Monthly Archives: March 2009

The Dos and Donts of Canvassing


Posted by ajlovesya

We’ve all seen them: (mostly) young people stopping strangers on the street to solicit money for a relatively well known charity. I usually admire these people: they are going up to random people and asking them to join their cause in a short amount of time which is challenging.

However, like any other fundraising practice there are good and bad ways to do this. In NYC I have had far too many bad encounters with canvassers. If you are raising money for a well known organization or your local elementary school, keep in mind these dos and donts.

DONTs:

  • Do not interrupt me: If I am on the phone or seem otherwise engaged, interrupting me is rude not just to me but also to the person I am talking to. Even when raising money basic manners apply.
  • Do not use a pet name: Sweetie, baby, chocolate (as I was called a few days ago) are inappropriate and the intellectual in me wants to discuss the problematic sexist overtones in such language.
  • Do not give me attitude: In general I do not give money to organizations that solicit on the street. However, if I politely say “I’m sorry I am not interested” sucking your teeth or giving me a disgusted look will certainly not change my mind.
  • Do not follow me: If I have not stopped to engage you that, that does not give you the right to follow me down the street talking to me. Again, basic manners still matter.

DOs:

  • Do have some sort of logo: A logo (whether on stationery, t-shirts, caps, etc) is important because it implies legitimacy and helps people remember and recognize your brand. Even if you are working for an organization that is fairly well known, the absence of some kind of brand image will look suspicious.
  • Do know what you are talking about: When you fumble over basic facts or cant answer essential questions (how many people does your organization serve and how?) it makes people not trust you. Know the facts and be able to tell people why they matter.
  • Do have a story to tell: While impressive stats are great, do you love this organization? Do you know anyone who has been touched by the organization’s work? Faces behind the numbers are always a good sell.
  • Do have something to give me: A pamphlet? Card? Anything to facilitate follow up or research on your organization at my own pace is helpful.

Social Change Rockstar: Meet Daniel Kent


Posted by ajlovesya

I’ve decided to start a new series highlighting young people making waves in the nonprofit sector. To kick off the series I contacted Daniel Kent, Executive Director and Founder of Net Literacy, a nonprofit that promotes computer access and literacy across the country. He started the organization in high school with some money he saved to buy a car. A few years later the organization boosts hundred of volunteers, thousands of people affected by their work, and an impressive roster of senators and corporations who support them.

Tell us about you:

danielkentSure! I’m a first semester sophomore at Haverford College majoring at Bryn Mawr in the Growth and Structure of Cities. I currently live in Carmel, Indiana, a suburb of Indianapolis with my parents, Donald and Susan, and my dog, Cookie. I enjoy volunteering, reading, working on computers, and being engaged in student government on campus at Haverford. I recently finished an internship at the White House under President’ Bush’s administration, working primarily in the USA Freedom Corps office; that was an extraordinary experience. I also enjoy working with Net Literacy.

Tell us about your organization:

Net Literacy is a youth-managed and youth-run 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization based in Indiana. The mission of Net Literacy is to promote computer access and teach anyone – from elementary school students to senior citizens – how to use computers. We have over 500 volunteers working to bridge the “Digital Divide” all across our country, having provided computer access to nearly 100,000 individuals already. Net Literacy has partnered with a number of non-profits and large companies to help us achieve our mission. Companies such as Intel, Microsoft, Verizon, Brighthouse Networks, and Comcast have provided us the funds and donations-in-kind that have allowed us to be a success. Net Literacy is also grateful to Asset Forwarding and the Indiana Recycling Coalition for helping us increase the awareness in our communities of the importance of environmentally-responsible computer recycling/refurbishing and disposal.

We have worked closely with Indiana’s Department of Education to create a curriculum that stresses computer and Internet safety and awareness for students in all grades. We recently have filmed over a dozen PSAs regarding safety on the Internet that have been aired all across Indiana and are in the process of filming more highlighting how to safely make purchases online. We are proud to have a Board of Directors that is comprised of 1/2 student volunteers and 1/2 adults, providing our youth Board Members the opportunity to learn about running a non-profit and core-competencies that many of our Board of Directors bring – ranging from Legal expertise to Computers to Education. We are also very proud to have Senator Lugar and Senator Bayh serve as our honorary co-chairs and provide us their insight into how best we can shape digital policy. Net Literacy has successfully lobbied the Indiana General Assembly to promote the issue of digital inclusion and Internet safety.

What was the inspiration behind starting Net Literacy?

The inspiration for Net Literacy started at our public library where teens can volunteer in a number of programs ranging from reading books to elementary school students to shelving books and planning events. I was always very interested in a program where teens served as instructional aids in an adult computer class put on by the reference department that taught everything from computer basics all they way up to e-mail and beyond. I really enjoyed volunteering in these classes and had the pleasure to help out hundreds of adults and senior citizens. After one class, a senior citizen approached me and we chatted about how he really enjoyed learning about computers and had been talking with his friend at his retirement home about them. His friend really wanted to learn how to use computers but was mobility-impaired and lacked adequate, reliable transportation to our library. As a student, I felt that no one, regardless of age, should be denied the opportunity to learn. I wanted to help this senior citizen’s friend.

So a number of my friends and I started to look around for an organization where we could volunteer to help individuals who were mobility-impaired and couldn’t make it to the Library to learn how to use a computer. Unfortunately we could not find any; instead, we decided to form our own organization – Senior Connects.

We initially started teaching computer and Internet skills in retirement homes in my 8th grade year. Soon we realized that many retirement homes and long-term care facilities lacked adequate computer access. Since access is critical, we began to refurbish and repurpose computers that we collected from local businesses and by conducting local computer drives. Everything began to grow and by 2003, we began to expand the population we served to include everyone who lacked adequate access to computers and teaching how to use them in a safe manner.

