am. Follow the suggestions. You will be a better development professional.Bethany Deineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03309273713346573948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3651713932907463637.post-54042533331514911502010-11-27T14:55:00.000-05:002010-11-27T14:55:48.845-05:00A Master Philanthropist - Paul Newman TributeThere are role models in life and then there are people you can follow in their footsteps. When working as the Director of Development for the Phi Kappa Tau Foundation, one of my most exciting moments was to meet Paul Newman. I was excited not to meet a world-famous actor, but rather a world-famous philanthropist. <br />
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Mr. Newman was a member of Phi Kappa Tau and because of his leadership, Phi Kappa Tau adopted the Hole in the Wall Camps as the national philanthropy. These remarkable camps provide opportunities for children battling chronic and life-threatening illnesses to attend summer camp and have a normal experience yet still receive state-of-the-art medical care. I heard yesterday during an interview with Newman's best friend for 50+ years, AE Hotchner, that with the development of Newman's Own, more than $330 million has been contributed to various charities. <br />
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I had the privilege of volunteering at Camp Boggy Creek in Florida several times. I visited the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in Connecticut and had the honor to attend both the ground breaking and the grand opening of the Victory Junction Gang Camp in North Carolina. With the support of Phi Kappa Tau's Foundation Board of Directors, I established a scholarship program for brothers who would work or volunteer their time to serve as counselors and activity specialists at one of the camps. I think the proudest moment of my career was learning that because of PKT's commitment to the camps, it quickly became the number one source of male volunteers, a need that was in great demand. <br />
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There were countless precious moments that the camps provided these young men. To say that it was life changing is not an understatement. These Phi Tau's went to camp as boys but returned as men, forever impacted by the experiences they had working with children. To know that I played a role in getting that program firmly established is one of the highlights of my career and certainly a legacy I am indeed proud to have left the Fraternity I loved as if I were a member of it myself. <br />
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I met Paul Newman on several occasions. He was a shy man and not one for special accolades. He told me how proud he was of the brothers who came to camp and was genuinely touched that Phi Tau was so involved with the camps he founded.<br />
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He was an incredible philanthropist. He gave because it was the right thing to do, not because he was getting anything in return. He embodied generosity, creativity, dedication and hard work. He made a difference for thousands of children and equally as many volunteers and staff members. I am forever grateful to have met him and to have been a part of the Hole in the Wall Camp experience. <br />
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This video was made by Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity as a tribute to one of their most distinguished alumni, Paul Newman, upon his death. I am blessed to have been associated with PKT and treasure the moments that I was part of the staff. Hoo Rah, my brothers!<br />
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<object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/M9KBAOQRRjA?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/M9KBAOQRRjA?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>Bethany Deineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03309273713346573948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3651713932907463637.post-13794111543700286012010-11-18T21:36:00.000-05:002010-11-18T21:36:47.183-05:002007-2010 Tri Sigma Triennial AchievementsDuring the 2010 National Convention, I was asked to highlight <a href="http://www.sigmasigmasigma.org/">Tri Sigma's</a> accomplishments during the previous three years. This is typically a powerpoint presentation where each Council members gets up and shares a long (read: boring) bulleted list of achievements. I was given some license to present this information in a different format. I wanted to create something that would wake the crowd up, get them fired up and celebrate what turned out to be a remarkable triennium.<br />
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Many thanks to National President, Laura Sweet, and the other members of the Sigma Sigma Sigma Executive Council for giving me just enough rope to <i>not</i> hang myself.<br />
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So here it is...the 2007-2010 Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority Triennial Achievements. This is not your grandma's sorority!<br />
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<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/yoGwdTt5xBg?hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/yoGwdTt5xBg?hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Bethany Deineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03309273713346573948noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3651713932907463637.post-55295559107317369712010-10-15T11:51:00.000-04:002010-10-15T11:51:03.103-04:00Hospitals Increasingly Turning to Social Media to CommunicateThe Dayton Business Journal published an excellent feature on how hospitals are using social media as a way to communicate and build relationships with patients and families. I am proud that <a href="http://www.childrensdayton.org/">The Children's Medical Center</a> was prominently featured in this article. There is excellent advice from Betsy Woods, public relations and marketing manager at Datyon Children's (not to mention a quick shout-out to yours truly). Read the article <a href="http://dayton.bizjournals.com/dayton/stories/2010/10/18/story4.html">here</a>. I would love to get your feedback. Do you follow any health care organizations? Why or why not?<br />
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If you are interested in seeing what Dayton Children's is sharing via social media, follow us at:<br />
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/daytonchildrens">www.facebook.com/daytonchildrens</a><br />
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/Wally.B.Bear">www.facebook.com/Wally.B.Bear</a><br />
<a href="http://www.twitter.com/daytonchildrens">www.twitter.com/daytonchildrens</a><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/daytonchildrens">www.youtube.com/daytonchildrens</a><br />
<a href="http://blog.childrensdayton.org/">http://blog.childrensdayton.org/</a>Bethany Deineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03309273713346573948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3651713932907463637.post-92187186264826915302010-10-14T09:36:00.001-04:002010-10-15T11:51:47.229-04:00Social Media Ninjas' (Bethany Deines and Betsy Woods) Podcast about Social Media in Healthcare<a href="http://www.twitter.com/betsywoods">Betsy Woods</a>, Marketing/PR manager for Dayton Children's and<a href="http://www.twitter.com/bethanydeines"> I</a> will be one of the featured break-out speakers at the upcoming <a href="http://www.summitup.org/">SummitUp</a> confab on October 19 at Sinclair Community College. We were recently interviewed by <a href="http://www.twitter.com/davidebowman">David Bowman</a>, the Great and Powerful Oz behind the SummitUp social media conference, about social media in healthcare and more specifically about our experiences at <a href="http://www.childrensdayton.org/">Dayton Children's</a>. <br />
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Listen to the podcast <a href="http://www.summitup.org/news">here </a>and let us know your feedback. How are you using social media in your own field? What are your best practices? Pitfalls to avoid? What recommendations can you give us?Bethany Deineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03309273713346573948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3651713932907463637.post-13280062272083437412010-09-03T21:43:00.000-04:002010-09-03T21:43:26.358-04:00Listen Up - Good Social Media Experts to FollowA colleague and friend of mine, Todd Bolster, at <a href="http://www.thebasement.tv/">The Basement Design + Motion</a>, were IM'ing each other on Facebook yesterday. I was helping him brainstorm potential prospects and he jokingly referred to me as the Forbes Magazine of our industry. I think that industry spans some territory: the interfraternal community, nonprofit community, and knowledge about social media. I took that comment as a huge compliment, because if there is one thing I like to do is network with people and listen to what they have to say.<br />
