Nonprofit Nuggets with Jennifer Yarbrough (Jennifer Yarbrough)

Why do you want to start a community-based organization? In this episode, we'll discuss the importance of your drive, motivation, and reason for starting a nonprofit.

In today's economic climate it is important for nonprofit organizations to have the right plans and strategies to continue to raise money for their programs and organizations. Today I am sharing some strategies that nonprofits should implement right away if you are looking to avoid having to reduce program or organizational plans the remainder of the year.  

Your donors deserve to be treated more than a walking checkbook! Get ready to take down notes as we talk about the key to being fully funded this year: learning how to value your donors and funders.

Let's deep dive into the process of starting a nonprofit with a strategy and a plan to be fully funded. In this episode, we'll walk you through the basics of securing resources to deliver your programs and achieve your organizational goals.

If you're a nonprofit leader who's feeling stuck about your fundraising efforts, then this podcast is for you. In this episode, I'm outlining the different steps on how you can gain momentum and be successful in growing your dollars.

Does 'nonprofit' mean that you're not earning revenue? Many nonprofit leaders start a nonprofit organization without a clear understanding about the nonprofit business model. In this episode, I'm setting the record straight and explaining the nonprofit business model and the financials involved in running it. 

Nonprofit grant writing is a vital part of any smart and healthy fundraising strategy. However, before we jump into the fine details of successfully writing grant proposals, let’s review exactly what it is. 

During this discussion, you will learn what grant writing is;  the process of applying for funding provided by a private, corporate, or government grant-maker; and what goes into consideration of who gets funding. 

Also, I will be answering questions and sharing how brand new organizations position themselves to get grant funding. 

A "Stakeholder" refers to anyone, individual, or group that has an interest in your nonprofit. It includes people directly involved, such as board members, people you serve, donors, or foundations that give you grants.

Many other individuals or groups can be stakeholders, too, even if they are more indirectly involved, such as vendors where you purchase supplies or services. A stakeholder can be the company that sponsors one of your events.

For many nonprofit leaders, it is VERY frustrating to have an amazing program that no one is supporting.  I cannot count in one week the number of people who tell me how uncomfortable they are "asking for money."  This is how you get the attention of the donors who want to help you do your work...and be apart of it month after month after month.

Listen to these Nonprofit Nuggets and simply follow the steps.  98% of donors give because of impact...let's start speaking the language of sustainability.

www.jdyarbrough.com
jen@jenthegrantguru.com

Words are everything in fundraising. One major key to your success is found in the strength of your nonprofit storytelling.

The way you tell your story and engage people in your message can make or break your fundraising efforts.

Jen, what do we mean by storytelling you may ask...

At its most basic level, storytelling is a way to convey facts, information, history and experience from one person, the teller, to another, the listener, but it goes deeper than that.

Stories are interactive, connecting, bonding and gripping.

Shared stories can tie whole cultures and groups together. Shared stories connect and bind all sorts of people, from families to religious groups.  Your best friend is your best friend because there are a few stories only the two of you share.

In fundraising, stories are one of the strongest ways to make emotional connections between donors, organizations and community impact.

Nonprofit storytelling lets donors and volunteers know that they are making an impact and making life better for real people.

In other words, you are letting your donor know that he/she is part of your story and most importantly part of the beneficiary’s story.

So, how good are you at using storytelling in fundraising?

Why is storytelling an effective fundraising tactic to increase funding and engagement?

• It connects with the emotions. Stories are much more powerful and motivating than merely using statistics or discussing administrative goals.  Donors don’t support you so you can buy a new printer or move into a better building.  Those things may be important, but only as a means to the real goal of helping make the world a better place.

• It shows donors that their actions are making a difference. They need to know that goals are being met and lives are being improved.  The emotional satisfaction can keep them motivated and prevent burnout. It may inspire them to donate more and get more involved with your cause.

• It gives dignity and context to the beneficiaries and connects their lives to the donors. Telling stories prevents your beneficiaries from being just another statistic.  It gives them depth and authenticity.  It allows them to have a voice in your foundation just as staff, donors, and volunteers have a voice.  It reminds everyone involved that you are helping living, breathing people.

