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Visibility, Credibility, and Growth.
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When Molly McWhinnie and I were speaking last week to the group with the Washington State Community Action Partnership, we were asked for recommendations on credit card processing for those who want enable online donations on their nonprofit organization’s website.
Since we have not had much experience with this, we decided to take our question to HARO to see what options other executives with nonprofits would make. We received responses from several individuals and are sharing the one we found to be most helpful.
Joseph Zane, a financial consultant for a number of nonprofit organizations, including the Make-a-Wish Foundation, YMCA, and Cancer is Colorblind, shared the following three tips with us.
1) Consider what types of transactions you will have. Some nonprofits take one time donations while others take recurring donations. This can greatly influence which processing option is best. Handling recurring donations is best done with a merchant account since the whole process can be automated based on the payment schedule and payment amounts. If your nonprofit rarely takes donations but would still like to have the option, consider Square, a new service which allows the iPhone to be used as a terminal without signing up for a merchant account. The fees are 2.75 percent flat, but are worth it for infrequent transactions.
2) Avoid third-party processors. Third-party processing is not a good option for most nonprofits for a number of reasons. When a third-party processor is used, it is their name that shows up on the donor’s credit card statement, instead of your nonprofit’s name. This greatly increases the chance for chargebacks (since the donor may not recognize the processor’s name) which are costly. Also, since third-party processors process your donations using their own merchant account, there is usually a lag in the time needed to give your organization the money donated. Advantages to using a third-party processor are that it’s usually easier, and may be slightly cheaper. The most well-known third-party processor is PayPal, which has special options for nonprofits.
3) Consider getting a merchant account, but be informed. Merchant accounts can often be the cheapest and easiest way for nonprofits to accept donations. However, the key to getting a good deal on a merchant account is to be well informed and know exactly what pricing structure to request. Otherwise, the process can become frustrating and complicated. A big advantage to getting a merchant account is that your nonprofit’s name will be on the donor’s credit card statement, which greatly reduces the chance for chargebacks. Also, the funds from donations will flow directly into the nonprofit’s bank account without a delay. Since the biggest disadvantage to getting a merchant account is a lack of knowledge, make sure to do your research. Make sure to demand an interchange plus pricing structure. A great website Joseph has used for his nonprofits is FeeFighters. This site provides a comparison shopping experience and allows people to get bids from a bunch of processors including the big guys and Square and PayPal. Joseph highly recommends it. Another option is Dharma Merchant Services. Dharma is a transparent, efficient, and low-price merchant option that has not gone unnoticed. Dharma serves thousands of small business in retail and service industries, as well as nonprofits, and has received many awards over the years, including “Best of Category” and “Best for Workers”.
For more information about credit card processing and solutions for nonprofits, please read the following:
- Credit Card Processing Options for Nonprofit Organizations
- How to Choose Donor Management Software for Your Nonprofit
We hope this information is helpful. If you have experience to share, please let us know.
Updated October 22, 2015
By Joni Kirk
Social media has exploded over the last several years. Companies are using Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube as well as other platforms and tools to connect with customers, employees, stakeholders and the public. With this explosion comes the simultaneous development of best practices for social media.
But one aspect of social media hasn’t been discussed at length: continuity of social media efforts during transition.
Most organizations rely on their communications and marketing team – whether internal or external – to manage their brands. And it’s likely they have a single individual who is ultimately responsible for content and online community engagement. So what happens when that person leaves?
Unfortunately, all too often there is no backup plan. The individual responsible for managing a social media program departs, and the established channels are left floundering. Engagement ceases. All of a sudden, fans and followers realize the organization has “gone dark.”
What’s the worst that can happen?
As one university found out this fall, it can mean losing control of your message and credibility. The individual responsible for managing its social media departed and its social media efforts were dramatically reduced for a month following the transition, including complete disengagement on Twitter. And in that time period, the unthinkable happened. An off-campus student was murdered, and the assailant was known to be in the area.
In a college town, people can text with two thumbs quicker than they can speak. Word began to spread that something was amiss, and rumors began to circulate that a professor was involved. The university’s emergency notification system eventually kicked into gear – the next morning as police action was wrapping up.