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With that in mind, I thought I would share with you some good people to follow, network with, like, and above all...listen to what they have to say about social media, communication trends, nonprofit technology trends, and other things "tech." By no means is this an exhaustive list. This was just my off-the-top of my head list of recommendations to get you started.<br />
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<u>On Facebook</u><br />
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/nten.org?ref=ts">NTEN: The Nonprofit Technology Network</a><br />
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/TED?ref=ts">TED</a><br />
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/FortuneMagazine?ref=ts">Fortune Magazine</a><br />
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/FastCompany?ref=ts">Fast Company</a><br />
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<u>On Twitter</u><br />
<a href="http://www.twitter.com/jeffbullas">@jeffbullas</a><br />
<a href="http://www.twitter.com/johnhaydon">@johnhaydon</a><br />
<a href="http://www.twitter.com/kanter">@kanter</a><br />
<a href="http://www.twitter.com/newssocialmedia">@newssocialmedia</a><br />
<a href="http://www.twitter.com/techcrunch">@techcrunch</a><br />
<a href="http://www.twitter.com/dakshinamurti">@dakshinamurti</a><br />
<a href="http://www.twitter.com/mashable">@mashable</a><br />
<a href="http://www.twitter.com/davidebowman">@davidebowman</a><br />
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You can easily go crazy with following people so I picked out my favorites that post the most relevant and useful content. I would be interested in hearing your recommendations. And in case you are so inclined, you can follow me on twitter at <a href="http://www.twitter.com/bethanydeines">@bethanydeines</a>.Bethany Deineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03309273713346573948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3651713932907463637.post-6479604034646885252010-09-01T23:41:00.006-04:002010-09-02T00:02:02.325-04:00Kickstarter - Coolest Idea to Fund Innovative Projects<div style="font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">In the June 2010 issue of <a href="http://www.fastcompany.com/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Fast Company</span></a>, I read an short blurb about the 74th most innovative company: <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Kickstarter</span></a>. It was founded by Perry Chen and Yancey Strickler. According to Fast Company, Kickstarter is a "...platform that lets users crowdsource funding for creative ventures." Interesting. I was sufficiently intrigued because I believe 115% in igniting passion and this sounded like a way for creative people to actually get their dreams funded. Afterall, nothing propels dreams into reality better than cold hard cash. So, time to learn more...</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Here's how Kickstarter describes itself on the FAQ page:</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b></b></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Kickstarter is a new way to fund creative ideas and ambitious endeavors.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">We believe that...</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">• A good idea, communicated well, can spread fast and wide.<br />
• A large group of people can be a tremendous source of money and encouragement.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Kickstarter is powered by a unique all-or-nothing funding method where projects must be fully-funded or no money changes hands.</span></div><div style="color: #555555; font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Here's how it works, according to Kickstarter:</span></div><div style="color: #555555; font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Every project has a funding goal (any dollar amount) and a time limit (from 1 - 90 days) set by the project creator. When the deadline is reached, there are either of two results:</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">1. <i>Funding Successful</i>: If a project has met or surpassed its funding goal, all backers' credit cards are instantly charged and funds go directly to the project creator. Project creators are then responsible for completing the project and delivering rewards as promised.'</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><i>2. Funding Unsuccessful</i>: If a project has NOT met its funding goal, all pledges are canceled.</div><div style="color: #555555; font: 12.0px Arial; line-height: 22.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">There are certain Kickstarter <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/help/guidelines"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">guidelines</span></a>, such as people can't use this for fundraising, charity projects, funding business expenses (i.e. payroll, rent) or asking people to fund personal needs (mortgage payments, travel, medical expenses, living expenses, etc.). I appreciate guidelines. I think it gives programs legitimacy and credibility. Always good to read the small print!<br />
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</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">When a project gets listed, someone interested in making a pledge to fund it uses Amazon's payment system. Anonymous pledges are not allowed. You have to be okay with using your name and indicating what you are supporting. I like transparency. It adds authenticity.</span></div><div style="color: #555555; font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Someone always asks, "What's in it for Kickstarter?" If a project is successfully funded, Kickstarter keeps 5% of the funds raised. What isn't completely clear is what the credit card transaction fees are and how those are covered. But perhaps I just didn't dig deep enough to figure that out. Nevertheless, if you are looking for capital to make a movie, create music, design something, write a book or do anything else creative and ambitious, this could be a wonderful place to start. There's very little risk but potentially great reward.</span></div><div style="color: #555555; font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">There are a lot of great answers to questions on the Kickstarter <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/help/faq#WhatIsKick"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">FAQ page</span></a>. Be sure to spend some time on that page if you decide to try this out for your bringing your own dream to life. </span></div><div style="color: #555555; font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Here's some of the projects that are popular this week:</span></div><ul><li style="font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Punk Mathmatics - part math book, part online event</span></li>
<li style="font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Set Music Free - help purchase music that can be released without copyrights</span></li>
<li style="font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Jamie and Jessie are Not Together - a queer lesbian feature film</span></li>
<li style="font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Santa Bring the Funk - a "holidelic" holiday album<br />
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</ul><div style="font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The site lists something that likely meets anyone's individual tastes. Take some time to explore this. It is such an exciting idea...and if you are looking for funding to bring that creative idea you've been tossing around in your head to life, this may just be the answer you are looking for. </span></div><div style="color: #555555; font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div>Bethany Deineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03309273713346573948noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3651713932907463637.post-37198619532395247102010-09-01T17:05:00.000-04:002010-09-01T17:05:00.293-04:00Electric Philanthropy: Social Media What?#links<a href="http://electricphilanthropy.blogspot.com/2010/07/social-media-what.html#links">Electric Philanthropy: Social Media What?#links</a><br /><a href="http://new.daytonmetrolibrary.org/non-profits-a-grants/207/8142">http://new.daytonmetrolibrary.org/non-profits-a-grants/207/8142</a>Bethany Deineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03309273713346573948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3651713932907463637.post-44034605293974514222010-07-21T22:28:00.001-04:002010-07-21T22:28:06.567-04:00Social Media What?Here's the Social Media presentation I recently presented for the grant writing professional in Dayton. <div style="width:425px" id="__ss_4809367"><strong style="display:block;margin:12px 0 4px"><a href="http://www.slideshare.net/BethanyDeines/social-media-what" title="Social Media What?">Social Media What?