  Begin to use this powerful tool right away! Today in fact. When you are ready for expert help, schedule 20 min. on my calendar to make the shift right away: www.jdyarbrough.com

Every nonprofit organization is different. It takes many kinds of donors to support your work and further your mission. For some organizations, that might mean going after major donors. For others, it’s building a large community of support through individual donations, no matter how small. How can ONE THING work for all those scenarios? From a tactical standpoint, it can’t. It is important to understand cultivation, relationship building, a clear mission, strategic campaigns, mobilization systems, etc is a much different process from soliciting support from marginalized communities that struggle to make ends meet.

No donation is more important or less valuable than another as long as each works to meet a genuine community need. And that is the key. Faced with an uncertain economic future, it’s important to remember why you are doing what you do. Do not stray from your mission. Not every donor or funder is a good match for your nonprofit, and that’s ok. Don't get distracted or discouraged because not every person is your ideal donor.  That is okay!

With that in mind, what is the ONE THING you can do right now to keep funds flowing into your nonprofit? How can you ensure that your fundraising path forward is the right one? It’s pretty simple, actually.

Work to retain your donors while broadening your reach.

Why is this important? Because when donors are happy, they will renew and upgrade their support. They will also refer supporters to your cause.

Now is not the time to sit back. Yes, there are uncertain times, but you’ve got this! Keep engaging with your supporters and, most importantly, stay true to your mission.

I have a dedicated team to take away any feeling of stress, uncertainty, confusion and insecurity about how to fundraise now and in the future. Go to www.jdyarbrough.com to schedule your complementary session and let us talk about your immediate and long-term needs for organizational startup, growth and sustainability.

It isn't easy to start and sustain a not-for-profit business when you hardly understand the concepts of this industry. That's why before running head-first into this business, it's important to invest in the right knowledge to ensure you know how to run, fund, and lead a nonprofit organization.

This is WHAT TO DO you START your Nonprofit and Raise Funds for programs and the organization.

1. Start with a clear plan

2. Patiently lay a sound foundation

3. Properly prepare yourself and the board 

4. Invest in the system(s) that will generate revenue for the organization

5. Build relationships 

I am a consultant with thirty years of experience in the nonprofit field who specializes in helping people successfully start 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations.

Expert help with filing, fundraising, grant writing and donor engagement service.

Email or inbox to have your nonprofit status approved before the end of 2019!

Giving isn’t a business transaction. It’s a human connection. To inspire donors to give, you need to make a meaningful connection by showing them why they matter and how they can make a difference. When you understand why your donors give, you’ll be able to make a more effective appeal.

The Top 4 Reasons People Give to Nonprofits

1. They believe there is a need for the nonprofit’s mission in the community and they are confident the organization does good work
2. They believe the nonprofit will use their gift to stabilize or expand programming
3. The nonprofit communicates about the impact of giving by sharing program outcomes
4. They want to be associated with the organization and its brand

If you take this information to help you craft your social media posts, your email drafts, your face-to-face meetings, and your campaign asks...you will be fully funded before you know it.

REMEMBER:

• People act from the heart, not the head

• Giving is a personal act

• Let donors support your cause long-term

I hope that this episode was helpful and meaningful. Please visit my website if you would like to schedule time to talk about your fundraising next steps and donor engagement systems to move people to give, and keep giving, to your nonprofit. 

One of the things we talk about often is making sure that your organization is planning for what's in front of you and what is to come. In this episode, I'll walk you through the basics of fundraising planning.

According to Giving USA, “Giving by foundations had a record-breaking year, reaching its highest-ever dollar amount even when adjusted for inflation, and growing to its largest share (18%) of total giving to date in 2018.” Foundations contribute more than $70 billion to nonprofit organizations each year.

If properly managed, grants are an important source of income. They can provide significant support for an organization’s programs, capital campaign, operational costs, and even unrestricted funding. If you aren’t applying for grants, you’re leaving money on the table and neglecting opportunities to sustain or grow your programs.

In my career as a grant professional, I’ve watched dozens of organizations assume that grant funding will be a quick solution to their funding trouble and rush to get a stack of under-prepared applications out the door. 

Before you write your next grant application, do your organization a favor and follow this simple checklist.