But in the meantime, some 10,000 Facebook fans and 2,000 Twitter followers, who were accustomed to timely information about pertinent university topics, suddenly found themselves in the dark and waiting – just waiting – for the university to provide information. The first public information came from the media, but rumors had been circulating for hours. It took until 4 p.m. the following afternoon before the university weighed in on Facebook and Twitter with details that helped set the university at ease.
While this is a worst case situation, and extremely unfortunate for everyone involved, it highlights the need for certain social media best practices, particularly in times of transition.
Have a back-up social media communicator. This contingency person should have full access to accounts, regularly review accounts to be familiar with the community’s engagement, and be ready to step in quickly for planned and unplanned situations. This is helpful for unexpected absences, such as sick days or business travel, and helps maintain continuity in the organization’s social networking communities.
Commit to a regular schedule. Social media should not just be a priority for the individual posting the comments. It should be an organizational priority to have regular communications, and individuals with social media responsibility should be held accountable for providing consistent and current content. A regular schedule also develops habitual “check ins” from fans or followers who have sought out communication from you, and keeps individuals coming back for more.
If your social media channel is going to be “offline,” let your community know. This is applicable in situations where a single person, such as a CEO, is the face of the channel. Sometimes that individual will be offline, such as a planned vacation or other extended absences. It is wise to let people know you’ll be away for a few days and unable to respond. That does not mean the channel should not be monitored by a back-up person. It simply sets expectations that engagement will not be at normal levels.
In a crisis, don’t neglect social media. Traditional crisis communication plans demonstrate the need to communicate regularly with the public. As communication techniques have morphed, it’s critical that social media be utilized during crisis for maximum public outreach.
What are other tips you have for maintaining your social media presence?
Once again The Bravern was the place to be to celebrate Fashion’s Night Out (FNO) in the Pacific Northwest. The gorgeous weather and sunset were the perfect backdrop for the event. People mingled outside on the patios enjoying music and drinks as they visited various shops and attended the fashion shows at Neiman Marcus and Anthropologie.
As The Bravern’s PR partner, Communiqué PR worked with a number of stylists pairing them with local personalities to select fabulous outfits to wear from The Shops at The Bravern as they walked the Bordeaux carpet, attended the Neiman Marcus runway show and celebrated fashion in the Northwest. Below is a photo of the stylists and local personalities showing off their fabulous FNO attire.
Below is some of the coverage we helped to secure about FNO at The Bravern, including more photos from the evening.
- Mollie in Seattle, “Fashion’s Night Out in Seattle,” Sept. 6, 2011
- 425 Magazine, “Fashion’s Night Out Comes to Bellevue,” Sept. 7, 2011
- My Northwest, “Fashion’s Night Out 2011 – Don’t Miss It!” Sept. 8, 2011
- Eastside Fashion Blog, “Fashion’s Night Out @Bravern,” Sept. 9, 2011
- Tres Chic Bellevue, “Fashion’s Night Out at The Bravern,” Sept. 9, 2011
- Seattleite, “Fashion’s Night Out at Neiman Marcus and The Bravern,” Sept. 9, 2011
- Seattle Magazine, “Fashion + Style Friday: FNO Recap, Lady Konnyaku Trunk Show and Looking Ahead to Fashion First,” Sept. 9, 2011
- Mission Hot Mama, “Our Favorite Pictures From Fashion’s Night Out!” Sept. 9, 2011
- 425 Magazine, “Highlights of Fashion’s Night Out,” Sept. 9, 2011
- Jean of all Trades, “Fashion’s Night Out at Bravern,” Sept. 11, 2011
- Bellevue Patch, “Eastside Fashion: A Video and Photo Recap of Fashion’s Night Out at The Bravern,” Sept. 12, 2011
- Bellevue Scene, “Fashion’s Night Out at the Bravern,” Sept. 12, 2011
- Miss A, “Recap: Fashion’s Night Out At The Bravern In Bellevue,” Sept. 14, 2011
- StyleLab Seattle, “Fashion’s Night Out at The Shops at the Bravern,” Sept. 15, 2011
We want to thank Angie Cox of YouLookFab for helping Holly and me find wonderful outfits for FNO at The Bravern that exemplified some of the fall fashion trends for 2011.