</a></strong><object id="__sse4809367" width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://static.slidesharecdn.com/swf/ssplayer2.swf?doc=socialmediawha-100721204924-phpapp01&stripped_title=social-media-what" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"/><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"/><embed name="__sse4809367" src="http://static.slidesharecdn.com/swf/ssplayer2.swf?doc=socialmediawha-100721204924-phpapp01&stripped_title=social-media-what" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><div style="padding:5px 0 12px">View more <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/">presentations</a> from <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/BethanyDeines">Bethany Deines</a>.</div></div>Bethany Deineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03309273713346573948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3651713932907463637.post-41172730200620304262010-05-30T21:50:00.000-04:002010-05-30T21:50:46.090-04:00Likes, Retweets and Tell-A-Woman: The Power of Personal RecommendationsThe modern version of word-of-mouth referrals is Facebook's "Likes." It's everywhere - you can like just about anything at any time on the internet and can then have your personal thumbs up broadcasted to your entire network of friends. We all learn that if someone doesn't like something, they will tell 10 people. If they like something, they generally don't say a thing. Facebook has changed all that. If you like something, Facebook will make sure everyone knows about it. Marketers are just beginning to harness what this means. As usual, nonprofits are lagging behind.<br />
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Here's the danger of not paying attention to who likes you: you are missing an entire audience of people championing your cause. Give your constituents the opportunity to like you. Have an up-to-date Facebook page. Use the new tools to embed into your website so people can share their support of your message and broadcast it to a far greater audience than you could reach independently. Encourage people to like your blog and then repost the message via their own Facebook page. It's a viral form of personal recommendations that has a really wide reach. <br />
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People trust other recommendations. Whenever I book a hotel room, purchase a product, or look for a service, I seek out the section on websites on references. That feedback is honest, often blunt, and generally spot on. Sites like Amazon, Hotels.com, Orbitz, CNet use these personal recommedations brilliantly. Don't buy a product before reading them. Better yet, take some time to give your own feedback and help others out. Your opinion is valuable; speak out.<br />
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Twitter's Retweet (RT) functionality is nothing more than someone say, "Hey, I like this...check it out." I am more likely going to read an article that I've seen RT'ed by friends that I trust. There is something very flattering to see a tweet you've posted get picked up and rebroadcasted to their own network. It gives credence that your message is important, worthy, and valuable.<br />
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In the May 31, 2010 issue of <a href="http://www.time.com/">Time Magazine</a>, there was an article entitled "Philanthropy Roundtable." It featured various philanthropists and nonprofit leaders and sought out their opinions on fundraising and the spirit of philanthropy. I was struck by a comment made by Sanjit "Bunker" Roy, founder of <a href="http://www.barefootcollege.org/">Barefoot College.</a> His organization works in Africa training rural women to be solar energy engineers. He shared some thoughts on grassroots communication, "The best way to communicate is not a telephone or a telegraph. It's tell-a woman....Word of mouth really is the best way to communicate."<br />
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Why is word of mouth so effective? Because it comes from someone you trust. It provides opportunities for honest, unprovoked recommendations. It's organic and not created by a marketing firm or clever campaign. It comes from someone who has truly been impacted. Testimonials are a powerful way of getting your message to new donors, followers, fans, volunteers, clients, employees, etc. Are you giving people something positive to talk about? Do you encourage feedback on your Facebook page? Do you provide the ability for fans to like something on your website and share it with others? Are you creating forums for people to share their thoughts? Do you ask for honest feedback? Are you sharing valuable information that those already networked with you can share with those who are not?<br />
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Grassroots organizations need to provide grassroots methods of communication. The good news is that social media and the internet have made this simpler than ever. It's up to you to simply take advantage of it.Bethany Deineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03309273713346573948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3651713932907463637.post-86067341249822634912010-04-28T10:50:00.000-04:002010-04-28T10:50:39.779-04:00Undeterred by the EconomyThis article appeared in Monday's <a href="http://www.journal-news.com/news/hamilton-news/hamilton-woman-leads-effort-to-raise-money-for-childrens-hospital-672037.html">Hamilton Journal News</a> and featured me as a Hamilton "Woman of Influence." Is it too arrogant to share this on my blog? Perhaps, but I am doing it anyhow on the suggestion of co-workers. Some of the details are not quite accurate (example, I don't supervise our entire development staff but rather our annual giving team) and the story about Nevin should be credited to the Dayton Children's amazing PR manager, Betsy Woods. But overall, it was very flattering to be featured as a Woman of Influence for what I do at Dayton Children's. I am blessed to work for an organization that does incredible things to provide the best possible pediatric healthcare for kids in the Miami Valley. Everyone at Dayton Children's is appreciative of every single gift we receive and every single donor who made it possible. I sincerely want to thank each and every one of them.Bethany Deineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03309273713346573948noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3651713932907463637.post-50672508136447129252010-04-28T10:41:00.000-04:002010-04-28T10:41:21.858-04:00Great Content Isn't EnoughThousands of businesses have found the value in having a Facebook presence. They post all of great content, but pushing out content is not enough. Companies, nonprofits, organizations, etc. need to think of Facebook (or any other social media platform) as a conversation venue. Posting content is not enough; interaction is a requirement. <br />
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Think of social media as a two-way conversation with real human beings. Why? Because that is exactly what it is. The purpose and <em>value</em> of social media is building relationships. You don't walk into a room, announce the latest and greatest for your organization, and then walk out. You stick around, ask questions, respond to questions and generate interest. The same is true when using Facebook. Respond to the comments on your page. Pay attention to what is being said. Bring people to the conversation. Reference what others are doing. Don't let this be a one-side conversation. It turns people off. And turning people off is the death knoll to building a trusting relationship. <br />
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Here's an example of what not to do:<br />
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I am an avid reader of a particular magazine (that will remain nameless to I don't embarrass them to pieces publicly). They had an excellent feature in a recent issue that challenged their readers to participate. But the directions were vague. So I checked the website. Same vague directions for how to enter their contest, what to submit, and the rules for how the contest was going to be judged were unclear. The website gave no opportunity to pose a question. So I turned to Facebook.<br />
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Yes! They had a Facebook page. But, alas, they are failing at building relationships. They are posting articles, links and interesting content, yet they never respond to their fans questions. I certainly wasn't the only one confused about their messaging. Everyone had similar questions. No one was getting any answers. But new content kept getting added to the page.<br />
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Here's my thoughts: This company is selfish and one-sided. They are not interested in their readers/customers' feedback. They are missing the perfect opportunity to build a relationship and show they are concerned about the service they are providing.<br />
