1. Write a Note–not an email; not a form letter; a personalized handwritten thank you note!
2. Pick up the Phone–pick a donor each week to call and thank
3. Get your Board Members Involved–ask a board member to send an email,write a thank you note, take someone to coffee, invite to a football game (or other activity), or call and say “Thanks!”
4. Have a donor recognition event!  This doesn’t have to be expensive.  Have a back stage tour of the high school orchestra, band or drama event!  Have a gathering just for your donors.  This gives them practice telling the story of their involvement to one another–so, eventually they will tell people outside of the room too!
5. Holiday Cards–be creative!  This shouldn’t be for the traditional December greetings.  How about Valentine’s day or Thanksgiving instead?  Christmas in July?  Back to School?
6. Traditional Print Media–news articles, programs, reader boards, etc.
7. Web 2.0 tools–facebook, twitter, blog posts and web page links

Stay Tuned for a bonus idea tomorrow!

Serenity reported the TBEC 14th Annual VIP Briefing reported on research conducted by Dr. Ed Fuller, PhD. & Dr. Carol Fletcher, PhD.  If we wait until high school to prepare our students for post-secondary work or study we’re too late!  We need to start in middle school!  Let TAPE help you establish partnerships to provide human and financial resources for middle school students and stem the tide of the TX high school drop out rate!

At the TSPRA conference Michele presented 7 ideas for potential touches for your donors as well as recommendations on board engagement and technology for your donor management at the Round tables.

Want to know what the touches are?  Stay-tuned until tomorrow for more…

• What is your real need for volunteers? (Alissa recounted often hearing “We need a mentor for every student in our school”, but stressed that was never truly the case)
• What is the right kind of volunteer?
• Do you have the capacity to support your volunteers?

Through the course of her presentation much of the discussion centered around the last question (per Alissa the most important)–the issue of capacity.   Several specific ideas really stood out:

• Monthly volunteer support meetings during which volunteers have the opportunity to share any concerns or issues they have and discuss possible solutions
• Monthly newsletters in which upcoming school and volunteer events are included (ensuring volunteers feel like part of the team)
• Annual surveys sent to all volunteers inquiring about all aspects of their volunteer experience
• Exit surveys administered to those volunteers who do not return  (When asked what one retention activity CIS will be putting the most energy into this was the answer!)

TAPE members can view Alissa’s full powerpoint in the members only section.  Share your effective volunteer recruitment and/or retention strategies in the forum.

One participant asked, “Why should we be using social media?”

Here’s the short answer

Is Social Media a Fad?

As a new benefit, TAPE members now receive one free hour of consulting each year.  You can use yours to let us help you create a social marketing strategy.  Email Serenity for information.

1.  Don’t be afraid to Ask!  Studies show most people don’t engage because they are never asked.

2.  Recruit a veteran to serve on your steering committee.  The veteran helps to set the tone and will help recruit others to become involved.

3.  Promotional material should be rich in information–NOT information Rich.  Said another way, get straight to the point.

4.  Your campaign schedule should allow for potential corporate sponsors budgeting process.  Be sure to fit your partner’s schedule and fiscal year.

5.  Use peer messages when communicating with volunteers.

Stay tuned for the second five next week.  We’ll also post Russell’s full PowerPoint to the member’s section of www.tape.org.

Need access?  Be sure to email skelton@tape.org for membership information.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Girls Giving Grants, the youth initiative of Impact Austin (www.impact-austin.org), announces this year’s $5,700 grant opportunity to the nonprofit community!

SUBMISSION DEADLINE IS FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2009 AT 5PM.

More information about grant requirements, past awards and a copy of the very simple grant application can be found at www.girlsgivinggrants.org.  The group is currently soliciting application proposals for programs which will benefit youth in Bastrop, Hays, Williamson and/or Travis counties.

For more information, please contact Dina Mavridis, Director of Girls Giving Grants, at 512-791-4424 or send email to grants@girlsgivinggrants.org.

We want to hear from you–our members (and future members)!  That’s why TAPE now has a BLOG!  Think of it as the on-line version of the suggestion box.  You can tell us what you like and what you want to see improved about the new look to the website, the monthly newsletter, TAPE programs and the annual conference.

I’ll meet you back here later this week!

Michele, TAPE Executive Director

Six webinars will take place Tuesdays, October 15-November 19, 2009, 1-2:30pm.

Learn more about the topics and presenters;

Download the registration form here

** View the TAPE discount code in the members only section.