If you missed FNO at The Bravern this year be sure to mark your calendar for 2012. You are guaranteed a night filled with fabulous fall fashion and a wonderful party!
In today’s world, organizations both large and small are all forced to do more with less. However, for nonprofit organizations that are already under constant pressure to run a lean operation, increase efficiencies and keep costs low, the need to raise money is a constant.
The agencies that comprise Washington State Community Action Partnership (WSCAP) confront these same stresses – especially as more and more families find themselves in poverty.
WSCAP is working to build healthy communities and eliminate poverty. The partnership is made up of 26 non-profit organizations and four local government agencies. It serves low-income families and individuals in all 39 counties in the state of Washington and has been providing vital human services to those in need for over 40 years.
On Sept. 12, Molly McWhinnie and I had an opportunity to speak with WSCAP about leveraging social media for fundraising. The goal of our presentation was to provide this vital group with insight into how they can use new social media platforms, such as Twitter and Facebook, to successfully build awareness, engage with their target audiences, and raise funds.
Through our work we learned that many organizations truly believe that social media is a transformative tool with the power to change the way they connect with and empower their supporters. However, while social media can ultimately serve as a valuable tool to raise money, it’s not easy to accomplish and must be used effectively.
Given this, we decided to focus our three-hour session on teaching participants how to successfully utilize social media in conjunction with other marketing communication activities to get the most return on investment and put the most money in the bank.
We discussed:
- Tangible tips and guidance for leveraging social media to boost fundraising efforts, including:
- Identifying your target audiences and the online communities where they congregate
- Strategies for engaging your target audiences through social media
- Online tools that make it easier for organizations to raise funds via social media, keep fundraising efforts organized, and manage content
- Creative and compelling social media fundraising tactics
Lastly, we invited attendees to analyze a case study and share their ideas for how a nonprofit could raise $50,000 leveraging a social media fundraising campaign.
Molly and I enjoyed leading this seminar and helping participants with WSCAP gain insight into techniques for applying social media strategies to help with nonprofit fundraising. We look forward to seeing which of the ideas we shared they put into practice in the coming months, and hope to develop a follow-up blog post to report back on their activities.
For more insight and ideas into best practices using social media for fundraising, please check out these blog posts.
- Marketplace Money Focuses on Social Media and Donations to Charities, Jan. 21, 2011
- Social Media and Fundraising, Jun. 4, 2010
- Tools for Fundraising, Sept. 15, 2010
- Nonprofit Success in Social Media, Aug. 3, 2009
- An Experiment Fundraising with Twitter, Sept. 4, 2009
We are excited to announce we are adding to the Communiqué PR team. Currently, we are recruiting for a Senior Account Executive and an Account Manager. The complete job descriptions are included below for your consideration. If you are interested in being considered for either position, please email your letter of interest and resume to [email protected].
Communiqué Public Relations is a boutique public relations firm focused on providing public relations services to a wide variety of companies. Our goal is to secure results that allow our clients to achieve their toughest business and communication objectives. We are seeking entrepreneurial candidates who want to help our clients create awareness, increase their market share and develop strong media relations programs. The right candidate will thrive on hands-on work with a variety of clients.
Senior Account Executive
Primary Responsibilities
- Grow and maintain client relationships by engaging in day-to-day contact; proactively take initiative on issues and foster communication between client(s) and account team
- Build understanding and knowledge of clients’ business and their competitive environments
- Actively participate and contribute to the development of account plans and ideas and new business proposals
- Oversee day-to-day planning of major events
- Lead and support projects that demonstrate strategic planning and creative thinking as well as drive news and launches for events
- Engage in media outreach, story development and editing of media materials
- Effectively develop full range of written materials including press releases, byline articles, speeches, client correspondence and reports
- Oversee and enforce consistent adherence to media management processes: media lists, coverage monitoring, and industry trends
- Verify information to assure accuracy of media materials and contacts
- Develop strong working relationships with clients, press, conference organizers and analysts while working to create opportunities for coverage
- Inform account managers of day-to-day business, research and results
- Provide guidance to and mentor junior staff
Requirements (Knowledge, Skills and Abilities)
- Proven ability to write and develop compelling and superb press materials such as press releases, plans, speeches and backgrounders
- Excellent communication and organizational skills as well as the ability to prioritize and multi-task in a dynamic, creative, challenging and fast-paced environment
- Ability to establish and maintain effective editor and industry analyst relationships
- Strong understanding of and ability to contribute to PR plans, strategies and programs based on client objectives
- Knowledge of social media and the ability to identify how it can be leveraged to achieve client objectives and communication strategy
- Familiarity with the Associated Press style guide
- Ability to work effectively independently and collaborate with others in a team environment
- Positive attitude in a deadline-oriented environment
- Strong listening skills and the ability to facilitate meetings and make presentations
- Problem solving skills
Education / Experience
- Bachelor’s degree required in Communications, Journalism, Marketing, English or a related field
- 4-6 years of experience in public relations, preferably in an agency setting and/or within an applicable industry. Experience in the high-tech industry preferred.