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Nonprofits can and should take a lesson from this. Responding to comments on Facebook shows you care in the same way responding to a question in person does. Does it take some extra time? Yes. Is it worth it? You better believe it. Donors want to be heard and recognized. That's fundraising 101. Using social media gives you the perfect vehicle for responding...for listening...for <em>caring.</em> Nothing builds donor loyalty more than caring about your constituents and taking time for them. <br />
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Believe me, there are plenty of organizations way off the mark here. Take the extra minute to respond when people post things on your page, if for no other reason than to say thank you. It will pay off -- literally and figuratively.Bethany Deineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03309273713346573948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3651713932907463637.post-53409892542307712462010-03-01T15:13:00.000-05:002010-03-01T15:13:11.865-05:00Nonprofits: How Not to Lose Your Mind Using Social MediaThe nonprofit hot topic seems to be whether or not to use social media. The very simple answer is "YES!" Having a social media presence is the newest and most interactive way to have a presence on the web. But don't let anyone fool you into thinking that it's as simple as adding water and stirring. It takes some time, energy and creativy to have an effective social media presence. And the vast majority of nonprofit organizations are not going to have the budget to outsource this project or hire staff members simply to be content managers. Most of us have to add this to our current job descriptions and find the time to actively add content.<br />
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So, how can this be done easily and still create results? Here's some initial thoughts:<br />
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1. Multi-task -- If you are creating content for your website, add a link to your Facebook page and Twitter page. Better yet, set up your Facebook page to automatically update Twitter. Adding a YouTube video? Link YouTube, Facebook and Twitter together. You post it one time and it gets distributed to other channels.<br />
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2. Keep The Sites Open -- Keep your social media sites open on your desk top. It only takes a minute to send out a Twitter update or Facebook update. Post content when you have a few extra minutes (like when you are on hold or when you only have 10 minutes before a meeting and don't have enough time to start a new project). <br />
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3. RT -- Not all of your content needs to be original. In fact, it's better if it isn't. Social media works best when it really is social, meaning you are part of a larger community. Share good information from others. Read an article that is informative? Retweet it or post a link giving credit to the original author. The favor will be returned in time.<br />
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4. Interns -- College students are looking for opportunities to gain experience. Give them an opportunity to work in your office and as part of their responsibilities, ask them to post content, shoot short videos using a simple webcam of things happening in your organization and posting to YouTube, and respond to content posted on your site.<br />
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5. Respond -- If someone sends you something on Facebook or Twitter or any other place, respond. Remember that social media is not static. It's interactive and your constituents want, expect and deserve a response. It's the best possible customer service. I read a blog article today on <a href="http://www.socialmediatoday.com/SMC/178334">jobs that will be replaced by social media</a>. The role of customer service agents will drastically change as a result of using social media. Not responding is the worst kind of service you can provide.<br />
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6. Make Sure Things Work -- If you are going to take the time to post content, please make sure the links, downloads or video work. Today I was very excited to download a white paper about social media trends from <a href="http://www.sagenonprofit.com/">Sage Nonproft Solutions</a>. I went to their site, completed a form with all of my contact information, and went to click on the "Download PDF" and nothing happened. I tried it a second time and it still didn't work. So, I then called their 800 number and was on hold for a solid five minutes with no response. I find it hard to believe there is such a demand that they could have a human being answer the phone. Everything was automated (and that, my friends, is a subject for another day on poor customer service). The bottom line: I never got the white paper, I ended up hanging up in frustration, and believe me, when I get added to their mailing list or get a sales call, I will not respond. If you post content, make sure everything works.<br />
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7. Job Share -- We share responsibilities at <a href="http://www.childrensdayton.org/">Dayton Children's</a> between the marketing and development office. Each of us has a different angle for content so it keeps a variety of topics available. It works out between three people that when one person is busy, another person steps up to post information. We have found a balance over time that ensures we have a myriad of fresh content.<br />
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8. Don't Go Crazy -- Remember the old ad that claimed, "A little dab will do ya?" Same principle applies here. You only need to have a couple of new posts per day. Groups that update their Facebook status page 15-20 times per day are going way overboard. Post a few things on Twitter, respond to a few things and space it out throughout the day. It is easy to get consumed when you enter the social media world. Try not to lose sight of time and be judicious with what you post.<br />
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9. Pick Your Places -- Take time to know your audience. Find out where your constituents will be. If you have a small shop, or if you are the only person in the shop, you may only be able to pick a few places to be. I'd suggest Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. You don't need to be on Ning, Bebo, Myspace, and the zillion of other social networking outlets. Find a few that work effectively for your organization and stick with it. If you have time to add more sites, grow gradually. You may not need a Foursquare account yet. <br />
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I imagine there are dozens of great suggestions on how to effectively manage social media without losing your mind. Feel free to post your recommendations. What works for you?Bethany Deineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03309273713346573948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3651713932907463637.post-76337813540519492592010-02-16T11:42:00.000-05:002010-02-16T11:42:39.496-05:00The Power of a Greeting CardDo you love getting cards in the mail? Who doesn't? There's something about seeing a hand-addressed envelope with a real live stamp that makes your heart skip a beat. It's even better when you receive a card and it's not your birthday or a holiday but rather because someone simply cared enough to send you a note. (I think I now know where Hallmark came up with the slogan "When you care enough to send the very best.")<br />
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During the year-end direct mail frenzy, <a href="http://www.childrensdayton.org/">Dayton Children's</a> opted to include a greeting card in our packet for donors to send a personalized holiday card for a patient. The response was outstanding and our response rate was improved and the average gift was about $10 more than usual. More importantly, however, were the thoughtful messages include in the cards wishing our patients well. For six weeks, we were able to deliver a card to a patient and his or her family every day. It was meaningful for families to know that complete strangers made the thoughtful gesture to think of the children in the hospital. If they knew that a donation accompanied those cards, I think they may have even smiled a bit wider.<br />
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Last week I featured a wonderful story from Dayton Children's about Nevin. Nevin has been an extended-stay patient at the hospital and was disappointed that he couldn't go out to play in the snow. What five year old wants to stay indoors when he could romp around outside in a foot of snow and build a snowman? His physical therapist, Janet Squires, in a very creative therapy session, brought a big bucket of snow into Nevin's room so he could play in the snow and build that snowman. Hats, gloves and boots were all a part of the experience. Take a moment to watch the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/daytonchildrens#p/a/u/1/WGQhMKHHFoI">video.</a>..I guarantee it will make you smile. <br />