What were the challenges in starting your own nonprofit and how did you deal with them?

It was really difficult finding initial funding and legal expertise to establish our non-profit. With the several thousand dollars that I saved for my car, I was able to fund the cost of incorporation, and with the help of several gracious attorneys who took some of us on as interns, we were able to file for our 501(c)3 status ourselves and learn from this process.

What resources have been helpful in creating and maintaining this organization?

Above everything, teamwork is the resource that has run Net Literacy from its inception. The motivation and power of the student volunteers has really kept Net Literacy running. While our focus is on providing computers to those in need, we also provide an opportunity for all students to learn important technical, leadership, and life skills and a safe place where students can have fun. Most of the public high schools in Indianapolis have a Net Literacy Club where students can volunteer after school (some even skip their lunch to volunteer!) and learn. All of this is powered through teamwork.

How do you balance going to school while running a non-profit?

Teamwork strikes again! I always wanted Net Literacy to be run by students, for students and the community. We have had a number of generations of youth-chairs who have kept Net Literacy growing beyond what any of us thought we could accomplish from the start. While I’m away at college, we have hundreds of high-school students who manage the organization and help out refurbishing and teaching. All of this, done through teamwork.

What advice would you give to a young person wanting to start a nonprofit?

To all young people wanting to start a nonprofit, I say, reach for the stars! With hard work, teamwork, and a vision, anything can be achieved, anything can be accomplished.

You can find Net Literacy on Facebook and LinkedIn.   And feel free to email danielkent [at] netliteracy [dot] org and check out their website.


Blogging and Your Career


Posted by ajlovesya

A few weeks ago I gave a presentation on the basics of blogging at  Career Transition for Dancers, a  non-profit that offers career counseling, scholarships and workshops in New York and Los Angeles for dancers transitioning out of careers as performers. It recently occurred to me some of the readers of this  blog may be interested in blogging themselves, so I thought I would share my presentation here.

Blogging And Your Career
View more presentations from ajlovesya.

This was my first time giving such a presentation and I spent much of the time answering questions. For all of the hype surrounding blogging (including coming from me!) it was good to discuss the tangible pros, cons, ins, and outs of blogging. Sometimes the time commitment is intimidating while the actual technical options of maintaining a blog can be overwhelming. Even now, I am considering taking the leap into self hosting but am a little hesitant about my
web skills.

I’d like to use this space for a conversation on blogging including tips, ideas, and questions. And as always, feel free to email me!


What does Passion Look Like?


Posted by ajlovesya

When applying for a non-profit job, a common piece of advice given is to show passion for the organization’s mission and the organization itself.  But how can you demonstrate passion in a resume, cover letter, or even in an interview?

Have a basic understanding of current issues related to the organization’s mission: What are some policies or best practices currently being discussed in the organization’s field? What events have recently taken place that can potentially affect the organization? Having a firm grasp on key issues will show during an interview.

Be knowledgeable of important groups and individuals: Partnerships are very common in the non-profit world so it is helpful to know who the organization you are interested in has worked with before. Also, who are some of the leaders in the organization’s field? What do you know about the organization’s staff? Doing your homework shows that you are interested in the organization and its future.

Highlight previous experience working with issue: In an earlier post I outline four ways high school and college students can begin their non-profit careers. They involve volunteering but also integrating service into their learning and inviting non-profits to lead discussions. In other words, there are plenty of ways to get involved so choose one and discuss your successes, what you are learning, and what you can contribute.

Create your own ideas/suggestions on how to address issue: Coming up with your own ideas demonstrates that you are engaging the issue on a personal level. Make sure your ideas match what the organization does and stands for to emphasize a good match.

In other words, being able to speak intelligently and act deliberately regarding the organization and its mission goes a long way to showing you are genuinely interested.


Reflecting on Social Media Fundraising


Posted by ajlovesya

A few weeks ago I attended the New York City Twestival—an international fundraising event on behalf of charity:water that took place in over 160 cities around the world, sparked by word-of-mouth marketing via twitter. In NYC we raised over $24,000 enough for 5 wells that will serve 200 people for 20 years. That’s truly remarkable. While the event was a success there is still much to think about.

Lessons Learned:

Small donations can have a huge impact: We learned this during the Obama campaign but it certainly was clear during the twestival where donations of $20, $40, and $60 amounted to $24,000.

Tangible goals are great motivators: People like seeing the results of their work. Knowing that there is an end goal excites people.

Volunteers and great planning are still important: Online marketing and fundraising were only half the process.  All of the twestivals were coordinated by volunteers and each city had a different event to cater to local interests.

Questions raised:

How are those relationships sustained and developed? I didn’t get any significant follow up and am wondering how (if at all) my connection to the organization and my impressions of the event are being measured.

Are people giving to the cause or giving because of the medium? While at the event there was little talk of charity:water. In fact there was little talk of anything given the loud music, photo opps, and alcohol. The ease of donating and the fun that was promoted may have meant more than the cause itself.

Is social media propelling a new kind of donor? The long term investment aspect of fundraising is pushed aside in favor of immediate results and small amounts of requested giving.  Perhaps much of the follow up and presentation of a “worthy cause” is not necessary. Is this kind of event similar to parties where the money happens to go to a worthy cause but the emphasis is really on the socializing and having a good time?

Moving forward:

For all of the discussions about the ease and fun of social media, it is still time intensive and raises many questions. Instead of using it as sole means of raising money, it may work well with smaller, targeted needs used in conjunction with other methods of fundraising.

Have you had any experience raising money using social media ? Attend another twestival? Please share your thoughts!