- 2-3 years of experience as an account executive
- Ability to think creatively and develop new and interesting ideas
For further consideration, please apply online at [email protected].
Account Manager
Primary Responsibilities
- Manage, maintain and grow client relationships while assuring stakeholders are aligned
- Partner with clients to understand communication and business objectives
- Perform analysis of client objectives and make recommendations based on industry knowledge and trends
- Identify short- and long-term strategic goals for client and translate them into a public relations plan/program
- Define and develop successful communication plans for clients and manage client expectations
- Drive day-to-day client activity by overseeing and performing necessary work, including developing and writing interesting and effective press materials, placing stories, leading press tours, providing counsel to clients, etc.
- Manage account activity to public relations budgets and consistently achieve revenue goals
- Lead client meetings, deliver presentations and facilitate client discussions
- Develop strong working relationships with clients, press, conference organizers and analysts while working to create opportunities for coverage
- Sell public relations to key stakeholders in client company and grow client account
- Provide guidance to and mentor junior staff
- Manage third-party vendors and contractors as needed
Requirements (Knowledge, Skills and Abilities)
- Proven ability to write and develop compelling and superb press materials, such as press releases, plans, speeches, and backgrounders
- Excellent communication and organizational skills as well as the ability to prioritize and multi-task in a dynamic, creative, challenging and fast-paced environment
- Ability to establish and maintain effective editor and industry analyst relationships
- Strong understanding of and ability to execute PR plans, strategies and programs based on client objectives
- Knowledge of social media and the ability to identify how it can be leveraged to achieve client objectives and communication strategy
- Familiarity with the Associated Press style guide
- Ability to effectively manage client budgets
- Ability to work effectively independently and collaborate with others in a team environment
- Positive attitude in a deadline-oriented environment
- Strong listening skills and the ability to facilitate meetings and make presentations
- Problem solving skills
- Ability to think creatively and develop new and interesting ideas
Education / Experience
- Bachelor’s degree required in Communications, Journalism, Marketing, English or a related field.
- 10+ years of experience in public relations, preferably in an agency setting and/or within an applicable industry. Experience in the high-tech industry preferred.
- Minimum of five years public relations account management and execution experience, including developing communication plans, launch strategies, product positioning, and pitching stories
For further consideration, please apply online at [email protected].
A couple of months ago I participated in a survey by the Council of PR Firms, which included a question about business ethics. It got me thinking about the topic and the importance of business ethics in our professional lives.
According to Wikipedia, “Business ethics (also known as corporate ethics) is a form of applied ethics or professional ethics that examines ethical principles and moral or ethical problems that arise in a business environment. It applies to all aspects of business conduct and is relevant to the conduct of individuals and entire organizations.”
We all face issues in our personal and professional lives that challenge us. It’s how we respond to those challenges that often matters the most. For instance, when you make a mistake do you try to cover it up or do you admit the issue to a manager or client? When a manager or client asks you to do something that you don’t agree with do you explain your point of view, do it without sharing your perspective or simply ignore the request? If a client asks you to represent an issue to a journalist, but keep it a secret that they’re behind the initiative what do you?
If you work in PR, I would encourage you to take a minute to revisit the Council of PR Firms Code of Ethics. I think it is an excellent reminder about the standards of practice that we should all aspire to as we work to serve clients, communicate with the public and media, and collaborate with coworkers and partners.