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The response to Nevin's story has been wonderful. It has been viewed 700+, been featured on <a href="http://www.wdtn.com/">WDTN </a>News, and shared on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/daytonchildrens">Facebook</a> and <a href="http://www.twitter.com/daytonchildrens">Twitter</a>. We didn't do this as some kind of social media experiment but I will admit, we are very pleased with the response. The response from the community has been positive and Janet came up with genius plan #2.<br />
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With the support of David Grimes, the local owner of Ace Handyman Hardware Stores, a mailbox was donated and installed on our hematology/oncology unit at Dayton Children's. Every day, Nevin and the other patients need to walk to the mailbox to check for their mail. While it is a good therapy exercise, the kids look forward to getting their cards and letters every day. Our marketing manager, <a href="mailto:woodsb@childrensdayton.org">Betsy Woods</a>, prints out emails to deliver to the mailbox. And the emails have been coming daily.<br />
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If you watch the video or look at Nevin's photos on the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/daytonchildrens">Dayton Children's Facebook page</a>, you will quickly realized that Nevin has something of an obsession with Spiderman. I've watched this boy grow up at the hospital and truth be told, I have never seen him out of a Spiderman costume. A note arrived on Friday from <a href="http://www.childrensmiraclenetwork.org/">The Children's Miracle Network</a> with a special Spiderman Valentine for Nevin. Brothers from <a href="http://phikaps.org/">Phi Kappa Theta Fraternity</a> at Truman State University (in Missouri!) had visited Dayton Children's a few weeks prior for a national leadership conference. They visited Nevin and many other patients that day. TJ, the chapter president, wrote to me and asked if it was okay for them to send cards and letters to the kids and also inquired if they could send PlayStation2 video games. Oh, yes!!<br />
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This was just the tip of the iceberg. Emails, cards and letters are a welcome sight for kids in the hospital. If you want to help, you can send also to:<br />
The Children's Medical Center of Dayton<br />
<a href="mailto:woodsb@childrensdayton.org">Attn: Betsy Woods, Marketing </a><br />
One Children's Plaza<br />
Dayton, OH 45404-1815<br />
woodsb@childrensdayton.org<br />
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Rest assured, they will arrive in the mailbox or on the meal trays of our kids every day. <br />
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A simple greeting card or note to let a sick or injured child know you care. Does it get any easier than that? Getting kids to smile is priceless. It's a really worthwhile investment. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSLfWW77jmj_Dvv5feu-bpCkCHFF1acXR1G5Pm4kdKmiOA-aMzRbJospxi3MxHfU-BNRMDP378q9uZVDfBk5ncgzyVZv0Z_kDDMSEd3twCt6TpDz0grP2Oz7Qa4g7q0-ZRjw3vxaL0Pjg/s1600-h/Nevin's+Mail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSLfWW77jmj_Dvv5feu-bpCkCHFF1acXR1G5Pm4kdKmiOA-aMzRbJospxi3MxHfU-BNRMDP378q9uZVDfBk5ncgzyVZv0Z_kDDMSEd3twCt6TpDz0grP2Oz7Qa4g7q0-ZRjw3vxaL0Pjg/s320/Nevin's+Mail.jpg" /></a></div>Bethany Deineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03309273713346573948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3651713932907463637.post-10624256329683384662010-02-10T14:39:00.002-05:002010-02-10T14:46:40.590-05:00The Spark of Caring - Building a Snowman Inside<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGBEZU9QWkOA80G4z41s-F6lOIgO1wjmMVIlfzXdbMSiy7-DT_fw7itjtaEnODoD1ZzWNiPbwVp_47abehxtrrtQ7xKbNdXfJubzXcwHfv4qcwS9JAupS4E7bfn9w-rEz6s2zSUSBsYcY/s1600-h/Nevin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div>Yesterday I wrote an article about the simple gesture of doing something just because it is the right thing to do and that is can bring a smile to someone else's heart. <br />
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In the midst of about a foot of snow, grown-ups can easily forget that kids love to play in the snow. But when you are hospitalized, battling cancer and not allowed to go outdoors, it can really get you down. Today, <a href="http://www.childrensdayton.org/">Dayton Children's</a> put up photos about Nevin. Nevin experiences long hospital treatment stays. He has practically grown up at Dayton Children's, as we've all seen him in his Spiderman costumes since he was just a toddler. <br />
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Nevin wasn't having a good day. He wanted to be outside playing in the snow and to build a snowman. In a pure act of kindness and creativity, Janet Squires, our rehabilitation services manager, brought the snow in to Nevin. Be sure to click <a href="http://www.facebook.com/daytonchildrens">here</a> to see all the photos. Better yet, take two minutes to watch the video. I guarantee this will warm your heart. This is what it means to ignite a spark of caring.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGBEZU9QWkOA80G4z41s-F6lOIgO1wjmMVIlfzXdbMSiy7-DT_fw7itjtaEnODoD1ZzWNiPbwVp_47abehxtrrtQ7xKbNdXfJubzXcwHfv4qcwS9JAupS4E7bfn9w-rEz6s2zSUSBsYcY/s1600-h/Nevin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGBEZU9QWkOA80G4z41s-F6lOIgO1wjmMVIlfzXdbMSiy7-DT_fw7itjtaEnODoD1ZzWNiPbwVp_47abehxtrrtQ7xKbNdXfJubzXcwHfv4qcwS9JAupS4E7bfn9w-rEz6s2zSUSBsYcY/s320/Nevin.jpg" /></a></div>Bethany Deineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03309273713346573948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3651713932907463637.post-34879271423606213262010-02-09T11:21:00.001-05:002010-02-09T11:22:58.371-05:00Igniting a Spark of CaringUnconditional kindness moves me. Random acts of sincere kindness with no ulterior motivation inspires me. I am fortunate to work at <a href="http://www.childrensdayton.org/">The Children's Medical Center of Dayton</a> where acts of true caring and compassion are a daily occurrence. It is impossible to work here and not see something that encourages the heart. I think this is where nonprofit organizations shine their brightest light. The ability to do good simply because it is the right thing to do is what generates followers. Yes, I am a passionate advocate of social media, direct mail, digital story-telling, but when it comes right down to it, people support organizations they care about. Their caring often starts with just that one simple act of kindness that sticks with them forever. And in just about every case, that comes from a very real, sincere, unconditional demonstration of kindness between two people. <br />
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Yesterday, I witnessed something at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/daytonchildrens">Dayton Children's</a> that just made me sit back and smile very proudly. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time to see one of those moments that is so meaningful and inspiring that I've not been able to get it out of my head. Dayton Children's has an extraordinary corps of volunteers. More than 600 men and women, from the ages of 15 to 95, come to work at the hospital because they care about this place and our children and their families. I want to share with you a story about one of our volunteers: Jamie Hanna.<br />
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To begin with, Jamie is one of those women you just like to be around. She lights up the room with her smile and her laugh. She makes people feel great all the time and she never has an unkind word to say. (Yes, folks, those people <i>really</i> do exist!). Jamie has been a long-time member of the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/TWIGAux">TWIG Auxiliary </a>and can always be counted on to step up and help. In fact, this year she is the co-chair of the Gem City Jam Golf Outing -- shameless plug here: the best golf outing in the Dayton area that takes place August 23. Jamie has volunteered for years in The Spot Shop, a wonderful gift shop at the hospital. She is well known at the hospital by our staff, primarily because she goes out of her way to just be an awesome person. We all love Jamie and appreciate her amazing spirit. Her photo is below with another amazing volunteer, Sue Labatsky. Jamie has the green boa on.<br />