Listen to discover the three (3) shifts to help you go from where you are to where you KNOW you should be by now in the area of your nonprofit startup and fundraising.

www.jdyarbrough.com

#coachingbusiness #mindset #coaches #nonprofits #fundraising

Starting a nonprofit is NOT just filing your From 1023. It is SO MUCH MORE to do when you are starting your nonprofit.  Listen to this and make sure you are starting your nonprofit the right way.

In nonprofits, the product or service that they deliver are often referred to as a "program." 

The mission of the organization is its overall purpose in the community. During strategic planning, planners work from the mission to identify several overall, major (or strategic) goals that must be reached and that, in total, work toward the mission. Each program is associated with achieving one or more strategic goals and, therefore, should contribute directly toward the mission as well. If an idea for a program comes up at some time other than during the strategic planning process, nonprofit board members must carefully ask themselves if the program is really appropriate to the mission of the organization.

If you would like help starting, designing, marketing and fundraising for your program, I would love to schedule a COMPLIMENTARY 20 Min. session with you.  Bit.ly/TimeWithJen

www.jdyarbrough.com

Let's get something straight: how and where does the funding come from? If you're a nonprofit organization that needs revenue, listen to this podcast to find out!

Remember that fundraising is simply inviting people to be supportive of your nonprofit organization. You do that through personal contact and by educating and involving them. The following are truths you should incorporate into whatever fundraising you do:

• People give to people and because of people.
• People who don’t know you or your organization probably will not give.
• People that are connected to your cause, and are concerned about the problem that you are solving, are more likely to give more quickly when asked
• The best time to ask for a gift is after you have had a chance to inform and educate a prospective donor.

Listen as I share several more fundraising basics to help you successfully raise money for your programs and operations.

Passion Is Not Enough: The Most Common Mistakes Startup Nonprofits Make

Starting a nonprofit is difficult, complex, and hard work.

I am being kind when I say this part...

It takes vision, guts, a clear mission, strong emotional intelligence,  and a lot of hard work just to get it off the ground. Think marathon race or mountain climbing.  Think liking to bake cakes to running a whole entire bakery. Its like a  serene lake that looks calm and relaxing on the top – but  once you are in it-underneath has so many currents all pulling at you at once.

Going from vision to a sustainable and financially healthy nonprofit is not for the weak. Many start organizations, but very few do so without making major mistakes that cost them either time, money, supporters, donors or all of the above. There was a study done in 2016 that stated that out of 100 new organizations, only 18 of them made it beyond the second year.  ONLY 18%!!  82% of worthwhile and needed programs ultimately fail because they were not put together well. When these organizations fail it is the community and clients that suffer.  Having done this work for over 30 years, working with thousands of leaders nationally and internationally on how to build and grow their organizations, I did a quick survey with a group of founders who have created viable, strong organizations. These are folks doing great work every day, they are in the trenches. They all said the same thing: Passion is not enough.

Today I am sharing the real and hard truth about is involved in starting a new nonprofit successful and with a clear path to sustainability.  Listen, share and comment if anything stands out to you.  If you would like to speak about how me and my team can help your nonprofit, visit my website and schedule a complimentary 20 minutes on my calendar: www.jdyarbrough.com. 

Difficult economic times are really tough for nonprofits. It is effectively a "double-whammy" in that they get less money coming and oftentimes have increased demand for their services. So in these kinds of times nonprofits have to get more efficient.

Now more than ever donors like to see where their dollars are going. Consider this, you have an opportunity to inspire your donors with the fact that they are making the RIGHT DECISION to support you nonprofit.  You do this by being accountable, engaging and sharing impact in various ways. 

Now is the time to evaluating and activating your donor cultivation system.  They need and require more care than ever.

Today I am sharing steps to efficient and effective donor cultivation, as well as ways fundraisers can capitalize on the newfound optimism in the sector even in the midst of budget cuts.

Nonprofits can have nine different streams of income, and one of them is from grants. In this episode, we'll talk about how to get grants and the ways you can incorporate your grant funding into your program budget.

#GivingTuesday is one of the biggest philanthropic events where you can potentially raise a significant amount of funds for your nonprofit. It's never too early to prepare your #GivingTuesday campaign! This comprehensive training details how you can prepare as early as now for your #GivingTuesday campaign next year.

It's easy to come up with the idea of starting a nonprofit. You've got the passion for helping people, but do you have what it takes to sustain and fully fund your organization? In this episode, I'll discuss the most important things to keep in mind—and put into action—when starting your nonprofit.

