PEACE AND SECURITY INITIATIVE

Best Practices on Nonprofit Survival in an Economic Downturn

Many in the PSI network have asked for tips or the ability to share best practices on how to survive this economic downturn.  In response to this need, PSI is happy to act as a clearinghouse of tips, best practices, and lessons learned for cutting costs; fundraising; or other methods of effectively dealing with this crisis.

PSI will begin to compile resources related to fundraising, leadership and organizational management.  The following newsletters are focused on these topics:

April 2009

Additionally, if you have tips, best practices, etc., please post them below:

Online Fundraising

The last week of every month, PSI has collaborated with ReThink Media to offer an hour-long webinar for groups in the PSI network.  These webinars seek to help organizations build their organizational and media capacity to impact the policy debate in the 2008 elections.

On July 31, 2008, PSI sponsored a webinar training on online fundraising.  The webinar focused on fundraising challenges facing our community and innovative ways in which we can overcome them.  In particular, it showcased new tools for online fundraising.  Please click here to download the PowerPoint from the webinar.

In addition, two resources were identified:

1. "Perfecting Your Page:  Can donation page optimization boost your online giving? " (Donor Digital)
2. "2008_eNonprofit_Benchmarks_Study: An_analysis_of_online_messaging_fundraising_and_advocacy_metrics_for_nonprofit_organizations.pdf" (M+R Strategic Sevices and Nonprofit Technology Network) 

Fundraising in a Recession

Given the current state of the American economy, the PSI Implementation Team wanted one of the workshops offered at the June 30 community-wide meeting to cover how to fundraise in a recession.  Please click here to access the PowerPoint presentation given by Yvonne Garrett (OMP Direct).

Public Speaking: How to Speak to Be Heard

At the June 30 2008 PSI community-wide meeting, public speaking expert Chris Jahnke of Positive Communications offered a workshop on how to most effectively communicate with your audience - whether it be at a conference or meeting, or giving an interview on TV or radio.  Chris has provided a couple of hand-outs that outline her tips and best practices.  Please click below to access these resources:

Conquering the Camera:  A Media Training Handout

A Standing Ovation:  Public Speaking Handout

Netcentric Campaigns Primer on Web-Based Tools

At the July 9, 2007, PSI community-wide meeting, Tom Glaisyer (tom@netcentriccampaigns.org) and Karen Showalter (karen@netcentriccampaigns.org) of Netcentric Campaigns conducted a training entitled, "Alternative Communications 2.0: Demystifying the Interactive Web." This training reviewed how the peace and security community can collaborate and communicate with one another, and the greater public, more cheaply and effectively than ever before through the use of alternative communication channels. Tom and Karen introduced some powerful new web-based tools including blogs, wikis, RSS and social networking sites. Click here  to access their useful handout containing details on getting started with various web-based tools.

Fundraising

During the November 13, 2006, community-wide PSI meeting, Beth Grupp (bgrupp@bethgruppassociates.com) of Beth Grupp Associates made an excellent presentation entitled "How to Ask Anyone for Any Amount for Any Purpose."  This workshop was designed to allow participants the chance to interact with current funders and expert fundraisers to speak candidly about how to fundraise.  Participants learned how to identify new funding sources; explored how to sharpen their fundraising message; and were introduced to a step-by-step process for identifying major donors, approaching these donors, and closing the deal.  The following is her presentation: beth_grupp.ppt.