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A few weeks ago, Jamie's husband, Jack had emergency quintuple bypass surgery. It was a fluke that they even found out about the heart blockages. Jack is just as special as Jamie. He works hard professionally and he's always there to back Jamie up. Jack has probably lugged more trees for Sugarplum Festival of Trees, sold more raffle tickets, toted silent auction packages, spotted hole-in-one-contests than any man I know. Jamie's the official volunteer but Jack is the extra bonus prize. We were all devastated to learn of Jack's heart attack but fortunately he is on the mend and he made a foray to Dayton Children's yesterday.<br />
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I was eating lunch with several development staff members when Jamie came over to our table to visit. We all had a good laugh and suddenly, Jamie's eyes just lit up even more so than usual. Up walked Renae Phillips, the Dayton Children's Vice President for Hospital Operations and Chief Nursing Executive. Renae is everything a pediatric nurse should be: kind, compassionate, capable, organized, friendly, hard working. She is a role model to our entire institution. When she saw Jamie, Renae just wrapped her arms around her in a huge hug and they embraced for what seemed like an eternity. I didn't know they knew each other that well but Renae knows Jamie and knew about Jack's heart attack. It was a really wonderful moment, just seeing these two embrace. It is an example of the kind of caring we see every day and it is why I love working here.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggb3L9Ti4are9f2HntYNM4Jc28V7fGNuM8aeZL_4Zq7ZI3N-RcYOnHxwLO5tsMYdU-xHCOjBdKFF42gN4QOQmEUjQgZ14_0Qzzp3LAT9Ljuv8uH1Iv6cNgxbyo5s124kP1E4aQNmk1az4/s1600-h/Renae.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggb3L9Ti4are9f2HntYNM4Jc28V7fGNuM8aeZL_4Zq7ZI3N-RcYOnHxwLO5tsMYdU-xHCOjBdKFF42gN4QOQmEUjQgZ14_0Qzzp3LAT9Ljuv8uH1Iv6cNgxbyo5s124kP1E4aQNmk1az4/s200/Renae.jpg" width="131" /></a><br />
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Renae then followed Jamie over to her table in the cafeteria and Renae gave that same genuine, loving hug to Jack. There is no doubt that Renae was happy that Jack was getting on his feet. You can't fake that kind of care and concern for people. <br />
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What I like is that just the week before at a TWIG event, I saw nearly the same episode but with David Kinsaul, the Dayton Children's CEO. As soon as he saw Jamie, he gave her a huge hug and immediately asked about Jack. For an institution that has more than 1,500 employees, 600+ volunteers and thousands of community supporters, I was immensely impressed that our CEO knew exactly what was happening to one of our volunteers and reached out to her in a genuine showing of compassion and care.<br />
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It's moments like this that makes me realize how special Dayton Children's is that our senior management team is fully aware of things happening in the lives of our "family" and that they reach out to show they care. That is perhaps one of the most important aspects of leadership and it what I believe ignites a chain reaction of caring. This was a simple act with no expectation of getting something in return. Genuine compassion can easily get lost in a cynical world. Fortunately, true care and concern beats cynicism every time. It's the Rock-Paper-Scissors game where you always come out on top if you do the right thing because it's the right thing to do.<br />
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What does this have to do with philanthropy? Everything! People want to support an organization they feel connected to. Strong connections come from people, opening their hearts and doing something that makes ad difference...even if that difference is simply giving someone a hug. Jamie Hanna is a life loyal volunteer. I can see why she is so attached. Then again, Jamie's spirit is what we have to be grateful for in the first place. <br />
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I am a lifelong member of Sigma Sigma Sigma and we have a phrase that every member learns from the day they join that helps guide our lives:<br />
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<div style="background-color: #b4a7d6; text-align: center;"><i style="color: #351c75;">"To give much is to receive much."</i></div><br />
Jamie, like so many others, gives 110% because that's who she is. It is part of her inherent nature. I know she will be the first to say she receives so much more in return. If we all adopted this attitude to do right by others and give because it is the right thing to do, imagine what kind of change could happen in the world.Bethany Deineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03309273713346573948noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3651713932907463637.post-2070077154413330312010-02-04T17:06:00.000-05:002010-02-04T17:06:30.601-05:00Electric Philanthropy: Donor-Centered Thank You - Great Example from Best Friends Animal Society<a href="http://electricphilanthropy.blogspot.com/2010/02/donor-centered-thank-you-great-example.html#links">Electric Philanthropy: Donor-Centered Thank You - Great Example from Best Friends Animal Society</a>Bethany Deineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03309273713346573948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3651713932907463637.post-41648709134744705312010-02-02T11:56:00.001-05:002010-02-02T11:57:46.701-05:00Donor-Centered Thank You - Great Example from Best Friends Animal SocietyI admit, I think <a href="http://www.burksblog.com/">Penelope Burk</a> and her concept of <a href="http://www.cygresearch.com/">donor-centered fundraising</a>, is a gift to development officers. Her recommendations are based on quantifiable data, expertly researched and extremely valuable. I have had the privilege of hearing her speak at several conference and every time I come back inspired to focus more and more on what donors expect to hear from the charities they support.<br />
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In her book <em><a href="http://www.cygresearch.com/">Donor-Centered Fundraising</a></em>, Burk outlines 20 elements of a great letter thank you letter. Because I think it's important for you to buy and read this book, I won't outline all of those but what always stands out to me is that the letter needs to be personalized and that it acknowledges how the gift will be used in specific terms. It also arrives immediately and speaks directly to the donor.<br />
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I made a small gift via the <a href="http://www.bestfriends.org/">Best Friends Animal Society</a> yesterday to aid the rescue efforts for animals in Haiti. I was looking at their site for something else and saw the button to give for this special mission. I was familiar with what Best Friends did to rescue thousands of animals after Hurricane Katrina so I knew they would go out of their way to help the plight of animals lost and injured after the Haiti earthquakes. I immediately felt compelled to make a donation, even though I had already helped with several other Haiti relief efforts.<br />
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I was particularly pleased with the immediate thank you note I received in my email after making my gift. I have no problem with email thank yous. It saves postage and even though they are automatically generated (one of the few fouls per Burk's rules), I did like that it told me very specifically how the money was going to be used: to fund a mobile clinic in Port-au-Prince to deliver food and water to animals as well as provide vaccines to dogs to prevent the spread of rabies. <br />
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I was also impressed with how Best Friends leveraged social media in the thank you letter, providing me with a link to share with family and friends. They also included an opportunity to sign up to be a monthly donor so that resouces are available when the unexpected occurs.<br />
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Finally, I was impressed with the inclusion of the Charity Navigator Four Star Charity link. This lends the charity legitimacy, much like the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval. <br />
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The thank you letter was concise and it made me feel like I was doing something important. Will I give again to Best Friends? I can't help myself. I think this organization does a remarkable job for helping animals and they do an equally fantastic job stewarding their donors. Best of all, this charity constantly educates its donors on how their gifts make a difference. Many nonprofits can follow their example on how to foster loyal repeated giving. <br />