A fundraising plan is an essential part of a nonprofit organization. Here are my tips on how you can create one. 

When starting a nonprofit, most people think that having their status is enough.  When it fact, there is opportunities that many organizations are missing when they begin and it is costing them major support - and I mean financial support!

In this podcast I am sharing the keys to starting a successful organization and what has helped me raise hundreds of millions of dollars for thousands of nonprofits both nationally and internationally.

Take a listen and feel free to schedule some time on my calendar if you would like help starting your nonprofit the right way - with a clear path to program impact and financial support.

Website: Jdyarbrough.com

Bit.ly/TimeWithJen

During good times and bad, some organizations raise a lot of money — and other organizations don’t.

The organizations raising the most money, generally speaking, rely on best practices, technology, and the latest tools and resources available.

Conversely, struggling organizations are stuck with well meaning, but fearful leaders and board members whose hands are tied by fear of failure; fear of change; lack of relationships and lack of courage...Stuck and can't to move. Of course, these are vast generalizations, I know what I am saying is true.

The Coronavirus crisis has broken open every "facade" and exposed the lack of strategic planning. As a result, weak fundraising practices are taking organizations down quickly. 

Right now the crisis has thrown the world upside down as we know it, there are some fundraising best practices which are helping organizations not only survive, but THRIVE.

This Podcast is to help bring focus, strategy and steps to raising more money during this crisis. And that’s good news! Right now your organization can raise more money than they ever had before. 

www.jdyarbrough.com

Jen@Jenthegrantguru.com

Facebook Group: Nonprofit Leaders Impacting Lives

LinkedIn: Jennifer Yarbrough

DEFINITION: Impact is the difference your nonprofit makes: There's the work you do, and the results that flow from it. 

98% of your donors give because of your impact...YES, even during COVID your organization can grow and maintain your funding with the right plan. That plan MUST include 4-5 different ways of sharing/showing impact each and every day. REMEMBER, articulating your impact is tied to your MONEY and fundraising capacity.

www.jdyarbrough.com
(442) 242-7748
Facebook: Nonprofit Leaders Impacting Lives
LinkedIn & IG: Jennifer Yarbrough
YouTube: Nonprofit Nuggets TV

As a nonprofit leader, one of your primary tasks is to communicate effectively if you want your nonprofit to succeed. But who are you supposed to communicate with? How do you do it? Where do you start?

Listen to this episode to find out! 

Are you a nonprofit leader who is looking for real insight into how to successfully startup, fundraise for, or successfully lead your nonprofit organization.  If you answered yes, this podcast is for you.

In this podcast you will discover: 

1. What a nonprofit really is;

2. Grant tips; and,

3. Ways to raise money for your nonprofit

I share with you how I have raised hundreds of millions of dollars stretching beyond traditional grants, and trained thousands of organizations across the globe. 

Sign up for my newsletter.

The number one predictor of fundraising success is the fundraising plan. It's not just the fundraising plan itself, but the act of planning. Simply taking time to reflect and put goals in writing is the leading indicator of how much you’ll bring in this year, be it donors or dollars.

Today I am breaking down the 5 Simple "Steps to Making" the fundraising plan. The time to start your plan is now...the reward (money raised) is your benchmark.  

I would love to hear your feedback on anything that stood out for you after listening. 

Nonprofits are one of society's pillars during natural disasters, economic downturns, and other difficulties. Our organizations fill in the gap that the government and private businesses cannot serve. How can we make sure that we are prepared for these kinds of circumstances so we can still continue serving the community?

This is a series that will walk you through the practical and actual steps of starting your nonprofit organization. Every leaders is concerned about not having enough money to pay for material, supplies to hire staff and operate month to month.  I am going to break down exactly what to do to START your nonprofit with the understanding of what it takes for it to be fully funded.

Are you a nonprofit leader who is looking for real insight into how to successfully startup, fundraise for, or successfully lead your nonprofit organization.  If you answered yes, this podcast is for you.

In this podcast you will discover: 

1. What a nonprofit really is;

2. Grant tips; and,

3. Ways to raise money for your nonprofit

I share with you how I have raised hundreds of millions of dollars stretching beyond traditional grants, and trained thousands of organizations across the globe. 

Sign up for my newsletter.