Mission statements that work, email that doesn’t
There were two gems in other blogs over the past week, and I want to pass them on.
1. THE 15-MINUTE MISSION STATEMENT: If you know me, you know I think nonprofits spend way too much time crafting mission statements in an exercise that too often degenerates into navel-gazing neurosis. Yet they can be useful to focusing programs if they are done right. Here’s a neat solution from Kelly Kleiman on her blog The Nonprofiteer, which was picked up on the Give and Take blog: Simplify the process by spending an hour — or even just 15 minutes — drafting a single sentence that outlines their mission” “We do [activity] so that [result will occur].” I like it.
2. THE FUTURE OF FUNDRAISING: Mark Rovner says this: “Here is the current online fundraising model: build your prospect list however you can and then bombard them relentlessly with email solicitations. If you’re clever, maybe throw in mail and phone solicitations as well. Repeat, repeat, repeat...” The problem? It works less and less effectively, it drives people away and it’s not sustainable. If you’re doing this, stop. Focus on growing a list of new prospects that want to hear from you and treat them well. There’s a lot at stake. Mark says:
EVERYTHING is going to change. In his latest book, Meatball Sundae, Seth Godin makes the point that organizations and companies are generally built around the mode of marketing available to them. If your organization began its life between 1970 and 2000, chances are it was built around cheap mail and high response rates. The first victim of expensive mail and low response rates is your fundraising efficiency. And in this era of CharityNavigator, your fundraising efficiency is no secret.
I agree.
PS I’m still scratching my head over how I could post on the perils of AstroTurfing one day and be AstroTurfed on my blog the next day (see comments). The irony!
Syndicate
About the mission statements, and this can go towards slogans and tags too, but one of my professors always told me, “Say it square, then say it with flair.”
Sometimes people get caught up on having elaborate, fancy or over the top language. So, saying it square helps keep me focused to just K.I.S.S. (keep it simple *silly) and then add any extras or flair.
Thought I’d pass on the tip!
Best,
SocialButterfly