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Here's a copy of the note I received.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMWTCLwIoUg5SvN7tJJlqhK-PD7CbM-aHyQDfUUvU8KP8jVHAxG9HByltwr9YNRjuohwtSUIeZuMZdPmsXQLh9CZmmI_DgIbpEDilQi9RgpBylk7IIewdt1JzjkZiZVZi2AEQV3_-9Y4A/s1600-h/Best+Friends+TY.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="593" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMWTCLwIoUg5SvN7tJJlqhK-PD7CbM-aHyQDfUUvU8KP8jVHAxG9HByltwr9YNRjuohwtSUIeZuMZdPmsXQLh9CZmmI_DgIbpEDilQi9RgpBylk7IIewdt1JzjkZiZVZi2AEQV3_-9Y4A/s640/Best+Friends+TY.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>If I could give development officers a couple of pieces of advice: 1) Read and use as a frequent resouce <em>Donor-Centered Fundraising</em> and 2) apply the principles for writing outstanding thank you letters. The positive response from your donors will be worth every bit of time and effort you put forth to change how you focus on your donors, particularly from a stewardship perspective.Bethany Deineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03309273713346573948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3651713932907463637.post-29005693348093135642010-02-01T14:16:00.000-05:002010-02-01T14:16:00.721-05:00Creating a Culture of GenerosityI read a great blog article today on <a href="http://www.change.org/">http://www.change.org/</a> entitled <a href="http://socialentrepreneurship.change.org/blog/view/establishing_a_culture_of_generosity">"Establishing a Culture of Generosity."</a> It is part of a series on undergraduate social entrepreneurship. I was fascinated first by the inherent inclusion of charitable giving in the overall concept of social entrepreneurship. I very much like the idea that young people are philanthropically motivated and it appears that with the advent of social media, giving something back to the community, even the global community, is easier than ever.<br />
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The article implies that students are in an environment where they want to help one another. Greek organizations help each other and are duty-bound to give to charities. Student organizations have leveraged the desire to want to do something to make social change works well by mobilizing others to donate to a cause. Microgiving is the new trend, when a student simply needs to text in a code to make a $5 or $10 donation.<br />
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I am inspired by colleges and universities that encourage students to volunteer and to donate. In creating a culture of generosity, one needs to make sure to include all aspects of how someone can give. That includes gifts of manhours, skills, and money (the proverbial "time, talent and treasure"). I am inspired even more when parents begin to cultivate a philanthropic spirit in children. Parents can set an example by their own volunteer support, charitable attitude, and donations. My favorite gifts to receive at <a href="http://www.childrensdayton.org/">Dayton Children's</a> are those from kids who saved their birthday money or asked for donations to help sick kids rather than ask for presents for themselves at birthday time. <br />
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Last year, we had an eight-year old girl, Allison, donate $250 to the NICU at Dayton Children's. She said, "I already have enough toys. I wanted to do something for the hospital because they saved my life when I was a baby." From a stewardship perspective, our NICU staff did everything right. When Allison came to make her donation, the entire staff came out to thank her and take pictures with her. They asked a new mom to bring her baby to the window so Allison could see how small she was at her own birth. The nurses presented Allison and her five-year old sister with tiny baby diapers for their dolls. We then invited the entire family to share their story on the annual <a href="http://www.childrensmiraclenetwork.org/">Children's Miracle Network Telethon</a>. There is little doubt in my mind that this made a positive impression on Allison and she'll likely donate again and again because it made her feel good and important. And she was.<br />
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The<a href="http://www.peterpanchildrensfund.org/"> Peter Pan Children's Fund</a> is an amazing organization that encourages children' to give to pediatric hospitals. By participating in the Peter Pan Birthday Fund Club and collecting donations, the Peter Pan Children's Fund will match those gifts with an additional $100. <br />
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Churches can teach children about generosity by having kids participate in offerings. When I was growing up, we had our own tiny offering envelopes. My brothers and sisters and I would put in a quarter of fifty cents and these donations would be collected during Sunday School. <br />
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I participated in Blue Birds and then <a href="http://www.campfireusa.org/">Camp Fire USA</a> growing up. These organizations, like <a href="http://www.girlscouts.org/">Girl Scouts</a> and <a href="http://www.scouting.org/">Boy Scouts</a>, instilled a sense of importance for volunteering. My dad was extremely active as a founding member of his <a href="http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/index.php">Lions Club</a> and we went to dozens of fundraisers and community service projects. For years, my mom was the epitome of a community volunteer. She and a friend managed a Storytime Workshop at the local library (my mom is an artist and she would illustrate stories as her friend told them...magical!). She was active in the church, a professional sorority, SPURS, and our school PTA. I hope parents are setting the same kind of example mine did about the importance of volunteering and donating time and resources.<br />
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Microgiving is the rage now with the ability to text donations. Mobile applications are being developed at lightening speed. <a href="http://www.facebook.com/causes">Facebook Causes</a> offer all types of innovative ways to mobilize donations. There are hundreds of examples of how people have raised money using <a href="http://www.twitter.com/">Twitter</a>. Charitable giving is fun and a cool thing to do, especially for college students. Philanthropy is an affordable thing to do. <br />
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The definition of philanthropy means caring for mankind. It is a myth that philanthropists are wealthy individuals capable of giving millions. Yes, those wonderful people do exist, but millions of people became philanthropists during the last few weeks following the earthquake in Haiti. It's not so much the amount of the gift but rather that you made a gift at all that makes you a philanthropist. <br />
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The visibility of giving is helping create a culture of generosity. It has people asking themselves, "What can I do?" It is setting the example for children to understand they have a moral obligation to help others in need. I encourage parents to help their kids find a cause to believe in and then find a way for them to volunteer or save their allowance or holiday gift money to make a donation. Whether that is animal welfare, the environment, sick children, global hunger is irrelevant. Something touches children and their first instinct is to want to help. By fostering that caring nature, you'll be creating a culture of generosity that can only grow as kids mature. When they reach college, that attitude to want to help, to want to make a change, to want to make a diference for others should be well entrenched. Colleges won't have to establish a culture of generosity. It will be just a natural part of the experience.Bethany Deineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03309273713346573948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3651713932907463637.post-79246503608101112342010-01-26T09:59:00.000-05:002010-01-26T09:59:57.993-05:00Killer Brownie Bites and Social Media: You Can't Just Eat OneLast week, I mentioned that I was being asked to do a social media presentation for the <a href="http://www.childrensdayton.org/">Dayton Children's</a> Foundation Board and was given five minutes on the agenda. I decided to give the board just a delectable taste of what Dayton Children's is doing with social media, or as I liked to call it, the "Killer Brownie Bite" presentation.<br />
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Killer Brownie Bites are just about what they sound like -- a delicious, addicting nugget of a <a href="http://www.dorothylane.com/">Dorothy Lane Market Killer Brownie</a>. These melt in your mouth leaving you wanting more. It's impossible (really, I have tried) to eat just one Killer Brownie Bite. The are sinfully rich, but you can't help yourself to at least having two of them.<br />
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Without trying to sound too cocky, my presentation had a similar effect. I left the board wanting more. They were so intrigued by what we are doing that they asked exceptionally good questions. Our only problem was running out of time. Just like it's impossible to eat just one Killer Brownie Bite, it's impossible to do a five minute presentation without the audience wanting more. And that's a very good thing (and way less fattening).<br />
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The feedback was very positive. The board, while not at all familiar with social media, is excited to see the exposure our efforts are bringing to the hospital. They were particularly impressed that Dayton Children's had received national attention from our Twitter posts - <a href="http://www.twitter.com/daytonchildrens">@daytonchildren</a>. Both our marketing manager and I have been invited to do presentations, speak on panels, conduct webinars and consult with other nonprofits and hospitals about using social media. Dayton Children's has been featured on national blogs, most noticeably a blog article by <a href="http://www.blogher.com/how-bethany-deines-and-betsy-wood-apply-trust-agent-principles-behalf-childrens-medical-center-dayto">Beth Kanter</a> and compared to the <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/">Mayo Clinic</a> in outstanding use of social media. <br />
The big hit of the meeting was using <a href="http://socialnomics.net/">Eric Qualman's</a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIFYPQjYhv8">"Is Social Media a Fad"</a> YouTube video to bring attention to how social media is revolutionizing how we communicate, branding and marketing efforts, fundraising, advocacy, and inter-connectedness. <br />
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Following the meeting, the owner of the local <a href="http://www.buffalowildwings.com/">Buffalo Wild Wings</a> franchises, John Slaughenhaupt, came up to thank me for the presentation. He said our efforts inspired his own company's efforts to using social media. The Dayton Children's vice president of marketing and external relations, Vicki Giambrone, invited our social media team (Betsy Woods, Jessica Saunders and me) to do a similar presentation to the senior management and management team for the hospital. She felt is was important for the leaders of Dayton Children's to know how social media will play a role in our ongoing customer service efforts. She also, very kindly, sent me a nice note commending me on the presentation and cc'd my direct supervisor...a very first classs thing to do.<br />
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The vice chairman of the board asked if I do personal tutorials on how to use social media. She said, "I'm petrified of learning it but definitely want to get over that fear." This from a woman who teaches ski lessons all winter long in Colorado. Now, that is scary. This is not. I assured her that I would get her up and running and that she'd be hooked in no time.<br />
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This presentation was merely a snippet of what we do with social media but it served its purpose. It gave our Foundation board a taste for how we use social media and left them curious for wanting to learn more. Stay tuned when I serve up the full Killer Brownies!<br />
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As a very cool side note: when you shop at<a href="http://www.dorothylane.com/"> Dorothy Lane Market</a> in Dayton and make a donation for the Haiti relief fund, they will match all donations for <a href="http://www.oxfam.org/">Oxfam International</a>.Bethany Deineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03309273713346573948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3651713932907463637.post-55594720971360830232010-01-23T13:59:00.002-05:002010-01-25T10:16:54.864-05:00Where Hope for Haiti Now Failed: Blew It With TechnologyLike millions of others, I watched the <a href="http://www.hopeforhaitinow.org/">Hope for Haiti Now</a> on Friday, January 22. I was moved by the stories and the video clips from Haiti. I was inspired to help, as I have been since this tragedy struck. I don't care where the earthquake struck. Tragedy is tragedy. Politics at a time like this does not matter. I was pleased I had the resources to be able to do something. I believe this Telethon was a good thing. It was a little depressing. I would have loved to have seen some musicians carry forth a few more upbeat and optimistic songs that carried a message of hope, but nevertheless, the show was impressive.<br />
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Until you tried to make a donation. <br />
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I would like to know just how many more millions of dollars could have been made last night had Hope for Haiti Now been better prepared for the volume of phone calls. If tens of millions of people can successfully vote for American Idol contestants, why wasn't it easier to get through on the phone lines?<br />
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But it got worse. Did you try to make an online gift? Impossible. Whoever designed this website should be banished from the technology world forever. I bet the 16 year old boy that lives next to me could have a designed a better, and more importantly, a more functional website. I tried for hours to make a donation online only to be greeted by a message to try making a gift online later. What??? Are you kidding me? Were they so unprepared as not to imagine the volume of people that would try to make an online gift? That was the epitome of bad technology planning.<br />
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So, my next attempt to make a donation was to go to one of the featured charities. My next surprise was that not one of the charities was linked to this site. In the words of my favorite ESPN broadcasters before Monday Night Football, "Come on, man!" That is Web Design 101. Perhaps they didn't hot link these because they wanted people to make donations on the Hope for Haiti Now page. But really, that's just more bad management. I would presume other people besides me wanted to read up on what the charities were doing in the relief effort. No, that was impossible unless you had to navigate away from the site to search for these charities.<br />
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And that is exactly what I did. I navigated away from the Hope for Haiti Now webpage to seek out these charities and see what they were doing. They had fascinating stories, live blog posts, twitter feeds from Haiti, video messages, and detailed information about how gifts were to be used. I made my choice there to support one of the charities directly and made my gift to <a href="http://www.oxfamamerica.org/">Oxfam America</a>, as I was particularly impressed by their efforts to provide just the basic necessities of live: water, shelter, sanitation, and food. A pop up window comes up immediately when you go to the site to make a gift. It was a seamless way to make a gift and to feel like you were making a difference. I felt good about making my donation. I never needed to go back to the Hope for Haiti Now website.<br />
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Hope for Haiti Now: Good concept, ridiculously bad planning in regard to use of technology. And if you wanted to take it further, Hope for Haiti Now wasn't doing anything to promote the use of social media. No mention of where to follow the Telethon. No mention of which celebrities were tweeting. No mention of where to become a Facebook fan. Plain and simple, this Telethon missed the technology boat. The sin of that knowing that countless people probably didn't make a donation. What could have been a technology home run turned out to be a shanked foul ball. <br />
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Side note: I just checked on the <a href="http://www.hopeforhaitinow.org/">Hope for Haiti Now </a>website and it has markedly improved. The donation system works and there is information about the global conversation on <a href="https://www.hopeforhaitinow.org/map/default.htm">Twitter </a>about the relief efforts and a link to the <a href="http://apps.facebook.com/causes/causes/436676/about">Facebook Cause page</a> to make a donation. There is still no hot link to any of the featured charities though. That's really a shame, as Hope for Haiti Now could have done a much better job promoting the extraordinary efforts of these organizations. <br />
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Here's what I hope: Those people moved to give did what I did. They sought out a place to make an online gift and gave as generously as possible. Whether it was to the <a href="http://www.americanredcross.org/">Red Cross</a>, the <a href="http://clintonbushhaitifund.org/">Clinton/Bush Haiti Fund,</a> <a href="http://www.oxfamamerica.org/">Oxfam</a>, <a href="http://www.projecthope.org/site/PageServer">Project Hope</a>, <a href="http://www.childrensmiraclenetwork.org/haiti">Children's Miracle Network</a> or dozens of other reputable charities doing God's work. Giving was the right thing to do. I gave for the right reasons. I just gave through an alternate route. I didn't give up. And that's what I hope happens for the Haitian people -- that no one gives up.Bethany Deineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03309273713346573948noreply@blogger.com0